He was a cultivator of the path of slaughter; his future was already predetermined, and there was nothing to worry about.
However, he wanted to know Xie Shuci's future.
Xie Shuci's appearance is a variable; his future is not predetermined.
Ban Xia looked at him silently, seemingly lost in thought.
He could clearly sense that the young man before him had lost his Dao heart.
The path of slaughter is cruel to others, but even more cruel to oneself. It gives one time to regret, but not the chance to retreat. Once one enters this path, there is no turning back.
“You helped me, so I agree to your request,” Ban Xiayin said.
"Thank you." Xie An lowered his eyes.
The Fulong Formation and Banxia Yin's spiritual power suppressed the lake, driving away the resentment surging towards the source of Banxia Creek.
After the magic array stabilized, Ban Xiayin fell into the water and said to Xie An, "I can take a look for you."
"yes."
Ban Xiayin immersed herself in the water and unfolded that small mirror.
Xie An slowly withdrew his gaze and turned back to Xie Shuci's side. Looking at his face, which had turned pale from exhaustion, he couldn't help but bend down and touch it with his hand.
Her fingertips brushed across his cheek, lingering lightly on the corner of his lips, gently caressing it.
He enjoyed the feeling of being emotionally moved by Xie Shuci; although it was unfamiliar, it felt strangely real to him.
Bixie was right. He cultivated the path of slaughter. No matter what happened in between, no matter how far he stretched time, as long as Xie Shuci could still move his heart, only one of them could live.
Even if he and Bixie succeed in combining, it can only change one person's future.
He hoped that this person could be Xie Shuci.
Every now and then, Ban Xiayin emerged from the water.
Xie An paused, straightened up, and turned to walk towards the lake shore.
Seeing Xie Shuci's future reflected in the small mirror, Ban Xiayin's feelings were quite complex.
“Senior,” Xie An said, lowering his eyes.
Ban Xiayin said, "You should know that the Mirror of the Square Inch can only see the future."
“I know, that’s enough,” Xie An replied.
Ban Xiayin gave him a deep look, then looked past him at Xie Shuci, who was sleeping unconscious on the back of the Great King, and said in a deep voice, "He is dead."
Xie An was startled, but not surprised. "How did you die?"
"you."
Upon hearing this word, Xie An's face turned pale, and he clenched his teeth.
Ban Xiayin sighed, "You shouldn't have gotten close to him. Leaving him is the best choice for both of you."
Should we leave Xie Shuci?
Should I leave this man I've only known for a few months?
What's so difficult about that?
Yes, that's easy.
But he refused.
He died, so we brought him back to life.
Xie Shuci woke up in the quiet.
He slowly opened his eyes, a sliver of light entering them. He looked up in confusion and found himself leaning on Xie An's shoulder, with the King's soft belly behind him.
"Awake?" Xie An asked.
"Hmm, where is he?" Xie Shuci stretched her neck and sat up from his lap.
"They've gone looking for Ban Xiaxi."
Xie Shuci suddenly remembered something, looked up at the lake, and saw the Dragon Subduing Formation radiating golden light above. He stood up excitedly, "I succeeded! Ban Xiaxi won't disappear!"
Xie An pulled him back and said, "You haven't recovered yet, don't move around."
"Oh, don't underestimate me." Xie Shuci suddenly fell into his arms.
"I didn't underestimate you."
"nonsense!"
As they were chatting, they heard rustling footsteps behind them. Xie Shuci turned around and saw that it was Sikong Xin and the other two.
"So? Did you find him?" Xie Shuci asked, sitting up.
Sikong Xin shook his head and said, "We looked at the sea area where the villagers' bodies were trapped, but the water was too deep to get close, and we didn't find Banxia Creek either."
"Then what should we do?"
Sikong asked, "What did you see in your tiny mirror?"
Xie Shuci's mood turned somber. Recalling the scenes in the Mirror of Square Inch, he felt as if a heavy stone was pressing on his heart. He took a deep breath and said, "Back then, Ban Xiaxi was sent out of the tribe by the combined efforts of his people. When he was extremely weak, he encountered those villagers."
Upon hearing this, everyone's expression froze. "They killed Ban Xiaxi?"
Xie Shuci shook his head. "It's even more cruel than killing him. They used Banxiaxi as a medium to transfer the fortune of the dead Banxia clan to the villagers and their descendants, causing the Banxia clan to be unable to reincarnate after death."
"What?!" Liu Dazhuang roared in disbelief.
The puppy looked incredulous and stared blankly at Xie Shuci.
Sikong Xin gasped, "Transferring fortune?"
Xie Shuci immediately said, "Do you know what it is? Ban Xiaxi doesn't want us to continue reading. We don't know what those people did to him to transfer the fortune of the Ban Xia clan."
Sikong Xin's face was extremely ugly. He said, "Brother Shuci, do you still remember the matter of Helian Zhu stealing the destiny?"
Xie Shuci nodded. "I remember. Is there any connection between them?"
Sikong Xin said, "My elder brother told me that he once saw a method for stealing destiny and transferring fortune in an ancient book, both of which belong to the twelve forbidden techniques of the Floating Pagoda Realm. The former can steal destiny by devouring souls, but the thief and the devoured soul will be expelled by the laws, and after death, their souls will be scattered and their forms will be destroyed; the latter uses the living as a medium to transfer, which is too cruel for forbidden techniques. It is not recorded in detail in the ancient book, and the transferor will not be punished. Only the living person who is the medium will suffer great torment, and the Banxia clan who are transferred will not be able to reincarnate. Their fortune will follow them forever and extend into the future."
"Damn it, these beasts don't even know their own worth. How can a bunch of mortals like them bear the fortune of the Banxia clan?" Liu Dazhuang cursed loudly after hearing this.
The puppy turned pale and fell silent.
The forbidden techniques were too cruel and were not recorded in detail in ancient books.
Just how cruel was it that even the creators of the forbidden techniques couldn't bear to do it? What exactly did Ban Xiaxi go through?
What is it that he doesn't want others to know?
Looking at the shimmering lake in the distance, Xie Shuci suddenly had a thought: would Ban Xiaxi really be willing to have her resentment of ten thousand years gradually erased?
Having his resentment cleared, and then living for water, was he really willing?
Just like back then, wouldn't it be better to die in the fire with my brother instead of surviving?
For him, was living the best option, the option that would least cause him suffering?
Xie Shuci recalled his experiences and imagined how he was treated so that he would be used as a medium to transfer the fate of his clan. Xie Shuci sadly realized that, in his case, living was not the best choice.
That wouldn't make Ban Xiaxi let go of the past, nor would it make him feel any better.
However, Xie Shuci couldn't think of any way to solve this problem.
They couldn't go back to the past, nor could they change what Xia Xi had experienced. Some things had already happened, and the outcome was already predetermined.
The hatred in Ban Xiaxi's heart was as solid as a rock, something they could never shake.
“Perhaps we are not saving him, but hindering him,” Xie Shuci suddenly sighed.
Upon hearing this, everyone paused for a moment, then fell silent.
"What Ban Xiaxi wanted to do was end it all. He disappeared, those people disappeared, and it was all over."
Xie Shuci's eyes welled up as he looked at the lake that resembled the source of the Xiaxi River. "He has trapped Chunsheng Mountain and the descendants of these villagers for thousands of years, and he has also trapped himself for thousands of years. What he wants, perhaps... is just a release."
As Xie Shuci finished speaking, Ban Xiayin, who was sitting cross-legged on the lake, suddenly trembled her long eyelashes and opened her eyes.
His clear silver eyes reflected the golden-blue array on the lake's surface, and an indescribable sadness welled up in his eyes.
Yes, the book's wording is correct.
Ten thousand years ago, he selfishly hoped the stream would survive; ten thousand years later, would he repeat the same mistake?
He hoped the stream would survive, but the stream might not want to survive.
If forcing the stream to return here is the only way, then even if it survives, it will only be another form of torture for the stream.
Does he really have to be this selfish?
The blue spiritual energy surrounding the Fulong Formation gradually dissipated, and Ban Xiayin stood up, stepping on the water's surface as he slowly walked towards the five people.
"Shu Ci, take back the Hidden Dragon Formation," Ban Xia Yin said, walking to the group and looking down.
Xie Shuci's heart skipped a beat, and he looked at Ban Xiayin in disbelief.
Xie Shuci could let Ban Xiaxi free himself because he had always been an outsider. But Ban Xiayin was different. Ban Xiaxi was his brother and his family. He had already lost Ban Xiaxi once, and now he was going to lose him a second time! During the thousands of years he was trapped in the secret realm, it goes without saying that he missed his brother. But was waiting for a reunion after thousands of years just to lose Ban Xiaxi forever?
Ban Xiayin seemed to know what Xie Shuci was thinking, and gave a faint smile. "Xiaoxi has grown up. He has the right to choose to stay. All I can do is stay with him and believe in him. My Xiaoxi, no matter what he becomes, will always be Xiaoxi."
Ban Xiayin turned around and looked at the pebbles at the bottom of the lake that shimmered like stars. "Thank you for coming here."
"Child, thank you for giving him a bowl of water back then." Ban Xiayin smiled faintly at the puppy.
“Shu Ci…unlock the Fulong artifact.” Ban Xia Yin took a deep breath and said in a trembling voice.
Xie Shuci knew what this choice meant for Ban Xiayin; he had to let go of his hand, even if it was his last and only relative in this world.
Xie Shuci's steps forward were stiff and heavy, but he knew he had no choice but to do so.
He walked to the lake shore, released a wisp of spiritual power, and attached it to the Dragon Subduing Artifact. The Dragon Subduing Artifact trembled slightly, and then slowly began to rotate in mid-air, greatly dimming the light of the array covering the lake surface.
As the Fulong magical artifact spun faster and faster, the formation gradually dissipated on the lake surface.
The dazzling light disappeared from sight, and the lake returned to its calm state.
The lakebed was covered with pebbles, and a faint, shimmering light flickered, like stars shrouded in dark clouds, their light appearing so weak.
Ban Xiayin clenched his fists tightly at his sides, but he did nothing.
When the Dragon-Subduing Artifact returned to Xie Shuci's hand, no one spoke.
Xie An stepped forward and stood beside the letter of thanks, resigning his post.
"Why are you crying?" Xie An asked.
He turned to the side, raised his hand and gently wiped away Xie Shuci's tears. "Didn't you figure it out?"
Warm tears dampened his fingertips, as if he had discovered Xie Shuci's tendency to cry from the day they met.
She cries when she's hurt, when she's scared, when she's excited, she cries no matter what she does.
Xie Shuci rested her forehead on his shoulder, feeling a tightness in her chest.
Ban Xiayin's gentle gaze fell on Xie Shuci. A child like Shuci is too precious in this world.
Ban Xiayin breathed a sigh of relief, walked to the lakeside, and said to the clear, transparent lake, "Little Stream, come out. I won't force you."
All eyes were drawn to the lake. The water rippled as if a gentle breeze had passed by, and the swirling currents created a faint, indistinct figure. A moment later, a pale face appeared on the surface.
Her pale face was streaked with clear tears as she looked at Xie Shuci and the others.
"elder brother……"
He opened his mouth and silently uttered a single word.
The sight of only half a tongue remaining in the mouth was truly shocking.
Ban Xiayin's eyes glistened with tears. "Xiaoxi, have you thought it through?"
Ban Xiaxi pursed her lips, tears streaming down her face, but nodded with unusual firmness.
"Brother can help you get revenge. Whatever you want to do, brother will be there for you. Do you have to... disappear?" Ban Xiayin's voice trembled, and tears slid down her cheeks.
"Brother, don't cry." Ban Xia Yin opened his mouth and struggled to utter a few words, "Shu Ci, don't cry."
Xie Shuci looked at him and sniffed hard. "I didn't cry. It was just the wind."
Xie An gripped his hand tightly.
“Brother, it’s been ten thousand years. I’ve always wanted to see you again.” Ban Xiaxi’s eyes curved into a smile. “I’ve changed. I’m not the same little Xi I used to be. I’ve killed so many innocent people and made Chunsheng Mountain rot and decay. I’m afraid… Brother will hate me.”
Ban Xiayin forced a smile. "What nonsense are you talking about? I don't care about anyone else, let alone this mountain. I only care about you."
"The stream has disappeared. Will my brother still remember the stream?"
"I will remember, every moment, every single moment."
Upon hearing this, Ban Xiaxi smiled happily, "Brother, all I've ever wanted is to see you one more time. If I couldn't see you, I wouldn't be willing to just disappear like this. It's great, brother is back."
Ban Xiayin's eyes reddened, and she lowered her head, tears wetting her clothes.
"Little Creek... I'll ask you one more time, can you... give me another chance?"
“Brother, you shouldn’t be like Xiaoxi. You should let yourself go.”
And what about you?
Then why won't you let yourself off the hook?
Xie Shuci gritted his teeth, but dared not say those words aloud.
He didn't know what Ban Xiaxi had gone through, and couldn't empathize with him. So why should he expect him to let go of everything and forgive himself?
Whether positive or negative, Ban Xiaxi has a very firm place in his heart: he wants to make Chunsheng Mountain and the sins that have occurred on this mountain disappear forever.
The burden he carried was too heavy, whether it was the hatred of ten thousand years, the loneliness of ten thousand years, or perhaps, the instincts and nature that tormented him at all times.
His instincts and nature led him to protect humanity, yet he went against their principles.
Ban Xiaxi slowly looked at Xie Shuci, a smile appearing on her lips. "Shuci, I was lying to you. I never intended to hurt you. Thank you for being willing to play with me and be my friend. It's so good to know you all."
Water should be silent, but in the face of its essence, almost everyone can perceive what it is saying and what it wants to express.
Xie Shuci lowered her head, her eyes red, and choked out, "I'll learn to blow bubbles so we can play together again, but you can't disappear. If you disappear, then we..."
When Ban Xiaxi saw him crying, she also found it hard to hold back her tears. "That's enough. I had a lot of fun."
Xie An gently placed his hand on Xie Shuci's waist, half-embracing him. Xie Shuci's tears were like a thorn, piercing his heart.
As if bidding farewell to each person, Ban Xiaxi's eyes turned to the silent puppy standing in the corner.
The puppy lowered his head, the dim light casting a shadow on his face. He gripped the bone knife at his waist tightly, his lips pursed, and he remained silent.
“Brother Dog, I know you hate me, but I can’t let your parents go. They have to disappear with me. I’m willing to die in your hands. After you kill me, go with them. I’ll find a way to wash the things off your face.”
The puppy could sense that the water, which should have been silent, was conveying something to him.
But he didn't answer; he just gripped the bone knife tightly in his palm, so tightly that he wanted to dig it into his flesh.
The water on the lake surface was gradually soaked with ink from the far end, and they all realized that Banxiaxi's time was running out.
Perhaps, all these years, he has been waiting for this day.
Waiting to see my brother again, waiting for someone to take the puppy out.
Because his source is the only drinkable water in the mountains, if his source is also devoured by resentment, the puppy will die here sooner or later. That's why he has been struggling to hold on.
Now that he has seen his brother and met Xie Shuci, and can die at the hands of that little dog and disappear with those people, it seems he has no regrets.
He saw his beloved brother, made friends who were willing to play with him, repaid his debt of gratitude, avenged his wrongdoing, and apologized for his sins. He truly had nothing to regret.
Ban Xiaxi laughed happily. As usual, he spat out a mouthful of water into the air. Ban Xiayin sat down silently on the lake shore, using his spiritual power to propel a wisp of lake water out of the water, as if playing with Ban Xiaxi.
"Brother, can you blow bubbles?" Ban Xiaxi asked curiously.
He opened his mouth and blew a bubble out.
"Yes," Ban Xiayin said in a hoarse voice.
As soon as he finished speaking, a crystal-clear bubble emerged from the water and slowly rose into the air.
Xie Shuci also walked to the lakeside and squatted down, imitating Ban Xiayin, and put a wisp of spiritual energy into the water. "Like this?"
Xie Shuci forcefully released his spiritual energy onto the water's surface, and a bubble smaller than a fingernail floated up.
"Hmph." Liu Dazhuang sneered, "Look at your grandpa Liu!"
Liu Dazhuang gathered spiritual power in his palm and then plunged it into the lake water. After brewing for most of the day, a bubble no bigger than a fingernail popped out.
"Tch." Xie Shuci glanced at him disdainfully.
"No, this can't be. There must be something wrong with it." Liu Dazhuang looked incredulous.
Sikong Xin rolled his eyes at him, walked over to the group, flicked a wisp of spiritual energy from his fingertip, forming a spherical membrane that enveloped a water sphere, which then rose into the air.
"Ah!" Ban Xiaxi looked excitedly at the few bubbles on the water's surface.
The bubble drifted further and further into the air, passing over the rapidly spreading inky lake water, and silently disappeared into a gray mist.
The sky was shrouded in gray haze, and the ground was rotten and decaying.
In the lifeless Chunsheng Mountain, bursts of laughter could be heard.
In the silent, dilapidated, death-ridden Chunsheng Mountain, laughter broke out for the first time ever.
This mountain, silent for thousands of years and bearing the sins of ages past, seems to be experiencing the return of spring.
The damp ground, the withered and rotten grass and trees—everything was just as it had always been—but those cheerful sounds seemed to restore the mountain to its former peace and tranquility.
"Xie Shuci, my bubble is bigger than yours!"
"Impossible! I won't allow a bubble bigger than mine to exist!"
"Ouch!" Diedie is right!
"Holy crap! You dare pop my bubble?"
"You're old and you've already poked it? So what?"
Just then, Sikong Xin's "water ball" flew right above Liu Dazhuang's head. Xie Shuci threw a small stone into the air, and the water ball immediately broke apart, splashing water all over Liu Dazhuang.
"Thank you, letter, resignation!" Liu Dazhuang roared in fury.
"Serves you right! How dare you show off your skills in front of Young Master Xie! You asked for it!"
Xie Shuci stood with his hands on his hips and said arrogantly.
"Awooo!" the king cheered from the side.
Liu Dazhuang chuckled sinisterly and slowly drew his axe from his waist. "Xie Shuci, even if I kill someone here today, dispose of the body, and steal the money, your family won't know, will they?"
Xie Shuci's heart skipped a beat when he saw the gleaming silver axe blade, and he stammered, "You...you better not do anything reckless! I'm warning you, I have powerful connections...you dare..."
"Prepare to die!!"
"Ah!! Help!! Murder!! Big brother, big brother, I was wrong! Your bubble is the biggest, your bubble is the prettiest, your bubble is the best in the world!"
"Aww!"
The onlookers burst into laughter.
"Stop laughing! Make way for your little brother Ci!"
Xie Shuci shouted as he ran to Ban Xiaxi, who was watching the commotion from the water.
Ban Xiaxi popped her head out with a smile, "Brother Xiaoci, you're running into the water."
"I can't swim!"
"Believe me."
Xie Shuci gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and jumped into the water with a splash.
The expected sinking sensation did not occur; the water flow supported Xie Shuci, like a lotus flower.
"Holy crap, that's amazing!" Xie Shuci exclaimed.
Ban Xiaxi chuckled softly, and with a gentle flick of her finger, the lotus flower floated on the water's surface.
Banxiaxi swam to Xie Shuci's side and rowed back and forth in the Lotus Lake.
"Little Creek, do you see the enemy over there on the other side of the sea?" Xie Shuci shouted, pointing at Liu Dazhuang on the shore.
"I saw it!"
"Charge with me! Let's wipe them out!"
"rush!"
Those who offend China, no matter how far away, will be punished!
"Let us use the Holy Sword to punish you!"
"Liu Dazhuang, do you remember the fear of being dominated by me, Xie Xiaoci!"
Liu Dazhuang, carrying a large axe, rolled his eyes at them and said, "Xie Shuci, are you sick?"
"What?! How dare you speak so disrespectfully to me? Xiao Xi, what should be done about this?"
"Huh?" Ban Xiaxi pushed him to a stop in the lake, her face full of confusion. "What?"
"Cough..." Xie Shuci coughed lightly and said in a low voice, "Just tell him that he can be spared the death penalty, but he can't escape punishment."
"Oh!" Ban Xiaxi nodded obediently.
"Xiaoxi, what should be done about him?"
"Uh... I can escape punishment... but I can't escape the death penalty!"
"They've rebelled!"
"Huh?" "You've got it backwards!"
"Xie Shuci, you're just sick!"
Everyone present knew in their hearts that the unrestrained laughter and joyful play were merely a cover for the impending permanent separation.
Some people, even if they have only known each other for a day, will feel sadness and reluctance when it is time to part, because of the wonderful fate that brought them together.
Parting doesn't have to be done in a sad way.
In this dark and desolate place, everyone relaxes and plays and laughs like ordinary people, but they don't have much time left.
The puppy sat by the rocks by the lake, holding a sharpened bone knife in its hand, watching the black and white water on the lake surface. The black was slowly pushing the white into a corner until only a small corner remained.
Ban Xiaxi escorted Xie Shuci back to the shore, then climbed out of the lake herself. As he climbed out, the last glimpse of transparent seawater was swallowed by the inky blackness.
The pebbles at the bottom of the lake were covered in ink, like a sky full of stars being shrouded in dark clouds.
Ban Xiaxi stood up in front of the group, his silver eyes becoming calm and deep as he stared intently at Xie Shuci and the others. A bamboo dragonfly fell from his sleeve to his feet.
—The timid yet kind-hearted Ban Xiaxi has disappeared.
Time was squeezed down to the last bit, and the final outcome was still before them.
Xie Shuci felt as if something was stuck in his throat, and he couldn't make a sound.
Surprisingly, none of the others spoke first, just like him.
After a long silence, Ban Xiayin smiled and asked gently, "Can I take my brother with me?"
Ban Xiaxi looked at him quietly and slowly shook her head.
"Brother, you must live."
Ban Xiaxi walked past the crowd and looked at the little dog sitting on the rock not far away.
"Let's get started."
The puppy-like creature shuddered, gripped the bone knife, and, supporting itself on the ground, gradually stood up.
He tightened his lips and stared at Ban Xiaxi without moving.
The bone knife he gripped tightly trembled uncontrollably from the immense force he exerted.
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