Vol 2 Book 2 Chapter 14 (2/2)

“Look at me!” Zeng Qian ripped her own collar open, revealing hideous dark crust that seemed little better than the skin from a mummified corpse.

‘So that’s why she’s wearing a suit in the summer…’ Li Yiming pitied her a little.

“My face used to be the same as yours. The same beautiful, graceful traits, the same charming features. Do you know how long it’s been since I looked at myself in a mirror? Do you know how disgusted and scared I feel when I take a bath? Do you know how I feel when I look at you? Every single time I do your makeup, I try to imagine that it’s my face I’m working on, I’m embellis.h.i.+ng myself… and I see you walk toward the crowd. I can only stand and watch, hidden behind a mask as you beguile the entire world. Have you noticed the tears hidden behind the smile on my chubby mask? Have you ever taken a look at me properly, at your own sister?” Zeng Qian sobbed. “And you want me to give up? How can I ever give up?”

‘Sister?’ Li Yiming’s eyes widened at the revelation. He suddenly remembered something he read on the internet a long time ago. ‘I remember that it said Fang Shui’er had a twin sister. She was called Fang Qian’er. They debuted at the same time, but Fang Qian’er was like a shooting star, vanis.h.i.+ng from public eyes after a very short while. Fang Qian’er… Zeng Qian… Zeng… “used to be”?… used to be alluring…?’

“Only the Fruit of Nirvana can cleanse the poison in her body… and restore her appearance. We have no choice.” Xiao Hei removed his jacket and gently wrapped it around Zeng Qian’s body. He then took out his handkerchief and carefully wiped away Zeng Qian’s tears.

“So you killed everyone here? And you made the Dragondogs go on a rampage on the entire prefecture?” Fang Shui’er took a deep breath and slowly collected herself.

Li Yiming’s tightened his grip on his weapon. ‘So the Dragondogs, it’s also them?’

“The phoenix is the totem of this village, it’s the only way,” answered Xiao Hei in a frustrated voice.

“We’ve been chosen by Heaven’s Law to guard the balance of this world, and you…” Fang Shui’er looked at her companions with growing reproach. “For your own desires, you…”

“This is a domain, it’s all fake,” Zeng Qian retorted.

“Even if it’s fake, it’s human life,” Fang Shui’er suddenly raised her tone, and her answer brought a revelation to Li Yiming. ‘It’s still human life.’

“They were alive, you witnessed it with your own eyes! Just this morning, she boiled a bowl of eggs for you!” Fang Shui’er pointed at a corpse on the stairs nearby. It was Lei widow. She was staring blankly at the sky with a large wound on her chest. “How can you do something like that?” Fang Shui’er pointed at another corpse, that of a child in a pool of blood. “He was only two years old, and you gave him candy today…” She teared up.

“We’re guardians, and we’re supposed to protect this world!” Two drops of tears dribbled down her cheeks and landed on her shaking arm.

“Beauty is the life of a woman, and I was blessed with it… I won’t give up, even if I forsake Heaven’s Laws.” Zeng Qian answered, and the ferociousness in her eyes worked a chilling expression on her ruined visage.

“What about you?” Fang Shui’er dodged her sister’s eyes and looked at Xiao Hei.

“I love her.” A simple answer.

“What about you?” Fang Shui’er shut her eyelids for a moment and, when she opened them, she threw a deep look at the two bodyguard brothers.

“Shui’er…” Zhi Wen called her name, but could not say anything more.

“We grew up together. We can’t bear seeing Qianqian like this,” Zhi Wu gathered his courage and answered.

“Alright,” Fang Shui’er took a deep breath; it seemed like she had made a difficult decision, “Then today…”

“Today you shall die here…” An airy voice interrupted her. Li Yiming lifted his head promptly and saw a woman floating in the air, a seducing figure with beautiful traits. She cast down a hollow look lit up by a ghostly red flame dancing within her irises.

‘Liu Meng?’

* * *

A carpet of blood, decorated from time to time by a broken limb, covered the ruined pavement of Yunjing Bridge. The Dragondog corpses had been put together to form a small, putrid pile of flesh. Bai Ze, bathed in blood, leaned against a broken pillar with a weak breath. Her wrist was twisted to an abnormal angle and her left hand hung down limp from the forearm. Blood slowly seeped through the right hand placed on her left abdomen. Her swords were nowhere to be seen, and, a wound deep enough to reach the bone cut through her right thigh.

“How troublesome…” Bai Ze laughed scornfully with her head lowered. She then looked at the figure standing in front of her.

The Dragondog towered over her with his tall, imposing figure, his eyes gazing at the moon. However, his right hand had been cut off, and he had a gaping hole, about the size of a soccer ball, right in the middle of his chest. Bai Ze looked at the night sky through it, at the crescent moon which hung quietly from the tip of the mountains in the distance.

She tried to stand up by supporting herself with her right hand, only to stumble and fall completely flat down. Bai Ze sat back down in frustration and looked at Ning Village. ‘This is the best I can do, the rest is up to you…’

Conclusion of Book 2 soon, coming next week!