Chapter 126: Great Jing Was at the Brink of Life and Death
Chapter 126: Great Jing Was at the Brink of Life and Death
Chen Changsheng said, “There should be a reason, right?”
“I don’t know.”
The Black Pagoda spoke and said, “She never told me about her matters, so I couldn’t say the cause. But seeing her reaction in the tomb back then, perhaps the tomb owner had some connection with her.”
“Can you still find where that tomb is?”
Hearing this, the Black Pagoda paused and said, “It’s best not to disturb ancient immortal tombs.”
Chen Changsheng heard this and said, “I just want to take a look, not to dig graves.”
But no matter what Chen Changsheng said, the Black Pagoda didn’t believe it, but it still answered, “If you go to the Desolate Sea, I can guide the way.”
Chen Changsheng nodded and said, “As for Sword Immortal Yu Xuan’s affairs, tell me more.”
The Black Pagoda paused after hearing this and asked, “Don’t you know her?”
“That was later.”
“Like this…”
The Black Pagoda murmured and then said, “I didn’t follow her for a long time, so I didn’t know much. Most of the time, she practiced swordplay. Besides that, she held her sword and spaced out. On the peak of the Longliu Sword Mountain, snow covered the area for miles, and only she stayed there. She stayed for sixty years. The words she spoke in those sixty years could be counted on fingers…”
In the end, the Black Pagoda didn’t say anything useful.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to tell, but there was really nothing to tell.
Sword Immortal Yu Xuan was very strange. She didn’t talk and only focused on sword training or spacing out. If an ordinary person did that, they might have gone crazy long ago.
Later, Sword Immortal Yu Xuan felt her Lifespan was ending, and her realm didn’t advance. Yet she couldn’t decide to use human Essence Blood to extend her life. So one day, she went down the mountain.
“I stayed on that mountain for a sexagenary cycle. I thought going down with her this time would show me something different. But in a flash, she entered the tomb and stayed until her soul returned to Heaven…”
“Those three years in the tomb were when she spoke the most. Altogether, there were at least a hundred or so sentences.”
Chen Changsheng said, “A hundred or so sentences, is that much?”
“For her, it was a lot.”
The Black Pagoda said, “I remember the phrase she chanted most was ‘Master’. But she only said ‘Master’ and nothing else. I asked her, but she never answered.”
Back then, he often saw Yu Xuan sitting in the tomb, holding her sword, muttering “Master”, with a blank look.
It felt a bit scary to see.
After hearing this, Chen Changsheng paused and muttered, “Like this?”
Seeing his strange expression, the Black Pagoda asked, “What’s wrong?”
Chen Changsheng shook his head and explained nothing.
The Black Pagoda found it odd. This man acted like Yu Xuan. Asked, but didn’t answer; just shook his head. Even his face looked similar.
Chen Changsheng raised his hand and beckoned. The Black Pagoda landed in his palm. He then said, “I won’t punish you for now. But from now on, you must stay in my sleeve. Without permission, don’t come out.”
In his heart, the Black Pagoda sighed. Better than being punished.
It was just being sealed. He was a spirit who had seen big storms and got used to it long ago.
Chen Changsheng raised his hand and beckoned. The Black Pagoda went into his sleeve.
His gut told him that the Black Pagoda was not good. Even if friendly when talking, it might not all be true.
Better to watch out.
…
Xian Yue walked around Shangjing City all day. When she came back, it was sunset.
She was very happy because today she saw many different things again.
Some foods, games, pretty sights…
Outside was much better than inside the deep palace.
On the way back, Xian Yue ran into Chang Shan.
“Junior Minister Chang,” Xian Yue greeted.
Chang Shan paused and said, “Princess, why are you here?”
“Just took a walk and met you on the way back.”
Seeing that Junior Minister Chang looked down, Xian Yue asked, “Junior Minister Chang, did you hit some trouble? Your expression is so tight?”
Chang Shan snapped back and answered, “Just small matters.”
Hearing this, Xian Yue nodded and asked no more. She just said, “If it’s about cases or government work, I can’t help, but Junior Minister Chang could ask Mr. Chen.”
Chang Shan paused and said, “If there’s a chance, Chang Shan will ask.”
“Hmm.”
Xian Yue and Chang Shan walked back to the mansion together.
On the way, they chatted a lot. Xian Yue even asked how Chang Shan met the Master.
“Junior Minister Chang was a cultivator before!”
“If Master hadn’t taken me in then, I might have starved to death at the mountain foot.”
…
A person and a spirit walked into the Chang Mansion.
After entering, servants came to take Master back to his room.
Seeing this, Xian Yue did not follow.
Xian Yue asked, “I’ll go see Mr. Chen first. Junior Minister Chang, will you come later?”
“I’ll come soon,” Chang Shan agreed.
The steward next to Chang Shan was stunned upon hearing this.
The steward asked blankly, “Master, who were you speaking to just now?”
Chang Shan paused in thought, then said, “No one.”
After saying this, he walked into the room.
The steward opened his mouth, looked back at the spot Master was facing, and felt chilled down the spine. With a shiver, he hurried away.
When Xian Yue reached the courtyard, she saw Master sitting at the stone table reading.
She walked quickly and asked, “Mr. Chen, did you not go to the Teahouse today?”
Chen Changsheng smiled kindly and said, “The tea drinker had business today, so I didn’t go.”
Xian Yue thought a moment and said, “Today seems to be the audience day. Lord Liu must have gone to the Imperial Court.”
“No wonder.”
Chen Changsheng then asked, “The Imperial Court should have been very lively.”
“Lively?”
Xian Yue was puzzled. What’s lively about officials attending court?
As they spoke, Chang Shan had taken off his official robes and walked over.
“Junior Minister Chang came just in time.”
Xian Yue said, “Mr. Chen said the Imperial Court was very lively. As Deputy Chief of the Court of Judicial Review, you must have attended today?”
“At the Imperial Court?”
Chang Shan paused then held back his words.
Seeing Chang Shan hesitate, Xian Yue asked, “What’s up?”
Chang Shan shook his head and just said, “It was indeed a bit lively.”
Chang Shan looked at Mr. Chen and said, “Master, did you already know?”
“Is it about the Frontier Pass?” Chen Changsheng asked.
“Um.”
Chang Shan thought, Master surely knew.
Frontier Pass was critical!
Xian Yue asked, “The Frontier Pass, did something happen?”
Chang Shan then explained, “The Frontier Pass is critical. Northern Desert raised fifty thousand troops to Longshou Pass. Beixiang led fifty thousand troops south, reaching Huluguan. Both passes sent urgent reports. They can hold out for three days at most. If broken, Northern Desert and Beixiang will march straight to Shangjing.”
His face was grim. After a long sigh, he said.
“Great Jing has come to the brink of life and death.”