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墨書 Inktalez
The bloodstains on his body had dried up, and the fresh blood on his face had mostly disappeared after a casual wipe, revealing a handsome and rugged visage.
He spoke calmly, quietly observing his master while holding the Chasing Wind Dart in his hand.
Memories floated like smoke, stinging the eyes, choking the throat, and piercing the heart.
Thus, both Commander and Li Ji fell into a brief silence.
Jufeng knew that it was now time for him to speak again.
“Commander, Senior Li. Forgive my words, but the events of those years should have faded away. What outcome can arise from entangling right and wrong? I know both of you are great figures and heroes. Senior Li, is what you truly seek today life or death? I think not; rather, it is an attitude.”
“Commander, I understand that over these years, you must have many things you wish to say to Senior Li. Deep down, you must have held onto an attitude all along.”
Jufeng passed the speaking rights to Commander. Upon hearing the past mentioned, Commander felt a weight in his heart, lingering in melancholy silence. At this moment, emotions were most abundant, allowing him to clearly recognize what thoughts resided within him.
He turned to Li Ji and slowly said, “In truth, I have always felt guilty over the years. Countless days and nights, I have struggled internally, unable to eat or sleep peacefully. Only by pouring all my thoughts into building Saint Envoy could I find some relief.”
“Back then, I exploited our brotherhood to deceive you into giving me this position that has made me feel like I’m sitting on pins and needles for decades. My heart has truly been burdened with guilt. While I am obsessively devoted to Saint Envoy, it should not have come from your hands, especially when I did not return it when you asked.”
“I should not have sought after what does not belong to me. Thus, when I obtained it, I suddenly realized that this position was merely a prison for me; every moment spent in this role is tormenting and painful. The Eight-Winged Envoy attire feels like a garment made of thorns, constantly torturing me.”
“I am a sinner; therefore, your visit today is justified. If there is anything I can do to slightly atone for my mistakes, perhaps when the day comes for me to leave this world, my heart will feel a little lighter. At least I won’t carry regrets into another realm.”
“So actually, this Iron Fist is not meant for killing but for redemption.”
The sincerity in Commander’s words was deeply moving and could evoke tears; one could feel the profound sense of guilt he carried. Even after thirty years apart, it had not diminished even slightly; instead, as time flowed on, it accumulated further burdens upon Commander’s shoulders.
Li Ji's lips twitched, and the deathly aura surrounding him became less intense. Jufeng was right; so many years had passed. What he couldn't let go of was not life or death—those had long been set aside. What Li Ji wanted was simply an attitude.
The Commander expressed his stance, but it was still not enough.
Thirty years of guilt, thirty years of regret; it was Li Ji who left the sect, and it was Li Ji who struggled through hardships. Just by looking at his disheveled appearance, one could tell that even though he was a free spirit, even though he was the founder of a world-class organization, and even though he stood shoulder to shoulder with the Commander of the Saint Envoy at this height, he had not lived happily over the years. At least in this matter, he had always harbored a knot in his heart.
Thus, the Commander's mere words were insufficient to fully convey his attitude.
So he raised his Iron Fist.
"Let the turmoil of the years come to an end today."
As soon as the Commander's voice fell, a Dragon Light swept through the tower, illuminating everyone's eyes.
"Hiss!"
That was the sound of blood flowing freely.
"Bang!"
That was the sound of an object falling to the ground.
"Commander! ￥%."
The members of the Saint Envoy looked at the arm that had fallen nearby, at the neat cut on the Commander's shoulder, at the blood that gushed forth uncontrollably, and at the Commander's expression of pain, letting out heart-wrenching cries.
Even though Jufeng did not understand many languages, he could feel the sorrow and anger in their voices.
The Iron Fist was meant for atonement, meant to bring things to an end. The weapon in one's hand did not necessarily have to be used against enemies; it could also be turned upon oneself.
"Ding!"
The pain from the severed arm nearly caused the Commander to lose his balance. He pressed the Iron Fist against the ground, barely managing to steady himself.
Jufeng was not far from the Commander. The moment the Commander raised the Iron Fist, a multitude of thoughts flashed through Romain's mind, and he began to gather his strength.
After the Iron Fist struck the arm, Romain was the first to rush to the Commander's side.
His fingers moved swiftly, pressing deeply into several acupoints around the severed arm. The blood that had been flowing freely suddenly became gentle, seeping only slightly.
At that moment, members of the Saint Envoy began to surge in from all directions, attempting to push Romain aside just in case, but were halted by the Commander.
With Romain's support, the Commander slowly stood up, placing the Iron Fist on the ground.
"Thank you!" said the Commander.
Romain shook his head.
The Commander nodded and smiled as he left with Romain's assistance, moving deeper into the area.
Two Vice Captains and several Stewards stepped forward to take over supporting the Commander. They exchanged a few words in an unknown language before proceeding deeper under everyone's protection.
As words were passed along, the Vice Captains and several members spoke briefly again before catching up with the Commander.
Before long, all of the Holy Envoy members disappeared into the fourth floor.
The severed arm on the ground was still dripping with blood, collected by a member using a piece of pristine white cloth, leaving behind a pool of crimson.
Li Ji stared blankly at the bloodstain, remaining silent for a long time.
After a while, he brushed his long hair to one side and began to laugh.
Yet that laughter was desolate, sorrowful, and relieved, a complex mix of emotions that was difficult to decipher.
It was the culmination of thirty years of hatred, erupting in that moment when the Commander laid down the turmoil.
Amidst the laughter, Li Ji strode forward, disappearing from the sight of the crowd.
He resembled a traveler crossing a desert who vanishes into the twilight after witnessing the last rays of sunset.
Having savored all the sights, leaving footprints imprinted in every corner of the world, all his thoughts had been acknowledged, and his final wish was no longer just a wish.
Thus, the traveler felt detached from life, moving with grace yet resolutely and sadly.
For there was no longer any motivation to continue onward, no goal to strive for, no distant landscapes to explore, and none of the initial attachments that once tugged at his heart.
This made for an unhappy situation. Unhappiness was destined to linger in his future life; thus, how could he continue to linger in this mundane world?
At this moment, Li Ji had resolved the regrets of his life and helped the Commander eliminate the chaos. Yet he felt pitiful because there was nothing left to support him in moving forward.
A person like him would never live aimlessly without reason or purpose.
He looked towards his master, watching as his figure faded into the fourth floor before turning his gaze to where someone had knelt down.
"Bang!"
The sound of knees hitting the ground echoed sharply in the room.
Five continued to kneel, bending forward and repeatedly pressing his forehead against the floor.
One sound, two sounds, three sounds, ten sounds... By the end, it was impossible to count how many times he had done so.
Only Jufeng, the Ikeda siblings, and Hayamura Shuichi remained in the room.
They all watched Five's actions in silence, unsure of how to respond. Only Jufeng and Five were familiar with each other.
Jufeng felt he should say something, as this crisis still needed resolution. Thanks to the brothers' earnest words, they had managed to convey a sense of safety. Although the outcome was the best it could be, it still left much to be desired.
One arm had been broken, and a heart had come to rest.
Thus, Jufeng spoke up: "That's enough. The senior has his own grievances; that is life. You have your own mission."
At the sound of his voice, Five's actions came to an abrupt halt. However, after a moment of silence, his body began to tremble involuntarily, a sound as faint as a mosquito's buzz slowly reverberating in the room.
Five cried—once a proud Five Man Slayer, feared by many as the Leader of the Heroic Journey and Thirteen Halls—he was now crying.
He wept without regard for those around him, despite his efforts to maintain control.
Jufeng did not know how to comfort him; no matter how reasonable his words might be, they felt inappropriate for the moment.
Time passed slowly as they remained on the fourth floor, waiting.
During the journey, Kenji Ikeda instructed Shuichi Hayamura to report inside the Saint Envoy. Despite the significant incident that occurred during today's selection, which overshadowed the main theme of the event, it was an undeniable fact that Shuichi Hayamura had become the Vice Captain of Saint Envoy.
Shuichi bid farewell to the Ikeda siblings and exchanged nods with Jufeng before departing.
It was hard to tell how much time had passed; it felt like several days and nights had gone by since entering the tower. Shuichi collected his emotions and stood up again.
However, after kneeling for so long, he nearly stumbled when he stood up, but fortunately, Jufeng was there to support him.
"Let's go," Romain said, half-supporting Shuichi as they left the unforgettable tower together with the Ikeda siblings.
(To be continued)
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