Chapter 88: Echoes of Memory and "His Childhood"
Echoes of Memory and "His Childhood"
Under the dual effects of the vast life energy in the roots of the sacred tree and the blood contract connection, the stubborn resentment and foul energy in Jiang Xuelan and Li Jiuyou's bodies were gradually dissipated. The process was slow but effective.
However, the roots of the sacred tree contain not only enormous life energy, but also **memory fragments** that have accumulated and settled over the long years - fragmentary memories of the sacred village of Wangchuanwu, the sacred tree of Xirang, and the creatures that once lived here.
When the minds of the two people were connected through the blood pact and resonated deeply with the energy of the roots of the sacred tree, some broken images and emotional fluctuations uncontrollably flowed through the link and rushed towards each other.
A picture suddenly flashed across Li Jiuyou's sea of consciousness:
Under a huge and lush sacred tree (Xirang Tree), a gentle woman (Su Jingyan) wearing spiritual plant master's clothes and with a shallow scar on her wrist was smilingly handing a spiritual fruit emitting a sweet scent to a little boy (young Jiang Xuelan) who looked only three or four years old, with a tense face but ice-blue eyes.
The little boy tried to maintain a serious expression, but his eyes sparkled as he looked at Ling Guo and he whispered, "Thank you, mother."
The woman touched his head gently: "Lan'er, you must grow up quickly and protect our home with daddy."
The picture is warm and bright, full of maternal love and tranquility.
Li Jiuyou clearly felt the cautious joy and attachment to "home" in the heart of young Jiang Xuelan at that moment. This feeling... was completely different from the cold and icy "benchmark of the immortal world" he remembered, who only pointed a sword at him!
Almost at the same time, a picture appeared in Jiang Xuelan's sea of consciousness:
**A black-haired boy (young Li Jiuyou), who looked about seven or eight years old, was wearing shabby clothing from the Zhe tribe, with eyes as fierce as a wolf cub. He was hiding behind a huge rock and looking enviously at a few pure-blooded Zhe children practicing demonic fire control in a clearing in the distance, being praised by their elders.**
A little child from the Zhe tribe spotted him, threw stones at him, and cursed, "Get out of here! Half-blood! You're not worthy to see this!"
Little Li Jiuyou suddenly pounced on him and wrestled with him. Even after being beaten black and blue, he refused to admit defeat. His eyes were stubborn and aggrieved, and he shouted fiercely: "I am not a mixed-blood! I am not!"
Until a gentle young man (Feng Ye) arrived, shouted the children away, carefully wiped the blood and dust off his face, and sighed: "Xiao Jiu, ignore them. Come on, Brother Wang will take you to pick the fire lotus."
Jiang Xuelan felt the same complex emotions of Li Jiuyou's deeply wounded pride, intense grievance, and dependence on his brother at that moment. This image completely contradicted the image he had imagined of the violent and cruel "Demon Realm Tyrant" who threatened to destroy the immortal gates at any moment.
The two of them opened their eyes almost at the same time and looked at each other, their eyes filled with unconcealable shock and... a hint of barely perceptible emotion.
They saw a corner of each other's childhood that was hidden deep inside and never shown to others, and felt the fragility and longing that was buried by time.
The link at this moment clearly conveyed the violent fluctuations in the emotions of both parties and the helplessness brought about by the sudden "glimpse".
Li Jiuyou opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found his throat dry. He abruptly looked away and said in a gruff voice, "What are you looking at? I was a real good fighter when I was little!"
Jiang Xuelan also quickly lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes trembling slightly, his fingertips unconsciously tightened, and he said coldly: "...I have no intention of prying."
The atmosphere once again became awkward and delicate. But this time, it was no longer simply awkwardness and rejection, but was also mixed with an inexplicable understanding of each other's past and... a subtle bitterness.
It turns out that there was once warm sunshine under the thick ice.
It turned out that the violent flames also contained injured spikes.
Xuan Jia, who had been watching them, had a glint of understanding in his eyes. He spoke slowly, breaking the silence: "The sacred tree is spiritual, and its roots hold memories. The fact that you can see these things shows that you have a deep connection with this place, and your mind and spirit resonate deeply with the power of the roots. Fortune and misfortune are interdependent..."
At this moment, Ah Che suddenly pointed in a certain direction of the sacred tree's roots and exclaimed, "Brother! Brother Li! Look! There... seems to be something glowing!"
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound, and saw a faint golden halo flickering near the bottom of the huge root, in a place half-hidden by glowing moss, which was different from the green light of the root!
The golden light gave people a very strange feeling, sacred yet with a hint of sadness. It seemed to have the same origin as the sacred tree, yet also different.
Jiang Xuelan and Li Jiuyou looked at each other (they quickly separated when their eyes met), stood up, and walked towards the direction of the golden light with vigilance and curiosity.
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