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墨書 Inktalez
Human Sacrifice
Zhou Manman felt suffocated; she could sense the warmth radiating from me. As she clutched my arm tightly, tears suddenly streamed down her face in a fit of grievance.
"Where have you been all these years? Why did you only come to find me now?" Zhou Manman's voice was filled with sorrow, especially after seeing Yunxi with a child. She longed for a child of her own, something to give her life a sense of hope.
That night, the two of us shared an intimate moment that need not be mentioned. The next afternoon, I brought Zhou Manman to Qingliang Mountain, appearing on the wall of a building there using Time Walk.
A plump man brushing his teeth by the well in the yard heard the commotion and looked over at me, then shouted upstairs, "Dad, someone is climbing our wall to spy on me!"
After a while, a lazy figure emerged from the door. He leaned against the corridor railing and looked at me, nearly toppling off the edge.
At Qingliang Temple, Huzi and Douding had rushed over overnight. Huzi animatedly recounted what had happened the previous night. "Yunxi, you have no idea! I really heard Hao's voice last night. Even if he turned into a ghost, I would recognize it without a doubt. Otherwise, how could Douding and I have received his message at the same time?"
Yunxi smiled faintly; over the years, few had seen her smile. Even though her son Yang Changsheng was well-behaved and understanding, she rarely praised him. Most of the time, she either stared blankly or practiced her energy cultivation. She wanted to attempt Transcending Tribulation to see what the world was like after it.
Douding added, "Although I didn't see Brother Yang Hao, I definitely felt the fluctuations in the void. Sister Yunxi, I would never lie to you."
A knock sounded at the door. The boy named Changsheng opened it and greeted the newcomers, "Grandpa and Grandma."
Jiyao looked surprised but quickly nodded in response. "Changsheng has grown so tall! Why is everyone here today?"
"Did Uncle Yang also receive a message from Hao?" Huzi asked.
Yang Sanqian shook his head. "Your Aunt Jiyao insisted on coming because Hao appeared in her dream and told her to come. I find it strange; why would a son dream of his mother but not his own father?"
There was a hint of bitterness in Yang Sanqian's tone. Huzi awkwardly replied, "That's true; they are equally close."
No sooner had he finished speaking than another knock echoed from outside. Upon seeing Wu at the door, Changsheng spoke first: "Uncle Wu, you're here so early! The sun hasn't even set yet!"
"Kid knows nothing," Wu shot back at Changsheng before turning to Yunxi. "Yunxi, come here; let me introduce you to an old friend."
Five pushed me into the room and said, "You should feel embarrassed. His expression when he heard you gave him a son was so exaggerated; he thought he was going to be a proud father."
I stood at the door, being looked at like a monster by everyone. Yunxi frowned slightly, looking at me with eyes that suddenly became misty.
I stepped forward, embraced Yunxi, and stroked her head as if comforting a child. "It's okay, it's okay," I said.
"Damn it, do you know you almost scared me to death last night?" Huzi exclaimed.
I held Yunxi's hand and looked at Huzi and the others, calling each of their names one by one. Then I turned to Yang Sanqian and Jiyao, hugging the tear-streaked Jiyao and saying, "Mother, I was the first to notify you."
Jiyao nodded, unable to speak through her tears. Yang Sanqian's eyes were red, but there was a hint of dissatisfaction on his face as he complained, "You could have at least told me."
Soon, Zhou Manman and Guo Daozhen arrived with Guo Huaiyi. Rouer came along with the chubby boy, while Changsheng hid behind Yunxi, clutching her waist and peeking at me.
Yunxi said, "Changsheng, this is your father."
Changsheng felt a bit shy; he didn't dare approach me. Looking at the chubby boy in Rouer's arms, he huffed and said, "See? I have a dad too!"
Upon hearing this, Five widened his eyes and pointed at the chubby boy. "Are you saying Changsheng doesn't have a dad?"
The chubby boy turned red with fear and ran outside. Five chased after him, shouting, "You little brat! You don't listen to anything I say. Let's see where you run! If you didn't look like me, I would have beaten you to death already."
"You aren't even my real dad; Guo Huaiyi is! He's way better than you!" the chubby boy retorted.
Guo Huaiyi coughed and looked at the chubby boy running down the mountain. "Kid, watch your words! I'm your uncle; don't call me that!"
Five's face instantly turned green with envy.
In the afternoon, everyone gathered together to cook over a fire. We continued to rely on each other as before, sharing laughter.
I recounted everything that had happened in the Immortal Realm over the years and shared some insights about Transcending Tribulation and ascension. The concept of impermanence struck a chord; while Changsheng seemed ethereal to me, I could let go of immortality. Everyone sighed in contemplation, realizing that if it were them in my position, they would prefer to live a stable life rather than be trapped forever on an island without death or life.
The Sea and Sky Master from the Second Thunder Sound Temple arrived, and soon after, news of my return spread. Yu Xuanliang and Li Fugui came to visit, as did Bai Xiaoxiang from Arched Eyebrows. Zhang Dao'an, however, had not yet concluded his journey of enlightenment and did not come.
Yunxi and I went to Qingfeng Mountain to pay our respects to the Old Medicine Immortal, only to discover that he had passed away two years prior. His disciple had taken over his legacy.
From then on, I settled at Qingliang Mountain, living a simple and untroubled life. Zhou Manman and Yunxi initially found it awkward to get along but gradually adapted.
However, more and more pilgrims began to arrive at Qingliang Mountain, treating it as a sacred site, especially since I was the first person in history to successfully transcend tribulation.
One night, I woke up suddenly, and Yunxi noticed my fright. She said, "I just heard you calling Senior Sister Yu's name."
I nodded, recalling Rain Master Luo. I could never shake her from my mind; she had given up so much for me and endured loneliness. I wondered where she might be now.
For half a year, no matter where I searched, I could find no trace of her; it was as if she had vanished into thin air.
"When you transcended tribulation, I saw Senior Sister Yu. She was crying very sadly before she left. Perhaps you can use the Zhou Compass to find her," Yunxi suggested.
I nodded and stepped outside. At this point in my cultivation, I no longer needed the Zhou Compass. In the reflection of time, I saw myself during the moment of transcending tribulation; Rain Master Luo stood at the back of the crowd. When I disappeared into the lightning, deep despair showed in her eyes.
At the same time, I also saw Old Scholar with an excited expression.
Curiosity piqued, I followed Old Scholar until we reached a village at the foot of a mountain. He had become a teacher there and often went up the mountain to gather herbs.
Initially, I had seen in the Book of Life and Death that his lifespan was five years; however, he lived for seven. Six months ago, when news of my return to Qingliang Temple spread, Old Scholar wept bitterly. Holding a hemp rope, he went to an old tree at the village entrance and said, "You predicted that I would only live for five years; you lost. I've lived two years longer. Even if you've ascended to immortality, what does it matter? Falling back into the mortal realm ultimately leads to death."
After saying this, Old Scholar hung himself from the old tree—alone and emaciated—his shadow stretching long under the moonlight.
I sighed softly before disappearing beneath the tree where he hanged himself and began searching for Rain Master Luo's whereabouts.
On Changbai Mountain, Rain Master Luo had set up an illusionary formation that prevented anyone from entering. No wonder I hadn’t been able to find her for half a year. As I gazed at the illusion before me and touched it with my fingers, I was drawn inside.
On a snow peak, Rain Master Luo stood in thin clothing with her long hair cascading down to her waist, gently swaying in the wind and snow.
"Yushi Luo." I called out the name of Rain Master Luo.
Hearing my voice, Rain Master Luo turned to look at me. I walked towards her, and she pointed a sword made of snow at me, her eyes filled with deep confusion. "Who are you?"
I gazed into Rain Master Luo's eyes and said, "It's me. I'm back. I successfully Transcended Tribulation. I've been in the Celestial Realm for five years, and not a moment has gone by without thinking of you."
The snow sword in Rain Master Luo's hand shattered, and her voice carried a hint of grievance as she said, "But you still have Yunxi and Zhou Guanyin. They are both better than I am..."
I kissed Rain Master Luo's red lips and caressed her face. "I once entered the Underworld and obtained a Red Spider Lily. The petals of the Red Spider Lily can show you who your true love is in the future. The person I saw was you."
Upon hearing this, tears streamed down Rain Master Luo's face.
"Come back with me," I said, holding Rain Master Luo close.
She nodded, looking like a child who felt both wronged and happy.
Like the purest snow of Changbai, yet warm as spring flowers.(THE END)
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