Chapter 7

In the evening, Xue Hua and Yang Yuan followed Alena to look for Zha Nu. Although they didn't know what had happened, they were certain that this person named "Zha Nu" had some connection with Tang Feng. Remembering that he was the one who saved her, Xue Hua thought she should help him out.

The three searched for a long time, and many Miao soldiers were also mobilized. Seeing such a large force, Xue Hua felt the matter was becoming increasingly urgent.

Seeing Alena's anxious expression, the two were at a loss. They didn't know where Zha Nu had gone, and they weren't familiar with the Five Poisons Sect. Searching aimlessly like this would naturally yield no results.

"Please don't let anything happen...please don't let anything happen..."

Alena cried out in frustration.

Thus, Xue Hua realized even more how important this person was.

"General, you said that when you arrived, a Tang Clan disciple led the way, is that right?"

Alena suddenly asked a question, and Xue Hua blinked and immediately nodded.

Alena immediately searched her mind, her eyes fixed on a stone at her feet, relentlessly searching her memory.

"Tang Clan... Tang Clan disciple..."

Alena suddenly raised her head, her eyes fixed on the distance, then suddenly went blank. She murmured something to herself.

"No...Tang Feng...No...No..."

She suddenly used her light-footed skill to fly away in one direction.

The two immediately followed Alena's direction and flew away. The sky grew darker and darker, and the wind whistled through the trees, which sounded like mournful sighs to Yang Yuan.

Wuliang Mountain.

Zha Nu stared blankly at the sky, holding an exquisitely crafted flute in his hand. His skin was as white as snow, and his hair and purple clothes were blown about by the wind, fluttering in the air.

His expression was blank, his purplish-red eyes like rotten cherries, devoid of any luster. Standing on the edge of the cliff, with no bottom in sight, jumping down would take him to another world.

"Zha Nu".

He heard his name called and slowly turned around.

Tang Feng removed his mask, his hair blowing in the wind, revealing a long, visible scar running from his chin to his brow bone, a shocking sight.

Zha Nu's lips twitched, his features were exquisite.

"Tang Feng".

"I knew it was you."

This was the only word Zha Nu had uttered in fifteen years, besides his own name.

The weather grew colder as the night progressed, especially near the towering cliffs, where clouds and mist swirled among the mountains, making Zha Nu appear unlike any ordinary person.

"Fifteen years. You've been away from me for fifteen years."

Zha Nu turned around, looked at him, smiled, placed his hand on his chest, and tears like salt water streamed down his face.

"During these fifteen years of separation, I've thought about you day and night. Back then, I saved you, pulled you out of that hell on earth. Did you... feel even a little bit of the kindness I showed you?"

Tang Feng stood still, quietly watching him and listening to him speak.

“I desperately tried to become stronger so that I could bear your pain in the future. Every time I saw you covered in wounds in front of me, no matter how many wounds you had, you always just accepted them calmly. You never resisted or refused.”

"You idiot! You madman!"

"Zha Nu roared."

"Do you know how much pain I'm in? Those scars on your body, those wounds etched on your chest, do you know how heartbroken I am every time I see them!"

He covered his face, fell to the ground, and burst into tears.

"You never told me...you never believed me...you never...cared about me..."

Tang Feng slowly clenched his fist, held it tightly, and then let it fall limply.

"Tang Feng... fifteen years, I've waited fifteen years... why... don't you care about me at all..."

"Even just one word...that would be..."

"Just one word..."

Suddenly, the wind blew, seeping into the flesh and bones through the fine hairs on the skin.

Zha Nu slowly lowered his hand, two lines of tears still clinging to his reddened eyes. He gently wiped them away, stood up, looked at Tang Feng, tilted his head, and smiled.

He spoke in a hoarse voice:

"So I thought about it. What if I had never met you, never loved you? Would that have been better?"

He held the flute horizontally in front of his mouth.

"If you had never existed, would that be enough?"

Instantly, the alluring sound of the Gu flute echoed throughout the entire cliff edge. The flute's sound pierced through Tang Feng's entire head, transforming into countless newly hatched snakes that burrowed into his flesh and mind, causing him excruciating pain.

"Zha Nu!!"

He had heard Zha Nu's Gu flute a few times, and each time it was Zha Nu who threw a tantrum and ignored him. He would control the snakes and scorpions to smash things, and then after he had his fill of causing trouble, the two of them would go back to normal.

This time is different.

The anger in that flute music was many times greater than usual! Like a cluster of flames, drawn by a fuse, igniting the entire forest.

Tang Feng had never seen such anger before.

The flute music suddenly changed tune, piercing Tang Feng's ears. It wasn't that he couldn't bear the torment; rather, he had had enough of so many years of separation, and Zha Nu's response was so astonishing.

Since you don't love me, then go die.

Fool... If I didn't love you, how could I have tolerated you leaving me for so long?

I'm afraid that if I keep bothering you, what will you choose in the future?

I'm a man, and you're a man. Do you think I don't know that this kind of love shouldn't exist?

The flute music suddenly changed tune, becoming melodious and ever-changing. Tang Feng instinctively covered his ears; the melody was like a dead skeleton, slowly crawling out of the earth, climbing up his ankles, and slowly ascending.

It pierced straight into his heart.

"Zha Nu..."

Tang Feng's calls were drowned out by the rushing wind and the angry whistling of the Zha Nu. His extraordinary destiny was right at his waist, within reach, but he did not make a move. Even the hand that was placed on his ear slowly fell down.

He walked step by step toward Zha Nu, his eyes calm as still water. Apart from the hideous scar on his face, he seemed relaxed and not in pain.

Zha Nu slowly stopped moving, the flute fell to the ground, and he stared blankly at the person walking over. He reached out and hugged himself.

Tang Feng held the person in his arms tightly. He was so thin, almost skinny, and the prominent ridge of his back could be easily touched. His long hair flowed freely, brushing against his face, its coolness tickling his heart.

There were no words or dialogue, only the warmth of her hands seeping through the fabric. Even the slightest touch of heat was enough to move him. Zha Nu stared blankly at the sky, a hazy expanse that seemed impossible to clear and reveal what lay beneath.

"Pfft--"

A sharp sound of a weapon piercing flesh suddenly rang in his ears. Tang Feng instinctively tried to let go of the embrace, but Zha Nu reached out and grabbed his clothes tightly.

Zha Nu slowly lowered his head, leaned close to his ear, and whispered:

"Tang Feng, I still don't want you to leave me."

"I want...I want to be selfish...to keep you by my side..."

"I want to...go see the Central Plains...go see...the places you've been to...go see..."

Bright red liquid flowed from his mouth, mingling with the tears welling in his eyes. He finally lost his grip on Tang Feng's clothes, his fingers slowly loosening, his body stiffening as he slid from Tang Feng's arms and fell to the ground.

Tang Feng, who was standing still, finally moved his eyes. He looked down at Zha Nu lying on the ground and tried to move his body little by little, but he couldn't move at all.

The illusionary poison immobilizes the user.

Zha Nu lay on the edge of the cliff, the dagger completely embedded in his skin. Blood flowed from his wounds and mouth, seeping into the grass and cracks in the rocks. He wasn't crying; a smile slowly spread across his face as he watched Tang Feng's changing expression, struggling to breathe.

Tang Feng...you still...have feelings...right...?

Finally, there was one time... just for me...

for……

His eyelids closed wearily, his body temperature gradually decreased, his blood was still flowing, and his labored breathing suddenly stopped.

The wind is blowing past my ears, blowing incessantly.

"Pfft!!"

Blood gushed from every meridian in Tang Feng's body instantly. The wounds on his hands and feet felt as if his flesh had been ripped open. He spat out a mouthful of blood, which splattered on the ground. He lost his balance and fell to the ground.

A few feet behind them, Alena, Xue Hua, and the others who had rushed over dared not take another step.

Yang Yuan's eyes were covered by Xue Hua, who hid her behind his back. Even without seeing, one could tell that such a horrifying commotion must have come from immense pain.

Alena covered her mouth, afraid to make a sound, tears streaming down her face. She couldn't take another step forward, nor could she utter a single word.

Tang Feng slowly raised his head, his eyes fixed on Zha Nu. Using the little strength in his arm, he reached his severed hand toward Zha Nu's dead body.

He crawled forward with difficulty, pinning Zha Nu beneath him. He looked at Zha Nu's face with pity, then suddenly frowned, and with a fierce determination, he threw himself off the cliff, carrying Zha Nu's corpse.

"don't want!!!"

Alena's screams echoed along the cliff edge, far and long. Xue Hua held her arm, preventing her from taking another step. She could only watch helplessly as the two disappeared into the vast sea of ​​clouds.

The painful separation in this life is the price and retribution I pay for seeing you again in the next life.

In the future, if we meet again, no one else will ever appear in my eyes.

Zha Nu, we can finally be together.