Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 59: Purgatory Souls - Wishes
The Purgatory Souls approached Gyro City step by step. Ji Zichen stood among the flowing crowd of Purgatory Souls, watching them enter the city. Although there were many Purgatory Souls around, they bore no ill will towards her. Lin Chuyu's courage swelled as she asked, "Brother Ji, why are there so many Purgatory Souls here?"
This was unexpected for Ji Zichen as well. She replied, "I’m not sure. Perhaps these Purgatory Souls are unable to rest or are being controlled by something, causing them to gather here. But whatever the reason, it has nothing to do with us. You all go into the carriage; I’ll drive and get us out of here quickly."
Just as Lin Chuyu and Shen Bifan were about to climb into the carriage, a Purgatory Soul resembling a general on horseback approached them, riding a horse that looked like a skeleton. Ji Zichen immediately warned, "What do you want?"
The general, with white eyes fixed on Shen Bifan, ignored Ji Zichen's words and politely clasped his fists towards Shen Bifan. "It is my honor to have the Princess of Gyro come out to greet me. Although we made our engagement years ago, I have been fighting against the barbarian tribes and have not had the chance to marry you. Please forgive me, Princess."
Shen Bifan was taken aback. "Me? I have an engagement with you? You must be mistaken; I am not any kind of princess."
The general pulled on the reins, causing his horse to rear up with a loud neigh. With heartfelt intent, he said, "Do not be afraid, Princess. The barbarian tribes are attacking the city now; it is wise for you to be cautious. However, I am Zhang Yi, and my lifelong ambition is to take you as my wife. There is no time to waste; we shall marry tonight!"
Ji Zichen was about to speak when suddenly her vision went dark. She exclaimed in shock, "I can’t see anything right now..."
The general whistled, and a row of Soul Soldiers approached. Two soldiers lifted Ji Zichen onto their horse-drawn carriage. Lin Chuyu urgently called out, "Brother Ji..."
Ji Zichen whispered in Lin Chuyu's ear, "I can’t see again; just go along with them for now until my vision returns."
Seeing that a Purgatory Soul wanted to marry her despite her insistence that she was not any princess, Shen Bifan frowned and said coldly, "I’m telling you again that I am not any kind of princess! If you keep pestering me like this, I won’t hold back!"
The general laughed heartily. "The princess has quite the temper! But I like it!"
With great poise, he extended his hand and said, "Please mount the horse with me; let me show you around Gyro City."
Shen Bifan retorted angrily, "Who wants to ride with you?"
She attempted to slash at the general's wrist with her finger but found that her attack had no effect; his wrist remained intact. Shen Bifan was astonished. "How... how could this be...?"
Though Ji Zichen could see nothing, she could tell from Shen Bifan's tone that she had made a move. Ji Zichen softly advised her, "Don’t act recklessly; they are Purgatory Souls. Your attacks won’t harm them."
The general observed Shen Bifan’s gestures without understanding what she was doing and assumed she was shy. He laughed heartily again and said, "Don’t be embarrassed; we’re entering the city to get married!"
The general grabbed Shen Bifan and, with a flick of the reins, galloped towards the city. Shen Bifan struggled and cried out, unable to move as the general held him tightly. Lin Chuyu, disregarding her composure, let out a sharp scream and pulled out her Vajra, intending to rescue him. However, a Soul Soldier pointed a spear at her and shouted, "Bold thief! You are a spy for the Barbarians! You intend to assassinate the general! Seize them!"
Lin Chuyu was so frightened that she dared not move.
The two were taken into the Gyro City prison. Ji Zichen was pushed into the cell by the Soul Soldier, who then locked the door. Lin Chuyu shouted, "Let us out! We are not spies!"
The Soul Soldier ignored her cries and left the prison.
Ji Zichen, still unable to see clearly, felt along the wall beside the door and sat down in the corner. "Stop shouting," she said. "These Purgatory Souls only listen to what they want to hear. You could scream your throat raw, and it wouldn't matter."
Lin Chuyu sat down across from Ji Zichen and sighed. "What is this? We just wanted a place to stay, and now we've ended up in a cell."
Ji Zichen anxiously rubbed her eyes. "Damn it, hurry up and regain your sight!"
Lin Chuyu worriedly said, "Brother Ji, take it easy; don't rub your eyes too hard."
Ji Zichen helplessly stopped rubbing her eyes and reproached her gently, "You shouldn't pull out your Vajra at every little thing. Do you really think one weapon can take on so many Purgatory Souls?"
Lin Chuyu replied, "I was just acting in desperation..."
At that moment, a surprised voice came from a dark corner of the prison. "Oh, oh! What’s going on? I can't believe I see you two here!"
Lin Chuyu recognized the voice but couldn't place it immediately. She leaned forward and called out, "Who... who is there?"
She couldn't determine who was in the shadows, but Ji Zichen immediately recognized it. With a mix of surprise and joy, she exclaimed, "Uncle Meng! What are you doing here?"
Meng Hai stepped out from the shadows with a hearty laugh. "Where have you two been for five years? I haven't heard a thing about you!"
Seeing Meng Hai made Lin Chuyu's face light up with joy. "Uncle Meng!"
Noticing Ji Zichen's unfocused gaze, Meng Hai waved his hand in front of her eyes. When she didn't respond, he sighed. "What’s wrong? Is your old problem acting up again?"
Ji Zichen forced a smile and admitted, "Yes, I can't see again."
Meng Hai looked at Lin Chuyu in surprise and said, "You’ve been gone for five years, but you don’t seem to have aged at all."
Lin Chuyu smiled and replied, "We haven’t been gone for five years. We entered the Divine Realm Rift and have only been inside for a few days."
Meng Hai was puzzled. "How can a few days in the Divine Realm Rift equal five years?"
At that moment, Ji Zichen's vision gradually returned, though she could only see vague shadows. She explained, "It’s a special Gap. The Divine Clan used Vermilion Bird Essence to control the Gap, causing time to freeze."
Meng Hai exclaimed, "Is that really possible?"
Ji Zichen continued, "Let’s not talk about it; that place no longer exists. But how did you end up trapped here?"
Meng Hai sighed with a bitter smile. "I was delivering artifacts to the Merchant Alliance in the Desolate Central Plain and thought I’d check on you while I was at it. On my way back, I heard there were Purgatory Souls here, so out of curiosity, I came to take a look and ended up getting caught."
Ji Zichen smiled slightly at Meng Hai’s nonchalant attitude. "Uncle Meng, I know you too well. You weren’t just curious; you wanted to see if there were any ruins around. Where there are Purgatory Souls, there’s likely to be ruins."
Meng Hai laughed heartily. "You understand me well! But there are no ruins here—only these Purgatory Souls."
Lin Chuyu asked, "Uncle Meng, what kind of place is Gyro City? Why are there so many Purgatory Souls here?"
Meng Hai raised an eyebrow. "What? You came in without knowing anything? That’s not like the Grand Envoy at all."
Ji Zichen's tone turned serious. "I am no longer the Grand Envoy; Uncle Meng should not bring it up."
Meng Hai sighed again. "Alright, alright, I won’t mention it. Gyro City was destroyed a hundred years ago. At that time, the Gyro City Lord was at war with the Southern Barbarians. It seems that some barbarian spies conspired from within and without, leading to the city’s downfall. The entire city was flattened overnight with no survivors. I heard that the Gyro Princess was quite a beauty—around seventeen or eighteen years old—with purple hair."
Suddenly, Lin Chuyu gasped, "Purple hair? Isn’t that just like Sister Bifan?"
Upon hearing Bifan's name, Meng Hai exclaimed in surprise, "Bifan? You mean Shen Bifan!"
Ji Zichen nodded. "Yes, I found Bifan."
Meng Hai suddenly rejoiced. "That’s wonderful news!"
Meng Hai scanned the room but did not see a fourth person. "Where did Bifan go?"
Lin Chuyu replied anxiously, "She was taken away by a general named Zhang Yi to get married."
Meng Hai exclaimed in shock, "Married...!"
Ji Zichen added, "That general probably thinks of Bifan as the princess of Gyro City, believing she would be safe. However, this place has been destroyed for over a hundred years. How could so many Purgatory Souls gather here?"
Meng Hai suppressed his emotions and said, "I don't know the reason either. I've been locked up for more than half a month, and every night these Purgatory Souls reenact the scenes from that night of the fall. It's driving me crazy."
Lin Chuyu was taken aback. "They reenact the scenes of the fall every night?"
Meng Hai nodded. "Yes, just like a shadow play, over and over again."
Ji Zichen blinked and regained his focus; he could clearly see Meng Hai's expression now. He stood up and peeked outside the cell door. Lin Chuyu asked, "Can you see now?"
Ji Zichen nodded. "My vision has returned."
Seeing no one outside the cell, Ji Zichen asked, "Uncle Meng, since you've been locked up for half a month, I know Purgatory Souls won't appear for no reason. Why haven't you escaped?"
Meng Hai sighed with a sense of helplessness. "I want to leave too, but this cell door is like an iron wall. I've tried everything I could think of."
Just as Meng Hai finished speaking, there was a creaking sound, and the cell door opened on its own!
Meng Hai jumped back in shock. "How did the door open?!"
At that moment, two Soul Soldiers entered from outside. One of them announced loudly, "Tonight is the princess's wedding! A general amnesty has been declared; you prisoners are pardoned. Moreover, the princess has ordered you to attend the celebration. You should be grateful."
The Gyro City was adorned with festive decorations everywhere. Shen Bifan wore a phoenix crown and colorful robes in the banquet hall while Zhang Yi stood beside her in his groom's attire. With affection in his voice, Zhang Yi asked, "Princess, everything has been arranged as you wished. Are you satisfied?"
Seeing that she couldn't harm the Purgatory Souls anymore, Shen Bifan stopped resisting and said, "Thank you for releasing them from prison, General."
Zhang Yi laughed heartily at her words. "Thank you for what? Soon we will be husband and wife; there's no need for such formality."
Shen Bifan's mouth said one thing, but in his heart, he thought, "Next, I can only wait for Brother Zichen to find a way to deal with them."
Seeing Shen Bifan lost in thought, Zhang Yi assumed that Shen Bifan was worried about the Barbarians. He straightened his back and declared, "Princess, don't be afraid. You don't have to worry about anything. I will let you see with your own eyes how we drive the Barbarians away."
Ji Zichen and the others arrived at the banquet hall, which was filled with guests, but there was no sign of Shen Bifan.
Meng Haidao said, "The main person hasn't come out yet."
Ji Zichen replied, "Let's wait and see; we will adapt as needed."
A thought flashed through Meng Hai's mind, and he nervously said, "Every night here repeats the same thing. Due to your arrival, there have been some changes. I really don't know if it's good or bad."
Lin Chuyu remarked, "The Purgatory Souls are repeating a certain action. Could it be that they are unwilling to let go of something?"
Lin Chuyu's words gave Meng Hai a new perspective. He nodded and said, "I think that's likely. It must be that the general died without marrying the princess and is lingering on because of that. The general mistook Bifan for someone else. If Bifan could fulfill his wish, then perhaps the Purgatory Souls would settle down."
Ji Zichen was not as optimistic as Meng Hai. She said, "Is it really that simple? If we forcefully intervene, I just hope nothing goes wrong."
As soon as Ji Zichen finished speaking, she noticed movement among the guests. Suddenly, dozens of guests drew long swords from their cloaks and charged towards Shen Bifan.
One guest wielding a sword shouted, "Princess Gyro, you should die! Thinking of forming an alliance to resist the Barbarians? Not a chance!"
Comment 0 Comment Count