Chapter 72 A thousand years passed under the flames of war, until the dust settled. ...
On the other side of the secret realm, Shen Lixia and Simmons were walking through the wreckage.
After walking for a while, the terrain rose slightly, and the white sand gradually thinned, revealing something densely packed beneath, like stars. What had previously been covered by a thin layer of sand was now fully exposed as it was trampled over. Shen Lixia bent down and dug down into one spot, pulling out a slender bone.
She recognized it as the spine of some kind of animal, and glancing at the hard, white objects protruding from the sand, she immediately understood where she was. Where once was the graveyard of civilization, here lay the unmistakable remains of countless merfolk. Over countless years, the sea had eroded them, leaving them mottled and fragile. The spine in her hand made a soft cracking sound as she held it, and with a reverence for life, the young girl parted the white sand and gently buried it within.
Regardless of the cause of the merfolk's demise, it should not be blamed on them; there must be a deeper origin. Thinking of this, she seemed to quickly understand the purpose of the illusion that had trapped her here.
Should I tell her a buried historical truth, like what happened in Quebec?
Strangely, Simmons was not hindered by the illusion. She was currently playing happily with the viper, lovingly stroking its shiny black scales. The viper was highly venomous, but it didn't show any reaction to being touched. Shen Lixia couldn't sense its emotions either, and could only secretly sweat, fearing that the woman might pinch the wrong spot and get bitten by the snake.
"When did you wake up?" Shen Lixia, who was walking ahead, suddenly turned around and asked, "What did you see when you woke up?"
Simmons pondered for a moment, her voice tinged with hesitation: "I can't sense time here, it's like something's gone wrong. But when I woke up, a thick fog had already enveloped me."
Aside from the cold sand beneath her, all around was a thick fog. Simmons was somewhat of a practitioner of formations, and knew that unprovoked fog was an anomaly, often indicating the deployment of an illusionary formation. In worse cases, it could signify chaos and bloodshed, for heaven and earth, unwilling to let light shine, would gather fog to bury it. She had only read about the latter in history books she'd rummaged through obscure corners; such things were always half-truths, and Simmons dismissed it as mere mystification.
She wondered why fog could rise from the seabed. She tried to disable the water-repellent bead, but nearly choked to death by the seawater rushing into her mouth and nose. She quickly retrieved the bead. The area above was also covered by fog, and Simmons, having no other choice but to step into the fog rather than wait to die, decided to do so.
There was nothing there. She walked for a very long time, perhaps because her instinctive sense of time was disordered here, and she felt a subtle and strange atmosphere hidden under the silence everywhere.
When the fog lifted again, she met Shen Lixia.
Shen Lixia stared at her for a long time, then said coolly, "Why don't you swear that if you ever take anything from someone again, you'll be struck by lightning?"
Simmons quickly waved her hands, "No, no, this is my own unique method, it's robbing the rich to help the poor! Stealing doesn't violate principles! It's just that sometimes the poor I help end up helping myself... But then again, I really am poor..."
Seeing her rattle off a long string of rejections, Shen Lixia couldn't help but nod and interrupt her explanation: "Alright, alright, I know you're not fake."
"So it turns out that you were testing me, fellow Daoist."
"After all, it's rare to find someone who can turn a fallacy into a truth, and you're the only one I have by my side."
“Aren’t you the same, fellow Daoist?” Simmons smiled, her eyes crinkling.
Shen Lixia raised an eyebrow. "Shut up."
The two walked a little further, and the white sand thickened, so the remains no longer floated to the surface. Shen Lixia probed here and there, not saying a word the whole way.
Both Qiao Yanshen and Yan Xueya had said that she was a restless person. The two reached a surprising consensus on this aspect of Shen Lixia, saying that she was smart, but too restless and always wanted to take unconventional paths. Once she set her mind on a path, it would be fine if it was a shortcut, but even if it wasn't—and instead involved going through a lot of trouble—the young woman would still be determined to go all the way.
That day was on Frostblade Peak. Shen Lixia was still not very skilled at calligraphy, and her strokes were either soft or blurry, like someone whose hands and feet were as limp as noodles, without any proper form. Qiao Yanshen was with her, and Yan Xueya came in a while later. For some reason, the two of them started talking about Shen Lixia.
As the boy listened to them talk about his stubbornness, like a naive young animal that loves to get hurt, he couldn't help but interject: "Even if you take the wrong path, it's still an experience. My own life, with its joys and sorrows, is what I chose, and I will bear the consequences."
But the two of them were right; her heart was never at peace. Even when she was thinking about something, her hands would unconsciously start drawing and writing, and before she knew it, she had already drawn several messy runes on the paper.
But now, Shen Lixia felt calmer than ever before.
Those around them noticed this as well and finally couldn't hold back any longer, asking, "Fellow Daoist, are you in a hurry?"
The boy blinked and mumbled, "I'm not..."
“You’re in a hurry,” Simmons shook her head. “You’re not usually like this.”
She remembered that Shen Lixia used to joke around, say things to liven up the atmosphere, and even show some impulsiveness. The previous topic was silently pushed forward, and although Shen Lixia herself was unwilling and unwilling to say that it was love, she, as an outsider, had long understood it.
Because that person wasn't there, I lost the leisure to joke around.
Shen Lixia treats people this way: once she recognizes someone as a friend, she wholeheartedly shows kindness. In the secret realm, she is always vigilant, remembering that Xi Mengsi's cultivation is vague, and her sword never leaves her hand. If she is extremely good to her friends, then she is twelve times better to Qiao Yanshen. Behind this twelve times of kindness is a touch of pride, which is her behavior because of Qiao Yanshen's presence.
The boy, whose thoughts had been exposed by her, bit his lip and remained silent for a long time, so long that Simmons thought she was about to give a long and emotional confession or sob with tears streaming down her face.
However, in the end, Shen Lixia simply said softly, "I don't want to lose her."
She sighed and clenched her fist.
Let's go.
For some reason, from a certain moment on, she seemed to sense something and inexplicably became restless. This restlessness made her realize that she could no longer choose the wrong path and must cherish her time and proceed cautiously. Her previous carefree attitude stemmed from having everything and being unafraid of losing it. Now, Qiao Yanshen's whereabouts were unknown, his fate uncertain, and she was in immense torment. The surging spiritual energy, mixed with the aura of divine fire, repeatedly tormented her heart and soul.
As soon as the words were spoken, the surrounding fog rose again, swarming forward. The little snake seemed to sense something, crawled off Simmons's hand, and headed towards Shen Lixia.
The boy glanced back at the viper, shook his head, and said, "You stay with her and protect her!"
After saying that, she resolutely ran into the thick fog.
The overwhelming milky white flowed in the seawater in a way that defied logic, eventually completely engulfing the boy's figure.
When she regained consciousness, she heard the clinking of the jade pendants once more, realizing that her consciousness had once again overlapped with Cang Yu's. Some time must have passed; her spiritual energy felt abundant, and the surrounding scenery had changed.
The previously harmonious scene was now far from relaxed. The shadowy figures of enormous sea beasts loomed in and out of sight, forming a formidable defensive line against this jade-white sea city. Merfolk, clad in armor and armed, stood guard outside the city. The atmosphere was heavy. Shen Lixia, following the original owner's consciousness through the palace, suddenly realized that this time she seemed no longer driven by anything, nor could she sense the original owner's emotions; instead, she was able to freely control her own actions.
What on earth is going on now?
She frowned and slowly walked along the magnificent corridor. When she reached a closed door, Shen Lixia heard faint conversations coming from inside. She immediately moved closer and carefully spread her spiritual energy, trying to eavesdrop.
The spiritual energy seemed to have touched something, and was briefly hindered before continuing its extension. Two figures were outlined: one was Luo Yang, and the other was someone she didn't recognize, but whose aura was very familiar.
"The flames of war will inevitably spread here, Luo Yang."
Inside, a tall woman sat opposite the woman in white, her brows furrowed and her voice deep. Her face bore a striking resemblance to the girl who had previously clung to Luo Yang, almost like her grown-up self, only much more imposing.
Luo Yang's face looked rather unpleasant, her hands gripping the fabric on her knees tightly, her knuckles turning white.
“Cangming…” she took a deep breath, “I am the Lord of Luochuan, and I will stand guard here and fight alongside you.”
"Your partner—"
“She will support my choice. The war situation is dire, and none of us will allow these evil spirits to run rampant.” Luo Yang interrupted her, her voice firm. “Don’t try to persuade me. I will help you defend the city until the very end.”
Shen Lixia pressed herself against the door and heard the woman called Cangming laugh. The laughter carried a mixture of helplessness and bitterness, as if she were at a loss, instilling a sense of desolation in one's heart.
Then, Cangming said in a deep voice, "Unfortunately, what I hoped for cannot be as you wish. However, Luo Yang, as your close friend, I beg you, if the Merfolk suffer an irreparable catastrophe at that time, you must at least protect my child."
Shen Lixia's heart skipped a beat.
Cangyu. I hope you will protect Cangyu and not let her also perish in this war. This is my personal wish.
Hearing this, she looked down at her palm and vaguely felt something warm fall on it. It was the original owner of this body—the original owner was crying. This wasn't hard to understand; even from fragmented memories, she knew that this young prince had a deep relationship with her mother.
But did her mother's wish ultimately fail, or was it fulfilled? Since entering the secret realm, she had never seen a living mermaid; all around her were dead bodies, a desolate landscape silently proclaiming the tragic reality.
Will she be the one who is protected until the very end, forced to watch her loved ones die, and resentfully accepted such a short ending?
And where did Luo Yang go? Even Luo Yang couldn't withstand the crushing force of war?
Shen Lixia's eyes welled up, and a single tear slid down her cheek. She reached out to touch it; it wasn't an illusion, she was truly crying. She had clearly never felt this connection before, yet it was as if she was born unable to sever her attachment to her mother. Now, caught in the middle of it all, she already knew the outcome, and the bitterness overwhelmed her, unable to stop.
She turned away, no longer listening to what followed, and strode impatiently to the other side of the corridor, back to where they had practiced their swordsmanship. It was an open space behind the palace, surrounded by strange flowers and fireflies. The boy knelt down, curled up among the flowers, and after what seemed like an eternity, he suddenly heard footsteps approaching.
Cang Yu looked up, and a pair of familiar light blue eyes came into view. Those eyes, which had previously held only an unfathomable gentleness and composure, now held a complex emotion. She knew it was called compassion, but it was the first time Luo Yang had ever seen it.
"Luo Yang..."
Please, teach me more, make me stronger. I don't want to be protected; I want to fight alongside my mother.
The woman in white simply lowered her eyes and sighed.
"I do—"
I am willing to take responsibility, willing to fight alongside you, to share life and death, and to resist to the very last moment. This is what I should do.
These words were not spoken. Shen Lixia saw Luo Yang reach out and gently tap the young merman's forehead with her fingertips. The other man immediately went limp, and in his last moments, his eyes were filled with resentment as he fell, supported by Luo Yang.
After that, she became a real, sleeping boy, sealed deep within the palace, no longer disturbed by anything, and lost in sweet dreams.
A thousand years later, the dust settled.
The scene in the illusion shifted again. Shen Lixia and Cang Yu were separated, with Luo Yang standing beside them. They both gazed at the sleeping boy before them, watching her eyelashes tremble slightly, her breathing quicken, and finally, she coughed up a mouthful of foul blood, awakening from her deep dream.
The dream had lasted too long, and everything had changed. As soon as she stepped out of the place where she had been sleeping, she saw this scene of hell on earth—corpses were everywhere, the flesh and blood of mermaids were incorruptible, and the white sand was stained pale red, as if dusk had appeared in the sea, casting twilight on the ruins.
She turned her head and saw a broken sword stuck in the center of the palace ruins. Its bright feathered tassel now seemed ironic. Luo Yang wasn't among the dead, yet they all exuded the same chilling spiritual energy she possessed. Cang Yu searched numbly, spending an unknown amount of time slowly burying her people beneath the white sand. Finally, she found her beloved mother, her body intact, but her heart pierced by a broken blade.
As the sword was drawn, intense spiritual energy dissipated, instantly obliterating the corpse. The fragile outer shell collapsed, turning it into bones in an instant. Cang Yu held the broken blade in her hand, the coldness emanating from her palm. The corroded metal couldn't harm her, but she felt as if her heart had been shattered into a thousand pieces in that instant.
This is Luo Yang's sword.
The sword of the man who once vowed to protect the Merfolk and fight alongside the leader to the very end took Cangming's life.
After that, she never returned to the secret realm, leaving her alone to wander in this sealed place, looking at the broken sword that she couldn't pull out. Every bit of affection in her memory turned into hatred, and her love became unrecognizable.
Shen Lixia stared blankly at the distraught young man, then suddenly turned to look at Luo Yang, who was silent beside her—Luo Yang was currently in the same plane as her, not beside Cang Yu—and asked:
"You've forgotten her?"
Luo Yang simply shook her head, unable to utter another word. Shen Lixia watched her figure, then glanced at the broken sword, realizing that this was indeed an array, and the sword was the array's core. The Luo Yang beside her was merely a remnant of divine consciousness; everything here was formed from the immense spiritual energy she had left behind, truly protecting everything left behind after the war, while simultaneously turning Cang Yu into a ghostly prisoner.
She didn't forget, but...
They can't come back.
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