Chapter 16 Fan Jianchun Talks About the Heavenly Plague 2 Then wouldn't he be better than himself...?
Wouldn't he be older than me?
Tao Zhong seemed to have learned some incredible gossip. Although his face remained calm, his hands, hidden under his long sleeves, were trembling with excitement.
But this was no secret in Heaven. Tao Zhong ascended to heaven three hundred years ago, while the son of Han Yue, the Plague God Liang Xu, whom everyone avoided, ascended six hundred years ago. After his ascension, he resided in the mortal realm for most of the year, rarely returning to Heaven. Even when he did return, few people knew of it. Therefore, the later officials only knew his name but never saw him in person.
Speaking of this Prince Liangxu, whose real name is Yaoxu, he is the child of Hanyue and Lanyi Yuanjun. With a father who is a martial god and was once known as one of the "Twin Heroes of Cangzhu" alongside General Xile, and a mother who is a literary god with the title of "Number One Literary God in the Three Realms," his future is sure to be bright.
On the contrary, he not only received no help, but was also ridiculed and scorned by the gods. More importantly, he was ignored by Han Yue.
The descendants of gods are all mortals, and if they wish to become gods, they must cultivate themselves. But ascension is not an easy thing; it depends not only on talent and effort, but also on luck. Some people can ascend in their youth, while others ascend in their old age.
Therefore, among the gods and immortals, there are often combinations of old men and young men. At first, this could be a topic of conversation, but over time it became quite common.
Yao Xu was of mediocre talent from a young age. His mother passed away, and his father neglected him. He wasted more than twenty years in the mortal world. He finally ascended to godhood, but there was no suitable divine position for him. In the end, he could only become a plague god that everyone disliked.
The power of immortals comes not only from believers but also from their own cultivation. There are three realms to becoming a god: the realm of harmony, the realm of the Tao, and the realm of blessings. Most immortals can only reach the realm of the Tao at most after a lifetime of effort, and throughout history, very few have been able to cultivate to the realm of blessings, but Han Yue is one of them.
Yao Xu, however, possessed the lowest and most unattainable appearance, resulting in a pitifully small number of followers. While others were preoccupied with climbing the social ladder, he remained unambitious, tending vegetables and raising sheep in a desolate wasteland in the lower realm. Ironically, that wasteland was the site of a cataclysmic event seven hundred years prior, despised and abandoned by everyone. Simply because he was the son of Han Yue, addressing him as "Your Highness Liang Xu" was an honor, devoid of any sincerity, only filled with sarcasm.
After a long silence in the hall, Han Yue turned his head to signal Tao Zhong, who understood and said, "All the immortals have already reported. If there is nothing else, then we may disperse."
This meant that Yao Xu would be kept behind for a private talk. The immortals, understanding the situation, bowed and agreed, then withdrew.
Yao Xu remained silent and was about to leave with the other immortals when Han Yue called out to him, "Liang Xu, you stay."
Yao Xu paused, but still stayed as instructed.
Only Han Yue and Yao Xu remained in the hall.
Han Yue stepped down from the throne and said, "Liangxu, don't you have anything to say?"
At some point, Han Yue stopped calling him Zixu and started calling him Liangxu, just like everyone else, and the other immortals.
It's been too long.
So long that no one remembered the Emperor's real name, so long that the red-clad figure in his memory gradually blurred, so long that he almost forgot he had such a father.
Yao Xu said coldly, "What does Your Majesty wish me to say?"
Han Yue smiled slightly, placed a hand on his shoulder, and said, "Good. It's been hundreds of years, and your skills have only grown stronger."
Yao Xu caught a glimpse of a black and gold wrist guard peeking out from his wide sleeve. He paused for a moment, then quickly looked away and said, "That's all thanks to the Emperor's excellent guidance."
Han Yue nodded, withdrew her hand, and said, "It seems you're not going to turn back."
Yao Xu took a few steps back and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty has your own path to walk, and I have my own. Since we are on different paths, why turn back?"
Han Yue turned his back and said, "How do you know we're not going to the same end by different paths?"
Yao Xu's eyes lit up with joy, but it quickly faded as he said, "Even the Emperor will not turn back, so how can we perish together?"
Han Yue didn't turn around, but he seemed to smile and said, "That's true."
Yao Xu bowed and said, "If Your Majesty has nothing else, Liang Xu will take his leave."
Han Yue waved her hand and didn't say anything more.
As Yao Xu left the main hall, he suddenly felt a sense of relief. No matter how beautiful the scenery of Tiandu was, it was not his final destination.
He didn't turn back, just as he had said earlier, why bother turning back?
Looking at the bustling capital city, just as he had left it, Yao Xu thought of everything that had happened before and couldn't help but sigh, "This place really isn't suitable for him."
He couldn't help but recall the days he spent with Lianxi and the others in the lower realm. Even though they had only been apart for a short time, he was already looking forward to the next journey.
Yao Xu originally intended to leave Tiandu directly, but on a whim, he decided to detour to Mingyue Zhao.
This is a long street.
The street stretched as far as the eye could see, its sides crammed with all sorts of shops and vendors. Welcoming pines and colorful lanterns lined the street at varying heights, and the people walking along it shoulder to shoulder were like gods. Their clothes were either simple or luxurious, no different from ordinary people, except that they possessed a spiritual aura and ethereal quality that ordinary people lacked.
There's no need to worry about being recognized here, because the minor deities who make a living here aren't allowed into the inner court, and they don't care much about the people and things inside. Compared to the various officials in the inner court, their thoughts are like those of ordinary mortals; they only have a few things to worry about, and anything else they want to worry about isn't on their job.
As Yao Xu walked down the street, a spirit bird would occasionally fly overhead and a spirit beast would run past his feet. Yu Wen, who tamed them, held a wine gourd in one hand and a red and yellow summoning weapon in the other, chasing after him at a leisurely pace. His steps were unsteady, his cheeks flushed, and he would laugh loudly every few steps, acting crazy yet carefree and leisurely.
Yu Wen, his eyes glazed over, bumped into a flower-selling fairy. The two fairies stumbled back several steps, and with a flick of her wrist, the wine from Yu Wen's pot and the flowers from the fairy's basket scattered across the ground, thoroughly drenching them. A vendor selling gold powder nearby, seeing the pleasant atmosphere, raised his hand and tossed out a bottle of gold powder to add to the festivities, creating a shimmering, pearly effect as it fell like dew.
Yao Xu walked past them and continued forward, passing a tea stall.
A row of small stoves stood by the entrance, their racks laden with various condiments. The tea server, using subtle magic, controlled the heat of the stoves while watching the tea brew, adding different ingredients as needed. A fairy emerged from inside, carrying two trays of tea snacks. She carefully placed them in the display case outside, hanging a sign that read "Today's Special." Upon closer inspection, the snacks were small and exquisite, their colors delicate, clearly labeled with their names, ingredients, and prices, and non-refundable.
The fairy saw Yaoxu and greeted him, "Young master, would you like some tea?"
"I," Yao Xu began, and then he saw a woman sitting behind the gauze curtain in the room. The gauze curtain was thin, and her figure was shrouded in a misty haze.
A gentle breeze lifted the gauze curtain, and the woman turned around and smiled, her brows relaxed, like a lotus flower after the rain. The rain only dampened her simple appearance, but unexpectedly transformed her inner resilience and purity, making her even more admirable.
The woman looked at Yao Xu and said, "Why didn't you say goodbye before coming back?"
Yao Xu was taken aback, then scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly, called out "Mi Qing", and said, "I'm not in a good mood and don't want to spoil your fun."
Mi Qing said, "That's perfect, come in and have a cup of tea."
Yao Xu hesitated for a moment, but still went in.
Mi Qing had already poured tea for him. As soon as Yao Xu sat down, tea and snacks were placed in front of him.
Yao Xu took a sip of tea, lowered his gaze, and asked, "How are you doing?"
Mi Qing chuckled and said, "That's good, you know that."
Yao Xu then looked up at her and said, "That's good."
The two of them picked up a pastry at the same time. The moment their fingertips touched, it was as if they had touched something scorching hot. They quickly withdrew their hands, looked at each other, and remained silent.
After sitting quietly for a while, Yao Xu broke the silence by saying, "Is Lord Mingxiu not making things difficult for you anymore?"
Mi Qing said, "I was promoted by her, so naturally she won't make things difficult for me. She's just a bit eccentric and strict with me, but that's nothing. Besides, her dancing skills are renowned throughout the Three Realms, and she's in charge of all the world's sacrifices, so it's only right that she pushes me."
Yao Xu sincerely praised, "Your zither skills are the best in the Three Realms, and they also have healing and purifying effects. Although you are an assistant god, your abilities are no less than hers."
Mi Qing ate a pastry and took a sip of tea, then said, “I understand. I just feel that she is too lonely. To others, she always appears elegant and dignified, unattainable. But I have been with her for five hundred years. I know that she is lonely at heart, and I know that she lives every day in Tiandu with extreme caution, as if walking on thin ice.”
Mi Qing paused for a moment, looked out the window, and then said, "If I were to ascend to heaven one day, it would be difficult for her and me to get along like we do now." Her expression suddenly became somewhat desolate. "Perhaps it's because I, like her, am someone without a place to belong, so I can better understand her feelings."
Yao Xu's expression was complicated, and he remained silent, pursing his lips.
Regarding the origins of each deity, if they are not honorable or expose societal wounds, they are generally kept secret, as such revelation would damage the image of believers. Although everyone has a past, mortals live for a hundred years while deities live for a thousand, and divine positions change. Without the gods themselves needing to publicize this, mortals will fabricate perfect gods that they believe in. As long as the gods don't go too far, their faith will not collapse.
Although God is above man, He is still subject to human control.
With her thoughts returning to their original state, and having finished her tea, Mi Qing said, "I originally wanted to offer you a cup of tea to ease your mind. But now it seems that it has backfired."
Yao Xu shook his head and smiled, "No, my mood had already improved when I saw you."
Mi Qing smiled knowingly and said, "That's good."
Yao Xu and Mi Qing bid each other farewell in front of the teahouse. He left Mingyue Zhao, leaped down from the sky, and returned to the mortal world.
In the mortal realm, there is a small abode called Xingfeng.
Since returning home, Yan Chao has been in a relaxed, laid-back mode.
He gets up late every day and goes to bed late at night. He eats the meals cooked by Mingqi during the day and chats with Mingqi in the courtyard at night.
At first, Mingqi was full of energy, but after a few days, he was so tired that his eyes were covered in dark circles.
Ming Qi yawned and complained, "You young people are so energetic, but why do you have to drag an old man like me down? Ugh... when are you leaving?"
Yan Chao said, "Chunshan Market is closed now and won't reopen until after the New Year. There's no news from the other side either. I'm not home, so I have nowhere to go." After saying that, she spread her hands, looking very helpless, indicating that she couldn't do anything about it.
Ming Qi scoffed and said, "You used to be fine at home, but you've become a bit annoying this time you've come back."
Yan Chao remained silent, looked at Mo Mo standing by the window, and said, "Mo Mo, you be the judge. Isn't it true that every time I advise him not to stay up so late like me, he just won't listen and insists on keeping me company? Every time he gets carried away with his own words, I can't stop him."
MoMo nodded and called out in agreement.
Yan Chao said, "You see, Mo Mo has already agreed, so what else is there to say?"
That was the truth, and Ming Qi couldn't argue with it, so he had to admit defeat. But he still stubbornly said, "Stop talking nonsense. You've been living a leisurely life for quite a while now. I don't believe you can stay in that situation any longer."
Yan Chao said, "Don't worry. I will definitely leave when that spirit comes again."
As she was saying, the spirit appeared that very day, but only in her dream.
Yan Chao was sleeping soundly, dreaming that he was sitting in the courtyard admiring the flowers and eating freshly dried apricots when Bang Ling's voice suddenly appeared.
"Long time no see! So your name is Yan Chao!"
Yan Chao: "What are you? A ghost without a physical form?"
"......"
"I am the Spirit of the Banner! The Spirit of the Banner!!!"
Yan Chao: "Oh, so you've come to tell me there's a new case."
"That's right!"
"......"
Yan Chao: "Can't you see I'm dreaming?! You're disturbing my sweet dream!!!"
She waved her hand to drive away the sound and woke up from her dream. The sunlight was so bright that she couldn't open her eyes. She had slept so hard.
"Get up and eat if you're awake." Ming Qi's voice came from outside. Yan Chao woke up and replied, "Okay."
Yan Chao finished tidying up and went out, only to find a bowl of rice and several small dishes on the table, with Ming Qi sitting in a rocking chair reading a book.
As Yan Chao ate, he said, "As you wish, I'm leaving now."
Mingqi put down his book and asked, "What happened?"
Yan Chao was furious when he recalled the scene of Bang Ling entering his dream last night. He really didn't want to remember it and just said, "Since they sent a message, I naturally have to leave."
Ming Qi asked, "Where to?"
Yan Chao said, "He didn't say, but we'll find out soon."
Ming Qi didn't say anything, got up and left. When he came back, he was carrying a package.
Ming Qi said, "Here are some freshly made dried apricots and some clothes. It's getting cold, so take good care of yourself while you're out here."
Yan Chao looked at these things and felt a pang of sadness. He said, "Thank you, Father. I will take good care of myself."
Mingqi added, "Remember to go home early."
Yan Chao said, "Okay."
Yan Chao bid farewell to Ming Qi and left Xingfeng Xiaozhu. Bang Ling also reappeared.
"Next stop, the appointment."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
