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墨書 Inktalez
The sunlight transformed into a fiery sunset hanging in the sky, and a rare gentle breeze swept through the Forest, bringing a sense of relaxation. At this moment, the Forest had been quiet for several days, devoid of its previous noise, making one unconsciously lower their guard. They gathered together to take out their rations for a brief replenishment of energy.
"I'm so hungry!" Ran Xing said, patting her stomach. Ever since she left Long Shan, she hadn't eaten anything, wandering like a wild wolf in search of companions. Now that she had finally found Teacher Yu Long and Luo Yue, it was time to give her complaining stomach some comfort.
After a day's journey, Yu Long's brow remained furrowed, as if certain details going too smoothly made him instinctively wary of something—where exactly had the evil spirit gone? Where was Shang Qing hiding? In their last confrontation, although he was also sealed, Shang Qing had managed to respond so effortlessly to Yu Long's various attacks and even opened a barrier to protect himself at the end. How much had he concealed? The known and unknown, the overt and covert, replayed in Yu Long's mind as he held onto his bun but hesitated to eat it.
"Teacher Yu Long, are you still thinking about that matter?" Luo Yue noticed Yu Long's frown. Having just returned from her exploration, she too had an expression of confusion on her face—she had discovered Shang Qing during her inquiry, and there was someone beside him. Although obscured by a veil, the bracelet inscribed with characters caught Luo Yue's attention; she noted all this down in her notebook.
"Shang Qing, how much are you hiding?" Yu Long was even more astonished after hearing Luo Yue's words. If the seal limited him to only half of his vitality, then had Shang Qing truly managed to exert half of his power? The thought sent a chill down Yu Long's spine.
"Could it be that the other party still has survivors?" Shao Meng glanced at the notes and asked in confusion. However, this seemed inconsistent with the scenes from his memories. Shang Qing had only listened to Teacher Yu Long's accounts along the way and hadn't seen the full picture. If there were survivors, how could they be with Shang Qing? According to Long Shan's practices, any survivors would either have been subjected to techniques or would be like those rescued by the previous team—gone before long.
"No, all survivors have been killed. If we count what Luo Yue mentioned, that's now the eighth person. That reconnaissance team only had seven members; it can't be the same group," Yu Long quickly concluded. Indeed, as he said, this suddenly appearing individual was unfamiliar to both Yu Long and Shao Meng as well as Luo Yue; it was as if someone had descended from the heavens.
"Let's eat something," Luo Yue said as she approached the vigilant Ran Xing with a bag of buns, slightly lowering her head to offer them.
Ran Xing turned around as if emerging from some long memory; mechanically accepting the bun with her arm, she politely thanked Luo Yue.
"You seem unhappy. Ever since you came back last time, I haven't seen you talk much," Luo Yue observed with curiosity as she slowly walked up to Ran Xing.
"This bracelet!" At that moment when Luo Yue lowered her head, her eyes widened in surprise—it looked just like the bracelet she had discovered during her recent inquiry. Could it be that person...?
"This was given to me by my sister. I remember when I was young on my sister's birthday; I begged our mother for some money so I could buy her a bracelet. Later on my birthday, my sister also gave me a similar bracelet. Whenever I miss her, I take it out to look at it as if she's right beside me," Ran Xing spoke softly about her childhood memories.
That was many years ago in a bustling market. Ran Xing boldly ran out from Xiao La Jiao’s shop into the market looking for gifts for her sister. Checking her notes for dates, Ran Xing realized today was a special day—it was her sister's birthday.
Seeing a jewelry vendor calling out on the street with engraved pieces for sale caught her eye; one particular bracelet sparkled brilliantly and was pure and flawless. The vendor was busy attending to customers while continuing his sales pitch. When he noticed Ran Xing—who barely reached his table—he disdainfully tried to shoo her away.
"Hey! Kid! The things I'm selling aren't meant for you! Go on now!" The vendor said impatiently while packing up his stall.
"Please don’t say that! I'm bringing you business! How do you know I'm buying? What if I'm not?" Ran Xing wasn't afraid of angering him; holding onto her earnings from washing dishes at Xiao La Jiao’s place in a burlap bag, she weighed it in hand while questioning the vendor about his products.
Upon hearing this kid knew so much about his stall and flattered him like honey dripped from his lips, the vendor relaxed slightly and wiped his sweat with a towel around his neck before tossing a small stool next to Ran Xing.
"Since you're quite charming with your words, I'll do this business with you. Do you want engraving or just a plain bracelet?" The vendor unveiled various dazzling bracelets beneath the cloth covering his stall. Sitting on the small stool, Ran Xing thought about how her sister preferred simple attire without makeup yet could captivate everyone in town; thus she chose a light-colored bracelet. She picked up a white bracelet that already had family patterns engraved on it—both meaningful and suitable for her sister.
Pointing at this white family-patterned bracelet while weighing her money bag in one hand, Ran Xing eagerly asked for its price.
"One hundred coins," said the vendor while eyeing Ran Xing dismissively; after all, he thought she was just another rich kid looking to spend money foolishly. However, unbeknownst to him, Ran Xing had already visited seven or eight shops in Peach Blossom Village before coming here; she knew this item worth eighty coins couldn't escape her notice. After some back-and-forth negotiation, Ran Xing slowly opened her money bag—"Seventy-five coins; will you accept that?"
The vendor stared at what seemed like an endless supply of coins in disbelief; this kid was really haggling over what should be an easy sale! Feeling dissatisfied at losing five coins on an item worth eighty coins made him raise his chin defiantly while sharpening his gaze.
"Then eighty?" Ran Xing pulled out five more coins from her pocket and placed them on the table. She noticed the vendor’s expression soften slightly but still felt he wasn't satisfied; he seemed ready to speak again when...
"Eighty-five! No less! Engraving costs an extra five coins; not a penny less—we guarantee no tricks here!" The vendor relaxed slightly as he watched Ran Xing pull out eight more coins before finally nodding lightly—this kid seemed reasonable enough and brought him a good number.
"Deal! Eighty-eight coins! Three eights can mean 'prosperity'! I brought exactly eighty-eight coins for you—a good number indeed!" Ran Xing tightened her money bag swiftly and struck an agreement with the vendor to buy this bracelet engraved with her sister's name for eighty-eight coins.
As she spoke about this memory, she leisurely ate her bun.
"What about your sister? How is she doing?"
As soon as Luo Yue finished speaking, a bun fell to the ground. Ran Xing immediately coughed, seemingly unwilling to continue talking, but still took a deep breath.
Realizing she had asked something she shouldn't have, Luo Yue intended to avoid the topic, but then heard Ran Xing's voice.
After returning home, her sister happily received a gift and pretended to be mysterious as she spoke about a secretive group, asking Ran Xing if she had any intention of becoming one of them in the future.
"Hero?" Ran Xing was very curious about this new term and looked serious as she prepared to listen to her sister's story.
"It is said that they reside in the valleys, coexisting with the Water Attribute and Vegetation; they are like the mist in the mountains, accompanying this world. These people, known as The Swordsman, are righteous and punish evil while promoting good. They possess a mysterious Mark, and anyone with this Mark has the chance to become one of them," her sister said mysteriously, while Ran Xing listened with a vague understanding.
"They also guard a great secret. In that mysterious Trial Grounds, it is the beginning of unraveling everything, and your left hand just happens to bear this Mark," her sister suddenly grabbed Ran Xing's left hand. The thing that Ran Xing had tried countless times to wash away since childhood turned out to have such significance. For a moment, Ran Xing had a faint idea forming in her mind.
"Is it true, sister?" Ran Xing lowered her head in thought and quickly came up with an answer: that she wanted to become a member of this Mysterious Group in the future and protect her sister.
Her sister laughed heartily, and under her comforting presence, Ran Xing drifted off into her dreams.
Luo Yue listened to this story and couldn't help but sigh at how Ran Xing had her sister by her side while her own family lacked such warmth. However, it seemed that Ran Xing didn't hear Luo Yue's lamentations and continued recounting that day—the rainy night when the mysterious person snatched away her sister in an instant. It felt as if the memories froze at that moment, transforming into the Bracelet that her sister had given her—silent and unfeeling yet conveying something in another way.
Luo Yue suddenly understood everything but dared not believe it. Could it be that the person Shang Qing was with was truly Ran Xing's sister?
"Well, if we go by age, I should be about the same as your sister," Luo Yue tapped Ran Xing on the head as if hinting at something.
"Really?" Ran Xing seemed curious; the girl she had been paying attention to since arriving at the Trial Grounds was actually around the same age as her sister? It was hard to believe.
"Of course! When I was cultivating at my grandfather's place as a child, you must have been living in Peach Blossom Village. It's quite an interesting fate that brought you here; it's truly an arrangement," Luo Yue intended to say more but was interrupted by a thought in her mind and swallowed back four words: "by my side."
"Indeed! With you here, my gloom has lessened significantly—whether it's my sister or you or Shao Meng and Teacher Yu Long; you're all companions. Since you're companions, I want all of you," Ran Xing seemed to catch onto Luo Yue's implied meaning and leaned in closer. Luo Yue didn't mind; seeing Ran Xing no longer troubled made her shift topics since it had been some time since Ran Xing had eaten—this matter was more important.
"Let's eat! Once you're full, I want to see how you perform," Luo Yue stood up and smiled as she walked away.
However, just moments ago, combined with what she had discovered, was all of this really true? If so, wouldn't Ran Xing be acting impulsively? As she hesitated, Teacher Yu Long and Shao Meng finished their meal and began arranging for the night watch duty. The three of them—Ran Xing, Shao Meng, and Luo Yue—would take turns every two hours. They temporarily rested under nearby trees for the night. Luo Yue did not voice her doubts but followed orders and went on watch first.
At night, one side was filled with heroes about to break their seals while on the other side Shang Qing urgently maintained the God Pendant.
After several days of battle, due to lack of maintenance, the God Pendant began to show slight fluctuations. Shang Qing had no choice but to stop his return journey and inject vitality into the girl before him to sustain the God Pendant.
The God Pendant could only be held by Tai Chi Swordsman es or Guardians of God Pendants; it was forged from Trial Jade. The God Pendant passed down through generations was crafted from the vitality of Ancient Heroic Swordsmen and could not be directly inherited by mortals. If a mortal were forcibly infused with God Pendant energy, they would have their consciousness consumed by its power and would only follow those who understood how to wield vitality without speaking or performing other actions.
And this girl was none other than the one Luo Yue had just discovered—the girl wearing a Bracelet inscribed with dye characters—Ran Yi, who was Ran Xing's sister.
Many years ago on that rainy night filled with thunderous roars and torrential rain, Peach Blossom Village's streets were deserted.
Shang Qing pursued Shen Ju here; it was originally an ambush aimed at Gui Mei. Shen Ju had already prepared formations to counter Shang Qing's pursuit along with Gui Mei’s forces when two children seeking shelter from the rain suddenly dashed out. Shen Ju frowned: "Damn it."
Gui Mei's Evil Thought Technique: Deathly Curse: Wraith Dispersing Soul Technique had already rushed in. Shen Ju disregarded everything to block the attack for the two children, and then prepared to activate the Technique to counterattack Gui Mei in the distance. However, in that brief moment, Gui Mei had already trapped Shen Ju with a barrier, keeping him far from the activation point of the Fire Technique, smiling coldly but not advancing, glancing hopefully at Shang Qing, who was dressed in a robe made of hemp.
"Since this is an internal conflict within the Trial grounds, let Shang Qing resolve it," said Gui Mei.
Shang Qing seemed to raise his hands in doubt, subtly communicating with Shen Ju inside the barrier.
"Hurry! Do it, Shang Qing! Have you ever seen a hero from the Trial grounds surrender to an evil spirit!” Shen Ju, ready to fight to the death, made Gui Mei realize that this seasoned Guardian of God pendant was no longer of any value, so he decided to eliminate this person.
"No, Shen Ju, you are not surrendering; you are cooperating with us to find the six God pendants, seeking the limits of power. This has been your lifelong wish, and now the opportunity is right before you. If you speak like this, we won't be able to negotiate easily," Shang Qing said to his teacher with a hint of threat in his voice, words he hadn't intended to say.
Gui Mei did not move forward but stood behind Shang Qing, watching as someone from the same Trial grounds ended up in such a situation; even a villain like him felt moved.
Seeing Shang Qing's furrowed brow, Shen Ju conveyed something vaguely.
"Shang Qing, what are you hesitating for?! Are you afraid I will have you expelled from the Trial grounds after I get out? The Trial grounds has long since lost your standing. Today I will clean house and personally send this traitor away!"
Shang Qing let out a cold laugh. At that moment, the barrier was filled with Shang Qing's Technique. No matter how fiercely Shen Ju shouted, he could only watch helplessly as Shang Qing took action, which made him inexplicably smile. "Protect this child," Shen Ju entrusted his last wish to Shang Qing as he faced death.
After an explosion, facing the brilliant light transformed from his teacher, Shang Qing sighed helplessly: "I will remember you, teacher."
The God pendant had been sealed within the girl’s body by Shen Ju using his Technique. The girl stood there silently, not speaking or making noise, and walked over to stand beside Shang Qing. He stood there in shock; his teacher had just left like that. Was this truly how things were meant to end?
"What? Are you going to kill someone carrying a God pendant?"
Gui Mei laughed loudly. Since the God pendant was already in hand and his purpose had been achieved, he accepted the Technique before this child and slowly stood up: "Our cooperation has been quite pleasant; I hope it remains so next time."
That eerie tone and seductive voice were like a despicable victor flaunting his achievements before a defeated foe. The soul had already dealt with Luo Yue's grandfather and obtained a God pendant. Extracting this stubborn old man’s God pendant was just a matter of time. Satisfied, Gui Mei ignited a flame and left Shang Qing behind to pick up his teacher's hero imprint. He stood there with his head bowed for quite some time before taking that girl and leaving.
Until now, every time he infused vitality into the God pendant, Shang Qing couldn't help but recall that night.
It felt as if he were at war with the entire world. Now, carrying this deeply buried memory, he continued to infuse vitality into the God pendant, maintaining its stability.
Meanwhile, Meng Jiang, along with his students, spurred their horses onward at full speed towards the direction of friendly forces discovered by Yumeng.
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