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墨書 Inktalez
Sunlight spilled over the vast fields of grass, and a dewdrop slowly slid from the tip of a leaf, reflecting the sunlight and refracting a spectrum of colors.
Today's weather was simply perfect, with a clear blue sky stretching endlessly without a cloud in sight.
Although last night was shrouded in dark clouds, it ultimately did not rain heavily. However, the few rumbles of thunder sounded quite convincing, even making one think that the thunderous sound was coming from Luoma Market.
After all, it was already late summer, and the morning breeze carried a hint of coolness while also invigorating the spirit.
At this time of year, everything was at its peak of growth; in another ten days or so, the vibrant greens would likely turn yellow and the leaves would begin to fall.
This year had seen ample rainfall, with heavy downpours every few days causing the wild grass to grow wildly. Among the grass that towered over a person, a small figure staggered through.
This was a boy around twelve or thirteen years old, dressed in hemp clothing, with a somewhat shriveled bundle on his back that likely contained just a few changes of clothes.
However, hidden among his garments was a bulging and intricately embroidered cloth pouch; if it contained valuables, it would not be insignificant.
The boy looked up at the sky. Since leaving the Qin Family last night, his heart had been hanging high with anxiety, fearing that a few burly men might suddenly appear from nowhere. Whether they would capture him or not was secondary; it was entirely possible they could beat him to death on the spot.
After all, he had lived in the Qin Family for several years and deeply feared the consequences of being captured after escaping their grasp.
Moreover, his bundle concealed over a hundred taels of shattered gold. Just looking at that exquisitely embroidered money pouch would be enough to establish a charge of theft. Even if one could argue against it, finding such wealth on a mere servant would lead to an undeniable conclusion.
Thus, the boy chose to flee through the fields; after all, this route was much safer than the crowded streets filled with prying eyes. However, despite his escape, his wealth had not been obtained through theft.
The boy had not dared to close his eyes all night and wandered aimlessly among the vast grasslands. In truth, he did have a purpose in mind: as long as he could escape from the Qin Family...
Now that he had seemingly achieved his goal, he found himself plunged into deeper confusion.
Where was this place? Where was the road...?
The boy took off his bundle and reached inside for the delicate money pouch. After rubbing it gently for a moment, tears began to fall from his eyes.
"Unfettered Hall Master... where are you..."
The boy was the Storm Hall Steward and a handyman. Of course, Little Zhu understood that the so-called Steward was just a way for Unfettered Hall Master to amuse himself; being a handyman was his true identity.
Little Zhu sighed, feeling lost and helpless. A sharply defined, handsome face appeared in his mind. If Unfettered Hall Master were here, he would surely point him in the right direction.
As he thought about it, the corners of Little Zhu's eyes became wet again. After living for twelve or thirteen years, the only person who had treated him well had vanished without a trace.
Moreover, the look in Unfettered Hall Master's eyes when he left gave Little Zhu an ominous premonition.
He feared he might never see him again in this lifetime.
Suddenly, a strange bird call came from the bushes, followed by a flock of birds flapping their wings and soaring into the sky.
Little Zhu was startled, his extremely sensitive nerves nearly snapping. What frightened him was the thought of being caught and taken back by the Qin Family. However, he did not know that since last night, the Qin Family had become nothing more than a speck of dust in the vast history of Luoma Market.
"Forget it, I'll take it one step at a time."
Little Zhu shook his head and dragged his weary feet forward aimlessly once more.
After an unknown amount of time, the wild grass around him seemed less lush, and its height had changed from over a person's head to waist-high. Looking ahead, it unexpectedly opened up.
In front of him was a conical cliff, and atop that cliff lay what seemed to be a figure...
Little Zhu did not dare to approach but instead jumped up from afar to take a closer look. After observing for a while, he finally discerned some details.
Upon realizing what it was, Little Zhu gasped and instinctively wanted to turn and run because the person's clothing unmistakably belonged to the Qin Family.
However, after a moment, Little Zhu calmed down again. It wasn't just that the person appeared to be unconscious; it was also because there was something oddly familiar about them.
Driven by intense curiosity, Little Zhu took another few glances, and upon doing so, he gasped again.
The exclamation this time was different from the last, filled with surprise and joy.
Rushing forward, Little Zhu shook the person's body vigorously, repeatedly calling out, "Unfettered Hall Master, Unfettered Hall Master..."
It turned out that lying on the ground was none other than Little Zhu's benefactor, Qin Family's Former Guard Commander, Qin Wuji.
However, the Unfettered Hall Master seemed gravely injured; his face was pale, and his body felt limp. Could it be that he was already... dead?
Just as Little Zhu opened his mouth to let out a wail of despair, Qin Wuji slowly opened his weary eyes.
"Little Zhu...?" Qin Wuji's voice was weak and somewhat surprised.
"Unfettered Hall Master, you scared me to death! You're finally awake!" Little Zhu exclaimed excitedly, leaving a few drops of cat urine in his excitement.
"My name is Cold Yang," Qin Wuji forced a smile but quickly recalled the events of the previous night, his expression swiftly replaced by sorrow.
"Cold Yang..." Little Zhu murmured. To him, it didn't matter whether the Unfettered Hall Master was called Qin Wuji or Cold Yang or something else. What mattered was that he was awake.
"How did you end up here?" Cold Yang asked, taking a sharp breath. Clearly, even speaking caused him pain.
In response, Little Zhu recounted everything that had happened since he left the Qin Family last night until now. Then he stared blankly at Cold Yang and asked, "Elder Wujii, how did you end up here?"
Cold Yang had no need or interest in sharing the intrigues and vendettas with Little Zhu. He simply smiled and asked, "What are your plans for the future?"
Little Zhu shook his head and began to cry again.
One could imagine that as a young boy wandering alone in a world filled with danger and conflict, he saw no way out.
"Sigh..." Cold Yang sighed and then closed his eyes.
At this moment, the sun rose high in the sky, the morning mist dissipated, and a beam of light fell upon Cold Yang's face.
The world is unpredictable; each day is entirely different. Perhaps today you are consumed by hatred and violence, but tomorrow you may become a victim of your own actions.
Cold Frost, Ye Tian, and Wang Weiyang have all become part of the past. The grudges of the Cold Family have finally come to an end. Perhaps it is time for a new beginning.
After a long while, Cold Yang opened his eyes, his gaze calm as water.
"Little Zhu, help me up."
Little Zhu obediently helped Cold Yang to his feet, looking at him with wide eyes.
"Are you willing to come with me?"
"Where to?"
"To wander the world."
Little Zhu nodded vigorously.
…………
About an hour later, several figures appeared on the cliff—three men and two women, namely Yun'er and the others.
"There must have been a great battle here last night," Duan Liu said, pulling his gaze back from the edge of the cliff. Although he did not witness that overwhelming strike, the remnants left behind were clear to see.
"Could it be Ye Tian?" Cold Moon asked, somewhat lost.
"What is this?" Wine Kid pulled out a piece of iron chain from the grass he was sitting on.
Seeing this, Yun'er grabbed it and pondered for a moment before exclaiming, "Ye Tian is likely below the cliff!"
The group exchanged glances and without asking for further explanation, they all said in unison, "Let's find him!"
After saying that, Cold Moon stepped forward and was about to leap down. Fortunately, Fang Xiong was present and quickly pulled Cold Moon back.
"From my observation, this cliff is probably over ten thousand feet high. No matter how powerful your Skyward Martial Arts are, it would be difficult to manage such a height."
Cold Moon nodded gratefully; she had acted impulsively just now and almost caused a disaster.
"Let's go around," Fang Xiong suggested.
"No way," Yun'er firmly rejected. "Going around would take too long. If Ye Tian is seriously injured, it would delay the treatment."
Fang Xiong sighed lightly and said, "You should consider that if he really falls from here, what’s the point of discussing..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but anyone could understand Fang Xiong's meaning. Moreover, he was right; if he fell from here, there would be no chance for treatment.
"Poor Ye Tian; he might end up shattered into pieces..." Wine Kid said sadly.
Although everyone knew he meant no harm and genuinely felt sorrow for Ye Tian, as soon as those words left his mouth, Cold Moon shot him a murderous glare. Startled, Wine Kid trembled and quickly turned away, not daring to say another word.
However, everyone understood in their hearts that this was another unspoken truth.
"Go around! We must see him alive or at least find his body!" Yun'er insisted firmly.
…………
Seven days later, everyone finally appeared at the bottom of the cliff. The moment they reached the approximate location, a glimmer of hope rose in each of their hearts.
This was a vast lake with clear water, where fish could be seen swimming.
"If he fell into the water, there might still be a chance of survival," Cold Moon said excitedly.
Everyone nodded, their eyes filled with an unmistakable sense of excitement.
"Ah... this Lake Surface is as clean as a mirror, not a single shadow in sight," Wine Kid interjected at an inappropriate moment.
After saying that, he received a sharp knock on the head.
"Not seeing any shadows is a good thing; it means Ye Tian is very likely still alive," Yun'er tried to comfort herself. She knew very well that falling from such a height, there was basically no difference between the ground and the water surface.
The most likely scenario now was that Ye Tian had been swept downstream by the current. Yun'er didn't dare to hope whether he was still alive; she only wished to find Ye Tian's body.
The group searched along the river for over a month, ultimately defeated by the cruel reality.
No living person was found, nor any corpse...
...
At a village more than thirty miles from the lake below the cliff, an elderly man in his seventies escorted Yun'er and the others to the village entrance, pointed out the road back to the top of the cliff, and then returned to his village alone.
The old man's home was a dilapidated thatched hut, and the small room was in disarray. The old man climbed onto the Earthen Bed and lifted the Grass Mat. Despite his age, his movements were not slow.
As the Grass Mat was gradually lifted, a dark hole emerged from beneath the Earthen Bed.
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