Chapter 589 – Straight Sword (1/2)

Chapter 589 - Straight Sword

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

Guan Bai had given his explanation and now, it was up to Chen Changsheng whether or not he wanted to accept it.

To him, this truly was a rather more troublesome problem. Many people felt that at least today, he should not step forward.

Guan Bai was not one of those initial level Star Condensation cultivators that had lost to him, but a true master of the sword, his cultivation level far above Chen Changsheng's. More importantly, Guan Bai had somehow been heavily injured, his right arm severed. Even if it was as he said, that he had relearned how to use the sword with his left arm, it was impossible for him to have returned to his peak condition. Even if Chen Changsheng went all out and won over him, there would be no glory in it.

He was the future Pope. If he won, he would attract criticisms. If he lost, it would be extremely humiliating. The best method was to not accept his opponent's challenge at all.

It was very quiet, all eyes on Chen Changsheng as they awaited his decision. No one dared to urge him, but the silence and these gazes created an invisible pressure.

It was at this moment that a clear and cold voice could be heard through those layers of white curtain. ”The road of cultivation is long and endless, but since you've already stepped upon it, how can you stop? As long as you incessantly press forward, there will come a time when you walk to that day. There's no need to worry about whether you arrive early or late, let alone a need to care about victory or defeat, and why should the slander or praise of the world disorder your heart? Could it be that you haven't even understood this yet?”

There were not more than ten people who could speak to Chen Changsheng with such a tone. Of those present, only the Elder of Heavenly Secrets and…Xu Yourong had the right.

The speaker was Xu Yourong, her voice clear and cold, even somewhat indifferent. It was difficult to ascertain the emotions behind it.

Many people followed the voice to the canopy of white curtains on the high platform and the faintly discernible figure of the beauty within. They began to feel strange because a strange atmosphere had descended over the scene.

Xu Yourong's words seemed to be encouragement, but if interpreted through another angle, it was more like goading, even ridicule.

When the crowd thought of this, they couldn't help but sigh as they thought, even the Holy Maiden with her brightly lit Dao heart still has some resentment from the humiliation she received in the capital from the ending of the engagement.

When the people of the Mount Li Sword Sect heard this, however, they began thinking about other things.

Guan Feibai looked to Gou Hanshi and asked uncertainly, ”Seeing Junior Sister's response, Eldest Brother…might still have a chance?”

Gou Hanshi was well-versed in the Daoist Canon, but he truly was not clear on these matters.

The only person present that understood the whole truth of the matter was Tang Thirty-Six. When he saw those expressions on the crowd and the activity from the Mount Li Sword Sect, his lips turned into a sneer as he thought with derision, how can any of you understand the unreasonable and different sort of loving affection this young couple display to each other.

They believed that Xu Yourong was ridiculing Chen Changsheng with these words.

Tang Thirty-Six knew that she was not, and Chen Changsheng was even more certain that she was not. He understood her meaning.

Cultivation required continuous tempering, advancing required continuous challenges. Victory and defeat were not important; slander and praise mattered even less.

If he wanted to break through, he needed to learn to disregard all these things and return to the essence of cultivation.

By means of his realizations of life, by means of his extraordinary perception that he had obtained through battle, by means of the powerful mental strength that he had obtained from that greatest of pressures that came from living between life and death.

He did not turn to her behind the white curtains, rather turning his gaze towards that warm mist in the heart of the lake. Finally, he drew back his gaze to look at Guan Bai on the stone platform.

The lake gently gusted, blowing about the dust on the stone slabs, Guan Bai's empty sleeve, and his own sleeves.

He walked onto the stone platform and stood before Guan Bai.

This was the first time that many people were able to see him up close.

The crowd realized that the legendary Chen Changsheng was not very handsome, but his appearance was very clean, and he gave off the feeling of underripe youth.

He stood there like a refreshing spring breeze that was free from the constraints of the earth.

Sounds of discussion, sighs of emotion, and comments of praise could be heard from the crowd.

Guan Bai was very calm. Saying nothing more, he took the longsword from his waist and raised it in the air before him.

He only had one hand now, so how would he unsheathe his sword?

His hand slowly proceeded up the sword and when it arrived at the hilt, his fingers slightly increased their strength and tightened their grip.

With melodious ring, the sword sheath slowly slid down, revealing the bright sword.

This was a very beautiful sight.

It was just like the several dozen mu of green moss growing on the surface of a lake, slowly being rolled up by a gale and then taken away.

(TN: A mu is Chinese measure of area that is equivalent 0.1647 acres.)

It was even more like a general, stained by blood and dust, slowly and firmly removing his armor, revealing his body brimming with strength.

This was taking off one's armor.

Taking off one's armor did not always mean that one intended to return to one's home—it could also be the prelude to a magnificent battle.

(TN: 卸甲归田, 'taking off one's armor and returning home', is a Chinese idiom that means retirement from office.)

Or perhaps this was a battle that was returning to its very essence, a childish and clumsy battle.