"Once you take the path of ghost cultivation, your lifespan becomes virtually infinite. Moreover, you will be loathed by heaven and earth, making transcendence incredibly difficult to achieve..."
Chen Changsheng paused for a moment. "The longer you live, the greater the torment," he said. "The people you know and hold dear will gradually leave your side, yet you will be powerless to change it. Although it grants boundless might and a long life, once they truly face it, a great many people no longer wish to live forever."
"Zhishu understands."
"Do you truly understand?"
"I do."
A leaf drifted down from the tree in the corner of the courtyard.
It fell into the soil, where it would nourish the plants and trees in the coming year.
A long while later, a sigh echoed through the courtyard.
Chen Changsheng saw no blindness or ignorance in Zhishu's eyes. On the contrary, she was utterly resolute in her choice.
Whatever the choice, neither was wrong.
In the eyes of others, perhaps heading toward Reincarnation would be her best resting place. But in her own eyes, this very moment was the best choice. Even if she were doomed to eternal damnation in the future, she would likely harbor no regrets.
Then let her have her wish.
Chen Changsheng would also do everything in his power to help her.
He only hoped that in the distant future, she would not end up like him, Chen Changsheng.
.
.
The guests in the tea house gradually dispersed.
The sky gradually darkened as well.
That final touch of dusk faded away, plunging everything into pitch black.
The tea house employee lit an oil lamp, then looked toward the two gentlemen sitting inside.
"Grand Misters, the night is already deep and the wind is blowing cold. Should I fetch a blanket for you?"
Master Jin San waved his hand. "No need, no need. Just go about your work. A little breeze won't blow the two of us away."
The employee nodded and immediately began cleaning up the tea house.
Clearing the tea tables and gathering the bowls, he performed every task with earnest dedication.
Cao Fa watched the employee and could not help but think of his past self. Back then, he had not been nearly as diligent as this employee, yet his life had been particularly fulfilling.
Now he was old, unable to tell stories anymore, and the person he missed was gone. He felt there was no longer any meaning in living.
Seeing his expression, Master Jin San asked, "Do you want to tell a story?"
Cao Fa paused, then nodded. "I do, but look at me now. I stutter and stumble through a single passage. How could I tell anything? I won't do it, I won't..."
He waved his hand, his demeanor full of helplessness.
Master Jin San said, "Just mumble a few lines quietly. If others won't listen, I will."
Cao Fa paused, then smiled. "You're the only one willing to listen."
"So are you going to tell it or not?"
"Then I'll tell a short passage."
"Yes, just a short passage."
Cao Fa picked up the Folding Fan from the table and gently tapped it against the surface.
"It is said that during a winter month, a heavy snow fell. The biting wind was piercing cold, and in the hay pile of a ruined temple..."
He spoke softly, needing to take a heavy breath before he could even finish a single sentence.
Master Jin San listened from the side. He recognized the story; it was one he had heard during his past travels.
Cao Fa sat offstage, speaking softly.
Perhaps feeling that he could no longer stand on that stage, he could only tap his Folding Fan offstage and quietly murmur a few lines.
Master Jin San laughed as he listened. "Mister Cao's prestige remains undiminished from those years, undiminished indeed."
Cao Fa smiled and shook his head. "Nonsense."
He continued speaking.
Initially, he had been somewhat happy, but the further he went, the more silent the two of them became.
Thinking of how high-spirited he had been on that stage back then, the two of them could not help but feel a wave of sorrow. Reminiscing about the past inevitably brought such emotions.
Cao Fa let out a sigh. "I'm not telling it anymore. I'm not telling it."
Master Jin San nodded, saying nothing more.
The employee wiping the tables and chairs heard the storytelling abruptly stop and felt a pang of regret. He thought this story was quite good; it was one he had never heard Mister Yun tell.
"Why did you stop?"
A voice suddenly rang out.
This voice did not belong to the employee, nor to Master Jin San, and certainly not to Cao Fa.
Cao Fa froze for a moment upon hearing it, turning his head to look.
At some unknown point, an extra person had appeared in the chair beside them.
The woman spoke, "I like listening to it. Please continue."
At that moment, Cao Fa snapped back to reality. For some reason, a faint redness welled up in his eyes.
"Okay, okay..."
Amidst those two agreements, the storyteller in the tea house continued his tale.
This story was finally made complete.
...
Candlelight flickered in the small courtyard.
Yunxiang held a white Go piece between her fingers. After pondering for a moment, she placed it down.
Mister Qingshan sitting before her immediately placed a piece in response.
This game of Go went back and forth, unable to determine a victor.
Seeing this, Yunxiang sighed and said, "Zhishu is going to have a hard time from now on..."
Chen Changsheng said, "She feels it is worth it, and that is enough."
Yunxiang smiled upon hearing this. "Yunxiang likes this kind of Mister."
Chen Changsheng was momentarily stunned by these words.
"You have a bit more of a human touch," Yunxiang added.
Chen Changsheng gave a slight smile. "When did This Chen ever lack a human touch?"
Yunxiang replied, "In the past, you were always restricted by principles, Mister. Right was right, and wrong was wrong. If you could not distinguish between right and wrong, you simply would not bother with the matter at all. The way you are now, Mister, makes you seem much more like a living, breathing person. You feel joy, sympathy, and compassion, rather than just acting according to strict logic."
Chen Changsheng held a Go piece between his fingers but delayed playing it for a long time.
He thought for a moment and asked, "Was This Chen like this in his past life too?"
Yunxiang pondered for a moment before answering, "In your past life, you were even more formidable, and even more lonely."
"Is that so?" Chen Changsheng chuckled. "Yet I have never seen it."
Yunxiang smiled. "Let us not bring up the events of the past anymore. You are simply the Mister of the present, and Yunxiang is simply the Yunxiang of the present. I have come to understand a great deal now. This life is short. As long as it passes smoothly, I will be completely satisfied."
After gaining Zhu Qi's memories, she had become vastly different.
A moment later, Chen Changsheng played his piece and said, "It is entirely up to you."
"Yes."
Yunxiang thought for a moment and called out, "Mister."
"Hmm?"
"If you lose this game of Go, Mister, you have to buy some candied fruit for Yunxiang to eat tomorrow."
Chen Changsheng paused for a moment before smiling. "Alright."
Yunxiang glanced at him and said, "Yunxiang was foolish too. I always thought you liked eating candied fruit, Mister, so I bought it for you year after year."
"This Chen has not even finished the batch you gave me last time."
"I am afraid it has all gone bad by now."
"Not at all, it was kept perfectly. Do you want to eat some? This Chen will bring it out right now."
"I don't want it."
Yunxiang chuckled and said, "Yunxiang wants to eat the ones you buy, Mister."
As she spoke, she placed down a piece and immediately smiled. "You lose, Mister. Yunxiang has beaten you by one point."
Chen Changsheng looked at the Go board. He paused and feigned confusion, saying, "Eh? How did I lose this?"
Yunxiang let out a laugh. "I don't care. Regardless, a loss is a loss, Mister. It's a deal."
Chen Changsheng smiled and said, "Alright, alright. I will go buy candied fruit tomorrow."
Sometimes, he would have a slight illusion.
The Yunxiang before him was actually quite advanced in age now, yet occasionally, Chen Changsheng still felt as if she were that timid little maidservant from back then.
However, this was quite nice too.
Quite nice.
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