Canciones errantes en los confines de la Tierra

Capítulo 10

What is eternity?

"Eternity is—death. Only in this way can human emotions be eternal." "Don't human emotions have eternity? I'm talking about while we're alive." "As long as a person is alive, then eternity doesn't exist." "I really want to see you, Lost." "That comes at a price—" "What price?"

"die--"

"I'm willing to pay..."

Lost lowered her eyes. How many years ago had her eyes run dry? A bunch of fools—she closed her eyes, leaned back in her comfortable chair, and spun around. She reached for the cigarette case on the table; the light weight indicated it was empty. She opened her eyes, stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment, then got up, casually tidied her slightly messy hair, took a sip of bitter tea to moisten her lips, and said, "Fox, come with me to buy cigarettes. Let's go!" The snow-white fox followed its master out of the house.

She disliked being stared at, but a girl dressed entirely in white with a white dog that looked like a fox, coupled with her unique and unusual aura, was bound to attract attention. Lost glanced around, chewing on a bitter tea leaf she'd just swallowed. The bitter taste spread in her mouth, and she frowned, spitting out the leaf. She walked to the counter and tossed in a banknote; the clerk already knew what brand of cigarettes she usually smoked. The man next to her was buying bitter tea; his magnetic voice sounded so familiar, yet she couldn't recall when she'd heard it before—after all, she'd lived for a long time. She glanced at the man; he was tall and slender, with thick hair and expressionless features that gave him a cold, aloof look. He could be described as handsome, and coldness is attractive to many, isn't it? She squinted, scrutinizing him closely. That familiar feeling was impossible to ignore, yet she couldn't quite place it. When she realized he was watching her, she awkwardly turned and walked towards the shop entrance. But as she passed by him, she noticed how familiar the sword in his hand was. A memory surged through her like an electric current. She abruptly stopped and turned to look at the sword in his hand—it was… the Lonely Sword! Could it be him? She quietly shifted her gaze to him. So many years of waiting had taught her composure. After a silent exchange of glances, she finally chose to leave. Han quietly watched her departing figure. He had already memorized her face the moment she looked at him, because of that familiar feeling. Seeing her face, he could feel the burning pain emanating from the birthmark on his arm. Could it be her, the thing he had been searching for since he was old enough to understand?

---Fish and shrimp

Reply [75]: Lost was going down the stairs when she was suddenly pushed down the stairs by a force from behind. She only felt a dizziness and then everything went quiet. Fortunately, there were only a few steps left on the stairs, so the fall was not too hard. Several strangers stopped and looked at the woman who pushed Lost in surprise. Lost struggled to stand up by holding onto the wall. Fox rushed up fiercely but was stopped by her. "Fox, come back, listen to me!" She used simple words to get her beloved dog back, but she still felt a little tired. She didn't let Fox go forward. She was afraid that the person would hurt Fox. She would rather be the one who was hurt because in the law, it is not a big deal for humans to hurt animals. Animal life will never be cherished, but intentionally hurting people is a crime. The crazed woman saw her stand up and took a few steps forward, grabbing her and shaking her, saying, "You murderer, give me back my son's life, give it back to me..." The woman screamed and cried, desperately pushing away the crazed woman, collapsing to the ground panting. Every cell in her body could feel the pain, and her pure white clothes were stained with dust.

"Who is the real murderer?" She looked at the woman with a mocking gaze. The woman stared at her for a moment, then said, "You're the one who drove him to his death! Great mother, think about what you've done. Under the guise of doing everything for his own good, you turned him into a puppet in your hands. He was a person with his own thoughts, yet you never considered his feelings. You are the murderer."

"No, no, you're talking nonsense, you're talking nonsense, I won't listen!" The woman covered her ears desperately and screamed hysterically.

"Has any of you ever cared about his feelings? You don't love him, you only love his achievements, you only want him to fulfill the wishes you couldn't achieve. He's been contemplating suicide for a long time, has any of you noticed? Has anyone noticed? You only think of yourselves, you only push the responsibility onto others, and now you just come here to blame others." Lost slowly stood up and spoke coldly, his eyes filled with hatred for humanity.

"No, no, it's all you, it's all you! I'm going to strangle you!" The woman rushed towards Lost like a madwoman. The onlookers watched everything coldly. To them, it was just a play; they were just spectators, not actors.

"He was so lonely, always so lonely. Even at the moment his life ended, he was the only one bearing this lonely fall," Lost murmured, her expression deathly still. She herself had been like him, that fall was lonely, eternally lonely… Han reached out and pulled the crazed woman away to prevent her from hurting Lost, then yelled at her, "Enough! Shut up!"

She was panting heavily as she slowly slid down the wall. She had been so excited that she felt completely exhausted. The fox whimpered beside her, and she patted its head with difficulty to comfort it. The woman covered her face and ran away crying. Han bent down, picked her up, and said, "I'll take you to the hospital to check if you're hurt anywhere."

"No need, just take me home, okay?" She found a comfortable spot on his shoulder, whispered her address in his ear, handed him the key, and slowly closed her eyes. In his warm embrace, she had an ancient dream: her mother's tears, the embrace of that ancient man, and the embrace that protected her when she was injured—a safe and warm embrace that allowed her to drift into a peaceful sleep. Warm tears streamed from the corners of her eyes; that salty warmth was indeed tears. She realized that what she had been waiting for all along was this warm embrace with its unique, subtle scent. She felt him gently place her on her familiar double bed. She softly opened her hazy eyes and looked at him, saying, "I've finally waited for you. Do you remember our promise?" After saying this, she closed her eyes peacefully. She knew he wouldn't leave because of what he had just said. Han was silent. He quietly looked at her, reached out to brush the hair from her forehead, and pondered her words. What exactly did she mean by those words?

This deep sleep was a long recollection. Previously, these memories had only appeared in fragments before, but now they were completely replayed, further confirming her belief that she had found him. Tears returned; her tears were only for his existence. She thought she had become numb, but she never imagined that the memories replayed in her dreams would cause such heartache. Tears streamed from the corners of her eyes. She opened her eyes and felt darkness descend upon her. He sat at her computer, browsing her online articles. In the darkness, she hugged him from behind, resulting in silence between them…

"Lost..." he murmured her name softly, "Is this the one I'm looking for?"

"Why is your article so despairing?"

"Because of you"

"Why don't you try to stop people who are committing suicide when they're right next to you?"

"Because of you"

Why live?

"Because of you, it's all because of you."

There was also hatred for humans, but she didn't say it aloud. Humans had slaughtered her people, something she could never forget. She gazed at him, a flash of hatred crossing her eyes, which he didn't miss, only a hint of surprise. He gently cupped her somewhat pale face, "Why?" Tears streamed from her eyes, turning from warm to cold as they fell, "Because of you..."

---Fish and shrimp

Reply [76]: The night was low and languid. She woke up. The night still hung overhead. Moonlight streamed into the room and onto the bed. She turned over; he was still fast asleep. Although the moonlight was dim, she could still see his face. He had his back to her and was silent. She placed her hand on his shoulder and whispered, "Are you there?" She wanted to hear his voice, a warm and soft voice. It was the first time she had been so close to him; it all felt like a dream. He didn't make a sound; perhaps he was sleeping very soundly. She stepped over him, got out of bed, and walked barefoot to the table to pour herself a glass of water. The cold water went down her throat, stimulating her senses.

"What are you doing?" He seemed to have just woken up.

She climbed into bed and hid under the covers. "I'm thirsty," she said, then snuggled closer to him, wiping the water from her lips onto his shoulder. He gently patted her head, and she saw the clear birthmark on his arm—the mark she had left behind. After he quietly fell asleep, she turned over and wept silently against the cold wall.

It turns out everything was predetermined, and no one could change it...

Humans and demons can never be together!

Sunlight fell on his face, and he raised his hand to shield his eyes. The faint scent of her lingered on the bed, but the spot beside him was empty. He found her on the rooftop, gazing at her gentle smile with fascination. In that moment, under the sunlight, he noticed her eyes weren't black, but amber—that familiar amber color, the kind of eyes he often saw in his dreams, so clear.

"What are you thinking about?" He gently pulled her into his arms.

"I'm wondering if this is all a dream," she said, smiling as she leaned against him. It all had happened so suddenly, and she was overwhelmed with happiness, but she knew very well that it came at a price.

"This is not a dream, this is a lifetime!" Han Ailian gently pinched her cheek, but her smile froze. How long would a lifetime be? Could she even live this lifetime?

Looking in the mirror, she saw her pale reflection. She gently combed her hair, a few silver strands already appearing in her jet-black locks. Her movements were as slow as slow motion in a movie. With each passing day, her aura would weaken, her body would grow weaker and weaker, until she reverted to her original form and died.

She trembled slightly, looking into his solemn eyes through the mirror. For the first time, she feared death, simply because she had gained what she wanted, only to lose it all. A thousand years of waiting had ultimately amounted to nothing more than a fleeting moment; in the end, she would still embark on her journey alone. "I am about to leave you, to go to a very, very far place, alone. This is the price I pay for seeing you. The tenth day after I see you will be the end of my life." She turned away and gently placed her finger on his lips, signaling him to say nothing more. She had given everything for this one meeting. Years of hardship and resentment had vanished, but the seal in her blood remained. Their fate was sealed; she would have no future. She looked at him and whispered, "Kill me with the Lonely Sword! It will make me much happier. I don't want you to see me revert to my original form and then die in agony. This is my final request."

“I know everything. Xie Chen told me everything.” Remembering the girl with the strange smile, his lips tightened, and he remained silent, his eyes lowered. Xie Chen, a mysterious woman who controlled destiny—all of this was her doing. Who would have thought that a girl only a teenager would be the messenger of fate?

"Are you looking for this?" A girl smiled and tossed a unique sword to Han.

He skillfully caught the sword, then looked at the strange girl in front of him and asked, "Who are you? How do you know that I've been searching for something?"

"I told you, you would kill that child with your own hands. Do you remember who I am? My name is Xie Chen, an emissary of destiny. I orchestrated everything. Do you think I wouldn't know?" She still tilted her head cutely to look at him, her starry eyes shimmering like water.

"Why?" He looked at the cynical little girl in front of him with confusion, and a surge of hatred welled up in his heart.

“Because…”, she stopped smiling and looked seriously at the man in front of her, saying each word clearly, “simply because of the ancient artifact in your hand…”.

"The person you're looking for will appear soon, but after she sees you, her death will come quickly. Do you believe me?" She chuckled and then vanished before his eyes.

On the rooftop, she stood on the edge, looking up at the sky, then smiled and looked down at him. "They've come to pick me up." He squinted in the direction she had been looking. The sky was a clear blue, the wind was howling, and the ancient lamentations seemed to have traveled through time to the present. She jumped down from the railing to him, and he reached out to catch her, pulling her into his arms.

"Actually, I've always wanted to be alone, but I think that wish can never be fulfilled in this lifetime. I'm sorry!" She looked up into his eyes, her tearful eyes filled with apology.

"Silly girl..." He gently stroked her hair, then used his large hand to wipe away her tears. All of this was because they were so foolish. Although they had paid a heavy price, she was content; after all, she had won him over.

He held her gently, whispering in her ear, "I've been searching all along. From the day I became aware of things, a voice in my mind has been calling to me, 'In the next life, you must come to find me. Don't leave me alone. I'll be scared, I'll be so lonely. Don't forget...' Because of my cowardice, we were separated for a thousand years, and when we met again, it was another farewell. You waited for me for so many years, so let me wait for you in the next life!"

That was her final outpouring. The sound of the sword leaving its sheath was so crisp, gleaming coldly in the sunlight. After a tearing pain, the sword pierced her from behind, penetrating her body and also piercing his chest. The Lonely Sword, stained with his blood, emitted an unusual light.

"Why?" she gasped, looking at him in confusion. Blood flowed into her body along the sword, and the demonic aura on her body instantly dissipated, along with a few strands of silver hair that vanished without a trace.

“Long ago, we demon hunters were told that the energy of ancient artifacts combined with our blood could transform demons into humans. This is… my first gift to you.” He gently kissed her forehead. “In this life, I will never let you leave alone again. This time, let me accompany you on this fall; you will never… be alone again.” The artifact dissolved into wisps of luminous dust within their bodies and vanished.

He held her and resolutely jumped from the building. They plummeted rapidly, their wind-blown hair tangling and intertwining in the air, lingering for a long time. This fall, she would never be alone again. Before darkness fell, she gently closed her eyes, leaving behind only a final, blissful smile.

---Fish and shrimp

Reply [77]: Classic Supernatural Stories, Part 8: The Three-Life Stone Author: Unknown In her previous life, her wet nurse told her that when she was born, she had a bright red stone the size of a bayberry in her mouth. Her family discussed it, wondering whether it was a good or bad omen. So her mother went to the Nuwa Temple on the mountain to draw lots.

When her mother returned, she didn't say a word, and she and her father locked themselves in their room and discussed things for a long time. A month later, a Buddhist shrine was built on the hill behind their house. That day, her mother cooked the meal herself. During the meal, her parents remained silent, only keeping adding food to her bowl. Late at night, she was fast asleep when, in a daze, she was pulled up by the blankets. The young girl was terrified and cried out, "Mother, Mother, Father, Father..." When she finally managed to break free from the blankets, she found herself in a strange place. In the dark and chilly shrine, the wind silently swept through the empty eaves, a few wisps of smoke filled the air, and under the dim light, a statue of a deity stared at her with a grinning, menacing expression. She let out a loud cry and turned to run outside. A large stone tablet stood at the entrance, blocking her way, with the words "Reach the other shore early" written on it. Her mother's voice came softly from behind her, "Nai'er, from now on, your mother will live here with you, devoting herself to Buddhism, hoping to redeem your sins as soon as possible."

Her mother's expression was strange when she said those words. She always remembered her mother's eyes, dim and helpless. After that, she never mentioned again why she had been brought up the back mountain. She simply tied the stone that her daughter had held in her mouth when she was born with a blue silk thread and wore it on her chest.

So from the time she could remember, she lived in this Buddhist temple, never seeing her father again, never leaving this mountain behind. Her only companions were the biting mountain wind and the ancient Buddha statue with its flickering lamp. Many times, she would sit on the cliff behind the temple and look down. Large swaths of clouds would drift overhead, and below the cliff lay a forest. Occasionally, in the dead of night, she would hear the howls of wild beasts, their mournful cries seeming to be calling for something.

She didn't know how long she would stay in this Buddhist temple; her mother said it would be forever. She didn't know how long "forever" meant. The peach blossoms on the back hill bloomed and faded, until she turned eighteen, when she thought, "Forever" might mean a lifetime.

That day, she sat lost in thought on the edge of the cliff behind the mountain. Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, drifted over. Below, a man appeared, riding a chestnut horse, wearing a snow-white long robe, and a flute at his waist. This was the only man she had ever seen in her life besides her father. He looked up, his long, flowing hair billowing in the wind, his face sharply defined, his eyes like lightning. She stood there, stunned by his imposing presence, greedily lingering on his face… That night, his face appeared again. In her dream, he took her riding across the vast grasslands. Her face was flushed, like the peach blossoms of that year. Suddenly, dark clouds rolled in, a thunderclap rang out, and a large, bright red rock fell from the sky, cleaving the horse in two. They fell to the ground. A stone tablet stood between them, inscribed with "Early Ascent to the Other Shore"... A few days later, her father brought her and her mother down the mountain. A few days after that, someone delivered boxes of gold foil and jade artifacts to her father, along with hundreds of livestock and a bright red wedding dress.

Before she left, her mother gave her a three-inch-long dagger with a gold sheath. She said, "Nair, keep this safe; it will be useful later. Remember what your mother told you: atone for your sins as soon as possible."

The sound of gongs and drums outside the door grew louder as they approached. She suddenly turned around and said, "Mother, there's something I've never understood."

Speak, child.

Why did you and Dad leave me on the back mountain?

Mother was silent for a while, then sighed softly, "Nai'er, when you were born, I went to the Nuwa Temple to draw a divination for you. The elder said you were destined to be an ominous person who would bring disaster to the country. When a country is about to perish, a monster will surely be born. If you want to escape this calamity, you must never see any outsiders for the rest of your life."

Mother's eyes dimmed as she spoke. "You know your father was a loyal minister. How could he allow a demon to wreak havoc on the world? If I hadn't begged him to lock you up in the back mountain back then, he would have killed you long ago. But who knew that in the end… Alas, fate, fate!" The bridal sedan chair arrived at the door, its golden roof and red trim adorned with a coiled dragon… Amidst the commotion, the sedan chair stopped, and the curtain was lifted. She stared wide-eyed out, and opposite her stood a man with a chiseled face and eyes like lightning. "From now on, you are my queen, and they are your subjects," he said domineeringly.

Before her lay her subjects prostrate on the ground, and behind her stood her magnificent and imposing palace. He said, "This is the Heavenly Stone Palace."

---Fish and shrimp

Reply [78]: She became the woman he loved most, and he was the only man in her life.

He knew she had grown up in the hills behind her home, where a mountain of earth and stones had been built for her in the palace. She told him she always remembered the first time she saw him on the mountain, as if looking at a god, welcoming the first man truly belonging to her with surprise, joy, respect, and adoration. As for the curse from her destiny, along with the bloodstone that accompanied her life, she buried it deep in her memory. She began to long for an ordinary life, to stay by the side of her beloved. In truth, she only wanted to be an ordinary woman, without fine clothes and sumptuous food, without the need for prostrations and kowtows, without supreme power and status; she only needed a love that was completely hers, and a child that belonged to them.

Rumors began to circulate in the palace, and then, gossip spread from every corner of the city. A cacophony of angry denunciations and condemnations enveloped the "Heavenly Stone Palace." Because she was born with a piece of bright red bloodstone in her mouth; because her beauty captivated their supreme ruler; because her very existence had plunged the world into chaos; because she was a woman, a woman who would bring calamity, a woman of ill omen… and she, simply because she fell in love with a man who was not free… Before the ancient Buddha and the green lamp, she prayed sincerely: "Gods above, please forgive my sins, do not bring calamity upon him because of my love…" The Buddha said: "You must repent."

She said: I repent.

The Buddha said: You must forget.

She said: I have forgotten.

The Buddha said: Karmic entanglements.

She said: I just love him, is love a sin?

The Buddha said: You are destined not to have a good outcome. This life is only to settle the grudges from your past life, when he loved you so deeply that his tears turned to blood and stone.

She said: Please spare us. You are a high and mighty god, all-powerful. Please guide us to the right path.

The Buddha said: In this life, you are destined to meet but not to be together. A beautiful woman is a source of trouble, bringing ruin to the country and its people. Perhaps in the next life.

The shouts and cries of condemnation outside the palace were as urgent as the beating of drums: "Burn her!" "Kill her!" "Burn this ominous woman!" "Let her die!"... The angry and ferocious faces of the soldiers and civilians transformed into sharp, resilient lines that pierced through the thick palace walls and went straight to her heart. The increasingly clear screams drew closer to her ears, and everywhere there were the hollow, dull sounds of blunt weapons piercing through bodies.

He held her trembling body tightly, gently stroking her high-piled hair and slender neck. Then he placed his hand on her damp face, caressing it. "Nair, no one can hurt you, no one. I will always protect you like this..." In the dark and desolate hall, the wind silently passed through the empty eaves.

She lifted her head from his chest, meeting his deep eyes. "You, give up your kingdom, stay away from those power struggles, let's leave this place."

He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her tenderly, finally sobbing intermittently, "Nair, if I didn't have the power, how could I protect you? But now I am here, I am supreme---Fish and Shrimp replied [79]: I am the supreme king, they dare not rush in, they dare not..." She smiled bleakly at the man she loved so deeply, the only master in her life, the cowardly man who had nothing but power, and then said softly, "I want to dance for you."

She danced serenely before the ancient Buddha and the green lamp, dressed in a simple blue robe. Before her stood the man who had given her happiness yet could not protect it. Sorrowful footsteps echoed through the cold hall. His long hair remained, his face remained, just as it had been when they first met, only the lightning flash in his eyes was gone.

She abruptly pulled out the dagger she had been hiding in her sleeve, pressed it against her throat, and forcefully slashed it in. The flesh couldn't easily accept the invasion, and some brownish blood spurted out. It dripped down her palm lines with a lonely sound, staining her clothes red.

He cried out and embraced her limp body. A tear slid from the corner of her eye, dripping onto the blood-stained stone on her chest and seeping in. He cried out, "Blood, blood, blood-red tears..." Her bloodied lips smiled, trembling calmly, "You, this is my destiny. I've come to repay the debts of my past life. I hope to start anew in the next life..." The empty temple began to spin before her eyes. She saw her mother's dim gaze. Her mother said, "Nai'er, from now on, I will live here with you, hoping to atone for your sins as soon as possible..." You said, "Nai'er, don't abandon me."

She said, "In the next life..."

The statue behind him revealed a smiling, ferocious face.

You's face began to blur, her eyes dimmed, and the hand that had been on his face fell limply. Like a dancing butterfly gently folding its wings. Finally, there was no need to separate anymore, held in the hand, hidden in the heart, until the bones... 771 BC, the Western Zhou Dynasty fell, King You reigned for 11 years... ---Fish and Shrimp replied [80]: In this life, he started having that dream when he was very young. In the dream, a woman in a blue dress was dancing quietly in front of an ancient Buddha and a green lamp. A large stone tablet stood in front of the dilapidated and secluded temple, with the words "Ascend to the other shore early" engraved on it. In the dark and cool hall, the wind silently passed through the empty eaves. The girl turned around and smiled at him. Every time, he hoped to see her face clearly, but when he woke up, the only thing he remembered was that she had a bright red stone hanging on her chest.

He was a hunter on this mountain. His ancestors told him that this area at the foot of the mountain was once a palace hundreds of years ago, but it was destroyed because of an ominous woman. It was said that the woman was born with a bright red stone the size of a bayberry in her mouth. "A curse..." people sighed. He thought that he had that dream because he had heard this legend first.

He still made a living by hunting, leaving early and returning late. Every evening on his way home, he would pass a temple. Due to years of neglect, the halls were dilapidated, and weeds grew rampant on the walls and ground. He only remembered going inside to play when he was a child, but his parents found out and dragged him home by the ear. They said it was a cursed place. So he never went in again. Now, whenever he returned from hunting and passed this place, he would put down his prey and sit on the steps to rest for a while. There was a large stone tablet at the temple entrance, the inscription on it now blurred and illegible. This reminded him of the dream he often had and the stone tablet inscribed with "Early Ascent to the Other Shore."

That winter, the snow was heavy. He had dug traps in the woods well in advance. He got up very early that morning and left before dawn. He had a feeling that he would have a good harvest that day. As he passed the dilapidated temple, he saw a line of footprints at the entrance that led directly to the main hall.

Who went in? He walked inside, puzzled.

The footprints were very shallow, like sand blown by the wind, barely brushing across the snow.

Perhaps this person had been inside for a long time, and the footprints were covered by the heavy snow, which is why they weren't so clear. He comforted himself.

The crumbling walls lay silently. The hall was gloomy, exuding a chilling atmosphere. The dilapidated statue of the deity, its face broken, looked down. The eternal lamps hanging from the beams swayed from side to side in the wind, making creaking sounds. The ground, overgrown with weeds, was in a state of disrepair.

He looked around, but saw no one. Just as he was about to turn and leave, he heard a slight creak from under the offering table. He rushed over and overturned it. At his feet was a woman dressed in white, her long, flowing hair cascading down her shoulders, her bare feet huddled together. Without thinking, he scooped her up in his arms and ran outside. Behind him, he heard a cracking sound. Looking back, the Buddha statue in the hall had crumbled into a pile of yellow sand.

"My name is Naishi." These were the first words she said to him when she woke up.

He saw a stone, bright red in color, tied with a blue thread around her slender neck.

She never told him about her origins. He never asked. Every day before dawn, he still rose early to hunt. She stayed quietly at home, waiting for him in front of the temple at dusk. She would always sit on the stone table where the statues of the gods used to be, swinging her legs, quietly listening to the mournful cries of crows and sparrows outside the corridor. Then he would lift her down. As they walked out of the temple, she would suddenly stop and say, "You, do you know what words are engraved on this stone tablet?"

He shook his head.

She laughed and said, "Maybe it's 'never being promoted'."