Chapter 269 – Past and Present Fate (Part One) (1/2)
Chapter 269 - Past and Present Fate (Part One)
Zhuang Huanyu saw the Cloud-piercing Arrow and knew what it was, so he rushed over to the lake shore, where he saw the Demon race's long-plotted assassination.
Yet from beginning to end, he had never appeared, never taking action.
In the beginning, he was truly too late to assist. However, when Liang Xiaoxiao used his sword to heavily wound Zhexiu and then Qi Jian......he did not dare to take action.
However, at that time, he still had a little courage, because that most powerful demon general couple had left.
It was for this reason that Chen Changsheng was able to persist for so long, because he wanted to inspire some courage in him. Liang Xiaoxiao had not put his all into the battle because he was wary of him.
From a certain point of view, he had some use.
The problem was that he had never been able to gather enough courage to rush towards the lake shore, and when Chen Changsheng could hold on no longer, all his courage also vanished into the air in that instant.
He turned and left, and began to flee.
The act truly marked him as very lacking in manners.
”In the Mausoleum of Books, I managed to view up to the third monolith—I've already broken into the next realm!”
Zhuang Huanyu's right hand held the sword of the Heavenly Dao Academy, while his left hand held a magical artifact. Looking at Liang Xiaoxiao blocking his way, he said with his pale face, ”I'm also Ethereal Opening, I'm not afraid of you!”
He had also been one of the young geniuses on the Proclamation of Azure Sky. Although he was not ranked above Liang Xiaoxiao, in the eyes of the common folk, he was equally famous as the Divine State's Seven Laws.
However, the current him, with his head and face covered in dirt and his mind in chaos, did not have the slightest bearing of a young genius.
Liang Xiaoxiao said, ”You can strike.”
Even if the world really did have prodigal sons that came home and were worth more than gold, there was still no person that could turn around so quickly.
Even if there really were cases of showing bravery after regaining a sense of shame, there were very few cases in which a person would be able to clearly see their shame in such a short time, then regain their courage.
The sword in Zhuang Huanyu's hand trembled, just like his voice. He was almost about to drop the sword, so how was he going to stab with it?
”You know who my father is.” Forgetting himself, Zhuang Huanyu yelled, ”If you dare kill me, then your death is also assured!”
Saying these words, only then did he realize that the person in front of him had dared to defect to the demons, and even dared to kill the last disciple of Mount Li's Sect Master. So how could he scare him off?
As he thought of this, he was suddenly seized by an indescribable sense of anger.
Liang Xiaoxiao was expressionless. In his mind, he silently thought, then, does anybody know who my father is?
Zhuang Huanyu saw that his words had not brought about any sort of response, which made him even more uneasy. His voice shaking, he said, ”If you really want to force me, we'll go down together in the worst case.”
With these words, he did not lift up his sword, but instead raised the magical artifact in his left hand.
Liang Xiaoxiao's gaze rested on that magical artifact, and his expression suddenly shifted. He realized that this was one of the Heavenly Dao Academy's seven magical artifacts, the Jadestone.
He was quite astonished at this realization.
Since this person was actually carrying around such a powerful magical artifact, if he and Chen Changsheng really had worked together, then perhaps it would have brought about an unthinkable change.
”I didn't realize that Vice Principal Zhuang doted so heavily on his son. He actually flouted the regulations of the academy and secretly gave you such a precious treasure.”
He looked at Zhuang Huanyu and coldly said, ”If this matter were to come out, what would be the consequences for you?”
Zhuang Huanyu calmed down a bit and said, ”So what? Is it more wretched than death?”
Liang Xiaoxiao said, ”The clue on the Sword Pool—it seems that Vice Principal Zhuang found it. He didn't tell Mao Qiuyu, nor did he report it to the Li Palace. He only secretly told you. But what sort of crime is that? Most importantly, back there you didn't go help Chen Changsheng—what sort of crime is that? I think that even if you do leave the Garden of Zhou, I'm afraid your ending really might be more wretched than death.”
Zhuang Huanyu's face grew even paler. He simply had no idea how to respond. Liang Xiaoxiao turned back to the already completely calm surface of the lake, observing it in silence for a few moments, before suddenly saying, ”Chen Changsheng is already dead. Zhexiu and Qi Jian are also most definitely going to die. The only person left who knows about this matter is you.”
Zhuang Huanyu could faintly understand his meaning, and yet he did not believe it. Moreover......the price demanded was far beyond what he could stomach.
”You want me to be like you?” Two patches of red appeared on his face, perhaps due to anger, or some other reason, like shame.
Liang Xiaoxiao calmly gazed at him and said, ”Besides this, what other reason do I have to let you go?”
Zhuang Huanyu's breathing grew rough and heavy. The reason was still unknown: anger, shame, or nerves? After a long time, he asked in bewildered fashion, ”This… just why did you do this?”
This was a question directed at himself, and also at Liang Xiaoxiao. Qi Jian had asked it, Chen Changsheng had asked it, but Liang Xiaoxiao had never given an answer. This time was no exception. Liang Xiaoxiao looked at the last embers of the sunset on the calm surface of the lake and thought to himself, how could the world have so many whys?
The border of the Garden of Zhou consisted of an unbroken wall of uneven mountains. Then there were hills and three imposing mountain ranges that led towards the center district, that vast and boundless plain. Of these three mountain ranges, Sunset Valley was the longest and the tallest. Its cliffs were extremely steep and smooth like they had been cut by a knife. On this mountain ridge that was several thousand feet tall, there was only one extremely steep path.
That young lady dressed in white was walking along this high and steep mountain path. On both sides of her was the sky, so it seemed like she was walking in the air, her white clothes a slowly moving cloud.
If she were to continue walking forward, then there would eventually be a point where she arrived at Sunset Valley's most forward point. Over there, she would be able to see the sun setting over that plain, as well as the vast majority of the Garden of Zhou. But today, she would first encounter that zither-playing old man and that girl with the indifferent expression.
She did not know that the old man and young girl were waiting for her, so she continued her journey towards that setting sun.
The Black Dragon flew at an even higher altitude, so it could see both the girl walking on the mountain path as well as the girl that was waiting at the end of that path. Its way of doing things had somewhat departed from Chen Changsheng's initial plan, but it was too late to change it now. It decided that it had to find a way to warn that white-clothed young lady. Yet just as it had resolved to do so, the summit of Sunset Valley enveloped in the twilight suddenly resounded with the sound of a zither. This sound was exceptionally clear and extremely distant, but in an instant it had been transferred over many miles.
The white-clothed young lady halted her footsteps. She slightly inclined her head, as if she was listening closely. On her elegant yet not particularly beautiful cheeks appeared a hint of laughter. She was not on her guard, but rather seemed to be enjoying it.
The sound of the zither did not stop. The notes rushed out like water, connecting together into a tune. It was a very cheerful piece of music, as if it were welcoming guests from afar, and also like a hunter celebrating over the night's harvest.
If the hunter's harvest was extremely plentiful, the people would build a big bonfire in the field and suspend the food over the fire to roast until the oil flowed, allowing the fragrance to cause those fierce beasts in the night to salivate.
The Black Dragon subconsciously looked at that vast plain. She knew very well that concealed in those grasses that were about as high as a man were many fierce beasts. Then she saw that the edge of the plain was on fire. That was the last vestige of light and warmth from the setting sun, and it seemed just like a bonfire.