Xianye

Chapter 505 The Way of Heaven and Earth, Vast and Expansive

The setting sun melts into gold, and the evening clouds are also dyed with splendid colors, making it exceptionally beautiful, drifting and swaying gently.

At this moment, as Chen Heng and He Chang worked together to pull the net upwards, water splashed and foamed, creating ripples that spread out in layers.

When the net hit the small fishing boat, it made the boat tremble slightly, and the rice cakes that He Chang had left on the side of the gunwale at noon were shaken and tilted.

Fortunately, the fishing boat didn't have much room to maneuver, and He Chang was quick-witted and agile enough to grab him just as he fell into the water.

"This net wasn't bad, it's a pity the gang doesn't have a really big ship, otherwise they could have caught even more!"

He Chang stuffed the remaining rice cakes into his mouth and chewed them vigorously.

He kicked the large bluefish in the net as he turned to Chen Heng and smiled.

Chen Heng handed the kettle to He Chang and nodded in agreement.

Fishing boats come in various sizes, and the fishing methods naturally vary depending on the size of the boat.

The so-called fishing boats with thousands of bushels of fish, with six sails, appear as floating gulls in the distance and as surging mountains nearby, braving the wind and riding the waves, appearing and disappearing in the deep waters.

Large fishing boats often use various nets such as gillnets, cloth nets, shrimp nets, back nets, and rolling hooks when fishing. A single catch can be as plentiful as fish and crabs, far exceeding what small fishing boats can produce.

However, the number of people required to operate a large fishing boat is several times that of a small one.

Not only is there a captain giving orders and steering the boat, but there are also wind lookouts, oarsmen, hullers responsible for punting, and female cooks.

The "family boats" and "brother boats" like the one Chen Heng is currently on only require two or three people per boat. When fishing, they mostly use the method of casting nets, catching and casting immediately, as well as using sling nets, lever nets, and scoop nets, etc.

As the saying goes, every coin has two sides. Although this small fishing boat cannot compare with the large fishing boat in terms of catch, it has the advantage of being convenient and fast.

Even when they go out swimming or playing, they can easily cast a few nets.

Chen Heng has been a member of the Zhuxi Gang for two years now, and he usually goes out on boats with He Chang.

Over the years, he has become a seasoned fisherman, and his literacy has made him a valuable asset to the community.

Even after the old leader He Hui expressed his desire to enjoy his grandchildren, the gang members wanted to recommend him for a higher position, but Chen Heng shook his head and refused, so the gang members gave up.

At this moment, Chen Heng bent down, scooped up a handful of river water, and patted it on his face to cool off a little.

After nodding slightly to Xun Jian on the distant riverbank, he smiled at He Chang and said:
"That's all for today. Go and take those shrimp traps back, and then we'll all go home."

Hearing this, He Chang readily agreed, and the two of them slowly rowed the small boat towards the lush water plants, chatting casually along the way.

As they talked, He Chang noticed that Chen Heng's voice gradually lowered.

He quickly turned around and saw Chen Heng staring at the river, seemingly lost in thought.

He Chang was already used to this scene, he just chuckled and shrugged his shoulders slightly.

Feiyun River is a tributary of the Fu River and the livelihood of the fishing families of Zhuxi.

At this moment, He Chang followed Chen Heng's gaze and saw the mighty river flowing endlessly under the setting sun.

After bypassing Shishou Mountain not far away, Feiyun River transformed into a hazy white ribbon, winding among the continuous green mountains, and finally seemed to merge into Fushui River, but He Chang could no longer see it.

He saw only the sunset glow spreading across the water, the evening sun painting the landscape with gold, half the river desolate and half red.

Smoke from cooking fires could be faintly seen rising from both sides of the river, but it was so faint that it was like ink stains blurred by water, barely visible.

Standing here, listening to the rolling waves crashing against the bottom of the boat, and feeling the small boat swaying beneath him, He Chang felt a strange sense of vastness and emptiness.

He felt as if he were the only person in this vast world, and everything else was gradually fading away, sinking into the slowly setting sun.

The sky is still and clear, the earth is stable and tranquil.

The way of Heaven and Earth is vast and boundless...

"If you have the hope of cultivating immortality, what would you do?"

While He Chang was inexplicably distracted, a voice suddenly woke him up.

"..."

When Chen Heng's voice rang out, his strange feeling vanished instantly, as if ice had melted away.

He Chang patted his head blankly, then looked down at the river.

He had seen this scene hundreds or even thousands of times, but he had never seen anything so unusual before.
“Brother Chen, we know our own abilities... I’m only a half-baked martial artist, and I’m always overshadowed by that Huang Min, let alone the ethereal pursuit of immortality.”

He Chang shook his head, as if trying to dispel the strange feeling from before.

Faced with Chen Heng's words, he had no doubts, but thought about it seriously and said sincerely:
"In my opinion, the so-called cultivation of Tao is not as glamorous as people say. It is not as stable as my fishing livelihood."

"Appreciate further details."

Chen Heng smiled.

Seeing that Chen Heng seemed to have taken a talkative turn, He Chang, who was always a chatterbox, simply stopped rowing and shook his head, saying:
"Brother Chen, you must have heard of my elder brother He Yan, right?"

"Naturally, he was a disciple of the Liang Kingdom's Yuanshan Mansion, and was quite a renowned figure in Xiaqiu City back then."

“When my elder brother entered Yuanshan Prefecture, I was still a young boy, and I didn’t understand anything. I just vaguely felt that my family had suddenly become rich. We no longer lived in a dilapidated thatched hut. My father went from working on a boat to having his own boat, and my mother also acquired a lot of beautiful jewelry.”

Later, when I was a little older and could remember things, I finally realized that all of this was actually thanks to my older brother.

At that time, I naturally wanted to cultivate Taoism, and I pestered my elder brother for a long time to teach me how to realize embryonic breathing. Unfortunately, I didn't have much talent for cultivation, and I failed to succeed in my repeated attempts.

Later, my brother died during a training exercise…

He Chang was silent for a moment, then said with a complicated expression:
“The so-called cultivation of the Tao is not as easy and glamorous as people think. Because of my elder brother, I know a little about it.”

Talent, external medicine, lineage, sect, spiritual energy...

If any one of these things is missing, even if one cultivates the Tao, the cultivation will be extremely difficult, just like my elder brother.

Brother Chen, I know you are troubled by the matter of Dong Tie, but my elder brother once told me something that I have remembered to this day. It was something my elder brother read in a Taoist book.

He said that in the Nine Turns Furnace, there is half-formed charcoal of corpse dissolution, and outside the Three Corpse Gates, there are only yellow sprouts and rotten roots!

In this practice of cultivation, how many people have truly attained the so-called Great Way described in books?
To be honest, even if I were to have the opportunity to cultivate Tao like Dong Tie, I wouldn't want to gamble on that even the slightest, possibly possible, chance!

……

……

Dong Tie, whom He Chang mentioned, was originally a farmer in Zhuxi Village. He was poor and had no house or land. He usually made a living by working as a servant.

Because of his incorrigible habit of cheating and swindling, Dong Tie's reputation in Zhuxi Village was not good, and naturally, he could not find a good woman willing to marry him.

However, this very person recently had a stroke of luck. He accidentally picked up a half-broken talisman and was then approached by the Fangyuan Sect, a cultivation sect in Liang Kingdom.

Although Fangyuan Sect confiscated the talisman, they also gave Dong Tie some compensation.

Despite Dong Tie's advanced age and low moral character, the Fangyuan Sect still made an exception and took him into the mountains, making him a disciple of an elder.

The news caused an even greater stir than when He Yan joined Yuanshan Prefecture ten years ago.

The villagers of Zhuxi Village all treated this as a novel topic of conversation, with almost everyone envious and wishing they had been the ones to have found the jade charm. Only He Chang's reaction to the matter was lukewarm. He was usually a talkative person, but he rarely mentioned this incident.

Clearly, He Chang's attitude towards the pursuit of immortality through Taoist cultivation was far from enthusiastic...

Upon hearing Chen Heng speak out like this, He Chang assumed that Chen Heng was provoked by the Dong Tie incident, and hurriedly offered words of comfort, speaking his own innermost thoughts.

Chen Heng pondered for a moment, then asked:

"If all external things are readily available and there is no unforeseen danger, what would you do then?"

He Chang thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"I am already married, with parents and a virtuous wife at home, and a smart and adorable child. I wish I could stay by their side every day, how could I bear to leave them?"

He Chang rested his hand on the boat awning, pondered seriously for a while, and then said casually:
"Besides, I grew up in this water town since I was a child. Flying and escaping into the sky, immortality and carefree life are all too far away for me."

I am very content with my current life, and I feel that I am blessed by heaven, earth and gods.

Even knowing that cultivating the Tao would bring greater benefits, I still can't bear to leave my family, I can't bear to leave my homeland..."

After saying this, He Chang couldn't help but smile to himself.

This was clearly just the two of them chatting idly in private, but the more they talked, the more excited they became, as if there was really something to it.

However, He Chang did not suspect anything, because over the years, the two had experienced this kind of endless conversation many times.

He Chang assumed that Chen Heng had asked the question because he was moved by Dong Tie's situation.

"Brother Chen, I'm just this kind of spineless person, please don't laugh at me." He Chang scratched his head.

"Do not."

Chen Heng shook his head.

By this time, a thin layer of twilight had already settled over the horizon, like mist and smoke.

A gentle breeze blew by the river, carrying with it some lingering summer heat, but it was still refreshing.

"In general, the greatest joy in life is contentment, and the greatest wealth is a life free from worry..."

Chen Heng paused for a moment, then smiled, and without saying anything more, said:
"Let's go, we've already wasted a lot of time."

He Chang nodded, and after the two of them had collected all the shrimp traps, they slowly rowed the small fishing boat back to the riverbank.

At this moment, He Chang saw Xun Jian, who had been waiting for a long time, walk over. He was not surprised and simply smiled and nodded to him.

He knew that this man was a wealthy merchant from out of town in Xiaqiu City. He often visited Chen Heng because he admired his calligraphy. He Changtong and Xun Jian had met him a few times and were not strangers.

Although it was unclear whether Xun Jian had come to request a calligraphy piece or to reminisce, He Chang did not linger.

After tidying up and saying goodbye to Chen Heng, he happily hauled away his nets while singing a fisherman's song.

"Lord Xun, what brings you here today?"

As Chen Heng watched He Chang's figure gradually walk away until he disappeared from sight, he turned his gaze away and asked Xun Jian with a smile.

“Please don’t joke, Master. In front of you, I, Xiaolong, am not worthy of the title ‘Master’!” Xun Jian waved his hands repeatedly.

Although he had become quite familiar with Chen Heng over the past two years, Xun Jian still felt inexplicably restrained and unable to be at ease in front of Chen Heng.

After killing Qian Lie, Chen Heng did not leave. Instead, he brazenly stayed in Xiaqiu City, making no attempt to conceal his presence.

The reaction of Baiman Palace to this matter was quite intriguing. Elder Liu, who was known for his arrogance, did not take the initiative to attack. Instead, he personally visited Baiman Palace a few months later to apologize and brought a jade box.

Xun Jian witnessed Chen Heng opening the jade box with his own eyes.

The box contained only a pair of jade eyes and a Celestial Void White Pill.

Those eyeballs clearly came from Elder Liu's own body; he had gouged them out himself as punishment for his poor judgment of character.

Although great cultivators have the ability to regenerate flesh and blood, such minor injuries are actually not painful or itchy. However, Elder Liu spent a lot of effort to refine his pupils into golden light eyes.

Such an action would be tantamount to completely destroying this supernatural ability of the Dharma Eye, resulting in a significant loss.

As for the Heavenly Human Radiance Elixir, there's no need to mention it further.

This item was originally intended by Elder Liu as a birthday gift for the Daoist disciple of Baiman Mountain. However, he had not yet gathered enough precious medicinal herbs, and it would be several decades before it was truly presented to the world.

Elder Liu recruited Qian Lie precisely because of the matter of alchemy.

Although Xun Jian did not know where Elder Liu had obtained another Celestial Void White Pill, he had recently heard rumors that Elder Liu had gone to Zongyuan Mountain and spent a great deal of his wealth to barely obtain this precious pill.

The two items in the box are both of extraordinary origins.

Elder Liu's sincerity moved even Xun Jian, an outsider!

Xun Jian already believed Chen Heng's identity to a great extent, and after the incident of Chen Heng apologizing, he believed him even more.

In order to get involved with Chen Heng, this person also found a house in Xiaqiu City and lived in this ordinary city.

“The Daoist from Baiman Palace sent a talisman last time, and this person wishes to invite the True Man to Baiman Palace as a guest to discuss the Dao.”

After chatting with Chen Heng for a few minutes, Xun Jian didn't dare to delay the important matters of the day and quickly and carefully took out a letter.

Chen Heng took it, glanced at it once, and then casually put it back into his sleeve.

After a while, just as Xun Jian was about to take his leave, Chen Heng suddenly called him back.

"Although the Dragon Essence can help the dragon seed's cultivation, if too much is used, it is actually a kind of potent poison, just like the Water Lily, which will secretly damage the foundation."

This item is from my hand. If Lord Xun were to fall seriously ill because of it, I would not be able to bear it. What has happened to you that makes you so eager to increase your magical power?

Xun Jian was startled upon hearing this, and after a long while, he shook his head with a wry smile and said helplessly:

"Please forgive me, sir, this old man..."

Chen Heng noticed that he was speaking hesitantly, and guessed that it was because of something he couldn't bear to talk about.

He didn't insist, he just smiled and let it go.

After Xun Jian took his leave, Chen Heng glanced once more at the winding river in front of him.

He stood there for a long time, then suddenly shook his head for no apparent reason, and recited a long, drawn-out line:
"Everyone has their own attachments, just as the weather descends and the earth's energy rises, which is simply natural. But the principle of change, which enters at the end of existence and emerges before non-existence, who can fathom its origin?"

After reciting this line, he picked up the small shrimp traps and looked at them again.

One foot was deep, the other shallow, and his figure gradually disappeared.

Summer turned to autumn, and in the blink of an eye, another fifteen years had passed.

On this day, Chen Heng, who was walking towards his fishing boat at dawn, suddenly received a spiritual message.

He opened it and, after a short while, also smiled broadly:
"It seems the time has come."

(End of this chapter)