Chapter 847
Pit 1: Zhongli
“Mundane affairs only disturb one’s mind,” Shen He said subconsciously, a concept instilled in her since childhood.
“Perhaps.” Su Chen did not refute, but said, “But in those ‘trivial matters,’ there is also the warmth of everyday life, the laughter of friends gathering, the tears of family parting, and the hope for the future… These are also the ‘qi’ that truly exists in the world, and are not entirely without value.”
The conversation unfolded uneventfully, often falling silent due to Shen He's inability to understand.
Su Chen did not try to persuade her, but only occasionally, when she showed an instinctive rejection or confusion about certain social customs, he would describe the world down the mountain in the simplest language.
He talked about Hu Tao's strange yet vibrant doggerel, Xing Qiu's dedication to chivalry and poetry, Qi Qi's clumsy journey from ignorance to gradual learning to rely on others, and even the ordinary scent of incense and candles in the Hall of Rebirth and people's solemn attitude towards life and death.
While he was speaking, Shen He mostly listened quietly, expressionless.
But Su Chen noticed that when she heard certain particularly vivid, even somewhat "noisy" details, such as Hu Tao trying to perform acrobatics with fire and ending up burning her hair, a very faint, almost imperceptible glimmer would flash in her icy eyes, like a fish gently swishing its tail beneath a frozen lake.
Their communication was intermittent, with only a few words exchanged every now and then.
Su Chen would help her collect dew with specific scents for cultivation or talismans, and she would point out to him certain stalactites containing pure elements that only immortal disciples could recognize.
There were no formalities, no sentimental gestures, but rather a very simple mutual assistance based on the shared experience of being "here and now."
Su Chen could sense that the icy aloofness surrounding Shen He was being slowly melted away by their mundane conversations and interactions.
She would start asking him very basic, even somewhat "naive" questions as he talked, such as "Why do friends eat together?" and "Do tears have any other meaning besides expressing sadness?"
She still doesn't understand many emotions, but she's beginning to "know" they exist and is trying to "understand" their outlines.
Once, Su Chen mentioned the scene of countless lanterns hanging like an inverted Milky Way during the Liyue Harbor Lantern Festival.
Shen He remained silent for a long time, gazing at the stars gradually appearing on the horizon, and suddenly whispered, "Would many lights... rising into the sky together... be very bright?"
"Yes, it's very bright and warm. People make wishes when they look at those lights, and they miss people far away," Su Chen said.
Shen He did not speak again.
But that night, Su Chen saw her sitting alone on the edge of the cliff, staring at a faint, icy blue radiance of immortal energy gathering in her palm for a long time, as if trying to imitate the warm light she had never seen before.
He didn't know how much time had passed in this secret realm, but the flow of time remained strange. Su Chen's perception of his own time fluctuated slightly again, a signal that he was about to be "pulled back".
He did not say goodbye, because he did not know how to explain this sudden disappearance.
Only on the last occasion, when Shin Hak asked again what the difference was between "festivals" and "ordinary days," he described in as much detail as possible the preparations and celebrations, and finally said, "Perhaps you can go and see for yourself."
Shen He looked at him and slowly nodded. Although his eyes remained calm, the degree of his nod seemed more solemn than any of his previous responses.
Then, one morning, Su Chen disappeared without warning, just as he had arrived.
Without a trace, without a word, like a wisp of mist blown away by the mountain wind.
Shen He stood on the lonely cliff where they used to stand side by side, looking at the spot where Su Chen had stood yesterday, now empty.
At first, she just felt something was "abnormal," like a tree or a familiar stone was missing.
But as time went by, with the rising and setting of the sun and moon, the feeling of emptiness not only did not lessen, but instead spread out in wisps, like ink dripping into still water.
She continued her spiritual practice, collecting dew and quietly observing the sea of clouds.
But the sea of clouds seemed less pure than before, always reminding her of those words about "taking root" and "warm lights".
The sound of the wind also became more desolate, lacking the occasional echo of that calm voice.
She felt a strange, stagnant emotion build up in her chest; it wasn't intense, but she couldn't ignore it.
It wasn't the frustration of being hindered in cultivation, nor the vigilance against demons, but rather a kind of... void.
She belatedly realized that the "stray" named Su Chen, the ordinary person who spoke in a calm tone but always brought with him the air of "trivial matters" from outside the mountains, had unknowingly left a faint but indelible mark on this absolutely tranquil scene.
His disappearance not only took away the descriptions of the mortal world, but also a sense of "companionship".
She began to look more frequently in the direction below the mountain, obscured by clouds and mist.
The thought of "going to see for myself" in my mind was like a stone thrown into the center of a lake, and the ripples kept expanding.
The desire to "understand" the world beyond the mountains and the impulse to "find" that particular figure quietly mixed together and eventually solidified into a clear decision.
She wanted to go down the mountain.
She was looking for him.
She wanted to ask him why he had suddenly left.
When Su Chen once again felt the familiar touch of the pillars and smelled the unique incense and candle scent of the Hall of Rebirth, he knew he had returned.
The disorientation of time made him slightly dizzy. He steadied himself by leaning against a pillar, his mind still lingering on the cold air of Jueyun and the impression of Shen He's icy eyes.
Before he could sort out his thoughts and return to his "guest of the Hall of Rebirth" state, a somewhat surprised greeting came from the front courtyard.
Immediately afterwards, a figure walked steadily, yet with an ethereal air that seemed out of place with its surroundings, through the moon gate and headed straight for the backyard.
Dressed in white, with silver hair flowing like a waterfall, her eyes remained clear and calm, yet seemed to hold an extra, faint glimmer of light, a light called "goal," compared to when she was on the mountain.
It was Shen He.
She walked up to Su Chen, who had just regained his footing, and stopped.
Her gaze lingered on his face for a moment, as if confirming something, before she spoke in her unique, clear voice.
“I’ve come down the mountain.” He paused, then added, “to find you.”
Her arrival was completely unexpected, yet it seemed perfectly natural.
The mountain mists seemed to still linger around her clothes and hair, but she was indeed standing in this Hall of Rebirth, a place filled with the warmth of human life and the intertwining of life and death, standing before Su Chen.
Su Chen was speechless as he looked at the immortal disciples who had returned, or rather, who had followed the trail back to him.
The vortex of time carried him to her desolate world, leaving ripples in his wake.
And now, those ripples have led her back to his earthly anchorage.
He suddenly realized that his uncontrollable ability might not just be aimless drifting.
It is quietly connecting those special "points" scattered in the corners of time and space in a way that he does not yet fully understand.
Shen He's arrival was like adding a clear, cool ice crystal to the already unique "soup" of the Hall of Rebirth.
She was taciturn and carried an air of mountain mist in her demeanor. She knew nothing about the affairs of the hall, but because she was Su Chen's "old acquaintance," Hu Tao unilaterally recognized her and accepted her without hesitation.
Hu Tao enthusiastically tried to get her involved in "boosting popularity" and poetry appreciation, while Xing Qiu was quite interested in the ethereal, otherworldly aura she exuded, as if she stepped out of ancient texts. She often asked Shen He questions with poetic allusions, receiving unvarnished, to-the-point, and sometimes even overly direct, brief answers, creating scenes that were often subtle yet amusing. Hu Tao was happy to see the Rebirth Hall become more lively.
Su Chen's life continues with observation and limited participation.
The ripples of time will still come unexpectedly, but they seem to be decreasing in frequency, or perhaps he is more accustomed to that subtle "slippage".
In this gradually returning to normalcy, he met a distinguished new guest of the Hall of Rebirth.
Zhongli.
This gentleman is learned and eloquent, possessing profound knowledge of Liyue's history, epigraphy, opera, and fine tea. He appears to be a free spirit, yet his demeanor exudes a calm and insightful composure that has been refined over millennia.
He was hired as a guest advisor, responsible for consulting on the rituals of the funeral hall and for determining certain ancient contracts. His salary requirements were peculiar, often involving the most exotic antiques or the rarest teas, but he cared nothing for Mora himself.
The moment Su Chen saw Zhong Li, he understood.
It wasn't just a simple realization; it was more like a confirmation that transcended dimensions and carried a sense of absurdity.
The Rock King Emperor, Morax, now known as Mr. Zhongli, who "wanders the mortal world".
He remained outwardly composed, treating everyone with the same politeness and distance he showed to his colleagues.
Zhong Li, however, developed an interest in investigating Su Chen.
This taciturn, incredibly strong, and mysterious guest possessed a peculiar aura. It wasn't an oppressive feeling based on physical strength.
Su Chen deliberately restrained himself.
Rather, it's a kind of... "detached stability." It's as if he's standing here, yet a part of him seems to exist elsewhere.
He observed everything, but his eyes would occasionally flash a distant look that was unrelated to the present moment.
Zhongli has thousands of years of experience and knows countless people, including immortals, demons, humans, and ghosts, but he has never encountered someone like Su Chen.
Neither immortal nor demon, he possessed no strong elemental fluctuations, only a restrained, enigmatic energy, and was no ordinary martial artist.
He is like a stone thrown into the river of time, the ripples he creates subtly out of sync with the flow of the river.
Their initial interactions mostly took place during breaks in their duties or while sharing a pot of fresh tea.
Zhongli will use discussions about the ancient history of Liyue, the symbolic meaning of patterns on unearthed artifacts, and even the origin of a certain gesture in a funeral ceremony as a starting point, subtly probing Su Chen's background and origins with witty remarks.
Su Chen, on the other hand, remained as steady as a rock.
He knew the answer, but never revealed it.
When discussing history, he talks more about "possibilities" and "the changing perspectives of ordinary people," occasionally offering one or two unique insights that even Zhong Li finds slightly surprising.
Regarding the patterns on artifacts, he can combine some rudimentary design principles or semiotic knowledge from his previous life to offer new interpretations that differ from traditional textual research. While these interpretations may not be precise, they are nonetheless quite interesting.
As for ancient funeral rites, he respects tradition, but also offers simple perspectives from the practical angles of "comforting the living" and "transmitting emotions," which subtly contrasts with Zhongli's meticulous study of the origins of "contracts and rituals."
Having lived through the information explosion era, I'm theoretically on par with anyone discussing these things.
Zhong Li found this person increasingly interesting. He couldn't see through Su Chen's background; the sense of temporal dislocation was like trying to see flowers through a fog.
However, Su Chen's words contained no malice. He maintained a peaceful and even slightly appreciative attitude towards Li Yue, Wang Sheng Tang, and even towards him, "Mr. Zhong Li." He acted with moderation, without overstepping boundaries or seeking personal gain.
Like a detached, benevolent... mystery.
Zhongli eventually put aside his curiosity and returned to another interesting incident he encountered during his "leisurely wanderings in the mortal world".
As long as it doesn't interfere with the contract and the overall situation of Liyue, it would be a pleasure to keep such an interesting character in the Hall of Rebirth and have occasional conversations with him.
He may be extraordinary, but as long as he doesn't do anything rebellious, it's fine.
Unbeknownst to Zhong Li, Su Chen was secretly delighted.
Pretending to be ignorant when you know the truth, and looking at a deity, even if he is retired.
The experience of trying to understand oneself while maintaining a graceful demeanor is truly unique.
He was like an audience member who had received the script, appreciating the actors' superb improvisational skills on stage, which were tinged with a bit of doubt.
He wasn't in a hurry; he had plenty of time and patience to savor this unique "encounter."
This is the pinnacle of strategic combat.
Zhongli.
He decided to trick Zhongli and have some fun.
In the midst of this leisurely game of chess, the fluctuations of time struck once again.
This time, Su Chen found himself standing on a clean street near the Liyue Harbor General Affairs Department. The streetlights were just coming on, and it was the time when office staff were leaving work.
A girl with purple pigtails, a lithe figure, and sharp eyes was carrying a stack of files taller than herself. She walked hurriedly out of the government office gate, her face showing obvious fatigue, but she still pursed her lips and had a stubborn look in her eyes.
Qingqing.
At this moment, Yuheng, one of the seven stars of Liyue, still seems like an exceptionally young "little girl" who grits her teeth and shoulders all the heavy burdens.
Su Chen didn't want to get involved, but seeing the shadow cast by the lamplight, sometimes long and sometimes short, and her stubbornness on the road of reform, stirred something in his heart.
I have this strange feeling that I'm going to have to raise a child again.
Just as Ke Qing nearly tripped on the roadside stone steps because the case files were too tall and obstructed her view, Su Chen happened to step forward and catch the top stack of files that was about to slip.
"Be careful."
Ke Qing was startled and looked up sharply. Her wary gaze softened slightly when she saw Su Chen's calm and expressionless face.
"Thank you," she said briefly, trying to hold the file firmly again, her movements somewhat clumsy.
"Do you need help? It looks like it's quite heavy," Su Chen asked.
"No need, I can manage on my own." Ke Qing refused quickly, as was her usual style.
But perhaps Su Chen's tone was too ordinary, without flattery or pity, or perhaps the stack of files was really in the way, she paused, but still pointed in a direction.
"It's just that moving it to the archives over there... is a bit of a nuisance."
"Okay." (End of Chapter)