pdf-ebookys Chapter 33 Tears Flow Before Words Can Be Spoken
Chapter 33 Tears Flow Before Words Can Be Spoken
Chapter 33 Tears Flow Before Words Can Be Spoken
"Little bug, you're pretty good at burrowing!" A sneer came almost right behind me.
boom!
A rock the size of a millstone was whipped up by a gust of wind, carrying immense force, and slammed into a tree trunk not far in front of Mu Mie! Splinters flew everywhere, and the massive tree, as thick as a person's embrace, shook violently, blocking his path. Mu Mie narrowly slipped past it, a cold sweat breaking out on his back, but he also completely abandoned any thought of escaping into the complex terrain.
He was forced towards the relatively open area of the waterfall.
Finally, the roar of water was almost upon them, and a vast expanse opened up before them—the deep pool. Behind them, their escape route was blocked.
Mu Mie leaned against the cold pool, turned around, his chest heaving violently, and held the green bamboo sword in front of him, its tip trembling slightly.
The monsoon strolled leisurely out of the woods, its massive body blocking all paths. It tilted its head, its bright yellow vertical pupils filled with mockery, as if enjoying the prey's final struggle. "Run, why aren't you running anymore?"
Mu Mie took a deep breath, trying to suppress the metallic taste in his throat. He knew there was no turning back.
The monsoon seemed to have grown tired of the game. With a low growl, it pounced again! This time, it didn't hesitate at all, aiming straight for Mu Mie's vitals!
On the brink of life and death, the illusory figure he had contemplated day after day by the waterfall flashed through Mu Mie's mind, along with the resolute and sharp swordplay. Fear receded like a tide, replaced by a strange coldness and focus.
He stopped retreating and learned the most basic starting stance of the figure in his memory. He poured all his meager magic power, strength, and even his will to survive into the bamboo sword in his hand. Then, he faced the rushing black shadow and slashed out with all his might!
The bamboo sword, unable to bear the weight, emitted a faint "crack" sound, while the cool, faint light attached to the blade shone brightly at that moment.
Ji Feng was taken aback at first, and its attack instinctively slowed down by a fraction. That posture, that faint light—but then, it saw Mu Mie's trembling hand, saw the ordinary bamboo sword, and rage and shame instantly overwhelmed the fleeting surprise.
"You've only learned a little bit of the form, do you really think you're the Lone Peak Sword?!" It roared fiercely, its claws, which had been striking with all its might, suddenly withdrew ninety percent of their power, switching from offense to defense. A surge of demonic energy swirled around its body, forming a thick protective barrier.
"clang!"
A dull thud. The bamboo sword struck the giant claw enveloped in demonic energy and shattered instantly! Broken bamboo fragments scattered everywhere. Only a shallow, almost invisible white mark remained on Ji Feng's claw, which was instantly healed by the demonic energy without even a trace of blood seeping out.
However, a tremendous force slammed into Mu Mie's body along the broken sword hilt!
"puff--!"
As if struck by a heavy hammer, Mu Mie was sent flying backward, tracing an arc in the air before crashing heavily into the icy pool, splashing up a large spray of water.
A sharp pain instantly overwhelmed his consciousness. His chest burned with pain, and three deep, bone-revealing gashes were gushing blood, quickly staining the surrounding pool water red. The icy water stung the wounds, bringing excruciating pain and an even deeper chill. He was so tired; his bones felt like they were falling apart. All he wanted was to sink down and close his eyes.
I can't sleep.
Mother will be sad — Uncle Zhou — He hasn't learned real swordsmanship yet — He hasn't seen the outside world —
A fierce will to survive pierced the dim darkness like a fine needle. Mu Mie struggled, using his last strength to stand up from the water; his soaked clothes clung to his body, incredibly heavy. He coughed up blood, his vision blurry as he scanned his surroundings, finally fixing his gaze on the giant rock—
The rusty sword stuck in the stone.
He had come here to cultivate many times. He saw this sword every day; it had long been part of the scenery. But he had never touched it, much less thought of drawing it. Although Uncle Zhou had never explicitly said so, he knew it was Uncle Zhou's sword. It was never right to touch someone else's things without permission.
But now, there's no other way. Faced with the monster that wants to kill him, all he can rely on is the swordsmanship he's dabbled in during this time, but the prerequisite is that he needs a real sword!
Monsoon, its footsteps splashing through the water, drew ever closer, its face bearing a cruel mockery, as if it were watching its prey's futile struggle before its death.
Until its gaze fell upon the boulder and the rusty sword.
Time seemed to stand still.
Ji Feng's playful expression froze instantly, then transformed into unbelievable terror. His pupils shrank to pinpoints, and his limbs began to tremble uncontrollably! This sword shape—even covered in rust, it would never mistake it! In an instant, the terrifying memories of countless lesser demons, greater demons, and even demon kings in the Southern Kingdom being dominated by this sword, along with the trembling he had felt countless times in his dreams awakened by that cold light, all rushed into his mind!
Seizing this fleeting opportunity, Mu Mie mustered his last strength and staggered towards the boulder!
"Damn it!!!" Ji Feng screamed as if he had lost his mind, trying to stop it, but his body was slowed down by extreme fear.
Mu Mie leaped up and grabbed the cold, rough hilt of the sword!
He had assumed the sword, deeply embedded in the stone and rusted over the years, would be too heavy to move. However, just as he gripped the hilt and pulled upwards with force, a clang rang out.
A soft ringing sound, not of metal, but more like the sigh of something dormant awakening.
The rusty sword was pulled out with incredible ease! As if it were nothing!
Mu Mie was stunned, holding the longsword that had suddenly become incredibly "obedient," and stood there dumbfounded.
Ji Feng was also stunned. It looked at the sword that had finally been freed from the boulder, and at the wooden figure holding it. After the immense fear came a deeper sense of bewilderment and a trace of absurd relief—the sword had been drawn? Just like that? There was no soaring sword energy, no intimidating sword intent.
Then, the roles reversed—at least in Monsoon's wildly imaginative mind.
"Damn it! Kid, what do you think you're doing!" Ji Feng's voice was shrill and distorted, his massive body involuntarily shrinking back. "No! Grandpa! Stop! Please!"
"It was my fault just now! I kowtow to you and apologize!"
I'm kneeling before you!
"Please, don't hold a grudge against me! Just let me go! I'll leave right now! I'll get as far away as possible and never set foot here again!"
It was incoherent, its legs were weak, and it almost collapsed to its knees. It dared not turn around to expose its back, and could only move backward, its limbs inch by inch, towards the edge of the pool—a comical yet pitiful sight. The enormous monster was driven back by a child, soaking wet, covered in wounds, and smaller than its claws, wielding a sword—a truly bizarre scene.
Mu Mie was dull-witted, not stupid. The fear of being on the verge of death, the excruciating pain in his chest, clearly told him of the monster's cruelty. To be merciful to the enemy was to be cruel to himself and the children who might suffer behind him.
He gripped the sword hilt tightly with both hands—the sword was heavy, a stark contrast to how light it felt when he drew it—and with all his remaining strength, he slashed at the pleading wolf demon!
Monsoon was terrified, instinctively raising his claws to block in front of his head. Demonic energy surged out to protect him, and his heart was ice-cold. He was just waiting for the legendary sword light that could cut through anything to tear him apart.
However----
After a while, only a mountain breeze carrying moisture blew by.
"What happened to me—" Ji Feng trembled as he moved his paw away, touching his body. He was unharmed. "I didn't suddenly split in two—I'm not dead?! I'm actually alive?!"
Still reeling from the shock, he heard a hesitant, even slightly embarrassed, voice from the other side: "You—do you still stand by what you just said? I'm ignoring you completely, get the hell out of here—" Mu Mie's sword-wielding hand drooped slightly, his expression complex. He had thought that with such a wondrous sword and the other party so terrified, it would surely unleash its full power, but he hadn't expected it to merely swing the heavy, rusty iron in vain.
silence.
The next moment, the fear on Ji Feng's wolf-like face quickly faded, replaced by an extreme sense of shame, anger, and ferocity!
"Fuck you!!!" It roared furiously, the humiliation of being mocked completely igniting its demonic nature, and the remaining fear transformed into an even more ferocious killing intent! With a claw carrying its full demonic power, it slammed down with hatred, determined to smash this pretentious brat and that damned rusty sword into mincemeat!
Without thinking twice, Mu Mie mustered his strength to raise his sword and parry.
"clang""
A deafening clang of metal clashing echoed through the deep pool! A force far more powerful and refined than before surged back from the rusted sword, not striking Mu Mie, but rather acting like an invisible shield, firmly protecting him. The immense force was skillfully deflected and redirected; Mu Mie only staggered back a few steps, not being knocked away!
At the same time, the thick rust that had accumulated on the sword over countless years began to peel off with a "whoosh" under the shock of this blow!
One piece, two pieces—the mottled rust pieces fell off, revealing the sword body beneath, dark as a deep, icy pool, with a startlingly sharp edge that appeared and disappeared in an instant.
Seeing this, the monsoon was even more shocked and enraged, and was about to pounce again—
The golden mark on Mu Mie's forehead, which Yang Yitan had opened for him, suddenly blazed brightly without warning! His Heavenly Eye was forcibly opened by an invisible force originating from the depths of the rusty sword!
"Buzz—"
It was not a sound, but a tremor that directly penetrated the soul.
The scene before my eyes blurred and shifted instantly.
He no longer stood by the deep pool, but atop a majestic yet dilapidated city wall! A fierce wind howled, fluttering his robes. No, it was another person's blue robe. Gazing at the horizon, he saw boundless, surging, inky black clouds that obscured the sun and moon, countless hideous demonic figures appearing and disappearing within them, their roars converging into a destructive wave.
"Zong Yi, Lin Yue, Yuan Dong! You go, I'll stay and defend this city!" A clear voice rang out beside him, tinged with laughter, yet carrying an undeniable resolve. It was Uncle Zhou's voice, younger, sharper, and more spirited than Mu Mie had ever known! It was as if, as long as he still held his sword, he could face a thousand armies, and even if the sky were to fall, he could hold it up with a single strike!
"You're really not afraid of death, and you still want to play the hero. Fine... we'll go with you this time!" Beside him, three other figures stood side by side, two men and one woman, their clothes fluttering, their bearing extraordinary. Although their eyes were solemn as they looked at the distant demon clouds, there was not a trace of fear in them.
"Hahaha, good! Today, let's fight them! Let's wreak havoc on them!"
Amidst the laughter, there was the clear, resonant cry of a longsword being drawn from its sheath!
"Clang!"
A dazzling sword light, seemingly exploding from the depths of his soul, filled Mu Mie's entire vision! That light, solitary, resolute, and unstoppable, contained the simplest yet most profound principles of swordsmanship—
The image is shattered.
When Mu Mie suddenly came to his senses, cold sweat soaked his back; it seemed like only a moment had passed. The monsoon was rushing towards him furiously, its sharp claws accompanied by a foul stench.
He had no idea when, but along with that figure, he had swung his sword.
"Strike!"
He even revealed the true name of the sword move.
The sword light first appeared, like clouds and mist suddenly parting, letting light through the mountain crevices, silently and without a sound.
There was no sharp sword energy to cleave the pool, no overwhelming force to slice through trees. That invisible "light" swept through the air...
It swept past falling leaves and rushing monsoon winds, as if it had never touched anything substantial.
However-
"Ah—! My eyes! My eyes!!!"
A mournful scream suddenly rang out! Its massive body came to an abrupt halt, its claws desperately covering its face as it scratched frantically! Its eyes were perfectly intact in their sockets, but at this moment, all that entered its "eyes" and "perception" was absolute, utterly devastating darkness!
In the instant the sword light flashed past, its "gaze" toward Mu Mie and the sword was "severed" at the root by something invisible yet incredibly sharp! Not only its naked-eye vision, but also its demonic aura perception, soul probing, and all other ways of "looking" ahead were completely stripped away!
It cannot sever flesh and blood, nor metal and stone, but it can sever "gaze" and "perception"!
That sword light wasn't sword energy. Mu Mie didn't possess that level of cultivation. It was merely a trace of sword intent hidden deep within the sword. Unwilling to remain dormant, it resonated with the Heavenly Eye through Mu Mie's hand, unleashing a divine strike!
"You brat! I'll kill you! I'll devour you alive!!!"
The monsoon, now plunged into utter darkness, went completely mad, its fear replaced by boundless rage. It roared, its demonic energy erupting uncontrollably, its claws wildly lashing and striking in the direction of Mu Mie from its memory, the demonic wind raging, the pool water churning!
With a single swing of his sword, Mu Mie seemed to have drained the last ounce of strength from his soul and body, and the strange resonance that had sustained him vanished instantly. A wave of intense exhaustion washed over him, his vision blurred, and his longsword clattered to the ground. He could no longer hold on, collapsing to one knee, supporting himself with his hand, gasping for breath. Each breath was tinged with the stench of blood and the burning pain in his lungs.
It’s over————
He watched as the frenzied giant wolf, following the sound and splashes of water, stumbled and then pounced swiftly in his direction, the shadow of death looming once more.
At this critical moment!
"call out--!"
A golden, intensely bright flame, like the first rays of the rising sun tearing through the gloom, shot out from the grass not far behind Mu Mie and struck Ji Feng with pinpoint accuracy!
The monsoon, engulfed in rage and dark terror, sensed the approaching heat. Though unseen, it instinctively swung its claws to strike, its demonic energy surging: "Child's play! Disperse!"
Who would have thought that when the golden flame collided with the demonic energy on its claws, it was not only not dispersed, but instead, like boiling oil being poured onto sparks, "Boom—!"
The fire raged instantly, rising against the demonic energy and engulfing most of Ji Feng's body in the blink of an eye!
"Ah—!!!" A scream a hundred times more agonizing than when it went blind echoed through the valley! The flames were not only scorching its skin and flesh, but also seemed to be directly roasting its demonic soul! A great terror originating from the depths of its bloodline, engraved with the memories of countless demons' deaths, instantly seized Ji Feng's mind.
"Pure Yang Flame!!! It's the Pure Yang Flame, the Divine Flame of Demon Extermination!!!"
Born in the southern lands and having experienced the recent border war, how could it be unfamiliar with this terrifying flame known as the "Demon-Slaying Divine Fire"? Terrified, its survival instinct overwhelmed everything. Forgetting all about seeking revenge against Mu Mie, it frantically channeled all its demonic power, forcibly gathering the golden flames clinging to its body to its left forelimb and left side of its chest in an almost self-destructive manner, before roaring—!!
It opened its blood-red maw, and demonic energy condensed into sharp blades, tearing fiercely at the part enveloped in flames!
"Sizzle—!"
The dull thud of flesh being torn apart was sickening. A burning wolf leg, along with large chunks of flesh, was ripped off by itself and flung away, blood gushing like a waterfall. Ji Feng was in so much pain that he almost fainted, but dared not linger for a moment. He frantically channeled his remaining thirty percent of demonic power into the severed limb to stop the bleeding, then turned without looking back, transforming into a crooked, blood-red demonic wind, smashing through the trees along the way, and fleeing desperately into the depths of the mountains, never daring to look back again.
The burning limb lay on the open ground by the pool, burning fiercely with leaping golden flames that emitted a pure yet intense aura. Strangely, despite its intense heat, the flames only burned the monster's limb; the surrounding withered grass and fallen leaves remained untouched, as if an invisible barrier was restraining the fire.
"Pure Yang Flame—" Mu Mie murmured, having heard this name more than once in the stories of wandering Taoist priests. It was with this very flame that the former master of Shenhuo Mountain Manor, Dongfang Guyue, shook the southern region and achieved the illustrious reputation of "Demon-Slaying Divine Flame." Today, he had actually witnessed it with his own eyes and was even saved by it.
He turned his head with difficulty, looking in the direction from which the flames were coming.
Not far behind him, the grass rustled slightly, and there stood the dirty, faceless child who had been silently eating his food these past few days, still carrying that tattered cloth bag. His small figure appeared somewhat solemn in the golden light of the flames.
"Who are you? Who are you?" Mu Mie's voice was hoarse.
A gentle breeze blew by, carrying the heat of the flames and the stench of blood.
Before the other party could respond, the intense exhaustion and injuries finally overwhelmed Mu Mie. His vision went black, his body went limp, and he collapsed backward to the ground.
He didn't know how much time had passed. Suddenly, Mu Mie felt a chill on his face, and a jolt brought him back to his senses.
The child had somehow gotten close and scooped up the icy water from the pool with both hands, then poured it on his face.
Seeing Mu Mie's eyelids flutter and he regain consciousness, she didn't speak or help him up. Instead, she turned and ran towards the burned remains of his limbs. She repeatedly scooped up water from the pool with both hands and splashed it onto the spot where the golden flames had burned. The remains had long since turned to ashes in the pure Yang Flame, leaving only a charred mark on the ground, emanating a faint demonic aura and a burnt smell.
She splashed the mud with great care and force, until the scorched earth was completely soaked, turning it into a muddy mess, where all traces were blended into the filth and indistinguishable. Only after she had done all this did she stop, standing a few steps away, quietly watching Mu Mie struggling to get up, her small chest rising and falling slightly.
When Mu Mie had finally mustered some strength, he stood up, leaning on his newly refurbished longsword, its gleam now subdued. He looked towards the stream and said, "I'm going to check on the village children. Do you want to come with me?"
The other person didn't speak, but silently took steps and followed behind him, keeping a few steps away.
Mu Mie returned to the stream where the attack had occurred and saw only a mess of debris and scattered small footprints heading towards the village. He found no children's bodies and felt somewhat relieved. They must have been terrified, but they had managed to escape.
He breathed a sigh of relief, turned around and said to the little tail behind him, "Let's go back."
After walking a few steps, he remembered something, stopped, and turned back. "Right, I have to go back today. After what happened, my mother definitely won't let me go up the mountain so easily anymore. After that—I probably won't be able to come here often." He paused, looking at the sword in his hand. "This sword—I drew it to save my life. Uncle Zhou—he should understand, right?"
Upon hearing the name "Uncle Zhou," the child, who had been silently following along, visibly paused, abruptly raising his head. On his dirty little face, his eyes, which had always held a wary and distant expression, suddenly emitted an extremely complex light—surprise, expectation, grievance, and a tremor of disbelief.
Mu Mie keenly sensed this dramatic shift in emotion, and a thought struck him. He suddenly remembered Uncle Zhou's drunken ramblings that night; he might know people from Shenhuoshan Manor, and this child possessed Pure Yang Flame—there might truly be a connection between them.
"It's Uncle Zhou, he lives in our village. But I don't know his full name, everyone in the village calls him the Hunter, and my mother doesn't speak to him." Mu Mie tried to make his voice sound calm and believable. "Do you want to see him? Come back with me. It's too dangerous for you to stay in the mountains alone."
Perhaps it was the word "danger" that triggered her, or perhaps her obsession with "Uncle Zhou" finally overwhelmed all her vigilance. The child neither nodded nor shook her head, but simply lowered her head again, clutching the tattered bundle in her arms even tighter, and followed along, this time getting a little closer to Mu Mie.
The sun was beginning to set in the west; it was just past noon.
On the way back to the village, Mu Mie, who was usually silent, became unusually talkative. Heaven knows how much this kid, who was usually so quiet, could talk. He rambled on about the trivialities of the village, how delicious Uncle Zhou's cooking was, how gentle his mother was despite not speaking, and about the ancient locust tree at the village entrance and the wandering Taoist priest—as if he wanted to use these mundane details to dispel the terror of life and death he had just experienced and to soothe the obviously tense "little wild man" beside him.
The child remained silent, simply following closely behind, occasionally reaching out to gently tug at the wet, blood-stained corner of the wooden strip of clothing, as if it were the only reliable piece of driftwood in the vast ocean.
And so, one after the other, the two of them, covered in grime, blood, and the scent of the pool, stepped into the peaceful village.
A ragged, filthy child, resembling a little beggar, suddenly appeared, immediately attracting the attention and whispers of the villagers. Curious, surprised, and wary gazes fell upon him from all directions.
The child was clearly extremely uncomfortable; his body stiffened instantly, and he moved closer to Mu Mie, gripping his clothes tightly until his knuckles turned white.
Mu Mie could only endure the pain in his chest while trying to straighten his back and explain to the villagers he encountered along the way: "This is my friend—someone I met in the mountains—it's alright, I'll take him back—"
Dodging stares all the way, I finally saw my familiar low-roofed courtyard. I also saw the scene in front of Uncle Zhou's wooden house across the street—
Uncle Zhou lay on the old bamboo chair, an empty wine jar beside him, his eyes closed, seemingly dozing in the gradually setting sun. The afterglow of the sunset gilded him with a lazy yet lonely golden edge, his empty left sleeve hanging casually by the side of the chair, gently lifted and then fallen by the mountain breeze that swept through the courtyard, swaying lifelessly like a faded flag that no longer flutters.
The tranquility of the courtyard was shattered when Mu Mie pushed open the creaking gate, startling the pecking chickens and ducks. A flurry of clucking and squawking broke the peace. Only then did the man on the chair seem to awaken from some deep dream or memory, his eyelashes fluttering as he slowly opened his eyes.
His gaze first swept across the courtyard habitually, then fixed on Mu Mie's disheveled and blood-stained figure, and on the familiar longsword in his hand—a sword that should never be here, yet now gleamed with a restrained, eerie light. Zhou Yi's brows furrowed sharply, as if a stone had been thrown into a calm ice surface, creating a sharp crack. He instinctively sat up straight.
Despite the dull pain in his chest, Mu Mie hurriedly shooed away the noisy chickens and ducks that surrounded him, made room behind him, and said with a mix of helplessness and expectation, "Uncle Zhou, it seems—someone is looking for you."
A child? Are you looking for him?
Apart from Mu Mie, he lived in seclusion here, like a withered tree. He believed that he had long since severed ties with the past and imprisoned himself with the people and events of the past. Why would any child come looking for him?
His own light shone over the wooden beams and onto his back.
The child was finally fully exposed to the glow of the setting sun and to Zhou Yi's gaze.
She stood at the gate, not going any further. She clutched tightly to the tattered cloth bag that contained all her belongings.
Its small body was wrapped in tattered clothes that were obviously ill-fitting, covered in mud and grass clippings, and whose original color was almost unrecognizable, like a wild grass that had been broken by a storm and was barely able to take root in a crack in the rocks.
Her small face, so dirty that her features were almost unrecognizable, was tilted slightly upwards. At first, she looked at Zhou Yi's face with an almost numb blankness, then slowly, bit by bit, she swept her gaze across him.
Then, as if drawn by an invisible thread, her gaze finally settled, fixedly on his empty left sleeve, which swayed gently in the wind, seemingly adrift.
Time seemed to stand still for a moment.
In the courtyard, chickens and ducks paced at his feet, the mountain breeze rustled through the treetops in the distance, and Mu Mie's tense breathing—all background sounds receded like the tide, becoming indistinct. In the center of the world, only the two people, one large and one small, one sitting and one standing, separated by a few steps, remained, silently confronting each other, inside and outside the fence.
"Are you named Zhou Yi?" a trembling voice asked.
The little girl, having confirmed that she had lost an arm, and specifically asking for his name, made it clear to Zhou Yi who she was.
"I...I am Zhou Yi."
Upon receiving the reply, she trembled. Her eyes instantly changed. It wasn't the look a child gives a strange adult. What kind of eyes were those? She was clearly lost, yet when found, she was angry at the adult for not finding her sooner.
How did it take you so long to find me?
Then, it was as if all the grievances along the way had accumulated at this moment. Bearing immense grievances and fears alone, and holding it in for a very long time, I finally met the only person who could still support me.
All the silence, vigilance, resilience, and forced composure along the way were shattered at this moment by that empty sleeve and that face that should have been unfamiliar yet was familiar.
Having endured countless hardships as a wanderer, chased around like a beggar, homeless with the sky as her blanket and the ground as her bed, eating grass roots when hungry and drinking rainwater when thirsty, becoming an adult overnight... Dongfang Qinlan stood there, face upturned, trying to stop the sound that was about to burst forth, biting her lower lip tightly, but tears welled up without warning, like a dam breaking. Large teardrops rolled down her dirty cheeks, leaving streaks of white. Her small shoulders began to tremble uncontrollably, her lips quivering, her emotions like a mountain collapsing and a sea bursting forth, pouring out without reservation in this quiet courtyard at sunset.
"Ugh—uh—"
"Waaaaaaahhhhhh!!! Ughh ...
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I overestimated myself. I should have updated 25,000 words today, including the bounty, but I only updated 21,000 words. I still owe 4,000 words.
I'll put it in the book and add it tomorrow.
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