Chapter 28: Smoke Between People and Fire

  Yao Guang advised Ye Gucheng to experience the world's diverse phenomena at that time, not speaking nonsense, but truly believing it would be beneficial for his mental state and gain insight, and at that time, his swordsmanship would also make progress.

  Ye Gu Cheng thought about it for a night and decided to do as he said, go to Zhongyuan alone, and naturally wouldn't act impulsively. Ximen Chui Xue had an old relationship with him, and he watched how that young man went from being a stunning talent in his youth to being close to a sword god today. He had even seen Ximen Chui Xue's soft expression when he was troubled by emotions back then. If it weren't for the fact that one couldn't fake their sword energy, Ye Gu Cheng would have almost doubted whether the young man in front of him was who he thought he was. Now, Ximen Chui Xue had cut off his emotions with his sword and advanced further on the path of the sword, while Ye Gu Cheng himself felt a bit lost and unsure of what to do. As for his true feelings, he didn't want to sink any lower. Just as Yao Guang said, the way of the sword only moves forward, never backward. All people on the path of the sword don't want to retreat, and Yao Guang's words sounded reasonable and without fault. After thinking about it three times, Ye Gu Cheng thought that it was indeed feasible, and he sincerely invited Yao Guang to come along. Ye Gu Cheng wasn't an ordinary person and didn't have the habit of looking down on people based on their gender or age. He wouldn't think lightly of Yao Guang just because she was young. The Yao Guang he knew wasn't some delicate young girl, but a transcendent swordsman and a young Daoist. On the sword, he had lost to her once before, and on the path of the Dao, with his current state of mind, he feared that he would also lose to her. Since there is an order to understanding the Dao, and different people specialize in different skills, Ye Gu Cheng never thought that listening to Yao Guang's suggestions and teachings was inappropriate.

  The two of them spoke seriously and sincerely believed that this was a good thing to do, so Yao Guang happily agreed to travel with Ye Gu Cheng.

  That's absolutely impossible.

  The person who received this rare invitation from Ye Gu Cheng in a decade did not feel honored.

  Yao Guang stayed in White Cloud City for several months, on the one hand because life was carefree there, and on the other hand because she could appreciate the power of water by the sea. It can be said that she had a connection with the land, but not with people. She and the city master Ye Gu Cheng didn't have any romantic relationship as some people might have guessed, nor were they even friends; at most, they were two swordsmen who appreciated each other's skills. If she accepted Ye Gu Cheng's invitation, it would be equivalent to putting aside her understanding of the power of water that she had just touched upon and going back to experience the worldly affairs that she had already experienced - no matter how you looked at this choice, there was no advantage.

  So, Yao Guang spoke up: "Thank you for your kind intentions, Ye City Master, but I don't want to leave White Cloud City for the time being."

  In the not-too-distant hiding place, many maidservants and servants heard this sentence, all of whom were shocked with their eyes wide open, some excitedly wanting to rush out, fortunately being pulled back by their companions who quickly whispered: She is the lord's noble guest, the lord's noble guest!

  Since Ye Gucheng took over the White Cloud Castle, he has been autocratic and cold-tempered. No one dares to offend him face-to-face. In the past, if he extended such an invitation to someone, they would probably be grateful to tears. To put it simply, Ye Gucheng rarely gets a "no" from anyone.

  This was probably Ye Gu Cheng's first time being rejected by someone. He couldn't help but pause, subconsciously asking: "Why?"

  Yao Guang replied matter-of-factly: "What I lack now is not the various forms of life, so I have no intention of going through this ordeal."

  Ye Gu Cheng fell silent for a while before speaking in a low voice: "I have the heart to try, but I don't know how to do it. Please enlighten me, Master."

  Yao Guang heard this and couldn't help but size up Ye Gu Cheng for a moment, suspiciously saying: "Master Ye... could it be that you've been the castle master for so long that you've already forgotten what life was like when you weren't the castle master?"

  Ye Gu Cheng didn't respond, but his expression clearly confirmed Yao Guang's guess.

  Yao Guang couldn't help but stare blankly for a moment, unsure whether to laugh or sigh.

  Experience the complexity of human nature, the simplest way is to live among people, and you will naturally have a deep understanding.

  In the past, in the Pure Yang Palace, someone would go down the mountain to cultivate their mind. They would usually carry a long sword and a travel bag, lightly setting out on the road. No one ever came running to ask what to do because there was simply nothing to ask about. One should live as they see fit.

  Ye Gu Cheng's inquiry was as if he had already forgotten how to live as "Ye Gu Cheng who is not the castle owner".

  Yang Chunbai Xue, Xia Li Ba Ren, Hou Men Da Hu, Xiang Zhong Nong Jia, Gou Xin Dou Jiao, Xiao Ti You Gong. Bai Yang Mi Yang Bai Yang Ren, Zhi Yao Zai Hong Chen Jian Da Gun, Ze Ran Hui Jian Dao Ge Zhong Ge Yang De Ren He Shi, Hao Ye You, Huai Ye You, Wang En Fu Yi You, Di Shui En Yong Quan Bao You, You "Zhang Yi Mei Duo Tu Gou Bei, Fu Xin Duo Shi Du Shu Ren", You "Zui Wo Sha Chang Jun Mo Xiao, Gu Lai Zheng Zhan Ji Ren Hui".

  It is said that all living things have different forms and faces, just like a thousand people having a thousand different faces.

  The Pure Yang Palace never forces its disciples to live a hard and simple life after leaving the mountain. If they have the ability, they can enter the Hou's household as a respected guest and enjoy wealth and glory. Power, wealth, and glory are all just aspects of human nature. If they want to go to the market or countryside, that's also an aspect of human nature.

  Following one's inclinations and acting on one's heart, but this does not mean that a worldly person who has entered the Way will abandon their moral nature and become mired in worldly emotions. With the seven emotions stirring their heart and the six desires confusing their will, they can experience the bitter and sweet aspects of life while also transcending them, naturally resulting in a more stable moral nature and a clearer spiritual platform.

  If it's for a good reason, the simplest way is to go and get what you lack.

  If you were originally a young master from a wealthy family, then go and experience the joys and sorrows of ordinary people; if you came from a poor background, then go and take a walk among wealth and glory. Be aware of what you lack and go make up for it.

  The so-called "can't put down" is based on the premise of "picking up", if you have never touched or "picked up" before, then the "quietness" that comes from ignorance will be less determined. When truly facing the three-foot soft red, it's hard to say.

  Yao Guang looked at Ye Gu Cheng for a moment, and his interest in this swordsman who was still in confusion grew. He couldn't help but want to see what kind of path he would take in the future. So he smiled and said: "To put it simply, Master Ye - Ye Dabang should forget that he is the master of White Cloud Castle, and temporarily not be a top swordsman, just go to the Central Plains as the eldest son of the Ye family. Whether it's half a month or three months, once I've made progress in my cultivation, I'll definitely come find you."

  Not the lord of White Cloud City, nor a top swordsman?

  "Is that still Ye Gu Cheng?"

  "How can it be not Ye Gu Cheng?"

  Her eyebrows arched slightly as she smiled lightly, her eyes like warm jade misting over, transparent and lustrous, yet sharp enough to almost see into one's heart.

  "You're just like Ye Gu Cheng."

  Ye Gucheng was stunned again, and in an instant his thoughts were surging, as if he had gained some insight. When he came to himself, he found that Yao Guang had already disappeared without a trace.

  Someone quietly came forward and asked in a low voice: "Master of the city, the car and boat are ready, shall we set off?"

  Ye Gu Cheng glanced at his loyal subordinates and slightly raised the corner of his mouth, shaking his head and saying: "After arriving in Central Plains, you don't have to follow me."

  "The lord of the castle cannot...! Now that the emperor's intention is unclear, the six gates and many people are all watching you. If you were to walk alone..."

  "It's nothing." Ye Gucheng gazed in the direction of the coast where Su Rili practiced swordsmanship, saying softly, "If I were just 'Ye Dalang', those people might not have been able to find me, right?"

  The young man's heart is bleeding with loyalty, gazing in the same direction, wishing he could kneel down and beg Qingxu Daozhang to take back his words.

  Although it is true that the lord of the city is indeed the eldest son of the Ye family, the title "Ye Dalang" sounds like something that would make people cry.

  This is the master of White Cloud Castle, who has come from afar with a sword and flying fairy from outside the sky!

  Ye Dala...

  The young man silently swallowed a mouthful of blood, retreated to convey the city master's decision, and repeatedly instructed those who stayed in the city that as long as Qingxu Daozhang said she wanted to go to Zhongyuan, they must send her there with the fastest speed!

  Qing Xudao Chang, I'm begging you, let the City Master take a few days off from being "Ye Dalang"......

  The young man's idea largely represented the public opinion of the vast White Cloud City, so two weeks later, Yao Guang told her maid that she intended to go to Zhongyuan. That afternoon, she was sent on a good boat, and with the wind and waves, she quickly arrived in Zhongyuan. Then she took a horse-drawn carriage and rushed to Jiangnan at full speed.

  Yao Guang sat in the car, holding "Tao Te Ching" and reading it carefully. She didn't care about the fatigue of the journey, but she was a little puzzled by the speed of the rush, wondering if Ye Gu Cheng was being pursued and fleeing for his life at this moment?

  A few days later, Yao Guang was respectfully asked to get off the carriage by the driver Bi Gong. The other party almost cried and begged her to persuade the city master to return to White Cloud City as soon as possible.

  Yao Guang unwittingly fell into the trap, and simply didn't respond. It wasn't until she followed the driver's directions to her destination that she roughly understood why the people in the city lord's mansion had been looking at her with such a sorrowful gaze lately.

  Although it was her own suggestion, Yao Guang hadn't expected Ye Gu Cheng to actually do it.

  Ye Gucheng didn't wear that white outfit, nor did he carry a long sword on his back. His face wasn't as cold and frosty as before, and there was no longer that sharp, piercing aura surrounding him. He wore coarse linen clothes and occasionally smiled, looking almost indistinguishable from ordinary townspeople. Without the intimidating aloofness, people began to notice his appearance. Only then did Yao Guang realize that Ye Gucheng was actually quite handsome, with a unique air about him that set him apart from the rustic villagers. Even in rough, simple clothing, he couldn't help but draw more than a few admiring glances...

  Yao Guang looked at the long queue in front of the shaobing stall that was almost nine turns around and remained silent for a long time.

  Ye Gu Cheng is actually selling roasted buns.

  Yao Guang looked for a while, and couldn't help but walk back to the corner where the cart driver had put her down earlier. As expected, she saw the cart driver waiting there, so she opened her mouth to ask: "What's wrong with your city master?"

  The coachman was overwhelmed with emotions, his eyes brimming with hot tears as he said: "Qingxu Daozhang, I beg of you, please advise the city master to return. He doesn't even want to see us now, I beg of you..."

  Yao Guang fell silent for a moment, then smiled elegantly and graciously.

  "I think he's doing great now, maybe after a while, he'll find his own way with the sword."

  Compared to his senior who sold roasted lamb skewers, Ye Gucheng selling baked buns didn't seem like an unacceptable thing either. It was just that the contrast was too great at first, making it hard to accept. Now thinking about it carefully, perhaps this is also a good method. Isn't what the high-and-mighty White Cloud Castle Lord lacked exactly these things?

  Deep in the midst of... human warmth and bustle.

  Author has something to say: Yao Guang: None of my business. (......)

  In the original work, Ximen Chui Xue had a pastry shop, so Ye Gu Cheng thought, hmm, I'll also sell something. Winning against Ximen Chui Xue with swords doesn't count as an achievement, I must surpass him in other aspects! (Completely not true……

  There's also the joke about selling lamb skewers, before Mingjiao came out, all the people selling lamb skewers in fan art were from Chunyang Palace! Huashan Little Fat Sheep is famous nationwide! So! Chunyang can't tolerate Mingjiao at all! Snatching business, how can they tolerate it?!