The Word of Heaven

Chapter 231 Death of Bai Nanming

The sky is bright and beautiful, and the lake is calm and soft.

Sometimes a breeze blows through the forest, bringing a rustling sound, and it circles around my long skirt, unwilling to leave.

From a not too far distance, Yu Sheng quietly looked at the person sitting in the middle of the lake and did not speak for a long time.

In fact, the man's face could not be seen clearly at all. It was like a constantly flowing landscape painting, with gentle breeze and drizzle, as well as dark waves and raging rivers... It never stopped changing.

I don’t know how long it took, she lowered her head, raised her hand to push her slightly messy hair behind her ears, and then took another step.

Gu Zhuo followed her onto the green grass, through the lush forest, across the colorful light, and toward the lake.

What you see is what you get. The scenery at the top of Tianqiong Peak is so beautiful and quiet. You can't see even a protruding earthen bun as far as you can see. It is obvious that the Bai family intentionally maintains this appearance.

What was even more different was that when the two of them climbed up all the stone steps to the top of the mountain, the aura of the formation hidden in the mountain peaks suddenly disappeared without a trace, and there was no trace left, making everything become normal.

However, this kind of ordinariness is the biggest anomaly, because this is the highest peak of Baidi Mountain and the lifeline of the Bai family.

In just a moment, the two arrived in front of the lake.

The lake is about ten feet deep, and the water is so clear that you can see the bottom. There is no difference between the water and the forest. There is no sign of life, no fish or shrimp. It is so quiet that it makes people's heart palpitate.

Yu Sheng, however, felt very comfortable.

She took off her shoes and socks, lifted her long skirt, and sat down by the lake.

The midsummer sun has not yet left, so the lake water is not icy cold, but feels slightly cool.

She stepped into the water barefoot, tried it lightly with her snow-white toes, felt it was not bad, and then reached in.

A contented sigh escaped her lips.

Gu Zhuo thought about it and didn't ask why.

He sat down next to her, but not as casually as she was, so he looked a little reserved.

Yu Sheng closed his eyes and quietly felt the world.

It is the breeze blowing through the forest, the sunshine in midsummer, and the still water in the lake.

"From a certain perspective, this lake also contains the true meaning of all things in the world."

Her voice was very soft: "A long, long time ago, there was actually no such lake here. It was a man-made creation."

Gu Zhuo leaned over, stretched out his hand to scoop up water from the lake and held it between his ten fingers, feeling the faint breath contained in it, and roughly understood what was going on.

The lake was formed because of the appearance of a pit, and this pit was created by the ancestors of the Bai family during the suppression process.

Over dozens and hundreds of years, the wind, snow and rain fell into the bottom of this pit, melted into water, then became streams, flowed into creeks, and gathered into a lake... Finally, hundreds of years later, it appeared like this in the eyes of the two people.

"Master lived here for a very long time before."

Yu Sheng still closed his eyes and said to Gu Zhuo, "About five, six, seven, or eight years?"

Gu Zhuo looked along the lakeside very carefully again, shook his head and said, "I really can't find any trace of life."

Yu Sheng said: "What's the point of living without even a single fish?"

When she said this, her tone was still calm, but everyone could hear the disgust in her words.

For some reason, Gu Zhuo suddenly thought of the scene when she was trying hard to catch any fish in Cangshan Mountain. He inexplicably felt that Yu Sheng was too cute at that time, and a warm smile appeared at the corners of his lips.

Yu Sheng opened his eyes.

She looked up at the sky and saw that the scorching sun was setting. She said, "Everything can be resolved before the sun sets, so don't worry."

Gu Zhuo said: "I'm not in a hurry either."

"That's good."

Yu Sheng paused, then suddenly changed the subject: "You are very lucky."

Gu Zhuo hummed.

The next moment, he realized what he heard and asked, "Lucky?"

Yu Sheng said: "Under normal circumstances, if the true meaning of the Frost Sky of All Things is dispersed or stolen, it will inevitably lead to problems in the suppression of Baidi Mountain, but Master is a very remarkable person."

Gu Zhuo said honestly: "Senior Sister is indeed amazing."

Yu Sheng said: "So this time, even if you steal the true meaning of the Frost Sky of All Things, there won't be any problem."

Gu Zhuo thought, this shouldn’t be considered stealing, right?

Everything is so aboveboard.

Then, he suddenly recalled that the summer festival had happened two years ago.

Three plus one is not even four.

Why does he still feel that death is so far away from him.

Is this confidence, composure, or ignorance?
At this moment, many thoughts arose in Gu Zhuo's mind for no reason.

A bad feeling arose in his heart and lingered.

The next moment, Yu Sheng stood up.

Walking barefoot in water without sinking.

She looked at the sword stone in the middle of the lake, looked at the person sitting on it, and said softly: "Do you remember?"

After a moment's silence, Gu Zhuo stood up with her and looked at the person sitting on the stone in the middle of the lake, his eyes becoming more and more complicated.

The man was dressed in white, sitting cross-legged with his back straight. Even though his true face was hidden by the mountains and rivers, one could still tell that he was extremely proud and dared to compete with the heavens and the earth.

"I just told you that the true meaning of the Frost Sky of All Things is something like a relic."

Yu Sheng was quiet for a while, then said softly, "It's actually a relic."

Gu Zhuo recalled a sentence and frowned.

"You told me before that Senior Sister has never been to the top of Tianqiong Peak."

"Sorry, I was talking about that year, the year a hundred years ago."

Gu Zhuo was speechless.

Yu Sheng continued, "The landscape on this man's face that you and I see is the scenery of Baidi Mountain in all four seasons, and also the resentment that has been accumulated by the ancestors of the Bai family for generations."

After a moment of silence, Gu Zhuo said, "Now it all depends on me."

Yu Sheng said, "Yes, because she is a very proud person. She always believes that if something is to be done, it must be done to the best of one's ability. Such boring ancestral precepts should end with her."

Gu Zhuo's voice was extremely complicated as he said, "All things in the past thousand years have ended with her."

"Yes."

Yu Sheng raised the corners of his lips slightly and smiled faintly, probably very satisfied with this fortune.

She looked at the man sitting on the stone and finally said, "Master is such a proud person."

……

……

Many years ago, something unexpected happened at Baidi Mountain, and the aura of ascension leaked out.

The White Emperor was unable to leave the Divine Capital, so Her Royal Highness the Princess went to Baidi Mountain in person to resolve the matter.

After several years, she finally found two paths.

One is to believe in the wisdom of future generations, bury this problem temporarily, and allow the Bai family's ancestral precepts for hundreds of years to continue, following the Bai family's bloodline like a curse until a perfect solution is found.

The second is what Gu Zhuo said.

At that time, Bai Nanming's realm was already peerless, and she was only one step away from ascending to immortality. Although this step might not be taken for the rest of her life, she was still one of the strongest people in the world.

People like her, as long as they are willing to pay a heavy price.

Then, most of the problems in this world are not problems.

This is the principle that can be easily solved.

then.

Bai Nanming finally chose the second path, letting all the events of the past thousand years end with her, never to be repeated.

Yes, the person sitting on the rock in the middle of the lake is her.

To be more precise.

It is the remains of Bai Nanming.

……

……

The lakeside was quiet.

Yu Sheng raised her head slightly, letting the sunlight bring her real warmth, with a smile still on her lips.

Gu Zhuo remained silent.

After an unknown amount of time, he slowly closed his eyes and lowered his head.

No matter how many premonitions one has beforehand and all the clues point to this possibility, when the facts appear before one's eyes, one still cannot remain calm.

No matter how calm the wind is, or how strict the rules are, people are just people after all, and they will have joys, sorrows, anger, and happiness.

Yu Sheng did not disturb Gu Zhuo, nor did he say anything.

For example, she never really died, she was still alive, but she was no longer the same person as before.

Of course these words can be said, and of course they are true, but... people at this time may not necessarily need such facts, let alone such comfort. Silence is the best comfort.

“I never really understood it before.”

Gu Zhuo's voice suddenly rang out: "Why do you always insist that I am not him, and actively find many excuses for this, and then say last year that you must forget everything completely."

"Actually, this isn't as brilliant as you think. It's just a superficial thought. Mainly because I can't stand other people's faces."

Yu Sheng smiled slightly and said self-deprecatingly: "But later I suddenly realized that I actually had a vague idea of ​​his appearance. If it weren't for that memory with you before... maybe I would have forgotten it in a short time."

After a moment of silence, Gu Zhuo said, "It seems... I am the same."

Time is the sharpest sword between heaven and earth.

When the sword passes by, you often don't feel anything.

It is not until many years later when you have tried your best but still cannot recall the old memories that you realize that it has actually been there, leaving a deep scar in an invisible place.

"Feel sorry."

Gu Zhuo said: "I don't know why, I feel a little sad."

Yu Sheng turned his head and looked at him.

There were no tears flowing on that face, just quiet and a little wooden.

Gu Zhuo squatted down and scooped up some clean water from the lake to wash his cheeks.

He washed very seriously for a long time until his face turned slightly pale. Water splashed along his hands, as if it was endowed with soul and was dancing.

When he stood up again, a handkerchief appeared in front of Gu Zhuo.

From Yu Sheng.

He took it after a moment's silence and wiped the water stains off his face carefully, making himself look no longer haggard, but bright and cheerful against today's bright sunshine.

Yu Sheng said softly: "Do you want to go and take a look?"

"Ah."

Gu Zhuo stepped into the lake, walked side by side with the girl, and headed towards the stone in the center of the lake.

As they got closer, the lake became calmer and the breeze that had been there a moment ago disappeared without a trace, leaving the lake like a flawless mirror.

The mirror surface became clearer and clearer, without even a ripple appearing, as still as ice.

A bone-chilling chill appeared silently, rising from the ice surface, covering Gu Zhuo and Yu Sheng from bottom to top.

This chill is so terrible that even today, after so many years, it is still as powerful as before.

However, the moment it reached the two of them, all the coldness disappeared without a trace, not even a trace was left, and there was only the warmth of the spring breeze.

The lake surface was rippling again, the floating ice was dissipating silently, and the branches and leaves of the dense forest beside the lake were dancing in the wind.

Everything is so gentle and beautiful.

Gu Zhuo stopped.

The sword stone in the center of the lake was only half a step away from him, and all the images were so clear.

Bai Nanming sat on the sword stone, his face obscured by the changing landscape, revealing no trace of reality.

He watched in silence, thinking about those meaningless things in silence, and finally he calmly reached out his hand.

The fingertips passed through the mountains and rivers and landed on the familiar cheek that had become unfamiliar, bringing a long-lost touch.

It is cold and lonely.

Gu Zhuo's body became very stiff.

After a moment, he whispered, "Can you lend me your handkerchief?"

Yu Sheng has no objection.

Dip it in water, wring it dry, and pass it over.

Gu Zhuo took the handkerchief and wiped Bai Nanming's face carefully, then suddenly asked, "What do you think?"

Yu Sheng said: "This is good."

Gu Zhuo thought about it and said, "It seems so."

We are strangers to each other.

Isn’t this a rare happiness?

How many people seek it but cannot obtain it.

Yu Sheng was a little emotional and said, "Perhaps all this is God's will."

When Bai Nanming made the decision that year, how could he have imagined that many years later an old friend would come here to seek the true meaning of all things in the frosty sky to prolong his life?
The future is unknowable, and if we have to give an explanation for it, it can only be God's will.

Gu Zhuo understood what she meant and remained silent.

"so……"

Yu Sheng turned her head, looked at him, and said softly, "You should be happier, right?"

"Yes, you should be happy."

Gu Zhuo was quiet for a moment, then shook his head and said, "But it's really not easy to be happy, right?"

Yu Sheng said with great emotion: "It's not easy."

Gu Zhuo didn't say anything else.

The handkerchief was put down. He turned his head to look at Yu Sheng and asked, "Isn't this a bit bad?"

Yu Sheng understood what he meant, shook his head and said, "If you can remain calm after seeing this relic, I will think this is the worst...even though I do feel a little strange now, feeling happy and angry at the same time."

The strangeness came not only from Gu Zhuo, but also from her own heart.

——Use the rest of your life to look forward to the afterlife.

This is really something special.

Perhaps this was the reason why Yu Sheng was reluctant to return to Baidi Mountain and finally waited for Gu Zhuo last year.

"The sun is going down."

“Let’s end it here,” she said.

Gu Zhuo hummed.

Yu Sheng looked up at the setting sun in the sky and said with emotion: "Is this a kind of cause and effect cycle?"

Gu Zhuo was slightly startled and asked, "Cause and effect cycle?"

"Isn't it?"

Yu Sheng spoke casually, recalling the iron spear that had pierced through the Taoist master's chest that year.

Then her eyes fell on Bai Nanming who was sitting on the stone in the middle of the lake, and she said, "She will be reduced to ashes in your hands."

Gu Zhuo said: "It seems to be like this."

After saying this, his fingertips once again sank into the changing landscape and touched the center of Bai Nanming's eyebrows.

This is a reunion after a hundred years.

A clear and lonely breath emanated from the place where the fingertips and eyebrows met, and instantly spread in all directions like water.

The still water in the lake is no longer calm, it is steaming and rolling, with vast mist and waves.

In the thick fog, the aura grew stronger and stronger, and in a short period of time it became unimaginably powerful.

The very next moment, it unreservedly reached the sky that was burning with the setting sun, and displayed its terrifying power without any concealment in an arrogant manner, declaring its will to the whole world and competing with the setting sun for glory.

The world moves for it.

……

……

The first person to sense the changes in Baidi Mountain was, of course, His Majesty the Emperor.

He sensed that extremely familiar breath, and it seemed as if he saw the scene at the top of Tianqiong Peak at that moment, so he remained silent.

That year, when he learned of Bai Nanming's decision, he advised against it and repeatedly dissuaded him from doing so.

However... he is still my younger brother after all.

This fact will not change just because he becomes the emperor. Moreover, it is not easy for him to leave the God City, so how can he stop his sister?

It all just happened.

Today is here in the blink of an eye.

The eunuch leader stood behind him.

His Majesty the Emperor was silent for a long time before he withdrew his gaze, no longer looking at the breath reaching the sky. His voice was full of fatigue and tiredness, and he said, "You don't have to do anything. Just leave it like this."

……

……

In Cihang Temple, on top of an ancient tree.

Daoxiu stood on the branch, looking quietly in the direction of Baidi Mountain without saying a word.

The bitter boat monk stood beside him and asked in shock, "What happened?"

"It's the eldest princess."

Dao Xiu chanted the Buddha's name and said calmly, "She is telling us to be quiet."

Upon hearing these words, Monk Kuzhou's expression suddenly changed. He thought, could it be that the imperial court already knew about Zen Buddhism's plan?

……

……

Xuandu remains silent.

A young Taoist priest who was sweeping the floor raised his head, glanced at the sky, and continued to work with his head down.

……

……

In contrast to the pure view, laughter was heard under the eaves.

Chu Jun was puzzled, and thought that Her Royal Highness the Princess’ current state was probably not far from becoming an immortal. Why should this be something to be happy about?

The master of the temple smiled and said, "Because reality and illusion can be reversed at any time, prosperity will inevitably decline."

Chu Jun shook his head and said, "Can you be more clear?"

The master of the temple said meaningfully: "This is a case of trying to cover up one's own guilt."

……

……

Yishui, the island in the middle of the river.

Wang Ji, who was sitting in a wheelchair, frowned and tapped the armrest subconsciously.

He hadn't encountered this breath for a long time. Because of the past, it was difficult for him to miss it at all. He wished he would never see it again for the rest of his life.

But when he thought about Bai Nanming's bad temper and how he was forced to leave in a wheelchair overnight when they first met, he couldn't help but worry about Gu Zhuo, thinking, did I give you a bad idea?
……

……

On Baidi Mountain.

The changes at the top of Tianqiong Peak spread throughout the entire mountain in the first instant, penetrating every detail and reaching every corner.

Even the grave keepers were all indifferent people, but at this moment they all looked up at the mountain and thought about what had happened.

However, what was strange was that after this moment, they withdrew their gazes and lowered their heads almost at the same time.

After a moment, a voice flowed from their lips.

It sounds like the secret scriptures of Zen Buddhism, or the ancient Taoist canon, mixed with many words written by scholars.

The sound of chanting continued to echo in the mountains, reaching the top of Tianqiong Peak and sinking into the lake.

(End of this chapter)