Chapter 278: Night Talk

After several days, Medusa altered her daily routine. She slept on the carriage during the day while traveling and engaged in late-night discussions with the scholar by candlelight.

Meng Mei stared wide-eyed at the scholar, who was still energetically reading beside her, constantly gesturing as he studied. Next to him, Medusa was deeply asleep, exhausted. Meng Mei's face instantly flushed. She couldn't believe this seemingly frail scholar was so formidable. That was the Great Emperor of Death, yet she had become so weary. It was truly astounding!

"What's Sister Mo Qiuli doing?" asked Little White Fox Hu Haihan from inside the carriage. Meng Mei quickly slapped Hu Haihan's arm and said, "Children shouldn't ask such questions; you should focus on your studies! This is about having babies." "Oh," the little fox girl nodded blankly, but a flicker of curiosity sparkled in her eyes, eager to investigate further.

That night at the inn, Meng Mei took her apprentice to their room to rest. As soon as she lay down, she went online again to post: "Shocking! The Most Formidable Mysterious Man in History: Is this the decline of morality or the distortion of human nature?" "Reporting from your correspondent: Meng Mei, about to evolve into a dragon..." The internet erupted once more, with everyone's worldview being turned upside down. Countless fans expressed their profound distress, threatening to meet on the rooftop.

Subsequently, they traveled by carriage during the day, Medusa slept at night, and Meng Mei rested with her apprentice. However, one day, Meng Mei woke up in the middle of the night and suddenly noticed her apprentice, sleeping beside her, stealthily sneaking out, muttering, "Teacher, I can't hold back anymore. I'm going to have a baby tonight..."

Meng Mei's eyes snapped open, utterly stunned! How long had she nurtured her 'cabbage,' only for it to be 'stolen'? This man wasn't satisfied with just Emperor Medusa; he wanted her disciple too? How many days had this been secretly happening without her noticing? Her anger flared, and she strode furiously, heading straight for the adjacent room. There, she saw Medusa, exhausted from studying, asleep nearby, and her apprentice at a desk, continuously discussing and studying with the scholar. The scene of diligent study was completely different from what she had imagined.

Meng Mei couldn't help but widen her eyes. "You said 'having babies' what?" The little fox, with an innocent expression, put down her book. "The studying and learning between men and women, the convergence of spiritual knowledge, the exchange of ideas—that's probably what Teacher meant by 'having babies.' It can spark new insights. After Sister Mo Qiuli finished studying with the scholar, I secretly came over. I find it very captivating; I can learn so much... but I didn't dare tell you, Teacher."

"It's my fault for not telling you the difference between boys and girls! You thought studying with a boy would lead to having children?" Meng Mei mused. "Could it be that Medusa has simply been continuously studying with the scholar? And the little fox, out of curiosity, secretly came to observe and eventually joined in?" What an incredibly oblivious man! Meng Mei almost spat blood, feeling both joy and sorrow. The joy was, of course, that her apprentice hadn't been 'stolen.' The sorrow was that this scholar was truly something else! These were two great beauties, and he had spent countless nights just seriously studying with them. Meng Mei wanted to cry!

She left in a daze, murmuring, "My mind is full of inappropriate thoughts. I truly am not pure anymore..." Another post immediately appeared: "Shocking! The Great Emperor of Death Suffers Sleepless Nights, My Apprentice Also Hooked, Secretly Going to Their Room in the Middle of the Night! Netizens Declare: The Truth Is Mind-Blowing!" "Reporting from your correspondent: Meng Mei, about to evolve into a dragon. The truth of the matter has taken unexpected twists and turns, proving to be utterly terrifying..."

After a few more days, Meng Mei told her apprentice to stop being secretive, explaining that it was just studying, and encouraged her to ask questions and exchange knowledge openly during their daytime travels. As Meng Mei watched the two immersed in their studies, she herself had no such inclinations. "Hehehe! I won't be swayed by a love for learning. I can become a saint just by lying down... as long as I'm having fun!"

The carriage continued its journey. "Waiter, bring wine!" As Meng Mei and her companions went to a tavern for a meal, she was gradually recognized and surrounded by people. "That young man holding the blank Heavenly Book is the one who brought enlightenment to the Confucian Sage Hu Renong..." Many people came forward to ask questions and engage in discussions. "Equivalent exchange..." the scholar continued to say mechanically.

Some offered their knowledge and creative ideas in exchange. Though few were deemed worthy, a few individuals with truly imaginative minds received recognition and subsequently had their questions answered. "Hahaha! So that's it! So that's it! My Dao Palace realm is within reach!" A famous Northern Swordsman's eyes turned red, and he bowed deeply. The Northern Swordsman forcefully swung his blade into the air. A sharp aura of sword energy shot straight into the sky, instantly clearing the clouds over the entire town. The Northern Swordsman instantly broke through to the Dao Palace realm, becoming one of the top martial arts grandmasters of their time.

Silence! Silence! A deathly silence fell over the tavern. After a long while, someone finally spoke, furtively glancing at their table. "They actually allowed us to listen in, and we've heard such profound insights. I've had some enlightenment myself..." "Hu Renong, who entered the mortal world for refinement, dedicated his life to the Great Zhou, whose old friends are all dead, who refused thirteen imperial edicts, yet still wanders the world, following this seemingly ignorant scholar, with the sky as his blanket and the earth as his mat... I believe it now." "Great wisdom appears foolish; seemingly dull, but truly capable of governing the world..."

Gradually, the story of an eccentric, taciturn scholar constantly holding a blank Heavenly Book spread. He was known as "Bai Xiaosheng of the Jianghu," knowing all the truths of heaven and earth, nothing was unknown to him. The entire martial world was shaken. A legend of a 'foolish' person emerged: incapable of communication, devoid of emotion, only learning, possessing boundless great wisdom.

"Run! The entire Jianghu is in a frenzy! The peerless divine weapon 'Bai Xiaosheng' has appeared! I finally caught up to this martial arts golden age!" Meng Mei sped off in the carriage, laughing wildly. "Hahahahaha! We've struck gold!!" The martial world was in an uproar, with countless martial artists searching for Bai Xiaosheng, eager to follow him and attain profound enlightenment.

Another night passed. On the desk, the dim yellow lamplight flickered. Two people, a man and a woman, sat side-by-side at the table, reading and writing. The atmosphere was filled with an intensity of study, as if they were students cramming for an exam, each working on their own papers, occasionally exchanging knowledge. There was a sense of a quiet, respectful friendship between them. Days of such daily study passed, and it became their routine.

This time, the scholar, with his usual dull gaze, asked, "How does one forge an eternal energy sun to illuminate living beings?" Medusa was taken aback. "That's a rather comprehensive question." It didn't sound like a question the usually uncommunicative scholar would ask; it was quite profound. She thought carefully, organizing her thoughts. "Perhaps it could be done through a wizard's cycle to ensure minimal energy loss, but it would require specific research. For us wizards, this is an entirely new subject..." "Perhaps we can imagine it this way..." Medusa began discussing as usual.

After a while, Medusa sighed deeply to the young man. "You truly are my best confidant on the path to truth." She stopped discussing studies and suddenly chuckled, as if confiding in someone. "The Mother of Earth and Vines in this world might know who I am, and she's trying to get ahead in invading this world. But she certainly doesn't know why I haven't killed Hu Renong." "Do you know what's on my mind?" she asked, her face beaming. The scholar continued to read, like a wooden figure.

"The reason is simple: why would I kill him?" Medusa laughed. "I originally thought this world was very strong, but I didn't realize they had just gone through a catastrophe and an era of change. That's not what I wanted. I want to let this world grow, embrace their development, let them constantly become stronger, even surpass our world. Incredible, isn't it? This is the breadth of mind I've cultivated living for over two thousand years... The Potion Era, after flourishing for a millennium, had become stagnant, unable to stir up any waves. If I invaded this world and they found themselves far stronger than it, they would become even more complacent. Humanity's anthem is an anthem of courage. Only death and adversity can bring courage, bringing me more surprises. An evenly matched opponent is what I truly desire!" Her eyes narrowed into beautiful crescent moons, filled with longing. The scholar continued to read.

"I want someone who can bring me the truth of death!" "Don't you think your fiery red blood is beautiful? It's the color of a rose, like a flower of death." "In the same realm, beneath the gods, is there anyone in the world higher than me? I am truly so lonely... In the primordial era, the strongest emperors who spanned centuries, Emperor Qi and Dao Changsheng... Do you know how excited I was when I heard the history of this world?" Her snake-like hair, usually writhing, was now tied into a black ponytail, adding a touch of softness. "If I had been born in that Western Mythical Era, able to trace the river of time, how wonderful that would have been. I yearn for those ancient Heavenly Emperors of this world, each a terrifying, peerless genius. Just hearing about their lives makes me tremble with excitement; I want to see their unparalleled heroic forms... But it's still not too late. The Heavenly Dao of this world still exists. Dao Changsheng, who embodies heaven and earth, I look forward to a battle with him..." "Perhaps that will be the strongest battle below the gods. I anticipate it, and I am preparing and accumulating..."

It was as if she rarely confided her thoughts to anyone. Her entire life, from childhood, she could only confide in her teacher, Circe, growing up under her guidance. After that, there was no one else she could truly trust. To outsiders, she was always Medusa, the ruthless Great Emperor of Death. If it were an intelligent being, she would never open up, but before her was merely a bewildered, reading wooden figure.

"To reside in the peace of one world, to enjoy a millennium of supremacy, to rule the entire land as the Origin Demon God, envied by countless beings... but you wouldn't understand. This is not the life I want." She continued to write on paper, head bowed, as the lamplight flickered. "For a thousand years, I've become less and less like myself... I've slept in tranquility, a solitude seeping into my bones. For many years, I've even constantly dreamt of that divine figure radiating light. From who knows when, it gradually began to overlap with the truth my wizards pursue..." She gazed distractedly at the candlelight, the bright flame flickering, and murmured, "I anticipate a magnificent death... just as I yearn for truth..."

The scholar continued to write, like a puppet. "I'm going to sleep again... You, go on and study." Even though she knew the other person couldn't understand, she composed herself and spoke out of habit. She leaned over the paper on the desk, her peaceful profile facing the scholar reading by the lamplight, slowly drifting off to sleep... In a trance, for an instant, the dull scholar's face seemed to overlap with the radiant, all-surpassing face of the Creator God. She suddenly murmured, "I'm going to see the truth again..."

Whoosh!! The lamplight on the wall flickered violently. The wind picked up! The window rattled constantly, as if a storm was brewing. The reading youth remained impassive, holding his book and reading late into the night. After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes, put down the book, stood up, and helped close the window.

Xu Zhi looked at the sleeping Gorgon lying on the table, dressed in a black gown that accentuated her graceful figure, giving her a heroic yet beautiful aura. He couldn't help but gently rub her unusual hair, sighing with emotion. "Medusa, still so wild..." Xu Zhi, the young man with the ordinary face, stood up. Amidst the flickering lamplight, it was his second close encounter with Medusa, as he gazed at her sleeping face. He hadn't expected her to disregard even her own world, or even wait for the other side to grow stronger. She desired a sufficiently powerful and astonishing opponent to propel her further on her path to truth!