Chapter 39: Let Me See The Vast Immortal Scenery
Fang Shu looked at the figure in the Medicine Hall, sighing lightly in his heart, unsure for a moment whether he should enter the room.
But his shadow had already swayed into the room first, noticed by Shi Hou.
The other man turned sideways, looking at Fang Shu’s extremely young and vibrant face, a dazed expression appearing in his eyes.
A long time later.
Fang Shu clasped his hands first: “Greetings, Senior Brother Shi.”
Shi Hou reacted belatedly, struggling to rise and return the courtesy:
“I dare not accept that. It’s Immortal Fang, right?
This humble one greets Immortal Fang.”
Fang Shu hurriedly stepped forward to help him up, but stopped his action in time, changing to a virtual supporting gesture.
He received the other’s bow, returned it with clasped hands, then proactively sat down in front of the bamboo bed and chatted with the man.
After asking a few miscellaneous things, since the two were not familiar, the room fell silent, appearing quite quiet.
Shi Hou noticed this, lowered his head, and hurriedly explained:
“Forgive me, Immortal Fang. This humble one, this humble one is clumsy with words. Thank you, Immortal Fang, for coming to visit. If Immortal Fang has any instructions for this humble one, this humble one will surely obey?”
His face still showed unease, as if he had long heard about the situation in the main hall.
Seeing the other’s expression, Fang Shu sighed even more in his heart, knowing that a thick barrier already stood between them. He did not mention the events of the Tribulation in the main hall, but instead put on a serious face and spoke of the main matter:
“To be honest, I came today both to visit Senior Brother Shi. I have long admired Senior Brother Shi, and only today do we finally speak. Additionally, I wish to consult Senior Brother Shi on a certain matter.”
“Please speak, Immortal Fang.”
“I heard that Senior Brother Shi has long resided in the mine outside the town, with considerable bravery. Coincidentally, I will soon head to the mine outside the town, so I came specifically to consult Senior Brother Shi, to avoid being schemed against by the people in the mine when I go out.”
Fang Shu spoke in as calm a tone as possible.
Hearing this, Shi Hou’s face showed a dazed expression, so he tentatively introduced the situation of the mine outside the town a bit:
“The mine outside the town has waste mines, vicious mines, and good mines, all sorts, a mix of fish and dragons. When first entering the mine, it’s indeed best to have someone guide you, or else it’s easy to be targeted.”
“May I ask, Senior Brother Shi, what are the distinctions for these three types of mines?”
Seeing that Fang Shu was listening seriously, and not just making small talk as an excuse, Shi Hou’s withered expression relaxed, and his speech became more fluent.
The other man spoke freely.
“Right, although it’s best to have someone guide you when entering the mine to learn the ropes, Immortal Fang must remember that there is one type of person to be extremely cautious of, best to stay far away from.”
“May I ask what type of person?”
The two talked for a full two cups of tea’s time. Shi Hou was truly an honest man. Although not everything he said was necessarily true, Fang Shu had to cautiously absorb it.
But Fang Shu could clearly feel that the other’s words were quite logical, easy to verify, and the details stood up to scrutiny, obviously all from personal experience.
Especially the treacherous matters of the mine that Fang Shu cared about most, Shi Hou emphasized many, to prevent Fang Shu from stepping into pits.
This made Fang Shu suddenly feel that visiting this man was indeed a wise move!
After the conversation was exhausted, Shi Hou opened his mouth, his voice stopping for a moment, appearing awkward again, unsure how to make small talk.
Seeing this, Fang Shu immediately stood up and made a bow to the other:
“Many thanks to Senior Brother Shi for the guidance!”
“I dare not, I dare not accept.” Shi Hou struggled to rise again. On his poisoned, blackened face, a few traces of visible shame appeared, and he said lowly:
“It is I who should thank Immortal Fang. Because of my momentary greed, I nearly caused our pavilion to lose face. It was all thanks to Immortal Fang holding up the scene at the end.
And that one or two spirit stones… Without that item, I might still be lying in bed now.”
As he spoke, the eyes of the man before him turned red. He lowered his head, even about to kneel on the ground with a thud.
Fortunately, Fang Shu keenly noticed this, and now his movements were ghostly. With a whoosh, he supported the other and pressed him to sit back on the bamboo bed.
He wanted to comfort the other a few words, say some words of long-standing respect, even probe sideways to test if this man harbored resentment toward the events of that day, whether he blamed Fang Shu for stealing his spotlight.
But many words reached his mouth, yet turned into just one sentence:
“Brother Shi, do you regret it?”
Hearing this, Shi Hou suddenly raised his head, his red eyes looking at Fang Shu, his expression extremely complex.
His lips moved, wanting to say something, but in the end it turned into a miserable, dazed smile.
Shi Hou shed the dullness of his long bedridden illness, as if returned to the state in the main hall, head buried in hard training.
“How could I not regret? If I hadn’t listened to that Seven Fragrance Tower woman’s words, I would now be like Immortal Fang, breaking through the gate for Blood Change, honorably ascending to Human Immortal. Even if not extending lifespan, at least free of illness, escaping the mortal dust.”
Shi Hou said through gritted teeth:
“But the greatest regret is, why can immortal family disciples absorb spiritual energy and pills without worry from childhood, while we mortals from the Mortal World must endure endless hardships, birth, aging, sickness, death, to come to this immortal mountain seeking the Immortal Path.
Finally arriving at the immortal mountain, yet having to sell blood for survival, mine for a living, like oxen and horses.
Brother Fang, you and I both came from the Mortal World. I mine for a year to cultivate for a month, you eat four meals a day and defecate nine times. In such a situation, how could one not regret?”
The man’s voice was suppressed:
“Though I, Shi Hou, was incited by others, acting like a fool. But only I myself know, if I didn’t show my skills greatly during the Tribulation, just seeking stability, with my current age, how could I have another chance to catch up, how could I enter an Immortal Sect.
The rest of my life would end as just a mediocre old man in the marketplace, only pinning hopes of longevity on the next generation.
I regret! Regret being born in the mortal dust, regret having no Spiritual Root, regret my failure.”
Hundreds of words of gritted-teeth, blood-tears speech came from the mouth of this resolute-eyed, honest-faced man, making the hall fall silent for a moment.
The two injured men next door also suddenly opened their eyes, staring dazedly at the room’s ceiling.
To be honest, Fang Shu too felt his qi and blood surging, mind shaken for a moment, but he forcibly suppressed these emotions, his face unchanging.
Shi Hou seemed to have poured out all the pent-up frustration and ambition in his heart in one breath.
His figure immediately hunched down, and the divine light on his face visibly turned to dull numbness.
He gave an embarrassed smile, rubbed his hands, and stammered awkwardly: “Words of a defeated dog, Immortal Fang must have laughed.”
Fang Shu exhaled at this moment, his voice also complex:
“What is there to laugh at? In this world, those who cling to life may not survive, those who advance rashly may not die.
But without striving, one is doomed to have no hope. We fear we would have no fate even with this Immortal Cultivator Marketplace, let alone immortal destiny or the Immortal Path?”
Shi Hou raised his head, staring dazedly at Fang Shu.
He grinned, tense, heedless of his injuries, and deeply bowed to Fang Shu:
“In that case, please, Brother Fang, witness for me the even broader scenery of the Immortal Path.
I wish Brother Fang a broad Immortal Path and hope for longevity!”
………………
Fang Shu sighed lightly, finally slowly walking out of the Medicine Hall.
But chewing over his conversation with Shi Hou, pondering repeatedly, he thoroughly suppressed the “desperate struggle heart” that had stirred in his heart.
Fang Shu secretly calculated:
“No, I have a Dao Talisman. Even born in the mortal dust without a Spiritual Root, I can still cultivate and seek longevity.”
For him, the lesson from Shi Hou’s matter was that one must not listen to incitement, must have a firm Dao heart;
That the tragedy of the rash once it happens is so helpless and miserable, with no regret medicine to take.
Firmly remembering this lesson, Fang Shu strode forward.
New week, seeking monthly tickets to rush the charts!
