Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 309 - 200 Wandering in Red Dust_2

Chapter 309: Chapter 200 Wandering in Red Dust_2

After a satisfying meal, Gu Wen asked, "Master, what should we do next?"

Without hesitation, Qingcang replied, "We’ll go and watch the street performances. I remember that back in my day, the tricks used by mortals were often just deceptions and conjuring spirits to dupe others. Now, it seems that the charlatans still exist, but they’ve managed not to harm anyone. The changes over the years are indeed wondrous."

Then, as if something else occurred to her, she murmured to herself:

"There are also those carvings made from broken stone that look quite valuable. Here, a bowl of rice costs ten coins, a thousand coins for an ounce of silver, yet such a piece of stone can cost dozens of ounces."

"Why is that?"

Naturally, Gu Wen knew what she was referring to by ’broken stone’, and he answered, "The price of an item is assigned by people. If a significant number of people consider it valuable, then even a worthless stone can be worth a fortune."

"Just as the benevolence I have decreed."

Qingcang’s face displayed contemplation, and then she nodded as if she had an epiphany.

She was constantly understanding and learning about this era. Her divine thought could instantly envelop the entire Luodu, her thoughts could read a hundred thousand characters in one-hundredth of a second and commit them to writing.

On the less than ten-thousand-step journey from the ferry port to the West Market, she had already completely grasped the society of three thousand years later.

But understanding is not the same as comprehending, and comprehending is not the same as resolving problems.

At that moment, Gu Wen realized he had been sidetracked and posed the question again, "What I meant is, what should we do next? Should we just go and kill the Lord Emperor?"

"We could, even right now."

Qingcang’s tone was indifferent, as if it were a trivial matter.

"At this very moment, I could crush him to death from thousands of miles away. But what if you are not around in the future?"

"How long can you exist?"

"For ten billion years."

This unexpected answer surprised Gu Wen, who had been rather serious and somber. He looked up with his mouth slightly agape, "Ah?"

His mentor’s lips curled into a smile, and her eyes flirted with mischief. Gu Wen realized and felt somewhat helpless.

"I’m being serious. Stop teasing me."

If there really were ten billion years, he might as well just lie down.

It was unclear whether Qingcang had influenced Yu Hua or Yu Hua had influenced Qingcang, but both of them had similar temperaments, enjoying a good tease.

"I’m not lying to you. If I were to sever myself and traverse the Void, I could live for ten billion years."

Qingcang shook her head slightly, the smile on her face undiminished, and said, "You should take good care of your master. Otherwise, if I’m not satisfied, I might just run away. Come, let’s go buy a sugar figurine."

Afterward, Qingcang pulled Gu Wen back into the bustling market.

Just as the previous cultivator battles had not affected the common folks of Luodu, neither had the Nanchun Army. No matter how the world changes, as long as there is food to eat, people prefer to maintain the status quo.

The fall of Daqian was because the people had nothing to eat.

Qingcang approached an old man’s stall and said, "Child, make me a sugar figurine in the shape of a large tree."

The old man was taken aback by Qingcang’s youthful and radiant visage, but Gu Wen set down a silver ingot on the stall, and the old man silently closed his mouth.

With money in hand, calling him ’father’ would do.

Soon after, Qingcang got the sugar figurine she desired, put it into her mouth, and chewed as they walked. "Let’s go watch an opera."

A stick of incense later, the two were seated in the gallery, watching the actors on stage perform.

Quickly, Gu Wen realized something was amiss. The stage featured rustic and lightly ribald songs fit for the common folk, and sometimes even private performances for high officials and nobles.

They could truly be appreciated by both refined and common tastes.

But was it really appropriate to bring his mentor to this place?

Glancing sideways, he saw Qingcang watching intently, unflustered.

She touched her chin and whispered, "It seems people are fond of coveting others’ spouses... stolen affections... Hmm, it’s human nature, guiltless on the stage, but could it lead to bad social trends?"

"But the people have so few pleasures; one cannot deprive them of what they enjoy. Excessively strict rules, what’s the difference from the hierarchy within Jianmu Cave Heaven?"

I’m overthinking; my mentor looks naive, but she’s a giant at heart, able to see further than anyone else.

With that thought in mind, Gu Wen could only hear the audience cheer. Qingcang tugged at his sleeve and said, "Disciple, give a tip."

"..."

An ingot thrown onto the stage instantly drew the attention of the entire gallery in this little nook of the marketplace.

Gu Wen quickly pulled Qingcang away as they left, heading from one bustling scene to the next, witnessing the world’s splendor.

In the end, Qingcang settled by the riverside as the sun set, half-submerged into the river, its red glow reflected on her face, which seemed to grasp all the world’s truths in that peaceful gaze.

Then, in a flicker, only softness and grace remained.

Gu Wen looked solemn, with a cloud of shadows in his eyes and his brows slightly furrowed.

"Always looking so worried will chase away Qi Fortune."

Qingcang lifted her hand and brushed her thumb across Gu Wen’s brows, as if smoothing them out, dispelling the gloom.

For the third time, Gu Wen asked, "Master, I want to know what we should do next, what do I need to do?"

"You don’t need to do anything, I only hope you do what you wish to do."

Qingcang shook her head again, her expectations for Gu Wen having never changed from the beginning.

Fleeing brings boundless benefit.

Gu Wen might be her only disciple, but that didn’t mean a world of responsibility, nor did it mean Gu Wen had to act in any certain way.

"I hope you become an Immortal, transcendent, freely roaming the heavens and earth. When you feel cold, you can soar ten million feet into the air, dive into the True Sun Fire of the heavens for a swim. When hot, you can enter Taiyin, residing within the cool expanses. And when you seek peace, you can find a desert and count every grain of sand."