656 Three Goblets of Wine For Worldly Affairs, A Pot of Tea For Lifetime Achievements (1/2)
Yun Yang kept quiet for a bit before saying, ”Marshal Wu, I'm rather at a loss to comment about what you've just said. Tell me, what should I consider you as? A self-deceiving crook?”
”I'm indeed self-deceiving. I am a real crook as well. Nonetheless, I am also a strong, powerful crook. My abilities, at least for a substantially long period of time, cannot be replaced by anyone,” Wu Ying said casually.
Killing intent glinted in Yun Yang's eyes. ”Do you know that once a person dies – no matter how irreplaceable they are, they are still dead. Even when their deaths caused a significant upheaval, they no longer exist in this world! As for the world itself, nothing changes.”
”Lord Supreme Cloud is determined to kill me. This, I've guessed as much,” said Wu Ying.
During the entire conversation, he had not once addressed himself as ”this official”, ”this general”, ”this lower official”, or ”this reputed one” – he addressed himself with only ”I”. Evidently, he no longer considered himself as Yutang's official or the military's marshal.
Yun Yang was well aware of this, but had still addressed him as ”Marshal Wu”. After all, Wu Ying had truly done a lot for Yutang throughout the years. This person's contribution was pivotal in the stabilization of Yutang's territories. Despite their opposing views, his contributions and achievements spoke for themselves.
”Bi Zhongliu has died,” Wu Ying spoke unhurriedly, ”Back then, he kept saying that his abilities could bring peace and stability to the country – to the world. Even if disaster were to befall the empire, if there was no hope left, he could defend the nation against the tide of calamity should he be given a chance – he could save the country. That's why he called himself Bi Zhongliu1.”
”I wonder if he can still call himself Bi Zhongliu when he arrives at the underworld,” said Yun Yang. His tone was indifferent but he was internally surprised.
The name Bi Zhongliu was very familiar. Many years ago, there was a high-profile case that shocked many people; at the heart of the story was a man called Bi Zhongliu…
Yun Yang wondered if that Bi Zhongliu was this Bi Zhongliu…
Wu Ying ignored the implied mockery in his words and continued speaking, ”There must be something you want to know since you have refrained from attacking the moment you arrived. Isn't that so, Lord Supreme Cloud? Since I'm already speaking, I'll explain it to Lord Supreme Cloud.”
He heaved a quiet sigh and said, ”Do you know that the number of words I've uttered in these twenty years can't even come close to what I've said today…”
There was a sharp glint in Yun Yang's eyes when he answered, ”I've long heard that Marshal Wu is laconic, heard the praises of Marshal Wu being terse and concise. Your orders and commands regarding military affairs are strictly obeyed as well; rarely were there cases of impartiality. However, about being so wordy… maybe it's because you won't have much chance to talk anymore after today!”
Wu Ying let out a chortle and said, ”Lord Supreme Cloud is powerful, of course, rarely missing the target when you kill, but you may have a wrong estimation of my abilities. I admit that I won't be able to kill Lord Supreme Cloud nor am I a worthy opponent. However, I am quite confident that I can slip away from your grasp. Bi Zhongliu has never seen you before his death. It was his deepest regret and it's necessary for me to complete this wish for him.”
”If so, there's no need for more rubbish. I believe Marshal Wu knows what I want to find out as well. Speak of what you know, why'd you need me to raise the question?” said Yun Yang.
Wu Ying laughed hoarsely and said, ”Lord Supreme Cloud is right, but before I begin the story, I have to say that this conversation will take a long time. What about having tea with me, Lord Supreme Cloud?”
It was easy to deceive anyone else other than one's self. Wu Ying held his opinion regarding his own actions very strongly; at this moment, he had mentioned about his grave mistake verbally, but he actually did not think too much about his sin. If it were not for Bi Zhongliu's matter as his baggage and his intention to escape, Wu Ying's resolve and headstrong attitude were actually the most unusual among the Four Seasons Tower's men whom Yun Yang had come across.
Before his words echoed and before Yun Yang could speak, Wu Ying shook his wrist, brandishing pieces of furniture and laid out a tea set on the ground. They were set out neatly; there was even a long, lit candle on the tea table. A wave of mystical Qi swept across the space abruptly, the wind making billowing noises, but the flame of the candle did not flicker one bit.
”Lord Supreme Cloud, please have a seat.”
Wu Ying picked up the teapot and said with a smile, ”Three goblets of wine for worldly affairs, a pot of tea for lifetime achievements. People think that this saying is quite a flashy one, and they have countless interpretations of it. I have one of my own too.”
”I would like to know what Marshal Wu thinks,” Yun Yang replied as he sat down.
”To me, three goblets of wine for worldly affairs… It means that anyone, when they've experienced this worldly realm, can memorialize the person with three goblets of wine.”
”As for a pot of tea for lifetime achievements… the saying means that no matter how many achievements one has made, no matter how meritorious, when he dies, when people talk about him, the time to drink a pot of tea is all it takes to be informed of that person.”
Wu Ying shook his head and continued faintly. ”Just like how we're about to talk about Bi Zhongliu's life, right now. No matter how introspective and intelligent he was, how impeccable his calculations were and how gifted he was, how influential he had been as a civil mandarin and a force in the martial world… a pot of tea –”