Chapter 19: Long Time No See

Ultimately, it was truly difficult for the two of them to find common ground.

One was a youth blessed with longevity, immunized against brainwashing by having heard countless toxic platitudes and positive cliches; the other was an eerie Taoist who had witnessed the vicissitudes of life and treated human lives as mere blades of grass.

Neither trusted the other, and naturally, neither believed in these so-called grand principles.

The youth in the Taoist robe stood stunned for a long moment before letting out a faint, melancholy sigh. "That is quite a pity. I had hoped that since Brother Changsheng invested in me, you could bear witness as I walked, sword in hand, into Zhou City to behead that old turtle they call the 'First Sword Immortal,' and witness me ascending to the stature of an Immortal Emperor. I never expected that you only have eight or nine years left."

A strange sense of regret appeared in the Taoist youth's eyes—or was it loneliness? Or perhaps it was neither.

Qin Changsheng felt a fleeting suspicion that the youth had spared his life specifically because he wanted him to bear witness to something.

"Eight or nine years—it can be long, or it can be short. Perhaps after eight or nine years, Brother Chen will no longer need anyone to bear witness."

Qin Changsheng continued, "The world says that those with different paths cannot make plans together, but no one says that while paths may differ, they can lead to the same destination; though the paths differ, the hearts may align..."

"That is the meaning of a soulmate. So, while I, Qin, certainly will not walk the same path as you, Brother Chen, I understand your path. Even if our ways differ, I can choose not to intrude. What is there to regret about that?"

"Tsk, tsk." The Taoist youth chuckled.

"I didn't expect Brother Changsheng to see things so clearly. In that case, just watch from the sidelines. Watch as I, Chen, perform a grand display of an Immortal Emperor's rise for you."

The Taoist youth ignored Qin Changsheng further and led his donkey toward the caravan ahead.

"Fellow Daoist, please stay a moment..."

"I am the Taoist Chen An, possessing the stature of an Immortal Emperor, but I suffer from a lack of sufficient cultivation resources, preventing my cultivation from advancing. I humbly request that you invest some resources in me. Once I achieve success, I will surely reward you ten thousand times over."

"Get out! Get lost!"

"Very well, I wish you peace and prosperity, fellow Daoist."

The first attempt failed, but the Taoist youth, seemingly tireless, walked to the next spot and called out again for a fellow Daoist to stay.

"I am the Taoist Chen An, possessing the stature of an Immortal Emperor, but I suffer from a lack of sufficient cultivation resources... I humbly request that you invest some resources in me..."

"Here, take this one spirit stone to shoo you away, now get lost."

"An Immortal Emperor's stature? If you have the stature of an Immortal Emperor, then my son Wang... couldn't my son become the Heavenly Emperor?"

Watching the myriad facets of life, Qin Changsheng sighed helplessly. "Killing is certainly not the right path, but some people’s mouths truly deserve to be silenced. When one is out in the world, one should know when to spare others, but some people simply refuse to prevent disaster by yielding a bit of wealth."

There was no doubt: the Taoist youth did not want investment; he wanted a justification for his actions so he could kill with a clear conscience. Once he killed these people, all their resources would be his.

Why then did he go through such painstaking efforts?

He did not need to beg; he could simply use his strength to take what he wanted. Yet, he chose this unnecessarily complicated method.

The reason was so that he could kill with a clear conscience—a ridiculous principle he held for his murders.

And the so-called choice of "investment" was, in reality, a choice between life and death for these people.

Qin Changsheng could have warned them, but he might only have received the same mockery they gave Chen An, or worse, Chen An might have abandoned his plans to devour their resources and killed him instead to vent his frustration.

Thus, Qin Changsheng remained silent.

Because many times, when he himself faced danger, the people around him had also remained silent, just as he was now.

He did not want to be entangled in this karma.

Especially after meeting someone as troublesome as this Taoist youth, he felt even more inclined to keep his distance.

In the words of the Taoist youth, all living beings were merely chives in a garden; if you didn't reap them, others would. It was better to be brave enough to reap them oneself to strengthen one's own growth, allowing one to jump out of those gardens time and time again.

Qin Changsheng did not agree with the youth’s philosophy, but he could not deny that there was a certain twisted logic to it.

On the path of cultivation, some seek immortality, some seek the demonic path, some seek virtue, some seek evil. Some prove their path through slaughter, while others seek to save all living beings.

There are thousands of Great Daos, all aimed at proving one's own existence.

And many, in order to prove themselves, use their power to force others to become like them.

The one in white was such a person, and this Taoist youth was the same.

Qin Changsheng and the one in white had come into conflict because of Wang Yuyan. What, then, would lead to a conflict between him and this Taoist youth?

Although Qin Changsheng did not like it, he still followed behind the Taoist youth, watching as he begged for investment from one person after another, only to be rejected time and time again.

The ways of the world are truly heartless...

Finally, the Taoist youth reached the last destination of the caravan: a carriage with modest decorations.

The Taoist youth gave a light cough.

"Is any fellow Daoist within?"

"I am the Taoist Chen An, possessing the stature of an Immortal Emperor, but I suffer from a lack of sufficient cultivation resources... I humbly request that you invest some resources in me..."

After a long time, there was no response from within.

The Taoist youth frowned and was about to reach out to lift the carriage curtain when the carriage moved without the wind, and a stunning woman clad in blue immortal robes stepped down.

The Taoist youth was about to continue speaking when he saw the woman walk straight past him toward Qin Changsheng.

"Long time no see. How have you been, my husband?"

The young woman’s eyes were filled with smiles. The ignored Taoist youth turned around in astonishment, only to see the equally astonished longevity youth...

"What a coincidence, Saintess Ruoxi."

Qin Changsheng gave a bitter smile. He had not expected to run into Nangong Ruoxi here.

He had already been prepared to flee, thinking the people from the Kaoshan Sect were upon him.

Nangong Ruoxi giggled. "You don't need to be nervous; I’m not here to kill you."

"Saintess, you jest."

Qin Changsheng truly relaxed his stance. "If you are not here to kill me, why are you here?"

"It’s all because you killed Long Chen, which triggered the great war between the Xuantian Sect and the Kaoshan Sect. I, the Saintess, immediately became a thorn in the side of the Saint Son’s faction, so I had no choice but to follow your lead and leave."

Nangong Ruoxi kept the story brief, looking at Qin Changsheng with resentment. She had only wanted to find a shield, but she never expected this fellow to kill Long Chen. What was even more absurd was that the Fairy Yuyan of the Xuantian Sect had been raised by him, which had further ignited the Xuantian Sect's fury. The chain reaction had been so great that even she, a Saintess, had been forced to flee.

After thinking it over, she figured that since Qin Changsheng was also fleeing, he must be headed for Zhou City, so she went there too. She never expected to actually run into him.

"This is truly... fate."

Qin Changsheng was filled with emotion.

Who could have guessed he would encounter Nangong Ruoxi here?

Yet, here she was.

It seemed he really was a magnet for trouble; the problems just never went away.

"So, after you two finish chatting, can the Fairy invest in me?"

The Taoist youth, who had been left on the sidelines, looked dissatisfied.

He spoke again: "I am the Taoist Chen An, possessing the stature of an Immortal Emperor, but I suffer from a lack of sufficient cultivation resources... I humbly request that you invest some resources in me..."

Nangong Ruoxi was taken aback and looked back at Qin Changsheng. "Husband! Is this your friend?"

"Decide for yourself."

Qin Changsheng rubbed his nose, speechless. "And I am not your husband."