The Quest for Immortality Chapter 2855: Better a Dog of Taoist State (part 2)

"Better to be a dog of the Taoist State than a man of the Great Wilderness."

Jin Wutu’s face was filled with longing, as if he were speaking from the depths of his heart.

But Elder You, who had been born in the Taoist State, raised in the Taoist State, and now served as an Elder in the Taoist State, wore a somewhat subtle expression, with a few shades of contempt for such ignorance.

A moment later, that contempt turned into deep approval.

Elder You nodded and sighed. "What’s precious in a man is his ambition. With this kind of aspiration, you already surpass others by far, far too much."

"Only someone like you is qualified to be born in the Taoist State, to live in the Taoist State."

Joy spread across Jin Wutu’s face; it was as if the road ahead of his life had been lit, and his whole being had ’ascended’.

"Elder You, then when... can I go to the Taoist State?" Jin Wutu was so excited he trembled a little.

Elder You sipped his tea and said lightly, "No hurry..."

Yet this offhand remark seemed to touch Jin Wutu’s nerves; he couldn’t help but rise to his feet, his expression anxious:

"Elder You... it can’t not be urgent... I..."

Jin Wutu turned in place once, then finally frowned and said:

"I can’t endure anymore, I truly can’t endure anymore... I’ve had enough of the Great Wilderness, enough of these ugly Barbarian Tribes, enough of this gods-forsaken place, enough of this coarse food, enough of these reeking barbarian hides for clothing, even the air stinks... I’ve had enough..."

"The only purpose of my life, of being alive, is to go to the Taoist State."

"Even my Cultivation Technique, I only learned it for that."

"My ancestors’ technique of shedding flesh and skin, changing face and form, is hard to learn; each shedding is extremely arduous. The only reason I could persevere was because I want to go to the Taoist State."

"Once I reach the Taoist State, I can be reborn into a new flesh, peel off this innate, lowly Barbarian Tribes Skin, become a Cultivator of the Taoist State, truly remake myself from the ground up, live once more."

"I’ve already endured far, far too long. If I don’t go to the Taoist State soon, I... I really..."

Elder You cast a slightly indifferent glance at Jin Wutu.

Jin Wutu instantly cooled down, realizing he’d lost his composure in front of a ’noble.’

Elder You would likely look down on him.

He couldn’t help but regret inwardly, thinking that it must be his own base Barbarian Tribes Bloodline that made him unable to control his emotions, causing this loss of decorum.

Jin Wutu hurriedly apologized. "Please, Elder, forgive my offense."

Elder You nodded slightly, saying nothing.

Jin Wutu fell silent for a moment, but in the end his anxiety remained, with a hint of lingering fear, and he said:

"Elder You, I... I really... can’t stay here any longer."

"I have to leave the Great Wilderness as soon as possible."

"It was I who, according to your instructions, joined hands with the Bi Fang Tribe, sowing discord and mediating from within, so that the Great Chief, who at first only wanted to kill, truly struck at Lord Shiguo."

"After I was captured, I ’played along with the scheme,’ piling all of this plot onto the Great Chief. That roused Lugu’s fury, and he led troops to kill the Great Chief."

"Now, our dealings with the Great Chief are all done, and the Great Chief is dead; everything’s gone to the grave with him, no proof left."

"I’ve done everything I ought to do; I really can’t stay any longer. If anyone ever finds out what I did, Lord Lugu will tear me apart and eat me alive..."

"And... and..."

Terror surfaced on Jin Wutu’s face. "Lord Shiguo... it’s like he’s dead, yet not quite dead; I keep feeling... he’s still lingering like an Evil Spirit..."

Elder You frowned.

Jin Wutu said hastily, "It’s true! Elder You, I’m not just babbling. That night I really seemed to see Lord Shiguo, not only dead, but also alive..."

"I always have the feeling that he might come back, crawl out of Purgatory, and come for my head..."

Jin Wutu’s complexion was as white as paper.

Elder You said mildly, "Life is life, death is death; the boundary between life and death cannot be breached. Even if you really did see Sishen, it was probably just some Corpse Refinement trick. Don’t take it to heart."

Jin Wutu nodded slowly, though he still felt a lingering chill.

Elder You’s gaze flickered slightly as he soothed him. "Rest assured, everything you’ve done, I’ve kept in mind. The merit you’ve earned is enough to change your fate, to free you from the mire of the Great Wilderness, to go to the Taoist State and live a new life."

Receiving this affirmation, Jin Wutu’s expression grew excited.

"It’s just that..." Elder You said, "the time isn’t yet ripe..."

"Then... when will it be..." Jin Wutu asked.

Elder You sighed. "It’s not that I don’t want to take you away. If I could, I could bring you to the Taoist State right now, and it wouldn’t be a problem. It’s just that the mission the Patriarch entrusted to me is not yet complete; if I return now, I’ll have no face to meet the Patriarch."

Elder You said, "Think about it—my burden is heavy; I myself can’t yet return. How then could I take you back to the Taoist State?"

Jin Wutu was taken aback. He mulled it over and felt that this indeed made sense.

"Besides..." Elder You asked, "is this really how you want... to go to the Taoist State?"

Jin Wutu was stunned, not quite understanding.

Elder You spoke slowly. "You’re at the Golden Core stage; in the Great Wilderness you may be an Elder, a field commander, but once you enter the Taoist State, with nothing to rely on, you’re no more than an ant. Even though going to the Taoist State is like being reborn for you, the ’birth’ you’re heading toward right now is actually quite ordinary."

Jin Wutu’s expression shifted slightly. "Elder, you mean..."

Elder You said, "A man only gets one lifetime; that cannot be changed. But the birth you’re aiming for now—can still be altered."

"In the coming upheaval, as long as you earn greater merit, help me fulfill the Patriarch’s long-cherished wish, it will be the same as presenting yourself before the Patriarch. I’ll only need to say a few good words on your behalf, casually secure you a respectable background. Once you reach the Taoist State, you’ll have a higher platform, and at the very least, be spared several hundred years of struggle..."

"In other words, if you go to the Taoist State now, it’s only like being born into an ordinary ’commoner’ household."

"But if you put in a bit more effort, you can be born directly into a ’wealthy’ household."

"The difference between the two is like heaven and earth."

Born... into a wealthy household in the Taoist State...

Heat flared in Jin Wutu’s chest; his eyes even reddened a little.

But in his head, a sliver of Clarity persisted; afraid that Elder You might just be spinning him a dream, he said, "Elder, how long until the matter you need to accomplish is done?"

Elder You rubbed his fingers together and said slowly, "It won’t be long... Before I came, the Patriarch divined that although the situation in the Great Wilderness is chaotic, hazy without a visible end, most likely within a few years a final outcome will be reached."

"We don’t yet know what that outcome will be, but it shouldn’t be too far off..."

"Within a few years... there’ll be an outcome..." Jin Wutu murmured; as his thoughts turned, a plan took shape.

Jin Wutu dropped to his knees with a thud before Elder You and said in a low voice:

"I, Jin Wutu, am willing to serve by your side, Elder, willing to go through fire and water for your Patriarch. I only ask that Elder You use me as you see fit."

Elder You helped him up and sighed. "You said it yourself: the Taoist State is a Holy Land of Cultivation, where all are equal and all are free; there’s no need to kneel."

Jin Wutu, his heart full of yearning, finally rose to his feet, though his knees were still weak.

Elder You took out a Jade Slip and handed it to Jin Wutu. "From here on, find a way to slip into the Wujiu Tribe, and act according to what’s written in the Jade Slip..."

Jin Wutu accepted the Jade Slip, somewhat taken aback. "The Wujiu Tribe?"

Elder You nodded. "The Wujiu Tribe commands many soldiers and officers; their current strength is too great. The future situation of the Great Wilderness will surely be decided by the Wujiu Tribe, so we must plan ahead."

Jin Wutu nodded. "Yes."

Elder You’s expression was earnest. "Once the deed is done, I won’t shortchange you. You know I’m a man of trade; in my dealings I’ve always been fair, never owing anyone."

"So long as the Patriarch’s grand design is fulfilled, you will follow me to the Taoist State, and I will personally see to it that you find a brilliant path."

Jin Wutu’s chest swelled with wild joy, gratitude brimming over. "I’ll spill my liver and brain for Elder You, until they’re ground to mud!"

Elder You nodded in satisfaction. "All right, go see to your tasks first."

Jin Wutu put away Elder You’s Jade Slip, clasped his hands in farewell, and then departed.

Before the tea table, only Elder You remained.

Elder You sat alone, drinking tea; from the corner of his eye he watched Jin Wutu’s departing back, his expression somewhat profound.

A moment later, he suddenly started, reaching into his sleeve to touch a certain object hidden there. His face changed slightly, and then he glanced around, his gaze growing a shade deeper.