Chapter 113: At First, One Does Not Understand the Meaning of the Song

The deeper Xu Cheng’s cultivation became, the more he felt out of place in this mortal world. Ordinary people live, at most, a hundred years, but he, provided he did not court disaster, could live forever. The people of the world would eventually turn into a handful of dust, while he could sit high above the clouds.

On another note, the entities he once had to look up to as a beggar and a petty thief now seemed like mere ants to him. Unless someone could match or surpass his level of cultivation, he could not even muster the desire to exchange a few words with them.

Once one becomes a cultivator, many things are easily obtained. Gold, silver, and jewels—the items ordinary people value most—could be acquired in any quantity he desired.

Various thoughts drifted through Xu Cheng’s mind. Legend had it that when demons cultivated, they first had to learn to be human: studying human etiquette, customs, and even human passions and desires. Only after mastering these—human etiquette, social habits, and the seven emotions and six desires—would they finally take on human form. From there, they could choose to pursue the path of an immortal, the path of a demon, or even learn Buddhist arts. It all depended on the choice of the enlightened creature.

Human cultivators, in experiencing the myriad facets of life, seek to understand the principles of walking through this world. Only by understanding human affairs and grasping the mandate of heaven can one become a true immortal.

"I am human, after all; only my form and appearance differ. All immortals are cultivated from humans; human affairs cannot be abandoned or forsaken!"

Walking through the heavy snow, Xu Cheng muttered to himself, leaving a trail of deep and shallow footprints behind him. When his thoughts grew heavy, his steps became heavier; when his thoughts lightened, his steps became lighter.

There were few people on the street, and his footprints were quickly buried by the heavy snow. He had been walking for half a day and had yet to reach the end of the town; it was truly a large place.

Just then, a young man in a thick long robe, holding a paper umbrella, approached from behind him. He quickened his pace until he reached Xu Cheng and said, "My friend, are you a traveler from out of town?"

Xu Cheng, who had suspected the man might be a ghost, already had a flicker of black light in his palm. Upon hearing the question, he chided himself for being overly sensitive due to that mysterious person, then gave a nod.

"Haha, our town has hired a theater troupe to celebrate the year-end festival. They’ve been performing from morning until night. If you don't mind, would you care to join me and watch?"

The man immediately stated his purpose: there was a play to be seen. In his past, Xu Cheng had been too busy struggling for survival to have any leisure for theater. Now, with time in abundance, he became interested. He gave a nod and headed toward the stage with the young man holding the paper umbrella.

Moments later, the two arrived near the stage, which was surrounded by a sea of people. Heads crowded together, shoulders brushing, as they watched the performers on the stage.

"Invading east and killing west, warring north and south, drinking the blood of the blade when thirsty! Oh hahaha—"

The performer on stage, painted with a black face mask, sang loudly with flamboyant gestures, drawing cheers from the townspeople. Soon, both civil and martial plays followed. Xu Cheng felt as if he had returned to his younger self.

The performance continued for a long time. Everyone around had an umbrella, except for Xu Cheng, who had collected quite a bit of snow on his shoulders.

"My friend, let me shield you!"

It was the same young man who had brought him here. Having disappeared after arriving, he had suddenly reappeared, brushing the snow off Xu Cheng while holding the paper umbrella over him.

It was a kind gesture, and whether it was an illusion or not, it brought a faint warmth to Xu Cheng’s heart.

"Many thanks for your kindness, friend!" Xu Cheng bowed slightly and moved closer to the young man.

"No need for thanks. The world is not yet at peace, and homeless people are everywhere. As they say, meeting is fate. Today I hold the umbrella for you; perhaps one day you will help me in return!"

The man spoke in a scholarly tone, which had a certain logic to it. Xu Cheng ceased to worry and let the paper umbrella block the drifting snow, though he did not truly need it. At that moment, someone else appeared on the stage, though his style was slightly different from the typical stock characters.

He wore only a dark red long robe, and his face was devoid of theatrical makeup. After standing still, he began to sing softly:

"You were not born when I was, and I was not born when you were old.
You resent that I was born late, I resent that you were born early.
You were not born when I was, and I was not born when you were old.
I regret we were not born at the same time, to be together day after day.
I was not born when you were, and you were not born when I was old.
I am at the ends of the earth, and you are across the sea.
I was not born when you were, and you were not born when I was old.
I shall turn into a butterfly to seek the flowers, and dwell among the fragrant grasses every night."

The man's voice was melodious, filled with the flourishes of opera, leaving Xu Cheng with a sense of desolation, though he did not fully grasp the underlying sentiment.

"I was not born when you were, and you were not born when I was old. I shall turn into a butterfly to seek the flowers, and dwell among the fragrant grasses every night." The young man holding the umbrella sang along softly, tears in his eyes; he was likely a man with a story of his own.

Xu Cheng’s heart stirred. He took out the cloth doll left behind by True Immortal Tian Gui from his sleeve space. After the passage of time, he wondered if the spell on it had worn off. Indeed, Xu Cheng wanted to test whether this young man was the reincarnation of Shen Qingshu. Unfortunately, the doll showed no reaction.

"To think you carry such an old cloth doll with you, my friend!" the young man remarked, leaning closer to Xu Cheng.

"A keepsake left by an old friend, the only thing I have left to remember them by!" Xu Cheng said, turning the doll in his hand while checking the seal on it.

"By the look of it, was this left by your wife?" the young man guessed.

"Not at all! Just an old acquaintance!" After Xu Cheng spoke, the young man gave him a look of understanding. Then, the expression on his face flickered—at times foolish, at times wearing a faint smile. In just a moment, the look on his face changed four or five times.

The plays lasted from noon until dusk. When the performance ended, the crowd dispersed. The man holding the umbrella shook the snow off it and said, "My friend, I must head home now. It is getting late. Do you have a place to stay? If not, you are welcome to spend the night at my home."

"No need, I still have things to attend to!" Xu Cheng walked a few steps and left the young man behind.

However, he did not go far. Instead, he followed the man from a distance. Having been treated with kindness, Xu Cheng did not mind leaving behind some good karma by helping him resolve any difficulties. He followed him all the way until he watched him return to his home.

Originally, he had only noticed that the man’s forehead was dark, suggesting the presence of ghosts or monsters, but it seemed the situation was not that simple.

"Eye of the Yellow Springs!" Xu Cheng murmured. A slit opened between his eyebrows, which then widened. This was his repeatedly upgraded Eye of the Yellow Springs, with tens of thousands of runes swirling in its center.

Through the door, Xu Cheng saw the young man and a massive spider. The young man was the one who had held the umbrella, while the spider appeared to be his wife.

The sound of their voices drifted to his ears:

"My dear, the play today was quite good, wasn't it?"

"Did you see anyone interesting?"

"Not really—well, actually, there was someone quite curious, traveling all alone at night!"