Chapter 1106 – The Meaning of Choices (1/2)
Chapter 1106 – The Meaning of Choices
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Using the array left behind by Zhou Dufu to harness the true strength of the Heavenly Tome Monoliths against Shang Xingzhou had been Chen Changsheng's plan from the start.
During those nights in the Li Palace's stone chamber, he had become extremely familiar with the ins and outs of this plan.
But in the original plan, he would have already set up the South Stream Temple sword array around the Mausoleum of Zhou by now.
Several thousand renowned swords would have returned to the plains, balancing out the four Heavenly Tome Monoliths, ensuring that the Garden of Zhou would not collapse.
If all these plans had been realized, he had a seventy percent chance of defeating his master.
Alas, all this swords had been snatched away by Shang Xingzhou, naturally reducing his chances of victory.
Crucially, without the timeworn sword intents of the several thousand swords to suppress them, the clear streams of light emanating from the Heavenly Tome Monoliths would probably destroy the Garden of Zhou before they defeated Shang Xingzhou.
Shang Xingzhou had needed only a glance to see through Chen Changsheng's intentions and understand the situation.
Thus, he would not retreat, and he certainly would not concede.
He would persist until the end, would even be willing to trigger the restrictions of the Garden of Zhou.
Chen Changsheng could continue using the Heavenly Tome Monoliths to attack until he won, but the Garden of Zhou might be destroyed before that happened.
…Unless Chen Changsheng wanted to take these four Heavenly Tome Monoliths and leave the Garden of Zhou as quickly as possible.
But once he returned to the real world, he would no longer have the seal of the Garden of Zhou, could not use the strength of the Heavenly Tome Monoliths, and he had no swords… How could Chen Changsheng possibly defeat him then?
It was a multiple-choice question.
Shang Xingzhou calmly stared at Chen Changsheng.
The lights spilling down from the sky were halted by his palm while clouds and winds engaged in a cycle of creation and destruction.
At the end, everything in the world was often a multiple-choice question.
It truly made one feel fed up.
”Why is it always me that has to make the choice?”
Chen Changsheng was truly angry, or perhaps irritated. His voice was carried far into the distance by the winds.
Shang Xingzhou had an indifferent expression. It seemed like he had no intention of answering.
From Xining Village to the capital, from ten years old to now, he had answered far too many multiple-choice questions. It was truly very annoying.
He really wanted to ask his master, 'Aren't you annoyed after doing this all the time?'
In the end, however, he did not ask, because he knew that asking was meaningless.
Just like in the past, he was used to doing things, not talking.
No matter what choice he had to make.
Or perhaps, he wouldn't make a choice.
Yes, today, he truly didn't want to make another choice.
His eyes were exceptionally bright, just like that moon hanging over Xunyang City.
His spiritual sense flew through the air into Shang Xingzhou's sleeve, attempting to seize back the Vault Sheath.
Even if he couldn't, he at least had to re-establish connection with the swords inside the sheath.
He was confident that once those swords perceived his spiritual sense, they would definitely follow his will, flying out of the sheath to appear in this world.
And yet, he failed.
His face went white, like the snow covering the wasteland.
A stream of blood trickled from his lips, a lonely winter plum in the snow.
Shang Xingzhou's right hand continued to hold up the sky.
As the wind ruffled his sleeves, one could faintly see that his left hand was holding the sheath.
Chen Changsheng's gaze was fixed there.
”A person's most authentic courage, intelligence, and temperament are most clearly on display when they make a choice.”
Shang Xingzhou looked at him and said, ”You have greatly disappointed me today, because you don't even have the courage to make a choice.”
Chen Changsheng asked, ”Since any choice is losing, why do I have to choose?”
Shang Xingzhou answered, ”Because that is just your fate.”
Many years ago, in Xining Village's old temple, he had said something to Chen Changsheng.
'You are sick. No one can cure it. That is just your fate.'
Today, again, he said something similar.
'No matter what you choose, you will lose. That is just your fate.'
Chen Changsheng gazed deep into the plains. He remained quiet for a very long time.
Shang Xingzhou calmly and quietly watched him.
After some time, Chen Changsheng looked back at Shang Xingzhou and said, ”But my illness has been cured.”
Yes, his illness had been cured.
He was still alive.
Thus, there was no such thing as fate.
Which meant that choices had meaning.
…Whether he won or lost.
……
……