938 Dare Not Return (1/2)
A method like this was more than what a normal person could comprehend, or at least, it far exceeded what those four had ever encountered — how could they not be terrified?
Dong Qitian's chilling voice finally reached them. ”The four of you — come over here!”
Nobody dared to disobey that single command that was filled with such a monstrous aura.
The four individuals turned as white as a sheet. They knew that they had encountered an unprecedentedly strong character in this expedition of theirs, and if they did not handle this properly, they might just meet a horrible end.
With such conflicted thoughts, the four of them approached with caution, careful not to incur deadly wrath upon themselves.
”Pray tell, what would this elder like us to do? We are from Cangwu Union...”
”I didn't ask you lot who you were.” Dong Qitian replied flatly. ”I would just like to ask you this — does this area still belong to the domain controlled by the Sacred Heart Palace?”
”Yes.”
”What year is it?” Dong Qitian asked.
” To reply to your question, elder, the year is the three-hundred-and-ninety-eighth century of the Bound of Universe's calendar cycle; year nine-hundred-and-three.” The four of them offered a reply, stammering nervously.
Where did this fellow come from? His strength was high as heck, yet he didn't know what year it was…
Did he just fall out of the sky?
”The Bound of Universe's three-hundred-and-ninety-eighth century… year nine-hundred-and-three…” Dong Qitian mumbled, his body spasming and twitching from time to time. He closed his eyes, opening them only after a long while, cloudy as if they had been shrouded by a flash of smoky haze.
Yun Yang could clearly feel that whatever flashed across Dong Qitian's eyes was the acknowledgment of the massive changes that had occurred within this period of time.
”Understood. Off you go.”
As if they had narrowly escaped their doom, the four men fled swiftly.
They could not help but wonder, did this fellow call us over just to ask us what year it was?
They didn't quite understand what had just happened.
Is this the birth of some age-old creature?
Dong Qitian slowly closed his eyes. For a long time, he did not move, looking just like a statue.
Yun Yang didn't utter a single word to urge him on. He simply stood by his side.
”When I was imprisoned in there… it was the three-hundred-and-ninety-fourth century, year seven-hundred-and-forty.” Dong Qitian had his eyes closed. His voice was calm, a little distant. ”Currently, it's already the three-hundred-and-ninety-eighth century, year nine-hundred-and-three.”
Yun Yang's thoughts came to a halt. He couldn't make out the meaning and intent behind Dong Qitian's words. However, he was stunned by Dong Qitian's next words.
”One century is a thousand years…” Dong Qitian chuckled. ”I can't believe that I've already spent four thousand, one hundred and sixty-three days in the belly of that mountain! How amusing… Truly amusing!”
Suddenly, he raised his head towards the skies and let out a long stream of cackles, yet in the midst of it, there was a flurry of conflicting emotions. That laugh sounded no different from a cry of anguish.
Yun Yang seemed to finally register what was happening and continued to accompany him in silence. Finally, after he was done laughing, and when his voice had lowered and became calmer, Yun Yang began to ask, ”Could there possibly be something or someone so unforgiving in the mortal realm back then?”
Dong Qitian shook his head and replied ruefully, ”Who in this mortal realm doesn't have something or somebody they simply can't let go of?”
Yun Yang was left speechless. He did not know how to continue.
Dong Qitian continued. ”From the time I entered and exited this place, four-thousand-and-one-hundred years have passed. Even if I have certain grievances towards something or somebody and although I might be able to withstand such a long period of time… can they?”