Chapter 25: Generation after Generation
Translator:AlfredoPoutineSoupEditor:DesTheSloth
In this magical eastern country, there were monsters and Taoists. There were also previous and present lives.
Ordinary people may have their doubts, but Luo Qiu believed it.
You Ye said he had the ability to see the innermost thoughts of people clearly, but at this moment, he felt the man didnt say anything.
Just like he couldnt feel any evil intentions when he and the man looked at each other in the auction.
He helped the man up, and listened to his story.
The man was 34 now, and his name was Su Houde. He used to be a courier of a transportation company nearby, and is not married.
It all started when he had a dream during his childhood. He appeared in a magnificent hall, with an angry emperor, and ferocious imperial bodyguards carrying broadswords.
He received some prescriptions from an old master to stop his nightmare and drive out the evil spirits, but it didnt work. Instead, as he grew older, his dreams increased and became more vivid. Finally, at the age of 30, he realized what this endless dream was, and who he really was.
Soyoure the one that created this pair of jades? Luo Qiu gazed at Su Houde in surprise. The famous jade sculptor from Ming Dynasty?
Su Houde forced a smile. Unbelievable isnt it? At first I didnt accept it either. However, I can recall this pair of jade token, and all the other artifacts clearly!
Su Houde touched the white jade in his hand, seemingly obsessed with it. I remember each step of the process so clearly. How they looked liked originally, the polishing, the carving.
Luo Qiu said in a low voice. Since Mr. Su already understands that this was all from a past life, why do you still cling onto the jade token? Arent you afraid your relatives and family will suffer due to your reckless behaviour?
I dont know Su Houde shook his head, and grimaced in pain, I doubted myself and had hesitated beforein reality I have always been hesitating. Nevertheless, when I saw the jade at the auction site, I felt like I had been possessed and couldnt control myself. I know Im Su Houde, not that ancient person. Yet another voice told me, I cannot allow Sanniang to vanish before my eyes again. Weve been separated for 500 years, who knows when will be the next time we can meet each other again.
Sanniang?
Su Houde gave another bitter laugh, then followed by a deep sigh, I used to be a famous engraver in the past life. That time, Emperor Xian Zong order for me to appear before him. He asked me to create a pair of white jade tokens and carve a lection of a Taoist scripture onto it. However, I couldnt look at it directly, so the emperor had Sanniang read it for me.
Later I learned that Sanniang was not a common palace maid. Instead, she was a concubine of the emperor. Furthermore, Sanniang had ascended a mountain before to learn and practice Taoism there. The emperor wanted to live a long life and thus made a trip to the mountains to meet with her master. For some reason, the old master promised the emperor that he could bring Sanniang back to the imperial palace with him. Her public identity was the concubine of the emperor, but in fact, she was his adviser in Taoism.
This white jade in my previous life came from a special stone. Sanniang suggested the emperor to carve it into these jades, and carve the Koan Sutra on it. One would get double the results while practicing Taoism if one wore it while chanting and meditating.
Suddenly, Su Houde voice turned heavy. Sanniang was staying with me those daysShe was supposed to be free from all worldly desires, but then she met me. However, those were the happiest days in my life. Unfortunately, once the jade tokens were done, Sanniang left me.
Even if we loved one another, there was no possibility for us to be together. Su Houde sighed deeply. Only when she sees our names which I secretly carved onto the jades could she find some little bit of comfort.
As he said that, Su Houde revealed the jade in his hand. There my signature inscribed on it. The one you are holding has Sanniangs name, which will only reveal itself under strong light. I was considered best craftsman at that timebut I forgot that it would be sent to the emperor. It was actually very common for a craftsman to leave his signature on his works, but how could the emperor himself carry about an item that has another persons name on it?
Finally, the emperor discovered both mine and Sanniangs names on the jade. He was incensed. Su Houdes voice then turned hoarse. The emperor wanted a long life, and he also loved Sanniang. He was determined to kill me, but Sanniang begged for my life to be spared instead. This made the emperor even more furious, so he found someone that cultivated in the arts of demons and asked it to seal Sanniangs soul separately in both jades. Then he beheaded me outside the palace. My body and head were separated and sent to different places somewhere in the southeast direction.
I swore that I will never forgive the emperor even if I became a ghost! Ill kill him myself and find my Sanniang.
However the emperor is now dead, and who knows where the jades were.
I have been looking for them, one lifetime after another.
I dont even know how many times I have been reincarnated .
But Ive finally obtained them at last!
Su Houdes facial expression changed. He grabbed Luo Qius arms using both hands, and said diabolically, Give the jade back to me! Ill set Sanniang free! She has been sealed in the jades for 500 years! Do you know how miserable she feels!!
Luo Qiu understood his anger and bitterness thus didnt get angry.
But this behaviour infuriated You Ye.
She pushed him down to the ground causing the jade he was holding to roll away.
Su Houde staggered and attempted to retrieve the jade. Nevertheless, unexpectedly, the jade token rose and floated in the opposite direction, finally dropping in an old mans hand.
And there was a young one standing behind the old man.
The old man said, This should be mine. Seems the book records were not wrong.
Its you!
Su Houde recognized the old man. He was the one that saved him in the meeting-place.
Luo Qiu recognized him too.
The old mans face suddenly turned into dark red, shouting to Luo Qiu, Give me yours too!
Luo Qiu felt his body become heavy due to the pressure. He felt as if all the air in the surroundings was pressing down on him, making it hard for him to breath.
How dare you hurt my master! Youre courting death!
You Yes voice turned cold. Her eyes emitted a bluish light. Then without the assistance of the wind, her hair started floating.