Chapter 244 - It's Better to Ride on a Full Stomach
Explore the latest events in "Journey to the End of the Night" Chapter 244: The night wind blew from the other end of the alley, mixed with the smell...
The night wind blew from the other end of the alley, mixed with the smell of fireworks from the Mortal World and the refreshing fragrance of mugwort meant to ward off evil.
Baili Anâs wisps of hair on his forehead fluttered in the wind and snow, and his handsome face under the nightlight was serene, his mysterious and clean black eyes fixedly staring at Meng Zifei.
He said, âDoes Young Master Meng believe that itâs the giant clamâs fault for simply living here quietly, and because it did not protect the fish and shrimp that sought comfort inside its shell, seeking ease, and made it their home?â
Meng Zifei understood his metaphor and felt that Baili Anâs thoughts were somewhat extreme, and he said with a bitter smile, âOne cannot equate humans with fish and shrimp; Brother Si Chenâs thoughts are a bit too narrow-minded.â
Baili An spoke indifferently, âBut does Brother Meng think that to those supreme deities on Kunlun Mountain, mortals, who have no cultivation and pass away after a mere hundred years, are beings worthy of special care?â
Meng Zifei frowned deeply, secretly thinking how could you be so cold and merciless about the ways of this world.
His expression grew somber, and he said insistently,
âHowever, here in Immortal City, it shouldnât be the innocent who bear the consequences of the evil deeds of others.
If the Empress, as the ruler of Immortal City, does not bestow them with blessings, she at least shouldnât allow Evil Ghosts to flourish and rampage unchecked!â
âWhen I first entered the city, I initially thought the same,â his hair in the front, disturbed by the wind and snow, obscured his eyes.
With a slight nod of his head, the clean lines of his jaw appeared sharp and gaunt, endowing him with an air of indifference that seemed almost inhuman:
âNow, looking back, the vast Mortal World under Tianyao has seen countless deaths in years of famine.
Every day, people pray to gods, and every year, kings set up altars to worship and offer to gods, yet when have disasters and calamities ever ceased?â
At a first look, Meng Zifei felt this young man exuded an indifferent aura.
But upon closer examination, he realized it wasnât cold-heartedness, but a quietness like deep still waters, because of this tranquility he could see through the dust of this world more clearly.
His voice was devoid of compassion or resentment, analyzing calmly, âGods do not look upon the world with pity.â
Just like how a traveler feels upon seeing a homeless orphan freeze to death as dusk falls in winter.
He did not believe those passersby were to blame for not taking the cold, helpless orphan home to provide warmth before they froze to death.
He was not looking to assign blame, but felt assigning all the calamities of the city to the Empress was an unfair distortion.
Plainly, it was human hearts that harbored Ghosts.
This was not a natural disaster, but a man-made calamity.
Meng Zifeiâs expression wavered, and gritting his teeth, he still insisted, âBut Xianling City was originally a Ghost Mountain thousands of years ago, the Empress, knowing this, still did not preventâŚâ
He stopped mid-sentence; under the calm gaze of Baili An, Meng Zifei couldnât go on.
Having lived for over three hundred years, he was aware that on the opening day of Xianling City, a sealing decree was enacted.
Mortal Cultivators, mortals, and the Demon Clan were not allowed to enter the city at will, with the stele marking the boundary.
But how did those Cultivators, yearning for the secrets of Immortality and mortals seeking a long and carefree life, treat this order to seal the city?
Upon hearing that Xianling City was created from the hair of the legendary Master of Kunlun, they all fell into a frantic madness, solely focused on how to enter the city, to glimpse the chance for immortality, to steal a comfortable and long life.
Every day, people from all directions became suppliants at the city gate, a never-ending stream, some even kowtowing to death outside the city walls, and some dug up the earth to try to sneak in, leading to the leakage of yin energy from Ghost Mountain, devouring large numbers of mortals.
Human greed runs deep as the sea.
For the chance, those Cultivators were willing to venture into danger, even facing a high mortality rate, they sought after the everlasting peace of Immortal Path.
Before the sealing decree, werenât the dead more than a minority?
Until later, when the city gates opened, any Cultivator who entered the city had to pass a trial to gain the right to enter, and those with cultivation who trespassed into Immortal City without authorization were killed without mercy!
Mortals were not prohibited.
In so doing, a terrible slaughter was avoided.
Thinking over it carefully, Meng Zifei finally came to understand the truth that Immortals and mortals were distinct.
With this in mind, he looked at Baili An with a complex expression.
Having practiced cultivation for hundreds of years, observing and participating in the mortal world, yet he was not as insightful as this young man in front of him.
Baili An gave a slight smile and said, âThatâs why I think the Empress is truly great.
As an Immortal, she keeps herself untainted by worldly affairs and, in the name of a grand trial, calms the chaos.
She leaves her position in the city vacant, swiftly sets up a decree for the trial, presumably with the purpose of letting Mortal World Cultivators quell the ghostly calamities, ensuring order in cause and effect, to maintain the balance of the cosmos.â
Meng Zifei laughed at himself, âIt turns out I was the one with a narrow view.â
Baili Anâs eyes curved into a gentle smile, a laugh that differed from his usual tender ones, as if a white fox was grinning, âSo, if Young Master Meng truly feels unsettled by the cityâs affairs, why not join forces with me and capture that Ghost?
Wouldnât that settle it?â
Capture that Ghost?
Wouldnât that settle it???!!!
He was seriously proposing a terrifying idea.
Meng Zifeiâs face turned pale.
A Fierce Ghost that had lived for three thousand years was very likely to have ascended, and without the Empressâ imposing presence, that Ghost could likely overthrow the entire city and curse all the Cultivators to death.
And youâre asking me to join you in capturing this great ghost?
Chen Xiaolan heard that the Ghost was extremely fierce, but the extent of this fierceness, someone outside the circle like her couldnât fully comprehend.
All she knew was that if her master and Si Chen were to catch ghosts together, then she could stay with Si Chen every day.
So, she jumped up excitedly, saying happily, âYes, yes, my master has high cultivation; when capturing ghosts, Si Chen and I can just hide behind my master.â
Meng Zifeiâs heart nearly broke.
This little disciple of his, who followed him around causing mischief and catching ghosts, how come she never showed such confidence in him?
Now that Si Chen had arrived, she held him up like an umbrella.
The affections of the beloved were ironclad, but the master was fleeting like water.
Baili An lightly tapped the forehead of a little rabbit, âLittle rabbit, little rabbit, you were picky eating once when you nearly drowned, so this time you canât afford to be picky with the Ghost, you need to eat well and grow up, otherwise you wonât be able to ride.â
Meng Zifei looked bewildered, apparently youâre raising deer to ride, tigers to ride, and now even a pure white, innocent rabbit is being reared for riding.
How many seats do you need for all these mounts!
And to think of using the Ghost to feed the rabbit, such bold ideas from the young man.
He kindly tried to point out, âThis rabbit might not be able to eat that GhosâŚâ
Meng Zifei was smiling, about to pet the rabbit, but he caught the rabbitâs eerie gaze and felt a chill.
Before he could figure out where the coldness was coming from, he saw the rabbitâs mouth open into three sections, showing off its large white fangs, snapping at the air.
With a woof.
There in the snow, his own shadow disappeared.