Chapter 14 The Play of Fate: Mutual Restraint and Interdependence. Looking at it this way, before...

Looking at it this way, many of my previous questions have been answered.

The people of Yezi do not speak of the Holy Maiden not out of fear, but out of respect; Musha reacts to the ballad not to cover it up, but to protect it; the stilt slaves in the poplar forest who shout "Stay!" are not outsiders risking their lives for wealth, but generations of people who want to return to their homeland; Mei Xi is willing to ruin her reputation to "hurt" Mei Ling time and time again, not for revenge, but to seek help.

But then another question arises: why did the two female shop owners try to cover up the messages Mei Xi sent?

Just then, Jiang Yu arrived, holding up a tattered scroll, and exclaimed, "Brother! Peach Blossom! We've made a great discovery!!!"

As soon as Jiang Yu stood still, he saw Mei Xi lying on the ground and the two people standing beside her, and said, "What happened?! What happened to her? Is she dead again?!"

Liu Taohua glanced at Mei Xi and said coldly, "She's practically a living dead now. It won't be long before she really dies. She's probably a little better off than Mei Ling."

Jiang Yu was confused. How had these two sisters become living dead again? Before she could think about it, she suddenly remembered the tattered scroll she had found in the temple and said, "I almost forgot! Come and see this!" With that, she turned to a page in the scroll, which read, "The northward migration at night, encountering a formidable enemy, is the will of Heaven. On barren lands, encountering war is a chance for survival. Different fates, but the same root; if one lives, they coexist; if one perishes, they perish together."

Lianxi said, "It seems that the destruction of Hegutai was not accidental."

Suddenly, with a "whoosh," three crossbow bolts were fired simultaneously, aimed directly at the three men.

Lianxi's eyes flashed, and the three crossbow bolts snapped in mid-air. Then, her folding fan flew out from her waist, drawing the person in the shadows into a direct confrontation.

The other party remained silent, only flashes of silver light occasionally streaking through the darkness, and the sounds of clashing weapons echoed incessantly. Although Lianxi did not personally engage in the battle, judging from his expression, compared to when he dealt with the group of stilted slaves effortlessly, this person was now taking it a little more seriously, which was enough to show that this person's magical power was not weak.

Just now, before Liu Taohua could reveal what kind of Gu had afflicted Meixi, Jiang Yu interrupted her, finally connecting all the events after going around in circles.

I never imagined he could hide it so well.

Liu Taohua didn't mince words and asked, "Do you still want to continue fighting, General Chihe?"

Upon hearing her shout, the sound of fans clashing in the darkness abruptly ceased.

A person emerged from the darkness; it was Huo Mu.

Liu Taohua was stunned for a moment, then realized that she was too stupid. She should have thought of "Fire Wood" and "Red Grain" earlier.

If you didn't understand why it was Chihe before, then knowing what kind of Gu was afflicted on Meixi, and the various things recorded in Meixi's notes about Meixi and Chihe, everything makes sense.

Liu Taohua said, "The Gu you used on Mei Xi was the Tongming Gu, a secret technique of your Hegutai, wasn't it?"

Chihe clenched his fists and remained silent.

Liu Taohua continued, "In your Hegutai, a certain shaman invented a kind of Gu that can bring people back to life. However, this Gu has extremely strict requirements and is extremely risky. For many years, no one has dared to try it lightly. The Tongming Gu requires a blood relative as the catalyst, nourishing the soul with the essence of a living person. It is a life-for-life exchange, bringing the dead back to life. As the name suggests, the Tongming Gu not only requires the person being Gu'd and the person being saved to be twins of the same life, but the person who casts the Gu must also have a long enough lifespan to wait. It can be said that the lives of three people are tied together."

Human lifespan is but a few decades; the one who cast the curse would likely die before the person even comes back to life. Chi He, having ascended to godhood, enjoys a long lifespan, perfectly meeting this condition. He and Mei Ling wholeheartedly wished for reconciliation between the two races, but his ideals did not receive much support within the He Gu Tai. After a god's ascension, they should not interfere with the past, to avoid disrupting the orderly development of the Three Realms. Therefore, he took the opportunity to persuade Mei Ling to cultivate immortality, but Mei Ling refused.

Not long after, those who had opposed Chihe seized the opportunity to launch a war, resulting in Meiling's death. He felt guilty, and because Meiling had said she didn't want to become a god, he thought of the Fate-Sharing Gu. He had never met Meixi, only knowing Meiling's deep love for her sister, but unaware that her sister felt the same way. Therefore, after Meixi killed Meiling's close followers and the Imperial Advisor, Chihe became even more determined to use the Fate-Sharing Gu to revive Meiling.

Chihe then framed Meixi for everything, sealing off Yezi to prevent outsiders from entering and those inside from leaving, using Gu poison rather than magic to control her. This allowed her to evade the eyes of the world and the Heavenly Court's investigation, thus protecting herself.

For Chihe, a novice in the arts, mastering powerful magic was no easy feat. He had already expended considerable effort in devising this scheme. Unexpectedly, a sudden flood struck Hegutai, destroying it overnight. He was overwhelmed and could only watch helplessly as his homeland crumbled.

Liu Taohua said, "I wonder if I am right, General Chihe?"

Upon hearing this, Chihe closed his eyes tightly, looked up at the sky and sighed, then gave a bitter laugh and asked, "How did you recognize me?"

Lianxi said, "When I first met you, although you had Noba on your forehead, you didn't have the scent of Shalan grass on you. Since everyone in Yez has Noba, the scent of Shalan grass in the air helped you disguise yourself. Now it seems that you wanted to save the country but failed, and even if you pretended to be a Yez person, you wouldn't do it completely. Also, during the waxing moon ceremony, on such an important day, you left halfway through, which makes it hard not to be suspicious."

Chi He laughed self-deprecatingly and said, "I never thought that my scheming for a hundred years would end in failure, but I don't regret it!" He looked at Mei Xi lying on the ground, his eyes filled with resentment, and said, "She is the one who wronged Mei Ling! I don't regret it!"

Lianxi said, "There are some things you need to know."

Chihe asked, "What do you mean?"

Lianxi said, "You think Mei Xi killed Mei Ling's subordinates and took her eyes because she resented them for being twins? On the contrary, the bond between the two sisters is incredibly strong. She killed those people because they had already secretly sided with Hegutai and betrayed Mei Ling. You say Mei Ling doesn't want to become a god, but does that mean she really can't become a god?"

Chihe murmured, "How is this possible..."

Lianxi threw the tattered scroll in front of him and said, "The self-composed ballad you deliberately let us hear says, 'Twins abandoned, twins weep, the night is in danger.' Look at what the tattered scroll says. Is it the twin saintesses who are in danger, or your words and actions that are in danger?"

Chihe picked up the tattered scroll, and after reading it, his pupils suddenly contracted. The scroll fell from his hand, and he collapsed to his knees, feeling as if something inside him was slowly crumbling.

Although the Yez and Hegutai were sworn enemies in terms of faith, their fates were intertwined from the moment the Yez set foot on this land. Though enemies, they were not incompatible; the development of a land cannot be accomplished by the efforts of a single tribe. It was precisely because their destinies were linked that, through centuries of competition and struggle, this barren desert came to life, evolving from a tribe into a nation. Otherwise, either side would have been destroyed in a century of conflict.

By sealing off Yezi, Chihe was essentially leading Yezi to its demise. With Yezi gone, the connected Hegutai would naturally cease to exist as well.

Chihe roared angrily at the sky. This roar seemed to have used up all his strength. What he insisted on doing had finally become an incredibly foolish joke.

All he and Mei Ling sought in their lives was for their two races to reconcile, but in the end, they personally shattered and destroyed that wish.

Jiang Yu felt a pang of sadness seeing this scene before him, but there was something he had to do, so he asked, "Where is Mei Ling?"

Chihe took out a brocade bag, and a white light flashed out, revealing Mei Ling, whose physical body was intact and whose expression was peaceful.

Jiang Yu placed Mei Ling and Mei Xi together. Perhaps they sensed each other, for as soon as they touched, a soft light emanated from their bodies. They gradually dissipated in this light, each turning into a point of starlight that merged together to form a Sandstorm Grass.

Just then, dawn broke, and the first rays of sunlight fell on the sand grass, causing it to bloom with fiery, vibrant flowers.

In the distance, a figure slowly walked towards them from behind the light. As he drew closer, it was revealed to be an old man dressed in a white Taoist robe, holding a cane, and walking with a swaying gait that was quite comical. He was radiant, enveloped in a faint spiritual light, the kind of light only a god could possess.

The old man slowly stepped forward, bowed slightly to the three of them, and said, "I am Tao Zhong, an inspector under the Heavenly Emperor." He saw the red rice on the ground and added, "The Emperor is extremely grateful to you young friends for solving the Night's Strange Case."

Lianxi said "Oh?" and then asked, "Since you are so grateful, I wonder if your emperor has any reward in mind?"

Tao Zhong was speechless for a moment. After pondering for a while, he said, "Now the Three Realms all know that the Heavenly Ranking has appeared. With the Heavenly Ranking out, there must be extraordinary people who solve extraordinary cases. The three of you are exceptionally talented and must be the destined people chosen by the Heavenly Ranking. You will surely have a bright future. How can the Emperor control you?"

Jiang Yu snorted coldly, stepped forward from behind Lian Xi, and said, "So, you're going to take him away?"

Tao Zhong said, "Chi He is a person from my Heavenly Realm, so it is natural for me to take him away."

Jiang Yu glanced at Chi He, who had lost all will to live, waved his hand, and said, "Take him away."

Chihe gazed at the sand grass with a complex expression. Everything around her was irrelevant to her; whether she lived or died was of no concern to her.

The persistence of the past and the lingering thoughts of the future are like a fire: burning, extinguishing, cooling, and freezing.

He moved his lips, as if he had a lot to say, but decided against it.

Upon hearing this, Tao Zhong immediately took out a pair of Immortal Binding Locks and tied Chi He up tightly. With a "heave-ho," he hoisted the lock onto his shoulder.

Liu Taohua was astonished. He truly was a deity, able to carry a person on his shoulder effortlessly while leaning on a cane.

Tao Zhong took a couple of steps, then suddenly pulled out a seal from his pocket and stamped it on the wall. It read, "Closing up the stall behind you isn't easy either."

Liu Taohua: "......"

Lianxi: "......"

Jiang Yu: "......"

Tao Zhong left, and everything returned to calm. Suddenly, Liu Taohua thought of something and rushed out the door. Lianxi and Jiangyu followed closely behind.

Sure enough, when they took to the streets again, the once bustling capital had been reduced to ruins in an instant. The streets were deserted, with only crumbling walls and endless desolation remaining.

At this moment, Manluoxian and Wutali suddenly appeared. Looking at the scene before them, they were overcome with grief, but it seemed that they had already known this ending. They wept silently.

Liu Taohua stepped forward and said, "The sisters have transformed into a single sand grass and will be together forever."

Upon hearing this, the two seemed to suddenly understand something, and finally unable to suppress their emotions any longer, they embraced and wept bitterly. After a long while, Liu Taohua asked, "Why did you hide Meixi's matter?"

Upon hearing this, Manluo Xian composed himself and said, "Wutali and I are Meiling's bodyguards. Our duty is to protect the Holy Maiden."

Before the great battle, Mei Ling had entrusted the two women to protect Mei Xi. At that time, they did not know that this battle would be a battle of life and death. Mei Ling fought the enemy outside, while they eliminated traitors inside, but in the end, they could not escape the machinations of villains.

Although they died, they always remembered Mei Ling's instructions, their obsession unable to be extinguished, thus preventing them from passing through the cycle of reincarnation. Later, with the help of Qianxiang Fuyou, they became ghosts, gained magical powers, and returned to Yezi.

But by then, Yezi had been sealed off, and they could not enter. They could only stay in Gaoli, gazing at their homeland day after day, and at the people they were meant to protect.

When news of Mei Xi's words and actions reached Gao Li, they were unaware of the reason and did not understand why her personality had changed so drastically. In order to keep their promise to Mei Ling, they could only cover up the news and prevent her reputation from getting worse.

In Gaoli City, they watched over the Yezi people who had been unable to return home due to business trips or studies, allowing them to thrive and multiply, preserving the last glimmer of hope. But how could someone so deeply attached to their homeland not return when it was right before their eyes? Time and again, they embarked on their journey home, only to stop at their doorsteps, forever gazing at the hometown they longed for.

In the very end, only the two of them remained.

A century of waiting, all for a promise; a century of trekking, all for returning home; yet in the end, fate played a cruel trick on us.

After much deliberation, Liu Taohua decided not to tell them the truth. She simply said, "Meixi is doing well. The two sisters will be very grateful for everything you have done for them."

Manluoxian and Wutali bowed to the three of them, in the manner of Yezi, and said, "Thank you for everything you have done for Yezi. If you three are able to see Lord Qianxiang in the future, please convey our thanks."

The three nodded in agreement. Manluoxian and Wutali bowed again before turning into fine sand and scattering away with the wind.

Liu Taohua suddenly remembered the package Chala had given her. She quickly took it out of the bag and opened it. Inside were a notebook and a letter. She opened the letter, which contained only a few sentences: "Noba is the lifeblood of the Yez people. I have devoted my life to its study and have never dared to neglect it. Upon meeting you, young lady, I felt an immediate connection with you. I also know that Yez is about to fall, and I do not wish for this skill to be lost to the world. Today, I entrust all that I have learned in my life to you, young lady, hoping that you can pass it on and let the world know that there is a country called Yez."

Liu Taohua carefully put away the letter and tightly gripped the notebook, her heart unable to calm down for a long time. She looked at the red sun on the horizon and thought to herself, "I promise you, I will definitely carry forward Noba and ensure that the pearl of the desert, Yez, will never be tarnished."

Three clear, resonant sounds rang out, followed by a melodious voice that echoed in the ears of the three.

"I am Tianji Bangling, and I respectfully welcome the people of Tianji."

Jiang Yu looked around but saw no one. He shouted, "What are you pretending to be a ghost? Come out here right now!"

"......"

"I've already said I'm the Ranking Spirit!! The Ranking Spirit!!!"

Lianxi said, "You just said that we are Tianji people."

"That's right! Aren't you lucky! You are the destined ones chosen by the Heavenly Ranking!"

Lianxi raised an eyebrow and sneered, "Luck? You're just a fool without a physical body. Talking about it is a waste of your time."

"!!!!!"

"...I'll let it slide since you're from Tianji!"

Liu Taohua said, "We've worked ourselves to the bone, and now you've decided we're destined to be together, without even asking if we want to."

"This is the will of Heaven!"

Liu Taohua said, "I never believe in fate, I only believe in human effort. You chose us, but you can't give us equal compensation. Fate is just bullshit."

Jiang Yu chimed in, "Yes, that's all bullshit!"

"......"

"You...you..." The voice paused for a moment, as if letting out a sigh, then continued, "How can young people these days have no manners! Each generation is worse than the last...!!!"

"Well, since it's already been chosen, there's no going back. However, you will find the answer you've been searching for through Tianji. And there's a special surprise at the end!"

The three remained silent.

Lianxi said, "Interesting. It seems we have no choice but to make this trip."

Liu Taohua exclaimed "Ouch!" and plopped down on the ground, yawning as she said, "Now that I've become a true warrior, I'm in for a tough time!"

Jiang Yu said, "Hey! You're not going to stay like this forever, are you? You're ashamed to be seen by others."

"Pah! You're the one who can't show your face! It's just that there's one person missing who can't be shown up."

Oh, there was another person.

Liu Taohua stood up and said, "Lianxi, you were right. It seems we don't need to say goodbye forever; we're already waiting for each other."

Lianxi smiled and said, "I'm really looking forward to it."

Jiang Yu said, "I'm looking forward to it too."

Yellow sand stretches endlessly, the red sun hangs high in the sky, and the cries of wild geese drift from the horizon. Their figures, in the sunlight, on the sand dunes, and in their eyes, reflect each other.