Notes on Longevity

Chapter 154 With distant mountains already in my heart, why bother going to them again?

Chun Guang Lou?
So this is Chun Guang Lou?
The scholar nodded as he looked at the brothel, which was outwardly luxurious, had a high threshold, and was not yet open.

It's said that courtesans are like tigers and leopards, and they even carry swords at their waists to kill ordinary men. But it wouldn't be good for a scholar like him to go in.

Although he was going to thank the girl, he couldn't control what others said after he went inside. Since the door wasn't open yet, should he leave?
I'll come back and thank you when I have the chance in the future.

So he turned to leave. "Miss Bai?"

The young lady in white carried a flower basket filled with forsythia she had cut. She looked at the scholar with a puzzled but smiling expression: "Didn't you say you never came to such places of pleasure? Why are you here in broad daylight today?"

Bai's voice was completely different; it was full of emotion, with varying pitches and a long, drawn-out breath. She spoke softly and gracefully, making it very pleasant to listen to, as if a goddess from heaven was whispering in his ear.

The scholar was stunned for a moment. She wore a light, strapless red dress, and her long black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, hanging on her head.

"I've come to thank you," the scholar mumbled, his words slurred and incoherent, barely audible.

"Thank you?" Miss Bai found it a bit strange. Hadn't she already thanked him last night? Why was she saying it again today?

"I cherish books as my life. Since you saved my books, you have saved me as well. I must thank you properly." The scholar said, then touched his clothes and sleeves, and then smiled awkwardly, "It seems I came in a hurry and didn't bring anything with me."

As he spoke, he suddenly remembered something, quickly put down the chest on his back, and rummaged through the chests to take out a book and handed it to her: "A book cannot fully express the young lady's gratitude for saving my life. Consider it an expression of my inability to express my thanks. I will come back to thank you again after I pass the imperial examination."

Miss Bai carried a flower basket in one hand and took the book from the scholar in the other. "An Ruming?"

She looked at the strange book title, then quickly flipped through it and read, "Knowing that there is nothing one can do about it, one should accept it as fate."

This is the first sentence in the book.

Knowing that there is nothing that can be done, one should accept it as fate.
How can our worldly perspective be limited to this? We scholars are accompanied by books, we regard books as our life. The imperial examinations are important, but they are not everything. Books are the great path. We should broaden our horizons, understand the principles of things, and comprehend the reasons for the growth of all things, rather than being confined to this.

A heart as free as white clouds, a mind as free as flowing water. This is the freedom of a scholar, unburdened by worldly concerns.

Do not say there is nothing to offer in the mountains; the bright moon and gentle breeze cost nothing. This is the magnanimity of a scholar who does not indulge in material possessions.

I am drunk and wish to sleep, so you may leave now; tomorrow, if you wish, bring your zither. This is the mindset of a scholar who is not bound by his own thoughts.

As Miss Bai read the opening statement, which began with "An Ruoming," her previously calm heart was stirred once again.

She looked at the scholar in surprise and asked, "I have also studied, but I have never heard of this book before, let alone seen it. Where did you obtain this book, sir?"

Seeing the young lady holding the book in her hands, her eyes filled with joy, the scholar coughed softly and said, "I am not very talented, but this book was written by me. It is full of lines borrowed from ancient poems, saying things that are unrelated or related to worldly elegance, and expressing my own feelings."

"Since it was written by you, young master, it must be very important to you. I will not accept it. Besides, saving lives is what we should do. You have already thanked me, so why go through all this trouble?"

As Miss Bai was about to return the book to the scholar, the scholar said, "But you saved my life, so I should be grateful. This book..."

Miss Bai found the scholar in front of her quite interesting, and unlike any she had met before, so she asked, "Are you going there for the imperial examination?"

The scholar replied, "Yes."

Miss Bai smiled and said, "If that's the case, and since you've already said so, why not come back after you pass the high school entrance exam? I don't think I'll be leaving this place."

The young woman stared blankly at the Spring Light Pavilion before her, her heart filled with sorrow. She was originally a fox spirit from the mountains, and the woman from the previous night was of the same kind as her. After she attained human form, the woman had tricked her into coming here, and she could no longer escape.

Although I narrowly escaped last night, I was severely injured. If I hadn't met the scholar, I probably would have died on the road. Compared to my feelings for the scholar, his life-saving grace was far more genuine. And all I did was say one more word.

“That’s true. In that case, Miss, you should keep this book. When I return, repay the life-saving debt, and then return it to me.”

Seeing Miss Bai's reaction, the scholar didn't say anything more. He slung his bag over his shoulder, bowed to her, and left.

Several months have passed in the blink of an eye, and the end of the year is approaching, with heavy snow falling outside the door.

Inside the Spring Light Pavilion, Miss Bai held a book in her hands, carefully reading it in her mind:

Suddenly, the sun rises in the sky, and I shall raise a round moon.

I can hear a tiger roaring in the mountains, and a gentle breeze accompanies my song.

The hardships of life are no greater than those of the human heart; of all obstacles, none are greater than those caused by human actions. My heart holds its own great path, so what do I care about countless towering mountains and treacherous cliffs? With a touch of righteous spirit, I feel as exhilarated as a thousand miles of swift wind.

As Miss Bai read the poems in the book, some she knew and some she didn't, the scenery outside the window added a touch of melancholy. Things she couldn't understand before began to become clear, and things she thought impossible began to become possible. She particularly liked one line from those poems: "Of all the hardships in the world, none is greater than the human heart; of all the obstacles, none is greater than human actions."

She was tricked and brought here by her own kind of demon, and is now under their control, which she dislikes; she dislikes doing things she doesn't love even more. Perhaps she should, like the characters in this book, uphold the righteous spirit in her heart, leave this place, and go to where she truly wants to go.

Spring breeze, blooming flowers, white dew, bright moon—high mountains and steep cliffs are easily attainable, but true happiness in life is hard to come by. This is also a line from the book.

"I heard that the scholars in the capital are about to take the imperial examinations?"

"It's still early. We'll have to wait until the snow stops."

"Tell me, are there any scholars you've found this time who could become the top scholar in the imperial examination?"

"How do I know this?"

"Hey, Miss Bai, where are you going?"

"Take a look outside."

Miss Bai changed her clothes and was no longer so frivolous. Holding a book in her hand, she walked from upstairs to downstairs, listening to the conversations of the other girls in the brothel and a slight smile appeared on her lips.

He said he would become the top scorer in the exam.

The snow outside was heavy, covering every inch of the city and giving the black tiles on the roof a touch of purity.

I think the capital city is in that direction.

It seems to be in the east; she'd heard people mention it.

In the distance, the mountains and forests are dense, teeming with tigers and leopards. However, this humble student possesses a smattering of animal language, has journeyed with wolves and jackals, and witnessed birds carrying the moon in their beaks. On this journey to the capital, I am determined to become the top scholar!

This is the last sentence in the book. It seems to be a narrative of the past, but in fact it is a statement about himself.

With distant mountains already in my heart, why bother to travel to them?

Suddenly, a cry of alarm rang out from the Spring Light Pavilion: "Miss Bai is gone! She's flown away!"

(End of this chapter)