Chapter 209 – Viewing the Monoliths at Dawn (2/2)

When he awoke, he did not immediately get up, but instead took five breaths of time to calm his mind. Then, he got up and put on his shoes and clothes. As he prepared to make the bed, he realized that there were two people on the bed. He saw Tang Thirty-Six tightly holding onto his fur skin, curled up into a ball, like an insecure child. In contrast, Zhexiu was lying on the ground with his back straight, and, to bluntly put it, he seemed like a stone statue.

Chen Changsheng shook his head and walked to the outer room. He saw Gou Hanshi, Liang Banhu, and Guan Feibai all bundled up under one blanket, while Qi Jian slept in the corner with his own blanket. Chen Changsheng could not help but shake his head. Truly, the Mount Li Sect Master’s final disciple received special treatment.

He walked out to the courtyard and went the nearby creek, using the water to wash his face and rinse his mouth. Afterwards, he cooked a big pot of rice porridge and also steamed the remaining two-thirds of the salted fish. Then, he went over and opened the window in attempt to wake up Tang Thirty-Six. Tang Thirty-Six’s two hands balled up into fists, and he spat out a few angry expletives, after which Tang Thirty-Six paid him no more attention.

For the third time after he woke up, Chen Changsheng shook his head. He helplessly turned around, only to find Zhexiu squatting by the collapsed fence as he brushed his teeth. He could not help but be surprised. Chuckling, he said, “I didn’t expect this.”

Squatting on the ground, Zhexiu did not turn his head. He said in a somewhat muffled voice, “Didn’t expect what, that a wolf cub like me like to be clean?”

Chen Changsheng thought it over and decided that it was his way of thinking that was wrong. Apologetically, he replied, “It was my mistake.”

Zhexiu threw away the tree branch that he had been using to brush his teeth, which he had gotten from a willow or some other tree, and then cupped some water in his hands to wash his face. Finally, he said, “There’s nothing to be mistaken about. On the snowy plains, I really wouldn’t wash my face every day. The oil and grease can help protect me against the wind. But at the very least, I would brush my teeth twice a day, and from time to time, I would chew on some ice.”

Chen Changsheng was intrigued. “Why did you do that?”

Zhexiu replied, “On the snowy plains, meat would sometimes freeze solid. Sometimes I would have to eat the meat raw, and that requires a good set of teeth. Only in this way would my teeth be strong enough to chew on it.”

Chen Changsheng thought it over and agreed. “Very reasonable.”

Zhexiu added, “In the various tribes, the old people that lived the longest would often have the best teeth.”

Chen Changsheng noticed that Zhexiu’s teeth were indeed very white and healthy.

Paired with the salted fish, the two each drank down three bowls of porridge, then left the grass hut. Cutting through a large forest of orange fruit trees, they walked towards the Mausoleum of Books.

Nobody said anything along the way, so the atmosphere was very quiet.

When they had almost arrived at the main path in the Mausoleum, Zhexiu suddenly stopped. “It’s a bit weird,” he said.

Chen Changsheng stared at him and asked, “What’s weird?”

“I’m used to being alone.”

After a moment’s thought, Chen Changsheng replied, “Then you first.”

“I still need you to cure my illness, so you should go first. Besides brushing teeth, the snowy plains have another rule: you shouldn’t offend your doctor.”

Chen Changsheng laughed. “You don’t need to be so courteous about this sort of thing.”

Zhexiu did not respond, instead directly thrusting out a clenched fist.

Chen Changsheng was rather surprised. “Don’t tell me we also have to fight over this?”

Zhexiu asked, “Do you know how to play the finger-guessing game?”

“I only know how to play rock-paper-scissors.”

Zhexiu was silent for a moment, then finally said, “I also only know that game.”

Using a tattered rag to wrap around a rock-like fist, Chen Changsheng was able to obtain victory and was the first to leave. Following the main path north while occasionally hearing the fluttering of the morning birds, Chen Changsheng shortly arrived at the Mausoleum of Books’ main gate and walked on the only path by which one could view the monoliths.

The monoliths were all in the mountain, so naturally, this monolith-viewing path was a mountain path. However, it was not very steep. There were many stone steps carved into the path, making the climb very easy.

It was just now truly dawn. The morning sun rose from the eastern horizon, illuminating the distant buildings in the capital. The Palace of Great Brilliance and the Pavilion of Ascending Mist were particularly prominent.

The somewhat chilly morning wind lightly brushed his cheeks while the dawn light illuminated his path forward. As he walked through the quiet woods while listening to the song of the morning birds and saw the morning sun be turned into a flowery face by the tree branches, Chen Changsheng’s mind was serene and joyful. Although he had started a day late compared to others, it did not really matter.

Yes, this was indeed wasting away at his life.

Just as he had mentioned to Zhexiu, playing chess and the zither, painting and calligraphy, and enjoying the scenery were all a waste of life.

But how beautiful wasting one’s life in this manner was.

And how beautiful it was to have a life to waste in such a manner.

Within the quiet and uninhabited mountain forest, Chen Changsheng climbed the steps. Soon afterwards, he arrived at a monolith. He walked in front of the monolith, but all he could see on it were marks that seemed to have been made by knives and hatchets, not words. There also did not seem to be any lines; it was very obvious that somebody had destroyed them. He recalled the decree that the Divine Empress had issued in the past, and he knew that this was not the monolith he had come to see. He shook his head and continued walking.

He did not walk too far before he saw yet another monolith.

This place was a cliff, and in front of the cliff was a hut. The monolith stood in the center of this hut.

The eaves of the hut furled out on all sides. Even if there was a great storm, it would be very difficult for this monolith to get wet.

Chen Changsheng walked to the front of the hut and looked at the monolith, and his state of mind wavered slightly.

The shape of this monolith was not very proper. Even its thickness was not uniform. Compared to normal monoliths in the world, it seemed even more like an unfinished product.

The monolith’s surface was very glossy. Who knew how many hands had rubbed against it?

This was a Heavenly Tome Monolith.

The first monolith of the Mausoleum of Books.

Chen Changsheng restrained himself from looking at the monolith’s surface, and looked around the hut instead.

The forest outside the hut acted as an obstacle. The stone steps continued no further, ending at a rock plateau.

Through the gaps in the forest, one could faintly the eaves of roofs in the distance. Perhaps they were other monolith huts, but there was no path to reach them.

Seeing this picture, Chen Changsheng became lost in thought.

The morning light spilled over the rock plateau, a cool breeze ran through the trees, and two kingfishers chirped as they flew into the sky.

Chen Changsheng awoke from his stupor, and then turned to the monolith within the hut. He subconsciously put his hands behind his back and calmly began to examine it.

When his gaze landed upon the surface of the monolith, he could not keep his heart from racing.