Infinite Professions

Chapter 386: Chapter 202: Incident, Part 2

Life is such, leaving one sighing!

Reflecting on Zhou Ce’s life, more than thirty years have passed, yet he still appears to be in his prime.

Chen Chuan was puzzled. Though his career had not gone smoothly, suffering setbacks that sapped his spirit and aged his heart, time’s erosion shouldn’t be ignored. Zhou Ce, being of similar age to him, had already been an adult back when they first met with Huang Hex. Now that more than thirty years have passed, Zhou Ce should also be nearing fifty, the age of Celestial Destiny. Why does he still appear so youthful?

Confronted with Chen Chuan’s gaze, Zhou Ce was first stunned, then he realized and spoke of his own experiences: "I’m now employed at Huangshan Academy." ƒгeewebnovёl.com

"Huangshan Academy?"

Chen Chuan murmured, then suddenly understood, followed by a laugh tinged with a sense of loss: "So that’s it, so that’s it!"

He understood.

And he regretted.

Back in the day, perhaps he should not have left, abandoned this carefree life in Qinghe, diving headfirst into the bureaucratic ocean of Jinling, suffering the erosion and conflict from the aura of the Six Dynasties.

If he had stayed like Zhou Ce here in Qinghe County, or even joined Huangshan Academy, would things have been different?

Such is time, such is fate!

Chen Chuan shook his head, then asked Zhou Ce, "Is the Mountain Master of Huangshan Academy still Ye Yunxiao?"

Zhou Ce nodded: "Yes."

"No wonder he’s the top scholar from back then, an eternal feather on the clouds!"

Chen Chuan murmured softly, feeling even more emotional within.

Ye Xuan, Ye Yunxiao, once the top of the Literary Sacrifice, later didn’t pursue the imperial exam but chose to stay at Huangshan, educating others. In just a few years, he became the Mountain Master of Huangshan Academy, nurturing countless students over ten years, becoming a renowned figure in the literary circles of Yangzhou, praised as "an eternal feather on the clouds."

In comparison, he himself was far inferior.

Seeing him like this, Zhou Ce didn’t know how to articulate his feelings and could only change the topic: "Now that the Mountain God Festival is over, if Brother Xuanling has no pressing matters, perhaps you could join me at Huangshan Academy, where Elder County Captain Song and Divine Doctor Huang are also teaching skills at the academy."

"Elder County Captain Song?"

Chen Chuan was taken aback, showing surprise: "Song Wu?"

Zhou Ce nodded: "Yes!"

Chen Chuan exclaimed in shock: "He’s not dead yet?"

Zhou Ce: "..."

"Cough, cough!"

Chen Chuan quickly corrected himself: "I didn’t mean it like that."

"I understand, I understand."

Zhou Ce nodded: "Song Martial Arts Hall has been integrated into Huangshan Academy, and County Captain Song, still vigorous in old age, after retiring from his official duties, focuses on martial arts instruction at the academy, serving as the chief instructor of the Martial Arts Institute. Huang Qi, the Divine Doctor from Baozhi Lin, also teaches skills at the academy now. Brother Xuanling might consider paying a visit."

"..."

Chen Chuan fell into a silence before speaking again: "I’m not sick!"

Zhou Ce smiled: "Strengthening oneself even when healthy, for longevity."

"For longevity?"

Chen Chuan murmured, his eyes showing a series of changes.

He could still barely accept Zhou Ce like this.

But Song Wu was quite astonishing.

Back when he was appointed to Qinghe, Song Wu had already passed the age of Celestial Destiny. Now, more than thirty years on, he should be an elderly man nearing a hundred.

In this world where the Divine Dao is dominant, great cultivation is achieved only after death; before death, regardless of civil or martial pursuits, the best one can achieve is to become a Third Realm Grandmaster. Due to scarcity of Primordial Qi and lack of external supplementation, most suffer internal exhaustion, making longevity difficult even for grandmasters. Especially for martial sect practitioners, with age comes the explosion of hidden injuries; even reaching seventy is tough, let alone eighty.

But this Song Wu...

Could it truly be as the rumors say, that Qinghe and Huangshan is the land of longevity?

Or is it due to the means of the Huangshan Divine Monarch?

The thought rose in Chen Chuan’s mind, but he quickly extinguished it.

Life and death are natural law; deities, despite their divine power, cannot defy the heavens, lest heavenly punishment descend, obliterating the divine power and leaving them to vanish into dust.

Qinghe and Huangshan, the matter of longevity must either be myths passed around or have other causes.

It likely has nothing to do with the Huangshan Divine Monarch.

Yet...

"Visiting is not a bad idea!"

Chen Chuan smiled, facing Zhou Ce: "As long as Jichang doesn’t mind me, this old fellow, bothering him."

"Brother, you jest!"

...

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the county town, at the Song Mansion.

"Bang!!"

The wine cup fell to the ground, shattering into pieces, as a young man, his eyes red with anger and malice, spat out his hatred.

"Huang Hong, I am irreconcilable with you!"

The young man cursed out loud, his expression twisted with rage, yet having no outlet for it, he grabbed a wine jug, pouring it into his mouth.

But having martial arts skills, after gulping down the jug of strong wine, he merely felt slightly tipsy, far from drunk enough to pass out.

Instead, seeing the wine run out only fueled his anger, causing him to smash the jug on the ground, while yelling outward: "Bring me wine, are you all dead, can’t you hear the master’s words?"

The violent words, when heard outside the room, were met with a delayed response.

The door swung open, and one person walked in, bringing wine and dishes to the table: "Young, young master!"

"Hm?"

The young man glanced over, realizing it was a maid whose expression showed slight fear, further stirring his wrath: "You dirty thing, taking so long, what is it, do you look down on me too?"

With that said, he suddenly got up, delivering a slap that knocked her to the ground.

The maid fell, pain etched on her face, yet dared not speak, only holding back tears, she tried to get up and leave.

But seeing her so weak, the young man’s eyes drifted in fascination: "You have some charm, come, accompany your young master for a few drinks!"

Saying so, he drew her into his embrace.

"Master, no!"

The maid exclaimed in shock, hastily trying to struggle.

"Hm!?"

Seeing this, the young man grew even angrier, landing another slap, then lifting her and tossing her onto the bed.

"Bang!!"

In consequence, she hit the ground, her head colliding with the bed’s edge, blood started to flow.

But half-drunk, the young man remained oblivious, climbing onto the bed.

...

"Ah!!"

The next morning, a scream echoed throughout the Song Mansion.