Chapter 101: The person is as old as his heart has aged

第一百零一节：心老人便老

Translator: Skyfarrow Editor: Skyfarrow

With his abilities, Gu Yue Dong Tu could easily find Fang Yuan’s residence.

依古月冻土的能量，自然查得到方源的住处。

He was wearing the Gu Master’s uniform which he rarely wore; he had leg wrappings around his legs and was wearing a red belt around his waist. Everything was neat and clean, and gave off a faint feeling of majesty.

他今天罕见地穿起了蛊师的武服，腿脚上有绑腿，腰间系着赤色的腰带。一身整洁干净，透着淡淡的威仪。

He looked at Fang Yuan who was slowly coming over and his line of sight fell on the latter’s belt; deep emotions emerged in his heart.

他看着方源慢慢走来，视线往少年的腰带上瞥了一眼，心中自然生出一阵感慨。

“Only C grade aptitude but he has already broken to Rank two at sixteen, it is truly surprising. I really don’t know how he succeeded. However…this quick speed should be mostly attributed to the Liquor worm. Pity that Liquor worm has no use at Rank two.”

“只是丙等资质，就已经在十六岁突破到二转，真是出人意料。真不知道他是如何冲击成功的。不过……这样快的速度，大部分也归功于酒虫吧。可惜酒虫到了二转，就不能使用了。”

Following that, he saw the faint smile hanging on Fang Yuan’s mouth.

紧接着，又看到方源嘴角挂着的淡淡微笑。

This smile made Gu Yue Dong Tu’s heart chill.

就是这笑意，却让古月冻土心中一寒。

Anger rushed through his mind, “This kid acts so calm, does he think he has me trapped within his palm?!”

然后，一股薄怒涌上心头：“这个小子，如此从容，是以为吃定我了吗？！”

Fang Yuan slowly walked over and stopped in front of Gu Yue Dong Tu, he knew the latter was definitely here for him.

方源缓缓走来，停在古月冻土的面前，他知道对方必是来找自己的。

Sure enough, Gu Yue Dong Tu opened his mouth, “Fang Yuan, I think we can have a talk.”

果然，舅父古月冻土开口道：“方源，我想我们可以谈一谈。”

“What do you want to talk about?” Fang Yuan slightly frowned.

“谈什么？”方源微微一挑眉头。

Gu Yue Dong Tu laughed but then talked of another thing, “Do you know, I was the same as you, I became a Gu Master when I was fifteen.”

古月冻土笑了笑，却是换了一个话题：“你知道么，我和不同，我十五岁就出道了。”

“It was right at the time of wolf tide, there was a large number of casualties and we – students – also had no choice but to fight. I had B grade aptitude; I reached Rank two initial stage at sixteen, upper stage at seventeen and peak stage at eighteen. When I was nineteen, I was already beginning my charge to Rank three. At that time, I believed I could be a Rank three Gu Master at twenty.”

“那时候，正值狼潮，蛊师大量死伤，不得已的情况下，我们这些学员必须要顶上去。我是乙等资质，在十六岁到达二转初阶，十七岁高阶，十八岁巅峰。十九岁时，我已经开始冲击三转。那个时候，我认为自己能在二十岁，晋升到三转蛊师。”

“Hahaha, I was too frivolous, I thought I was above everyone else and thought I could accomplish anything. I even thought I was omnipotent, I simply didn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth. It was when I was twenty. I went out to do a mission and was beaten by a Xiong village’s Gu Master. I was on the brink of death but fortunately, medicine hall’s elder personally moved and saved me. But after that event, my aptitude dropped down to C grade, I couldn’t recover from this shock for a whole of eight years.”

“呵呵呵，我太轻狂了，目中无人，总以为自己能做到一切。甚至无所不能，根本不知道天高地厚。就在二十岁那年。我外出执行任务，被一位熊家寨的蛊师击败。当时重伤濒死，亏得药堂家老亲自出手，才捡回一条命。但自那之后，我的资质废了，落到了丙等，我一蹶不振了整整八年。”

“At my twenty-ninth birthday, I started to have another look at myself and this world. I discovered that a single person’s strength was limited. So what if I had broken through to Rank three? Living in this society, the most important thing is not individual strength, but the connections with others.”

“在我二十九的生日那天，我开始重新审视自己以及这个世界。我发现，一个人的力量终究是有限的。纵然我晋升三转又如何呢？人生活在这个社会上，最重要的不是个人实力。而是与其他人的交际关系。”

“I began my life anew when I was thirty. I stepped down from the frontlines when I was forty-five. A hundred Gu Masters jointly petitioned to elect me as an elder dozens of times. Even though I only had the cultivation of Rank two peak stage, I couldn’t take that final step but there was also no need. I had already achieved success. Clan members call me as the ‘hidden elder’. Most of my peers have already passed away but my life sailed smoothly. I still have influence on many Gu Masters.”

“我从三十岁开始重新起步。四十五时退居二线。期间数十次，被百位蛊师联名上书，要推举我为家老。我虽然只有二转巅峰的修为，终身也不能跨出那一步，但是也没有必要了。我已经取得了成功。族人称呼我为‘隐家老’。绝大多数的同龄人都已经死去，而我却活得很安稳。对于那些在外打拼的蛊师，我的影响力仍旧存在。”

After giving a lengthy report, Gu Yue Dong Tu returned to the main topic. He looked at Fang Yuan, his mouth curved up, “Fang Yuan, you are too young and inexperienced, just like I was back then. Believing you can accomplish anything and finish everything by yourself. Hehe.”

长篇大论到了这里，古月冻土这才转回正题，他看着方源，嘴角弯成一个弧度：“方源啊，你还是太年轻了，初出茅庐，就像是当年的我一样。以为什么都可以自己做主，什么事情自己都可以完成。呵呵。”

Gu Yue Dong Tu shook his head and continued, “But when you gain more experience, you will understand that human is a social animal and not a lone beast. Sometimes we need to lower our heads and take a step back. Being an extremist and arrogant person will only bring isolation and destruction. I believe you have already felt it; no group will take you and everyone is leaving you out. Even if you receive the family inheritance mission, what would that do? As a person who has been left out by everyone, you definitely won’t have the chance to finish the task. Give up.”

古月冻土摇摇头，继续道：“但是当你的人生阅历再丰富一些，你就会明白，人终究是社会的一员，不是独行的野兽。有时候人生是需要低头和让步的。偏激和极端，桀骜和张扬，只会引来孤立和毁灭。我相信你现在已经感觉到了吧，没有一个小组肯接纳你，你周围的人都排斥你。你就算是接到了分家任务，又能怎样？你已经是孤家寡人一个，绝对没有机会完成任务的。你放弃吧。”

Fang Yuan indifferently looked at the middle-aged man; his expression, calm.

方源淡淡地看着面前的这个中年男人，脸色一片平静。

“I wonder what expression he will show if he knew I have five hundred years of experience?”

“如果他知道自己有着五百年的人生经历，不知道又会是什么表情呢？”

Fang Yuan’s eyes couldn’t help but reveal a trace a of smile when he thought this.

想到这里，方源的眼中就不禁有些流露出一丝笑意。

Actually, his uncle’s way of thoughts had been his life’s concept for a long period of time in his previous life.

事实上，舅父的想法，曾经也是他前世很长一段时间的生活理念。

Thus, he had created the Bloodwing Demon Sect, relying on the system and human emotions to create an enormous influence. Ten thousands would come forth with his one call, seizing resources and fighting enemies.

因此，他创建了血翼魔教，依靠制度和人情，殚精竭虑地打造出一个庞然势力，一呼万应，霸占资源，对抗强敌。

However, when he broke through to Rank six, he saw a completely new scene.

然而当他突破到六转之后，他看到了截然不同的风景。

Gu Masters up to Rank five were mortals but Rank six were immortals. When he stood at that height and looked at the world, he suddenly comprehended — an enormous influence was indeed a powerful help but at the same time was an enormous burden.

蛊师中五转为凡，六转成仙。当他站在这个高度，再看人生时，他恍然而悟——庞大的势力的确是他的臂助，但同时也是一个巨大的累赘和拖累。

No matter which world, there was only one thing which one could truly rely on; that was oneself.

不管是哪个世界，真正最靠得住的人只有一个，那就是自己。

Only that such people were usually weak. People couldn’t endure loneliness and liked chasing after family love, friendship and romance to fill in their spirit. They indulged in being in a group and were afraid of being alone.

只是这世人，常常软弱。总耐不住寂寞，总受不了孤独，喜欢追寻亲情、友情、爱情，来填充自己的心灵。迷恋集体，害怕独处。

When they received setbacks, they would hide in the group, complain to relatives and share with friends. They didn’t dare to confront their fears and defeats by themselves. When there was pain, they would be busy sharing it; when there was something good, they would be anxious to boast of it.

一旦受到挫折，就躲到集体当中去，向亲朋诉苦，向好友倾诉，不敢孤独地面对恐惧和失败。有了痛苦就忙于分摊，有了快乐就急于炫耀。

Gu Yue Dong Tu succeeded? No doubt he succeeded.

古月冻土成功吗，毫无疑问，他是成功的。

He couldn’t walk his original path, so he went in another path and left for a new scene.

他在原先的路上走不下去了，换了一条路，走出了一片天。

But at the same time, he was also a failure.

但他同样也是一个失败者。

He had lowered his head because of one setback; he was no more than a coward, but he was content with his running away.

他因为一个挫折而低头，他不过是个懦夫，却还在为他的逃避而沾沾自得。

Gu Yue Dong Tu didn’t know Fang Yuan had already labelled him as a coward. He saw Fang Yuan made no reply, so he thought the latter was absorbed in his speech.

古月冻土当然不知道，方源已经把他认作了一个懦夫。他见方源一直没有说话，还以为方源已经被他的话所摄。

He continued, “Fang Yuan, I won’t beat around the bush, you are not Fang Zheng. If you give up your idea of inheriting the family assets, you will receive my friendship and you can use all my connections. I will also give you a thousand primeval stones. I know you are hard pressed for money these days and you are even late in paying the rent by two days, right?”

他继续道：“方源，你不是方正，我就打开天窗说亮话。如果你能放弃你继承家产的打算，你就能获得我的友谊，我的人脉关系你都可以利用。同时，我还会补偿你一千块的元石。我知道的，你最近手头拮据，连房租都拖欠两天了吧。”

Fang Yuan indifferently smiled and spoke, “Uncle, you don’t wear these clothes often, right?”

方源淡然一笑，开口道：“舅父大人，这身衣服不常穿吧？”

Gu Yue Dong Tu was taken aback, he hadn’t expected Fang Yuan would suddenly talk about this.

古月冻土一愣，没有料到方源会突然谈这个话题。

Fang Yuan was indeed correct, he had already been retired for a long time now, this uniform was usually stored deep in a box. He had worn this uniform especially to meet Fang Yuan today; it was to increase his persuasion and deterrence power.

不过方源的确说的没错，他已经退隐很长时间了，这身服装压着箱底。今日来见方源，特意穿了这身，就是为给自己增添说服力和威慑力。

Fang Yuan sighed, he sized up Gu Yue Dong Tu’s clothes and continued, ” A Gu Master’s uniform isn’t so clean and neat. It would be covered with sweat, mud and blood; it would be in shreds and patches; that is the smell of a Gu Master.”

方源叹了一口气，打量着古月冻土的衣衫，缓缓地道：“蛊师的衣服，没有这么干净整洁的。它要沾着汗水、泥浆和鲜血，它要破烂不堪，那才有蛊师的味道。”

“You are old. Uncle. Your great ambitions and aspirations have already disappeared from your youth. These years, you have lived an easy life and it has corrupted your heart. You are vying for the family assets, not for cultivation but to maintain your rich life. With such a mentality, how could you obstruct me?”

“你已经老了。舅父大人。你的雄心壮志，早在年轻时就已经消失了。这些年安逸的生活。已经腐蚀了你的心。你争夺家产，不是为了修行，而是为了维持富足的生活。单凭这种心态，你怎么可能阻挡我？”

Gu Yue Dong Tu’s face instantly turned ashen, anger surging through his mind.

古月冻土脸色顿时变得铁青，心中泛起一股怒气。

There was always a group of ‘old’ people in this world. They touted their social experience everywhere. They considered others’ dreams as illusions; considered others’ passions as frivolous; considered others’ persistence as arrogance. They would seek their own existence and superiority by lecturing the later generations.

这个世界上，总会有一群“老”人。他们四处兜售着社会的经验，把他人的理想当做幻想，把他人的热情当做轻狂，把他人的坚持当做桀骜。他们常在教训后辈中，寻找自己的存在感和优越感。

No doubt, Gu Yue Dong Tu was such a person.

毫无疑问。古月冻土就是这样的人。

He wanted to educate Fang Yuan but he had never thought that Fang Yuan not only didn’t listen to him or yield to him, but would instead lecture him!

他想要教育方源。但是没有想到，方源不仅没有听从他，屈服他，反倒过来把他教育了一通！

“Fang Yuan!” Gu Yue Dong Tu shouted, “I wanted to guide and persuade you with good intentions as your elder but you don’t know what’s good from bad. Hmph, since you want to go against me, then so be it. I am not afraid to tell you that I already know the contents of your family inheritance mission. Young people don’t know the immensity of heaven and earth. Haha, I really want to see how you will complete this mission!”

“方源！”他低喝道：“我身为你的长辈，好心好意地开导你。劝说你，你却这样不识好歹。哼，既然你一心想跟我作对，那就来吧。不怕告诉你，你那分家任务的内容，我早就知道了。年轻人，不知道天多高地多厚。呵呵，我倒要看看你怎么完成这个任务！”

Fang Yuan had a ridiculing smile on his face, there was no need to conceal now. Anyway, they could no longer reconcile, so there was no harm in enjoying Gu Yue Dong Tu’s upcoming wonderful expression.

方源戏谑一笑，这时已没有隐藏之必要。反正矛盾绝不可调和，不妨欣赏一下古月冻土接下来的精彩表情。

Thereupon, he took out the bullskin water bag and opened it; a fragrance that was specific to honey wine floated out.

于是，他取出牛皮水囊，拔开盖子，飘出一丝蜜酒特有的香甜。

“What do you think is in here?” He asked.

“你觉得这里面装的什么？”他道。

Gu Yue Dong Tu turned pale with fright, his mood immediately sank to an all-time low.

舅父大惊失色，一颗心顿时沉入最谷底。

“How can this be? Where did you get this honey wine?!” He roared, a stunned expression appeared on his face.

“怎么可能。你这是哪里弄来的蜜酒？！”他吼起来，脸上浮现出难以置信的惊容。

Fang Yuan ignored him, closed the cap, put the water bag back and walked towards the internal affairs hall.

方源不再理他，盖上盖子，将水囊重新揣入怀中，迈步向内务堂走去。

Gu Yue Dong Tu’s forehead was covered with cold sweat, many thoughts surging in his mind.

舅父满头的冷汗，脑海中思绪剧烈翻腾。

“Where did he get the honey wine? I already made sure that as long as he looks for other groups, I would get the news the very first moment. Could he have done this alone? No, that’s not possible, he doesn’t have a defense Gu worm. Someone definitely helped him. No! The point now is not finding the reason. This kid already has the honey wine, he is going to hand over the mission!”

“他是哪里弄来的蜜酒？我已经关照过，只要他找上其他小组，我就会第一时间得到消息。难道他是独自完成的？不，这怎么可能，他又没有防御性的蛊虫。一定是有人帮助他。不对！现在的关键，不是找什么原因。方源这个小子已经有蜜酒了，他要交接那个任务去！”

Gu Yue Dong Tu was already panicking as he thought this and no longer had the calm appearance from moments ago.

想到这里，古月冻土心中已经一片慌乱，再也没有刚刚的从容。

He quickly chased after Fang Yuan, “Fang Yuan, wait, everything can be discussed.”

他快步地追上方源：“方源，你等等，凡事都好商量的。”

Fang Yuan didn’t speak and continued to walk, Gu Yue Dong Tu could only follow beside him.

方源不语，继续走着，古月冻土也只得紧跟在他的身边。

“If one thousand primeval stones won’t do, then how about two thousand, no, two thousand five hundred.” Gu Yue Dong Tu kept on increasing the offer.

“一千块元石不行，那就两千块，不两千五百块。”古月冻土不断加价。

Fang Yuan turned a deaf ear to Gu Yue Dong Tu, instead increasingly having some expectations towards the family assets. On seeing how Gu Yue Dong Tu was so anxious and was continuously raising the offer, the real family assets should definitely be very good.

方源充耳不闻，心中倒是对这家产生出了些期待。古月冻土如此急迫，不断加价，看来真正的家产一定很客观。

Gu Yue Dong Tu was perspiring, he saw Fang Yuan was not moved, his face revealed a fierce look and he threatened, “Fang Yuan, think this through clearly! What end will you have if you offend me, hmph, don’t blame uncle for being cold-hearted if you miss an arm or leg in the future.”

古月冻土急得满头大汗，他见方源毫不动容，脸上显现狰狞，低沉地威胁道：“方源，你可要想清楚了！你得罪我会有什么下场，哼哼，将来若是缺胳膊少腿，别怪我这当舅父的无情。”

Fang Yuan laughed.

方源哈哈一笑。

This Gu Yue Dong Tu was really a lamentable person. He was bound by rules and regulations; the water bag was clearly within his reach, but he didn’t dare to snatch it. If he didn’t even have this much guts, how could he succeed in fighting for the benefits?

这古月冻土真是可悲的人。被规矩束缚着，明明水囊近在咫尺，却不敢强抢。如此没有胆量，又想争夺利益，怎么可能成功？

Riches and danger went together. No matter which world, if you want to obtain something, you need to pay its price.

富贵险中求，不管哪个世界，想要得到什么，必定要付出代价的。

“Fang Yuan, you think everything will be well after you get the family assets! You are too young, you don’t have a clue about society and its dangers!” Gu Yue Dong Tu snarled by Fang Yuan’s ear.

“方源，你别以为拿了家产，就能万事大吉！我告诉你，你还太年轻，不懂得什么是社会，什么是险恶！”古月冻土在方源耳边低沉地怒吼着。

Fang Yuan shook his head and ignored him, walking into the internal affairs hall in front of his glaring eyes.

方源摇摇头并不理他，在他的怒目瞪视中，迈入了内务堂。

Actually, he didn’t hate or even loathe this uncle of his.

对于这个舅父，其实他还谈不上憎恨，甚至也没有厌恶。

He had seen a lot of such people and understood this type of people.

这样的人，他见多了，也可以理解这种人。

If Fang Yuan had enough primeval stones to support his cultivation, he wouldn’t even fight for the family assets. But what good will giving such insignificant benefits to uncle do?

如果方源的元石够用，能支撑修行，他甚至不会争夺这个家产。不过区区小利，给了舅父又能如何？

For what reason was he reborn?

他重生为的什么？

It was not for this momentary period, but to step to the highest peak. This type of passerby, as long as they didn’t interfere with this and only raged from the side, Fang Yuan would disdain to even step on them.

不是为了争这一时长短，而是想迈步最强之巅峰。这种路人，只要不碍着此事，任由其在一旁咆哮，他方源踩都不屑踩。

But unfortunately, this Gu Yue Dong Tu obstructed Fang Yuan’s path.

但是偏偏这古月冻土，阻碍了方源前进的脚步。

Since it was so, then he will stamp on this obstacle and move forward.

既然如此，那就踩着你前进好了。

“Fang Yuan! Fang Yuan…” Uncle Gu Yue Dong Tu watched on as Fang Yuan stepped into the internal affairs hall; his whole body shook and veins bulged up on his forehead.

“方源！方源……”舅父古月冻土眼睁睁地看着方源迈入内务堂，他浑身都颤抖着，额头上青筋暴跳。

The light of the setting sun shone on his hair which was already turning white.

夕阳的光，照在他的双鬓，都已经泛白。

He was indeed old.

他的确是老了。

When he sustained that injury at the age of twenty, he had already aged.

二十岁受伤那年，他就老了。

《蛊真人》中英文对照版 第一百零一节：心老人便老

《蛊真人》中英文对照版第一百零一节：心老人便老