Chapter 21: I Actually Didnt Die!

After two cups of tea time, Chen Changsheng unfastened the wine gourd from his waist and placed it on the table.

Chen Changsheng said: “Same as in past years, a gourd of Autumn Moon Brew.”

Xuan Huang paused for a moment when he saw the wine gourd, then smiled. “Back when Master was still here, Sir would always bring a gourd of wine every time he visited. I really wanted some then, but didn’t dare ask for it. Who could have thought, as time passes and things change, now I actually get to drink Sir’s wine.”

Chang Shan stood nearby, waiting. Listening to his master’s conversation with this person, he felt something was a bit odd.

“This wine is also just from the civic district,” Chen Changsheng said. “Nothing special about it.”

“Anything Sir brings is naturally different.”

“You ah…”

Chen Changsheng couldn’t help sighing. “Why do you hold me in such high regard? When your master, the old gentleman, was still here, he never stood on ceremony with me.”

Xuan Huang explained, “By the rules, Sir and Master were of the same generation. As a junior, I should show respect.”

Chen Changsheng steered the topic away. “Drink!”

“Alright.”

Xuan Huang agreed, smiling like a child.

At that moment, junior sister Zi Su suddenly rushed in.

“Master! Master!”

“Suddenly there’s a huge pile of books outside the gate! I don’t know who left them there!”

“Books?”

Xuan Huang paused and looked at Mr. Chen.

Chen Changsheng answered, “Likely for me. I asked them to deliver them to the Flowing Cloud Temple. I didn’t expect them to be this fast.”

Xuan Huang and Chen Changsheng got up at once and headed towards the gate.

Sure enough, a pile of books was neatly stacked just outside the gate. But there was no sign of whoever delivered them.

Actually, two Yin Attendants stood there. The people inside the temple just couldn’t see them.

Chen Changsheng walked forward, stopping before the Yin Attendants.

It was none other than Hong Sancai.

Hong Sancai stepped forward. “Sir, all the books you requested are here.”

“Thank you for your trouble.”

Chen Changsheng asked further, “Is everything settled regarding the little courtyard?”

“All thanks to you, Sir,” Hong Sancai said. “With that single palm strike, not even a remnant soul was left.”

Chen Changsheng teased, “Then I’ll be gentler next time, give you folks something to do.”

Hong Sancai chuckled. “Oh, please don’t. A clean resolution is much better.”

Chen Changsheng couldn’t help smiling too.

Back in the temple, Xuan Huang saw the empty space before Mr. Chen, yet it seemed he was talking to someone.

At first, he was startled, but quickly understood.

Probably Ghost Deities of this place.

There was no other explanation.

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Meanwhile, by the temple’s corner wall, four heads sneaked a peek at the scene.

“Who is he talking to?”

“Could it be ghosts?”

The youngest, Zi Su, sounded a little scared. “Second Senior Brother, don’t scare me!”

Hong Sancai at the temple gate didn’t linger long. After briefly chatting with Chen Changsheng, he announced his departure. “Sir, the items have been delivered. I’ll take my leave now to report back.”

Chen Changsheng asked, “Not staying to see them? These are all your grand-disciples, you know.”

Hong Sancai shook his head. “Now that I’m a Yin Attendant, Hong must not cling to the mortal world.”

Chen Changsheng sighed softly. “That’s… just as well. Avoids building attachments.”

“Farewell, Sir.”

“Farewell.”

Hong Sancai descended the mountain with the other Yin Attendant.

Xuan Huang approached and stood beside Chen Changsheng.

Chen Changsheng watched Hong Sancai’s figure vanish down the mountain path. That man had died on this very mountain long ago, yet now truly walked down its slope.

Xuan Huang asked softly, “Just now… was that Master?”

“Yes.”

Chen Changsheng nodded. “Your master accumulated virtue through good deeds in life. After death, he was promoted by the City God and entered the Netherworld Tribunal. He’s now the Yin Ghost Envoy for Autumn Moon Market.”

Emotions welled up in Xuan Huang’s heart. He closed his eyes and murmured, “Infinite Heavenly Lord…”

“Don’t dwell on it.”

Chen Changsheng said. “Your master didn’t even come into the temple to look. If he could understand that reasoning, you should be able to as well.”

Xuan Huang nodded. “Xuan Huang understands.”

He looked at the large pile of books by the gate. “These books…”

“Leave them here.”

Chen Changsheng said, “I won’t finish reading them this time. It’s fine to come back again later.”

Xuan Huang understood. He turned around and called, “Enough watching! Come here and help carry the books for Sir!”

His four disciples, realizing they’d been spotted, came out.

Third disciple Xuan Shen scratched his head in explanation. “Master, we were just passing by.”

Xuan Huang gave a helpless smile. “Just carry the books.”

Chang Shan asked, “Master, where to?”

“Just take them up to the Library Pavilion.”

“Alright.”

Each took some books. Soon, the pile by the gate was cleared.

On the way, Xuan Shen, curious, muttered, “What kind of books are these, anyway? None of them have titles?”

As he spoke, he started to open one.

A hand suddenly smacked down.

Thwack.

Xuan Shen yanked his hand back, looking at his senior brother. “Senior Brother! Why hit me?”

Chang Shan said sternly, “Didn’t Master teach you? Don’t mess with other people’s things! If Sir finds out, it’s Master’s face that’s going to be shamed.”

Seeing this, Xuan Shen lost all desire to peek. “Fine, fine, I wasn’t really going to look…”

Chen Changsheng held one book in his hand.

The content recorded inside belonged to the category of Escape Techniques, focused on Five Elements Spells. Chen Changsheng was relatively new to Cultivation. Understanding it was still a struggle, though grasping the concepts wasn’t difficult.

But from Xuan Huang’s perspective, the book Chen Changsheng was reading? Just page after page of pure blank paper. Nothing was visible.

He couldn’t help asking, puzzled, “Sir… why are you holding a book with no words?”

Chen Changsheng smiled faintly. “No words in the book, but words exist in my eyes, Chen.”

Upon hearing this, Xuan Huang’s mind was shaken. He realized something. “Your wisdom is profound, Sir.”

Chen Changsheng closed the book. “Let’s go back inside.”

Returning to the pavilion,

Xuan Huang sat opposite Chen Changsheng to share the drink.

That single gourd of Autumn Moon Brew lasted them until the yellow dusk of sunset.

Xuan Huang spoke far less than his Master had. But for Chen Changsheng, it was just right. At least he wouldn’t feel bored. If his words poured out like his Master’s had, listening would’ve given him a headache.

In the blink of an eye, sunset arrived.

Dusky yellow spread across the horizon, deepening until it turned into a blaze of fiery red.

And the Autumn Moon Brew in the gourd on the table finally reached its end.

Chen Changsheng suddenly recalled his arrangement with Old Man Zhang. But looking at the sky, he probably wouldn’t make it.

Seemed like it would have to wait until next time…

He began discussing Xuan Huang’s disciples with him, all while waiting for death to arrive this time once more.

“It’s getting dark…”

Xuan Huang said. “Sir, are you leaving?”

Chen Changsheng looked towards the horizon, where the last glimmer of afterglow was about to vanish.

“Probably…”

As the sun fully sank beneath the mountain, darkness completely fell.

Chen Changsheng paused. A hint of shock flashed in his eyes. He stood up, gazing into the distance.

Xuan Huang was puzzled. “What are you looking at, Sir?”

“Is… is it completely dark yet?” Chen Changsheng asked, sounding dazed.This content belongs to novel·fire.net

Xuan Huang answered, “Yes, Sir. It’s dark.”

Astonishment seized Chen Changsheng’s heart. Staring at the night, his body trembled slightly. His lips began to quiver unconsciously.

“I actually…”

“Didn’t die?”