Chapter 186: A Quick Drink of the Sword
Shen Lang was not unaware that Xie Huailing had other plans in mind.
Unlike Zhu Qiqi and Jin Lingzhi, Shen Lang often judged people by their overall qualities. Therefore, from the moment he met Xie Huailing, he never considered her without considering her background and intelligence. Xie Huailing's later rise to fame proved that Shen Lang was right. He was fully aware that Xie Huailing's strategic acumen far outweighed any other characteristics she displayed.
But precisely because he understood all this, he still became friends with her, and Shen Lang wouldn't hesitate because of this connection. He chose to speak frankly: "I know Miss Xie has something on her mind, something that surpasses even a thousand sharp weapons."
He knew even better that a golden carp was not meant to stay in a pond, and that Xie Huailing could never be confined to the world of martial arts.
He said, “I don’t know what you’re going to do, but you’ve made up your mind to do it.”
Xie Huailing said, "That's right, I've made up my mind to do this."
Shen Lang said, "Although I don't know the details, I do know that this matter is of great importance, and yet you are still determined to do it."
Xie Huailing said, "That's right, I'm still determined to do this."
Shen Lang asked again, "Why did you insist on doing this?"
Xie Huailing continued, "If everyone in heaven and on earth were to make no decision about matters of great importance, how much more would the annals of history be reduced, and how many more years of suffering would be added to the lives of all people?"
Shen Lang sighed and said, "Yes, that's exactly right. It couldn't be more true."
Human effort is key; if one is timid and hesitant, how can one expect to succeed? Looking back through millennia of history, while heroes are judged by success or failure, they are also judged by their spirit. When a person draws their sword, their will is not eroded by death, nor does it end with success or failure. Only by making a firm decision and not being bound by constraints can one create countless stories and chapters. The bright future that one desires must always be earned through one's own efforts.
What the world needs is always people like this. Enduring hardship and setbacks is nothing compared to the joy of drinking from a sword.
Shen Lang didn't know what Xie Huailing was going to do, but he could figure it out.
Because he is Shen Lang.
Because Shen Lang is a first-rate free and easy person, he sees things more clearly and profoundly than ordinary people. There are thousands of karmic obstacles in the secular world, but he can bring nothing with him when he comes and nothing with him when he leaves. He is unrestrained and can make more choices.
He knew his words were heavy, but he wished to say them softly.
This had nothing to do with priorities; he was simply talking to a friend. In Shen Lang's view, talking to a friend should be a very relaxing thing. Countless things happen in the world every day, but one should not forget that a friend is a friend because of those things.
Shen Lang said, "I originally wanted to say, 'I hope Miss Xie can remember everything that was said today, and everyone she cares about,' but before I spoke, I thought it was unnecessary. Miss Xie would remember it without me saying it."
Shen Lang said, "So after thinking it over, I'd like to say a few words."
Shen Lang said, "In short, I feel a little regretful. If Miss Xie were a swordsman, she would definitely be the number one swordsman in the world."
Xie Huailing remembered something. Generally speaking, swordsmen in the world, as long as they have a sword in their hearts, will always be thinking about the sword, and will look at people through the lens of the sword, and look at people as they would look at the sword.
She said, "I have never been skilled in martial arts, nor have I ever tried them, so I cannot agree with Young Master Shen's praise."
Shen Lang smiled, a very faint smile, but enough to convey his meaning. He said, "The essence of swordsmanship is sincerity. A swordsman must be sincere in heart and in dealing with others."
When Xie Huailing brought up Ye Gucheng, the two men's theories were completely different: "'Sword Immortal' Lord Ye once said the same thing, but for him, sincerity towards the sword was probably more important than sincerity towards people."
Shen Lang shook his head, disagreeing.
He said, "The sword belongs to the man, and the man is also the sword itself. A swordsman is truly sincere to the sword only when he is sincere to himself; otherwise, why would he draw his sword?"
Xie Huailing drew out an "Oh," then suddenly found it somewhat interesting. She asked, "That's one sentence. What's the other sentence?"
Shen Lang then said, "I can write a travelogue, but I need to have a drink with Miss Xie first before I write it."
Xie Huailing blinked, and then Shen Lang said, "I have a friend like this, but I've never had a drink with her, which is always a bit of a regret."
Okay, maybe it's not just somewhat interesting, it's very interesting.
She asked, "So, you're not someone who likes to have regrets?"
Shen Lang replied, "I am indeed not a person who likes regrets."
Regret can be beautiful at times, but beautiful regrets are so rare. So why keep regrets? Just leave them to your friends.
And friends, friends, it seems they are always friends. We can't escape friends, we can't bypass friends, and we can't do without friends.
People go through many things for their friends, and friends go through many things for their friends. If a person's knowledge is still insufficient and they are still confused about the world, then make friends. Let friends fill in some gaps and you will see a wider world.
Xie Huailing approved of Zhu Qiqi's taste. Shen Lang was indeed a very lovable person.
.
For the next half day, Xie Huailing didn't see Wang Lianhua again. He probably didn't want to see her, so she let it be. Anyway, it was impossible for her to take the initiative to find Wang Lianhua. She only hoped that Wang Lianhua wouldn't run into Bai Feifei, otherwise the situation would be too difficult to handle, and it would be better not to add to her workload.
In short, she still managed to get through the half-day well. As for the matter between Su Mengzhen and Wang Lianhua, Su Mengzhen didn't tell her about it, so she pretended not to know that Su Mengzhen had stayed behind to talk to Wang Lianhua for a while. What difference would it make if she asked? In the current situation, it seemed better not to ask. It was a tangled mess, and she didn't want to expend too much energy on it. If something really happened, she wouldn't hide from it.
Half a day later, it was a new day.
Xie Huailing's first priority was figuring out where to squeeze out time to drink with Shen Lang. To be honest, she was already someone who had repeatedly squeezed out even her sleep time; any further and she would be beaten from a human to a pulp (…), so the only time she could squeeze out for drinking was during her work hours.
Speaking of which, we should be thankful that Wuqing hasn't contacted us yet. Xie Huailing has reserved approximate times for the days when they might meet, and once it's confirmed, she will clear out the time slots needed for that day. Therefore, she even made time today, even though it wasn't exactly free, to drink with Shen Lang.
There's no way around it, that's how spinning tops are. Just wait and see. When Su Mengzhen recovers, she'll make her pay back all the suffering she's endured and watch Su Mengzhen spin like a top again.
Speaking of Su Mengzhen, Su Mengzhen is one of the biggest culprits behind Xie Huailing's difficulty in finding time today.
"Cousin, it's time to take your medicine."
After saying this softly, Xie Huailing placed the steaming medicinal liquid in front of Su Mengzhen. The liquid in the porcelain bowl was a thick, dark brown color, exuding an odor that made one not want to smell it again. Its smell lived up to expectations; at least for Xie Huailing, the smell felt like a punch to the stomach, as if it were constantly attacking her.
But Su Mengzhen wasn't afraid of bitterness; he was the kind of person who would use medicine to wake himself up. So Xie Huailing didn't ask the system to adjust the taste of the medicine anymore, because it wouldn't kill him with bitterness.
He couldn't quite discern the underlying meaning in her words, but Su Mengzhen could still sense some traces in her tone—a melancholy quality, like a rock on a riverbank eroded by flowing water. He took the still slightly warm medicine with both hands, glanced inside, then at Xie Huailing.
Xie Huailing had already sat down opposite him, her back immediately slumping down. Even though there was no wind, it was as if she had been blown by the wind, and she instantly became relaxed. She said to him, "This is the last bowl of medicine. There's nothing else. After drinking this bowl, you should have a good sleep and wake up feeling refreshed. But I don't know how many days you'll be sleeping. Don't keep sleeping forever, Master."
My heart yearns to awaken, yet my spirit yearns to be drunk; a thousand nightmares haunt me. But Su Mengzhen says, "Just wait for me; it won't be long."
Xie Huailing pressed herself even closer to the back of the chair, the back pressing against her bones: "The host is quite confident."
Su Mengzhen explained simply: "Every dream has an ending, and a person cannot float in a dream."
All dreams must eventually return to reality.
He then asked, perhaps people tend to talk more before falling asleep, and even Su Mengzhen was no exception: "What kind of dreams do you have?"
"Aren't you going to ask me if I dream?"
Everyone dreams.
“That’s quite true…” Xie Huailing understood what he meant. She turned her gaze away and, without any intention of dodging, frankly told him, “They were just ordinary dreams. The things I experienced and the people I met were no different from anyone else’s. What about you? What kind of dreams do you have? I’m not in them, am I?”
Su Mengzhen admitted that, both professionally and personally, Xie Huailing was someone he would think about every day and could not forget: "Often."
Xie Huailing nodded, not pressing the matter. She had no interest in that, gently touching her fingers as she watched Su Mengzhen drink the medicine in one gulp. The taste of the medicine didn't bother him; it was as if he had no sense of taste at all. And because of his boldness, the bitter taste of the medicine escaped the bowl and gradually churned in the bedroom, banging and clattering—he couldn't stand seeing others do well, and he was extremely displeased with Xie Huailing.
Xie Huailing didn't react. She was thinking about something else rather than feeling upset.
"You still want to know about my past, what I'm thinking," she suddenly said.
She was right. Su Mengzhen put down the bowl and stopped. He didn't avoid the question. He looked back at Xie Huailing, taking it as a nod of agreement, and said, "But you don't want me to ask, so I won't."
"You'll wait." Xie Huailing read his thoughts and shrugged. "Wait until the day I'm willing to speak up, the day I take the initiative to speak up, and keep waiting. But Su Mengzhen, will that day really come?"
There was no need for an answer after asking the question. Xie Huailing spoke softly again: "Go to sleep, Master."
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