Nightfall

Chapter 352: Red Walls and White Snow, What A Lovely Scene

Translator: Transn Editor: Transn

Night completely enveloped Changʼan. In the darkness, white snow was dancing slowly in the dim light suffused by the lamps in the turrets of the imperial city. It was a very beautiful scene under the backdrop of the red wall of the palace.

Being the most remote part of the moat, this area was enveloped in a quiet atmosphere. Even when the snow fell into the river, it would just disappear peacefully without making any sound. The two were walking at this moment and the sound of them treading on the fluffy snow was very clear against the silent environment.

Mo Shanshan brushed a lock of her flying hair away. Looking at the flying snow and the red wall, she said quietly, ”Snow is very rare in the Great River Kingdom, as it is located in the south.”

Imagining the far away land, which was supposed to be as warm as spring all year round, Ning Que said with expectancy, ”I would like to visit it one day.”

”The Great River Kingdom has a small territory and population, it is a weak country. What makes it worse is that its northern neighbor, the South Jin Kingdom, is strong, and the relationship between the two countries is hostile. But despite all these disadvantages, it remains a peaceful place and its people have been living a happy life for hundreds of years. Do you know the reason?”

Ning Que shook his head.

Looking at the imperial palace of Tang, Mo Shanshan said peacefully, ”It is because of Tang and this imperial palace. Although the two countries are very far away from each other, and they are not even adjacent, Tang and the Great River Kingdom have always been friends. It is Tang that has been protecting my country.”

Although Ning Que didnʼt understand why she brought up this topic, he knew perfectly well that what she said was the truth.

”It was clear to both the South Jin Kingdom and the Great River Kingdom that if the South Jin Kingdom did invade the Great River Kingdom, the soldiers and the King of Tang would not stand by. Every other country thinks Tang is too ambitious and warlike, only people of my country donʼt think so, because for us only when Tang exists, can the dangerous world be safe for us.”

Mo Shanshan said with a smile, ”The world of cultivators is never separate from the secular world, because only when we are strong can we ensure that Tang and the Great River Kingdom are safe and peaceful. What you should do is to improve your own ability, so that Tang can be much stronger.”

Ning Que didnʼt get her until this moment. He knew that this afternoon when they were on the street outside of the Ministry of Rites, she felt his hesitation and therefore was trying to comfort him by telling him the story of snow and the current affairs of the world.

He said while shaking his head, ”Thanks for your comforting, but actually, I am not completely lost. I understand that it is not enough to keep the world peaceful only by avoiding wars. But I donʼt understand why such a sublime being like the Monk Guan Hai is still haunted by the feeling of wanting to win. Why does he have to fight with me?”

”When seeing a very tall wall, people always want to go to the other side to see what is there. And when seeing a mountain, they want to conquer it and climb to the top to see the views.”

She pointed to the wall of the palace shrouded in darkness across the river, and said, ”Cultivators are normal people. They are also very curious. But the difference is that they are also very proud and their pride can even intensify that curious feeling.”

Her words reminded Ning Que of the feelings he had when he was listening to Chen Pipi talking about the truly powerful people, the night when he successfully climbed to the top of the back of the mountain and the excitement when he saw the mountains behind the sea of clouds.

”For cultivators, the long trek of cultivation leads to the Unknown Place. But their respect for this destination fills them with the eagerness to catch up with others or even to surpass them. The problems are that they donʼt know where to find Zhishou Abbey or Xuankong Temple, but they do see the Academy and it naturally becomes the mountain they must climb.”