Chapter 82: Vastness

“The road of life, like a beautiful dream, stretches long; wind and frost along the way, striking cold against my face…” Chen Jianchen, carrying his book case on his back, softly hummed as he strode with confidence into Jiangzhou City. The soldiers guarding the gate glanced at him indifferently and made no move to stop him, allowing him to enter freely.

Lately, with the Dharma Assembly being held in the city, the authorities had ordered the guards at all four gates to remain vigilant and tighten security. Checks on citizens entering the city—those with carts or carrying packs—were noticeably stricter than before. However, such measures hardly applied to a scholar; unless the city was under a complete lockdown, no official would ever think to search a scholar’s book case.

Inside that book case, Yingning and Xiao Yi were concealed—

The most dangerous place is often the safest. Chen Jianchen, with the two demons in tow, returned unimpeded to his home in Jiangzhou. Even if the Black-Clad Guards possessed supernatural abilities, they would never suspect him. A scholar had always been the very symbol of harmlessness—who would believe that a scholar could kill Black-Clad Guards? It was simply unthinkable.

Besides, the scene had already been dealt with by Yingning using special arcane methods. Even if powerful cultivators came to investigate, they would only conclude that Wu Wencai and the two Black-Clad Guards were slain by demons.

This was exactly the outcome Chen Jianchen hoped for. This way, the authorities would not vent their anger on the innocent townsfolk or seek scapegoats, avoiding unnecessary bloodshed.

How to account for this to Lord Wu, the Minister? That was their problem to worry about. The matter was grave, and surely they would not dare to lie, especially with Master Kong present to attest to the truthfulness of the events.

After all, demons do exist in this world!

This was the fundamental premise.

After this incident, Yingning’s Pine Hollow would likely no longer be safe. Fortunately, she had already refined the “Kunlun Jade Purity Mantra.” With this powerful scripture in hand, the loss was not so great. It was Xiao Yi who suffered the most—gravely wounded, head battered and bleeding, and his very soul damaged. The “Demon-Subduing Empowerment Circle” cast by Master Kong proved truly formidable: a mere touch had injured the rat demon’s spirit.

The head wound was external and could be healed with medicine and rest in a few days, but damage to the spirit was far more troublesome, requiring months or even longer to recover.

Both the Buddhist and Daoist sects focus their cultivation on the soul and spirit; the difference lies in their approach. Daoists refine the spirit directly, while Buddhists first cultivate the body, then the mind, and only after achieving the Fifth Turn of Mind and Body does one attain a minor mastery of the soul—“Filling this stinking mortal shell day after day, when shall I transcend to the other shore?” Only upon reaching the Ninth Turn Golden Body does one truly cast off the fetid mortal frame.

With the cultivation of the soul and spirit come many taboos. For example, in Daoism, one’s Yin Spirit can only leave the body at night, in peace and tranquility; only after forming a Golden Elixir can it appear in daylight and control objects; upon reaching the Nascent Soul, one enters a new realm entirely—capable of possession and soul invasion, able to slay an enemy without lifting a finger, simply sending forth the Nascent Soul to attack the opponent’s spirit. At the level of Manifestation, the spirit can finally take visible form, appearing almost human so that even ordinary eyes can see it. As for the Human Immortal, that is the ultimate realm of cultivation, filled with endless mysteries beyond description.

The Buddhist progression is similar, though with more preparatory stages. Only after the Fifth Turn of Mind and Body does one reach an equivalent to the Daoist Yin Spirit, with subsequent realms corresponding—Sixth Turn Transformed Body matches Golden Elixir, Seventh Turn Dharma Body matches Nascent Soul, Eighth Turn True Body matches Manifestation, Ninth Turn Golden Body matches Human Immortal.

Chen Jianchen’s own practice, “The Threefold Integrity Canon,” which nurtures upright, righteous energy, also belongs to the cultivation of soul and spirit. Yet it is highly unique; both its methods and secrets are without parallel, leaving little room for comparison.

Its stages—Establishing Words, Achievements, and Virtue—are simple in division. The specific powers of each stage, however, can only be realized upon attainment. For now, he was at the initial stage of “Establishing Words,” having condensed twelve strands of righteous energy. These, like fine threads, could form a sword of righteous energy, serving mainly to protect himself. If a Yin Spirit tried to invade his soul, the sword would manifest to defend its master.

Aside from that, he could not yet wield this sword to attack enemies. This was a notable shortcoming, a limitation likely due to his still-immature cultivation. He believed that as the number of righteous threads increased and the sword grew stronger, it would one day display fearsome power—perhaps even manifesting in physical form, capable of flying a thousand miles to slay evil spirits.

Only then would it truly deserve the name “Righteous Sword of Self-Nurture!”

…

When he finally walked through his own door, Mo Sanniang and A’bao greeted him with delight. Chen Jianchen had told them he was leaving for scholarly travels, and they had been worried. The world was unpredictable, dangers lurking everywhere—who could say what misfortune might befall him alone on the road? Now that he returned unharmed, their relief and joy were beyond words.

Chen Jianchen first went to his study and set down the book case. Yingning, cradling Xiao Yi, came running out. Seeing that Xiao Yi still had not awakened, she was filled with anxiety.

The rat demon had been injured saving her; naturally, she was racked with guilt.

Chen Jianchen gave a gentle sigh. The sudden and violent turn of recent events had left even his own emotions disordered, as if swept by a fierce wind, in need of sorting out. He consoled her, “Yingning, you needn’t worry too much. Xiao Yi will recover after some rest.”

Yingning took ink and brush from the book case, spread open a sheet, and wrote: Young master, is the human world always this perilous? Or is it only so because I am a demon…

Chen Jianchen’s heart tightened, as if pricked by a needle—there was pain, a sour ache. Clearly, this ordeal had shaken Yingning deeply, far more than the wolf demon’s attack ever had. He replied earnestly, “Whether demon or human, there is good and evil among both. Look at me—I, too, have become a scholar who kills. There are many things in this world that are simply beyond our control. But as long as we hold fast to our true selves and cling to kindness, we will always remain within our own circle.”

After a long pause, Yingning seemed to come to terms with his words. She nodded firmly and wrote, “Young master, what was that tune you were humming on the road? I’ve never heard it before, but I liked it very much. Could you write down the lyrics for me?”

In the Heavenly Unity Dynasty, literary culture flourished. Many lyrics composed by poets and scholars had been set to music and widely sung, the main conduit for which was the pleasure quarters. The courtesans, hoping to raise their own value, often paid high prices to commission lyrics and melodies, then performed them as their signature pieces. If their performance stood out, their fame and fortune would rise accordingly.

On the road back to Jiangzhou, Chen Jianchen, moved by emotion, had unconsciously hummed the tune from “A Chinese Ghost Story.” Yingning, riding in the book case, had heard it for the first time and found it enchanting, so she asked him to write down the lyrics.

Chen Jianchen laughed and agreed. Taking up a blank sheet, he stilled his mind, and with swift strokes wrote out:

“The road of life, like a beautiful dream, stretches long; wind and frost along the way, striking cold against my face. Amidst the red dust, how many directions does a dream have? Seeking a foolish, illusory love deep in the heart, wandering lost as the road stretches on…”

On the third day, the team of Dharma monks stationed in Jiangzhou departed to return to the capital. Unlike their grand, drum-beating arrival, their departure was hurried and subdued, as though they were fleeing. The real reasons, however, were known to but a select few…

(End of this volume!)