Chapter 1394: Fate and Heavenly Will

Aqing had asked around the Cultivation World for a long time, but found no news of Zhao Yuqing. Everyone she asked told her she was crazy for seeking out that demon. And now, it was time for Changsheng to return.

Left with no other choice, she departed the Cultivation World and returned to the Mortal World.

When she stepped back into that temple, the abbot looked somewhat surprised, having not seen his patron for quite some time.

"Did you travel to realms beyond this world, Benefactor?"

Aqing sat down and nodded. "Just wandering."

She looked at the abbot and asked, "There seem to be quite a few more monks in the temple. Your Buddhist Schools are doing a decent job of spreading their teachings."

The abbot smiled warmly. "The Dharma is boundless. It delivers those with the root of wisdom."

Aqing didn't pursue the thread, asking instead, "Can your Buddha attain eternal life?"

The abbot's expression remained unchanged. "The Buddha's life is infinite. Immortality and eternal vision are entirely bound within the profound mysteries of the Dharma."

Aqing shook her head with a smile. She just felt this monk was talking in mystical riddles, never giving a straight answer.

But when she thought about it, they probably didn't have the ability.

Otherwise, why would the Buddhist Schools have declined over such a long stretch of time?

Aqing exhaled. "Next time, you should ask your Buddha how to seek eternal life."

The abbot looked at her. "You seem obsessed with immortality, Benefactor?"

"I simply want to live a little longer."

"But in this poor monk's eyes, you lack the heart for immortality, Benefactor."

"What is a heart for immortality?"

"The trivial matters of the mortal world still weigh heavily upon your heart. Even if you obtain eternal life, you will not live happily in this world."

Aqing didn't deny it, merely saying, "I don't care about that."

The abbot shook his head. "Benefactor, you are lost in your attachments."

Aqing stood up. Unwilling to chat any further with the monk, she turned, walked out of the temple, and headed down the mountain.

The abbot watched her go, his brow tightly furrowed.

"It shouldn't be..." he murmured.

How could such a woman be trapped by the desire for eternal life?

It really shouldn't be so.

She had once said that Cultivation was meant to break her shackles. Why, then, had her desires grown now, making it increasingly difficult for her to move forward?

The abbot sighed softly, feeling helpless.

It wasn't his place to say any more to this benefactor.

...

Over a year had passed, and the bamboo hut by the stream had grown somewhat dilapidated. Aqing spent time repairing it—as long as it was habitable, it was fine.

She sat by the stream and waited.

Until one day, when Chen Changsheng appeared, and she would act as if nothing were wrong, following him to wander the ends of the earth.

She kept her lips sealed about everything she had done during the years he was away.

Only when he arrived was she truly herself.

Such days were hard to endure, but they always gave her something to look forward to.

...

The scenery of Shangjing was captivating enough to make visitors forget to return home.

It was a prosperous and thriving place, the historic residence of emperors. At the foot of the Son of Heaven, the wealth was unparalleled, and everywhere one looked bustled with life.

Chen Changsheng led Aqing into the city.

Aqing gazed left and right. "It's changed a lot."

"Have you been here before?"

"Once."

"It wasn't this lively," she added.

Chen Changsheng smiled warmly. "Nothing stays the same forever."

"I think the current emperor is named Yan Huai," Aqing said. "I hear he's a benevolent ruler. He's diligently managed state affairs for the country and its people all these years, and the realm has settled down quite a bit."

"Adapting to the times is a good thing."

"Mm."

Chen Changsheng said, "For the past hundred years, the position of Human Sovereign constantly changed hands. It wasn't until Emperor Shunzhi that things slowly settled down. There's finally been a stretch of peace."

Aqing thought about it, then asked, "It seems like this place is forever caught in a cycle of rise and fall."

"The entire Mortal World is like that."

Stepping into a tavern, they overheard the guests at the next table discussing matters of the Northern Desert.

"Those North Desert People are acting up again."

"I heard the Great General of the Northern Expedition has already marched his troops north to teach those North Desert People a lesson!"

"Those North Desert People never put their schemes to rest. If you ask me, we should rip them up by the roots!"

"True, very true..."

The crowd was filled with righteous indignation as they spoke. Here at the foot of the emperor, there was never a shortage of national affairs to discuss, and everyone always had something to chime in with.

"The Northern Desert is still around..." Aqing noted.

"It's always been there."

Chen Changsheng said, "I suspect over this past century, the Northern Desert has shed its former weakness. Our side might be underestimating them this time."

"Doesn't that mean war again?"

"There will always be war."

"True..."

Aqing rested her chin in her hands, falling into thought. "What has long been divided must unite, what has long been united must divide. There's never been an everlasting dynasty."

"That will change one day."

Chen Changsheng added, "That depends on heaven's will."

Aqing knew what he meant. This Mortal World was ultimately blanketed by heaven and earth; certain rules and shifts could always be traced.

In the unseen workings of fate, there was always heaven's will.

Aqing paused, then asked, "Changsheng..."

"Hmm?"

"Do you think people like us can escape fate and heavenly will?"

Chen Changsheng looked at her. "When you and I stepped onto the path of Cultivation, didn't we already escape them?"

"That's not what I mean."

Aqing opened her mouth, then said, "I'm just wondering if it's possible to be completely in control of oneself—to cast away everything external."

Chen Changsheng thought it over before replying, "Probably not. We are forever under this heaven and earth, and the fundamental rules here will always exist."

"I see..."

Aqing sank deep into thought.

Chen Changsheng looked up at her. "What is it?"

"Nothing. Let's eat."

Chen Changsheng gave her a puzzled look. Seeing that she wasn't going to press the matter, he let it go.

Yet, faintly, he sensed something off.

Aqing occasionally acted out of sorts. In the past, she rarely brought up matters of Lifespan or life and death. But this year, she had mentioned them multiple times, and her words carried a subtle fear of mortality.

She hadn't been like this before.

At night, the two walked along the long street to see the festive lanterns. The brilliant lights were dazzling and intoxicating.

"Changsheng, come look!"

Often, Aqing acted like a child, easily enamored with little trinkets.

Wandering around, they ended up buying a few items.

A hairpin, a Fan Mask, and a beaded necklace. Worn on her, they looked beautiful.

"Looks good, doesn't it?"

Aqing showed them off in front of Chen Changsheng, absolutely delighted.

Later, they went to guess lantern riddles and took first prize. She won a precious pearl from the lantern stall—whether it was real or fake was hard to say, but it looked charming hanging around her neck.

Eating her candied hawthorn skewers, Aqing said, "The lantern festival in Shangjing City is so much fun! I've never seen anything like it. Changsheng, let's come back next time, okay?"

Chen Changsheng nodded. "Alright."

"It's a promise!"

"Mm, a promise."

Only then did Aqing look reassured, as if she were terrified he might go back on his word.