Chapter 1145: Chapter 189: Reliance
Clouds and mist, immortal waterfalls, flying cranes, spiritual beasts… Amidst the peaks, a river flows, between its banks, the cliffs are adorned with fallen blossoms.
Xuanyuan Palace.
Beneath the palace lies the settlement where the Gongsun Clan resides, and within the mountain caves, one by one the demons that have been tamed also dwell.
Giant birds and beasts glide across the water, azure waves ripple, children play by the river in carefree delight… Until the tranquility is shattered by the sound of a horn.
The women hurriedly gathered their children to return home, while the men of the tribe rushed to the mountain palace, and simultaneously, the Kun Sect Demon Race residing in the cave also took to the clouds.
On the square outside the Xuanyuan Palace, warriors of the Gongsun Clan formed ranks, and though the demons were unable to align perfectly, they tried to stand in scattered formation.
They, all trying to stay quiet, because standing at the palace gate was the sovereign here, bearing the name of Xuanyuan, a descendant of the mon Lord of the world… Xuanyuan Tiexin.
“Greetings, Palace Master!”
“Greetings, Palace Master!”
Even though outside the Human Race already has many emperors, they still willingly acknowledge that he is the true monarch. Yet… Xuanyuan no longer claims the title of Emperor.
“Do you know why I have urgently summoned you all?” Xuanyuan Tiexin’s voice reached every ear… He is the most powerful person in the world today.
Down below, whispers arise, this horn, named the ‘Sky-shocking Horn,’ is only sounded when there’s a major event within the palace or a need for the Xuanyuan Palace to march to war.
“Replying to Palace Master, we… do not know.”
“I, the Palace Master, am going to punish someone today.” Xuanyuan Tiexin coldly surveyed all the people and demons below, “The person I will punish is my daughter, Xuanyuan Xiruo! And… myself!”
“What? Punish the Princess? This… What is the matter?” People below stood out.
“Gui Qianyi!” Xuanyuan Tiexin waved his sleeve.
Instantly, an old man with grayish-black hair amongst the demon crowd walked out with a solemn expression. He opened the remaining part of his robe and kneeled.
“I ask you, in the expedition against the Scarlet Moons, what should be the punishment for any Xuanyuan Palace disciple who flees from the battlefield?” Xuanyuan Tiexin asked gravely.
“Reporting to Palace Master, such a crime… deserves death.” Gui Qianyi bowed his head, his voice somewhat faint.
It was unknown why Xuanyuan Tiexin suddenly mentioned this matter… but many seemed to glimpse the matter—several months ago, Xuanyuan Palace mounted a large-scale expedition against an invasion by the Scarlet Moons, and the battle was exceptionally fierce, Xuanyuan Palace suffered significant losses, its vitality greatly damaged.
During this brutal fight, some young war generals and demons within the clan secretly fled… Afterward, the Scarlet Moons were vanquished, and these deserters were captured back.
Timing wise, this batch of deserters is about due for execution.
“I’ll ask again, what is the punishment for secretly releasing prisoners within the palace?”
“Such a crime… such a crime…”
“Speak!”
“Such a crime… merits removal of power, thunder punishment, and if the circumstance is severe, simultaneous flogging during thunder punishment…”
“Very well!” Xuanyuan Tiexin nodded, then stepped forward, pacing down the stairs, “Xuanyuan Xiruo secretly released fifty-seven deserters and thirty-nine monsters, now sentenced to ninety-nine strikes of thunder, and ninety-nine strokes by the dragon whip… Proceed with the punishment!”
“Palace Master, reconsider, you must not, you must not!!”
“Proceed with the punishment! Golden Armored Generals obey, execute the punishment! Those who disobey will have their cultivation revoked and be expelled from Xuanyuan Palace!”
“Palace Master, reconsider, reconsider! Princess Xiruo is yet young, she cannot endure such punishment…”
“Bring her out! No one may plead for mercy!”
Within the palace, several Golden Armored Generals dragged out a dejected young girl, merely twelve or thirteen, and slowly escorted her to the execution platform, binding her to a dragon pillar.
“Proceed with the punishment!”
Instantly, a flash of lightning, a colossal thunderbolt struck down, releasing divine thunder from a secret treasure within Xuanyuan Palace… The massive thunderbolt struck the girl, and a wretched scream spread across the square.
Simultaneously, a whip-wielding person slowly stepped onto the execution platform, the whip in his hand crafted from the long sinew of overseas dragons, directly flogging the Divine Soul, penetrating to the heart.
“Princess… Forgive me.”
The long whip lashed against the girl’s back, instantly tearing her delicate skin… She lost consciousness after the thunderstrike, but the dragon whip brought her back to painful awareness.
Thunder strikes, whip lashes, thunder strikes, whip lashes, screams echoed across the square… whether Gongsun Clan or Kun Sect Demon Race, all turned their faces away.
Xuanyuan Tiexin’s will cannot be altered… Princess Xiruo, mischievous yet lovable and kind-hearted, adored by all, but under Xuanyuan Tiexin’s authority, humans and demons alike could only ache in their hearts.
The thunder roared constantly, screams relentless, time grew increasingly unbearable… The girl bound to the dragon pillar was by now tortured beyond recognition.
Finally… the girl persisted no longer, regardless of thunderstrikes or whip lashes, she no longer responded.
“Enough! Ninety-nine, enough! Palace Master, it’s enough!” Down below, all the people, all demons knelt, tears flowing, “Palace Master, stop now!”
Finally, the ninety-ninth thunder strike pleted, the ninety-ninth dragon whip also finished… The whip-wielder collapsed directly upon the execution platform.
Xuanyuan Tiexin merely snorted coldly, “Now strip away Xuanyuan Xiruo’s Xuanyuan name, exile her to Sorrow Eagle Ravine for ten years!”
With this, Xuanyuan Tiexin waved his sleeve, departing into the desolate Xuanyuan Palace grand hall.
…
Sorrow Eagle Ravine is where Xuanyuan Palace confines serious criminals and exceedingly evil demons. Here, all cultivation and demonic power is unusable, and one must wear shackles and handcuffs, enduring daily torture of Ice River immersion.
Xiruo, after being removed from the execution platform, took nearly a year to heal her external injuries, and began to endure the Ice River immersion.
Cold as deep as bone, deprived of Xuanyuan Royal Family power, indistinguishable from ordinary people… The girl was dragged from the Ice River nearly dead every day.
She resided in a mountain cave with only a stone bed.
“Princess, Princess, here’s medicine soup brewed from Blood Ginseng, drink it, it can drive out the cold.”
Just waking up, Xiruo shivered slightly… yet again unconscious from cold in the Ice River, dragged back to the cave by the guards.
Looking at the steaming hot medicine, an impulse to gulp it down nearly robbed her of reason, “Gui Qianyi, my father said that for ten years no one is allowed to visit me, much less treat me with kindness in any way. This year, haven’t the guards outside been replaced one after another, aren’t there few punished?”
“Old servant, at this age, Palace Master would punish, but truly strip me of my sinew and peel my skin?” Gui Qianyi sat down, advising earnestly, “Princess, your temper is truly like your father’s. These ten years of immersion in Ice River, even if you’re of royal blood, you won’t endure. Listen to the old servant, drink the medicine.”
Xiruo shook her head, lying down directly, turning away, “If you truly want to help me, then leave, let me rest and regain strength.”
Gui Qianyi sighed, watching the gradually cooling medicine, he sighed repeatedly, “Princess, do you regret releasing those criminals?”
“What’s there to regret, I’ve released them… it’s not like I didn’t know the consequences.” Xiruo’s voice was low, “They weren’t suited for the battlefield age… What does Xuanyuan Palace matter, who decreed that Xuanyuan Palace descendants must endure this destiny’s suffering? If he doesn’t free them… I will!”
“Princess, truly each time your father executes a person, his heart bleeds. Do you really believe he bears to watch so many young faces, burdened by destiny, perish under Scarlet Moons?” Gui Qianyi sighed, “But it’s an iron rule, your father… he also is helpless. He can’t break the palace rules.”
“I know.” Xiruo murmured, “I know, he sheds tears most at the grave of those criminals, whenever he is alone. Father… father cannot err, so… let me err for him.”
“You father and daughter…”
…
…
啪——!
I can’t remember how many times it is already, it seems I’ve bee numb… I don’t know why I recall that distant event.
In the mirror, everything seems unchanged.
——You can’t do anything.
This sentence echoes in my ears, in my mind, in my heart, like a spell engraved into my bones.
“The power of the True Dragon can make you invincible in this world. You can change the structure of the world but not the human heart. You want to change the hearts of people, but even if you step out of the Seal Dragon Stone, millions still die, this country is still in chaos… you can’t do anything.”
The beating didn’t stop, Long Xiruo went from being lost to being frightened, corpse mountains and seas of blood flitted past her eyes like glancing lights and shadows.
“They are not wrong, they fight to survive. They are not wrong either, they too are just trying to survive. And you, inheriting the True Dragon’s power, also inherit the Dragon’s destiny. The times are changing, humans and demons rise and fall, and you can only stand on the prosperous side, trying in vain to balance both sides… the demons revere you, humans awe you, yet you can do nothing. You dare not favor the humans, nor can you care for the demons. Invincible as you are, still, you can do nothing.”
“Stop it…”
“You are weaker than anyone, you are more cowardly than them, you rule by doing nothing, watching indifferently at the self-development of Dao Monsters and Humans, not because you are high above, but because you can do nothing… because you will be wrong no matter what you do, humans will point at you, demons will resent you. You are afraid, so you dare not do anything.”
“Shut up!!!”
“No one pities you because they think it is your duty. Because you possess invincible power, because you are the guardian of China… how can the guardian not be strong? The guardian cannot lose, cannot make mistakes; you need to be wise, insightful about world affairs, you cannot be detached yet you can only remain above so that you can meet everyone’s expectations… however, you can do nothing.”
“Bastard!! Bastard!! Bastard!! I’ll kill you!!!”
“You can’t really kill anyone because you are almost sacred in their eyes. Every word you say, every action you take, is scrutinized by countless voices discussing you, whether clever, self-righteous, conceited, pretentious, or just babbling for the sake of it, whether gentleman or villain, there are countless opinions and standards for you. You can’t argue, because you are the True Dragon, so you… can do nothing.”
“What do you want from me!! What do you want from me!!!”
She didn’t know when she could move, seemingly unaware… She suddenly propped herself up, grabbing Luo Qiu’s collar with both hands, “Do you think I want this! Do you think I want this!! Do you think I want this!! Do you think I want this!! Every step I take is wrong, every word I say is wrong, even breathing is a sin, I shouldn’t exist, right!!”
“Then what do you want.” Luo Qiu gently asked.
“I also want to do nothing, for no troublesome things to e to me! True Dragon of China? Screw it!! I want to stay at home all day watching TV! I want to be an internet troll, blabbering without responsibility!! I want to find a man!! I want to just be an ordinary person living in drunken dreams!!! Don’t you think I want that! Don’t you think I want that!! Don’t you think I want that!!!”
She punched Luo Qiu’s chest with all her strength over and over, “I want all these… I want them all!! Why do you appear in front of me!! Why do you hit me!! Why, why, why!!!”
In her angry voice, there was a low rasp like a string vibrating, as she clutched Luo Qiu’s clothes, lowering her head, her punches weakening from firm to feeble on his chest, “Why… hit me…”
“Would you be willing to exchange the power of the True Dragon for everything you desire.” Luo Qiu quietly asked.
Long Xiruo suddenly stopped, opening her eyes, watching her tears fall, and then blending into his clothes, she slowly lifted her head.
“Would you.”
She slowly opened her mouth, as if something was trying to burst out from her throat… This question was like that bowl of Blood Ginseng medicinal decoction placed in front of her many years ago.
“Would you.”
The voice didn’t reach her ears, it conveyed to a place in her heart, reminding her of those many youthful years, soaking on the Ice River.
“I…” Long Xiruo’s lips slightly moved.
At this moment, her eyes met Luo Qiu’s… This man, possessing a power stronger than the True Dragon’s inheritance, a man who could change the world with a mere whim, overturn all living beings.
Inparably strong, like another version of her… no matter the situation, having the capability to solve everything.
Perfect.
Flawless.
“Would you.”
She suddenly shivered, the words rushing to her lips vanished without a trace—she abruptly grabbed Luo Qiu’s palm and bit down hard.
While biting, she stared fixedly into his eyes. Yet Luo Qiu had already withdrawn all the power protecting himself, allowing her to bite into his palm and draw blood.
“I can only hold for ten seconds at most.” Luo Qiu murmured: “You must let go within ten seconds, Ms. Long, otherwise, I might be worried that you’ll get hurt.”
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four…
They continued to gaze at each other, Long Xiruo could see a flicker of pain between his brows… He endured it, yet his eyes remained gentle.
She knew he had always been very gentle.
Three.
Two.
One.
Release.
…
“Restore me… back to normal.” Long Xiruo crawled off Luo Qiu, looking at the man who increasingly made her anxious, “You promised before, don’t think you can deny it.”
“Of course.” Luo Qiu smiled slightly.
At this moment, the injury showing bone on his palm slowly healed, the blood streaming out also gradually flowed back, even the blood staining Long Xiruo’s lips separating and returning.
The palm returned once again to its pristine whiteness.
Upon him, there was an invisible layer of something seemingly unbreakable… At this moment, she felt it acutely—felt also that power ing from the earth, boundless.
The clothes did not tear due to the body’s changes, instead, as the body recovered, the clothes slowly adjusted in size.
When she returned to her original self, she was unscathed.
“Ms. Long’s condition seems much better.” Luo Qiu stood up from the chair, “Then, I won’t disturb you any further.”
Luo Qiu smiled as he walked past Long Xiruo.
“Wait a minute.”
“Is there anything else.”
Long Xiruo bit her teeth, turned around, “Did that brat Su Zijun send you?”
Luo Qiu chuckled without answering, just pointed at the cake on the table, “Don’t waste it, it was hard to make.”
Watching Luo Qiu walk out the door, about to disappear down the corridor, Long Xiruo stomped her foot, shouting angrily, “Bastard!!! Don’t think this makes everything even!!! For doing such things to me, you think a bite makes it all go away!! I won’t let you off!! Cheating bastard, scoundrel, asshole, jerk!!”
She didn’t know if he took those words to heart, just watched him leave pletely… then gently touched her own lips.
User Comments
0 comments from readers