Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
"Speaking of which, Xiao Long said his cause of death was old age, but from what I saw, he still looked like he was in his twenties or thirties. Why is that?" He asked, puzzled.
"Because only the physical body dies; the soul is not bound by the body. It manifests in the form that is most deeply imprinted in your memory, so the people you know will appear as you are most familiar with them," I explained calmly.
"I see..." He gazed thoughtfully at the River of Souls. "So, there’s no situation where you wouldn’t recognize each other, right?"
"Exactly."
"Then, if one party dies first and reincarnates early, can the other party, who encounters me from their previous life in this second life, still recognize me?" he inquired.
"Although the chances are slim, it is still possible," I admitted, somewhat impressed by his clever question. "After all, memories belong to the soul."
"I understand now." He smiled lightly.
"Do you have any more strange questions?" I asked with genuine interest.
Compared to the earlier inexplicable feeling of suffocation, I preferred to maintain this current state and return to our initial casual conversation.
"A strange question..." He smiled noncommittally. "Have you ever encountered a deceased person who insisted on boarding a boat by threatening to die if they couldn't?"
"Threatening to die?" I looked at him in confusion.
He pointed toward the river's surface. "For example, if you don't let him board, he would jump into the river to show you?"
"Uh... but you all are already dead," I said incredulously as I looked at him.
He raised an eyebrow.
"So even if they can't swim, jumping in wouldn't lead to drowning?"
"The dead do not need to breathe," I said with a mix of amusement and disbelief.
"Is that so?" He responded, his face showing confusion. "If you can't drown, then can you swim to the other side if you don't have money for a boat?"
"Impossible," I shook my head. "This space is just what it is. Just like if you walk across the riverbank, you'll end up back where you started. No matter which direction you swim in the River of the Dead, you'll ultimately return to this riverbank and cannot escape."
"So, the only way to leave here is by taking a boat?" he asked.
"Exactly."
"What if I stole your boat and left on my own?" he inquired again.
"Anyone who cannot decipher the flow of the River of the Dead will only spin endlessly in its middle section, eventually being swallowed by the river. The boat would then be sent back by the river afterward." So even stealing a boat would be futile.
"And where do those swallowed by the river go?" he asked.
"I have no idea," I replied, shrugging my shoulders helplessly.
"I see..." He gazed thoughtfully at the misty River of the Dead.
"What? Are you considering how to steal a boat?" I teased.
"How could that be?" He chuckled in disbelief. "I don't even want to cross the river yet; why would I steal it?"
"By the way, why are you so determined to sever ties?" I couldn't help but ask. "Even if you don't do this, as long as you enter reincarnation, all memories of this life will still be forgotten. What difference does it make whether these ties are cut or not?"
He simply shook his head lightly.
"If fate is unending, even if we meet again in a rebirth without recognizing each other, the karmic ties still exist," he said, his smile fading as he gazed deeply into the distance. "No matter who I owe or who owes me, I don't want to be entangled any longer. I would rather sever all ties and start anew."
"Oh..." I struggled to grasp the crux of his dilemma.
"By the way, how can one know if the bond of fate has truly been severed?" He looked at me with a puzzled expression. "If someone I know goes to a riverbank where another ferryman operates, does that count as being without fate?"
I paused for a moment, studying him seriously.
"Actually, it’s simple. If you completely forget and have no memories left, then the bond has been severed."
"Forget?" He tilted his head in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"For example..." I calculated the time; it should be about right. I spoke calmly, "Do you remember your friend Xiao Long?"
"Xiao Long?" His face was blank. "Who is that? Do I have a friend by that name?"
"Just a moment ago, he was here exchanging pleasantries with you before boarding a boat to the other side."
"Is that so? I don’t recall any of this," he furrowed his brow.
"This is proof that your bond with him has been severed," I explained. "So here, as long as you can no longer remember anyone or anything, you will become the person you wish to be—one who has completely severed all ties of fate."
Comment 0 Comment Count