I couldn't say much to him, I just nodded slightly to indicate that it was alright. He was never too stubborn, and he let go quite easily. But at this moment, he held my wrist tightly and didn't let go for a long time, as if he would never be able to hold on to me again once he let go.
I shook my head. It doesn't matter whether I can hold on or not, whether I live or die. This is my life, and whether it ends here or continues forward, it makes no difference to me.
A fleeting smile played on Fu Xi's lips. I saw it clearly, but remained silent. He understood my choice, just as he had known it all along. And I understood his choice just as well.
"It's alright," I said, my voice barely audible in the gloomy tent, as if no one had ever spoken.
Ji Mo's eyes were almost blank. This was indeed understandable. I had never spoken a complete sentence to him, or if there was any chance of it being a sentence, then so be it.
He nodded to him again, took a step towards Fu Xi, and forced Ji Mo to let go. Looking back, his eyes were like a deep pool, bottomless and pitch black.
“I’m right outside the tent,” he whispered, his expression unreadable.
Fu Xi bowed and made way for me. I watched his figure gradually disappear into the distance, the curtain rose and fell again, a cold wind rushed in, and then vanished in an instant, leaving only a chill on my fingertips.
"There's no time left." Fu Xi's brows suddenly furrowed, as if his previous composure was merely a facade.
I watched him quietly, waiting for an explanation.
He took a deep breath, seemingly considering where to begin, before finally speaking: "The Eastern Incident has caused internal strife within the Heavenly Emperor's court, jeopardizing the Nine Heavens. Fuqi is about to make a comeback and rise again. This is the will of Heaven, beyond the control of mortals."
It is beyond the control of mortals.
I looked at him, and he looked at me too.
Yes, he set his sights on me, something beyond the control of ordinary people.
Looking down at my pale fingertips and long, pale hair, I realize that I am no ordinary person.
"I want your soul to go back, back to where it belongs. Perhaps there's still a chance for things to turn around." He sighed, paused, and then said, "But how much of a chance there is depends on you."
I know I've never been a key link in the chain. Yet his words only fueled my suspicions.
He stepped forward and reached out to brush a tangled strand of hair from my temple. I instinctively turned my head away, and his smile was bitterly cold.
"If you never know the past, and never want to know the past, you will eventually harm the world."
To harm the world? That's an easy way to put it.
"Where is Jimo Dongli's severed arm?" he suddenly asked.
Who can properly preserve a severed arm that can never be reattached?
He suddenly turned around, head down, seemingly lost in thought.
"Find it, we must find it!" he suddenly said, his voice filled with suppressed anger and a roar. "It's too late, we must find it!"
I frowned as I looked at him. He was always so calm and collected, but today he seemed to have gone mad. There was no reason, no explanation, and I inexplicably felt that his words had to be obeyed.
Seeing the look in my eyes, he seemed to realize his lapse in composure, rubbed his temples, closed his eyes, and said, "This is not just a matter of the world being in chaos, yet you don't understand."
Indeed, I don't understand how my fate, or Ji Mo Dongli's severed arm, could cause so-called "more than just chaos in the world." To anyone who hears it, it would seem exaggerated and absurd.
"Liao..." He seemed very uncomfortable calling my name, but finally said it, "Liao Yan, as long as you are still a mortal, I cannot tell you anything. You just need to do it, go and find it."
He had said enough, he had already spoken of world-destroying things, as if that was the predetermined ending. I didn't care about my own ending, but I never thought of linking my death to this world.
Her index finger twisted a strand of hair hanging down her chest, revealing her panicked state of mind.
"Liao Yan," he said, looking at me intently one last time, "you can't refuse."
Yes, I cannot refuse.
I have always had unwavering faith in Fu Xi, and his expression at this moment was anything but joking. Therefore, even if it sounds absurd, I have no choice but to believe and accept it.
"Find his severed arm, and give me your soul."
I nodded.
He seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, his expression relaxing for a moment, but he still didn't smile. He said, "Fuqi is now blessed by Heaven. Tell Jimo to protect his life. The dragon shadow I saw today is real."
I looked up at him abruptly—was a true dragon descending to earth?!
The Fuqi royal family is so extravagant and decadent, how could they possibly receive divine assistance! Could it be that the world has truly reached the point of going against the natural order, forcing everyone to defy Heaven?
“Remember, it’s always the mortals who can’t afford to lose. The current situation is better ended sooner rather than later. Ji Mo’s betrayal is just fate, and his severed arm is merely a warning. You should help him as much as possible, and help yourself as well. I can’t stay any longer, lest I bring trouble upon myself. On the day you find his severed arm, go with him to Qingqiu Mountain, slay the Nine-Tailed Fox, and bring its nine tails back. I will be there. Afterward, come with me to Danxue Mountain, where I can return your soul.”
I'd never heard of Qingqiu Mountain or Danxue Mountain. The nine-tailed fox was nothing more than a mythical creature from stories and nursery rhymes. Yet, since he said so, I had no choice but to believe him.
"Therefore, I shall depart now. Take care."
I lowered my head and watched his toes slowly leave, disappearing from sight.
He came in a hurry, and he left in a hurry. Who can keep track of his whereabouts?
The severed arm from Jimo was collected in the capital.
I didn't say much to him, leaving a letter before galloping away. The letter explained everything that Fu Xi had told me, except for omitting the part about Danxue Mountain. I didn't want him to know about my entrusting my soul to him, to avoid further trouble. Let him blame me for leaving without saying goodbye, let him blame me for being heartless and ungrateful. All I want is for him to mend his severed arm, rebuild the country, even if it means defying fate and facing hardship, so that he will no longer worry about me.
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