Chapter 63 Argument
"What?" Yuanshi exclaimed in disbelief, "You're here to warn me for his sake?"
“I’m just telling the truth,” Chang Hao countered, using Yuan Shi’s words to shut him up. “You don’t want me to make excuses for you.”
Yuan Shi took a few deep breaths. "You must explain yourself clearly today. What is your relationship with him, and why are you protecting him?"
"This..." Chang Hao remained silent, pondering deeply. It was hard to say what their relationship was, as everything was just speculation.
How can he make a claim without evidence? How could he possibly control the Chaos Bell? What if it was Pangu who tampered with it?
Yuanshi insisted on determining who was superior today, asking, "Tell me, what is my weight in your heart?"
"If you compare friends to brothers, do you know which is more important?" Chang Hao had a secret he couldn't tell, so he could only subtly change the subject like this.
“Of course, brothers are more important,” Yuanshi said without hesitation, “but you are different.” As for how you are different, Yuanshi had not yet figured it out.
“I understand,” Chang Hao smiled. “Chang Hao was born alone, but fortunately met Yuan Shi and formed a friendship. I have always regarded you as a brother, and I treat you more closely than a brother, which is incomparable to ordinary people.”
"Is this really true?" Yuanshi was so pleased with Chang Hao's flattery that he forgot to ask Taiyi about it for a moment.
"Of course, everything I said is true. If there is any falsehood, I am willing to accept it..." Chang Hao directly pointed to the sky and swore an oath.
"Alright, I believe you. You can't make promises lightly." Yuanshi's heart softened like a spring river. "Me too, I consider you family."
Tongtian suddenly appeared out of nowhere, clutching an unidentified object on his arm. "Chang Hao, what are you all talking about hiding here? Why am I trembling all over?"
"You were eavesdropping?" Yuanshi was furious. Holding the jade ruyi, he easily gave Tongtian a good beating.
"Let me tell you, just wait until I surpass you in strength, I'll definitely beat you back." Tongtian jumped up and down as he ran. "I'm going to find the most powerful treasure in the heavens and the earth, and then you just wait and see how I'll beat you up."
"Fellow Daoist, aren't you going to stop it?" Chang Hao asked Laozi, turning to the side.
"No need," Laozi said, "It's normal for brothers to bicker and fight. Yuanshi knows his limits and will be fine in a moment." He was used to it. "Yuanshi treats you like a brother, so from now on you will call me Li Er. It's inevitable that we will become distant."
Laozi was satisfied with Chang Hao. Even if he couldn't be Yuanshi's disciple, being brothers would be fine. Looking at Chang Hao's demeanor, who wouldn't be confused?
“Brother Li Er, you should know that the Three Pure Ones are one, sharing honor and disgrace. When they are united, they will enjoy lasting blessings, but when they are separated, they will both suffer.” Chang Hao continued as he raised his staff. “It is common for brothers to fight and joke around, but they must also keep their distance. Everyone has their own interests, and I hope that you can be mindful of yourself and mediate at any time to avoid accumulating too much resentment.”
“Chang Hao is overthinking it. Yuanshi and Tongtian are both aware of the situation,” Laozi said calmly, looking completely confident. “Besides, if I were to be biased or act improperly, you would be there to help. Would you just stand by and watch us make a mistake?”
"Life is full of unpredictable gatherings and separations, how can Chang Hao stay here forever?" Chang Hao smiled self-deprecatingly. The world changes constantly, who can know what the future holds?
"Chang Hao shouldn't have such pessimistic thoughts. As long as the Three Pure Ones are alive, we will protect Chang Hao every day." Laozi made a promise. He could see clearly that Yuanshi cared a lot about Chang Hao, and that concern was no less than that for Tongtian.
"Then thank you for your kindness, brother." Although Chang Hao didn't feel that he deserved any special treatment, it was still his father's good intention.
"Brother, what are you doing here?" Chang Hao suddenly realized that he should be busy right now, having just sent Hongyun over.
Laozi couldn't hide his embarrassment. "After Zhen Yuanzi gave Hongyun the ginseng fruit, Hongyun was perfectly fine." Since he was alright, there was no need for him.
"Where did Zhen Yuanzi get the ginseng fruit?" Chang Hao asked in bewilderment. He knew that cultivators, especially those with profound cultivation, could even tell when a fruit had fallen from the branch. Even if the fruit was left over from the previous round, no matter how well it was preserved, it would still taste bad.
"With Zhen Yuanzi's arrival, no one went to receive the ginseng fruit, so it remained in Zhen Yuanzi's hands," Laozi said with a dry laugh.
Chang Hao was speechless. It was only because these people had eaten too much that such a big mistake was made. If it were Duo Bao or the others, they would not have made such a big mistake.
"It was my oversight, there will never be a next time," Laozi said, taking out his purple-gold gourd and pouring out a few ginseng fruits under the cover of his sleeve. "Take these and have a taste, or give them to the younger generation."
Before Chang Hao could react, his pocket was stuffed full of ginseng fruits. "Thank you, brother. I won't be polite." He then divided the ginseng fruits into three portions and packed them into a jade box.
"Duobao is capable. I'll go check on him later, brother." How could Chang Hao let Hongyun get away with it? Duobao is a clever man, and he must have already taken care of it.
Fine, let Hongyun suffer more. He wants Hongyun to avoid him the next time she sees him and turn pale at the mere mention of his name.
"You're still too gentle. You should be ruthless when necessary, leaving no future troubles so that you can last long." Although Laozi didn't know what Hongyun had done, he was smart enough to know that something good could have made Chang Hao so relentless. If it were him, he would have killed Hongyun long ago.
"I know..." Chang Hao smiled without saying a word. He had his own bottom line and did not want to bully the weak and end up becoming someone he didn't even recognize.
Seeing that Chang Hao understood the situation, Laozi said no more. With Chang Hao's clever and resourceful nature, as long as he put his mind to it, there was nothing he couldn't accomplish.
"The ginseng fruit should be enjoyed while it's fresh. Go and give some to the younger ones to try; it will be very beneficial to them." Seeing that Chang Hao didn't say anything, Laozi knew that he was kind to the younger generation and was saving it for them.
"Alright, I'll go and ask Yaochi and the others to try it. Let's just call Yuanshi and the other two back so we can all taste the ginseng fruit together."
"No need. I don't like noise. You can go on your own." A flash of disdain crossed Laozi's face. He thought of the noisy and war-torn West Kunlun Mountains. This place was much more peaceful and livable.
At Yuanshi's invitation, leaving the Palace of Immortals founded by the Queen Mother of the West and Donghua in West Kunlun, along with Tongtian and his noisy bunch of wicked creatures, was the most correct thing he ever did.
"As for Yuanshi and Tongtian, they will come back on their own when they have had enough. It would be awkward to call them back if they haven't had enough. I will wait here until they return and then take them to Zixiao Palace."
"The second sermon is about to begin, so I must go and meet my master beforehand to show my respect." Lao Tzu sat cross-legged on the boulder and sighed after a long while.
"Alright..." Chang Hao left in a daze. Only then did he realize that a thousand years had passed in the blink of an eye. His sense of the passage of time was becoming increasingly weak, and his memories of the past were becoming increasingly blurred. Would there come a day when he completely forgot the way he came from?
"Brother, where is Chang Hao?" Yuanshi and Tongtian returned after making peace, but Chang Hao was nowhere to be found.
"Chang Hao? You didn't bring him to me, so why are you asking me for him?" Laozi said calmly, "Go find him yourself. All I know is that he took the ginseng fruit and went somewhere else."
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