Getting back to the main topic
A long queue formed in front of the city gate.
"Name?" the soldier in charge of the check blurted out almost reflexively. He glanced up at the man, saw that he was a frail-looking fellow, and then looked down at the travel permit with no interest.
"Changji".
"Where did you come from?" the soldier asked curtly. "What are you doing here?"
"I came from Mount Itsaku." Chokichi wasn't angry; a smile remained on his face. "I came here to pay homage to the four sword gods of Heian-in Temple."
"You don't look like someone who practices martial arts." The soldier looked Changji up and down again.
"Sir, you have a good eye. I am just a scholar."
The soldier handed the document back to Changji, not forgetting to complain: "It's strange that a scholar would come to Ping'an Temple in Wuling City instead of the Wishing River in Wenqu City."
Changji scratched his head and gave an awkward smile.
Having passed through the city gate's checkpoint, Chokichi could see the magnificent Heian-in Temple atop the mountain in the distance. Using the towering Mount Mashou as a landmark, Chokichi wandered through the streets and alleys, making sure he was indeed approaching his planned destination, while keeping an eye on the palace atop the mountain.
Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, they discovered that the entrance was blocked by several large rocks. Chokichi paced back and forth at the entrance, carefully assessing his physical abilities before abandoning the idea of forcing his way up.
Moving eastward around the mountain, the houses visibly become increasingly dilapidated. The filthy streets are filled with elderly people, barely clinging to life, and emaciated children. A drowsy atmosphere pervades the entire street, as if the spirit and will of everyone within it are being slowly eroded, like a swamp.
Changji quickened his pace.
We arrived at the foot of the famous Hundred-Step Ladder in Wuling City, a place also guarded by soldiers.
"The common people are not allowed to pass through here." The soldier's tone was much colder than the one at the city gate. His eyes were looking into the distance, and his nostrils were pointing at Changji.
A hunched old woman tugged at Changji's sleeve. Her clothes were patched with so many scars that Changji couldn't count them on one hand. "Go up Xuanhua Road to the north," the old woman kindly told Changji, pointing out the way.
Between Changji and Xuanhua Road to the north, there was an entire Mashou Mountain, so he could only continue to travel around the mountain until he reached Xuanhua Road.
Soon, Changji reached the next pass leading up the mountain. Here, the path was also blocked, though only halfway up the mountain.
There was a tea stall in front of the road, and Changji ordered a bowl of tea to quench his thirst.
"Sir, you're not from around here, are you?" the waiter asked warmly but not obsequiously.
"The Hermit of Yijian Mountain".
“Oh, Yijian Mountain.” The waiter’s eyes lit up. “That’s an amazing place. I’ve heard about it since I was a kid. It’s just a pity that Yijian Mountain has declined since the death of the Sword Bone Heroine and her apprentice.”
Business people are used to saying one thing to one person and another to someone else. But Changji felt that Xiao Er's words were very sincere, a heartfelt regret, not something he was trying to please.
"You've come to the right place," the waiter boasted. "In the entire Wuling City, the tea here is the most exceptional. It's practically the Yijian Mountain of the tea world."
Changji glanced at the simple ceiling and the wobbly tables and chairs with their uneven legs. No matter how he looked at it, this place wasn't as impressive as he'd described.
“You’ve come at just the right time,” the waiter said, completely unconcerned about Changji’s scrutinizing gaze as he pointed to the well not far away. “In spring, sand gushes out of the well. Only after the water is drawn and clarified can you brew a unique tea. I call it Sand Tea, and it’s only available here.”
To be honest, the tea's taste was only average. Of course, Chokichi didn't have any unrealistic expectations. Nevertheless, he still praised it highly.
"Scholars are just different." The waiter rubbed his hands together, his eyes narrowing into slits with a smile.
After Changji asked him for directions to Xuanhua Road, he didn't linger and continued on his way.
It took an hour to climb the mountain from Xuanhua Road.
From afar, one could see soldiers in front of the Ping An Courtyard collecting money from pedestrians preparing to enter.
Changji paid the money and asked, "If we go in now, can we see Xuanyuan?"
“Sure.” The soldier pointed behind him and said, “Two taels of silver can buy a portrait.”
The soldiers here have a good attitude, Choji thought to himself.
After being admitted to the hospital, Changji passed through the Hall of a Hundred Beggars, the Hall of Stars, and the Twelfth Sword Intent Hall in turn. When he stood in front of the "Horse Head Mountain Demon Subduing Map", a child said, "This sister is so amazing. She took on sixteen heroes all by herself."
"Don't talk nonsense." The child's mother quickly covered his mouth and glanced warily at Changji, who had not gone far.
Changji pretended not to notice and continued up to the Sword God Temple. In front of the Sword God Temple was a large pit, which was said to have been caused by the collapse of the floor tiles due to a lightning strike, which led to the discovery of the hidden chamber below and the remains of Xuanyuan inside.
Another group of soldiers stood at the entrance of the pit, collecting money. Now, Xuanyuan's death site had become part of the Peace Palace, and many people, curious about what this legendary great demon looked like, paid to go down into the cave to see. However, in reality, only a mutilated, pale skeleton remained inside; nothing else.
Changji also spent money to go down into the cave.
After viewing the explicit portrait of Xuanyuan, Changji did not enter the Sword God Hall to pay his respects, but went straight down the mountain. At the gate of Ping'an Temple, he spent two taels of silver to obtain a portrait of Xuanyuan.
The sky was orange-yellow, and the sun was about to set.
*
Thump thump thump—
Night fell. Changji looked up at the starry sky, his hand hovering in mid-air after he had just knocked on the door.
"Coming." A sweet, clear voice came from behind the door.
Chokichi first heard the scraping sound of the latch being pulled, then the door opened a crack just wide enough to reveal a face. It was a face that made him feel very comfortable. In Chokichi's own words, it was the kind of face that made you feel so comfortable that you wouldn't even feel like you'd seen it before the next time you saw it.
"Who are you?" The girl looked at the newcomer with some hesitation.
"It's me, Chokichi." Chokichi introduced himself, "Chokichi from Mount Ittsuben."
The girl suddenly realized what was going on, opened the door, and nervously wiped her hands on her pants. "Please come in, Mr. Chokichi."
Changji entered the house and sat on the lowest round stool by the stove.
The girl peeked outside, then quietly closed the door and fastened the latch. She walked to the fireplace and sat down somewhat awkwardly.
"May I ask how you should address me, young lady?" Changji spoke first, "because you didn't write your name on the letter you sent me."
"Ah." The girl was a little flustered and said, "My name is Qu Ling. I didn't expect you to actually come."
"Is what you said in your letter true? That place where dreams come true?" Chokichi pursed his lips, a little nervous himself.
Changji received Qu Ling's letter at Yijian Mountain, which prompted him to travel across most of the Central Plains to Wuling City. In the letter, Qu Ling said she knew of a place where dreams could come true.
But judging from Qu Ling's current reaction, even if she admitted to lying, Chang Ji would find it reasonable. Of course, he might be somewhat angry.
"It's true." Qu Ling said with surprising certainty.
Choji sat upright. "Why did you choose to tell me?"
"I have read many of your books." As the conversation progressed, Qu You's tension and unease gradually disappeared. "I have read all your storybooks, the biographies you wrote for Han Xiaozhou, Zhao Zheng, and the four sword gods."
"Hmm." Changji nodded: "Then you should know that they themselves asked me to write it, and I am not affiliated with any party. If you want me to use their power to do something for you, you're probably going to be disappointed."
Qu Ling shook her head quickly. "You misunderstand me. The three major sword sects each serve a different master, and they have been fighting each other for years, causing widespread suffering. You were invited to write a book for them, and you even dared to speak frankly about their atrocities in the book. I am deeply moved by your remarkable courage." Qu Ling swallowed and took a breath: "So when you said you wanted to create a world without violence, I immediately thought of that place—a place where people's dreams can come true. I think you are someone I can entrust with this task."
"I understand," Choji replied after a long silence.
Just then, a man walked in from the backyard.
Qu Ling stood up and introduced, "This is Mr. Changji, and this is my husband."
Changji also got up, and after solemnly greeting Qu Ling's husband, the three of them sat down around the stove again.
"Mr. Changji, my wife really likes your book!" Qu Ling's husband was very cheerful; the couple had completely different personalities.
"That would be my honor," Choji said modestly.
"I have a question for you."
"Speaking."
"Are you and Chen Changgui, the city lord of Wenqu City, really brothers as the rumors say?"
Qu Ling slapped the man's arm: "What nonsense are you talking about? Everyone knows that Chen Changgui is the only son of the Chen family. Besides, there is a twenty-year age difference between them."
"It's not uncommon for people to have children late in life," the man chuckled.
"I'm sorry," Changji said with a smile, "I have never met Lord Chen before."
"You're really something." The man exclaimed, "You wrote about the three major sword sects like that, and none of them bothered you. Anyone else would have been reincarnated eight times over by now."
"You're so unserious." Qu Ling glared at him, and the man immediately shut his mouth. Qu Ling then apologized to Changji, saying, "Mr. Changji, please don't mind him, that's just how he is."
“Miss Qu’s husband is a very interesting person,” Changji said sincerely.
"The map to that place is ready." Qu Ling took out a cloth bag and handed it over, saying, "Go east, in the Burial Sword Gorge."
Changji took the cloth bag and asked, "Is it alright if you don't go by yourselves? If that place can really make people's dreams come true."
Qu Ling shook her head. “It’s alright. My mother told me that my grandmother said to her, ‘That’s a place that could change your life, but if you’re content with what you have now, then don’t go.’”
The firewood in the stove crackled and popped.
“My mother didn’t go either. She came back here and is living her life as before.” Qu Ling placed her hands uneasily on her legs. “For me, things are good now. Although it may seem selfish of me to say this to those who are suffering from the war, I can’t be as aware as you are of making efforts for others.”
Changji then looked at the man sitting next to Qu Ling.
The man put his arm around Qu Ling's shoulder and gave her a hearty smile. "I don't need to go, because my dream has already come true."
"I understand." Changji stood up and left the Qu family clinic.
Only after walking quite a distance did Changji turn around, look at the lights of the Qu Family Medical Clinic, and murmur, "I'm sorry, I was only acting out of selfishness. That so-called courage was nothing but self-abandonment."
The lights went out.
"But thank you for giving me hope. I will try my best to leave you with a peaceful world."
*
Deep within the Burial Sword Gorge lies a secluded realm, where towering cliffs surround a range of mountains. Magnificent waterfalls cascade down the edges of these cliffs, resembling the flowing, pure white skirts of a goddess.
The flowing water stirred the air, and a sweet, cool scent permeated every corner of the secret realm. Standing at the entrance of the secret realm and looking at the sheer cliff on the other side, it felt as if it would take a lifetime to reach the end.
Stars shift and constellations change, seasons change.
Snow fell. The waterfall was also covered with a crystal-clear shell, but the rushing water proclaimed that nothing had stopped. In the grotto at the center of the secret realm, scraps of paper covered with writing were spread all over the floor. On the left half of the long stone table in the center of the cave, there was a portrait of Xuanyuan, which was sold twice in Ping'an Courtyard. The girl in the painting with a beauty mark under her eye was smiling, and she did not look like a demon at all. On the right half of the stone table, a thin man lay slumped over it, his face peaceful and serene, long since lifeless.
A deafening sound suddenly rang out from the edge of the secret realm; it was the sound of ice breaking off from the surface of the waterfall and crashing to the ground.
A cold wind rushed into the grotto, and the bottom sheet of paper, which was pressing down on the portrait, spun and flew into the air.
The paper read:
Pei Jiangxi took a deep breath, her chest still aching slightly.
Before me were straight tree trunks, sparse leaves, and a pale sky.
"Her sword was only a finger's width away from Wang Boyu's throat."
(The End)
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