Chapter 63 Annihilation (Part 1)
Chu Jianshan frowned, looking at the many gray hairs at Chen Da Niang's temples, and felt increasingly uneasy: "How come..."
Aunt Chen's eyes darted around, and she tried her best to stand up straight, but it felt like she was being weighed down by a thousand pounds. She had no choice but to change the subject: "I...I'm fine. What about you? I haven't heard from you since you left. I don't know how you're doing."
Chu Jianshan helped her sit down to the side and said with a smile, "I'm fine, so don't worry. I'm eating well, sleeping soundly, and in great health. You really need to change this habit of worrying too much."
Aunt Chen was amused by him and patted his hand twice: "I thought you weren't coming back, after all, I treated you so badly before."
Her eyes lowered, and Chu Jianshan quickly said, "No way, it's all ancient history, I've long forgotten about it. Besides, you only ever scold me, you've never actually laid a hand on me."
Aunt Chen nodded, her eyes slightly moist.
Bai Qianfan then approached and asked, "There used to be an old fortune teller here. Do you know where he is? We'd like to ask him some questions."
Aunt Chen slowly shook her head, her eyes empty and blank, and sighed, "You won't find him."
Chu Jianshan had a bad feeling and asked cautiously, "Where...did he go?"
After a moment of silence, Aunt Chen said, "He died just a few days ago."
Bai Qianfan hurriedly asked, "What happened?"
Aunt Chen sighed, "He was unlucky. He broke his leg while fleeing for his life, and there were no doctors in the city. He just waited and died."
She gave a bitter laugh: "Ha, I've spent my whole life telling other people's fortunes, I wonder if I've ever foreseen my own calamity."
Her tone was full of resentment as she recounted the evil deeds of each sect: "I don't care who is right or wrong. I just want to live my own life. But who among them cares about our lives? They shout about acting on behalf of Heaven, but they just want to follow their own path."
Chu Jianshan felt uncomfortable listening to this. He had known his responsibility since childhood, vowing to protect all living beings and slay all demons. He spoke righteous and humane words, but forgot that ordinary people simply wanted peace and stability.
"Little Chu," Aunt Chen called to him again, "Leave this place and never come back. Go to a place you like and do what you want to do. The world is so big, there's bound to be a good place for you."
Chu Jianshan asked, "What about you and Xiaolian?"
Xiao Lian is Chen Da Niang's daughter, the only child who survived after her three sons died. She is round and chubby and very cute. In the past, whenever Chen Da Niang scolded Chu Jianshan, Xiao Lian would always be the one to persuade her. Her mother would also secretly give Chu Jianshan the delicious food she made. Judging by her age, she has now come of age.
“I…” Aunt Chen hesitated for a moment, “I’ve spent most of my life here, and I just can’t bear to leave. As for Xiao Lian…”
When Xiaolian was mentioned, her expression became somewhat unnatural, and she stammered, "She...she left with her dead old man."
Chu Jianshan didn't dare ask what "left" meant. Perhaps it meant that the father and daughter had gone far away and would never return, or perhaps it meant that they had already left this world.
This answer is too heavy, so it's better to use such vague words instead.
When Aunt Chen left, her back was still hunched, and she walked forward step by step with determination, carrying an empty vegetable basket. However, the withered leaves covered her path and she could not see the way back.
"Chu Jianshan," Bai Qianfan called out to him.
“I know what you want to say,” Chu Jianshan looked up at the gray sky: “All of this must end quickly.”
Inside the Shao Xuanzong Palace, Dong Huai Ren had suffered a serious injury and was recuperating in the hall. His son, Dong Qi, was attending to him, pouring tea and adding water from time to time.
"Father," Dong Qi asked hesitantly, "Do you think... Changjin Mountain will really send someone over?"
Upon hearing him speak, Dong Huai Ren lowered his hand that was maintaining his cultivation technique and looked at the few remaining Shao Xuan Sect disciples outside the hall. A sense of guilt welled up in his heart.
He didn't answer Dong Qi's question, but instead asked, "Son, do you think I'm wrong?"
Dong Qi knelt down with a thud, trembling as he said, "Father... Father could not be wrong! It is clearly... it is the Linyi Sect that is audacious and harbors evil intentions. Father is acting on behalf of Heaven!"
Dong Huai Ren glanced at his good-for-nothing son, but instead of scolding him as a fool as before, he held his arm and helped him up.
"You don't need to flatter me like this. I know the path I've taken very well. I just didn't expect the price to be so high."
He clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and his eyes grew increasingly resolute: "I'm willing to pay any price, as long as I can rid you of the biggest menace and let you sit in this position peacefully, then I can give your mother an explanation."
"Father……"
Dong Qi looked at him with tears in her eyes, somewhat unable to believe that these words could come from his father's mouth. In the past, his father would only beat and scold him at the drop of a hat, shouting in front of everyone that he was a good-for-nothing. He had long since accepted his mediocrity and stopped arguing.
But now, his father actually said that he did all this for him, which made his past resentment seem ridiculous, and he didn't know where to put the guilt that arose from it.
Dong Huai Ren continued, "I know you hate me, but how could I not hate myself? As the head of a sect, I can't even protect the people around me."
He turned to look at Dong Qi: "I scolded and beat you because I was angry at your lack of ambition, not because I didn't care about you. You are my only son, and I always hope to teach you more so that you can... survive in this cannibalistic world."
Dong Qi's eyes were terribly red. She knelt on the ground with her head bowed, her body trembling uncontrollably: "What did Father mean by saying all this to me... Was it his last words?"
Dong Huai-ren closed his eyes and exhaled a breath of stale air: "If you want to take it as your last words, then so be it."
Dong Qi finally raised her head, a tear falling to the ground: "I know I'm stupid, I've made my father worry so much about me. Over the years, my father has done everything he could for me, but... he never asks if it's what I want."
“I… am not a person who can achieve great things. I only wish to follow my heart and live a carefree and happy life. I don’t care about any grand system, justice, or seeking immortality! I just want to be the most ordinary person in this world… Father always says I am useless, and perhaps that is true. But has Father forgotten that before Mother passed away, she only said that she wanted me to live a happy life? If you want to give Mother an explanation, why not let me go now?”
Dong Qi had kept these words bottled up for many years, never daring to tell Dong Huai Ren. He didn't know where he got the courage today, but he just blurted them out completely. He thought that his father would definitely be angry, but he would accept any beating or punishment. He had been submissive for more than 20 years, and he had to stand up for himself this time.
He looked up, waiting for Dong Huai Ren's reaction. Strangely, Dong Huai Ren wasn't angry. Instead, he burst into laughter. The hand he raised wasn't to hit him, but to gently stroke the top of his head.
Dong Huai-ren laughed and said, "You rascal, you're just like me back then. You've been holding these words in for quite some time, haven't you?"
Dong Qi was stunned, never expecting him to react this way, and nodded blankly.
Dong Huai-ren looked at his only son with expectation, affection, and even a little sympathy in his eyes.
He stroked Dong Qi's hair and said, "But my child, you must know that the most painful and unavoidable thing in this world is being unable to control your own destiny. No one will care about your thoughts, and whether or not you get this position is not up to you. One day, you will have to bear all of this."
Dong Qi tentatively asked, "What if I'm not capable of taking on the responsibility?"
Dong Huai-ren was silent for a while, then lowered his eyes and said, "No matter how painful it is, we can keep going. Trust me."
"Sect Master—!! Something terrible has happened, Sect Master!!"
The disciple guarding the door stumbled in, knelt before the two men with a panicked expression, and pointed outside, saying, "Linyi Gate... the people from Linyi Gate have broken in!"
Dong Qi hurriedly stood up, unsure of what to do. In contrast, Dong Huai Ren remained calm and said softly, "What's meant to happen will happen sooner or later."
He stood up, walked to the lobby entrance, and looked at the gray sky. The last ray of sunlight had been swallowed up by the dark clouds, and it was getting dark.
"My son!" Dong Huai-ren suddenly shouted, "I will win this battle for you!"
That's all he could do for Dong Qi. No matter how difficult the road ahead may be, he would have to pave it all himself.
"Father?" Dong Qi sensed something was wrong and rushed forward, shouting, "Father—!!"
With a loud bang, the barrier collapsed, locking Dong Qi inside the main hall.
"Father, what are you doing?!" Dong Qi kept pounding on the barrier, trying to break free.
Dong Huai Ren turned around, gave him a deep look, and left without saying a word.
"No—!! Please, Father, don't leave me..."
This was the first time Dong Qi had ever felt such hatred for her own powerlessness. She hated herself for not cultivating more, for she couldn't even break through this simple barrier. She also hated her father for making her bear all of this, for why it had to end like this...
The barrier of Shaoxuan Sect had been broken, and the few remaining disciples were locked in combat with the people of Linyi Sect. Dong Huai Ren's sword slashed across the necks of several Linyi Sect cultivators before clashing with another sword.
The two swords faced each other. Dong Huai Ren raised his eyes and saw a young face. The young man was full of vigor and ambition. Although he was young, his cultivation was not low. His eyes were full of confidence.
Dong Huai-ren asked, "And who are you?"
The boy sneered, "Dead men don't need to know my name."
The sharp sound of swords slicing through the air was incessant. The two swords clashed repeatedly, sparking many flames. After more than a dozen moves, neither of them had gained the upper hand. However, Dong Huai Ren had to admit that he was getting old. There were quite a few rising stars among the younger generation, not to mention that this person should be the best of the best.
Dong Huai Ren looked towards the horizon. The protective barrier was completely gone. There were not many disciples of the Shao Xuan Sect left to begin with, and now they had either fled or scattered. Apart from the people in the front mountain, there were almost only Dong Huai Ren and a few dozen senior disciples left to hold things up.
The young man struck again, and this time Dong Huai Ren couldn't withstand the blow, being sent flying back several feet.
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and his eyes, as he looked at the boy, were filled with the resolve to die.
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