Chapter 85#
Heart Lotus#
The environment of the snowfields was harsh, and the deeper one went, the more difficult it became to endure.
Before completely leaving human habitation, Zhu Anning tied his horse outside an inn in a small town, touched its mane, and then turned to head into the ice and snow by himself.
The horse was a top-quality spiritual horse, but even it would find it difficult to withstand the frost and snow of the snowfields.
Taking only his sword was enough.
Zhu Anning walked steadily, without a single trace of hesitation even knowing the dangers ahead.
The Qiansi Lotus was something his elder brother wanted, and he would surely brave ten thousand deaths for it.
Whatever his brother wanted, no matter the price, he would surely find it for him.
The Qiansi Lotus was within the Ice Lake.
Zhu Anning had been to the Ice Lake before; this was his second time. The last time, he had been thrown into the freezing lake water by Li Guanghan to temper his spiritual veins, trembling with pain as if his soul were being torn apart, but Zhu Anning felt that was his deserved retribution.
Just as he had told the caravan leader, he was merely seeking atonement.
To reach the Ice Lake quickly, Zhu Anning operated his spiritual power, traveling day and night without delay. With his current cultivation, the environment here was still difficult to bear. As he stepped through the snow, the wind cut across his face like ten thousand sharp blades and ice knives, slowly flaying him.
However, his expression did not change; he walked forward step by step, never looking back.
When the wind blew too painfully, Zhu Anning shifted his attention and began to think of his brother and the things he had seen along the way.
Following Yin Yuheng’s orders this time to find the Qiansi Lotus, Zhu Anning had traveled from Chaoge to the snowfields, witnessing many things and gaining many different realizations from before.
He saw the prosperity and flourishing of various parts of the Li Dynasty.
He saw cultivation secrets and all kinds of books being sold in high demand everywhere.
He saw children from poor families on their way to school; he saw the barriers held by powerful families collapsing; he saw vigor and the blossoming of all things; he saw the people happy and the country rising.
Zhu Anning walked and observed, accidentally saving the merchant caravan from danger and being gratefully called a young hero or young master. Zhu Anning didn’t show it on the surface, but internally he felt a bit embarrassed.
Could a person like him also be thanked? Was he worthy of praise?
It was also at that moment that Zhu Anning suddenly had a flash of realization, an awakening that made him shudder.
He reviewed his past and once again felt it was laughable.
This wasn’t the first time he had reflected on himself; since that rainy day, he had been living in the abyss of remorse. But this time, he understood some things that he hadn’t seen through before.
Despicable, cowardly, dark—no wonder his brother was disappointed in him.
He had been repenting and wanting to make amends, but in fact, he had never truly understood what his brother wanted him to realize.
He had been deceived, treating his brother as an enemy and harming him. After learning his brother was his benefactor, he had suddenly realized the truth and felt remorse for his past actions.
But if his brother weren’t his benefactor, would he have been justified in harming him?
Could he, under the banner of revenge, ignore discernment and investigation, and deceive and toy with others?
He regretted harming his brother, but if the person he had harmed weren’t his brother, could he have felt a bit more at ease?
If his brother changed his appearance again and he didn’t recognize him, would he repeat today’s mistakes?
A young hero should have a noble spirit, being unashamed before heaven and earth and his own heart; yet he had been scheming and unable to distinguish right from wrong. Even though his brother had pulled him out of the mire of his childhood, he hadn’t achieved the nobility his brother had hoped for, only learning to self-pity and be selfish.
He always wanted attention from the other without thinking of repayment; even after learning his brother was his benefactor, he hadn’t returned from his wandering in time, still harboring thoughts of luck.
Later, knowing his mistakes, he began to act wildly and foolishly, making others laugh. But if he had been upright in character, even if deceived, he wouldn’t have reached this point with his brother.
He always fantasized about being able to repay his crimes; but his crimes were something even death could not fully repay.
Why should his brother forgive him? Why did he deserve forgiveness? Even if he returned his spiritual veins to his brother, could it cancel out his brother’s pain back then? What good did his remorse and madness do for his brother?
In fact, his brother had already been very good to him… even after so many things, there was still a trace of pity for him.
In the end, his brother had given him one last kindness.
His brother had sent him to find the Qiansi Lotus—actually, his brother had so many subordinates, or the Demon Emperor Lu Yan could have taken a trip, and it wouldn’t have taken long. Why did he have to be the one?
His brother even gave him a sword as a gift, asking him how long it had been since he had practiced.
His brother had sent him on purpose.
Zhu Anning’s world in his youth was only a tiny piece of a dungeon; later when he came to Chaoge, he was actually only confined within the small National Preceptor’s Manor.
This was Zhu Anning’s first time truly walking in the human world—seeing the world, meeting all living beings; doing good deeds, reaping good results; clarifying his character, realizing his destiny.
Using his current eyes to examine his past self was like looking at a stranger.
Traveling in the flesh-cutting, bone-piercing wind and snow, Zhu Anning felt his heart growing quieter.
He finally reached the ice spring and saw his own reflection in the mirror-like lake.
The silver bracelet on his wrist was a shame left by his wrongdoings. The silver sword at his waist was a gift from his brother, a final guidance for his path ahead.
Greed, anger, ignorance, and hatred harm oneself and others. With today’s realization, he finally knew his own heart.
Standing in the midst of thousands of snowflakes, Zhu Anning quietly looked at the lake surface and his reflection upon it.
After a long time, he opened his arms and fell forward into the lake. To obtain the Qiansi Lotus at the bottom of the lake, one must endure the pain of having one’s soul frozen, but Zhu Anning felt no fear.
He was fetching the lotus for his brother, but also fetching his own “heart lotus.”
Zhu Anning sank downward, the freezing lake water enveloping him. The wind and snow rose again on the snowfields, and the lake water surged with waves. But there was no sound beneath the water; everything was very calm. He went all the way down, finally touching that glowing, budding lotus flower at the bottom of the lake.
He found the lotus, and he also found his own path.
The past events were like a great dream;
Looking back suddenly, he realized that what he is today is right, while what he was yesterday was wrong.
As the twilight gathered in Chaoge, Yin Yuheng sat in the palace garden. He examined the object in his palm emitting a faint white glow, gently rubbing it.
This was the Kunlun Mirror fragment Lu Yan had brought back. Yin Yuheng had studied it for a long while, but it seemed to have no special features.
Perhaps these fragments needed to be assembled into a complete Kunlun Mirror for it to work?
Yin Yuheng wanted to say something and pursed his lips, but he touched a wound on his lip and hissed softly. He glared at Lu Yan, only to find Lu Yan staring at him without blinking.
Yin Yuheng: …
It was as if he were afraid he would run away. Yin Yuheng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
At this moment, Yin Yuheng seemed to sense something and suddenly frowned slightly.
Xiao Bai’s surprised voice also rang in his sea of consciousness: “Brother Heng, has there been another change in the heavenly secrets?”
At the same time, Lu Yan also sensed something and looked up at the sky.
Indeed, there was an oscillation in the heavenly secrets and a transformation in the country’s fortune.
Yin Yuheng pondered for a moment, then his brow gradually relaxed, and a faint smile appeared on his face.
It seemed that someone else had broken free from the shackles of the “Heavenly Dao” and found their own Daoist heart.