8D209I
Jia Qiu does not give us even a moment to catch our breath; the unrelenting storm of strikes pummels Hong Lu and the rest of us to the ground. But he doesn't seem even remotely winded by that effort.
But I could tell that this wasn't his full force; he wasn't looking to kill us here outright.
Jia Qiu awaits Hong Lu's answer...
... but it seemed that his patience was running low.
If you're going to toy with them, why don't you at least hit them harder, hm?
I would love to watch you tear his useless head from his torso.
Regardless of Jia Huan's snide remarks, Jia Qiu only looked down wordlessly at Hong Lu, who was still trying to catch his breath.
... You have no answers, still?
I...
Hong Lu's eyes wander, like someone swimming through veils of time.
What Hongyuan needs...
But the silence continues, letting the countless moments in time to pass by unseen.
Don't pretend like you are ruminating upon some great secret of the world.
None of this matters to you. Hongyuan, Hierarch... why should any of that matter when all you care about is but a singular thing?
You want someone to end your life. To cut off your head.
But oh, you don't even possess the courage to do the deed yourself, nor do you have the persistence to struggle on.
Jia Baoyu... what is true greed, if not that?
... Why didn't you save him?
No, let me ask you a different question.
Why did you save her... and only her, Jia Baoyu?!
Lin Daiyu - she was also supposed to be there at the event. With the Kong family.
But instead, she alone was found hiding in some shed far, far from that building, wasn't she?
…….
Jia Huan, he...
He always envied you. You knew that. You must've.
His future in Daguanyuan was more precious than anything you could've ever done, anything you ever could've been! More than this dull, meaningless life you cling to!
Brother.
Humans die. It's what they're born to do.
It's naive to wish for an eternal blossom.
Because everything that blooms is destined to wilt away.
…….
Hong Lu stops himself. The sudden reemergence of this memory has put his reply to sleep, still and silent.
And the familiar, aloof, and cloud-like words fill the vacuum.
Even if an answer to your question exists, what meaning would it have?
In our lives that are but sparks that go out in the blink of an eye, what meaning would all this suffering, happiness, pain, and sorrow have? They'll all float away with the flow anyway.
So... if Hongyuan needs anything, I guess, it might need to find something like... contentment in poverty and the joy of having principles. (安貧樂道)
To not desire more, nor to discard what is given to us... and instead, to simply and fully accept the present. That must be the remorseless path to true inner peace, right?
"Even in poverty-stricken lives, if one finds contentment with what is given to them, they will find inner peace," I see.
However, Jia Baoyu... I must doubt the truthfulness behind your words. For you... do not know poverty.
…….
If you knew true poverty, you would also know that it is not something to be uttered so lightly with that insouciant smile of yours. None of us here in Daguanyuan, neither you nor I, deserve to discuss it in the manner with which you have.
Thus, I am compelled to believe that you are still yet to give me a real answer.
... He's right.
You want us to just accept what's given to us... that it just is what it is...? That's too wretched and pathetic for the poor.
<……. >
Shadow draws over Jia Qiu's expression as though he observes every hour that has been slipping through Hong Lu's fingers.
And he... remains patient. It seemed as though he was waiting for a reply he thought Hong Lu must rightly give.
I will ask again.
What does Hongyuan need?
What is it that its people need - those who are too busy dying, too busy living, too busy simply persisting, breathing?
What Hongyuan needs is...
The silence has grown.
You're leaving Daguanyuan?
After all those years... you keep your silence to the final moments of your departure.
Not even... a hint of an answer about that day.
…….
Why...
Why won't you stop smiling like that?
Oh... I see. You...
... buried it all.
Then I hope you'll never come back here again.
Because you have abandoned me. You've abandoned Daguanyuan and Hongyuan both.
Hong Lu's mouth opens and shuts, once again caging the words that ache to be let out.
And his lips once again assume the familiar arch.
The same, lonely smile that has seen far too many things they care about float away.
Hongyuan needs...
... a long life expectancy, fortune, and health in both body and spirit. (壽福康寧)
Wouldn't it be nice to live a long, fortunate life, free from any inequities of the world from the beginning to the end of your existence?
You spew such hollow, worthless lies in place of the truth that you so nearly uttered.
Let it out. Your truth.
That is what I wish to hear.
To be content with what is given to us, and to live a long life unburdened by sickness and worry on account of inequities...
They may both be answers, indeed.
If they were, truly, replies risen from the fathoms of your heart, then I would have accepted them and thereby drawn my conclusions.
Yet...
I am yet to hear your answer.
That answer, hiding in the shadows of your hesitation.
The answer that you buried deep within.
I...
My lord, while there is effort, he is -
Withdraw now, Zilu. It seems that a brutal winter must come afore I am to estimate the green within him.
Reflect upon yourself! Exhume your humanity, your righteousness from deep within!