Volume Four: High Mountains and Flowing Water Chapter Thirty-Six: Wind, Flowers, Snow, and Moon

High school life was dull and monotonous, a rigid routine repeated day after day. The circle of life was small, with little room for entertainment. As the school enforced a closed-campus policy, there was neither the space nor the time for frivolous pursuits. The simple sports field was where Chen Chen spent most of his time. It was only during the study of various subjects that he found brief moments of leisure to ponder the wisdom and talent passed down by the sages of old.

Language: every word was exquisite, born of the ancient past. Cangjie had carved characters into stone, and with every stroke, he had startled the heavens and moved the spirits to tears. Centuries later, these symbols evolved into magnificent prose, surviving the rise and fall of countless dynasties. Today, while the dynasties have shifted, the remnants of antiquity remain etched in the passage of time. Books are the vessels that preserve this literacy, culminating in the very textbooks he held.

Mathematics was no longer the simple arithmetic of his early schooling; it had evolved through the centuries, shaped by the ingenious hands of countless mathematicians. Their minds contemplated, and their pens recorded. Semester after semester, books were replaced, yet the subject remained vast and profound—worthy of deep study and measured reflection.

English was the language of foreign civilizations. Many underestimated its utility, only to realize, when dealing with those from afar, that one truly could not do without it. Level A, Level 4, Level 6, Level 10—each tier was more astonishing than the last. The complexity of the subject was sometimes beyond belief, presenting a formidable challenge to any student in China.

The remaining subjects were the essential knowledge required for survival. Chen Chen diligently absorbed what his teachers imparted, harboring a deep premonition that one day, his learning would serve him well, helping him navigate the hardships of life.

Daily life in high school ticked on. In his spare time, Chen Chen would watch the flowers and grass, or observe the teachers and classmates around him. There were a few young, beautiful girls—the acknowledged belles of the grade—and many coveted their beauty. Chen Chen, too, possessed a mortal heart and an appreciation for earthly beauty. He knew that romance was forbidden in high school; to pursue it now would be considered premature. Once this phase passed, life would be different. Of course, there were always those who stole a taste of the "green apple" of early love.

Living on campus, even as a high schooler, Chen Chen understood the rules of survival. Besides, at just over twenty, without a stable income or significant connections, the dream of winning a beauty’s heart was more unrealistic than a fantasy. Chen Chen longed to live with dignity, at the very least achieving economic and personal independence. Sometimes within the bounds of law, and sometimes within the limits of a lady’s grace. It was not that the world lacked filth, but such behavior was dishonorable, reflecting a decline in morality and the hardening of hearts.

Chen Chen was progressing, though he knew not why.

He only knew that one day, whether in terms of scholarship or connections, he must reach a level that commanded respect. It is said that the friends of the strong are usually the strong themselves. In the world of the weak, people often associate in ways that resemble a pile of crabs, pulling one another down, denying any individual the chance to stand out.

There are many groups in this world. Weak circles are usually small, consisting of few members, most of whom hold low social status. Powerful circles are also small, yet every member possesses their own network and wields significant influence, often presiding over several circles at once.

Top-tier powers have circles of varying sizes. The great beings of the Witch Tribe, the ferocious breeds of the Demon Tribe, the divine prayers of the God Tribe, the elders of the Human Tribe, the star souls of the Star Tribe, the monstrous entities of the Fiend Tribe... Have you ever considered that they might all be coexisting within the same circle?

Among the elite of humanity, through relentless effort, there may one day be a chance to form bonds with them and stand shoulder to shoulder. Many in the mundane world do not know how high the sky is or how deep the earth goes; they do not realize that there is a world beyond their own. They are unaware that beyond the humans and the beasts, there exist the Ghost Tribe, the God Tribe, the Fiend Tribe, the Demon Tribe, and the Star Tribe.

This was the reason Chen Chen needed to keep striving and improving. It was not that the world was overly complex, but that the mundane world itself was a manifestation of the Dao. To understand the humans of the mortal realm, the beasts of the wilderness, the ghosts of the underworld, the gods of the celestial scriptures, the fiends of the demonic kingdoms, and the countless star tribes of the observable universe—to know all of this required sufficient accumulation, immense knowledge, impeccable character, high status, and the right opportunities.

There are millions of identities in this world. Whether one is a commoner, an administrator, or a god, saint, or buddha, one must possess profound wisdom to be worthy of knowing the truth of this world.

Once you plan your life’s ideals or goals, the tests begin. You wish to mold yourself into a "successful person"—but for thousands of years, success has taken countless forms. Countless successful individuals will cross your path to debate what success truly means. You claim you are successful because you have a car and a house... but have you seen those with established families and businesses, worth billions, or those who command vast territories? Is that the true measure of success? Or is it the degree of freedom one possesses, the number of confidantes, the abundance of food and clothing, the scale of one's achievements, or the height of one's social standing?

You want to mold yourself into a god! Very well. Once you set that goal, plenty of people will show you just how bitter the path of godhood is. Furthermore, the titles of Immortal and Saint—all have their trials and assessments. Only by passing them, by standing on par with the gods of old, will they acknowledge you. Those deities must have sparred with you and measured your capabilities before they will believe or submit. Without heaven-defying talent, one must at least possess that level of cultivation. To those at this level, any lesser skill is seen as just that—nothing more.

As his thoughts reached this point, Chen Chen felt his heart surging. He had gained a certain perspective and understanding of the path of gods, immortals, and buddhas.

There had once been races that challenged the rights of humanity. In the Three Evil Paths, there were tribes that refused to submit to human governance, causing chaos in the mortal realm in an attempt to overthrow human rule and establish their own dynasties. There have also been many cases throughout history of challenges to divine authority. This was not the work of half-baked organizations or forces pretending to be gods to fool the ignorant, nor was it the product of special effects and computer-generated imagery.

In the observable universe, the Star Tribes are numberless. Even the meteorites and stars are suspended in the void of space. Are these phenomena not fantastical and incredible enough? What kind of manifestation would a being of long life or immortality have in such a spacetime? Do not think that humanity is merely destined to walk the earth, sighing at the limits of human capability until they can go no further.

Since the birth of the universe over ten billion years ago, and the birth of the Third Cultivation Star four point six billion years ago, even the planet Chen Chen currently inhabits is but a speck of dust in this vast sea of stars. One can only imagine the terrifying scale of larger stars and other celestial bodies.

Chen Chen studied diligently, for the pressure of survival was immense. Only by working hard and earning the regard of the sages of this civilization and the great beings of this planet could he hope for a chance to touch the truth of this world.

And so, the plot finally arrived at the romance of wind, flowers, snow, and moon. In the face of such challenges, was it still time for love? The wind, the blossoms, the snow, and the moon appear year after year. When a true beauty stands before you, do you have the confidence to possess her with nothing but a lack of real skill, a handful of connections, a modest income, a mediocre background, and a body thin as a rail?

It is better to retreat and weave a net than to stand by the abyss longing for fish.

The world is shrouded in fog, and so many eyes are lost in the mundane, clinging to the beauty of the mortal realm. Some, through a lack of resolve or a moment of greed and lust, might forsake the virtuous wife at home to indulge in the fleeting fragrance of wild flowers. Chen Chen had considered capturing the heart of a beauty, but the timing, the location, the circumstances, and his own resources—human, material, and financial—were not yet sufficient.

For the rest of his life, there would be many confrontations. There were many rivals in the pursuit of beauty, some of whom he had seen strike their opponents down before they had even met. Do not underestimate the fierce competition of this world; there is no pity in the realm of the strong. A moment of carelessness is enough to ruin one's reputation. If one encounters a worthy opponent, one might end up turning enemies into friends, leaving a favorable impression in the world. But if one encounters those with flaws, they will trample their enemies into the dust without a second thought.

High school life gradually became Chen Chen’s norm—a fleeting moment, yet in the blink of an eye, a decade would pass. Chen Chen had much to do in the days to come. The romance of wind, flowers, snow, and moon, lasting until his hair turned white, was merely a ripple he had stirred up during his journey through the mortal world. As for vying for those who were truly worth the struggle, they were just as excellent and just as unfathomable as he.