36: Chapter 36 Four Separations and Four Absolutes

Over at the tea shed, the Blind Old Man who had told the story of "Taipu's Death" had come again.

He leaned on his bamboo clappers, sat down slowly under the shed, and placed his broken bowl on the table.

When the idlers saw him come, they called out with a smile, "Old Blind Man, what are you telling today?"

The old man touched the two copper coins in his bowl and grinned. "Today I'm telling a story from the old plays."

"Are you telling the continuation of that Taipu story from last time?"

The old man tapped his bamboo clappers. "Today's act is called the Four Separations and Four Desolations."

The laughter in the tea shed quieted down a bit.

Jiang Chengning had intended to leave, but upon hearing the name, he stopped his footsteps and found a corner to sit in.

The old man took a sip of water and cleared his throat. "I told you before, Taipu was patched to death by four children."

"Spring Child Qingxu, Summer Child Zhuming, Autumn Child Baishang, and Winter Child Xuanzang. They refused to live in the same place again because they all felt guilty that they themselves had caused Taipu's death."

"Seeing each other only reminded them of the wrong they had done."

"So the four children said, each would guard one season; whoever finished their watch would leave, and the next would come. Spring does not see Summer, Summer does not see Autumn, Autumn does not see Winter, and Winter does not see Spring. And thus, the world began to rotate."

Someone listening intently asked, "Then what are the Four Separations and Four Desolations?"

The old man tapped his bamboo clappers against his knee. "The four seasons take turns in charge, and there is always a time for changing hands."

"But this matter of changing hands is the easiest time for trouble to arise."

"Let's talk about the Four Separations first."

"Separation means a strand of Qi has reached its peak and is about to turn."

He extended a withered finger and tapped the table four times. "The day before the Spring Equinox, Wood Qi is at its strongest."

"At that time, Spring Child Qingxu sits in the East, vegetation grows well, and Yang Qi rises day by day. Yet on this day, Yin and Yang are still balanced; neither has truly suppressed the other."

"Wood Qi is strongest at this time, and Yin and Yang are in balance. It is the most stable time, but also the time most prone to chaos. It is like a bowl of water filled to the brim; one more drop and it will spill."

"This is called Wood Separation."

Someone under the shed nodded.

The old man continued, "The day before the Summer Solstice, Fire Qi is at its strongest."

"Zhuming sits in the South, and the world is so hot that even shadows cannot stand. Yang Qi reaches the top, and once at the top, it must go down. That fire has reached its extreme; Yang Qi has reached its peak and is about to turn from prosperity to decline."

"This is called Fire Separation."

"The day before the Autumn Equinox, Metal Qi is at its strongest."

"Baishang sits in the West, the sound of metal fills the mountains, and Yin and Yang are balanced once again. But this time, what is about to rise is Yin. Yin will soon flourish while Yang declines, and Metal Qi will separate."

"This is called Metal Separation."

"The day before the Winter Solstice, Water Qi is at its strongest."

"Xuanzang sits in the North, the water is cold to the extreme, and Yin Qi is deep and silent. Yet, in the deepest, darkest water, the first wisp of Yang Qi appears. This is when Yin Qi is at its extreme, and the one Yang is about to return."

"This is called Water Separation."

The old man looked up, his cloudy eyes gazing at the gloomy sky outside the shed.

"The Four Separations are Perfection."

"Extreme Perfection also implies impending decline."

The tea shed was quiet for a moment.

Jiang Chengning listened, the Hidden Cloud Concealment Talisman in his sleeve pressed against his chest, feeling slightly cold.

The old man continued:

"Now let's talk about the Four Desolations."

"Desolation means reaching the end. The old has finished, and the new has not yet taken over."

"The day before the Start of Spring, Winter Water has reached its end, and Spring Wood has not yet taken over. Xuanzang puts down the Water command, and Qingxu has not yet arrived. In this breath, the authority of the world is handled by no one; it is a vacuum."

"This is called Water Desolation."

"The day before the Start of Summer, Spring Wood is exhausted, and Summer Fire has not yet ignited. Qingxu has left, and Zhuming has not yet sat firmly. This is called Wood Desolation."

"The day before the Start of Autumn, Summer Fire is extinguished, and Autumn Metal has not yet rung. Zhuming has left his seat, and Baishang has not yet arrived. This is called Fire Desolation."

"The day before the Start of Winter, Autumn Metal has been collected, and Winter Water has not yet congealed. Baishang closes the door, and Xuanzang has not yet entered. This is called Metal Desolation."

The old man laid the bamboo clappers flat, like putting down a door panel.

"During the time of the Four Desolations, the old master has just left, and the new master has not yet entered the door. The room is empty, the lamps are not yet lit, but the door is half-open."

"What is most feared at this time?"

A peddler whispered,

"Fear of thieves."

The old man laughed.

"Correct, fear of thieves."

"That is why the ancients said, the Four Separations are as chaotic as a whirlpool, and the Four Desolations are as empty as a hall. When separating, one ascends to immortality, either reaching the pinnacle or falling into the valley; when acting during desolation, even Heaven cannot look after you for a moment, and you can only rely on yourself."

Someone under the shed listened, confused, and cursed,

"Old man, you only speak of mysterious things; how is anyone supposed to understand?"

The old man was not angry; he just pushed the bowl on the table.

"This story is the origin of the Heavenly Dao."

Just as these words fell, a loud noise suddenly came from outside the small market.

It sounded like a clap of thunder rolling behind the mountain.

The people in the tea shed looked up.

The second sound fell immediately.

This time it was much clearer; the wooden sheds of the entire small market shook along with it. The wine on the tables spilled out, and the bamboo clappers on the old man's knees also jumped.

Someone stood up abruptly.

"Thunder?"

The third sound rang out.

The loud noise echoed majestically in the mountains, like a heavy stone smashing against a wall; the sound rolled over from the direction of Qingsang Main Peak, pressing down on people's chests until they felt stifled.

Someone at the east end of the small market shouted:

"The mountain protection array!"

Jiang Chengning turned to look.

The mountain color of Qingsang Main Peak was changing.

A layer of cyan-white light rose from the mountainside, first circling the Main Peak, then spreading outward, like a large net covering the entire mountain. Several lights on the mountaintop lit up one after another, and the horn signaling the enemy blew down from the heights.

Someone shouted again:

"Black Stone Ridge!"

"The Zhao Family is attacking!"

The small market was in chaos in an instant.

Those selling mountain goods hugged their boxes and dove into the houses, the pharmacy slammed its door shut, and several idlers in the tea shed rushed out to take a look, only to be scared back by another loud noise from outside the mountain.

Jiang Chengning stood by the street, gazing at this rising mountain protection array.

The sky in the distance was growing dark, and after the Main Peak array light rose, the surroundings became even darker. A large expanse of black clouds pressed in from outside the mountain; occasionally, red and white light flashed within the clouds, and upon hitting the array screen, they exploded into scattered sparks.

Foundation Establishment has made a move.

The spring Qi in Jiang Chengning's chest stagnated slightly, but he quickly suppressed it.

The Zhao Family had finally made their move.

Whether it was the monk saving the suffering or the blood feud of the Cold Households, at this moment, they had all become the prelude to those loud noises outside the mountain.

In the tea shed, the Blind Old Man put away his bamboo clappers.

He slowly felt for the copper coins on the table, tucked them into his bosom, and did not continue telling the story. No one was willing to let him continue either.

Jiang Chengning reached out and pressed the Hidden Cloud Concealment Talisman on his chest.

The talisman paper was against his body temperature, and a bit of Spiritual Qi had already flowed back into the edges. He separated a wisp of Spiritual Qi and slowly nurtured the talisman core.

The talisman surface gradually heated up.

It was like a thin cloud dispersing on his chest.

His aura slowly sank, and the Spiritual Qi fluctuations in his sleeves faded along with it. Jiang Chengning pulled his outer robe together.

Now that the Main Family was overwhelmed, it was highly probable that they could not send a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to rectify the Cold Households.

However, the blood feud of the Cold Households must have a result; that is to say, the Main Family would likely send one or two Cultivators at or above the Middle Stage to control the Cold Households.

Jiang Chengning had calculated this situation, which was why he had let Jiang Yuhe rush back to hide near the Sun and Chen families.

Now the Main Family had not yet truly dealt a fatal blow, and the two families still held hope, unwilling to embark on a path of flight like the Jiang Family.

But if the Main Peak truly decided to exterminate them, Jiang Yuhe's cultivation and strength would become the most unexpected variable for the Zhou Family.

If they could save the lives of the Sun and Chen families and accept both families to go to that new mountain, the Jiang Family would be much, much better off.

Therefore, he had to go there, to the Sun and Chen families, to meet up with Jiang Yuhe.

The figures on the small market street were in a panic.

Jiang Chengning passed through the shadows of the tea shed, avoiding the brightest spots lit by lamps, keeping close to the closed shops, and followed the small path toward North Ravine.

Behind him, the array light of Qingsang Main Peak brightened by another layer.

With a rumble.

A long line of fire in the black clouds outside the mountain hit the array screen, and the firelight spread out, illuminating half the night sky.

Jiang Chengning paused for a breath and looked back.

He remembered the old man's words from just before.

"The Four Separations are as chaotic as a whirlpool, and the Four Desolations are as empty as a hall."