Zyklon-Säbel

Kapitel 131

“It’s the season for getting lost.” Lin Zhian looked around and then said to Lin Zhiping beside him, “Look, I marked three lines at the fork in the road earlier, and now we’ve turned back.”

Lin Zhiping and Yin Xiaolong looked in the direction Lin Zhian pointed and indeed saw three distinct scratch marks. It seemed they were truly lost! What to do? Getting lost in this godforsaken place was no joke, especially since they hadn't even brought any food, only a few jugs of water. At this rate, when would they reach the actual cemetery? When would they be able to get out of there? Were they going to starve to death here?

"Zhi'an, what should we do?" Lin Zhiping panicked and grabbed Lin Zhi'an's arm tightly, shaking it as she asked.

“In the past, village chiefs relied on the Rejuvenating Incense to find their graves after they died, but the Rejuvenating Incense doesn’t last long. If this maze-like passage is so complicated, how could those corpses survive until the Rejuvenating Incense wears off? So…” Lin Zhian paused for a moment, then continued, “Either there’s a shortcut in this maze that we haven’t discovered, or there’s something wrong with the deceased themselves.”

"What was wrong with the deceased?" Yin Xiaolong asked quickly.

“Perhaps the deceased was given instructions before death or before entering this place, so that it could find the exit smoothly from this maze,” Lin Zhian said. “I think this possibility is more likely.”

"Why?" Yin Xiaolong asked again.

"Because this is another barrier to prevent the living from entering. It can be said to be a labyrinth that belongs only to the dead. Only the dead can get out, while the living will be trapped inside forever," Lin Zhian said.

"If that's really the case, the person who built this maze of the dead is truly amazing!" Yin Xiaolong couldn't help but exclaim.

"What time is it? Why are you still sighing about this? We're living people, and we're going to be trapped here forever!" Lin Zhiping stamped her feet and said coquettishly.

"Who said that?" Lin Zhian suddenly smiled mysteriously, then glanced at Yin Xiaolong beside him and said, "We have a next village chief here!"

The next village chief? What does that mean? Yin Xiaolong suddenly felt that Lin Zhian in front of him was a bit strange. The slightly upturned corners of his mouth no longer had their usual playful cuteness, but instead revealed a hint of bloodthirsty ferocity.

"What good is he if he's the next village chief? He's a living person too!" Lin Zhiping angrily turned her head away.

"Of course I'm alive!" Yin Xiaolong looked at Lin Zhian, whose face revealed an even more eerie smile, like a little devil tempting people to commit crimes.

“Yes, he’s alive now!” Lin Zhian smiled as he stared at Yin Xiaolong, like a hunter eyeing its prey.

"You...you...what do you mean?" Yin Xiaolong panicked a little. What did you mean by "now a living person"? I'll be a living person from now on!

"Zhi'an...you...you're not going to sacrifice Xiaolong, are you?" Lin Zhiping seemed to realize what was happening and looked at the two of them with some difficulty.

"Hey! What do you want? You don't think you can get out of this maze by killing me, do you?" Yin Xiaolong involuntarily took a few steps back.

"Hehe, fool, although it's said that only the dead can go in, that's just our guess! How can we just kill you like that? What if we're wrong? Wouldn't you have died for nothing?" Lin Zhian replied irritably, clearly thinking that Lin Zhiping and Yin Xiaolong's ideas were too simplistic.

"Then...then...how do we get out?" Lin Zhiping asked worriedly.

“I have a way that might help us get out of this maze, but…” Lin Zhian’s expression suddenly turned serious as he slowly said to Yin Xiaolong, “But you might have to shorten your lifespan.”

"What do you mean?" Yin Xiaolong asked.

“If my guess is correct, only the dead can escape this labyrinth of the dead, and this dead person must be the village chief of Yin Family Village. Therefore, only you can lead us out to the real cemetery and find the heart of the heartless person my father spoke of. However, killing you is impossible for us, so now the only method left is the Spirit Sealing Technique!” Lin Zhian replied.

"No way, this spell is terrifying!" Lin Zhiping quickly stopped her.

"Do you have a better way?" Lin Zhian glanced helplessly at Lin Zhiping, who seemed hesitant to speak, then turned to Yin Xiaolong and continued, "This spell can temporarily seal a person's soul, making him like a dead person. However, this spell is, after all, sealing a living being alive. Even if the spell is removed in the future, it won't cause much damage to the person's physical essence. So, you need to think it through."

"Do I have any other choice?" Yin Xiaolong smiled bitterly, as if asking the Lin sisters, but also as if asking himself. If he didn't do it, the three of them might never get out, ultimately dying in this labyrinth of the dead. His own death wasn't the worst part; the important thing was that he had promised Madam Lin he would protect the two sisters, and even more importantly, he had promised Uncle Lin he would bring back the heart of the heartless person. So many villagers were waiting for him to bring that thing back to save their lives!

"Little Dragon, this spell is terrifying, and..." Lin Zhiping glanced at Lin Zhian with some hesitation, and after a long pause seeing that she didn't seem to react, she continued, "It might fail, because... because we only know the theory and have never actually used it!"

"..." Yin Xiaolong almost collapsed on the spot upon hearing this. It was still a spell he wasn't entirely confident about. Good heavens!

"Didn't Uncle Lin teach you before you came out?" Yin Xiaolong was almost in despair.

“He won’t!” Lin Zhian suddenly replied coldly. Yin Xiaolong was puzzled as to why Lin Zhian used “he”, as it seemed somewhat disrespectful.

"Why? Didn't you say you knew? Isn't this the Lin family's magic?" Yin Xiaolong asked curiously.

"Because not all members of the Lin family can learn magic; only twins can." Lin Zhi'an seemed unwilling to hide anything, saying, "Our Lin family's understanding of the soul is that it is a product of the unity of spirit and soul. Our Lin family's magic is based on the resonance created by the fluctuations of spirit and the vibrations of soul to increase spiritual power. However, for an individual, if their soul is too closely integrated, it is difficult to separate it. Even if it is separated, the values of spirit and soul are not high, meaning it is difficult for an individual to learn our Lin family's magic. But twins are different. From the moment they are born, they are destined to be the superposition of two extremely similar souls. This makes it easier to remember that one of them has a high spirit value and the other has a high soul value. The relatively weakened value can be replenished by the other, making it easier to separate spirit and soul. In this way, it is naturally very convenient to cultivate Lin family's magic."

"Then why can't a person be separated?" Yin Xiaolong asked.

"Because there is a 'connection' between a person's spirit and soul, this connection is very difficult to break or separate. Even if forcibly separated, it is difficult for the spirit and soul to reunite. You must know that a person in a living state must have their spirit and soul connected, while the souls of twins are more likely to return to their original state after separation," Lin Zhian explained.

"So, Uncle Lin is an only son, so he has no way to cultivate?" Yin Xiaolong asked.

“That’s right, so the Lin family members who know magic must always be twins.” Lin Zhi’an waved his hand impatiently and said, “There are some things you’ll definitely know if we manage to get back alive. Now, the most important thing is, are you willing to perform this spell?”

"Of course I'm willing! We've come this far, we can't just starve to death in this damn maze!" Yin Xiaolong seemed to have a bit of the courage to make a tough decision, puffing out his chest like a martyr going to his death. His appearance actually made the two girls smile, after all, they were still just teenagers and didn't have too many worries about the future.

“Alright!” Lin Zhian shook Lin Zhiping’s hand and said, “Let’s open…”

Let's begin!

Lin Zhiping nodded, and instantly, a strange ripple appeared where their hands were clasped. Then, as if water were rippling, the two figures seemed to overlap, as if merging into one, or perhaps transforming into many other figures. A powerful sense of weariness washed over Yin Xiaolong, yet he couldn't fall asleep. He was on the verge of sleep, yet something seemed to be holding him back; his consciousness oscillated between drowsiness and wakefulness. His eyelids were heavy, his eyes tired, and burning…

Lin Zhian and Lin Zhiping before him each extended their left and right hands, seemingly as one person, their hands clasped together, performing strange hand gestures… Slowly, the two suddenly transformed back into one, deftly twisting and changing their movements with their hands… Were they two people or one? Yin Xiaolong seemed unable to distinguish anymore, only feeling his consciousness being surrounded and suppressed, a suffocating sense of oppression…

Behind the two sisters, a massive, dark door seemed to be faintly emerging, adorned with… green pupils… golden flames… and red patterns. …This was Yin Xiaolong's last thought…

Book 4, Chapter 16: The Tree of Souls

Book 4, Chapter 16: The Tree of Souls

When Yin Xiaolong opened his eyes again, a strange sight greeted him: in the very center of a vast cave, its boundaries invisible, stood a colossal tree, glowing with a shimmering green light. Even more bizarre were the enormous fruits, each nearly two meters tall and a meter wide, adorned with red patterns, hanging from its branches. From the base of each fruit, drops of bright red, viscous liquid seemed to slowly seep out, dripping into grooves in the ground. These grooves appeared to be man-made, and the red liquid gradually gathered at the tree's roots, seemingly nourishing the strange giant. What astonished the three even more was that the tree's trunk seemed hollow, with something vaguely hidden within.

"Look closely, is there someone inside?" Lin Zhiping asked, pointing to the red fruit. The other two looked closely and indeed, the fruit seemed to contain a human body, though it was very blurry.

"Didn't you say we'd end up at the grave? Why is there only this tree?" Yin Xiaolong scratched his head, utterly puzzled.

“Maybe this is a grave?” Lin Zhian glanced meaningfully at the red fruit and said, “A grave isn’t necessarily an ordinary coffin.”

"You don't think these are coffins, do you?" Lin Zhiping asked timidly, pointing to the red berries.

"Why not?" Lin Zhian wasn't afraid at all. He said, "This kind of burial method is quite fun!"

"This is supposed to be fun?" Yin Xiaolong felt an urge to faint. The Lin sisters were indeed extraordinary. (Typed by the Nomad God)

"Alright. Let's not worry about whether it's true or not. Our problem now is, how do we find that thing?" Lin Zhian sighed and said, "This cave looks so big, it seems to have no end. How are we supposed to find it?"

"That tree trunk seems to be hollow. Why don't we go take a look?" Lin Zhiping suggested, pulling Lin Zhian's hand.

"Okay, that's fine." Lin Zhian nodded.

The three carefully stepped over the grooves and walked toward the tree trunk. Although they didn't know if these things were dangerous, they still subconsciously avoided the fruits and grooves.

"Have you noticed that there's nothing here except this tree? Not even a single insect?" Yin Xiaolong asked as they walked.

"So either these things are poisonous, or there are no other living things here at all." Lin Zhian seemed to really want to touch the red fruits, but in the end he refrained.

As they approached the tree trunk, the three discovered that it was indeed hollow. However, the hollow part appeared to be a viscous semi-solid, a fluorescent green, almost like the color of will-o'-the-wisps. At the center of this green semi-solid was a golden mass, seemingly...pulsating slightly! The entire hollow part of the tree trunk resembled a large piece of green amber.

A heart...? Could this be the heart of a heartless person? The three of them had almost the same thought, exchanging glances, but none of them spoke. Because it was just a vague mass, completely indistinct. Yet it was beating slightly—what else could be beating? Besides, Lin Fan had said this thing was in the Yin family's ancestral tomb; could it be... really?

"Never mind, let's take it out and see first." Yin Xiaolong said, reaching in to take it.

"No!" Lin Zhiping grabbed his hand and said, "What if it's poisonous?"

"Let's try it first." Lin Zhi'an took out a handkerchief and gently tossed it towards the tree trunk. It floated lightly to the trunk and adhered to the green semi-solid substance. (://hi.baidu./Nomad God)

"It seems to be fine!" Lin Zhiping looked at the intact handkerchief with delight, and then reached out to touch the green semi-solid.

"Wait a minute!" Lin Zhian hurriedly tried to stop her, but it was too late. Lin Zhiping's hand had already touched the green semi-solid, and they heard a sizzling sound, like the sound of meat being roasted.

"Ah...!" Lin Zhiping screamed in pain, pulling her hand back. She saw that the skin on the fingers she had touched was black, as if it had been burned by fire, revealing the pink flesh underneath.

"How is it?" Lin Zhian immediately grabbed Lin Zhiping's hand, while Yin Xiaolong anxiously scratched his head, unsure of how to help.

"It hurts!" Lin Zhiping was in so much pain that her eyes were filled with tears, and her whole body was trembling. After all, the ten fingers are connected to the heart.

"Don't move!" Lin Zhian grabbed Lin Zhiping's hand tightly, then bit his finger and dripped the blood onto Lin Zhiping's wound. Strangely enough, the wound immediately began to shrink as soon as it touched the blood, as if it was growing new flesh.

"Wow, your blood is so amazing!" Yin Xiaolong was dumbfounded. This blood was more powerful than any elixir.

“My blood only works on her.” Lin Zhian glanced at Yin Xiaolong. He shouldn’t think he was a panacea. He wished he could, but unfortunately, their blood was only effective on each other. In other words, it would be useless on a third person. Perhaps that was another advantage of being twins.

"Huh? Is that so?" Yin Xiaolong's tone was full of disappointment; it seemed he couldn't count on him.

Just as the three were relieved that their wounds were healed, a strange rustling sound suddenly came from the previously silent cave, as if something was wriggling.

"What's that sound?" Lin Zhiping looked around alertly and noticed something moving underground. It was a very long object. Could it be... a snake? But why would a snake be wriggling underground? And these things were slowly moving towards her.

"Watch out!" Yin Xiaolong suddenly shoved the two Lin sisters. A green shadow flashed and struck the tree trunk with a loud crack.

Tree roots? The three looked closely and saw green tree roots emerging from the ground. These roots were as soft and elastic as octopus tentacles, and seemed to have eyes, shooting towards them.

"Ah—!" A tree root flew towards the two Lin sisters. Lin Zhi'an immediately pulled Lin Zhiping back quickly. They were also very fast, shooting out at an angle in a posture that was difficult for ordinary people to achieve, cleverly avoiding the attack of the tree root. But the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Two other tree roots flew from behind the two Lin sisters.

Just when Yin Xiaolong thought the two sisters were doomed, a massive golden shield, taller than a person, seemed to appear out of thin air behind Lin Zhi'an. With a loud bang, tree roots slammed into the shield, splattering green sap everywhere. Lin Zhi'an waved her hand behind her, and the golden shield swung in front of the two sisters. (Typed by Nomad God)

"Xiao Long, come here!" Lin Zhi'an called out, pulling Lin Zhiping closer to him. Immediately afterward, a shield appeared behind Lin Zhiping, allowing the three of them to catch their breath under the protection of these two shields. However, the attacks from the tree roots grew increasingly fierce, with more and more roots emerging from the ground, and the shields began to show cracks due to the violent impacts from the roots.

"What should we do? The Soul Shield won't hold for much longer." Lin Zhiping waved her hands laboriously. Although neither of them was directly manipulating the shield with their hands, their physical strength seemed to be greatly depleted, and glistening sweat dripped from their foreheads.

“It seems that simply defending without attacking won’t work.” Lin Zhi’an’s left hand trembled, and the golden shield immediately shrank by half. The moment her right hand clenched into a fist, a golden longsword appeared in her hand.

"Follow me!" Lin Zhian brandished his golden longsword, skillfully deflecting the incoming tree roots one by one. The three of them slowly retreated back the way they had come in. Just then, the tree roots seemed to realize the power of Lin Zhian's golden longsword and began to change. First, small bumps slowly grew on their surface, then tiny green spheres, like parasitic tumors. Finally, these small tumors detached from their parent plant and shot towards the three of them like countless hidden weapons. The densely packed green tumors were like countless bullets aimed at the three of them, and a single golden longsword could not deflect all of them.

"Ah!" Lin Zhiping suddenly cried out in pain. Yin Xiaolong looked down and saw that the shield behind Lin Zhiping had disappeared immediately. A small tumor had been hit on her calf, and black smoke was coming out of the wound. A strong burnt smell made Yin Xiaolong's eyes water.

"Sister!" Lin Zhian clasped his hands together, and the shield and sword merged into one in a golden light. A small, lotus-pod-like transparent object enveloped the three of them, temporarily isolating the tree roots outside.

"It hurts!" Lin Zhiping fell to the ground, clutching her left calf tightly. Black blood was flowing from the wound.

"Damn it!" Lin Zhian squatted down and looked at the wound, saying, "Sister, bear with it!" As she spoke, she peeled the wound open a little more, revealing a small green tumor in the already dark red flesh, and it seemed to be slowly burrowing into the flesh.

"What should we do, Zhi'an? Should we take that little thing out?" Yin Xiaolong asked, holding Lin Zhiping tightly as she struggled in pain.

"Okay!" Lin Zhian nodded, pulled out a small dagger from his waist, and said, "Sister, you must bear with it, I have to dig that thing out!"

"It hurts!" Lin Zhiping nodded with difficulty, but her face was already as pale as paper.

"Don't worry, I'll be quick." Lin Zhi'an grabbed Lin Zhiping's leg and said to Yin Xiaolong, "Hold her tight, don't let her move!"

As he spoke, Lin Zhian moved with lightning speed, stabbing down with his knife. Amidst Lin Zhiping's scream of pain, he simply flicked the small green tumor out, and it rolled to the ground. Immediately afterward, Lin Zhian tore off one of his sleeves and used it as a bandage to tightly bind Lin Zhiping's wound.

"My legs... I still... I still can't move them!" Lin Zhiping said weakly, panting.

"This thing might have an anesthetic effect." Lin Zhian shoved the dagger into Yin Xiaolong's hand and said, "This barrier won't last long. In a bit, you'll carry your sister back to the cave entrance we just came from."

"Then...then what about you?" Yin Xiaolong was a little at a loss. It seemed that things were not as easy as he had imagined. Not only did he not get what he was supposed to get, he could not even protect the two sisters.

"I'll be behind you!" Lin Zhi'an actually had the mood to smile, touching his disheveled hair, and said, "The people of the Lin family don't die so easily."

The tree roots continued their relentless assault on the barrier, along with the small green nodules, pounding against it like hail. Yin Xiaolong could even feel the barrier trembling slightly from the impact, like a small animal struggling to survive under the attack of a ferocious beast. If the barrier were to disappear, the three of them would undoubtedly be subjected to a hail of bullets, and at that point, they would likely be beaten beyond recognition.

Volume 4, Chapter 17: The Fruit of the Soul

Volume 4, Chapter 17: The Fruit of the Soul

"No, don't!" Lin Zhiping suddenly became stubborn, grabbing Lin Zhian's hand tightly and almost crying as she said, "Don't do that, you'll die."

"How else can we escape? How else can we get that thing?" Lin Zhian smiled confidently and comforted her, "Sister, that method might not kill us. After all, none of us have tried it before, have we?"