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墨書 Inktalez
Yama's Wedding
The National Master, upon hearing Xue's words, looked around in terror.
Black mist continuously emanated from his body, swirling around him like a vortex.
The true energy within him roamed restlessly, causing unbearable pain. Souls filled with heavy resentment spun around him incessantly.
His own soul was surrounded by them; these restless spirits harbored countless grievances against him. In the past, they had been forced to remain within him due to his overwhelming power, but now they were finally free to escape. Their resentment, pain, and unwillingness tore at the National Master's soul. He felt as if his very essence was being gnawed at relentlessly. He let out a pained cry, rolling on the ground in agony, while the black mist continued to swirl around him, refusing to let him go.
Xue and Yao Guang watched the National Master in his current state; he was suffering so much that he would likely die from his own torment without any intervention.
Xue had no intention of helping him. While it was indeed a way of the Dao to let these souls torment a living soul, this old Taoist was utterly detestable. His downfall was a fitting retribution for his past deeds.
Mo Yi and Jun Ruo could not see the swirling black mist surrounding the National Master. They stared in astonishment at the National Master rolling on the ground without regard for his dignity, unsure of what Xue had done to cause such suffering.
Within the encircling black mist, the National Master endured excruciating torment. Countless voices screamed piercingly in his ears.
"Return my life—return my life—"
"Demon! You let my child, who was not yet a month old, perish in your hands. I will make you taste what it feels like to be devoured alive."
"For the sake of our clan's treasure, you exterminated my entire family. You will pay with your life."
"Today, I will make you repay your blood debts with blood..."
These voices echoed endlessly in his ears, their wails driving him to madness.
Gradually, blood seeped from the National Master's ears and eyes. He became still.
"What have you done to the National Master?" Mo Yi, impulsively reacting to the sight of the National Master’s condition, rushed towards Xue and shouted at him.
"Do you even have a brain?" Yao Guang sprang out from Xue's arms upon seeing Mo Yi's rude behavior towards Xue. How could this person still be unable to discern that the National Master had always acted out of selfish desires? He had killed so many people yet still had followers who considered him a good person—this was simply incomprehensible.
"Look for yourself." Xue did not wish to argue with a mortal. Moreover, he had seen Mo Yi's fate; although Mo Yi would lead a lonely life, he possessed strong Zi Wei energy and would surely become a dominant figure in the future. This was merely a lesson for the future ruler.
With a wave of his hand, Xue made Mo Yi feel as if a flash of golden light had crossed before his eyes.
"You showed me what...?" The words caught in Mo Yi's throat.
He looked towards the National Master. Just moments ago, he had seen the National Master writhing in pain on the ground, but now, as he glanced over, he was met with a horrifying sight. Shadows loomed around the National Master, and many figures surrounded him, each one gazing at the fallen figure with eyes full of hatred, as if they wished to tear him apart piece by piece. And indeed, they were doing just that; they were all hunched over the National Master's body, eagerly tearing into his flesh bite by bite.
One man, with a mouthful of the National Master's meat, turned to Mo Yi and grinned sinisterly. It was a twisted smile that seemed to invite Mo Yi to join in, as if the flesh of the National Master was the most delectable treat.
Mo Yi's heart sank at this scene, and he couldn't help but vomit beside him.
Xue observed Mo Yi's reaction. Although he wasn't entirely satisfied, he acknowledged that Mo Yi was handling it better than many others; he hadn't fainted at the sight.
Xue withdrew his gaze from Mo Yi and waited quietly for him to finish retching.
Mo Yi felt as though he might expel his very insides. After emptying his stomach completely, he realized that what he had just witnessed was beyond anything he could bear.
"What was that just now?" Mo Yi couldn't even dare to look in the direction of the National Master.
"Those were the souls of those innocent lives your beloved National Master has taken," Yao Guang remarked, looking at Mo Yi with a hint of mockery. "Now they have all turned against him."
"I... I don't believe it." Mo Yi's face had turned pale, yet he still refused to accept that the National Master—whom he and his father had always respected—was someone who indiscriminately killed.
Then what did that make him, who had helped the National Master in those killings?
Mo Yi's gaze shifted back to where the National Master lay. Was there really nothing there? It seemed as if everything that had just happened was merely an illusion. He rubbed his eyes; all that remained was the still body of the National Master lying quietly ahead. No dark mist, no shadows—nothing.
It must have been just an illusion after all. Mo Yi rubbed his eyes again but still saw nothing.
Seeing Mo Yi's actions, Xue understood that he believed everything had been a mere figment of his imagination. "Do you want me to show you again?" Xue asked.
"No, no," Mo Yi quickly refused; he didn't want to witness such a scene again.
"Whether you believe it or not, your National Master is indeed that kind of person. What you saw earlier was real. You and your father have both been thoroughly deceived by him," Xue felt it necessary to awaken this young man before him. The National Master was dead now; this man would be the next ruler. Xue hoped that through this incident, Mo Yi would learn a lesson and not be so easily swayed by such mystical pursuits in the future. More importantly, he hoped Mo Yi could govern his country well and ensure a peaceful life for his people.
Listening to Xue's words, Mo Yi's heart began to accept them. Setting aside other thoughts, ever since the National Master had predicted daily who harbored treasonous intentions, it had caused widespread panic among the people over these years. Yet for the sake of stability in their nation, they had no choice but to trust the National Master's words. Consequently, more and more lives were lost under their hands over these years. Though doubts lingered in Mo Yi's heart, disobeying the National Master's orders often led to disasters—droughts here or floods there—but once they followed his commands, calamities would vanish instantly. Drought-stricken areas would receive rain while flooded regions would recede. Over time, both he and his father could only comply with the National Master's arrangements; though dissatisfied, since he hadn't touched upon royal matters directly, those incidents seemed trivial compared to lives lost. Trading lives for peace seemed worth it to Mo Yi.
It wasn't until he met Jun Ruo that he first felt reluctant to follow the National Master's orders; it was also when he wanted to protect someone rather than harm them. When it was revealed that Jun Ruo was a remnant of a fallen dynasty and his father issued three secret edicts commanding him to eliminate such individuals entirely, even after receiving Jun Ruo's confession, Mo Yi found himself forced into killing Jun Ruo despite his unwillingness. He self-deprecatingly thought that perhaps maintaining this kingdom was ultimately what mattered most now.
"Jun Ruo..." Yao Guang's voice drew both Xue and Mo Yi's attention.
Jun Ruo, with the assistance of Yao Guang, stood up and gestured for Yao Guang to help him approach Xue.
As he reached Xue, Jun Ruo knelt down and bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Brother Xue, for killing the National Master and avenging the forty-eight lives lost in Bandit Hideout."
Xue lped Jun Ruo to his feet. "I did not kill the National Master solely for you." Xue had always disliked the National Master’s demeanor, but more importantly, he had injured Yao Guang. That alone was enough to warrant his demise. The memory of Yao Guang’s injury cast a shadow over Xue; letting the National Master die so easily felt like too little punishment.
"I understand, but after all, it was you who killed the National Master. This kindness will be remembered by Jun Ruo. Unfortunately, I cannot repay you for this favor," Jun Ruo said sincerely to Xue.
Since that day when he learned the truth, Jun Ruo realized he had no future left, nor would he ever have one again.
As a Chimeras and Specters born from death, how could he expect a next life? On that day, when everyone from Bandit Hideout vanished before his eyes, everything became clear to him. The reasons he stayed were twofold: one was the unresolved matters in his heart, and the other was the hatred for the National Master that kept him tethered to this world.
These people could have lived their lives peacefully if not for him; he had caused their bones to vanish, leaving them bound to this land. He felt guilty for them and could not allow their deaths to be in vain while the true culprit roamed free. Thus, Jun Ruo chose to remain.
Now that these two burdens weighing on Jun Ruo's heart were gone, he could finally meet his brothers with peace of mind and face them with dignity.
The calmness in Jun Ruo's gaze stung Mo Yi's eyes; this time, there truly was no trace of Mo Yi reflected in Jun Ruo's eyes. (To be continued.)
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