The Word of Heaven

Chapter 226 The Past I Don’t Want to Mention
At night, the wind and rain came.

It was pitch black on Baidi Mountain, with only the occasional light as small as a bean, which could not illuminate the rainy night.

Gu Zhuo and Yu Sheng sat in the stone house, ignoring the increasingly noisy sounds of rain. They talked not about the issues related to cultivation in the past few days, but about the Baidi Mountain today.

Almost all the people living in this imperial mausoleum have the same surname, Bai from the Bai family.

What’s very interesting is that the place where the Bai family’s bloodline is most concentrated in the world today is not in the Divine Capital, nor in the old capital Wangjing, but right in this mountain.

During the great chaos over a hundred years ago, the Bai family, as a member of the imperial family, naturally suffered a great disaster. Over the past thousand years, almost all of their descendants who were enfeoffed in various places were killed or injured. Countless princes and dukes had their heads chopped off, the palace was covered in blood, and the splendor of the house was burned to ashes.

Naturally, many of them turned to Taoism in order to save their lives, and all of them died in the subsequent purges, without any escape.

From a certain perspective, the number of Bai family members who died at the hands of the various sects is not necessarily more than that of those who died at the hands of the White Emperor. It is very likely that the two are in a situation of equal strength.

Therefore, the Bai family, which has been prosperous for thousands of years, is now actually sparsely populated, and the only one who truly holds power is the lineage of the current emperor.

As for those members of the Bai family who had managed to survive the chaos a hundred years ago, most of them were sent to Baidi Mountain to tend to their ancestors' tombs. The very few who were able to wander outside all abandoned their surnames, cut off all ties with the past, and never mentioned it until their death.

This past event was not deliberately forgotten in history books, because the emperor did not think he had done anything wrong in this matter, but in the end fewer and fewer people mentioned this past event.

After all, historians wrote very little about this.

Talk about the past, talk about the past.

Perhaps what Yu Sheng wanted to say was the same thing.

The Baidi Mountain today is no longer the place for spiritual practice it once was. It is more like a cage that suppresses the rest of the Bai family. As long as the Emperor is alive, no one living here can leave.

Not to mention branching out.

That's wishful thinking.

Although Yu Sheng did not say it, after nearly a hundred years, it is not a difficult question to answer what specific thoughts and feelings the elderly people of the Bai family who live here and have not yet died have towards His Majesty the Emperor himself.

Gu Zhuo indeed knew very little about this past event.

Many years ago, he was indifferent to this. During the three years in Changzhou Academy a few years ago, he had read history books and was curious about what had happened in the past hundred years. However, the history books just glanced over it without leaving out a single word.

So after hearing the last part, he asked a question out of curiosity.

"Why turn Baidi Mountain into a prison?"

Yu Sheng looked at Gu Zhuo and was silent for a long time, but ultimately did not answer the question.

……

……

In the early morning of the next day, the heavy rain gradually became sparse, like silk threads.

Gu Zhuo and Yu Sheng put on straw hats and set out on the mountain path filled with rain and fog without holding umbrellas.

There is not much scenery to speak of in Baidi Mountain in the rain.

The wet moss on the ancient rocks lay facing the sky, and the ripples from the puddles seemed to be dancing with the pace of passers-by. The plaque on the pavilion not far away was vaguely visible, and the true meaning could not be understood.

The reason why Baidi Mountain is used as a reward for the first place in the summer festival in every generation is that with the help of the formation, practitioners can obtain benefits that are helpful to their practice from the tombs of the ancestors of the Bai family.

This method is similar to Zen initiation, but it is much more peaceful and gentle, more like flipping through a book.

The strong man from the branch of the Bai family who came yesterday continued to act as the receptionist today, introducing to Gu Zhuo and Yu Sheng the deeds of the ancestors of the Bai family who were buried on this mountain, telling them about their realm during their lifetime and their lifelong achievements.

When talking about some ancestors of the Bai family who were related to Wangjing, the strong man would smile and expand the topic, such as telling how a certain ancient monument in the old capital happened to be related to this ancestor, and was able to be recorded in history because of him, in order to add a sense of closeness.

Although there seem to be few compliments in the words, they are all in the precise places, which can easily make people yearn for it, and then feel awe for the Bai family which has ruled the world for thousands of years.

This is a very common method. It is the same as when an ordinary genius joins a sect, the first lesson is always to learn about the glorious history of the sect. The purpose is to make people feel proud of it.

Time passed quickly as he spoke, and in the blink of an eye it was already noon, and the sky was still not clear.

The strong man from the Bai family finally told Gu Zhuo that if he wanted to obtain the heritage left by the ancestors of the Bai family and use it to help him on the road of cultivation, the prerequisite was to be recognized.

Every tomb on Baidi Mountain where the ancestors of the Bai family are buried has a gravekeeper, and recognition comes from their nods.

After explaining the relevant rules, the strong man from the Bai family turned around and left, allowing Gu Zhuo and Yu Sheng to walk freely as long as they did not step into the forbidden areas that were clearly stated.

——The reason why Yu Sheng was able to step into Baidi Mountain was because of her identity as Gu Zhuo’s maid.

There is no prohibition on this in Baidi Mountain, and it is very easy to allow it.

Gu Zhuo watched the man go away.

“It’s pretty fake.”

He said to Yu Sheng thoughtfully: "I'm not just talking about this person's smile, but also these words that he has obviously memorized thousands of times."

Just as he finished speaking, a voice came from the rain and fog, cold and indifferent.

"Because he doesn't think you'll stay here for too long. Just deal with it briefly. Why bother?"

Gu Zhuo had already known about this person's existence, so he was certainly not surprised after hearing this sentence.

What's more, the person who was speaking could be considered an 'old friend'.

The one coming is Bai Langxing.

The Third Prince walked into Gu Zhuo's sight, not holding an umbrella or wearing a hat, allowing the bitter winter rain to fall on his body.

Compared with last year's summer festival, Bai Langxing looked extremely sloppy at this moment, with ragged clothes, disheveled hair, and a beard down to his chest. He did not have the slightest bearing of a prince of the Qin Dynasty, and was a true savage.

But his eyes were exceptionally bright, not affected by his own filthiness at all, and full of a strong desire to fight.

Gu Zhuo naturally ignored the fighting intentions and made a casual remark.

"Didn't you join the military? Why are you here?"

"To defeat you."

Bai Langxing answered seriously: "Practicing on Baidi Mountain is the only feasible path for me."

Gu Zhuo was a little curious and asked, "Why?"

Bai Langxing's expression became extremely serious when he heard this, and he said dissatisfiedly: "You have already accepted Aunt as your master, don't you know that Aunt once practiced here for a long time? The reason why Aunt was able to enter the realm of Yuhua is inseparable from this experience."

Gu Zhuo glanced at Yu Sheng.

Yu Sheng's expression remained unchanged and he remained calm and composed.

"I thought I'd see you here soon."

Bai Langxing looked at Gu Zhuo and said disappointedly: "I didn't expect that a whole year had passed before you came here."

At this point, his eyes fell on Yu Sheng, and with strong dissatisfaction, he asked: "You even brought a maid with you. What on earth do you think this place is?"

Gu Zhuo remained silent and began to feel sorry for this peer in advance.

Yu Sheng stretched out his hand and pressed the hat slightly.

Gu Zhuo was very familiar with her and knew that this was not a good sign.

Bai Langxing didn't take her seriously at all. His brows furrowed deeper and deeper, and he said seriously: "Your last name is not Bai. It will be difficult for you to step into Baidi Mountain again in this life. I hope you can seize this hard-won opportunity and don't indulge in the gentle countryside, because this is not a place where you can just go through the motions and make a lot of money and leave."

Gu Zhuo didn't quite understand and asked, "Why are you telling me this?"

Bai Langxing was silent for a moment, then said frankly: "Although I am reluctant for you to become my aunt's apprentice, in my opinion that should be my position, but since it has already happened, I must learn to accept it all and regard you as the mainstay of my Great Qin for the next hundred years, instead of holding a grudge against you."

"Of course, the most important reason is that you are truly amazing."

He said calmly, "Even if last year's summer festival was repeated a thousand times, I would not be able to find a single possibility of defeating you. You defeated me so badly that I have nothing to say."

Gu Zhuo was speechless and said, "But aren't you talking a lot now?"

Bai Langxing was stunned and speechless for a moment.

After a moment, he changed the subject very stiffly and said, "I'll take you to visit Baidi Mountain."

Gu Zhuo reminded, "I've already been taken on a tour."

Bai Langxing shook his head and said, "It's different. I want to take you to look back at the stories that my aunt left here. I hope you can learn from them and motivate yourself, so as not to squander your talent."

Gu Zhuo was speechless and looked at Yu Sheng again.

For some reason, Yu Sheng suddenly had a bad feeling.

Soon, this premonition became reality.

Bai Langxing has the potential to be a tour guide, or perhaps he really has great respect for his aunt, even more than his father.

"A hundred years ago, this place was not like this. It was a complete cliff. Why is it now a cliff? That's because my aunt once stood here quietly for a night. She realized the true meaning of the way of the spear amidst the snow. She used the spear called "Cut the Snow" and cut off half of the cliff."

The wild-looking boy pointed to the cliff and said, "The spear's will lasted for years. During this period, the surface was as calm as a mirror, without even a single weed growing. Later, the first place winner of the summer festival came here, reminiscing about the past, and sighed and praised that testing the lanterns was meaningless, and walking in the snow was boring." (Note)
Gu Zhuo clapped enthusiastically and asked them to continue.

Then he turned his head and asked Yu Sheng in a low voice: "Is what you said true?"

Yu Sheng remained silent.

Gu Zhuo understood. This was clearly a rumor.

Yu Sheng thought, if I buried a pot of wine here in the snow, and found out the next day that it had been stolen and drunk by the monkeys living here, and then they tore down their home in anger, do I still have to tell you?
How can this be?

As for standing still all night?
If she really did that, how could the wine be stolen by the monkey?

Which idiot spread this rumor?
Then, Bai Langxing took the two of them to another place.

It was a mirror-like lake.

The surface of the lake was beaten into round circles by the rain, and the lake, which was over a hundred feet wide, was shrouded in mist, giving it a fairy-like feel.

Yu Sheng's expression suddenly turned ugly.

Bai Langxing was slightly startled. He inexplicably felt that the rain falling on his body was a little colder. He wondered if this winter had become colder?
At this moment, Gu Zhuo's voice rang out.

"What's the story here?"

Bai Langxing came to his senses and said to him, "You may not know that a hundred years ago, the cultivation world believed that weapons like guns were not flying swords and had to be held in the hands. Only in this way could they exert their greatest power."

Gu Zhuo thought that was indeed the case, and then asked, "So what?"

Bai Langxing thought of that past event and said with emotion: "My aunt was dismissive of this at the time, thinking it was the prejudice of a group of ignorant people, but she dared to be the first in the world."

“It was at this lake that my aunt started her countless attempts.”

He imagined the scene back then, his voice full of longing: "It is said that at that time, there was a waterfall in this lake that flowed upstream every day until it reached the sky. All of this was created by my aunt's gunshots."

Gu Zhuo glanced at the lake and saw fish in the water. He asked curiously, "What happened to the fish in the lake?"

Bai Langxing didn't expect him to ask such a question and was stunned on the spot.

After a long while, the wild boy said seriously: "No history book will record such trivial matters, and this is not the focus of the story I told you. What I want to tell you is my aunt's persistence and sincerity."

Gu Zhuo listened to the last two words, suppressed his smile, and said nothing. Yu Sheng had no expression on his face, and his fists hidden in his sleeves were clenched.

The facts are still very different from the story.

The reason why she did this was because the fish in the lake were always unwilling to take the bait, and she always sat by the lake for half a day with nothing to show for it, so she couldn't help but resort to spiritual practice.

The problem is, she really didn't throw the gun at that time... Well, there should be that one time, but only that one time, right?

That time, a goshawk tried to compete with her for the fish, and she had to do so to protect the fish from death.

Why does it happen thousands and thousands of times in this story?
It's really inexplicable.

It's not over yet.

After walking around the lake and passing a narrow mountain path, the scenery in front of you suddenly opens up.

It was a cliff that was over a hundred feet wide, with a pine tree growing at the end, reaching into the clouds.

Bai Langxing pointed at the pine tree and said, "Do you know why my aunt is considered an extraordinary person?"

Gu Zhuo said sincerely: "I would like to hear the details."

"Everyone in the world fishes, but my aunt is different."

Bai Langxing said: "She sat on that pine tree and fished for birds."

When saying this, the wild boy's tone seemed indifferent, but in fact it revealed an extremely strong sense of pride.

Yu Sheng turned his head away and wanted to turn around and leave, but he had no reason.

Gu Zhuo was shocked again when he heard this, and subconsciously asked, "Bird fishing?"

"Yes, it's bird fishing!"

Bai Langxing's eyes seemed to reflect the past, and he said with emotion: "It's a pity that at that time, my aunt only left a desolate and lonely back to everyone. No one knows why she did this and what she was trying to hone her skills."

Gu Zhuo raised his eyebrows and said, "Maybe it's because she is looking after all living beings."

As soon as he finished speaking, Bai Langxing's eyes suddenly brightened and he said, "Or maybe it's because she is determined to carry the entire Bai family on her shoulders!"

Yu Sheng finally couldn't bear it anymore.

"is it possible……"

She said softly, "In fact, Her Royal Highness the Princess is just daydreaming there?"

Bai Langxing was very displeased. He looked back at her and scolded her, "Aunt must have a deep meaning in her actions. How could she be as boring as you said? Besides, there are so many places to sit on the mountain. Why did she choose to sit on that pine tree?"

Yu Sheng was speechless.

Gu Zhuo said, "Is it possible that it looks better sitting there?"

"How could my aunt be so superficial?!"

Bai Langxing paused, and suddenly remembered something, and said: "However, there are indeed a few related paintings handed down from that year. The aunt in those paintings is described as peerless and elegant, and there is absolutely no exaggeration."

Yu Sheng took a deep breath, letting the cold air fill his lungs, and forced himself to remain calm.

Gu Zhuo didn't even look at her, and asked sincerely: "Can I take a look?"

Unlike before, Bai Langxing shook his head, then nodded.

Gu Zhuo was a little surprised and asked, "What do you mean?"

Bai Langxing said to him, "I took you along the path that my aunt walked a hundred years ago because I respect her and don't want you to lose face for her. I want to encourage you."

Gu Zhuo understood and said, "If I can get your approval, will you be willing to take me to see those paintings?"

Bai Langxing nodded and said, "Not bad."

Gu Zhuo looked at the wild boy and suddenly felt extremely sympathetic. He said tactfully, "Have you ever thought that your aunt might not like your behavior?"

Bai Langxing frowned and said slowly, "That makes sense."

Yu Sheng felt somewhat relieved, thinking that you were not so ignorant after all.

"but……"

Bai Langxing said to Gu Zhuo: "I believe you."

Gu Zhuo was a little puzzled and asked, "Do you believe me?"

Bai Langxing looked into his eyes and said calmly, "You are a proud person, which means that after you know that this matter is inappropriate, you will never tell it to anyone."

After a moment of silence, Gu Zhuo said, "But don't you respect your aunt very much?"

Bai Langxing said seriously, "I think the greatest respect I can show to my aunt is to ask you not to embarrass her outside, instead of hesitating over trivial matters like this."

"I won't ask you to be like my aunt and obtain the true meaning of all the inheritance of our Bai family's ancestors, because this is something that even my father may not be able to do at your age."

He said, "As long as you can get the nine grave keepers to recognize you, I will take you to see the painting."

After saying this, Bai Langxing turned around and left in a graceful manner, with a bright look in his eyes, as if he was extremely satisfied with what he had done today.

There was peace on the cliff.

The sound of rain is sparse.

Night has not yet arrived, the skylight is flowing across the mountains, and the scenery is clear.

After an unknown amount of time, Gu Zhuo suddenly said, "You can't blame me for this."

"I don't blame you either."

Yu Sheng said indifferently: "Why do you understand it this way?"

Gu Zhuo thought about it and said honestly: "But I am indeed curious about that painting."

Yu Sheng looked at his profile and asked, "So you must watch it?"

Gu Zhuo said, "You don't have to look at that painting."

Yu Sheng said with a half-smile, "Just want me to sit on that pine tree?"

After hesitating for a moment, Gu Zhuo nodded.

"Ah."

He explained: "It's not anything else, I'm just curious about bird fishing."

Yu Sheng stopped talking.

The girl took off her hat and rolled her eyes expressionlessly.

It was clearly a roll of the eyes, but Gu Zhuo found her inexplicably adorable at that moment and started to laugh.

Yu Sheng laughed and asked, "Are you happy?"

This time it was Gu Zhuo's turn to remain silent.

He is not an idiot, can't he see that others are angry?

Yu Sheng shook his head and said, "It's getting late, let's go back."

Gu Zhuo asked: "Can we go back the same way?"

"why?"

"It's mainly because I feel that part of your nephew's story doesn't seem to be true."

"So you want my nephew to correct him and tell you the truth?"

"Yes."

Yu Sheng said nothing.

However, the route she chose next answered this question indirectly, and the answer was no.

Gu Zhuo felt sorry about this, but he thought that he would meet Bai Langxing again in the mountain in the future, and would definitely hear more interesting stories about Bai Nanming, so he gave up for the time being.

……

……

In the evening, the rain stopped in the mountains.

The setting sun cast a twilight cast, and the raindrops remaining on the bricks and tiles were all red, like burning flames.

Yu Sheng did not give Gu Zhuo any more time to wander around. He took him to a tomb and did what a younger generation should do - get the recognition of the tomb keeper and obtain the inheritance of the Bai family's ancestors.

Just as Bai Langxing said, the person who knows Baidi Mountain best in the world today is not his father, but Bai Nanming.

She knew very well which tomb contained the person who had practiced the Frost Sky Tribulation of All Things during his lifetime and possessed profound attainments and could help Gu Zhuo with his practice.

The first tomb that Yu Sheng selected for Gu Zhuo, the ancestor of the Bai family buried in the tomb was an unavoidable figure in history books, but the reputation he left behind was not a good one, but an extremely bad one.

"Are you sure?"

The grave keeper sitting under the pavilion raised his head and looked at Gu Zhuo with his withered eyes.

"Yes."

Gu Zhuo said calmly: "What are the rules?"

The gravekeeper stood up and said with a dull expression: "Face the past."

Gu Zhuo asked: "Why?"

The grave keeper explained, "The ancestor buried in this grave was extremely unwilling to die before he died, and he left behind an extraordinary hatred and resentment that can easily move people's minds and make them go crazy."

"I have no interest in letting you end up like this."

He said: "So you need to prove that you can keep your mind."

Gu Zhuo said: "How to prove it?"

The gravekeeper's voice was emotionless, and he looked at him quietly.

"I have already said it before. If you can remain calm and unshaken in the face of the most unbearable moment in your life, then it proves that you are qualified to accept the gift from the ancestor in the tomb."

Gu Zhuo was silent.

After a moment, he turned his head and looked at Yu Sheng.

Yu Sheng blinked and asked innocently, "What's wrong?"

　The note is Li Qingzhao's poem

　　
　
(End of this chapter)