Chapter Ten: Asking One's Heart

  At the crowing of a rooster, Xu Xian said: "Shentu Zhang, you temporarily enter underground, digest these raw souls well, there will be use for you in the future." Shentu Zhang responded with a sound and entered underground.

  Zhao Wenhui came over to see him off, frowning and saying: "With so many souls missing, how can we account for it?"

  Xu Xiandao said, "How the vengeful spirits taken by the Qiu Wang Fu are to be dealt with will be how they are dealt with!" After finishing speaking, he flew off hastily, leaving Zhao Wenhui smiling wryly, unsure whether he had brought a savior or a calamity.

  Xu Xian didn't do all this just to repay a favor, but also because he learned about the structure of this world from Zhao Wenhui's mouth tonight - the Heavenly Court, the Underworld, and the vastness of the Immortals and Buddhas. He really needs some power that he can control himself, not necessarily to do great things, but at least to be able to protect himself.

  The first imaginary enemy is Fahai, and Fahai's feud with Ba Suo Jing started many years ago when he stole his golden elixir. It's not just about subduing demons and evil spirits. No matter what the mood is, this vendetta cannot be avoided and must be taken over by Ba Suo Jing. As for Fahai's power, it goes without saying that his cultivation of hundreds of years is not trivial.

  Although he is not considering any millennium fate with his current state, this state cannot be maintained forever, unless he never wakes up again. But it's impossible for him to do something against his heart now. Once he wakes up, he will inevitably be affected by these causes and effects, at that time, enough power will be needed.

  After all, no matter how indifferent, the survival heart of self-preservation and the development heart of pursuing the great way still exist. However, if one can also see through this heart, without falling into the abyss, it will surely fly beyond the nine heavens.

  When I can fully recall this memory, the current self in my heart will be that vast road, and as a human being, I will completely disappear. It's not that the east wind overpowers the west wind, but rather that a higher consciousness dominates a lower one, just like how a child becomes an adult, the same person, yet with a completely different consciousness in the end.

  But for some reason, thinking of how I was originally going to be worn down by this vast road, like an ancient well, my heart still feels a slight sense of melancholy.

  But in this world, nothing is absolute, who can predict what will happen tomorrow?

  "Hey, Hans, dinner's ready."

  Xu Xian slowly woke up, and a stunningly beautiful face appeared in front of him. "Ming Yu, I'll sleep for a bit longer, just a little while. I had many dreams last night, I'm so tired."

  "What dream?" Pan Yu asked curiously.

  "En" Xuxian thought for a moment "Can't remember clearly, only remember that I was very majestic."

  Pan Yu pursed her lips and smiled: "You've always been so domineering, okay, stop being lazy. Everyone's gone to watch the excitement."

  "What's all the commotion?"

  "The academy has agreed to let the Red Sleeve Academy participate in this First Snow Meeting, everyone went to see the big girls, and among the students of Yin Institute, there are two heavenly beauties, if you don't go, you'll regret it for a lifetime."

  Xu Xian yawned and sat up: "All day watching you is not enough, what a heavenly beauty."

  Pan Yulang smiled slightly, but didn't say a word.

  After finishing a meal, Pan Yu felt warmth, while Xu Xian thought it was a strange breakfast. Both of them went to look for excitement.

  According to Xu Xian's words, a group of rascals gathered together, what else can they do besides flirting? Went to take a look, indeed they were flirting, a bunch of talented scholars who read sacred books, competing for the attention of a few young girls. Yīn Yuàn Shǒu was not among them, but the leading lady was indeed elegant and refined, with a clever smile. She truly deserved to be called "peerless beauty". Even Xu Xian couldn't help but take two more glances, and was even glared at by Pan Yu.

  Pan Yu frowned and said, "It's actually letting the courtesan participate in the First Snow Trial, it's really not like a proper thing to do." Just now she had only heard that there was some beauty, but now that she took a look, wasn't this the courtesan of Tingyuelou, called Cai Feng?

  She didn't know that Yin Hongxiu's difficulties were that all the talented women who could write poetry and literature were from good families, and she was a notorious eccentric in Hangzhou, so no one would let their children follow her recklessly. On the other hand, some women in the wind and dust often relied on her, worshipped her as a teacher, and learned some poetry and literature to increase their own value. Cai Feng was the best among her students, who could write poetry and literature, with a noble demeanor, and was her heart's only choice.

  Xu Xian was also shocked, having heard the name of Yue Lou before, he had always wanted to take a look. Such a beautiful woman, actually fell into that kind of place. Pan Yu beside him seemed to notice his intention and smiled: "Although Cai Feng has fallen into the dust, she is still a chaste person. If Han Wen is willing, he may be able to get a glimpse of her fragrance."

  Xu Xian exclaimed, "Selling art not selling body?" Although this phrase often appears in various movies, Xu Xian had never taken it seriously, thinking that it was just a gimmick played by the old madam to raise prices.

  "Ah, during the time of King Zhou's rebellion, her father was still the governor of Hangzhou. Later, he got implicated and was exiled to a distant place where he died on the way. She was also demoted to be a musician. However, later on, Yin Hongxiao took good care of her, although she was nominally under the control of Tingyuelou, she could still be considered half-free. And she herself had some means to protect herself."

  Xu Xian's heart sank, and it was clear that no one wanted to offend this woman who could reach the heavens.

  Among the crowd, Cai Feng circulated among everyone, responding with ease, and unexpectedly had a hint of Pan Yu's demeanor. From the moment Pan Yu appeared, she couldn't help but glance over there, not just because of Pan Yu's appearance, but also because she knew that this was the greatest enemy in this first snow trial.

  As for the students around her, she didn't really care about them. What disappointed her was that Pan Yu only chatted with the person next to him and didn't pay much attention to her. Later, when the person chatting with Pan Yu left, Pan Yu waited for a while and then left without even looking in her direction.

  Xu Xian stood at the entrance of the Xuanyuan Pavilion, originally he should have come to thank him earlier, but these past few days his heart had been troubled by many things, about power, about the future, and couldn't shake off the knot in his mind.

  In the backyard, the courtyard is filled with fallen leaves, and a wisp of tea mist floats in the air. A figure stands with hands behind its back, clad in a warm apricot-yellow garment, exuding an aura of serenity that seems to emanate from an old, yellowed painting, calming one's heart.

  She turned around and smiled, "Is Mr. Pan better?"

  Xu Xian nodded: "En, okay, thank you for your help."

  Yu Xuanji asked: "Is it just an empty-handed visit to thank you for your kindness?"

  Xu Xian was taken aback, "Really? If so, I'll treat you to dinner?"

  A burst of stifled laughter from "Puchi". Yuxuanji also smiled slightly and scolded: "Fool."

  Xu Xian scratched his head, "I'm telling you, I'm a master in cooking."

  Yu Xuanji smiled and said: "Then I'll have a taste of freshness at noon. Alright, what brings you here? You're not just here to thank me, are you?"

  Xu Xian poured out his own confusion.

  Yu Xuanji smiled slightly and said: "What's wrong? Do you feel that your strength is not enough, and want to learn from me?"

  Xu Xian shook his head very firmly, and Yu Xuanji also felt a bit depressed. "Why?"

  Xu Xian furrowed his brow and said: "Because I had a very terrifying dream."

  "What dream?"

  "I don't remember the content clearly, but I have a feeling that in my dream, I was not afraid, nor angry. Nothing else mattered except myself. Everything I cherished didn't matter in that dream, but I knew that at that time, I was close to what you call 'the way'."

  Yu Xuanji smiled bitterly: "Then what do you want to come here for?"

  Xu Xian laughed brightly: "I want to learn from you!"

  "Ah!" Yu Xuanji exclaimed, since her divination skills had matured, she truly felt that there was no one as unpredictable as the person in front of her.

  Xu Xian looked at Yu Xuanyuan's face, which was always calm and collected, but now her cherry lips were slightly parted and her big eyes were wide open, making her look both beautiful and interesting. He continued: "I want to become stronger, I have never stopped practicing Taoist magic all these years, but somehow I don't know how to use it, I want you, Master Sister, to teach me how to use this power."

  Yu Xuanji frowned and said: "Three hearts and two intentions are not feasible."

  Xu Xian smiled and said, "I don't have three hearts and two intentions. I am walking my own path with one heart and one intention. I've figured it out - the so-called Tao and law are just tools. As long as I don't get lost in that boundless vastness, I will still be myself." Coming to this place, after a conversation with Yu Xuanji, he vaguely understood his own way.

  If you feel powerless about something, just go pursue a stronger power, that's just a childish linear thinking. It's like the glass balls we loved to play with when we were kids, back then all we wanted was to have many glass balls. But now who doesn't have the ability to easily fulfill their childhood dreams?

  But unfortunately, my heart has changed, and a house full of glass balls can't bring me any happiness. If I lose myself on the path to seeking truth, then the power I gain in the end is as worthless as this house full of glass balls.

  To put it bluntly, Xu Xian is just a child who refuses to grow up, carefully guarding his own childhood innocence and happiness on one hand, while trying his best to get as many glass marbles as possible on the other. After a hundred years, I am willing to cherish you like that glass marble in the eyes of a child back then, no matter how time flows like water, or how vast the world is, it cannot be worn away.

  Yu Xuanji gazed at the youth in front of her, who was smiling faintly. In an instant, he seemed to be emitting a spiritual light, which was different from the calm and collected aura she had seen on her master and uncles. Instead, it seemed to radiate a warm and endearing glow.

  Heaven is eternal and strong; a gentleman should self-strengthen without respite, this is all.

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