Chapter 788: Illusion and Reality

"Besides that knowledge, I also heard and saw a great many names of people, the names of those people you know: Xuanyuan, Shennong, Chiyou..."

"They all eventually became gods; that place seemed as if it were truly thousands of years in the future."

Yulong immediately became excited again: "Father, then what about you? Do they know your name? Did you become a god?"

Baifeng shook his head with a bitter smile: "My name is not there. Huaxia does exist, but that place is even Huaxia, though it is not our Huaxia. I named our country Huaxia for this very reason. Since I cannot reach that Huaxia, I will build a Huaxia here. I estimate that I cannot become any kind of god, and I do not know how to become a god, so you should stop thinking about this matter."

"And in that place, the one god who was always being spoken of is Guangchengzi. He is one of the most powerful gods, or perhaps... you wouldn't understand anyway. Even if Xuanyuan was a very powerful god in the end, his knowledge originated from Guangchengzi. If I want to know the secret of becoming a god, I can only go find Guangchengzi; only then can I obtain the answer."

Speaking up to this point, Baifeng suddenly realized that his desire to go see Guangchengzi was not to meet some important historical figure. If that were truly the case, he should be going to see the Shennong of this generation, to see Chiyou, and that Xingtian who was about to lose his head; their reputations should be far greater than Guangchengzi's.

Was his true purpose actually to want to know the secret of becoming a god? Did he also want to attain the Dao and immortality? "Hear the Dao in the morning, and one can die without regret in the evening," but if he heard Guangchengzi expound the Dao, would he still die?

The History Book says Huangdi passed away and was buried at Qiaoshan, but it also says Xuanyuan rode a yellow dragon to Heaven. Which one should be true? Since Xuanyuan became a god, Baifeng is more willing to believe the latter answer. Just like Li Bai, there are various accounts of his death, but Baifeng is more willing to believe that Li Bai died while drunk, trying to scoop up the moon.

There are extremely many records in history regarding various theories of becoming a god and cultivating immortality, and even official histories record instances of people ascending to Heaven in broad daylight, such as Xu Jingyang and Xie Ziran. Now that he is so close to an immortal who can teach the most exquisite and miraculous "Dao," and with Xuanyuan—who has already met Guangchengzi—inviting him, does he really not want to go because of the danger?

If he didn't want to go, why tell his children these things? Baifeng now seems to have suddenly seen his own heart clearly and reached his own decision. He is not that great and selfless; he is not doing it for any knowledge, but simply to become a god or an immortal.

Yulong also keenly sensed that his father truly wanted to go to Kongtong Mountain. Perhaps after Baifeng had been to the place where the gods lived once, the influence on him was simply too great. He himself had never been, but just hearing about it made him yearn for it uncontrollably. But if his father went and never returned, what should be done? Not to mention such a large Huaxia, what about this family of his?

The scene suddenly fell silent. Only Miaoyin did not sense the truth of the matter and anxiously urged: "Father, what else? Please continue!"

Baifeng woke up from the depths of his heart. He was somewhat surprised by his own selfishness, yet he also felt it was very reasonable. Now, he did not know how to continue the story he had been thinking of.

Yulong and Changle now understood clearly in their hearts that they did not want Baifeng to go, but they were unable to stop him. Becoming a god and the place where gods live—even for the two of them, they were likely unable to refuse.

Seeing that Baifeng was having trouble speaking, Yulong said helplessly: "Father, do you have anything else to say? If not, then we will leave first. I still have a lot of work on my hands."

"Moreover, the affairs of Huaxia truly cannot do without you. There are a thousand threads to many matters, and with my current ability, I simply cannot resolve them. Too many things have just gotten on the right track; not a single mistake can be made."

Baifeng was stunned for a moment and said: "Alright, you all go get busy."

Miaoyin was pulled up by her two brothers and left. She was still not satisfied, but seeing that their expressions were not quite right—yet she had clearly been listening to something very interesting and miraculous—why were the two of them looking so gloomy?

She asked her two brothers. Changle forced a smile: "Look, Father is already so tired, let him rest well. Wait until tomorrow; if you have anything, go ask him then."

Miaoyin's smile also faded: "Alright, then I will go get busy too. See you tonight." Afterwards, she walked toward the direction of the Weaving Department.

With their grandmother, who was still somewhat oblivious, gone, the two of them had no more scruples.

Yulong sighed and said: "Sigh, I want to go to that kind of place too, but what if Father goes and never returns? Not to mention the dangers on the road, if Father truly becomes a god, but in that place, according to what Father said, there are too many gods. But here, do we have gods coming? Are gods truly useful?"

"Huaxia cannot do without Father."

Changle was very direct: "I cannot do without Father. No matter what, I think we should first persuade Father to stay. I am selfish, but I don't care. If Father really wants to hear that so-called Dao, can't he just ask Xuanyuan directly? Since Xuanyuan was able to invite Father to go, that means Father can hear that Dao too."

"Even if we trade with grain seeds, trade with Gunpowder, and trade for the answer Father wants, as long as Father does not leave Huaxia, then Huaxia can continue to exist and remain strong. But if Father is gone, do you think we can truly hold onto Huaxia?"

Yulong had truly taken Changle's idea to heart: "Trading is also fine. Father is more important than anything. Let's think of a way together. When he returns tonight, we will tell Father and persuade him to give up this idea. If Father doesn't trust Xuanyuan, then I will go. I will bring the answer back for Father."

Changle looked at Yulong thoughtfully. Yulong was not flustered in the slightest: "Don't think that I want to become a god. I have never been to that place, and I feel that place is too distant; it is not as real as Huaxia. To me, Father and Huaxia are more important."

Baifeng lay limp on the bed. On one side was the possibility of touching the secret of becoming a god, but it was too illusory; on the other side was the career, wealth, and family he had built with his own hands, all of which were very real. How should he choose? If he were allowed to return to modern society, would he really go?

Baifeng's mind was in chaos. He sank his body into the soft sofa and said powerlessly: "Pour me some tea." But after a long time, there was no movement. Baifeng said again, somewhat angrily: "Where is the tea?"

But he suddenly realized that he had driven the servants out of the courtyard; unless he went out and spoke in person, they would not dare to enter.