Chapter 814: Chapter 489: By the Pool, a Purple-Clad Figure; Beneath the Pool, a Flood Dragon
The vast wilderness beneath the mountain is boundless.
As far as the eye can see, there are thousands of lights from the encampment.
At this moment, deep into the night, most of the lights have gone out.
The few tents that still have lights left appear as scattered stars fallen from the sky onto the wilderness below Sacrificial Moon Mountain tonight.
Between the camps, there’s the crackling sound of burning wood, the clashing of armor from patrolling soldiers, and a faint, distant sound of a gourd flute breaking the silence of the wilderness that has been quiet for thousands of years.
In the southwest corner of the encampment, inside a large tent.
At this moment, a long figure is sitting still, with a lamp before him, dimly lighting the tent.
The silhouette of this young Confucian Scholar is reflected onto the felt wall at the back.
His thin face appears focused and resolute in the candlelight.
At this moment, he’s staring at the lamp, not speaking.
His eyes do not blink, as if… lost in thought.
“I say, Gui, do we really need to make it this eerie?”
At a moment, the young scholar couldn’t help but complain.
“Oh, Young Master Zhao feels lonely, well then, call Zhao Qian’er and Su Qingdai over to cultivate together. For Young Master Zhao, isn’t it just a matter of waving your hand to have them happily come close?”
As per usual, the Sword Spirit sincerely praised Zhao Rong, then sighed and said:
“Ah, but tonight, there is no desk here, Young Master Zhao can’t fully utilize his strengths and give them lessons.”
Saying this, Gui’s tone was very regretful.
“Cough cough, stop talking nonsense, let’s make the best of the time, we’ve managed to persuade Qian’er to sleep with Qingdai tonight.”
Zhao Rong coughed a few times, staring at the lamp in front of him, seriously speaking.
Gui mercilessly exposed, “Are they really asleep? If you don’t listen to me and keep the lamp too bright, those two little girls will probably sneak in again to test Young Mister Zhao’s profound knowledge.”
The young scholar’s face softened, he took a light breath.
Utilize strengths? Profound knowledge?
Ugh, why does it feel like Gui is becoming more and more indecent… or is it that I’m indecent, being overly sensitive… he thought a bit guiltily.
“Alright, let it be eerie then, let’s quickly start cultivating.”
Zhao Rong composed himself, urging in the Heart Lake.
“Don’t rush, first go make sure the door is closed tight, don’t let them sneak in.”
Gui still worriedly said.
Zhao Rong’s old face reddened slightly, he got up and checked the door again, almost putting up a sign that says “No entry for Qian’er and Qingdai.”
He returned and sat upright and solemn.
“Gui, I’ve already done as you said, achieved enlightenment, can you now teach me that mysterious Outer Realm Skill?”
Gui didn’t answer Zhao Rong’s request, but directly said: “Where is the Zhengguan Well Water you brought? Take it out first.”
Zhao Rong slightly frowned, took three bamboo slips from his sleeve, and placed them in front of him in order.
The Sword Spirit quieted for a moment, then suddenly laughed: “Ha, you came to me seeking this Outer Realm Skill, but haven’t you already seen it?”
“I’ve seen it? Where is it?”
Zhao Rong gripped his sleeve, glancing around the dark chamber.
The Sword Spirit calmly said: “It’s in your Heart Lake.”
Zhao Rong was momentarily stunned.
Gui’s voice suddenly sounded beside his ear.
He obeyed and closed his eyes.
In the next second, windless within the tent, the flame of the lamp in front of the young scholar abruptly extinguished.
A blanket of darkness.
Silence in the dark chamber.
Eyes closed, Zhao Rong felt a rotation; despite having not opened his eyes, his sense of surroundings seemed to have turned upside down.
Confused yet silent, he did not disturb the Sword Spirit for the moment.
A quiet wait later, Gui’s voice leisurely came through.
“Still closing your eyes? Open them.”
At this moment, Zhao Rong suddenly froze, forgetting to retort, because with closed eyes, he felt as though standing on something soft, like… grass?
And by his ear, apart from the voice of the Sword Spirit, he heard clear birdsong of larks.
From afar seemed to faintly come the laughter of children and the sonorous sound of reading…
Zhao Rong also felt the breeze brush his face and smelled delightful floral fragrance.
The young scholar quietly lifted his eyelids, upon opening his eyes, he was greeted with a scene resembling a utopian paradise.
He was standing amidst grass and flowers.
Above was a clear sky.
Underfoot was green grass.
Before his eyes was bright spring light.
A gentle, refreshing breeze blew, ruffling Zhao Rong’s white Confucian robe and the dark hair at his temples.
Floral fragrance warm, earth tender, sunshine kind.
Like a perfect April day on earth.
“This… where is this?”
Zhao Rong dazedly began to look around.
Not far away seemed to be a vast Ping Lake, and the lakeside grassland he was on was also expansive.
“This is the Heart Lake within your brow chakra.”
Gui paused, then explained further.
“Well, actually, the scenes within the Heart Lake constantly change, but I used a little spell to give it form, making it visible for you. You could regard these scenes as true projections of certain memories or thoughts deep within your Heart Lake.”
Zhao Rong turned his gaze toward the direction where the children’s laughter was coming.
Under a tree over there was an echoing swing, some familiar small backs, and their familiar childish voices…
“Memory projection, huh…”
Gui’s voice came again, “Hmm, interpret it however you like, you can consider it a dreaming state as well. Just be conscious that these are illusions, do not attempt to understand or pursue them too deeply, or you’ll easily fall into delusion and doubt.”