Chapter 19: Who Can Be Immortal

Sword Dynasty

Volume 2

Chapter 19: Who Can Be Immortal

“You don’t like women?” Ding Ning eyed Xue Wangxu suspiciously in the carriage cabin. “Or is there something wrong with your health?”

“What do you children know!” Seeing Ding Ning still continuing to discuss this matter with him, Xue Wangxu was a little annoyed.

Ding Ning was as stubborn as a mule. “Then why?”

“I’m just not interested.”

Xue Wangxu looked at Ding Ning and could not even feel annoyed. “Exquisite wine and beautiful singing are certainly enjoyable. But most of them are just ordinary blush and powder. After seeing so many, they’re no longer interesting,” he said resignedly.

In an instant, Ding Ning seemed to be reevaluating Xue Wangxu.

“Don’t look at me like that.” Xue Wangxu said with a hint of bitterness, “Who hasn't been young once? Especially when one is stuck in a certain realm and hasn't had a breakthrough for years. When there's no progress, one becomes bitter and looks for a place to drink. This is normal. But after too much fun, you'll realize it's no longer interesting. Humans have emotions, and life can't avoid them. For me, even the most beautiful woman pouring me wine can't compare to true pleasure. It's better not to indulge in things that are less enjoyable.”

Ding Ning frowned slightly. He pondered, looked at Xue Wangxu, and seriously asked, “You've been in Changling all this time, haven't you ever met a woman you've fallen in love with?”

Xue Wangxu suddenly fell silent.

A moment later, he smiled faintly and said, “Of course I have. I'll meet her when I return to Changling.”

 

The carriage sped on the road back to Changling.

Perhaps he had finally managed to use the sword move he had been accumulating for so long, or perhaps he was simply exhausted from fighting Feng Qianzhuo with all his might; Over the next dozen days, Xue Wangxu's words became fewer and fewer. He spent more time resting with his eyes closed.

They changed wheels several times, and the carriage was covered in dust when they finally entered the walls of Changling in the early evening.

As the dusty carriage slowly moved through Changling's crisscrossing, straight streets and stopped at a certain place, Ding Ning displayed a rare display of composure.

He lifted the window curtain in disbelief. Looking at the buildings outside, he said with surprised amazement, “The woman you like is from here?”

Even a palace or a pleasure brothel would not have surprised him so much.

He knew this place!

This yellow brick courtyard was one of the rare temples in Changling, and it was a popular one.

Does Xue Wangxu have such tastes that he likes a nun?

“What are you thinking!”

With just one glance, Xue Wangxu could see what Ding Ning was thinking at the moment. He shouted and slapped Ding Ning, nearly pushing him out of the cabin.

“Get off the carriage with me.”

Xue Wangxu rolled his eyes at Ding Ning and left the carriage first to enter the temple.

Several ancient ginkgo trees were planted outside the main hall of the temple. The trees had dense crowns and trunks, so thick that it took several people to surround them.

On either side were two life release ponds.

Xue Wangxu stopped next to the left life release pond.

Ding Ning approached in confusion. He saw several plump red carp swimming and many turtles on the rocks in the pond.

Before he could speak, Xue Wangxu pointed with his finger. A wave of pure vital energy pierced into the pond like a sword and exploded near the bottom of the pond.

Something the size of a small millstone suddenly floated up.

Ding Ning finally realized that it was an old turtle of unknown age. Its shell was very dark, the color of slate. The turtle had been knocked unconscious by Xue Wangxu's vital energy wave.

Xue Wangxu reached out to grab the old turtle and darted away before the people in the temple noticed his presence.

Ding Ning stared at the water at his feet and did not react immediately.

He immediately went to the gate and saw Xue Wangxu about to board the carriage. He did not understand at all. “What are you doing?”

Xue Wangxu threw the old turtle into the cabin and sat down. He said, “Of course, to cook it.”

Ding Ning fell silent again. He turned to the life release pond. “If you're not joking… is this delicious?”

Xue Wangxu looked at him calmly and said, “Get on.”

Ding Ning still did not understand.

He knew there must be a reason behind the things he did no't understand. So he stopped thinking and followed along to observe.

The carriage stopped in front of a restaurant.

This restaurant was not large, but business seemed to be doing well. At Xue Wangxu's orders, the restaurant's kitchen cooked the old turtle. A clay pot the size of a head was placed in front of Xue Wangxu and Ding Ning.

Xue Wangxu still did not explain. He calmly picked up his chopsticks and ate the meat.

Ding Ning did not ask any questions. He ate the meat and drank the soup.

Regardless of the old turtle's origins, the chef of this small restaurant possessed some skill. He first tenderized the old turtle's meat so that it was not tough after cooking, only chewy and delicious.

A lot of time had been spent cooking this old turtle.

Xue Wangxu ordered many jars of carved flower wine. He and Ding Ning ate the entire pot of old turtle. By the time they left the restaurant, it was already late at night and cold.

But Xue Wangxu did not show any intention of resting here. He ordered the man who had helped drive the carriage to White Goat Cave to return. Then he placed his hands behind his back and slowly walked through the streets of Changling.

Ding Ning silently followed him walking in the dark Changling winter night.

They passed a dozen streets and many fields. Xue Wangxu stopped beside a mound. In front of the mound was a small pond.

On top of the mound was a grave marker.

Ding Ning suddenly realized something. He took a deep breath and looked at Xue Wangxu.

Xue Wangxu's face flushed uncharacteristically, but his expression was calmer than usual.

“This is the woman I loved the most. But in my youth, before I could speak, she already had someone she loved. Back then, my eldest sect brother and I were only concerned with cultivation and missed out on many things. But if I had the chance to choose again, perhaps I wouldn't have spoken then. Meanwhile, she married an ordinary businessman, living happily in Changling. Even I couldn't have made her happier.”

Xue Wangxu smiled faintly and turned to Ding Ning. He said, “I've been thinking about that old turtle since I was little. Back then, when I saw this green turtle by the pond, I suddenly thought, what would it taste like? But since it had already been placed in the life release pond, I was too embarrassed to steal it and try it.”

“I was young back then. I had many thoughts that would have been interesting or fun if I had put them into action. But now I’m too old. Many people and things have long since passed. Even if I didn’t want to regret anything and did everything I wanted to do before, there’s not much I can do now for various reasons. Only this old turtle is here, and he won’t be around anymore after today.”

“Now that I think about it, Changling is like a pond to me. I’m just an old turtle trapped in this pond. It’s not very interesting.”

Xue Wangxu laughed. He looked at Ding Ning and then back at the grave. He said, “However, I did something I’ve long wanted to do. That old turtle tasted really good, and I came to see her. I’m truly happy.”

Hearing Xue Wangxu repeatedly say things he normally wouldn’t say carelessly, Ding Ning shook his head slightly. “Since these are happy matters, don't speak so seriously. Don't say it as if you've finished your business and want me to see you off,” he asked, frowning.

“Humans will always grow old. Who can be immortal?”

Xue Wangxu turned around and began to leave. His expression became serious as he slowly said, “Others may not understand the empress's tactics, but my eldest sect brother and I understand them well. From the time my eldest sect brother and I rejected her to the time we divided the spirit veins of the White Goat Cave into three, until they were forced to merge, it took less than two weeks. We used a dozen days to return to Changling from Zhushan District… there's not much time left.”

“I didn't know she was so cold-hearted before.” Ding Ning whispered, his head lowered.

Xue Wangxu did not know the true meaning of Ding Ning's words. He looked at Ding Ning with pity and said softly, “You should know that the higher a place in Changling, the colder it is. Likewise, people of high status are naturally colder and more ruthless.”

Ding Ning silently followed behind him.

Seeing a faint shadow in the darkness fall on him, he slowly said, “Remember your promise to me. You will see me bring you true glory in the Min Mountain Sword Trials.”

Xue Wangxu stopped and turned around. He said solemnly, “I will do my best.”

Ding Ning took a deep breath and looked at the distant Changling.

At this moment, his gaze was very strange.

He was clearly not as tall as those unchanging buildings, but he seemed to be overlooking Changling from a great height.

 

Notes:

This novel is not my work... I just translated it from a Chinese web novel written by Wu Zui

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