Chapter 50: From Cocoon to Butterfly (2)
Mo Li's face flushed even more at Chu Yun's praise. She waved her hands nervously, "That...that's nothing. I just...I just feel that something that comes without work doesn't belong to me." She paused, then looked back at Li Ge, mustering her courage and saying, "I also...saw your sister. And...what you did back then...to save her." Li Ge paused, wiping the needle. "So?" Her voice was devoid of emotion. "So..." Mo Li took a deep breath and looked at Li Ge. For the first time, the scrutiny and wariness that stemmed from their differing philosophies disappeared from her eyes. Instead, a genuine understanding and...admiration filled them. "So, I used to think your ghost doctor skills were playing with life and death, defying fate. I thought you were 'dangerous,'" she admitted frankly. "But now I understand. You're not 'playing' with people, you're simply 'saving' them in your own way. You're much braver than I am." This was the first time Mo Li had so bluntly admitted her "mistakes" to someone, and specifically to Li Ge, whom she had always somewhat disliked. Li Ge raised her head, looked into Mo Li's sincere eyes, and was silent for a moment. Then, she slowly revealed a very faint smile, but it was like melting ice and snow. "You are also very brave," she said softly, "at least you dare to face your own 'desires'. Many people can't do this." At this moment, the two women with completely different personalities, even some of whom were at odds with each other, completely let go of the last bit of barriers between them through these few simple words. Then, they both looked at Chu Yun. "Your turn." Mo Li nudged him with his elbow. "Don't think we didn't see that you were scared like a child in your dream by your 'father'." "Ahem." Chu Yun coughed twice, somewhat awkwardly. "That's not fear." Li Ge shook her head. She looked at Chu Yun with a complicated expression and said, "That's... confusion about 'fate'. He always thought he was carrying 'hatred', but suddenly one day he discovered that he was actually carrying 'sacrifice'. This collapse of belief is enough to destroy anyone's will." "Have you figured it out now?" Mo Li looked at Chu Yun and asked seriously. Chu Yun didn't answer immediately. He looked at the flickering bonfire in front of him and was silent for a long time. Then, he said slowly, "Before, I hated him." "I hated why he forced this power that didn't belong to me into my body. I hated why he made me bear...
Mo Li's face flushed even more at Chu Yun's praise. She waved her hands nervously, "That...that's nothing special. I just...I just feel that something that comes without work doesn't belong to me." She paused, then looked at Li Ge again, mustering up the courage to say, "I also...saw your sister. And...what you did back then...to save her."
Li Ge paused while wiping the silver needle. "So?" Her voice was devoid of any emotion.
"So..." Mo Li took a deep breath. She looked at Li Ge, and for the first time, her eyes no longer held the scrutiny and wariness that stemmed from their differing philosophies. Instead, they were filled with a genuine understanding and...admiration. "So, I used to think your ghost doctor skills were playing with life and death, defying fate. I thought you were 'dangerous,'" she admitted frankly. "But now I understand. You're not 'playing,' you're simply 'saving' in your own way. You're much braver than I am."
This was the first time Mo Li had so openly admitted his "mistake" to anyone, and it was to Li Ge, whom she had always somewhat disliked. Li Ge raised her head, looked into Mo Li's sincere eyes, and was silent for a moment. Then, she slowly revealed a faint smile, one as soft as melting ice and snow.
"You are very brave," she said softly, "at least you dare to face your own 'desires'. Many people can't do this."
The two women, who had completely different personalities and could even be said to be somewhat at odds with each other, completely put aside the last bit of estrangement between them through these few simple words. Then, they both looked at Chu Yun.
"It's your turn." Mo Li nudged him with his elbow. "Don't think we didn't see you being frightened like a child in your dream by your 'father'."
"Cough cough." Chu Yun coughed twice awkwardly.
"That's not fear." Li Ge shook her head. She looked at Chu Yun with complicated eyes and said, "That's... confusion about 'fate'. He always thought he was carrying 'hatred', but suddenly one day he found out that what he was carrying was actually 'sacrifice'. This collapse of belief is enough to destroy anyone's will."
"Have you figured it out now?" Mo Li looked at Chu Yun and asked seriously.
Chu Yun didn't answer immediately. He looked at the flickering bonfire in front of him and was silent for a long time. Then, he said slowly, "Before, I hated him."
"I hate him for forcing this power that doesn't belong to me into my body. I hate him for making me endure this constant pain. I hate him for making me bear this damn 'fate'."
"I even feel that the so-called 'revenge' is just an excuse I made for myself to escape from all this."
"But after experiencing this incident, I seem to... understand him a little bit." Chu Yun raised his head. There was no longer the confusion and pain in his eyes. Instead, there was an unprecedented calmness and relief.
"He didn't want me to be 'sacrificed'. He just... had no other choice."
"He used his life to buy thirteen years for me, for this world. He left this power to me, not because he wanted me to repeat his old path. He wanted me to grow and become stronger in these thirteen years, to find a brand new 'path' of my own, one that didn't require anyone's sacrifice."
"So," he looked at Li Ge and Mo Li, a smile that came from the heart and was extremely relaxed appeared on his face, "From today on, I am no longer the 'Chu Yun' who is being chased by fate."
"I am who I am. I am an ordinary... heir of the Daoshu who wants to live well with my companions and... save this miserable world."
Seeing the relieved smile on Chu Yun's face, Li Ge and Mo Li smiled too. They could sense that the man before them had undergone a complete transformation after this spiritual baptism. No longer a passive "heir" accepting his fate, he had grown into a true "pioneer," brave enough to face his own heart and take responsibility. They were no longer just "collaborators" drawn together by a common goal; they had become true "comrades-in-arms," trusting each other through life and death.
"Big brother." At this moment, Zhilan, who had been sitting quietly beside him, suddenly spoke. She handed a small and exquisite grass ring woven with green grass to Chu Yun.
"What is this?" Chu Yun asked.
"This is our tribe's 'blessing,'" Zhilan said with a smile. "Wear it, and even if we encounter something terrible in the future, we won't be so scared anymore."
Chu Yun took the grass ring. A fresh and peaceful breath came from the grass ring, making his spirit, which had just calmed down, feel even more comfortable.
"Thank you, Zhilan," he said solemnly. He knew that while this little girl lacked powerful fighting abilities, her pure, compassionate, and kind heart was the most indispensable and precious piece of their team's puzzle. It was she who gave them hope amidst despair, who taught them that compassion was also a form of strength. It was also she who made their team, so scarred and bruised, become... more complete.
The night passed in silence. The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight streamed into the cave, the three of them had already packed their bags, ready to set out again. Though still exhausted, their eyes were brighter and more determined than ever.
"Where are we going next?" Mo Li asked without raising his head while checking his precious mechanical parts.
Chu Yun didn't say anything. He just took out the three pieces of the Evil-Suppressing Seal and placed them side by side on a clean stone.
In the morning light, the three fragments emitted a soft glow. The energy fluctuations that had been somewhat rapid and unstable had become stable and harmonious after a night of mutual "running-in".
"They are... guiding us." Li Ge looked at the three fragments. Her ghost medicine skills gave her an extraordinary keen perception of the energy flow that originated from the origin of heaven and earth. "They all point in the same direction. It's very far away, and very... dangerous."
"Can you determine the exact location?" Mo Li asked.
Li Ge shook his head: "No. That guidance is very vague. It is not a clear 'place', but more like... an 'event'. A major event that is happening, or about to happen, that is enough to trigger the laws of heaven and earth."
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