Chapter 69: The Falling God

Fortune Teller Li looked utterly decrepit, her face as scorched and withered as the bark of a deputy general's tree, almost unrecognizable. Cang Ming grabbed her bony arm and asked urgently, "Where is Wei Ci's true body? Why is the ancient building gone? Does the ancient building even exist?"

Old Madam Li opened her toothless mouth and spoke with difficulty, "The ancient building can only be seen by those with an obsession. Those without strong desires would never know that there is an antique shop here. The Demon King has now rested, and it is time for me to go where I belong."

Cang Ming moved his lips, but said nothing. Old Lady Li said, "I've lived all these extra years because I took refuge with the Demon King and relied on his magical powers. Now that he's wandering outside the Three Realms, I'm about to melt like snow."

"I can draw a few yellow talismans to extend your life for a few days." Cang Ming squatted on the ground, groping around blindly, and picked up a leaf. "Where is Wei Ci's true body? Please help me find it."

Old Lady Li bowed deeply and said, "Thank you, General Wu, for your kindness. But I have lived for over a thousand years and have experienced everything in this world. Now, only death is a relief and a novelty."

Under Cang Ming's gaze, she turned and slowly walked away along Chunqiu Ferry. Perhaps tonight she would step into the river, into these waters that had held countless souls. Would Wei Ci then truly be free from the Three Realms?

Cang Ming sat by the water until dark. She didn't want to go back to the Sanfang of Xiyuan, and Xisheng and Wulu tacitly didn't come out to look for her. The evening glow gathered and dispersed, the spring river was moonlit, the wind carried the sound of water, and Cang Ming fell asleep against a large tree.

That night's dream was extremely disturbing, and my eyelids kept twitching. In the dream, Cang Ming was still racking his brains to figure out where Wei Ci had gone, when he suddenly felt a golden light before his eyes, so bright that it was impossible to look directly at it. Cang Ming was immediately panicked and struggled to shout, "Wei Ci! Wei Ci! Is that you?"

She shouted for a long time, but she couldn't turn over or lift her eyelids. After a while, the nightmare ended. Cang Ming opened her eyes and saw a ball of warm light like a candle in the dark night. The master was standing in the golden light, bending over and looking at her.

"Master?" Cang Ming scrambled to his feet, reaching out to touch his master's shoulder. "Am I dreaming?"

The master looked at her with concern and said, "Master, what did you dream about? Why are your lips so pale?"

Cang Ming said, "Master! It's really you." Not sure if it was because he had just woken up from a dream, or because the aura emanating from the master was too warm, but Cang Ming suddenly felt relieved, and burst into tears with his arm covering his face.

"Oh, Master, what's wrong with you? Are you too tired from fighting yesterday?" The Grand Master patted her head and consoled her. "I didn't come down secretly this time. I came to tell you good news!"

Cang Ming immediately asked, "Did you find Wei Ci?"

"What? Master, let's get down to business." Grandmother Shi didn't know that Wei Ci had died fighting for Cang Ming. When Wei Ci dissipated, she was in heaven dealing with those difficult immortal officials in the meeting.

Upon hearing it wasn't for Wei Ci, Cang Ming's eyes dimmed. However, his master's face lit up with joy, and he said solemnly, "Cang Ming, I'm here to welcome you to the Heavenly Palace. This time, you've triumphed over the guardian deity, and your merits have finally been fulfilled. Your name appears on the list of gods in heaven, and it's time for you to ascend to godhood. I've been talking to them for a long time before they agreed to let me lead you to the Heavenly Palace. I figured you'd probably need to spend some time saying goodbye to Xi Sheng and the others, so it's best for me to pick you up..."

"Ah?" Cang Ming repeated slowly, "I became a god?"

"Exactly!" the Grandmaster said excitedly, "A wandering immortal must endure three heavenly tribulations before becoming a god. I suspect the first one was, of course, Master, your family's misfortune and the false accusation that you became a jinx. The second was a brave battle against the guardian deity. I honestly don't know what the third one was. Could it be that you've encountered other major events over the years?"

Cang Ming said, "The third one... is Wei Ci, who died in battle yesterday. I'm waiting for him to come back."

The Grand Master was stunned. Cang Ming's tears seemed to have dried up, and a dull pain came from his head and eyes. Cang Ming said firmly, "Master, I will not become a god."

"This... isn't becoming a god your wish?" The Grand Master was at a loss. "Master, you have to think it over carefully. If you're waiting for him, then... then who knows when your next chance to ascend will be."

"Master, I don't want to become a god anymore, no matter what." Cang Ming shook his head. "I've figured it out. I don't need to become a god to achieve perfection. I catch ghosts for the people every day, helping many ordinary people. Hasn't that already reached the truth and profound meaning I seek? Why do I need to become a god?"

The Grand Master lowered his head in thought for a moment, then suddenly said with a look of relief, "Master, perhaps this is for the best. Is becoming a god necessarily right? I don't think so. I was content in the human world, but in the Heavenly Palace, wouldn't I still be trembling with fear, treading on thin ice, watching them fight each other every day? I see that you and Xisheng Wulu and the others are enjoying a long, peaceful life, just like the taste of fine wine. You are truly enjoying it."

"Master, it's a pity that you're alone in the Heavenly Palace and very lonely." Cang Ming said softly, "I want to wait for Wei Ci. From now on, my wish is no longer to become a god, but to see him."

The Grandmaster nodded and pulled out a scroll from his sleeve. "But please, at least let me finish reading the Heavenly Decree. This will fulfill a dream you've had for many years."

Cang Ming's face was solemn. He bowed deeply, stood with his hands hanging down, and listened to the master recite: "General Wu respects Cang Ming. For your meritorious service in capturing the rebellious guardian gods of heaven, I now obey the will of heaven and appoint you as the general of the Wu Shen, in charge of the grand prayer event of the thirty-six states."

After finishing his recitation, Master and Cang Ming looked at each other in silence. The moon was setting in the west, the empty boat moored by the river drifted back and forth, and the cool fragrance of camphor blossoms wafted through the air.

Cang Ming said, "Master, I don't know if we will ever see each other again. We still have some time tonight, so why don't you sit down for a while and have a pot of wine."

The master said, "Since we are destined to part, any extra moment of joy we have now will only add to our suffering in the future."

Cang Ming no longer forced himself, watching his master ascend slowly on a cloud. They reached out and held each other's hands. The master said, "Although the secrets of heaven must not be revealed... the person you're waiting for also gave up becoming a god just to see you again."

After saying this, the two hands separated, and the master waved to her until she disappeared into the clouds. Cang Ming's heart was in turmoil, but he just stared blankly at the master's figure disappearing.

A cockcrowed, and dawn broke. Fishermen appeared by the river, and every household in the city began to move. Cang Ming flew across the river on his sword and sat down in the wild grass between the mountain and the river.

If every dead soul would cross Huitou Ridge and jump into Chunqiu Ferry, then she would wait here, perhaps waiting for Wei Ci's soul to come. She hoped that Wei Ci would cross Huitou Ridge and not look back, and it would not matter if he no longer missed her.

As I sat quietly by the water, watching the fishing boats, I suddenly noticed a tree approaching. Turning, I saw the deputy general approaching on foot, weaving through the tall weeds, revealing only a charred face. He still wore the flower in his hair, giving the impression of a withered tree reborn, though his face was now covered in several cracks, as if battered in battle.

The deputy general stood in front of Cang Ming, without saying a word. Cang Ming paid no attention to him, sometimes looking towards the mountains, sometimes looking at the river.

The deputy general cleared his throat and said, "I'm here to deliver the king's invitation. My king heard that your husband had died, so he invited you over for a drink. He's rebuilt Black Mountain, right in the same spot, and he said you'll know once you go. He also said it's up to you whether you want to come or not, because she thinks you're so pitiful for relying on a man, so she asked you to come."

Cang Ming said calmly, "I can't leave here. Thank you, my king, for your kindness. Without you, we would have been too busy to handle the battle yesterday."

The deputy general said: "Humph, in order to crush those embroidered shoes, our army suffered heavy losses. The thousand-year-old floating corpses have all been killed in the battle. They were soldiers who died in the battle in the Central Plains a thousand years ago. What a pity, what a pity..."

“…”

The lieutenant-general glanced at her and said, "I think you shouldn't take life and death so seriously. Your pretty boy has gone to enjoy his life. In this world, life is accidental, and death is common." He pointed at his face with a dry wooden hand and continued, "I was once a tree. I was struck by lightning and chopped down by a woodcutter's axe. I died several times, and now I am like this."

Cang Ming suddenly asked: "Then why are you still alive?"

The deputy general glared and said, "I can't live? My king is protecting me, how can I die? Besides, fairies reincarnate very quickly..." Cang Ming's heart lit up, remembering that Wei Ci had said the same thing before disappearing. Because of this tiny hope, she almost cried with joy.

Then Panmu said, "Well, I have to go back and plant some lizard vines. I don't have time to talk to you anymore. Anyway, whether you want to come to this dinner or not, I've got something to say..."

Cang Ming said, "When he comes back, we'll go visit him together. By the way, I wonder what will happen to Old Guilian's body in the future?"

The deputy general said, "I will stay in your snowy plains. The king said that he has settled his grudge with him and will rest in peace. He will never visit his grave again."

Cang Ming nodded slightly, and the deputy general didn't care and turned away.

From that day on, Cang Ming sat among the mountains and rivers, waiting. She even changed into the same dress she wore in her previous life and styled her hair into a long, flowing bun. Thinking of Wei Ci waiting for her for a thousand years, with no family or friends around, Cang Ming felt a tightness in her chest, almost suffocating her. She tried applying her voice-transmitting lipstick again, speaking to Wei Ci in her mind, but she couldn't hear Wei Ci's reply.

Bored while sitting by the river, she would reminisce about the past. As time passed, her memories of her past life grew clearer and more complete. There were many small moments with Uncle Pan and his playmates that brought back heartwarming memories for Cang Ming. Coincidentally, her parents in her past life were also her parents in this one. Perhaps because Cang Ming died young, the kinship ties continued for another nineteen years in this life. Relying solely on these memories, Cang Ming found warmth in her waiting.

Later, someone unexpected appeared by the river. Li Xianzhen walked back from outside the pass, also waiting for Hua Yi between Huitou Ridge and Chunqiu Ferry. The two of them sat far apart, each on a tree stump, no longer filled with hatred, but with peace.