Far to the East Sea, on the shore of the vast waves.
A canopy of blue curtains was drawn, and the sound of thunder was faint.
The necromancer's magic covered the entire sea as far as the eye could see, and on the steps of the dock, the huge, serene shadow of the Gate of Bones loomed.
White banners were raised to guide the souls, and mournful paper offerings floated across the sea. Accompanied by the somber beat of bells and drums, the returning souls from the sea slowly stepped forward and entered into a long and peaceful journey.
Yun Wei sat calmly on the rocks by the shore.
He will lead those restless souls to the place they have not yet reached.
Whenever he ferryed a slow-moving traveler home, a shell-shaped domino would materialize at his fingertips, its thin, paper-like shell carved with exquisite, translucent intaglio characters.
Those were the names of the deceased, long forgotten, and a life so short it could only be summarized in a single sentence.
The seashells fell into the sea.
As the sea washes away the magic, it will eventually fade, returning to the primordial silence of the beginning of the ether.
This is the third death that every human being must experience.
The magician lowered his eyes, his gaze fixed on the hem of his robe and the sash.
The light gray fabric was gradually soaked by the occasional splash of waves, with salt stains forming at the edges, cycling back and forth between wet and dry states.
Just like life and death.
He knew that the Continent of Zhuyuan was a growing world, containing infinite possibilities leading to the future.
However, because they were young, the number of their souls was far less than the countless beings that were reduced to dust.
Perhaps it will be millions of years before Mr. Oaks understands what 'reincarnation' truly is.
Perhaps in just a few months, they will all be utterly defeated, forever falling into the abyss of chaotic entropy.
There are so many roads leading to the future, and at every fork in the road of fate, there are countless "what ifs".
If it's the latter, then everything right now is just a futile struggle.
From the perspective of the cosmic will, everything they did was nothing more than a pale, insignificant moment.
But Yun Wei remains convinced that what he is doing now is meaningful.
For the knight who stood behind him, silently watching over him.
People who burn incense and offer prayers in the distance, then quietly clasp their hands in blessing.
His spiritual power clearly sensed the different emotions. Those invisible oppressions and desperate fears, which seemed to be screaming silently, finally calmed down because of his arrival and his presence.
They are no longer floating corpses that drift upstream unexpectedly.
They were the pioneers who built this miraculous city on the mudflats through hardship and arduous struggle.
Only when he transgresses the sacred name of death and promises eternal rest to his long-decayed and dusty body can the living be inspired with enough courage to help the old and the young, leave their homes and travel far away to a new future on the other side.
He cannot take away their grief without his permission; he can only grant them peace again with a solemn and dignified ceremony.
The drumbeats quickened, and a cool rain began to fall from the gloomy sky.
The bells tolled from the heavens, accompanied by solemn chanting, echoing the mournful light emanating from the gate of withered bones.
Yun Wei knew that it was the bell-ringers of the Imperial Academy singing a mournful song in unison.
"The bright moon shines through the night, time cannot be delayed. The path is covered with orchids, and the road is gradually winding..."
"The river flows deep and clear, with maple trees above. My gaze stretches a thousand miles, yet my heart aches with sorrow for spring..."
"O soul, return! Alas, Jiangnan!"
...
Yunwei sat by the sea for a full forty-nine days.
As the light faded on the forty-ninth day, the last traveler stepped into the realm of the dead. The gray-white gate of bones flickered and solidified into a tower of bone sand in reality, only to be casually dispelled by the necromancer.
The once muddy coastline is now covered with exquisite white oysters.
With each wave, some of them are carried away by the waves, only to return again in another form long, long afterward.
Yun Wei stretched his arms and turned to look behind him.
On the pier not far behind him, Isaac also waited for him for a full forty-nine days.
Over the course of forty-nine days, the people of Azure City traveled in batches on specially made boats and horses, traversing thousands of miles of mudflats to seek refuge in Renalie and Qingfeng. Meanwhile, the first group of mercenaries and magicians had already arrived with supplies and building materials.
According to Empress Catherine's plan, in the next six months, Jade City will be transformed into the most fortified fortress on the entire continent.
The fortress built with the combined strength of the entire continent looks like this:
The next three days will be dominated by warriors wielding long weapons and blades, who will block the ever-present, endless stream of abyssal monsters.
The Middle Three Heavens will become the stronghold of mages and priests, who will communicate with each other and support the entire battlefield in the name of the elements and the gods.
The upper three sides are mainly equipped with archers and ranged alchemical weapons. They use the height difference to launch projectiles, providing long-range fire support, and are on alert for enemies from the sky.
Yun Wei and the others had already set up their positions. They would reunite in the Nine Heavens and quietly await the arrival of the Lord of the Abyss.
Perhaps because he hadn't moved for too long, Yun Wei staggered, but fortunately, Isaac, who was quick-witted and agile, caught him in time.
He leaned his full weight against the other person with peace of mind, then looked up and smiled, "Have you been waiting long?"
His knight did not answer immediately.
As always, the other person suddenly hugged him.
This was a habit his knight had developed at some point; whenever they were alone, the other would always instinctively hug him, hold his hand, embrace him, and press against him.
But he never found it tiresome; on the contrary, he secretly longed for Isaac to get closer to him and to be more affectionate.
The other man's figure was still as imposing as ever, and he easily covered him completely.
Yun Wei could smell the familiar scent emanating from the other person.
The roar of the waves and the howling of the sea breeze were all blocked out by Isaac. All he could hear was the pounding of their hearts.
"I missed you." After a long while, Yun Wei heard his knight say this to him.
He couldn't help but close his eyes, embrace the love of his life, and let his head nestle against her chest, finding the most comfortable angle.
He wanted to remember how he felt at that moment forever.
The other person's figure, strength, smell, temperature, gaze, and heartbeat.
Even the feel of their bodies touching, the curve of their chests rising and falling.
And that love, which could be clearly felt even when they were both silent, filling each other as if it were flowing.
I miss you too, Isaac.
I really want to.
I really want to.
Yun Wei murmured as if in a dream.
...
The next six months passed quickly.
The two returned to Ice Sparrow Flower Territory and began the reconstruction and reclamation work in full swing. In their spare time, they would also go to the wasteland to seriously hone their skills and compete in martial arts.
Then they returned to the aurora they had monopolized and fought to the death.
From spring to summer, it is in full swing.
Yun Wei can guarantee that this is absolutely the first time in his life that he has ever lived with such all his might.
He and Isaac had a great understanding.
No one mentioned what happened that day in front of the "Saint Andes Slingshot".
This was a secret that belonged only to the two of them, a secret that even the priests and gods had never known.
...
Yun Wei opened his eyes and met Isaac's smoky gray eyes.
The other person was watching him silently.
He is protecting him; he is embracing him.
So he let himself go, becoming infatuated with the other person's affectionate gaze.
Between their intertwined breaths, even the air felt scorching, just like the stuffy light and smell in the room.
Just last night, he finally couldn't hold back and begged for mercy.
He was kissed to tears by the knight in front of him, who clearly wasn't going to let it go.
At this moment, he was unwilling to speak, and simply gazed at him quietly.
He was so greedy, it seemed he could never get enough of him.
Because he loves him.
The pale morning light streamed through the wooden window, and dust motes floated and danced in the air. Yun Wei had once prayed that time could stand still at this moment.
But change never stops, because change itself is the only absolute constant in the world.
I don't know who made the first move, breaking the brief morning tranquility.
Their hands were clasped together, being led, being chased, following each other, reluctant to part.
They began by sketching each other's eyes and brows, using subtle, almost imperceptible touches to imprint the warmth of their love into the muscles beneath their skin.
Their eyes met, and they shared a silent understanding.
Reluctant to part, a fleeting moment that feels like eternity.
This is simply because it is the first day after saying goodbye to June.
This season, which clearly belongs to hell, has finally arrived as promised.
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