There were no cheers, no applause, there wasn't even the slightest sound. The entire manor suddenly became as quiet as an empty city.
It was unknown when the snowflakes stopped and the bonfire was completely extinguished. However, the cold wind suddenly blew again. The wind swept through the forest in the courtyard and the earth seemed to be sobbing.
"I … I'm sorry …" The youth spoke with difficulty. His tone was clearly very sad.
These words were not said to Zhan Long, but to the young girl behind him. He knew that the young girl could not hear him, but he still had to personally say it.
Because only in this way could he express his respect. In his eyes, the young girl was a living person and not a tool to be trampled on.
Only in this way could he express his inner heart. How much he wanted to help the young girl fulfill her wish. But to reach this step, he had really tried his best. This world was sometimes just this cold and cruel.
The youth suddenly smiled again. His smile was still so friendly and brilliant, just like the warm spring breeze. It was as if he wanted to melt this ruthless world. He tried his best to comfort the young girl and his tone became very gentle. "Live well …"
After saying these five words, he fell heavily on his back.
When the youth fell, Yu Xingyang's heart also sank. It was as if he had fallen into a ten thousand year old ice cellar. He was too excited and too surprised. He completely did not notice that when the youth cut Zhan Long's wrist, Zhan Long had also sent his sword into the youth's heart. Only the sword hilt was left outside. The sword blade had already completely pierced through the chest.
"Good!" It was unknown who took the lead, but everyone finally began to applaud. Voices of discussion rose from all directions.
"Brother Zhan Long is really powerful. Since ancient times, heroes have always come from the youth."
"Yeah, how could the disciple that Brother Bai has taught be weak?"
"That sword was really fast and accurate. It was too beautiful …"
…
Yu Xingyang could not hear anything. From head to toe, it was as if someone had poured a bucket of cold water over him. Then, his soul was sucked out. He stood there in a daze. He did not know what to say or what to do. He felt that there was no path to take and no place to go …
The young girl was now in this demented state. She leaned over the young man's body and cried, but no matter how she shook him, the young man would never wake up again. The corpse's eyes were not closed, but her tears fell into the corpse's eyes drop by drop.
However, in this place, on this occasion, no one would care about the tears of a peasant girl, much less the existence of someone like her.
As long as she was alive, she was no longer a threat to the Tian Family; as long as she was alive, she was as good as dead.
Amidst the praises, the girl suddenly pulled out the dagger from the boy's chest and fiercely stabbed it into her own heart. She also slowly went limp.
Even when she fell to the ground, the young man's eyes were still open. The smile on his face was still bright, as if he was repeating his last words: "Live well …"
It was too difficult to survive, but death was much easier.
Yu Xingyang took a deep breath and painfully closed his eyes. He had no right to intervene in the young man's battle, but he did not stop the girl from committing suicide. This was because he understood them. From the moment the young man was killed, the girl's heart had truly died. She had lost all hope and fell into eternal despair.
The most ruthless thing in this world was fairness. In fact, it was the most unfair because the price one had to pay was too high. Even if one gave up their life, they would not be able to exchange for justice.
Furthermore, justice was not always victorious. Even the eternal sunlight would be covered by dark clouds. Just like Tian Qing's private manor, wasn't it currently surrounded by darkness?
Even though the banquet resumed its liveliness, the dancers resumed their performance, and the fine wine and delicacies were served, Yu Xingyang suddenly felt very cold. It was a kind of coldness that came from the dead, a coldness that seeped into his bones.
The two corpses had already been carried away by the guards. No one mentioned what had just happened, as if nothing had happened. Even the red snow was quickly cleaned up.
Yu Xingyang silently walked to Tian Qing's side. Tian Qing was currently toasting Jiaogu and the others with a red face.
"Brother Tian!" Yu Xingyang expressionlessly called out.
Tian Qing turned around and smiled: "Brother Yu, I apologize for my lack of hospitality. Please drink a few more cups."
Yu Xingyang cupped his fists: "Brother Tian, farewell!"
Tian Qing was surprised: "It's still early. Why is brother Yu leaving?"
Yu Xingyang did not answer him. He hugged his saber and silently walked out of the manor's gates. He did not want to stay in this place for even a moment longer.
This was because he already felt regret. If he had not taken the initiative to speak up, things would not have developed in the opposite direction. Perhaps the young man and young woman would still be alive. Perhaps they would live in humiliation, but it was still much better than dying so tragically.
The only thing he could do now was to chase after the guards and take the corpses. No matter what, he hoped that he could personally bury the two of them. At least that would make him feel better.
He suddenly realized that he did not even know the names of the young man and young woman. He felt that he was far inferior to the young man. He had the ability, but he did not even have the courage to stand out. He was even inferior to the young woman. The young woman had the courage to face death, but he had been hiding in the crowd from the beginning to the end.
What Formless Divine Saber? He was just a dog. A dog that looked like a human, but lived like a coward …
In his daze, the snowstorm intensified. He realized that he had unknowingly walked to the edge of a river in the suburbs. Then, he saw the young man and young woman's corpses.
They were lying side by side on a simple raft made of branches and withered grass. There were piles of dry wood on top of the raft.
The poor did not even have a coffin after they died. They could only burn it and let their souls drift with the wind. At least they would not be bullied again. Although they had lived a hard life, they had died peacefully.
The young man had done what he could, and the young woman had also escaped her tragic fate. Therefore, their expressions now looked very peaceful.
It was not easy for a person to die peacefully. For the first time, Yu Xingyang felt a sense of reverence towards death.
On the edge of the grass, another young man in ragged clothes was holding a torch. He gently removed the T-shaped claws from the hands of the corpses and used a piece of green grass to carefully wipe them clean.
The young man looked even younger, about twelve or thirteen years old. However, his expression was unusually calm. He was not angry, nor was he sad. He seemed to have experienced countless joys and sorrows in life. He had also seen through too many life and death situations in the world. He only silently lit the dead wood and then slowly pushed the raft into the water.
In the middle of the river, a ball of raging fire was quickly ignited. The flames soared into the sky and danced in all directions. From afar, it looked like colorful butterflies …
At the end of the dance, perhaps that was the direction of heaven.
The young man knelt by the riverside and put the glossy green bone leaf to his lips. He gently blew a low tune. The tune was slow and beautiful, like a gentle fisherman's song. Under the snowy night on the river, it had a tranquil and profound mood. However, after listening to it for a long time, there was a hint of sadness floating in it, making people unable to control themselves from the sadness.
Yu Xingyang slowly walked over from the tune. "What song is this?"
The young man put away the grass and said in a calm voice, "This song is called 'The Original Scenery of Hometown'."
Yu Xingyang's expression became thoughtful. "Perhaps his death is a kind of relief. He won't bear too much. Perhaps his soul can return to his hometown."
"Yes!"
The young man stared at the river. The fire on the river slowly extinguished. His eyes seemed to dim.
Yu Xingyang sighed slightly. "Do you know how he died?"
The young man was still calm. "I know!"
Yu Xingyang frowned. "But you don't look sad."
The young man said, "Maybe it's not the time to be sad."
Yu Xingyang couldn't help but ask, "Why?"
The young man was silent and said the same thing. "Because I want to live well. The more I suffer, the happier those people will be."
Yu Xingyang found that the young man in front of him was much stronger than he imagined. These poor children had lived in hardship since they were young. Time had long polished their hearts and minds to be firm and resolute.
"They won't be happy for long."
Yu Xingyang also turned his head to look at the river. His gaze became thoughtful again. "Maybe he's right. What's the point of some people fighting for their whole lives?
This Da Sheng Kingdom is not as prosperous as I see it on the surface. "
His gaze fell on the young man's hand again. "Little brother, can you let me see your blade?"
The young man finally hesitated. "This is not an ordinary blade."
"I know."
Yu Xingyang's expression became sincere. "When I was defeated by it for the first time, its first owner didn't even use this blade to attack me. However, I was defeated willingly."
The young man's eyes finally revealed a look of horror. Only then did he notice the Formless Divine Blade in Yu Xingyang's arms. "You … Could it be that you are …"
"I am!"
Yu Xingyang nodded. His tone was very emotional. "This is the second time I've seen this blade. I didn't expect to see it in such a situation after seven years …"
He couldn't say the rest of the words because his heart was aching, so he couldn't continue.
The T-shaped claw blade was quickly in his hand. He looked at it carefully, as if he was admiring a supreme divine weapon.
"What fortune is there in gathering? What sorrow is there in parting? What joy is there in life? What bitterness is there in death …" Yu Xingyang silently read the poem on the blade.
The poem wasn't long. There were only sixteen words in total. However, he felt as if he was reading his own life.
After a long time, he respectfully returned the hero's dagger to the youth. Then, he did something that no one would have thought of. He threw the dagger into the river with a "huala" sound.
The young man was also shocked by his shocking action. "Why don't you want your blade?"
Yu Xingyang said seriously, "Because compared to your blade, I feel that it doesn't deserve to be called a blade. Seven years ago, seven years later, it's still the same. It hasn't changed."
"But, your blade …" The young man wanted to say something but stopped.
Yu Xingyang seemed to know what he wanted to ask. He immediately interrupted him and said leisurely, "The Formless Divine Blade only lives up to its name. The hero's blade has a clear conscience. Only a real man deserves a real blade. What use do I have for this Formless Divine Blade?"
The young man hesitated and said, "You want my blade?"
Yu Xingyang shook his head. "I don't have the qualifications to use it. I don't deserve it. You should take it. You should be the successor of this generation, right?"
This time, the young man was silent for a long time. Then, he slowly said, "Before I left, Big Brother told me that if I encounter any misfortune, I must use this blade well. If I can't hold on, I must leave the blade to those who really need it. I must protect it well, use it, love it, and fight hard for the people we protect. I must never retreat …"
Yu Xingyang sighed and said, "He is indeed worthy of the glory of 'Big Brother'. He is also a real Big Brother!"
The young man nodded. "Yes!"
Yu Xingyang took a deep breath. "Excuse me, may I know Big Brother's name?"
The young man hesitated for a moment. Then, he quietly said, "His surname is Zheng. His name is Zheng Ming."
Although the name was ordinary, Yu Xingyang repeated it repeatedly. It was as if he wanted to remember it in his heart. The name of each generation's owner was worth remembering forever.
Zheng Ming!
Or proof?
Did Zheng Ming really prove something?
Or did he need someone else to prove something?
After a moment, he continued to ask, "What about you?
Little brother, may I know your name as well? "
The young man suddenly raised his head. An indescribable sharp light suddenly appeared in his eyes. At this moment, his whole body seemed to glow. He appeared calm, confident, and determined.
"My name is Ding Meng!"