Heaven-Defying Rebel Sage
Chapter 197 - 190: Hard to Stay Indifferent When the Heart is Preoccupied

Chapter 197: Chapter 190: Hard to Stay Indifferent When the Heart is Preoccupied

Ten years pass in a blink of an eye. To outsiders, a decade might seem long, but for cultivators, it is merely a moment gone by, hardly noticed with a mere closing and opening of eyes, perhaps even surpassing ten years.

However, people now would rather a decade felt as long as a millennium, since it heralds the calamity of Yuan, like a terrifying nightmare lying in wait over those 129,600 years.

Wukong had been in Reincarnation for ten years, experiencing a reincarnation each day, which means, considering leap years, he had lived through three thousand six hundred fifty-two cycles, lived three thousand six hundred fifty-two lives. What a fearsome number is that? And in each life, he was conscious, enduring severe mental struggle, spending each day in ceaseless searching. If it were an ordinary person, they would have likely given up long ago.

For someone with even slightly less mental strength, they might have already collapsed, either surrendering to escape Reincarnation early or during a desperate moment lost their true self, endlessly cycling through Reincarnation. Fortunately, Wukong’s determination to retrieve Xuan Ming’s heart was strong enough. In these ten years, across three thousand six hundred fifty-two lives, he had found four other True Spirits of Xuan Ming, successfully awakening them, with only the last one remaining.

"Come out, I have unified five True Spirits already, I can control this final True Spirit myself," the sky revealed a six-colored great wheel, from which Xuan Ming slowly emerged.

Wukong gazed at her for a long time, then suddenly smiled, "Really won’t let me finish this task?"

Over these ten years, he had felt weary, but had never considered giving up; his heart was indeed too tired, tormented every day.

Xuan Ming sighed, "You have been through three thousand six hundred fifty-two lifetimes, a full ten years! You have already done enough, I have seen it. I will not trouble you with this last True Spirit, else it will waste another two years of yours."

Wukong responded, "Spending another two years for you is worth it."

Xuan Ming smiled, "No need. I will summon that True Spirit, and all will be accomplished."

Wukong nodded, Xuan Ming flicked her finger, and from that six-colored great wheel, a True Spirit emerged, which Xuan Ming inhaled into herself, becoming one.

After merging this True Spirit, Xuan Ming said, "Get out quickly. I want to merge this Reincarnation World with myself. By doing this, my mana will greatly increase, and no one else will be able to use the Reincarnation World to manipulate me."

After hearing this, Wukong was slightly shocked, staring into Xuan Ming’s eyes, then suddenly laughed.

Xuan Ming asked, "Why are you laughing?"

Wukong replied, "I’m not laughing at anything; I just suddenly feel a bit reluctant."

Xuan Ming also seemed slightly stunned, then after a moment softly said, "Yes."

Suddenly, Wukong grabbed Xuan Ming’s hand and flew toward the six-colored great wheel. Xuan Ming didn’t ask what he intended to do, as she understood that they had reached a tacit understanding beyond words. Wukong wanted to experience another reincarnation, to perfect these ten years and to prevent any future regrets.

This cycle of reincarnation, devoid of any purpose, was solely to savor the life of an ordinary person.

In this life, they married and, carrying a painter’s board, traversed the entirety of Jiangnan, creating beautiful scroll after beautiful scroll.

"In fact, just thinking about a simple and uneventful life is not easy," Wukong put down his brush and sighed softly.

"Yes, not easy!" Xuan Ming said softly.

Wukong laughed, "Where there are people, there are conflicts. I am merely a painter, but still, I got embroiled in royal intrigues."

Because in this life Wukong was a painter, highly skilled and widely renowned, a prince sought him out to paint a picture of a python transforming into a dragon. As a result, he stirred up trouble; the Emperor learned of this and was displeased, beginning to scrutinize the prince, planning to exile him for treason. As for the painter, naturally, he was also to be executed!

"Where there are people, there are conflicts. When you try to avoid trouble, trouble often finds you. Wouldn’t you say?" Wukong couldn’t help but laugh.

Xuan Ming replied, "Living among conflicts also has its pleasures."

Wukong laughed, "I suddenly realize?"

Xuan Ming asked, "What have you realized?"

Wukong responded, "Since I’m already entrenched in these conflicts, why should I seek a mundane, placid life? As the Victorious Fighting Buddha, my life has been one of constant battle. By doing this, I’m actually betraying my true nature. I have long been accustomed to a life filled with conflict."

Xuan Ming recalled his words, "The path of true nature lies in one’s heart, a single thought amiss could lead to a great error." Often, people might misunderstand their own true nature inadvertently, resulting in significant deviations.

Xuan Ming nodded slightly; these laid-back days, although tranquil, always felt like something was missing. Prompted by Wukong, she realized that for thousands of years, she had lived amidst blood and fire, each day tightly packed, cultivating strenuously for power, and battling others for fate... Such a drastic change left her quite unaccustomed.

"What if one day, there is nobody left to fight or battle with you, what will you do?" Xuan Ming asked.

"At that time, my vision of a republic under Heaven, where everyone is equal, would have been realized! At that time, everything would naturally settle down and we could live a quiet and plain life, truly enjoying ourselves," Wukong said.

"Without days filled with fighting and killing, will you be accustomed to it?" Xuan Ming asked further.

"In the Mortal World, one can’t help but follow its ways. One must learn to adapt, don’t you think? I believe that by then, we would also be willing to live such a mundane life." Wukong pulled Xuan Ming to sit in front of a bronze mirror and picked up a comb to start combing her hair.

Zuan Ming, looking at the reflection in the mirror, softly said, "Perhaps it will be so. I hope so, too."

Suddenly, soldiers came to their residence to seize someone.

With a flick of his fingers, Wukong made a golden light flash, and a great Buddha materialized, standing behind him. The sight made the group of soldiers tremble with fear, prostrating themselves repeatedly on the ground.

Wukong spoke indifferently, "You may leave now, and tell your Emperor that I am the Victorious Fighting Buddha from the Western Direction, here only to cultivate in this world. Do not come to disturb me again, or else, if you anger me, be wary for the world might change hands."

After the soldiers left, Wukong finally sighed leisurely.

Walking up to Xuan Ming’s side, Wukong said, "I finally understand why deities always have this feeling of being above it all, because with a single word, they can make mortals terrified to death. To achieve a republic under Heaven where all beings are equal, how difficult is it? We will need to push forward a ruler of the Three Realms to manage it, but oppression always accompanies power... Once a person has significant power, their mindset changes naturally."

Xuan Ming carefully calculated and suddenly laughed, "Wasn’t First Emperor Ying Zheng governing the world with Legalist principles quite well? At that time, everyone called Qin’s rule tyrannical, but I don’t think so. The burning of books and burying of Confucian scholars by First Emperor was to manage the poison of Confucianism, which kept the masses ignorant and thus devoid of rebellious intentions. Alas, his great undertaking was not yet unified when he provoked the displeasure of the deities and scuttled away into his tomb, and his successor Hu Hai truly was an incompetent, using corrupt officials, which led to the destruction of the great Qin lands in no time."

"By not prizing talents, you keep the populace from strife; by not valuing goods hard to obtain, you keep them from becoming thieves; by not showing them gains, you keep their hearts from becoming chaotic. Laozi in ’Tao Te Ching’ expounded the true principles of governing a nation, yet such actions deviate from the original intent. Completely forgetting one’s passions as a Saint or the Supreme is an act against one’s nature."

"My path, which values the original nature, also emphasizes a republic under Heaven where all beings are equal... Thus, I can only do my best to maintain balance," Wukong commented.

Xuan Ming smiled and said, "Let’s let First Emperor take control of the Three Realms and be respected as the lord of myriad heavens, but we must establish a strict set of laws. Govern the realm with Legalist principles so that both Son of Heaven and commoners are equal under the law, achieving the public fairness of Ancient Times. During Ancient Times, Sage Kings ruled every state, humble and loving towards their people as if they were their own children, truly achieving equality among all beings."

Wukong sighed, "The lord of myriad heavens would hold the greatest authority in this realm. Should someone oversee him, he will surely harbor different thoughts, and then a counter-revolution would be inevitable. The human heart is unpredictable, always changing silently."

Xuan Ming suggested, "Then we should establish a cabinet system and build a cabinet, selecting sages from Ancient Times to serve in it."

"Good idea. Establishing a cabinet to check the power of the lord of myriad heavens, with sages like Confucius, Han Fei, Mozi, and others serving as cabinet officials. Although their thoughts differ, they are all people who bear the world in mind, dedicated to the people’s welfare. However, strict laws must inevitably be established, so that people of the realm can rely on law, with laws that must be followed," Wukong responded.

As the two of them spoke, they seemed to have reached a consensus that overthrowing the rule of the Jade Emperor was inevitable.

Xuan Ming, stamping her foot in annoyance, chastised, "Who was it who wanted to live a plain life for a lifetime? Now we’re discussing our own revolutionary cause again."

Her beauty was stunning, suited for joy and annoyance, making one exclaim upon a mere glance that such a woman could only belong in heaven, rarely seen in the mortal world.

Wukong touched his nose and said, "If you hadn’t picked up on my words, but had instead cut me off directly with that previous remark, I wouldn’t have continued speaking. What you’re talking about is a debate; how can a clap sound with only one hand?"

After speaking, he stepped forward, took Xuan Ming’s hand, and said, "Let’s go."

Xuan Ming asked, "Where to?"

Wukong smiled and said, "Let’s go out."

Xuan Ming queried further, "Didn’t you say we were to finish this lifetime?"

Wukong replied, "Since I have realized that I still have attachments and cannot live such a mundane life, continuing in this way would also be uncomfortable, going against my true nature. Once we have settled all our concerns, what joy would there be to then live such a life?"

Xuan Ming nodded and said, "Well said."

Suddenly, Wukong turned around, opened his arms, and embraced her, whispering softly, "I’m sorry."

Xuan Ming softly replied, "It’s okay."

Xuan Ming flicked her finger, and a six-colored great wheel appeared in the sky. She said, "You go first. I’ll merge with this Reincarnation World first."

To find out what happens next, please tune in to the next installment. (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to qidian.com to vote recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read on m.qidian.com.)