297 A Step off the Cliff (2/2)
The two old men left no time for her to rest and started moving again.
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Master Yan Se said, ”Your failure only proves that Haotian knows your actions to be a mistake so it decided to withdraw its gift to you. You insist on looking for the shadow of Nightfall and Yama's son, but what does it have to do with Haotian? You actually only believe in yourself, not Haotian.”
Great Divine Priest of Light answered, ”There has been a question on my mind for decades. Why did every Divine Hall in history eventually leave the Peach Mountain? Why did those considered closest to Haotian would go down a path that Haotian would disapprove? That's how it was with the great master who set Devil's Doctrine thousands of years ago and the apostate predecessor. In the end, I'm also walking on the same path.”
He turned to Yan Se and said after a long silence, ”I've been thinking about this question for a long time, including during every step we took up this mountain. Now that I'm here watching the sun rising over the sea and basking in the red sunlight, I finally understand what we believe in is the light.”
Master Yan Se became silence, having understood what his friend meant.
They both believe in the light, and Haotian might not necessarily represent the light.
By then, the two old men had reached the peak of the mountain. Sangsang was resting under a tall white poplar tree, with the two urns beside her reflecting her rosy cheeks. She appeared very warm.
East of the cliff, the sun had already risen above the clouds.
Snow was still drifting by the cliff, with snowflakes dancing before the rising sun. It was a very peculiar sight.
Master Yan Se walked near the cliff and swept away a stray snowflake floating before his eyes. Looking at the red sun in the east, he asked, ”How did it feel when you entered the realm?”
If he took one step further, he would be stepping into the clouds surrounding the mountain and the warm light.
Great Divine Priest of Light walked up beside him and stared at the sun. ”After your fight against Liu Bai in the Kingdom of Song, I became inspired by the falling red sun. But I only made it halfway there.”
”Whether it's halfway or all the way, you still made it there. I really envy you.” Master Yan Se sighed. ”No wonder Liu Bai was looking at you so strangely. I'm still a person who realizes things too late.”
Great Divine Priest of Light recalled the slash of a sword that cut open the skies as if it was heading for an appointment thousand of miles away from many years ago. He thought of the ocean-rippling talisman that his friend performed and couldn't help smiling. ”Logically, Liu Bai should already be there. Why aren't there any news of it all this time? Is it fear?”
Master Yan Se thought of the strongest opponent he had ever met in his life and frowned, saying nothing.
Great Divine Priest of Light smiled faintly. ”Many think you ended your chances of reaching the fifth realm because you cultivated as a virgin. But I think there's always a way around it. Since you can fight Liu Bai, dubbed the world's No. 1, and not lose, you're sure to reach it too. So how's that working out for you…?”
The wind billowed out Master Yan Se's Taoist robe in the snow. He watched that red sun shrouded in the clouds and said calmly, ”I took Ning Que as my disciple and obliterated all my obsessions last year. I had a feeling I was going to reach that realm but I don't know why I'm not willing to take the step.”
He turned to Great Divine Priest of Light. ”It's like what you said of Liu Bai. It's because I'm afraid.”
Great Divine Priest of Light frowned. ”Of what?”
”The final destination of the Talisman Taoism is the ultimate law of heaven and earth. It's the essential law. For my entire life, I've been walking down the path toward the final destination. But that place is a place where only Haotian has the right to reach.
Master Yan Se said expressionlessly, ”To cultivate talisman means having to reach that forbidden zone in the end. What we need is self-enlightenment, not guidance from the heaven. What would happen if we enter the forbidden zone? That uncertainty is my fear.”
Tucked between clouds above the sea, the sun spilled its warm and bright light over every part of the cliff. It illuminated the people by the snow-capped trees and stones. That was the benevolent and generous Haotian bestowing the world with rules and life.
Great Divine Priest of Light said, ”Though it seems like I've betrayed Haotian, what I cultivate is still divinity. Haotian gave me a pair of eyes that can see through everything and inexhaustible strength. The odds are with me during the day.”
Master Yan Se shook his head. ”Chang'an is my home. My feet once walked on every street in this city and traveled over all the mountains and rivers outside it. This mountain is considered my symbol. Your odds aren't all that high.”
Great Divine Priest of Light smiled. ”No matter what, it's best not to disturb other people.”
Master Yan Se said, ”That's why I ask that we leave Chang'an.”
With a lift of his sleeves, a clear light flashed. The unpleasant smell coming from his sleeves suddenly dissipated, and a powerful and inexplicable talisman intent emerged from the crack on the stone.
”I haven't seen Shan Fu in a long time,” said Great Divine Priest of Light lamentably.
He swept his cotton sleeves in the wind and stuck his hand out in the snow. The sunlight coming from the east instantly illuminated his skinny right hand. Countless dim lights appeared on his fingertips before scattering, like fireflies taking flight.
When the powerful talisman intent that emerged from within the crack of the stone merged with the dim lights, there weren't any terrible consequences. Instead, they stuck close to each other and fell from the cliff into the chasm, gradually forming an intangible shield. A seven-color streak of light danced on the shield, forming a beautiful rainbow in the snow.
The two old men looked at the rainbow shield that enveloped the entire mountain and nodded with satisfaction. Then, at the same time, they then turned toward the quiet little girl who had her head lowered.
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