Chapter 87: Hahaha, humans are as fleeting as mayflies, emotions as trivial as weeds— go on, rest

Zhuang Buran clasped his hands behind his back, gazed at the sky, and gave a light chuckle.

"When cause and effect steps forward, one will find there are no pitiful people in the world; when compassion steps forward, one will find the world full of pitiful people."

"When one sees the river, they are already outside the river; when one sees the mountain, they are already outside the mountain; when one can clearly see their own emotions, they are already outside those emotions."

"True strength is not so-called resistance, but allowing things to happen."

He looked around, and the smile on his face grew richer.

"Allow regret, foolishness, ugliness; allow giving without return."

Zhuang Buran's gaze fell upon the old man.

"Senior, do you know what the next line after allowing everything to happen is?"

Without waiting for his reply, he said:

"You will have no fear."

"I now fully understand why you can create this martial art," the old man chuckled.

"Having no fear is hardly not a sure victory; you must believe that strength always lies in people, not in a trivial dead object."

"Thus, how could one be harmed by a dead object?"

"No wonder your martial arts are only slightly inferior to mine; your comprehension is extraordinary." The red-clothed youth shouted sideways.

"Hua Qitong, today is your great joy; hurry and have these broken tables and chairs removed, and invite the senior to take a seat and drink a cup of wedding wine."

Hua Manlou, who had been watching the battle from the side, hurriedly had people tidy up; little did he know that Master Hua had already made arrangements below, knowing full well that these jianghu guests might break some bowls, utensils, tables, and chairs, so his considerations were very thorough.

Not only that, he also made double preparations for many minor details; it's no wonder the Hua family flourished ever more under his hand.

Not long after, the bridal sedan arrived; the bride alighted, the couple began to worship their parents; after seeing the bride into the bridal chamber, Hua Manlou, the groom, led Lu Xiaofeng and others in a toast.

Zhuang Buran had originally been sitting beside his elder brothers; although they had also come one after another to the Peach Courtyard Small Building, they knew their younger brother liked tranquility, so they stayed only three or five days before leaving, and thus they all cared deeply and chatted about recent circumstances.

Soon after, Old Hua Laofuren, surrounded by her six daughters-in-law, walked to this table, and everyone at the table immediately rose.

"Xiao Ba, I see you've lost a lot of weight again; why don't I pick a few exceptionally skilled cooks for you?" As Old Hua Laofuren approached, she heartily grasped the red-clothed youth's hand.

Hua Lao Liu shook his head.

"Just look; Mother is still the same as before— as long as Xiao Ba is here, we can pretend we don't exist."

The old five beside him replied with a smile:

"Isn't it said that the emperor loves the eldest son, the common people love the youngest; previously, Qitong wasn't the most favored."

"That's correct; only I, who stands in the middle, am the most overlooked!" Hua Lao Si feigned sorrow.

"Old Four, you're over thirty with a pair of children, yet you're still putting on this act?" Hua Lao San said impatiently.

He shifted his tone and let out a long sigh.

"If you ask me, I'm the one who is most overlooked."

Old Hua Laofuren waved her hand.

"Enough, enough; you're all grown up, yet you don't know to be steadier— look at Xiao Ba, who has been calm and quiet since childhood, unlike your noisy selves."

"Xiao Ba is just lazy— he's either lying down or sleeping all day; isn't that quiet?"

Hua Lao Liu muttered a sentence, and immediately those nearby couldn't help but laugh.

"Old Six's wife, you usually handle the accounts; remember to deduct his monthly stipend."

"Yes, Mother." A twenty-five- or twenty-six-year-old fresh-looking maiden smiled, pursing her lips.

Before Hua Lao Liu could protest, Old Hua Laofuren turned all her attention to the red-clothed youth.

She said worriedly:

"Xiao Ba, Mother has never practiced any martial arts, but from what I've heard, training your technique might invite some calamity; shall we not practice it?"

"We have everything we need at home; nothing is lacking, so why bother practicing a martial art that only brings self-inflicted suffering?"

Zhuang Buran, smiling, took Old Hua Laofuren's hand in a reverse grip and said:

"Mother, do you still not believe in my abilities?"

He suddenly shouted:

"Hua Qitong, do you still want your gift?"

Hua Manlou, upon hearing this, first had Lu Xiaofeng help with greetings, then stepped over.

"Close your eyes!"

Zhuang Buran gave a low shout; Hua Manlou instinctively closed his unfocused eyes, and amid everyone's puzzled expressions, he raised his hand to cover the youth's eyes.

White vapor turned into countless threads that seeped beneath Hua Manlou's eyelids.

"Your eyes were not congenitally blind; this acquired ailment, for me now, can instead protect your upper dantian, using primordial qi to repair the damage to your eyes and restore them."

The guests indoors clearly noticed the commotion, instantly fell silent, stared unblinkingly, and Master Hua hurried over.

The countless threads shuttled through Hua Manlou's pupils, slowly linking, repairing, and restoring the minute damaged spots.

The primordial qi in the red-clothed youth's palm gradually dissipated, the countless threads faded away, he lowered his hand and said softly:

"You may slowly open your eyes; remember not to bask in the sun for the next few days."

Upon these words, the entire Hua family looked on nervously as Hua Manlou opened his eyes.

Old Hua Laofuren saw he hadn't spoken for a long while and hurriedly asked:

"Qitong, can you see?"

"Yes."

Hua Manlou gazed warmly at the red-clothed youth, his heart full of smiles.

"I've long heard people say you're extremely handsome; today I finally got to see you."

He nodded, adopting a solemn demeanor.

"My younger brother truly deserves the four words 'peerless elegance'."

Instantly, everyone was shocked beyond words, and laughter rang out continuously inside the house.

Time flew, years flowed like water; unnoticed, the years had hastened by, and twenty years passed in an instant.

A courteous, handsome and refined middle-aged man went up the winding bluestone steps to a small building outside a courtyard wall, its eaves hung with peach branches.

The middle-aged man pushed the door open, gestured to the courtyard servants that no further courtesy was needed, and saw a red-clad youth just as before, lounging lazily under the peach tree.

"Xiao Ba, since your parents left, you've become ever more unwilling to go out." The middle-aged man, namely Hua Manlou, sighed lowly.

"So many years have passed, Gongsun Lan has entered the Dao, becoming a female Daoist who avoids worldly affairs in the deep mountains; the beef soup has become like the lord of Nameless Island, the leader of the hidden ones, living in seclusion on the island."

"You truly have a heart like iron and stone; don't you have even a shred of regret?"

Zhuang Buran spoke slowly and leisurely:

"I asked the mayfly: does a life born in the morning and dead by evening have any regrets?"

"The mayfly answered me: born at dawn, facing the sun; born in the dark night, companion to the stars and moon."

His voice paused slightly: "What regret!"

Hua Manlou remained silent for a long time, then said:

"Xiao Ba, after all these years, you haven't changed a bit—not in appearance or looks, nor in temperament or conduct."

"Twenty years have slipped by, I have comprehended decades of human affection, and it is time to go; I must say that earlier, Ximen Chuixue came to my door to compare swords, and his swordsmanship is not inferior to that little old man's martial arts of old."

Zhuang Buran rose, slowly stretched, and a white mist rose around his body, gradually hovering in midair.

Hua Manlou was astonished beyond belief:

"Could you possibly be some divine being descended to the world?"

"Just a seeker of the Dao who has wandered through myriad worlds."

"Truly interesting, because with you all, my state of mind has become much more peaceful."

The red-clad youth clapped his hands and laughed loudly:

"Hahaha, humans are like mayflies, emotions like weeds—go rest, go rest!"

Instantly, his body turned into a white light, vanishing at the horizon, leaving Hua Manlou standing there, bewildered.

(End of chapter)