Shang Xingzhou knew that it was his own face.
But he still found it very unfamiliar.
Because it was very different from the face he usually saw in the mirror.
No one knew what sort of person Shang Xingzhou was. Probably only Yuren knew.
Neither the Tang Old Master, Yin, nor Chen Changsheng understood him very well.
To describe him in one word, he was' not close '.
Shang Xingzhou was not close to his junior brother, not close to his old friends, and not close to his disciples.
He was not close to the entire world, whether actively or passively, but he wanted to bring the world forward.
Everyone said that Black Robe was the most mysterious person in the world, but in those first few centuries, he had been even more mysterious.
He was more patient than Black Robe, more inconspicuous, and even more undemanding.
If he wanted to, his portrait would definitely have had the right to be hung in the Lingyan Pavilion, and it would have been placed at the very front.
But he still chose to remain in the darkness, not seeing the sun and not interacting with others.
In those centuries, he played all sorts of roles and had countless faces.
Perhaps it was precisely for this reason that he would often look in the mirror. Only then could he confirm who he was today.
Gradually, he got used to talking to his reflection in the mirror, even when he no longer needed to play any other role.
He had always kept the Clear Sky Mirror at his side, and only this year had Xu Yourong bring it to White Emperor City, where it had shattered in that battle.
He was more familiar with his own face than anyone else, so he felt it was very unfamiliar now.
His face was rather haggard, lacking its usual heroic spirit, making it seem old.
Most importantly, his eyes were no longer as calm as they used to be.
Between his raised brows and feigned indifference, the tyrannical aura of a king could be seen, making him seem rather foolish.
It was just like that youngest prince back then, his brows twisted in the Hundred Herb Garden as he clamored about something.
In the end, he was still shot to death by arrows.
Mm, when King Chu died, his face was also covered in blood and grime.
Where did I go next?
Yes, I went to the Imperial Palace and conveyed His Majesty's will to Emperor Taizu.
Taizu seemed fat and stupid, but he was actually extremely intelligent. How had he seen through my killing intent?
His Majesty was truly too benevolent. He should have killed Wang Zhice that night, so why spared his life?
Without him, could the demons still not be defeated? It was truly inexplicable.
With Chen Xuanba's astonishing talent and King Chu's great talent and bold vision, didn't His Majesty endure the pain of killing them? Why pity a scholar?
Shang Xingzhou's thoughts drifted back from the past. His gaze also retracted from the distance and fell upon Chen Chang Sheng's face.
There was also blood on Chen Chang Sheng's face, but for some reason, it still seemed very clean.
Moreover, this face was very calm, and there was no sign of fear on it.
Shang Xingzhou was a little angry.
Chen Chang Sheng's words made him very uncomfortable.
Chen Chang Sheng's calmness was even more unacceptable to him.
He asked, "Are you really not afraid of death?"
Chen Chang Sheng said, "Master, you should know better than anyone how afraid I am of death."
When he was ten years old, after Shang Xingzhou said those words to him, he was sad for a long time.
There were many nights when he cried under the covers.
It was Yuren who was patting him on the back and coaxing him through the blanket.
But how could Shang Xingzhou, who was in the room next to the wall, not know?
"But the more I think about it, the more afraid I become numb to it."
Chen Chang Sheng continued, "Now that I think about it, I truly must thank Sir for arranging this life for me."
Shang Xingzhou said, "At that time, you were convinced that you wouldn't live past the age of twenty. Every day, you faced death, so it was naturally easy for you to overcome your fear. Now that you've defied the heavens and changed your fate, you can roam freely in this world for a thousand years, and you even have a high chance of seeing great freedom, why are you still not afraid?"
"I also don't know if I'm truly not afraid or if it's something else. Probably only when death truly approaches will I understand my own heart."
Chen Chang Sheng said, "I will help Sir clearly see yourself, and Sir can help me clearly see myself."
Others were hell.
Death was a bright mirror.
One could straighten one's clothes.
One could see one's heart.
… …
… …
Time slowly passed.
The maple trees were quiet.
Shang Xingzhou still had not moved.
"Let go."
Wang Zhice said.
Since he wasn't going to move, why not let go?
There were two meanings in letting go.
Letting go of Chen Chang Sheng's neck.
Letting go of this world.
Shang Xingzhou said nothing, nor did he move.
"Does Sir feel that letting go like this is very shameful?"
Tang Thirty-Six suddenly laughed, then forcefully slapped the right side of his face.
The slap was very clear and resounding.
Tang Thirty-Six's right side of his face reddened at a speed visible to the naked eye.
He looked at Shang Xingzhou and said very seriously, "Sir, what does face matter?"
Shang Xingzhou still said nothing.
In the view of some people, Tang Thirty-Six's actions were only to disturb Shang Xingzhou's mind, essentially speaking nonsense.
Chen Chang Sheng did not think so. He knew that this was the true problem.
He had just said that someone like Shang Xingzhou, who was always right, would never admit defeat.
This fact made him feel rather tired, or perhaps bored.
He said to Shang Xingzhou, "Why can't Sir learn to admit defeat?"
"I haven't lost, so why should I admit defeat? Don't forget, in these one thousand years, I've always been the winner. "
Shang Xingzhou proudly said, "Even if I once underestimated Tianhai and made a mistake, in the end, I still won."
Chen Chang Sheng was silent for a while, then asked, "If you're not willing to admit defeat, then what if you admit your mistake?"
It was very quiet.
Everyone's gazes fell on him.
"If Sir insists on not admitting defeat, then can you admit your mistake?"
Chen Chang Sheng very seriously asked Shang Xingzhou.
Shang Xingzhou's expression froze.
"Three years ago in the Orthodox Academy, it was also snowing that night. At the time, I told Sir that you were wrong between us."
Chen Chang Sheng asked, "Since you were wrong, why don't you admit your mistake?"
Not talking about victory and defeat, but about right and wrong.
Just who was right and who was wrong?
If he didn't admit defeat, would he admit his mistake?
Shang Xingzhou said nothing.
Chen Chang Sheng looked at him and asked, "Master, is it so difficult for you to admit your mistake?"
Shang Xingzhou calmly looked at him and slowly loosened his grip.
No one stepped forward, because the two were still very close. They only needed to stretch out their hands to touch each other.
Chen Chang Sheng then said a few words.
"In the Mausoleum of Books, I told Sir that perhaps only at the final moment would you discover what you truly want. Just now was the final moment.
"Sir asked me why I arranged this match, and this is the answer. I want to ask Sir to face yourself. Perhaps it's rather ugly, but it's true.
"You don't want to kill me, you've never wanted to kill me, because you know you're wrong.
"Since twenty years ago, everything you've done regarding me has been wrong."
… …
… …
(At the very beginning, this part was even more intense. Chen Chang Sheng wanted to be like Ma Jingtao, incessantly yelling at Shang Xingzhou, 'Kill me! If you have the ability, kill me! ' Saliva flew everywhere. After careful thought, I changed it to this, because I think it's very beautiful this way. The title of the chapter was intentional. It's not wrong.) (To be continued …)
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