Peace Order

Chapter 1700: 55: Old Friends Like the Moon Cannot Be Pursued

Capítulo 1700: Chapter 55: Old Friends Like the Moon Cannot Be Pursued

Gradually, the incense offerings increased, and this place became a renowned sightseeing spot in Jiangzhou City. There used to be a blind old Taoist here who was quite accurate at fortune-telling, but it’s uncertain when he left.

However, the affairs of this world, coming and going, are ordinary.

“Ah, Master!!”

The young Taoist suddenly shouted and quickly ran over. Li Guanyi stopped and saw a young Taoist around twenty years old standing there, with a gentle demeanor, a calm disposition, wearing a simple Taoist robe and holding a horsetail whisk.

Yet, when he looked at the layperson before him, he was slightly taken aback.

The young Taoist remained silent for a long time, cupped his hands in respect, and softly said:

“I am Zhui Yue, greeting the layperson.”

Seven years ago, this young Taoist was the one Li Guanyi was most familiar with. On that day, when the living Buddha visited, it was Zhui Yue who led him through. Looking at him now, the young Taoist with baby fat has become a Taoist priest.

Li Guanyi said: “Taoist, it has truly been a long time.”

Zhui Yue replied, “Indeed…”

He patted his disciple’s head, letting him leave first, then personally guided Prince Qin to look at this place. Over the years, this Taoist temple hasn’t changed much and remains as it once was.

Li Guanyi was brought forward to the rear mountain behind the Taoist temple, where there was a small pavilion and many graves. Zhui Yue pointed to the graves ahead and said, “Elder Zu is buried here.”

Li Guanyi acknowledged with a sound.

He looked among those graves, as a disciple trying to find Elder Zu, but each grave was merely a mound with a blank stone tablet. Taoist disciples return to the embrace of nature, with past karma no longer mentioned.

From this point, everything ceases—no coming, no going.

Even as one of the twenty-four Sacrificial Wine Masters of the Academy, after life and death, it is still nothing more than an uninscribed tombstone.

However, Li Guanyi, being a top martial artist of his time, connected through Qi mechanisms, found Zu Wenyuan’s grave. Li Guanyi paid his respects with the etiquette of a disciple, without any kingly airs.

After the burial rites, he was slightly stunned, as there was a small mound before him. Curiously, Li Guanyi reached out to touch it. Inside the mound was a piece of wood engraved with two lines of words.

[Came early but did not find the wrong person]

[Li Xiao, did not slack]

It’s often said that seeing words is like seeing the person, but Li Guanyi only now understood the meaning of these four words.

Li Guanyi was taken aback, looking at that familiar handwriting, as if he could still see that elegant old gentleman and hear the elder’s teasing voice. The separation of life and death, past memories, seemed to suddenly no longer divide them.

The Tao is carefree, the elder sees through.

Li Guanyi couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“Hahaha, Elder Zu, oh Elder Zu.”

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“Could you even foresee this? Or was it just a simple trick, believing I would come again? Elder Zu, ah Elder Zu…”

Li Guanyi’s laughter gradually subsided as he sat there.

Prince Qin spoke softly:

“Have we…?”

“Have we not wasted your choice from back then?”

Li Guanyi chuckled, but his answer was destined to be unanswered, this question remaining in his heart, echoing throughout his lifetime as he looked at the place of the past, ultimately leaving.

While descending, he passed by a side hall and saw an elderly Taoist frowning, while a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy was persistently pestering the Taoist, insisting on becoming his apprentice, falling to his knees.

At that moment, it was like years ago when Prince Qin passed by and saw this scene. The elderly Taoist who looked up was the one who once galloped wildly on horseback, delivering Elder Zu’s gift to him.

Back then, he was young, but now his temples showed some white hair.

The Taoist was slightly startled, his eyes narrowed.

Prince Qin nodded slightly, just a simple gesture of respect.

Taking his leave as it seemed the Taoist temple didn’t allow outsiders today, someone yelled as Li Guanyi walked out, dissatisfied: “How could he enter? Is the Taoist temple also concerned with distinctions of rank and lifelong root essence?”

Li Guanyi smiled without answering, moving on, but suddenly muttered to himself:

“Slay millions across the land, the sword at the waist still reeks of blood.”

“Mountain monks don’t recognize heroic rulers, only prattle asking for names!”

Zhui Yue Taoist wondered, “These lines are bold but don’t fit the scene.”

Li Guanyi replied, “It’s when I was… wandering, yes, during my time with the wandering corps, I met a monk beggar who recited this poem, and I remembered it.”

“Hahaha, I’ve long wanted to recite it once more.”

Zhui Yue was dumbstruck.

Li Guanyi laughed loudly as he mounted his horse, bid farewell, and rode away leisurely. The transmission of news in this era was not swift; some news took months to spread.

However, Prince Qin’s conquest of Chen was too significant.

So significant that the news spread to the brink of this era’s communication limits.

After a few days, finally, it was known throughout the land.

The people, all knew.

And Prince Qin’s coming of age ceremony had arrived.