Ze Tian Ji (Way of Choices)
chapter-599

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

Before leaving, Xu Yourong said to Chen Changsheng, "Prepare for an immediate return to the capital. I am confident that there is somebody in this world that can cure you."

In the slight warmth of the dawn light, Gou Hanshi and the other disciples of Mount Li once more came to the house, inquiring if they could visit.

The Mount Li Sword Sect had always had a close relationship with Holy Maiden Peak, and the previous Holy Maiden was at this moment traveling with Su Li in another world. Perhaps for this reason—and also perhaps because they were about to return to the capital and there was a high chance that Chen Changsheng would have no further opportunity to meet Gou Hanshi and the others again—Xu Yourong did not deny their request.

Leaning on the couch and covered in a silk blanket, Chen Changsheng laughed as he saw Gou Hanshi and the other two disciples walk in.

Gou Hanshi asked, "Is it a problem from breaking through?"

Chen Changsheng first nodded but then shook his head.

Impatient, Guan Feibai asked, "Is that it or not?"

Chen Changsheng explained, "There really were some problems that appeared as I was breaking through. They weren't serious, only somewhat troublesome. Ultimately, however, they weren't the root cause."”

Gou Hanshi asked, "Then what was the cause?"

Chen Changsheng glanced at Guan Feibai and said, "All of you said in the past that my fate was good. In fact, my fate is truly bad. I have an illness."

Guan Feibai said unhappily, "If you have an illness, cure it. Is there any need to act so pathetically in front of us?"

Only the Elder of Heavenly Secrets and Xu Yourong knew the specifics of the situation, with not even Tang Thirty-Six and Zhexiu being able to guess at the details. The cultivators that had come to participate in the Boiling Stone Summit by the Heaven Lake of Mount Han all believed that Chen Changsheng had encountered some minor problems as he broke into Star Condensation, and Gou Hanshi and the others were the same. Who could have imagined, who would dare think, that his life was already running short?

Chen Changsheng laughed and said, "That makes sense, which is why, in a little while, I'll be leaving, returning to the capital to cure my illness."

"Will there be any difficulties?" Gou Hanshi asked as he looked at Chen Changsheng's eyes.

Chen Changsheng shook his head. "It's just that the journey is rather long; how could there be any difficulties?"

Guan Feibai and Liang Banhu thought, that's true—although Chen Changsheng is still quite young, he's already been designated as the Orthodoxy's successor. With the confluence of the north and south completed, the Great Zhou Dynasty is at its peak, and the Orthodoxy has millions upon millions of believers in this world. And there's also Mao Qiuyu and Linghai Zhiwang, two Prefects of the Orthodoxy, at his side for this journey, so there's no way there could be any troubles.

At this moment, a South Stream Temple disciple entered to report that the carriage was ready and that the Holy Maiden would like to know when they should depart.

Guan Feibai had speculated for an entire night and could no longer restrain himself. Looking at Chen Changsheng, he asked, "You and Junior Sister Xu…no, with the Holy Maiden, just what's going on between the two of you?"

Chen Changsheng thought it over but didn't know how to explain, so he decided it was better to just not speak.

Thankfully, Tang Thirty-Six and Zhexiu had already finished packing the luggage and the disciples of South Stream Temple had also come over to meet them. As a result, this question was lost in the confusion.

Tang Thirty-Six prepared to help Chen Changsheng up but was prevented from doing so by South Stream Temple disciple Ye Xiaolian.

Ye Xiaolian calmly and seriously explained, "The Holy Maiden has decreed that unless ordered, no one can touch Little Principal Chen."

Flustered, Tang Thirty-Six said, "If I didn't know about those irritating matters, do you think I would be able to restrain myself?"

Ye Xiaolian did not care about what those irritating matters he was speaking of were. She walked straight to the couch and very cautiously helped Chen Changsheng get up, supporting him all the way until he was seated in the carriage.

Before the carriage had begun to move, sword intent rose up with the morning wind.

Guan Bai stood on the stone platform and said to Chen Changsheng in the carriage, "My apologies, this sort of conclusion was not my intention."

Chen Changsheng replied, "It has nothing to do with Senior, it's purely my own problem."

Guan Bai replied, "But in the end, it still appeared because of me. You are the future of the Orthodoxy, countless times more important than me. If I really have affected the ability of humans to resist the demons, then even if I were to die ten thousand times, it would not be enough to redeem me."

Chen Changsheng said, "I hear that Senior has spent these past few years as an expert amongst the ranks of the Demon-resisting Army of the North. It's truly admirable and I hoped that I would have the chance to fight alongside you, but…"

Upon saying this, he finally became somewhat depressed.

He still had many things he had not done, many places he had not visited. Although he had gone to the snowy plains of the demon lands before, he had not done anything to help the soldiers there yet.

Guan Bai naturally did not understand the true meaning behind these words. "There will come an opportunity someday. In the future, let us meet again on the snowy plains."

Chen Changsheng nodded, saying, "See you there."

Gou Hanshi and the others also halted their footsteps and bid him farewell.

Chen Changsheng gazed at them, his expression calm, yet his mood growing more and more downcast. He thought to himself, it's truly a high possibility that I will never see any of you again.

Under a pine tree and watching the convoy gradually vanish down the mountain path, Gou Hanshi's expression grew solemn.

Guan Feibai was somewhat confused. "No matter how serious his injuries, how troublesome his illness, after returning to the capital, His Holiness will be there to personally treat him and he will naturally be cured. What need is there for Senior Brother to be so concerned?"

"Chen Changsheng studied under Principal Shang, and Principal Shang is Daoist Ji. We've also once seen his medical expertise and he could be rated as a divine physician. And Junior Sister Xu has long since cultivated her Sacred Light technique to the pinnacle. If the two of them could not treat his illness, is there anyone that can? Even if His Holiness really could, why does Junior Sister Xu also have to accompany him back to the capital?"

Gou Hanshi spoke while at the same time organizing his own analysis. He felt more and more that something was wrong and his expression turned even graver, even somewhat grim.

Upon hearing these words, Guan Feibai came to his senses. Turning towards the end of the mountain path and listening to the faint sound of hooves, he somewhat anxiously asked, "What do we do? Do you want to catch up and ask?"

Gou Hanshi replied, "Since he doesn't want to say, what need is there to ask?"

The convoy swiftly advanced south, trampling over countless leaves and fruits on the way. The mountain path was covered in carriage tracks as well as crushed fruits and leaves.

Chen Changsheng was not in the Orthodoxy's carriage, but the imperial carriage of Holy Maiden Peak. The South Stream Temple disciples attended upon him, ready at any time to form a sword array. The curtains could not keep out those suspicious and curious gazes, but their swords could prevent those gazes from disturbing the person within.

Just as in the house by the lake, the Holy Maiden had ordered that it was strictly prohibited for anyone to touch Chen Changsheng.

Based on principle, although Xu Yourong was the Holy Maiden of the south with an exceptionally noble and lofty status, Chen Changsheng was still the future Pope, so there was no reason for the Orthodoxy's people to accept this arrangement. But perhaps because of that engagement that once existed or because Holy Maiden Peak's display had been too unyielding, Mao Qiuyu and Linghai Zhiwang had still not made any objections.

Of course, the most important reason was that Chen Changsheng himself had not opposed this plan. Tang Thirty-Six knew their secrets, so he would also naturally not offer any dissent, while Zhexiu still did not completely understand what was going on.

The five hundred li of Mount Han was quickly left behind under the convoy's furious charge. After passing through the mountain gate bearing the words 'Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets', it very quickly arrived at the village below the mountain. The believers of the village kneeled like the tide on both sides of the road, and even people in the fields seemed to kneel down, yet they were unable to make the carriages carrying the Holy Maiden and the future Pope pause for even the shortest time. Ultimately, they could only see the dust and the faintly visible carriages within.

The blizzards and harsh cold of the snowy plains were blocked off by Mount Han and the plains of the north in the beginning of autumn could still be described as verdant. Nearby, one could see many fruits and newly tied bean vines, but if one were to look further, the green that signified life would swiftly fade, gradually growing more desolate as it mixed with the sandstorms on the horizon, looking just like the wastelands on which the humans and demons had primarily fought their battles.

The curtains flew up and down as the wind from the front poured in, yet it could not touch his face. Chen Changsheng knew that this imperial carriage had some sort of array. Only in this way could it match with the Holy Maiden's identity and status, but he still felt that it was overly extravagant. He wanted to say something, but he felt it inappropriate, and when he saw the vast sight in the distance, his thoughts turned elsewhere.

He gazed at the plains that seemed to contain countless cavalry and said, "Yesterday, Heavenly Secrets coldly watched as I was about to die, then…many people loyal to the Empress also want me to die, right?"

The army of the Great Zhou Imperial Court was completely under the command of the thirty-eight Divine Generals, and besides Han Qing who stood guard over the Mausoleum of Books, all the other Divine Generals were like Xue Xingchuan and Xu Shiji, absolutely loyal to the Divine Empress.

In the long journey from Mount Han to the capital, they would have to pass through many passes and strategic towns. If the two sides really did have a falling-out, then the convoy could be attacked by troops at any time. Even his return to the capital would not be all that simple.

Xu Yourong was still injured and she had not slept for nearly an entire night. She was extremely exhausted, and after leaving Mount Han, her eyes had been shut in rest. Upon hearing his sighs, she opened her eyes and glanced towards the distance, saying, "That will depend on whether Heavenly Secrets notifies the capital about your matter, who he notifies, and whether or not this news will be sent to the offices of those Divine Generals before we reach the capital. And I still don't understand—even if your survival will affect the Empress somehow, why would your existence affect her?"

Chen Changsheng looked around. He saw that in the flying curtains were nothing but the figures of South Stream Temple disciples. Tang Thirty-Six and Zhexiu were riding horses about twenty zhang in front, but Mao Qiuyu and Linghai Zhiwang, leading the Orthodoxy's forces, were very far behind them. Moreover, this array was probably able to block the probing of spiritual sense.

"You should have heard about that rumor that the Empress defied the heavens and changed fate," he said to Xu Yourong.

Xu Yourong faintly guessed at what he wanted to say. Perking her brows, she asked, "Could it be that you also believe that nonsense gossiped about by the ignorant in markets and countryside?"

Chen Changsheng looked into her eyes and said, "I read Wang Zhice's notebook in the Lingyan Pavilion."

This was a secret imparted to him by his teacher that he had never told anyone else before, but he had never planned to hide it from Xu Yourong. His blood flowed in her body, her blood flowed in his. There was no better example than this of the so-called mingling of blood and thus trusting in one another.

After a very long time, he concluded his narrative.

Xu Yourong looked at him and said, "You understand what I mean. Even if the Empress really did change her fate back then, it can't be according to the rumors gossiped about in the marketplace."

The Divine Empress had been de facto ruler of the human world for more than two hundred years. Although her performance in warring against the demons was unsatisfactory and she treated her opposition with excessively cruel methods, her governance of the common people could be described as perfect, with not even her opponents able to make too much of a fuss about it. But even now, complaints were sent at her from both inside and outside the Imperial Court, and she was still unable to obtain the heartfelt love and respect of even the most simple and provincial peasant. The primary contributor of this was those wicked legends surrounding her, such as the most famous one.

It was rumored that the Divine Empress, in order to defy the heavens and change fate to become the world's first female emperor, had offered up all her future children to the starry sky. To succeed, she had even personally choked her first son to death, and even successfully framed the then-empress…

"I also find it impossible to imagine such a terrifying matter, nor will I use rumors to denounce the Empress, but you should also be aware that the Empress accompanied Emperor Xian for so many years, yet they truly did not leave a single descendant behind."

Chen Changsheng continued, "The Empress perhaps did not voluntarily commit a vile deed like murdering her child, but it is highly possible that this was the price sought from her by the Heavenly Dao or a requirement for defying the heavens and changing fate."

Xu Yourong asked, "What do you want to say?"

Chen Changsheng gazed at the nearby verdant plains and the distant vast desert. After a long period of silence, he finally said, "The Empress's changing of fate…has still not succeeded."

With his voice, the world suddenly turned gloomy. Some cloud had come from nowhere and blocked off the sun. With a clap of thunder, rain began to descend from the sky.

……