Chapter 452 – The Heavenly Dao Flows West (1/2)
Chapter 452 - The Heavenly Dao Flows West
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
It was unknown whether Zhou Tong had managed to spy a span of time on Chen Changsheng's body, but he was currently gazing at the Scroll of Time in his hands.
The Scroll of Time was also called the 'Canon of Flowing West' and was one of the most important scriptures of the Orthodoxy. Simultaneously, it was also the most profound and abstruse classic of the Daoist Canon. 'The trend of the river moving west cannot be slowed' was the meaning of its name and it gave an account of subtle observations of the Dao concerning time. Before he died, Mei Lisha had not forgotten to read this Daoist scripture—What did this mean?
As Zhou Tong gazed at the cryptic and incomprehensible words of the Canon of Flowing West, he silently pondered this question.
Priest Xin continued to describe what had happened in that room filled with plum blossoms. ”He said that Principal Shang truly is an extraordinary man.”
Zhou Tong narrowed his eyes and his gaze abruptly turned cold and sharp. A person on the verge of death would speak the truth. An extraordinary priest like Mei Lisha had long since become indifferent to the thought of death. On the eve of his death, why did he read this Daoist scripture, why did he suddenly mention this man who had disappeared into hiding for many years?
Priest Xin paused for a moment, and then remembered the archbishop's final emotional sigh. ”He was very curious to see just how the Daoist Canon would record the life of the next Pope.”
Zhou Tong's two eyebrows leapt up. There was no wind in the quiet room, but his red official's gown began to undulate as if the sea of blood had come to the world.
The outer appearance originated from one's mental state. This phenomenon indicated just how heavy the mental assault brought on by Priest Xin's account was—because from these words and this book, he had faintly been able to seize upon a clue.
The next Pope? The entire continent knew that if nothing too out of the ordinary occurred, the Orthodoxy's next Pope would inevitably be Chen Changsheng. Mei Lisha had been the staunchest promoter of this matter and so he would naturally not be thinking of anyone else. So then why was he curious about how Chen Changsheng's life would be recorded? Why did he think this matter was so interesting? Or was it because he believed that there would definitely be a different view expressed in the annals of history? And just what matter would it differ on? What was the most important thing in life? To contribute to a great cause or to cultivate and live a moral life?
Zhou Tong's official's robe blew around ever more fiercely and the room reeked with the stench of blood. The sea of blood surged with monstrous waves, just like his current emotional state.
Priest Xin's face was deathly pale. He was almost unable to bear this terrifying pressure, but he also didn't dare to retreat.
Suddenly, all the pressure vanished without a trace, and Zhou Tong's eyebrows slowly went flat. His gaze was no longer sharp and official's robe returned to quietly covering his body. On his face appeared an unfathomable smile.
”Do you know what the most important thing in a person's life is?”
”The most important?” Priest Xin did not understand why the lord would suddenly ask this sort of question.
The smile on Zhou Tong's face grew increasingly sincere, like a blooming flower. However, when paired with his sinister aura, it only made the whole picture increasingly bizarre.
”The most important thing in a person's life is not the level to which one has cultivated, nor is it power and the symbols of authority, but rather…the dates of birth and death.” He walked to the door and looked out at those two crabapple trees, listening to the sounds of carriage wheels rumbling along in the distance. ”Whether discussing the scriptures of the Orthodoxy or the annals of history, in order to record a person's life, the first thing that must be confirmed, and also the first words that must be written, are what year and month you were born, as well as the place of birth. Only by confirming these pieces of information can we confirm just which person is which.”
Priest Xin walked behind, not knowing how to respond. He could vaguely sense that although Zhou Tong seemed very calm on the surface, he was actually extremely nervous within.
What sort of words or matters could have occurred to cause such a terrifying figure as Zhou Tong to get nervous?
”The crabapple blossoms had already begun to wilt and the prison possessed a divine might. He stood between them, and yet he was unmoving as a lake.”
Zhou Tong's eyes narrowed once more, except this time his gaze was not sharp like a sword. Rather, it was brimming with perplexity and a sort of unease that not even he was able to realize.
Priest Xin also wished to know: the lord had orchestrated such a large stage, but besides clearing up the motives of some powerful figures, was he able to succeed in his most important objective? Zhou Tong wanted to see what sort of person Chen Changsheng was, but it could also be said that he wanted to see what person Chen Changsheng was. But normally, the phrase was ‘unmoving like a mountain’, so why did he rate Chen Changsheng to be unmoving like a lake?
”He's very similar to a person.” Zhou Tong's face suddenly revealed a smear of fear. ”He's very similar to the man described in the secret records within the palace, Chen Xuanba.”
Priest Xin was confused. In the annals and legends of the common folk, Chen Xuanba was the strongest expert of the Chen Imperial clan in the past one thousand years, on par with Emperor Taizong. He had always possessed a fierce and crude reputation, so in what aspect was he the slightest bit like Chen Changsheng? And why did he have to say it was the Chen Xuanba of the secret records in the palace? His Excellency naturally had the opportunity to access the top-secret records in the palace. Perhaps the Chen Xuanba recorded there was different from the Chen Xuanba spoken of in the legends?
”Our grand Emperor Taizong modified all the histories and Daoist scriptures that he could modify, so Chen Xuanba naturally became a crude warrior that had no idea of the general situation and couldn't grasp the bigger picture. No could have thought that the true Chen Xuanba was actually a very quiet person,” Zhou Tong said with a derisive air.
Priest Xin thought those two lines of commentary were rather familiar, then he remembered that it was the same evaluation the archbishop had given of Chen Changsheng not too long ago.
After a moment of silence, Zhou Tong said, ”Chen Changsheng is also a very quiet person.”
The ‘quiet’ here had many meanings. For instance, when talking was not required, one did not speak. Or when one's words were clumsy, the actions were sharp and the heart was calm. Or when encountering some great task, one would have a calm air.
The small courtyard was quiet for a very long time.
Finally, Zhou Tong said, ”In addition, he is also surnamed Chen.”
Priest Xin left, departing from the alley of the Northern Military Department with an extreme pressure and anxiety on his mind. This pressure on his mind had nothing to do with his two identities, but rather with that piece of information that had faintly revealed itself in Zhou Tong's words. Could Chen Changsheng really be a descendant of the Imperial clan?
He did not dare dwell on this, much less pry deeper, because it was very obvious that even Lord Zhou Tong was nervous about this matter.
Zhou Tong truly was very nervous, because he knew much more than Priest Xin, and due to his status and identity, he was required to think about and clear up these concerns.
He stood on the stone steps of the small courtyard, gazing at those crabapple trees now utterly devoid of blossoms. For what seemed like forever, he remained silent in contemplation, not caring for the disturbances coming from outside the courtyard.
Before Mei Lisha died, he said that the traitor Shang was a truly extraordinary man.
Before Mei Lisha died, he was reading the Canon of Flowing West, reading about how time was like water.