Chapter 377 (1/2)

Chapter 377: Trying to Escape from the Cliff Cave for the First

In the twilight, the entry of the cave looked like a monster's opening mouth.

That was what Ning Que felt like when he looked at the cave. He knew it was cliche, but he couldn't find a more suitable word.

The cave was wide open as if it was ready to eat up all the things that entered it, including sun rays, seasons, time and all the feelings connected with time.

Ning Que felt very cold when he started thinking about walking into the cave and not knowing when he would get out. It might take a couple of months, years, or even decades. Maybe in another ten years, he wouldn't see the girls in Chang'an or eat hot and sour noodle slice soup anymore. Maybe when he was out, the girls in the House of Red Sleeves would become really old, Xiaocao would have got married and Dewdrop would have gone back to her hometown.

Actually it was possible that he would be prisoned at the back of the mountain for the whole life, rather than for only ten years. But he didn't want to think about that possibility when standing in front of the cave.

The negative feelings were all gone after seeing the image of the city at dusk. He was a student of the Second floor of the Academy, a core disciple of the Headmaster of the Academy. And he trusted this mountain and people here. But he had been living a miserable life since his childhood, therefore when thinking of entrusting his life and freedom to other people completely, his nature was to oppose this idea and even to run away.

He looked back at the master, who was still sitting on the cliff, eating and drinking. ”Master, why on earth do you want to lock me up? Is it because I joined the Devil? Or something else?”

He was going to ask the master, whether it was because the G.o.d of Light thought he was the Son of Yama, so the master wanted to imprison him and isolate him from the world. But he didn't say it because he believed he had nothing to do with the illusory Yama, and it was not worth it to mention the groundless legend that caused many people's deaths many years ago.

The master said, without turning around to look at him, ”What does 'lock up' mean?”

Ning Que thought for a while and replied, ”It means to take my freedom away.”

The master said, ”Freedom is very precious. Even life becomes nothing in comparison with it. The only thing that could be more precious than it is freedom itself.”

Ning Que still could not understand his words.

The master put the chopsticks back to the meal box, picked up a piece of ginger and put it into his mouth.

After a while, he stood up and looked at Ning Que who was at the mouth of the cave. He said, ”Since only freedom itself is more precious than freedom, then there was only one reason to take it away from you. I hope you can gain better and larger freedom. It was very easy.”

Ning Que felt that he learned more things. He said hopelessly, ”Master, why didn't you tell me this easy thing in an easy way?”

After these words, he turned to the cliff cave and sank into silence. After a long time, he drew a deep breath and walked into the cave.

The last rays of sunlight shone on Chang'an city and the isolate cliff. The golden red color made everything looked like flames and the cave was like an entry in the fire, leading to an unknown place.

It was quiet in the cave. And without any wind, the air in the cave was cool and dry.

Based on his experience of hunting and killing, Ning Que immediately closed his eyes and opened them again to adjust to the dark environment.

Standing in the cave, Ning Que found it wasn't as dark as looking from the outside of the cave. Under the light from outside, he could even see the patterns on the stone walls clearly.

Ning Que was startled.

Did he just walk in like that?

It was so easy.

He turned around and saw Sangsang leaning on a stone at the entrance of the cave and looking at him with concern. And the master on the edge of the cliff his meal box, ready to leave.

He was so near to the mouth of the cave, so near that he could even see the southern city wall beyond the clouds in the distance. But once entering the cliff cave, it was so different. Overwhelmed by the strong loneliness in his heart, Ning Que felt like the outside world had abandoned him.

”Master.”

Looking at the master, who was about to leave, Ning Que asked in a s.h.i.+vering voice, ”Is it possible that I will never make it?”

”It seems that you get along quite well with them, as many people begged for you. If you really need to stay here forever, I believe they will come here to accompany you. Don't worry, you won't be lonely.”

After finis.h.i.+ng his words, the

the master walked down the mountain with the meal box in his hand. His loose black gown was like a bird's wing burning in the red twilight.

Ning Que smiled bitterly. If he really had to stay here forever, would friends.h.i.+p even matter?

Even the best children could not accompany their ill parents for a long time. How could he expect his friends to accompany him for a lifelong time at this cave? He thought that if he was in the cave forever, the world would eventually forget him.

But one person would definitely stay with him at all times.

Ning Que looked at Sangsang. He felt that she was so far away from him, even though she was right at the entrance of the cave. He said, ”If I can't come out after three months, you will go back.”

Sangsang wanted to say something.

Ning Que shook his head, ”Don't force me to behave like a girl.”