Безымянный убийца

Глава 46

The Great Roc Rises, Soaring Ninety Thousand Miles Away (Part 2)

"Ugh..." A groan came from the side. Everyone looked over and saw that Che Shui had finally woken up slowly. The group of people rushed over to him.

"OP!"

"Ache!"

Che Shui lay on the ground, feeling sore all over, especially his left cheek and head, from which waves of sharp pain throbbed. He slightly opened his eyes, only to be blinded by the sunlight. He tried to raise his hand to shield his eyes, but felt utterly powerless. Just as he frowned, someone shielded him from the sun, a few drops of water landed on his lips, and a hand gently lifted him up to feed him a few sips. The refreshing feeling reached his stomach, and he felt much better.

"...?" He finally managed to open his eyes and saw three heads surrounding him, looking at him.

"Ah Che? Are you alright?" Shuang Jing asked anxiously when she saw that his focus had finally returned.

"Could he have damaged his brain?" Mei Hua raised an eyebrow and looked at him carefully, asking.

"Didn't you say you didn't crash into it?" Xuan Sheng frowned. "You should be alright, right?"

"It's just that the last hit didn't collide, okay?" Plum Blossom rolled her eyes at him: "The ones before all made a loud bang!"

“…It’s so noisy.” Che Shui said in a low voice, reaching out to support himself as he sat up, but Xuan Sheng had already helped him up and let him lean against him.

He glanced at the other person quickly and saw that Xuan Sheng had no other injuries except for his pale face and somewhat haggard appearance; Mei Hua, on the other hand, had only flesh wounds, the cut on her forehead had been hastily bandaged, her face was covered in dust and dirt, and her sleeves were torn.

He hurriedly turned to check on Shuangjing, whom he hadn't seen for many days. Shuangjing was also looking at him with concern. Shuangjing's pale face had become much thinner, and her clothes were filthy. However, there was no sign of any serious injury or damage on her face. So, he finally felt relieved.

"A-Che?" Shuang Jing saw him staring blankly at her and waved her hand unconsciously, still a little worried: "Are you really alright?"

"Ah..." Che Shui snapped out of his daze, letting out a heavy sigh of relief. He immediately leaned against Xuan Sheng, covering his face and laughing, "Really..." He covered his face with his hands, hiding his eyes, his laughter growing wider and wider, "Hahahaha, you scared me to death... You two... really... I thought... I thought..."

I thought I was about to face the same mad despair as five years ago. That's why I had that thought. I'd rather die than see myself lose someone again.

“A-Che…” Shuang Jing sighed with a sense of relief, patted his shoulder, but her hand froze slightly when it touched him.

It's this shoulder.

Shoulders with a warm temperature.

This shoulder, so familiar to her for the past five years, has always been her refuge, no matter when.

Memories from the past few years came flooding back.

He knelt before Tian Sha's grave, weeping blood and tears; he held her hand, repeatedly apologizing as she lay seriously ill; he guided her step by step, teaching her to walk again, helping her slowly recover. He shared her sorrows in drunken revelry, played the flute for her in her loneliness, flew kites for her on sunny days, and traveled great distances to find her favorite tea leaves to keep her company as she listened to the rain. He was happier than anyone else to see her recover, and felt more guilty and sorrowful than anyone else to see her heartbroken.

She blinked, and tears began to fall without her noticing.

The pain, accompanied by a sense of security, surged towards me amplified tens of thousands of times.

Guilt, pain, sorrow, despair, and fear roared, surged, churned, and swallowed her whole.

"A-Che..." Her lips trembled as she spoke, and she grabbed his hand with a hint of fear. A familiar sense of security washed over her from the warmth of his skin. She opened her mouth, but after a long pause, she finally managed to say, "...I..."

"?" Che Shui looked up and saw large tears falling from her clear eyes. She didn't want him to see her sad, so she covered her mouth like a child, but she couldn't stop the tears.

The master of Chongchonglou immediately panicked, his mouth agape and eyes wide, his hands and feet trembling: "Wh...what happened? I...I'm fine, Xiaojing, I'm really fine, you you you you...don't cry!" He glanced at Xuansheng guiltily, afraid that he would be injured again by the second young master of Banyue City before his injuries had healed.

"...I'm sorry..." Shuangjing covered her face for a long time before finally saying these words with a mix of grievance and timidity.

The guilt, apology, and cautiousness in her words made Che Shui's aching wound feel hot and painful.

Shuangjing looked at him, her heartache and guilt almost overwhelming her.

I'm sorry, I only realized now that you've also had a tough time these past five years.

I'm sorry for making you hurt every time.

I'm sorry, you wouldn't have suffered so much if you hadn't deliberately gotten caught because you wanted to investigate everything.

I'm sorry, I'm actually very scared too. I'm scared of losing Xuan Sheng, scared of death, scared of seeing you or anyone else get hurt.

Che Shui, actually, I miss the old me more than anyone else, the me who flew through the seasons and years. Because only that me had enough courage to say, Che, I will definitely cure your poison, and we will definitely get out of this place alive. But... I really don't have that confidence now. So, I'm sorry, I've put you in trouble again.

She couldn't speak, she could only grip Che Shui's sleeve tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force.

Everyone remained silent, watching Shuangjing sob and Cheshui, whose face was filled with shock and sorrow. The atmosphere was so heavy that no one could utter any encouraging words.

Mei Hua quietly watched the shadows of the group, and suddenly realized that this was a side of them she had never seen before. The price they paid and the tears and pain behind the glory were like these dark shadows lying on the ground. Because they were covered by the dazzling sunlight, they could not be clearly seen, but once seen, they were so unfathomably heavy.

Che Shui listened silently as Shuang Jinglian recounted what had happened during his coma, while Xuan Sheng calmly and subtly added to the story, occasionally clenching his fists and looking at him apologetically.

"I'm sorry, Master... If only I had known back then..." In the end, the second young master of Half Moon City could only say this.

"Ah...is that it? I...I'm poisoned?" After a long silence, Che Shui blinked and looked at everyone, asking, "That's...it? If I can't defeat the Floating Duckweed Heroine within three days...I'll die?"

"No!" Shuangjing suddenly shouted, "I won't allow this to happen!" She gripped Cheshui's hand tightly: "We will get out of here alive... without a single one missing, without any loss... Cheshui... do you remember what you said to me before? When I tried to..." kill herself?

Che Shui was taken aback. A certain sentence shattered the fog that had been shrouding his memories, making them clear.

—One day, we will look back on these hardships with a smile.—

It was a misty, heavy rain, and the man before her, who always wore a bright smile, hugged Shuangjing tightly, tears streaming down his face.

That phrase, meant for her and for themselves, became their mantra, constantly reminding them to live.

Live on, you must live on no matter what.

Xuan Sheng will return, and one day I will meet Tian Sha again. Don't miss this opportunity.

“Xiao Jing…” Che Shui sighed, looking at the girl whose face was covered in tears and dust, and suddenly smiled, patting her head: “It’s just poisoning, what are you worried about? We will all get out of here.”

"Huh?" Shuang Jing was stunned, not knowing how to answer.

“Yes…” Che Shui shrugged. “It’s just poisoning, Xiao Jing. How many times have you been poisoned since we left Master? How many times have you almost died because of the other party, but you still survived in the end?” He looked at her with a puzzled expression. “What’s the worst-case scenario? Xuan Sheng loses his memory again? Tian Sha can’t leave again, right? Is there a worse outcome than what happened five years ago?”

Shuang Jing was stunned and stared blankly at Che Shui's face.

"Who are we? We're Du Cheshui of Chongchonglou and Ye Shuangjing of Qishimen." Cheshui stretched, but immediately winced in pain. He hissed for a moment before laughing, "Xiaojing, didn't you say, 'Until we admit defeat, defeat is always temporary'? Well then, we weren't defeated five years ago, so... up to now, we haven't lost to anyone." He winked at Meihua and Xuansheng, chuckling, "And Xuansheng of Banyue City, Meihua of Tianxiazhan, and..." He turned his head, "Um... who? The catwoman from Jianrou Manor?"

"So... let's fight, we will survive."

“A-Che…” Shuang Jing murmured, but then fell silent.

"Yes!" Plum Blossom suddenly stood up, pointing at Shuang Jing angrily, "Stop your nagging! When will this end! Why do you think you'll die together with your opponent before even starting?! If you think you're destined to fail before even trying, then there's no need to compete, you've already lost!" She took a step forward, her finger touching the Seven Stones Sect Master's nose: "Have you forgotten your courage on the Wind Belt Pavilion's arena? You were just starting out back then, weren't you? Why weren't you afraid? I also thought you would surely die facing three opponents at the same time, but you're still alive and well, aren't you?!" She frowned deeply: "If you want to die, go ahead, this young lady wants to live well, to go boating and drinking fine wine in Jiangnan!"

"In my opinion, Xiao Jing has a better chance of surviving this calamity than you or me," Che Shui said coldly, raising an eyebrow.

"Hey! Du Cheshui, if you don't speak, no one will think you're mute!"

"Shut up, you shrew! Can't you see I'm weak? How can you treat an injured person like this?"

"Hmph, you seem to be in good spirits. Weren't you just spouting nonsense with great energy?"

"That's not nonsense, I'm inspiring people, you understand? Inspiring people!"

"I've never seen a patient like you who rambles on and on as soon as they wake up. Just lie down and relax!"

“Shuang Jing…” Xuan Sheng completely ignored the two who started arguing again, but he felt a little relieved to see Che Shui gradually recovering. He gently took the hand of the Seven Stones Sect Master and smiled faintly: “Do whatever you want to do, go for it, I will be with you.”

"Hmm." Shuangjing turned around and looked at him, finally smiling.

She raised her head and turned to look at the horizon gradually darkening: "I know. This is just... a test from Master."

Looking at Xuan Sheng, who had broken through time and conspiracy, and crossed waiting and darkness to stand behind her again, and Mei Hua and Che Shui, who were bickering casually beside her, she suddenly felt courage all over.

For the past few years, I've been wandering aimlessly in this world, stumbling and searching for something.

It would be a lie to say that I don't miss, don't yearn for, and don't wish to regain our former glory. But we can't go back. No matter how hard we try or how arduous our struggle, we can't go back. I am no longer Ye Shuangjing, who used to wield a wooden sword and defeat countless masters in the Wind Pavilion. Xuan Sheng is no longer the spirited and courageous second young master. And Che Shui, after losing Tian Sha, will never laugh as carefree as before.

but……

She looked towards the horizon.

As the sun sets, countless stars adorn the sky.

Dusk and evening are the times furthest from dawn and light.

But morning will always come. Tomorrow will always come.

They will definitely come.

The Great Roc Rises, Soaring Ninety Thousand Miles Away (Part 3)

At dawn, the sky was like dew, and the clouds were like a sea. The rising sun slowly emerged from the sea of clouds, instantly creating a dazzling spectacle, with light flowing like a torrent.

"Can we go up a little higher?" A clear voice came from the wind, and then a gust of wind swept through the woods. A figure quickly darted through the trees. Xuan Sheng, carrying Shuang Jing on his back, ran quickly, then suddenly pushed off with his toes and climbed up the surrounding branches.

"We're almost at the top of this mountain. With so many clouds up there, what can we see?" Xuan Sheng glanced at the sky covered by white clouds and asked with some concern.

“I don’t need to see the whole view, I just want to confirm some things,” Shuang Jing said, frowning. A moment later, they reached the summit. She patted Xuan Sheng on the back, jumped down, and stood on the edge of the cliff. Xuan Sheng’s heart tightened, and she unconsciously followed closely behind, fearing something might happen to her.

Looking out, one sees a forest covering the entire land like a vast blue sea, with the Donglin River flowing by like a silver ribbon to the east. The surrounding mountains embrace each other and sleep soundly. Upon closer inspection, one can see the babbling brooks and waterfalls cascading down the mountains. In the distance, the clear and melodious cries of birds flying over the empty mountains can be heard, accompanied by the mournful calls of monkeys. White clouds look back and merge, and blue mist disappears upon closer inspection. The scene before one's eyes truly embodies the imagery of "hidden tigers and dragons lurking deep within the mountains."

But Shuangjing had neither the mood nor the time to appreciate the beauty of Ligu. She gestured with her hands and murmured something:

"The first trial, the forty-two prodigies guard the gates of the underworld; the second trial, the three-five corridors lead into the deep mountains..." She pointed to the river in the distance, then looked at the ruins in the distance, frowning slightly. "So, this is the third trial, the place where the Thousand Heroes Tower used to be, corresponding to the third checkpoint of the Tower of Trials: the ghosts weeping in the twenty-eight rooms; only after breaking into those twenty-eight rooms can one be considered to have entered the Tower of Trials. The places before that, like this river, and the broken bridge we saw when we first arrived in Ligu, are just the outer perimeter." She pointed to the place where they had spent the night: "Master said we have already passed the first three trials, so what awaits us next..."

Xuan Sheng followed her gaze and suddenly understood.

Shuangjing had told him that the Seven Stone Gate and the Tower of Layers were built by Wanying Fortress to break through the barriers of the Thousand Heroes Tower. Judging from the terrain, it was just like breaking through the Tower of Layers, except that they were breaking through upwards, while now they were going deeper.

"What we are facing is the fourth level: 'The road to the underworld is 21'..." When he went to Chongchonglou to find Cheshui, he also entered that tall building that seemed like an infinite maze, and immediately understood the scene before him: "There is also a fifth level... 'No way out within the fourteen gates', as for the ones after that..." He should have tried it before he lost his memory, but last time Cheshui stopped him at the fifth level.

“There are four more challenges ahead. Actually, there should only be seven challenges in Chongchonglou, but after Cheshui ascended the throne, he was haunted by the betrayal of his uncle, so he added two more. I wonder if there are any hidden or additional tests here.” Shuangjing frowned. “The last two challenges are the sixth one: ‘Seven Palaces, the horizon is not far away,’ located in the deepest part of Chongchonglou. And the last one is: ‘Not recognizing the true face of Mount Lu.’ After that, Cheshui’s two great guards—Baiyun and Jinguan—will personally confront him. If you can defeat them, you can see Cheshui himself.”

Upon hearing this, Xuan Sheng asked without thinking, "Then... five years ago...?"

"There were sixty of us in total, against the three hundred and twenty-four disciples of the traitors of Chongchonglou," Shuangjing said casually. "Later, only twelve of us reached the final part, and only... five of us survived: you, me, A'che, Baiyun, and Kuimian. Those who died, besides Shasha, included A'ling, nicknamed 'Night Wolf,' and Huohu'er, 'one of the four great guards of Huashangtang.'" She smoothed her long hair, which was blowing in the wind, and spoke calmly.

Xuan Sheng didn't know what to say, as if he could already see that heart-stopping and brutal internal struggle. However, he could only put his arm around Shuang Jing's shoulder and whisper, "This time, the five of us will go in together and come out together."

"Five people?" Shuang Jing laughed upon hearing this and winked at him. "Xuan Sheng, you don't really think I'd waste this training opportunity, do you?"

"Hmm?" Xuan Sheng looked at her with some surprise. He saw that the woman smiled and narrowed her eyes. Just as she was about to say something, she heard a clear and loud whistle coming from down the mountain.

"Ah, they've arrived. Shall we go down?" The Seven Stones Sect Master took his hand and turned to leave.

In the martial arts world, everyone knows that the Seven Stones Sect specializes in weapon forging, but those in the martial arts world are often not in control of their own destiny. Even if they wanted to focus on practicing martial arts and ignore the world around them...

In this world, trouble is inevitable. Previously, with Ye Shuangjing, the invincible heroine's top disciple, backing her up, everyone hesitated. But since her martial arts were crippled, even with Chongchonglou's support, some still covet the unparalleled Ye family weapon. Even though Ye Shuangjing remains the legendary girl who commands respect, the Seven Stones Sect always trains eighteen martial arts disciples to avoid disturbances from martial arts figures when the sect leader is away.

Since five years ago, although Ye Shuangjing was defeated by fate, her eighteen disciples have gradually grown stronger and more powerful, upholding the reputation and prestige of the Seven Stones Sect.