Chapter 288: Withering Away

Wang Mang’s face was filled with anxiety, his heart was beating violently, and he was out of breath.

"Don't worry."

Gu Dan seemed to have expected this, "We'll be there right away."

He reached out and grabbed Wang Mang. The next moment, even the air made a huge roar, and the two of them disappeared from the spot like a stream of light.

The imperial palace of the Xia Dynasty.

Lying on a bed with raised curtains, Xu Wanrong was breathing weakly and drowsy.

As a martial artist who had completed the internal organ training and had experienced the obstruction of qi and blood, her qi and blood seemed quite weak, and her whole body exuded an aura of decay.

When Gu Dan brought Wang Mang here, Xu Wanrong heard the noise, opened her eyes slightly, and said weakly, "Meet Mr. Gu."

"You're welcome."

Gu Dan lifted the curtain and looked at Xu Wanrong, whose face was surprisingly pale.

The beautiful and graceful White Lotus Saint is no longer seen. Now lying on the bed is an old woman with white hair.

The face that once outshined the bright moon is not old now, except for a few wrinkles that remain on the face and refuse to go away.

Back then, Gu Dan destroyed the International Chamber of Commerce, and all of its treasures fell into the hands of the Xia Dynasty.

Among them was a rare treasure called Shengyanhua, which Xu Wanrong had undoubtedly taken.

But Sheng Yanhua is not truly eternally young. Even if her appearance returns to thirty years ago, it does not mean that her lifespan will increase by thirty years.

Even if we go back thirty years, Xu Wanrong would have looked like she was in her fifties, which was enough to be considered an old woman in that era.

The black hair turns white, and the pretty face is gone.

In the face of time, it is the same whether you are a master or a great practitioner.

This is the most tragic and fair thing in the world.

This time, Xu Wanrong did not cover her face with her sleeves.

She looked at Gu Dan in amazement, especially at his hair, which had mostly turned gray. She asked in surprise, "Mr. Gu, are you going to age too?"

Gu Dan was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "Yes, who in this world doesn't grow old?"

“You will grow old too.”

Xu Wanrong murmured to herself with an inexplicable look on her face. She didn't know whether it was a feeling of relief or sadness that shrouded her heart, and she couldn't put it into words.

In the Xia Dynasty, this country was still developing rapidly and was even very young.

But those who founded the Xia Dynasty together could not escape the clutches of time.

Gu Dan sent away Andy Hui and Gong Shangguo, and this time, the pressure of time fell on Xu Wanrong.

In terms of the degree of familiarity, he and Xu Wanrong actually had no friendship.

After the establishment of the Xia Dynasty, Xu Wanrong was canonized as queen, and she sat in the harem and lived a secluded life.

Facts have proved that not all queens can be as willful as Lin Xiaoyi, and Xia Chao is not Dayue.

Xu Wanrong didn't have much friendship with the people in the Gu family courtyard. Besides, she was a woman after all, and she was the queen. In this era, it was not appropriate for her to get too close to them.

Xu Wanrong also became Wang Mang's virtuous wife. At least Wang Mang never had to worry about the affairs of the harem.

There was another person in front of the bed.

He was holding Xu Wanrong's hand, his eyes full of reluctance, "Mother, Mr. Gu is here, you will definitely get better."

He is the child of Wang Mang and Xu Wanrong.

He was born in the year when the Xia Dynasty was founded, and was truly the crown prince for fifty years.

But Gu Dan was not familiar with him, and they had never met each other except when they were very young.

Not only him, but also Xun Ke and Xiaoying's children, and even Cang's many descendants, Gu Dan treated them all equally.

For most of the time, he had actually isolated himself from the Xia Dynasty.

Even the Grand Master could not stop the flow of time. He had been trapped in the trap and had no choice. After all, he was not a heartless and desireless person. He could not just pat his butt and walk away.

Now that Gu Dan has chosen to distance himself from the next generation, he has already made his attitude clear.

It was for this reason that when the news of the Buzhou Mountains came, Wang Mang thought that Gu Dan was going to leave.

“Birth, aging, illness and death are the natural course of human life.”

Xu Wanrong smiled slightly, and actually comforted her child, "Even a powerful man like Mr. Gu cannot avoid aging, and a wise man like Mozi cannot avoid accidents, so how can mother be so virtuous and capable?"

Wang Mang clenched his teeth and said nothing, but just looked at Gu Dan with anticipation. He hoped, he hoped extremely that Gu Dan, whom he regarded as his savior, could help him again.

Just like when he swept away the Grandmaster of the Four-Nation Alliance.

Gu Dan said nothing, but just waved his hand gently.

A layer of rather soft emerald green light enveloped Xu Wanrong's body like a veil.

Xu Wanrong's face turned slightly redder and her eyelids blinked.

"Wang Lang, I'm a little sleepy."

She said.

"Then take a rest first, take a rest first."

Wang Mang said hurriedly.

"Don't wait here. State affairs are more urgent."

Xu Wanrong's eyes were closed, and only a few faint sounds could be heard.

"well."

Two lines of tears slid down from the corners of his eyes. Wang Mang covered his cheeks with his hands, his eyes red.

Xu Wanrong has a different meaning to him.

When he first rushed to Yuzhou, he was a penniless boy who luckily saved the life of the White Lotus Saint. Thus, he took root in the White Lotus Sect, and because of various coincidences, they actually got together.

It was also because of Xu Wanrong that Wang Mang had the opportunity to rise up in the White Lotus Sect, successfully take charge of a branch, and have his own men and brothers, giving him the opportunity to display his talents.

Xu Wanrong was both his wife and his mentor.

All of this sounds very much like the story about the protagonist in a vernacular novel.

But, as we all know.

Every story has an ending.

Even if both are martial artists who have achieved great success in organ training, it does not mean that they will die on the same day of the same month of the same year.

While he was still considered healthy, Xu Wanrong had already collapsed.

The couple who had been together day and night for most of their lives just lay down on the bed like this, and may never wake up again. This sadness is probably only understood by oneself.

"Let her rest and don't make any noise."

Gu Dan said softly.

They left the room.

Wang Mang squatted down in front of the steps without any dignity, covering his face with his hands, "Brother Gu, is there really no other way?"

“.”

Silence is the best answer.

There is no way.

Gu Dan possesses the Qingmu Huasheng Jue and has the most advanced medical skills in the world.

But there has never been any medical record on how to cure aging itself.

Even in the Buzhou Mountains, no one has ever heard of any rare and precious fruits that can prolong life - life span is far more precious than ordinary people think.

Otherwise, how could the highest pursuit of the immortal path be immortality?

The two of them sat outside quietly, neither of them speaking.

Gu Dan and Xu Wanrong were not very familiar with each other, so they were not actually that sad, but he had also "empathized" with what Wang Mang was experiencing today.

Death means separation.

It means never see you again.

It means that everything in the past can only be looked up in memory.

He could not save Xu Wanrong, just as he could not save Andy Hui and Gong Shangguo. In this world, only death is cruel, cold and merciless.

He could only make them feel a little more comfortable before they died, so that they no longer had to carry a heavy body as they left this world.

This is the only way Gu Dan can help.

In the fiftieth year of the Xia Dynasty, Xu Wanrong passed away.

Wang Mang fell seriously ill and Gu was responsible for his treatment.

There is no cure for heart disease.

When his physical condition improved a little, Wang Mang immediately devoted himself to state affairs.

He seemed to have regained the energy of his youth, often reviewing memorials all night long.

It seems that only in the midst of busy official duties can one forget some unspeakable pain.

Or maybe, he just wanted to be closer to her and not let her go too far.

Xun Ke had approached Gu Dan several times about this matter, hoping that Gu Dan could enlighten Wang Mang.

However, even Gu Dan was powerless.

Doctors only have the opportunity to treat injuries that can be cured.

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No matter how good the medical skills are, there will always be times when they are powerless.

The 52nd year of the Xia Dynasty.

After two years of almost non-stop work, Wang Mang finally collapsed on his bed.

This is only because of his great experience in organ training, otherwise he would have vomited three liters of blood long ago.

"Brother Gu."

Lying on the bed, Wang Mang looked at Gu Dan, whose face was quite dark, and actually gave him a smile.

"you"

Gu Dan wanted to scold him, but stopped talking and just said, "Why bother?"

If Wang Mang hadn't been so worried, he would have lived a few more years.

"Everyone is mortal. A few years ago, I felt that my health was not as good as before."

Wang Mang avoided the question. "I have no regrets. I have almost experienced everything that one should have in life. Now I want to see what death is like and whether it is really that scary. Is it the same as what Buddhism says, that there is a paradise after death where people who have done good deeds in life will meet each other there?"

Wang Mang stared at Gu Dan and asked expectantly, "Brother Gu, do you think there is a paradise?"

Gu Dan is the strongest person he knows, and he has always had great trust in Gu Dan.

If even Gu Dan thinks that the Pure Land does not exist, then it probably really does not exist, right?

"Everything in the world is mysterious and wonderful, it is the paradise."

Gu Dan hesitated for a moment, looked at Wang Mang's expectant eyes, and finally said, "Maybe it exists."

"That's good."

Wang Mang let out a long sigh, "I've been on the throne for so long, I'm almost tired of it."

Gu Dan smiled, what Wang Mang said was indeed right.

If you just want to be a tyrant, then you should just enjoy yourself and do whatever you want. Why bother managing the world? Just being happy yourself is enough.

But if one wants to be a sage king or a wise ruler, he or she may not be able to gain a good reputation even if he or she devotes his or her entire life to it.

Fortunately, Wang Mang had good talent and a group of reliable people under him to help each other. If someone mentions him in the future, he will be regarded as one of the models of a wise ruler.

"If you feel discouraged, you should say less."

After smiling, Gu Dan still scolded him with a stern face.

But some things will not go away if you don't say them.

The fifty-third year of the Xia Dynasty.

Wang Mang fell on the bed again.

This time, it was even difficult for him to get up.

When Gu Dan went over, a maid was serving water to Wang Mang.

Wang Mang was already very old.

He did not take the Shengyan Flower, and the aging look had already taken root and grown on his face. His hair, which had lost much of its luster, was now well-maintained, and he still looked a little energetic.

"You can get out now."

Gu Dan dismissed the maid, looked at the water stains on the edge of Wang Mang's gray beard, and said unhappily, "Why, even when you drink water, you have to leak a little?"

He stretched out his sleeve and wiped the water stains for Wang Mang.

"You can't refuse to accept your age."

Wang Mang, leaning against the bed, sighed at first, but recovered in an instant.

"Brother Gu, I'm leaving."

When saying this, Wang Mang was very serious, without any sign of joking, but his tone was very calm, like an unruffled calm.

Perhaps because of his high martial arts skills, he has a good perception in this regard.

The body that I had since birth finally began to complain.

He could feel that his body was constantly protesting, and his tired body was always urging him to fall asleep quickly.

All the things that I had never felt before came to me at this moment.

His body was tired, his mind was sinking, and he didn't want to speak or move.

He sensed it; it was the breath of death.

"What nonsense."

Gu Dan covered him with a thin blanket and said, "I haven't agreed yet."

"Brother Gu, are you used to it?"

Wang Mang said, "One by one, they all leave. In fact, they are all the same, except for the different names. In this respect, I am luckier than you, so I don't have to stay last."

At this point, Wang Mang laughed and said, "I am also better than the Grand Master in some ways."

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Gu Dan raised his eyebrows, "You need to be cleaned up, right?"

"It's too late to clean it up."

Wang Mang lay on the bed, motionless. "Fortunately, I didn't leave a mess for everyone. Even if I meet them, I can give an explanation."

Facing death, Wang Mang was very calm.

On the day Xu Wanrong passed away, Wang Mang already understood that death was approaching quietly, in the seemingly slow passage of time.

What is the purpose of life?

Maybe, it's just for a name.

In order to imprint the name on future generations and in the hearts of all people in the world, to prove that one has been here and existed.

Many people cannot do this. They are unknown during their lifetime and after their death, they are as unknown as autumn grass.

He was lucky to meet Gu Dan.

He was lucky to meet Xu Wanrong.

He was lucky to have everything that happened afterwards.

He has accomplished what he wanted to do, and he no longer has many wishes left in the world.

I just want to spend some time with my loved one and visit those old friends I haven't seen for a long time.

The country and the people have been carried on our shoulders for too long, and it is far from being as easy as we thought.

Fortunately, he handed in an answer sheet that he felt was satisfactory.

"Brother Gu, I have done what I promised you."

Wang Mang suddenly said, as if he was remembering something.

"Um?"

“The hungry are fed, the cold are clothed, the toiling are rested.”

Wang Mang asked, "I didn't disappoint you, did I?"

(End of this chapter)