Chapter 114 Farewell, Luckily You Have a Mouth
Even though her demonic body was destroyed, the person before her still possessed considerable strength. A layer of eerie demonic energy hovered, obscuring Qiao Yanshen's divine sense from probing her cultivation level.
Although she intended to tear the demon apart, she first lunged at Qiao Yanshen with her sword. Just like in their previous sparring, Qiao Yanshen raised his sword to block, the weapons clashing with a clang. Her sword strike was light, seemingly a trial and error.
However, before they had exchanged more than two blows, Mei suddenly changed the direction of her blade. Qiao Yanshen was caught off guard and only had time to turn her body. The blade tip missed her neck, and the sharp wind blade sliced through her skin. Although she was not decapitated, it left a bloody wound.
She didn't know when, but the woman had cornered her. The strong stench of blood assaulted her nostrils, and her gaze met Mei's.
Red is usually a vibrant color, but now it stared at her coldly, with an eerie quality. Qiao Yanshen gripped the rain-wielding sword tightly, cold sweat already trickling down her forehead.
This is a decisive battle between warriors, not a clash between fellow disciples.
The next strike wouldn't miss, but just as she was about to draw her sword and strike again—
clang!
With a crisp sound, the knife in her hand flew through the air. Chi pulled the young man aside and shielded him behind her, a light, arrogant smile playing on her lips. But upon closer inspection, one could also catch a hint of lingering fear beneath her radiant smile.
She used the tip of her gun to lift the other person's chin, each word striking like a hammer blow to their heart, solely to ignite a fire of displeasure:
"You are mine."
As soon as she finished speaking, she raised her gun and thrust it forward. Despite her words, Mei was not angered; instead, she conjured a knife and engaged in a fierce battle with her.
“You have completely forgotten what His Majesty told you before.”
Chi blinked. "What?"
"First, villains die from talking too much; second, flirting is forbidden during battle."
Chi froze for a second—she didn't seem to have heard this before, but it did sound somewhat familiar.
Behind her, Qiao Yanshen frowned slightly, a subtle feeling rising in his heart. For some reason, he felt that these words sounded familiar.
"Who exactly is this 'Your Excellency' you're talking about?" Chi suddenly asked after being repelled by Mei's sword. "Never mind, is your next sentence, 'Because I forgot, I have no right to know her name'?"
Mei replied, "That's right. It seems you haven't completely gone mad yet. Even rotten wood can be carved. I'll beat you into submission and take you away."
"you--?!"
She had no interest in playing from the start. Seeing that the demon seemed to be furious with her words, a smile finally appeared on her face, her demonic energy surged, and her face became even paler.
At the same time, Qiao Yanshen heard a piercing scream coming from a distant house and immediately understood what she was doing. Joking aside, although he didn't know what kind of past entanglement they had, he shouldn't waste any more time.
The water's luster deepened, and she drew her sword and slashed out. In an instant, a torrential downpour of sword light fell, countless beams attacking the demon.
The chill was biting, and even the other two demons were frozen, their hands stiffening, their swords and spears held tightly in mid-air. Sensing something was wrong, Mei looked up and saw a sword flashing towards her.
The raindrops were crystal clear, as if they were really pattering, and reflected in her blood-red eyes as they fell.
At the same time, the knife slipped from her hand and fell to the ground. The demon's spear pierced her shoulder; the woman groaned but did not retaliate, letting the demonic energy flow from her body along the spear to the other side.
The sword light pierced through her body, and wisps of demonic energy dispersed. She just stared blankly at Qiao Yanshen behind the sword light, and suddenly caught a glimpse of a familiar figure between his ink-black hair and white robes.
Blood gushed out as Mei reached for the gun handle, pulled it out without batting an eye, leaving a horrifying bloody hole. Plop, plop, like seeds falling to the ground, warm liquid flowed down, blooming into crimson lotus-like bloodstains.
Qiao Yanshen frowned as he saw her walking towards him, preparing to retaliate.
Unexpectedly, when the woman was not far from her, she swayed twice, then suddenly collapsed, kneeling on one knee, and said in a low voice:
"Your Excellency."
Qiao Yanshen remained silent for a long time, looked down at her, then slowly raised his head and glanced at Chi, who was equally confused, beside him.
She really wanted to point to herself and ask, "Me?"
But the person before her was solemn, with long hair disheveled, demonic energy emanating from him, and large patches of blood staining his clothes. It didn't seem like he was joking with her, nor was it a case of momentary apology. Perhaps Qiao Yanshen had hesitated for too long, for she finally raised her head. Her eyes, no longer sharp as before, cautiously glanced at Qiao Yanshen, trembling slightly, like a wounded big cat afraid of being abandoned again.
Mei pondered for a moment, then, as if struck by a thought, closed her eyes. The demonic energy slowly receded, and when she opened her eyes again, the crimson color had briefly faded, leaving only a ring around the edge.
A soft, aquamarine blue appeared in her eyes.
She pursed her lips, and asked uncertainly, "Are you more familiar with it now?"
Qiao Yanshen didn't know how to answer her.
In fact, she could guess that the "Your Excellency" the other party mentioned was probably Luo Yang. But Luo Chuan had collapsed, and she was no longer the Lord of Luo Chuan. Even if she was reincarnated, she was no longer the same person as Luo Yang in her previous life.
She thought for a moment, then reached out and carefully helped Mei up, saying, "Luo Yang is dead, and I am not the same person as her."
It's truly amazing how the spiritual energy flowed through them without any obstruction. Either the other party completely trusted them, or they had already established a familial connection, which allowed them to blend together so naturally.
The wound on Mei's shoulder healed little by little.
After hearing Qiao Yanshen's words, her voice trembled slightly when she spoke again, but remained gentle: "Then how should I address you now?"
Qiao Yanshen told her his name and said, "I have no intention of becoming the Lord of Luochuan, and besides, Luochuan has already collapsed..."
Perhaps she didn't truly want to be like Luo Yang. She simply wished to cherish this moment and live with the people she cared about.
On the path of pursuing the Great Way, the destination is no longer the most important thing, because what we see and feel along the way is irreplaceable.
Mei's eyes dimmed, then filled with light again, like lake water rippling in the wind, gently reflecting back at her.
Disappointment is fleeting.
She said, "Knowing that you have been reincarnated and are living a new life, I am already content. Have you made up for all the regrets of your past life in this one?"
Love or hate, joy or sorrow, infatuation or resentment.
Even though her memories remain, she retains the most important and unforgettable part, thus preserving her emotions and loving the person in front of her from the bottom of her heart, even though she is no longer Luo Yang.
Perfect.
Qiao Yanshen subconsciously gripped the hem of his robe. The image of the boy's watery eyes flashed before his eyes, and he suddenly found himself unable to compose a reply. Was it fulfilling? Being able to be with her and having a home in the sect might be fulfilling; but to forever remain only at the level of infatuation, never reaching out—could this truly be called fulfilling?
Mei noticed Qiao Yanshen's hesitation and smiled slightly, "You shouldn't have any more regrets. If you're still afraid of anything, she and I will always be your support."
Although she hasn't found the remaining person yet, she believes that person will also support the current ruler.
After all, the Venerable One was like a second mother to them, besides their birth mother, and they were taught everything they said and did by him.
"Me?" Chi chuckled. "I was forced."
Mei gave her a cold glare: "Shut up."
Qiao Yanshen asked, "What's your name?"
The woman replied, "Charm, that's the nickname given to me by the mortal world. My real name... I've forgotten it. But I want to give myself a new one."
Qiao Yanshen nodded: "I'd like to hear the details."
“The merfolk of the South China Sea have been on good terms with Luochuan for generations. I am a child of the merfolk who died young. If I do not follow you, then I will take the clan name as my head. The body I am using now belongs to someone else. Her soul has entered the River Styx. I want to remember her... So, let’s call her ‘Canghe’.”
Qiao Yanshen then carefully examined her face and found that it was no longer the boy's original face. It seemed to have undergone some subtle changes and resembled the fair-skinned and dignified boy from the depths of the South China Sea.
“Mermaid…” she said softly, “Alright, Canghe. Now, please withdraw your demonic energy and leave.”
"Leave?" Cang He's tone suddenly dropped, and she looked at Qiao Yanshen as if she were about to cry. "Your Excellency...don't you want us to follow you?"
“No,” Qiao Yanshen said, “it’s not that I’m unwilling, but that you are free.”
She wasn't acting casually; rather, it was as if she had let go of a very heavy burden, thus gaining clarity and becoming serene. Although her relationship with Luo Yang was unknown, judging from their armor, they were probably soldiers who had faced life and death together.
Back then, human relationships were pure; those who had faced life and death together were probably close friends.
Even if it sounds cold-hearted, the war is over, and no one has any reason to follow anyone else anymore.
It's time to move forward.
"Let's go and see what the Nine Realms are like now. Don't hurt anyone else. Also, do more good deeds as compensation for the mistakes you made after you woke up."
She sheathed her sword, and at the same time, a flash of spiritual energy appeared in her hand.
The sound of chains breaking came from within her consciousness, and Chi immediately felt a lightness in her body as all the restraints binding her disappeared. She looked at Qiao Yanshen in confusion, only to see him smile and nod.
She felt her head was spinning, so she picked the most important thing to say first: "I want a name too."
To his surprise, Cang grabbed her ear and said, "You were the first one we came up with a name for, don't you remember? Your name is Mingjing—the one with 'Mingjing Zhishui' (meaning 'clear mirror and still water')."
"What are you doing!" The woman was annoyed by her grip and broke free of the hand, then muttered repeatedly, "Mingjing? Mingjing... sounds pretty good."
After finishing his speech, Canghe raised his hand. Tonight, the moon was bright and the stars were few. The chill passed through the valley, finally condensing into mist, which damply settled on the sky. The demonic energy that had covered the entire village flowed slowly, surging towards her overwhelmingly, until it was all gathered into a ball in her hand, and finally melted back into her body.
Plop. A drop of water falls, followed by a few more.
It rains when we part, and it rains when we mourn. The water tastes sorrow, and thus it sheds tears for others in this way.
But after the rain, new things always emerge. The houses in the village were no longer silent and dark day and night, but people could get out of bed and light lamps.
"goodbye."
Qiao Yanshen didn't use an umbrella. She slowly turned around, intending to go back to Gu Zeshan's place first. This wasn't her farewell, yet it couldn't belong to anyone other than her, so a faint sorrow and loss came, weighing heavily on her heart.
Just then, Canghe called out to her from behind.
"Your Excellency... no, Miss Qiao, do you still like that bird now?"
She seemed to have prepared herself mentally before asking, but even so, she still hesitated a bit.
That bird?
Qiao Yanshen took a moment to process what she was saying before realizing she was referring to Shen Lixia, and couldn't help but chuckle. She wondered if it was just her imagination, but it seemed that the people around Luo Yang didn't really like Hua Ying. This dislike hadn't changed and had now transferred to Shen Lixia.
She pondered for a long time, until the rain intensified and mist rose. Through the misty rain, a soft yet firm voice pierced through the dense whispers and reached Canghe's ears.
"I like it. I will always like it."
It will never waver again.
Her figure, like a splash of ink in a picturesque landscape, quickly faded and disappeared into the distance. The person with the new name belatedly realized—this parting, though many things remained unclear, left them wondering when they would meet again.
Mingjing cupped her hands to her lips and shouted, "Goodbye—!"
And no matter who left, they would never hear her farewell again. She heard something shatter with a clatter, and then an indescribable sadness surged up, draining all her strength.
Those around her seemed to have anticipated her reaction and reached out to support her as she was about to collapse. Mingjing leaned on her shoulder and began to sob softly.
The person in her memory never told her that starting over meant a permanent farewell.
-
There's one last step.
After withdrawing the demonic energy, Qi still needed power; otherwise, how could he sustain Shang Ying's life?
Canghe tiptoed back into the room, intending to blow out the lamp and talk to Shangying when she woke up the next day. However, she saw the young man sitting on the edge of the bed with his hands folded on his knees. He had looked over when she came in, as if he had been waiting for a long time.
Her heart tightened for a moment, but she was also glad that she had changed her clothes and that she still looked like Shang He.
Shang Ying patted the seat next to her and said, "Sit down."
Even though illness has stripped away a layer of vitality, it cannot erase the beauty etched in her bones. It can still be seen in some places, such as the eyes that are looking at her right now. They are dark and bright, and appear gentle and tender because of the flickering light. The inside is deep, as if you can see something deeper beneath the skin.
Canghe sat down beside her. Her hands were clasped together, her palms sweaty. She struggled to separate them and slowly moved to the side, trying to appear natural.
However, the moment Shang Ying's hand covered hers, she trembled almost imperceptibly, swallowed hard, and bit her lip tightly.
Shang Ying said, "Ahe is gone."
She didn't give Canghe time to be surprised. She leaned slightly against the boy's shoulder and whispered, "I know she was willing to trade places with you so that I could live, right?"
"...When did you find out?"
“After I recovered from my illness, she sometimes became like a different person,” Shang Ying said. “And when she’s nervous, she bites her fingers, and when she’s sad, she cries out loud, unlike you who holds it in.”
Strange, even though the weight is pressing down on me, I still feel so light, so very light.
Cang He didn't know what to say, so he could only express his agreement with silence. Shang Ying then chuckled softly, but it sounded so bitter that it made Cang He restless.
"Let me go."
Canghe almost immediately said, "No, you will still live—I can find a way for us to leave here tomorrow, so we won't have to harm the villagers anymore..."
Her lips were pressed against Shang Ying's with his index finger. The young man's smile was gentle, but his eyes were filled with determination.
“If we delay any longer, Ahe won’t be able to wait for me.” She shook her head. “In the next life, I also want to be her sister.”
That leaves no room for negotiation. Cang He lowered her eyes, and after a long while, she closed them and placed her hand lightly on Shang Ying's chest.
The lights flickered and then went out.
From now on, there's no need to add oil anymore. Dust to dust, ashes to ashes.
Mingjing waited outside, casually picking a leaf, chewing it, and then spitting it out. Heavy footsteps sounded behind her, and she turned around.
Cang He emerged from the shadows of the house, carrying someone in her arms. The moonlight was dim, obscuring her expression, but Ming Jing could see that the person in her arms had their eyes closed, as if peacefully asleep, though their chest remained still.
Mingjing understood immediately, grabbed the shovel used for farm work, opened the umbrella she had found somewhere, and walked along the road with Canghe.
Where to?
"It's quiet up in the mountains."
"Where to go next?"
"And then..."
"Let's go to the South! That's where I woke up. Didn't we agree to make amends? Let's go help out."
"good."
The rain was fine and dense, and the sound of their footsteps gradually faded away, leaving only an empty house in the place.
-
In the middle of the night, Shen Lixia and Si Liuhua finally returned from the mountain. The young woman was fine except for being a bit travel-worn; however, Si Liuhua behind her was injured, with a large patch of blood spreading across her shoulder.
Gu Zeshan, his heart pounding, quickly stepped forward to check the injury, only to breathe a sigh of relief upon discovering that it had healed.
Si Liuhua explained, "The evil spirit was struggling in its death throes, and I wasn't paying attention for a moment. It pierced my shoulder with a branch."
She spoke casually, as if it were no big deal, but Gu Zeshan gasped and felt a sharp pain in his shoulder.
Most of the people who were lying in the room have left. A few with severe symptoms have not yet woken up, but their breathing has returned to normal, and their complexions have become rosy after eating in the evening.
The entire village will likely return to its normal vitality by tomorrow morning.
With the matter settled, the three of them didn't intend to stay any longer. Gu Zeshan thought for a long time, unsure how to express his gratitude, so he could only take out some silver to pay them.
Si Liuhua accepted the loose silver coins and smiled, saying, "Thank you."
The remaining two also accepted the payment and thanked Gu Zeshan. Sometimes accepting payment isn't out of necessity, and besides, it's good to use the money to buy a snack; at least no one will feel indebted.
As dawn broke, they packed their belongings and went out.
"My friends."
Upon hearing Si Liuhua's voice, the two stopped in their tracks.
The young man smiled, took out a letter, and handed it to them, saying, "I hear you two are from the Taihui Sect. I have someone I care about, and I don't know how their cultivation is progressing. So, could you please give this letter to that child?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Lixia asked curiously, "What is Tu Sheng's name?"
“Wu Zhuyue,” Si Liuhua said, “If there are no surprises, he should be a sword cultivator.”
The young man clapped his hands: "That's perfect. This is an acquaintance of mine, what a coincidence. She's doing very well and is cultivating diligently. You can put your friend's mind at ease."
She scrutinized Si Liuhua for a while, and it did indeed seem to bear some resemblance to Wu Zhuyue…
Xiao Wu never mentioned her experiences before becoming a refugee. Could this person be Wu Zhuyue's long-lost mother?
No, that's absurd.
"Thank you." Si Liuhua nodded.
Shen Lixia took the letter, but hesitated for a moment, unsure of what was troubling her, wanting to wait a little longer. She looked at Si Liuhua, whose eyes were expressionless, but he tilted his head slightly, seemingly curious as to why they hadn't left, or perhaps waiting unsure if she had something left to say.
After an eerie silence, a thousand screams of a groundhog echoed in Shen Lixia's mind—
Doesn't she ask? Does she really not ask? Really, really, really not ask?
Doesn't she ever ask how Si Changxi is doing? There's definitely something between them, why doesn't she ask?
She was feeling incredibly stifled, but she certainly wasn't the one who should be asking that question. She couldn't very well be the one to initiate the conversation by asking this fellow Daoist Wang Shu, "Hey, what do you think of our sect leader? Shouldn't we check on her to see if she's doing well?"
Is this even possible?
Seemingly understanding some of her thoughts, Si Liuhua pondered for a moment before speaking, "Young friends..."
She paused, as if recalling something happy, and her eyes suddenly shone. It was only a faint glimmer, but in the boundless darkness, even a single starlight surpasses the sun of day.
But before the glimmer could fully form, it vanished in an instant. Si Liuhua continued, "Take care on your journey, and we'll meet again someday."
After saying that, she turned around and walked to the other side, but ultimately didn't ask anything.
When they reached the village entrance, Shen Lixia let out a long sigh.
"What's wrong?" Qiao Yanshen turned to look at her. "Is something on your mind?"
Shen Lixia shook her head, thinking that she just didn't understand why people didn't use their mouths. She trusted her intuition to be accurate, and that Wang Shu's failure to get the answer was her own problem, not something she was overthinking.
Her thoughts raced, she blinked, and suddenly jumped in front of Qiao Yanshen.
"Give me a hug?"
Qiao Yanshen smiled slightly and opened her arms. The young man, like a bird returning to its nest, nestled firmly into her embrace and held her tightly.
A warm feeling welled up from his embrace, and Qiao Yanshen sighed softly, resting his chin on the boy's shoulder and closing his eyes.
She won't leave me.
She will always be by my side.
-----------------------
Author's note: The end!
The next chapter will also include an extra chapter telling the story of Luo Yang, these two people, and another person who hasn't appeared yet!
My senior colleague has confirmed her feelings, so they're getting together soon. I've heard many couples end up together, so I don't watch anymore, but I really think they should start dating (what?).
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