Неужели Бай Ли-даочжан действительно умер?
Лишь теперь Сюй Шунь начал осознавать, что это, скорее всего, правда. Иначе почтенный Бай Ли появился бы до сих пор. Иначе даочжан Лань не вел бы себя как хозяин, распоряжаясь на поминках и встречая гостей.
Бай Ли-даочжан умер. Умер так внезапно.
Сюй Шунь смотрел на белый нефритовый гроб, и ему вспомнилось, как всего несколько дней назад Бай Ли-даочжан подмигивал ему и говорил:
– Эти дни – мой великий праздник. Если вам, мои дорогие племянники, что-то понравится, просто возьмите. Только не говорите мне об этом.
Вновь столкнувшись со смертью лицом к лицу, Сюй Шунь внезапно вспомнил свою прошлую жизнь. Там он впервые по-настоящему осознал понятие смерти, когда участвовал в похоронах родственника. Это было чувство неописуемой потери и печали. Каким бы ни был человек при жизни, после смерти он — лишь коробка, гроб. Каким бы громким ни был его смех или плач при жизни, после смерти он тихо лежит там. Человек, с которым ты говорил, смеялся, которого любил, которого знал, внезапно исчез. Ты чувствуешь себя потерянным. Для чего жить? Как жить? Кто мы вообще?..
С годами Сюй Шунь стал чаще ходить на похороны. От растерянности он перешел к размышлениям и, наконец, к спокойствию. Смерть справедлива ко всем. Каждый рано или поздно умрет, поэтому нужно жить полной жизнью здесь и сейчас.
Сюй Шунь тоже пережил смерть – то ли от преутомления на работе, то ли в автокатастрофе. Он уже не помнил точно. Воспоминания перед смертью были туманны. Переселиться в этот мир после смерти казалось ему невероятным везением. Еще большим везением было то, что в этом мире можно совершенствоваться, продлевать жизнь, а его наставник готовился к вознесению. По сравнению с его скучной обычной жизнью в прошлом, эта жизнь была похожа на сказку. Он сосредоточился на совершенствовании, желая стать бессмертным и увидеть мир небес.
Теперь же гроб и чья-то смерть напомнили Сюй Шун о другой стороне совершенствования — смерти. Совершенствуясь, заклинатели могут продлить свою жизнь, но пока не станут бессмертными, им не избежать смерти. Среди присутствующих в пещере Бай Ли, кроме даочжана Ланя, кто мог надеяться на вознесение? Никто. Под тяжелую музыку, перед белым нефритовым гробом, многие заклинатели чувствовали себя так, словно сами вот-вот окажутся там. Казалось, следующим будет он сам.
– Бай Ли-даою, прощай! Через несколько лет и я присоединюсь к тебе! – сказал даочжан с такими же седыми волосами и молодым лицом, подойдя к белому нефритовому гробу. Он легонько прикоснулся к нему, его голос дрожал.
Его голос был тихим, но многие услышали. Десять, сто, максимум несколько сотен лет, и они окажутся там же. Умрут. Мечта о бессмертии... И некоторые не могли сдержать слез. Не за Бай Ли-даочжана, а за себя. Когда-то Бай Ли-даочжан был довольно известен в мире совершенствования, но стоило его жизни подойти к концу, и он оказался в гробу. Их талант уступал таланту Бай Ли-даочжана...
Путь совершенствования труден, достичь бессмертия еще труднее, и малейшая ошибка может привести к краху. Чужая скорбь и слезы заразны, и вскоре большинство присутствующих под соснами тайком утирали слезы. Сюй Шун невольно вспомнил свою семью в прошлом мире. Для них он погиб. Он не знал, как живут его родные после того, как он оказался в этом мире. Для него они были живы, но он никогда больше не сможет их увидеть, что равносильно смерти. Расстояние между ним и его семьей, вероятно, было самым большим в мире. Он очень, очень, очень хотел увидеть своих родных еще раз.
– Эх... – Сюй Шун чувствовал себя тяжело, глаза покраснели, он не мог сдержать вздох. Вдруг он заметил, что белый нефритовый гроб слегка дрожит. Мертвый? Как гроб может двигаться? Разве что... поднялся ли зомби?
Бай Ли сосны, секта Цин Вэй, зомби – все это вдруг соединилось в голове Сюй Шуня. Он вспомнил, что в «Хуан Фу Цзине» говорилось, что поднявшемуся зомби нужна свежая кровь! Где взять кровь? Разве не эти люди, собравшиеся в доме, и есть кровь? Причем кровь с духовной силой, идеально подходящая для питания иньских трупов и создания короля зомби!
– Ма... – Сюй Шун только хотел произнести слово, чтобы предупредить наставника, как вдруг обнаружил, что не может говорить.
– Ученик, хорошее шоу началось, как ты можешь его прерывать? – донесся до ушей Сюй Шуня голос даочжана Ланя. Зрачки Сюй Шуня расширились, он весь вздрогнул.
Конец! Неужели даочжан Лань, этот прямолинейный наставник, который хотел вознестись, на самом деле сговорился с Бай Ли сосны, чтобы совершить такое? Наставник, вы заблуждаетесь! Вы не такой... Ши-э... Неужели даочжан Лань на самом деле оказался злым? Все его беззаботное поведение до сих пор было лишь маскировкой? Кто будет называть себя «ша ди»? «Ша ди» будет называть себя «ша ди»? 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Чем больше Сюй Шунь думал, тем страшнее становилось. Ему казалось, что синий даос — это человек с такими же глубокими замыслами, как Айдзен Сосукэ из аниме, который всегда на несколько шагов впереди.
В разгар своих размышлений Сюй Шунь услышал громкий хлопок: крышка нефритового гроба отлетела. Затем из гроба показалась ступня, словно человек внутри просто вытолкнул крышку ногой. Следом из гроба поднялся человек – это был Байли Сун!
Он сидел в красном одеянии, с растрёпанными волосами, и, оглядывая заплаканных людей вокруг, громко рассмеялся:
– Чего ревете? Я ещё не умер!
Сюй Шунь опешил. Он смотрел на Байли Суна, который выглядел совершенно здоровым. Значит, он не умер, а просто притворился мёртвым и лежал в гробу, наблюдая за происходящим! Да ещё и за своими собственными похоронами! Это совсем не то, что он себе представлял!
– Вы, блин, столько лет практикуете, а как увидели, что я "сдох", так сразу в слезы. Смех да и только! Лежал в гробу и слушал, как вы плачете, чуть не помер со смеху. – Байли Сун бил по гробу, смеясь во весь голос.
Гроб тогда качался оттого, что он не мог сдержать смех. Он действительно был счастлив. Не зря он всё это устроил.
[Синий даос]: ??? Цзы Цай, чего ты там себе нафантазировал?
Обновлено: 09.04.2026