Chapter 199 – Mausoleum Guardian (1/2)
Chapter 199 – Mausoleum Guardian
Chen Changsheng did not know how to respond. Did he have to tell him that he had just suddenly lost all interest in cultivation? After thinking for a moment, he said, “I have already undergone my Ethereal Opening, so I obviously don’t need to hurry too much.”
Tang Thirty-Six stared at him and asked, “Are you being cocky?”
Chen Changsheng was slightly startled and said, “I really did not mean it that way.”
Tang Thirty-Six pointed towards the woods and said, “I mentioned this on the way over here. To us cultivators, the Mausoleum of Books itself is already a very important matter, and it is infinitely more important than the Garden of Zhou. Only those who are short-sighted and can only see a few inches ahead will treat the viewing and comprehension of the Mausoleum of Books as a condition to undergo Ethereal Opening. Look at Gou Hanshi; he may have already undergone his Ethereal Opening, but he has not wasted any time at all.”
Chen Changsheng looked at where he had pointed and only saw afterimages of shadows on the mountain path in the green woods. The loud sounds continued, and the shadows of the four people from the Li Shan Sword Sect quickly disappeared.
He turned around, looked at Tang Thirty-Six, and asked: “Aren’t you also standing here?”
“I felt that you were acting a little strange today, so I decided to follow you.” Tang Thirty-Six said as he stared into Chen Changsheng’s eyes.
Chen Changsheng looked at him and spoke earnestly, “This is a rare opportunity, so don’t waste time.”
Tang Thirty-Six said, “There is still at least another month, so there is no need to hurry.”
Just at this moment, a voice appeared behind the two and interjected, “Indeed, there is no need to hurry.”
The person who had arrived was Su Moyu. This young priest from the Li Palace College had really encountered some bad luck in this year’s Grand Examination. He had met Zhexiu who was an extremely strong opponent in the first round. Luckily, his performance on the written examination had been extremely outstanding, so he just managed to squeeze into a third rank placement from the final decision.
While staring at him, Tang Thirty-Six was confused and asked, “Chen Changsheng did not hurry today because he had some problems with his head, and I am looking out for him. What are you doing here?”
Su Moyu said, “There is a saying among the people that you cannot eat hot tofu if you are impatient. The tablets of the mausoleum are not this easily understood. The most important thing is your mentality, so the more hurried you are, the easier it is for you to encounter problems.”
Tang Thirty-Six reminded him by saying, “The Garden of Zhou will open in a month. Time will not wait for people.”
Su Moyu replied calmly, “I do not plan to enter the Garden of Zhou.”
Tang Thirty-Six’s expression changed slightly, and Chen Changsheng also felt a bit puzzled. Who was not interested in Zhou Dufu’s legacy?
Su Moyu reassured them, “Only after The Grand Examination did I learn that my foundation was a little fragile. It’s ridiculous thinking about how arrogant I was before, and I plan on staying in the Mausoleum of Books for a bit longer.”
Chen Changsheng asked: “We can stay for as long as we want in the Mausoleum of Books?”
Su Moyu’s expression changed slightly: “Didn’t you hear what the tablet guardians had said before?”
Chen Changsheng felt a little embarrassed and replied: “Oh, I was thinking about other things before.”
Tang Thirty-Six felt that this kind of response was a little humiliating and rushed in to speak, “The rules for viewing the tablets in the Mausoleum of Books has not changed these past few years. As long as you are able to enter the mausoleum, you can stay for as long as you want. However, if you want to enter the mausoleum again thereafter, it is not an easy matter.”
Chen Changsheng looked at Su Moyu and asked, “You have decided to give up the Garden of Zhou for the Mausoleum of Books?”
Su Moyu said, “The Garden of Zhou may be good, but it is not where I want to be.”
From time to time, the green wooded mountain would echo with sounds of startled birds flapping.
Tang Thirty-Six said, “It is very obvious that those other people do not think the same way.”
“How can the Garden of Zhou be compared with the Mausoleum of Books? Even if it really contained Zhou Dufu’s legacy, it can’t be more important than those stone tablets on the mountain. The former is a short cut, whereas the latter is the proper way.”
Su Moyu looked at the green mountain silently and explained with a sorrowful sigh.
Chen Changsheng stayed silent and did not say anything.
Tang Thirty-Six laughed at him and said, “How are there so many explanations that seem right but are actually wrong? A straight line between two points is the shortest; therefore, the most correct path is itself the fastest route.”
The correct path was the fastest? Chen Changsheng and Su Moyu both stared blankly after what was just said, and they realized that they actually could not refute these words at all.
“Not bad.” Chen Changsheng looked at him and praised him.
“I just can’t win against you, so I will leave first.” Su Moyu shook his head and walked towards the Mausoleum of Books with his hands behind his back.
“I worry for Su Moyu’s future.” Tang Thirty-Six slightly raised a brow and stared at his back as the young priest slowly disappeared into the green woods. He said, “There are many examples in the past and in the present where many people are still stuck in the Mausoleum of Books unable to leave. Hopefully, he will not end up like them.”
Chen Changsheng was a little surprised and asked, “Being stuck in the Mausoleum of Books?”
“They are unwilling to leave until the end when they become too scared to leave. They can spend several dozens of years viewing the mausoleum’s tablets in one sitting. How is this any different from being a prisoner?”
Tang Thirty-Six said, “Those people can’t bear to part with the outside developed world and are unwilling to swear a blood oath to become a tablet guardian. They are also are unwilling to part with the good fortune offered by the stone tablets of the Heavenly Tomes. To leave or to stay are both great temptations. and facing up against these temptations, how they choose, and when they make their choices are all tests the Mausoleum of Books gives to everybody.”
Chen Changsheng said, “I do not consider this choice that difficult to make.”
“That is because we still have not yet seen the Heavenly Tomes.”
Tang Thirty-Six looked at him and said, “Of course, even if you see them, I believe you have the power to clearly recognize what you want most, just like Gou Hanshi. He must have already made up his mind beforehand. If you are unable to pass even this obstacle, then how can you still have to right to continue along the path of cultivation.”
Chen Changsheng suddenly thought of something and asked, “If I can stay in the Mausoleum of Books and view the tablets, then are there meals provided?”
After hearing these words, Tang Thirty-Six was somewhat speechless. He thought ‘you aren’t a foodie like Xuanyuan’ and answered in an upset manner, “Of course there is food. If you can view the tablets until your death, then you can also eat until your death.”
Chen Changsheng was a little embarrassed and said, “Don’t get mad. I just thought this matter was relatively important.”
Tang Thirty-Six was too lazy to acknowledge his words and said while pointing to the mountain full of green trees, “The Mausoleum of Books only has one path, and those stone tablets are all beside it. Only once you have finished viewing one level can you move onto the next.”
Chen Changsheng asked: “How many levels does the Mausoleum of Books have?”
He had always been perplexed by this question. According to common practice, the Three Thousand Daoist Canons had several descriptions of the Mausoleum of Books, but he had never read how many levels the mausoleum had after all.
“I don’t know…… oh, to be exact, nobody knows how many levels there are in the Mausoleum of Books.” Tang Thirty-Six answered.