Boîte corporelle

Chapitre 40

"Yes..." "I've had that dream countless times; I suppose it's because I can't forget that child..."

"Ling'er! I beg you! I'm begging you, please don't mention the child again..." Chang Xiao trembled all over, holding Ling'er tightly, as if she were his lifeline.

"Okay, okay! I won't mention it anymore, Xiao, don't be like this..." Ling'er kissed away Chang Xiao's tears.

"Master, where are you?" Hu Yi's voice rang in Ling'er's ears.

"We're on the roof. What? You and Xue'er are back?"

"Yes! You and Xiao come back quickly, we've made an important discovery!"

When Chang Xiao and Ling'er opened the door, Hu Yi was pacing back and forth in the living room with his hands behind his back, while Xue'er sat there silently.

"What's wrong?" Chang Xiao asked.

"That old man of fate is indeed no simple character!" Hu Yi said with a deep frown.

"oh?"

"When I cast the Soul-Capturing Spell on that girl, I discovered that she and her mother had indeed been bribed..."

"Then why did Ah Yi say he was no ordinary person?"

"Because, I unexpectedly discovered that this person can know a person's past!" Xue'er said uneasily.

"Knowing someone's past? What does that mean?" Chang Xiao asked, puzzled.

“If he wanted to, he could use his special abilities to know everything that had happened to each person! That explains how he knew about the master’s past! As for me, I think he has thoroughly figured out what happened between us before, and he must be very familiar with my temperament! The master has not returned for several days, so I must be very anxious. It is reasonable for him to bet that I would say those things!” Hu Yidao said.

"But what benefit does he get from doing this?" Ling'er asked after a long silence.

"Because he wants us dead!" Chang Xiao's face was clouded with gloom!

"Have we offended him? I don't even know who he is!"

“I guess he is Mr. Shenji. Once you die, the Realm of Light will be completely his! With the God Lord’s indifferent nature, he will definitely retire to the mountains and forests. Therefore, he will be the God Lord’s first successor!” Chang Xiao said.

"If he killed Ling'er, how could Brother Kuzhu possibly let him go?" Xue'er asked, puzzled.

"Ling'er committed suicide, what does that have to do with Mr. Shenji?" Hu Yi asked in return.

"I see……"

Just then, a flash of white light appeared, and two people appeared in Ling'er's living room.

"Arrogant?" Hu Yi exclaimed. "Brother, what's wrong with you?" Hu Yi ran over to support the swaying arrogance, and glanced at the woman next to him.

The arrogant man was wearing a blue armor, the blood on it still wet, while the woman was wearing a purple armor, also covered in blood.

"Auspicious Heaven?" Chang Xiao and Xue'er exclaimed in surprise.

The woman in purple armor knelt on the ground and said to Ling'er, "Your Highness, the Temple of Light is in dire need of help. The old scoundrel Shenji colluded with the rebels of the Dark Realm and the Underworld, totaling three million, to besiege the Temple of Light. Four hundred thousand of the Nine Heavens troops were killed, three hundred thousand were wounded, leaving only twenty! Your Majesty is also seriously injured!"

"Master, Eighteen... Eighteen... He was... his hand was cut off while saving Meiniang...!" Kuang Ao cried out in anguish.

"What?" everyone exclaimed in surprise. Ling'er felt dizzy. How could this be? How could a mere fortune teller have such great influence? Could he really be the so-called Old Man of Destiny?

Chang Xiao sighed deeply and said, "Go back, Ling'er! Go and protect the Realm of Light!"

Ling'er held back her tears, looking at him sitting blankly on the sofa. She knew how much pain Chang Xiao was in when he made this decision. "Xiao, wait for me!" Ling'er said silently in her heart.

As the white light faded, Chang Xiao slowly lit a cigarette, watching the ash dance in the air. Lost in thought, he walked to Ling'er's bedroom, picked up a photo frame from her desk. It was a group photo: Ling'er, Chang Xiao, Wolf King, Tears, Hu Yi, Eighteen, and Arrogance. The seven of them were huddled together. In the photo, even the aloof Wolf King wore a faint smile; Tears was alluring; Hu Yi was handsome; Eighteen was imposing; Arrogance was dashing; and there was her. Chang Xiao clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging into his palms without him noticing. What good was invincible strength? He couldn't even spend his life with the one he loved.

Tears fell onto Ling'er's face in the photograph. He gently wiped them away; her smile was still so captivating. He kissed her cheek and put the frame down. As he walked out the door, he knew this was the end, the end of everything! Ling'er walked through the Hall of Glory, surrounded by wounded soldiers. She reached the main gate and saw the familiar figure of Eighteen—Eighteen, his left arm missing! Though bandaged, his left arm still bled slightly, and he held his giant axe in his right hand, looking as mighty as a god!

"Eighteen!" Hu Yi roared, and he and Kuang Ao charged toward Eighteen together. The three of them stood side by side, smiled at each other, and Eighteen's giant axe, Hu Yi's soft sword, and Kuang Ao's iron spear firmly guarded the main gate.

Tears blurred Ling'er's vision. Where was Zhu'er? Where was the Wolf King? Ling'er was about to ask when suddenly her vision blurred again, and memories flooded back like a tide. All the love, hate, and sorrow of the past thousand years surged into her heart. The sound of hooves, the shouts—scene after scene, how much it resembled a thousand years ago! Only he was missing. In the midst of a thousand troops, he was so conspicuous, as if everything else was merely an accessory to him. Only he, high above, with his wicked smile, clear eyes, black armor, and blood-red cloak, stood there. In an instant, he brazenly entered her heart, easily occupying all her thoughts. Chang Xiao, the man she had only heard of—she recognized him at a glance, and his eyes seemed to be fixed on her. Her face flushed inexplicably, her gaze following him. At this moment, the thousand troops around her seemed to have vanished…

"Illusion!" Ling'er transformed her clothes into the battle robe she wore when she was at the remote and desolate Boundary Mountain, a pale blue. Only then did those around her realize that their war god had returned. "Holy Spirit is invincible!" Someone shouted the old slogan, and everyone was as if they had taken a stimulant. Yes! Compared to the Dark Commander, what were the rebels before them? The enemy gradually retreated, and Ling'er calmly directed the battle. The Temple of Light held its ground.

"Listen up, everyone in the Hall of Light! You have one hour to surrender, or I will treat her well!" A voice shouted from the enemy ranks. Ling'er looked over and saw Tears and the Wolf King being hung high in the air. Tears' haggard appearance suffocated Ling'er; her eyes were filled with despair. The Wolf King was also trembling all over...

"Zhu'er!" "Sister Zhu'er!" Ling'er and Hu Yikuang exclaimed in surprise!

The person who shouted looked at Ling'er and the others with a sneer, his eyes full of disdain.

"If you dare touch her, I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget!" Ling'er's voice was devoid of any emotion.

"Oh? I'm so scared..." The Demon King sneered, tearing half of Leizhu'er's sleeve off with one hand!

Before anyone could react, a cold voice rang in the ears of the millions present: "Demon King! Your audacity is growing! You dare betray the Dark Realm? And you dare to plot against my friends! I'll count to three, release them to surrender, or I'll kill without mercy!"

The outermost edge of the rebel army parted to make way for a person who slowly walked towards the Temple of Light. He had an evil smile, clear eyes, black armor, a blood-red cloak, and held a strangely shaped knife in his hand!

"Dark Commander!" Those two words flashed through everyone's minds. Silence. Utter silence. Even Chang Xiao's footsteps were crystal clear! Every step he took pounded heavily on the hearts of the rebels. What did the words "Dark Commander" represent? Annihilation! Everyone knew. Even the warriors who feared no death on the battlefield felt an immense fear of the Dark Commander…

"One!" Chang Xiao said softly. He looked up at Ling'er, and Ling'er's tears welled up again. What kind of man had she fallen in love with? His appearance was like the sun, and no one could rival his brilliance.

"Two!" Someone put down their weapon, one, two, three...

"Three!" Chang Xiao closed his eyes.

"Take up your weapons! He's just one person! Kill!!" The Demon King screamed like a madman, but no one paid him any attention. Chang Xiao smiled contemptuously, and the knife in his hand sliced through the space. The next moment, the Demon King's head flew high into the air, and the ropes binding the Wolf King and Teardrop were completely shattered. The Wolf King picked up Teardrop and howled in grief.

"Wolf! Let it all end!" Chang Xiao said calmly. The wolf king charged into the crowd who had not yet laid down their weapons like a madman. Minced flesh flew everywhere, blood flowed like a river, and the pitiful howls echoed throughout the realm of light...

"Ling'er, it doesn't matter what fate has in store for us! I'll go against the heavens with you!" Chang Xiao said with a smile through his tears.

Ling'er nodded frantically. What else could she say besides nodding? The man before her had finally let go of everything. Fate? If fate wouldn't let them be together, then they would defy it together! Fate? Ling'er curled her lip in mockery. Man can conquer nature!

War is inevitable everywhere. The Divine Strategist, under the banner of overthrowing a tyrannical ruler, and having ruled the Realm of Light for nearly a thousand years, eliminating dissidents, placing his cronies in various departments, and even contacting the Demon King of the Dark Realm and a traitorous general of the Underworld, finally led his army to besiege the symbol of the Realm of Light—the Temple of Light. Just when victory seemed within reach, all of this was thwarted by two people. This self-proclaimed divine strategist watched in despair as his army was ruthlessly slaughtered by the Wolf King.

He knew all too well that in the Realm of Light, the Holy Lord was a banner, a banner symbolizing invincibility. As long as she was present, even with only a hundred men, her soldiers would have the confidence to win. And he—this old man known as the Divine Strategist—had finally witnessed the power of this banner today. As for Chang Xiao, whom he had always considered merely a reckless madman, he had somehow managed to intimidate three million soldiers. The Divine Strategist secretly reflected on his own mistakes, trying to avoid repeating them. But when he looked up, all the guards around him had been lying dead for some time. Chang Xiao, holding a still-dripping knife, looked at him with interest. "You can't kill me!" the Divine Strategist said, forcing himself to remain calm. Chang Xiao raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh?" The Divine Strategist said, "I know how to break the curse on you!" Chang Xiao laughed heartily.

Chang Xiao smiled disdainfully and said, "If you had told me this a month ago, I might not have killed you, but now…!" Chang Xiao raised his knife and said, "Any last words?" Shenji's eyes were bloodshot as he said, "I refuse to accept this! Why should I lose to someone as brave but reckless as you!" Chang Xiao laughed again, his laughter mingling with the howl of the wolf king and the screams of the rebels. "Because I am Chang Xiao, the Dark Commander Chang Xiao!" Chang Xiao shouted. With a flash of light, Shenji was cleaved in two. Chang Xiao leaped into the air, his voice booming like thunder, "Those who surrender will not be killed!"

Inside the Phoenix Pavilion.

"Zhu'er, are you alright?" Tears welled up in the eyes of the wolf king as he held her soft, boneless hand tightly. That wretched demon king dared to lay a finger on his woman. If he hadn't been careless, how could he have fallen into his trap and failed to protect the woman he loved?

"I'm fine, but Eighteen, your arm..." Tears welled up.

"Sister Zhu'er, I'm relieved that everyone is alright! It's just one arm, right? Zhang Wuji from Gu Long's novels also had only one arm, and he still managed to marry Xiaolongnu!" Shiba gazed at Meiniang with deep affection.

“Eighteenth Brother, I…” Meiniang’s tears flowed down her cheeks. She gently touched the spot on Eighteenth Brother’s severed arm. If it weren’t for saving her, perhaps he wouldn’t have been injured at all.

"Wait! You're saying that the one-armed character in Gu Long's novels is Zhang Wuji? And that he married Xiaolongnu?" Kuzhu interrupted Meiniang, staring wide-eyed at Shiba in confusion.

“Yes!” Eighteen answered confidently.

Ku Zhu looked at Hu Yi and Kuang Ao with a wry smile, and said, "He, he's talking nonsense..."

Just then, Ling'er's voice came: "Brother, who is talking nonsense?" She hadn't gone back to Fenglai Pavilion with the others, but had gone to the military camp with Chang Xiao to check on the soldiers' injuries.

"Ling'er, how are the soldiers' injuries?" Ku Zhu asked. He had insisted on going with them, but Ling'er refused when she saw that he was injured.

"Alas! The only way to describe it is with heavy casualties! Not to mention the soldiers, the majority of the Nine Heavens tribesmen were killed or wounded. Shumengtian, Chenfeitian, Yanyangtian, Haomiaotian, Liuyingtian, and Pushantian all died on the battlefield. As for the survivors, Zengzhangtian, Jixiangtian, and Xufantian, although they escaped the disaster, they were seriously injured... If it weren't for the outer wall of the Bright Hall blocking the rebel army, the Nine Heavens tribesmen would have been completely wiped out, but the rebel army has already paid a heavy price!"

"What? Master, you said Belle's injuries are serious?" the arrogant man beside him exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes! How did you know that Belle was the given name of Jixiangtian?" Ling'er asked, puzzled.

"Master, may I go see her?" The arrogant man did not answer, but his wandering gaze made everyone understand something.

"Wait a moment!" Ling'er turned around and took out an exquisite box from a drawer under the desk, handing it to Kuang Ao and saying, "This contains the Jade Immortal Pill, which can bring the dead back to life. It is a treasure of the Light Realm. There are three pills in total, one for each person."

"Hmm!" Kuang Ao nodded, took the box, and rushed out without saying anything more.

"So many soldiers died! It's all my fault for trusting people so easily, which gave Master Shenji an opportunity to take advantage of me! I am truly an incompetent divine master!" Kuzhu said with deep self-reproach.

"Brother, how can I blame you? If you hadn't been so worried about me, why would you have abandoned the Realm of Light? If anyone is to blame, it's me!"

"Ling'er, I've known you for a thousand years, but this is my first time here. What a failure." Chang Xiao smiled faintly, pulling everyone out of their heavy reality.

"If you can get in, then I'll call myself a failure! Don't forget, we're mortal enemies, Lord Dark Commander." Ling'er laughed. Although the heavy casualties of the soldiers pained her, she had already relieved half of the burden in her heart by killing Mr. Divine Mechanism and repelling the Heavenly Demon King, ensuring that the Light Realm would not be in danger in the short term.

"Hehe, that's true," Chang said with a smile.

"Brother Changxiao, I never imagined you would actually help the Light Realm. Back then, you were our number one enemy!" Xue'er felt very relieved. Without the war, Ling'er wouldn't have to go through the difficult process of being separated from him.

"Hehe, after six lifetimes, I finally know that power is not the most important thing in the world."

“However, it seems that my memory has not fully returned. I only know that we lived in seclusion in the Kuangjie Mountains for half a year, and those were truly happy days. But afterwards, I still can’t remember why we were cursed… Haha, can you tell me?” Ling’er frowned as she pondered.

"I...I don't know either."

"You don't know either? How is that possible?" Ling'er stared at him in astonishment.

"It's true. All I know is that when I woke up, I found myself all alone on Mount Kuangjie. Although I knew you had gone to reincarnate, I didn't know what had happened! My subconscious always thought it was my sister's doing, since my leaving without saying goodbye made her extremely embarrassed... It wasn't until recently that I found out it had nothing to do with her."

"It seems your memories are incomplete as well," Ling'er said sadly. On Mount Kuangjie.

The wind blew across the battlefield before the Temple of Light, as if mocking the dramatic battle that had just ended. Chang Xiao stood on Mount Kuangjie, the place where he and Ling'er first met. It was here that they got to know each other and fell in love. Chang Xiao squinted his eyes, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"Xiao!" Chang Xiao called softly and turned around. He saw Ling'er dressed in a light blue holy robe. He walked to her side and hugged her tightly. Ling'er struggled slightly, but Chang Xiao said, "Don't move!"

Ling'er chuckled and said, "You, you're always so domineering!"

Chang Xiao didn't answer, but looked up at the sky and said, "This time, I want to see what can separate us!" After a long while, he finally spoke.

Ling'er raised her head and kissed Chang Xiao's earlobe, whispering, "I'll listen to you!" She then blew on it, and Chang Xiao shook his head and laughed, "You still remember my most ticklish spot!"

Ling'er wrinkled her nose and said with dissatisfaction, "Of course! I still remember that what you hate most is carrots! Humph! Unlike you, you always forget people's birthdays!"

"Ling'er, it doesn't matter what memories we lose here, because no matter what happens, we will never be separated again!" Chang Xiao looked at Ling'er with deep affection.

"I know there's nothing that can't be solved. No matter who cast the curse, we will not give in!" Ling'er leaned against him, greedily inhaling his familiar scent.

"Master!" The two turned around and saw that Tears, Hu Yi, Eighteen, Arrogance, and Wolf King had all arrived.

Chang Xiao frowned and asked, "How did you know that Ling'er and I were here?"

"Who else could it be but me!" Xue'er and Hades also appeared before them.

"Why didn't my brother come?" Ling'er asked.

"You ran so fast, how did Brother Kuzhu get away? He's swamped with work in the Hall of Light right now! He's been clamoring to find a good successor to make room for the God Lord," Xue'er said with a charming laugh.

"Actually, Master Shenji really miscalculated this time! If he hadn't been so eager for quick success, the position of God Master would definitely have been his," Hu Yi analyzed.

"Oh?" Hades asked, puzzled.

"Although the God Lord is born with the appearance of an emperor, he regards status and power as fleeting clouds. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so willing to abandon a thousand subjects of the Light Realm for so long. Since he appointed Mr. Divine Mechanism to manage the Light Realm, it means he trusts him. Unless Ling'er is interested in the throne, he will definitely be the God Lord of the Lower Realm!"

"Me?? Forget it! If my brother hadn't been so irresponsible as the god-master, I wouldn't have been exhausted every day! I'll fight anyone who made me the god-master!" Ling'er said. "I wonder how Tingting and Mengmeng are doing?" Ling'er murmured.

"Who is Mengmeng? What is his relationship with Tingting?" Xue'er asked.