Chapter 1162 – The Last Supper and Conversation (2/2)
Shang Xingzhou asked, ”I taught you the medical arts. Did you think you could surpass me?”
Chen Changsheng felt a bit choked up at these words, and then he became happy as he thought, no wonder the casualties this time were much smaller.
Shang Xingzhou said, ”Stop refining Cinnabar Pills. You're not a woman, so why are you bleeding every month?”
Chen Changsheng choked up again. His jaw slightly dropped as he struggled to find something to say.
For some reason, Shang Xingzhou was a little angry at his appearance. ”There's nothing else. Leave.”
He was still harsh and occasionally extremely cold.
Chen Changsheng suddenly recalled how when he was living in Xining Village's old temple, his master's emotions would always sway between cold indifference and harshness, just like in today's conversation.
He was harsh more often than he was cold.
Shang Xingzhou had been cold to the young Chen Changsheng precisely because he was afraid that he would end up liking this young Daoist boy that he had raised.
Because he knew that he was using Chen Changsheng.
Later on, he so hated Chen Changsheng precisely because he hated that part of him that was related to Chen Changsheng.
Both master and disciple knew this, and they had talked about it in the Orthodox Academy and the Mausoleum of Books. There was no need to bring it up now.
The current Shang Xingzhou was probably very blessed, because he no longer needed to worry about liking the young Daoist that he had raised.
As Chen Changsheng gazed at the young Daoist boy outside the carriage, whose face was blackened from the smoke of the fire, Chen Changsheng thought to himself, you are also blessed.
Before leaving, he finally couldn't help but ask that question.
”Master, when I was little, was I pretty?”
Shang Xingzhou pondered the question and replied, ”I suppose you were decent.”
……
……
”Both your students have treated you rather decently.”
After Chen Changsheng left the mountain slope, the Tang Old Master came back from the rear of the mountain.
Ever since coming to the front lines, the Tang Old Master had not stayed with the rest of the Tang clan, but spent every day with Shang Xingzhou.
Shang Xingzhou replied, ”It's not like you don't know how these two rascals bossed me around ten years ago.”
The Tang Old Master sighed, ”That's still more filial than my grandson. That little brute almost took apart the clan's ancestral hall.”
Shang Xingzhou glanced at him and asked, ”Just what do you want to say?”
The Tang Old Master earnestly asked, ”Are you still doing well?”
Shang Xingzhou was quiet for a while. ”Not too well.”
The Tang Old Master turned to Xuelao City, illuminated under the starlight. ”It's already come to this. You have to wait a little longer.”
Shang Xingzhou replied, ”All those people I personally sent off weren't able to see it, so I naturally have to.”
……
……
The human armies did not withdraw to the south. They continued to prepare for the final assault. The Western and Eastern Armies continued to clear the strongholds and forts in a circle around the city, but it was impossible to completely suppress the news of the rebellion. It quickly spread, and the atmosphere in the camps grew increasingly tense.
Perhaps because the Demon Lord had learned of the internal strife amongst the humans, the demons sent out their wolf cavalry several times to counterattack, but they were all firmly beaten back by the human armies. To the consternation of the humans, the upper society of the Demon race still had no intention of forsaking Xuelao City, but it was impossible to tell what they were thinking.
One morning, at five o'clock, Chen Changsheng opened his eyes, waking from his sleep. After calming his mind for five breaths, he got out of bed, whereupon An Hua helped him put on his clothes and shoes. He washed his face and rinsed his mouth, then walked out of the tent. After walking several times around the hills where the Central Army had set up their tents, he began to blankly stare at the mist-shrouded Xuelao City.
Even after his fate had been changed in the Mausoleum of Books, his life was still simple, austere, and healthy, but it was not as strict and disciplined as it had been ten-some years ago.
In truth, it had been a long time since he had gotten up this early.
At six, Xu Yourong woke up, and the two ate breakfast together.
After eating two bowls of oat porridge, Xu Yourong decided to sleep a little more. Chen Changsheng felt very bored and decided to continue strolling.
As the morning sun rose, the thin mists scattered. A vibration came from his wrist, after which he heard Luoluo's voice.
Chen Changsheng glanced once more at the increasingly visible outline of Xuelao City and then walked toward the mountain slope ten-some li away.
He stood in front of the carriage and said, ”The time has come.”
After a moment of silence, Shang Xingzhou ordered, ”Enter the city.”