Chapter 82 (2/2)

“Is there really no other way?” Feng Luodi's face was ashen, her frame shaking as she tried to stop herself from falling to the ground. Situ held in his urge to go to her. If I let her have her way this time, she will continue to put herself in danger just to get to the other Guqins.

Cheng s.h.i.+fei dared not look at Feng Luodi in the eye. Her expression was filled with such desolation and despair as if the might die any moment. This isn't the composed and witty woman that I'd known! What's with her obsession with these zithers? In his opinion, the Guqin had to be destroyed. And, just to make certain of it, they will destroy the entire room with it as well. If Situ can't bear to tell her the truth, I'll do it for him. I just hope that this wouldn't cause a rift between the two of them.

Everyone in the room looked at Feng Luodi, waiting for her to nod her head. Whatever her decision was, they knew that their General will abide by it. Situ stared hard at Feng Luodi, his fists clenching and unclenching repeatedly.

She broke out into sharp laughter. The sound was shrill and harsh, sending a chill down the spines of the soldiers and Guards. “We should destroy it, shouldn't we? It isn't up to me, is it?”

Situ took a step towards her. She doesn't look good at all.

She suddenly remembered something, and hollered out into the empty s.p.a.ce before her. “Phantom! Come on out! I know you can solve the problem here! I know you can!”

Is she alright? The soldiers exchanged quizzical looks. Situ couldn't take it anymore, and placed both hands on her shoulders, forcing her to look at him. “Who is Phantom? There isn't anyone else here!”

Feng Luodi looked at him, but murmured to herself. “Why are you not here when I need you, Phantom? What do I have to do to see you again? Do I have to faint?”

Situ looked at Feng Luodi who seemed to have retreated into her own world. He frowned. “Quattor, take care of her.”

“Yes, General.” Quattor walked over and guided Feng Luodi to a corner of the room. “Miss Feng, rest here for a while instead.”  Feng Luodi followed his lead, her eyes empty and devoid of life.

Meanwhile, Cheng s.h.i.+fei were already instructing the soldiers, deploying the explosives such that they might take down the entire room together. Situ approached him. “s.h.i.+fei, I have a question to ask you.”

“Oh?” Cheng s.h.i.+fei turned to look at him, and shot a glance at Feng Luodi in a corner of the room. “Is it regarding Miss Feng?”

Situ nodded, and the two exchanged words. The soldiers continued laying down the explosives as instructed by Cheng s.h.i.+fei, and the Covert Guards set off to secure a safe pa.s.sage out of the maze. Feng Luodi stared at the ground, her head seemingly frozen, unable to come up with any coherent thoughts at the moment. She did not know how long it took for the soldiers to finish their preparation, but Cheng s.h.i.+fei approached her when they were ready.

“Miss Feng, we have to return.”

Feng Luodi got to her feet and shuffled along, following the group as they retreated out of the maze. As she walked, she felt her brain slowly unfreezing, and thoughts began to form in her mind. Now that Remembrance is out of the question, it wouldn't amount to anything even if I can find the remaining 6 Guqin – the quest still stands uncompleted. I will not be able to return to the 21st Century, and I will never be able to see my parents again. I will have to live out the rest of my life as Feng Luodi in this world.

But I will not accept that! I am from the 21st Century, and there is no way the past one year in this world can have more importance than the 24 years that I've spent in my world! Fear fills me up whenever I think about spending the rest of my life in this world – I just can't do it! I need to speak with Phantom again. Maybe we can change the rules of the mission, such that I can still return to my world. Surely, there must be a way!

Why can't my soul leave the body right now? Why can't I speak with Phantom now? Suddenly, she remembered something Phantom had said to her. “The rules set down by the G.o.d of Death cannot be reversed, and even if they were, the final result will change as well. It is something that I cannot control.”

Why am I thinking of that right now? Am I doomed to never to return to my own world?

Do I have to stay in this ancient world?

NEVER!

I will rather return to my own world and die, than to spend the rest of my life here. At least my parents wouldn't have to spend the rest of their lives waiting on a daughter that will never be able to return to them.

As soon as the group exited, a huge explosion sounded in the depths of the maze, and a shockwave washed through the area, sending tremors into the earth. Feng Luodi was jerked out of her thoughts as she came to her senses, and she immediately noticed something amiss.

“Where is Situ?” Feng Luodi looked at Cheng s.h.i.+fei.

He looked at her, a mixture of emotions in his eyes. “General had stayed behind for the Guqin. He is the most skilled amongst all of us, and has the highest chance of making it out alive.”

What?! Feng Luodi was dumbfounded as she stared at the entrance to the maze. Because of the use of explosives shaking up the area, large amounts of sand were already swarming into the maze. Even on the surface, one could feel the collapse of the maze beneath the sands.

Cheng s.h.i.+fei continued. “Our original intention for exploring the maze was to send a clear signal to the neighbouring countries, and to help solve the mystery for our civilians. But now, just because of a simple Guqin, Situ's fate becomes unknown. If something were to happen to him, the entire world would be thrown into chaos.”

How did this happen? Feng Luodi did not hear what Cheng s.h.i.+fei had said, staring at the entrance to the maze dazedly.