Asked About The World Of Mortals

Chapter 31: Conversations over Wine

In the Prince's Mansion, in a garden pavilion.

Li Qinglin and Qin Yi sat facing each other at a stone table. The sky had turned dark, with the moon hanging high above. A gentle breeze brushed by, carrying the fragrance of the garden.

There were no attendants around to serve them. Li Qinglin personally warmed the wine, his gaze fixed on the flickering flames of the small stove by the pavilion, lost in thought.

Qin Yi looked at him for a while and couldn't help but feel that he was a person with a Transcendent Level of contradictions, giving off a complex impression. In fact, he could tell that some of Li Qinglin's gestures were not for show, just like how he was currently personally warming the wine. It wasn't an act of humility, because there was no need for it. What difference would it make if a maid came to warm the wine? Instead, ever since they met, he had always been the one to take care of himself, providing for his own needs. He didn't seem like a prince at all. In many ways, Qin Yi couldn't help but feel that he was more like a warrior, or purely a martial artist.

But it was precisely this warrior who had done many things that only cold-blooded politicians would do.

"You don't have to keep looking at me," Li Qinglin suddenly smiled. "Although I bear some resemblance to Qingjun, I am not disguised as a man."

Qin Yi couldn't help but laugh at his teasing. "You rarely joke."

"I said it's because I don't have that much energy. If I were like Qingjun, still lost in dreams, then I would also enjoy joking," Li Qinglin laughed. "Who doesn't want to smile and be happy every day? It's not a good feeling to have a gloomy face, a mind full of thoughts, and a belly full of calculations."

"Then why..." Qin Yi pondered for a moment and asked, "why choose this kind of feeling?"

"A person always needs an ideal and must strive for it. Otherwise, they will live their whole life drifting with the current, living numbly. What's the use of that?" Li Qinglin replied.

Qin Yi was taken aback and remembered Liu Su's words at the banquet, similar to the question of what's the use of living. However, their perspectives were completely different. One believed that you couldn't be free from wandering thoughts, so what's the use of living? The other believed that if you lived your whole life without an ideal, you were as useless as a salted fish, so what's the use of living?

He thought Liu Su would comment on this, but she remained silent.

Li Qinglin continued, "Qin Xiong, what are your aspirations? To wander in the forest, befriend the pines and bamboos, not involved in the hustle and bustle of the mortal world, living freely and at ease?"

Qin Yi hesitated for a moment and replied, "Yes."

Li Qinglin smiled and said, "Although our aspirations are different, I don't think there's anything wrong with that. It's the mark of a noble person. What I fear the most is a life of mediocrity, comforting oneself by saying that being ordinary is valuable. That's the foolish man."

Qin Yi's face felt a little hot, feeling like he was the latter...

But he also understood why Liu Su didn't comment, because in essence, what Liu Su said and what Li Qinglin said didn't conflict. They both had a kind of ideal and pursuit, and fundamentally, they were the same. There was nothing to argue about their different pursuits.

On the contrary, he, Qin Yi, thought he was living a simple life, but in reality, he was just a salted fish... because he didn't know what he was pursuing. Even though he had once arrogantly told Li Qingjun that a person should know what they are pursuing, he didn't even know himself.

Finally, he asked in return, "So, what is Li Xiong's aspiration? The power of Nanli?"

Li Qinglin chuckled and didn't answer immediately. He slowly extinguished the stove fire and poured another cup of wine for Qin Yi, as if he was organizing his thoughts.

Qin Yi didn't rush him and quietly watched him.

"I am a person from Nanli, and also a pharmacist," Li Qinglin said, holding the wine cup and staring at the wine inside, lost in thought. "In your eyes, is Nanli a patient?"

"Mmm..." Qin Yi sighed. "Yes."

"My father, the king, is devoted to the Dao and has no interest in state affairs. Even news of the Western Wilderness invasion is less important to him than the elixirs he takes," Li Qinglin slowly said. "In matters of state, listening to the nonsense of sorcerers is more important than listening to loyal and virtuous ministers, or even listening to his own son. When the southeast was hit by an earthquake, instead of focusing on earthquake relief, they first performed rituals; when an enemy invaded, instead of strengthening the military, they first prayed to the heavens."

Qin Yi fell silent.

"The king is like this, and the subjects are even worse. In the court, they flatter Donghua, fawn over him, and neglect their duties. Everyone is studying Daoism, even daring to wear Daoist robes to court. Instead of reprimanding them, the king himself wears them, which is nothing short of a joke." Li Qinglin chuckled and said, "In the martial world, demons run rampant, and everyone disrespects the king and worships Daoist temples. Production in every household has declined, couples focus on spiritual cultivation, and even their intimate lives are affected. The population is decreasing. Qin Xiong, this country is not just sick, it has a fatal illness."

Qin Yi nodded slowly. He didn't have much knowledge about the country's affairs, but what Li Qinglin said seemed to be true. If that was the case, the country was truly at its end.

"When did all of this start? It started when the king believed in Donghua and began pursuing immortality. That is the root of all problems," Li Qinglin said. "I have advised against it, formed alliances, and even framed and accused others, trying to remove Donghua Zi from power through political means. However, it was all in vain. I am just the second prince, and my political capital is not enough."

Having said that, he finally finished the wine he had been holding for a long time.

Qin Yi looked up and stared into Li Qinglin's eyes.

"Big brother, it was me who ordered Ye Ling to assassinate you," Li Qinglin said calmly. "He catered to the king's preferences and also practiced Daoism, which I could tolerate. But he went too far by introducing this influence into the military, which is the bottom line for Nanli. Since then, I suddenly had the idea that if it wasn't for him, I could become the crown prince myself, and maybe there would still be hope. Do you think I am doing this for power? Yes, I want this power. Without it, I cannot save Nanli."

Qin Yi sighed softly and silently drank the wine in his cup.

Suddenly, Liu Su spoke, "Ask him what he would think if there really was a method of immortality in the world."

Qin Yi asked as Liu Su suggested. Li Qinglin thought for a moment and smiled, "Qin Xiong, you are a Taoist yourself, so it's no wonder you believe in this. But as I said before, there is evidence of demons and monsters, but immortality is just a rumor. Many emperors have pursued this path, but none have achieved immortality. I don't believe in it."

Qin Yi insisted, "I'm saying 'if' it really exists."

Li Qinglin shook his head, "I am a prince, and this is my country. My responsibility is to ensure the people's well-being, the strength of the nation, and the prosperity of its citizens. I must be able to defend against external enemies and expand our territory. If I can achieve that, even if I die immediately, it would not be in vain. Immortality? What use is it to live forever if I forget my responsibilities and ambitions, and become a walking corpse, indulging in petty desires?"

Liu Su chuckled softly, "An interesting person," but she didn't let Qin Yi continue asking.

Instead, Li Qinglin asked Qin Yi, "Qin Xiong, I haven't been able to attend your storytelling sessions recently, but I have heard bits and pieces of your Journey to the West from Ye Ling. I assume the ending is about obtaining the true scriptures and becoming a Buddha?"

Qin Yi nodded, "Everyone has their own roles, but Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong both achieved Buddhahood."

"In that case... I have a question that puzzles me. I wonder if Qin Xiong can answer it?"

"What is it?"

"In the story of the six-eared macaque... the one who was killed, was it the six-eared macaque or Sun Wukong?"

Qin Yi's heart skipped a beat, and he widened his eyes in surprise.

Indeed, some people had brought up this question before, but he had never thought that Li Qinglin, who had only heard fragments of the story, would also think this way. Could it be that he had traveled back in time?

"Why do you have this confusion?"

"After the incident with the six ears, Sun Wukong's behavior changed completely. He lost his wild nature, which is why I have this doubt. I always suspect that Sun Wukong was actually killed by the Buddha in that battle, and the six-eared macaque took his place on the journey."

Qin Yi had to explain, "That is not my invention. There is indeed an original work, and the titles of these chapters clearly indicate the Monkey King's inner monkey. Therefore, it is generally believed that the so-called six-eared macaque is actually Sun Wukong's inner monkey. After it was removed, his wild nature was tamed."

Li Qinglin fell silent, poured himself another glass of wine, and drank it all in one gulp.

"What's wrong?" Qin Yi asked curiously. "Is there something wrong with the plot?"

Li Qinglin said calmly, "I would rather believe that the Great Saint is dead than accept the image of the Monkey King sitting cross-legged, sweeping through heaven and hell with his staff, and achieving immortality as a Buddha."

(End of this chapter)