Chapter 156: The Abandoned Ruins Remain Beautiful

Drip, drip. It sounded just like raindrops falling into a lake, echoing so abruptly in the pitch darkness.

Baili Mo felt a slight chill on his forehead, which then began to spread throughout his entire body. A biting cold seeped into his bones, and he suddenly snapped his eyes open.

Before him stood a figure, an utterly pitch-black silhouette radiating dark mist. It extended its left hand, pressing a finger against the center of Baili Mo's brow. Enshrouded in dense black vapor, the figure dripped continuous droplets of black water onto Baili Mo.

"Oh, you're awake? This must be our fourth time meeting, right?" The shadow laughed hoarsely, its voice raspy and lacking in vigor, as if nursing some severe, unhealed wounds.

"Who... are you?" Baili Mo felt as though he had been trapped in an exceedingly long dream. In it, he had dreamed of his own death, yet also of coming back to life. He dreamed of himself as a bloody executioner, wantonly stripping others of their lives, and then of being consumed by another version of himself.

"Another question like this? Well, I suppose I can finally give you a real answer now." The shadow withdrew the hand from his forehead, stepped back a few paces, and spoke.

Baili Mo looked at his own outstretched hands, then felt his face, as if confirming something.

"Stop touching yourself. You're fine, you didn't turn into some mangled, fleshy monster," the shadow said, as though reading his thoughts.

"Are you... me?" Baili Mo asked uncertainly.

"Yes and no. It depends on how you define it."

"But a few hours ago, when you lost yourself, I was you, and you were me." The shadow turned around, placed its hands behind its back, and continued, "You and I are inseparable."

"What do you mean?" Baili Mo remained puzzled.

"Ah, speaking of which, that master of yours is truly impressive. Whether it's that Xia Chuan or that Jinxuanzi, either of them could have become a true master of men in my era."

"What a pity, truly a pity. Their achievements should have extended far beyond this. Ultimately, this minor world is still heading toward its end, and my old friend's plan has failed after all, remaining unfulfilled to this day."

"Who knows what he's scheming now, and my successor... I wonder which number he is."

The shadow stopped answering Baili Mo's questions, lost in nostalgia as it began to murmur to itself.

"Who the hell are you! What on earth are you trying to do! What did you do to my master! What did you do to Lianhua!" Baili Mo shook his dizzy head and shouted.

"What did I do? Aren't you the one who knows best? Just think back carefully, and you'll remember," the shadow said indifferently.

"Remember... remember what..." Baili Mo muttered, before suddenly clutching his head and letting out a harrowing, agonizing roar.

"What did you do to me! What did you do to them?!" Baili Mo shook his head incessantly, screaming.

"Baili Mo, everything that happened was in accordance with your own will. I merely helped you do what you wanted to do," the shadow said, devoid of any emotion.

"Baili Mo, I must go now. This isn't the time for me to emerge completely; the time has not yet come, and you haven't truly faced yourself yet."

"Also, Baili Mo, remember two things."

"First, those who have fallen into the abyss should stop fantasizing about ever walking back into the light. That is unrealistic."

"Second, you have asked me who I am three times. Now, remember my name: I am Moyuan."

"Never forget it. I will return. When you see me next time, be prepared."

"Our next meeting will be the moment of your utter despair. Your life will take a different path at that very instant, leaving not a single shred of reluctance behind."

The shadow gradually dissolved into nothingness. Baili Mo felt an overwhelming wave of exhaustion. He remembered everything. He was terrified—terrified that the executioner in his memories was none other than himself, terrified of facing Lu Lianhua looking like a ghost of a man, and even more terrified of whether his master was still alive.

Slowly closing his eyes, there was nothing in the darkness save for Baili Mo's steady breathing and a few wisps of lingering dark vapor.

"Brother Mo! Brother Mo! Wake up, please wake up!" A soft, gentle voice sounded by Baili Mo's ear.

Dazzling light beat down upon Baili Mo's eyelids, but the glare was instantly blocked. An elegant face, streaked with tears like pear blossoms in the rain, appeared before him. Upon seeing Baili Mo open his eyes, Lu Lianhua wanted to say something in her excitement, but a sudden wave of worry washed over her.

"Lianhua," Baili Mo whispered.

"It's you, Brother Mo, it really is you!" Lu Lianhua cried and smiled at the same time; the person she longed for had finally returned.

Lu Lianhua slowly helped him up. Baili Mo felt excruciating pain all over his body, as if he had been torn apart everywhere. Yet, strangely, there wasn't a single wound on him; both his abdomen and back were smooth and flawless, save for the tattered remains of a black Daoist robe wrapped around his lower body.

He raised his head and looked around.

As far as the eye could see, it was a landscape of ruins.

To call it mere ruins would be overestimating the place. A gigantic, immense crater had formed here. Where towering mountains had once flanked either side, everything was now flattened as far as the eye could see, leaving behind a scene of absolute devastation.

"Lianhua, where is my Master? Where is Master?" Remembering the explosion from his memories, Baili Mo asked in a hurried panic.

"Daoist Jinxuanzi, he..." Lu Lianhua hesitated, not knowing how to begin.

"Mo'er," an extremely weak voice sounded from behind Lu Lianhua.

"Mas... ter! Master!" Baili Mo struggled to get up, only to collapse immediately. He brushed away Lu Lianhua's hand as she tried to support him, and crawled forward inch by inch.

He saw the master he had been calling for, and the next instant, he broke down completely.

Baili Mo wept, crying uncontrollably. Before him, Jinxuanzi rested quietly against a boulder, covered in blood. His chest rose and fell faintly, his right hand clutching the broken hilt of a horsetail whisk. His garments were shredded beyond recognition, and his cultivation realm fluctuated wildly, hovering precariously between the Golden Core and Nascent Soul stages. He had lost his peak Nascent Soul, half-step Deity Transformation cultivation, and he had also lost his left arm.

"Master, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it's my fault, I shouldn't have attacked you..." Baili Mo cried. No matter what he had been like moments before, in Jinxuanzi's eyes, he was still the same disciple he had always known—that had never changed.

"Cough, cough. What are you crying for? Your master isn't going to die just yet. Don't worry, losing a left arm is no big deal," Jinxuanzi gently raised his right arm and tapped Baili Mo's head with the hilt of the whisk.

"If... if only I had woken up a little earlier, Master, you wouldn't have..."

"I said, this isn't your fault. This is the price your master had to pay." Jinxuanzi gazed quietly at Baili Mo, his eyes filled not only with affection but also with reluctance to part.

"Mo'er," Jinxuanzi called softly.

"This disciple is here," Baili Mo replied through his sobs.

"Go. Go as far away as you can."

"Go? Master, are you casting this disciple away?!" Baili Mo asked in shock, his voice panicked.

"Silly child, it is your master's fault. It is my fault I could not protect you for a lifetime." Jinxuanzi shook his head, his eyelids drooping slightly.

"Such a massive incident has occurred here; the Great Xia will certainly not let you off, and I can no longer protect you. Therefore, you and this child must leave the Southern Prefecture."

"The world is vast, and there will always be a place in this world that is warm—a place that will be your sanctuary."

Jinxuanzi discarded the hilt of the whisk, and his warm right hand gently stroked Baili Mo's head. This was his disciple, a man who dared to take responsibility for his actions.

"Master, this disciple is unfilial and can no longer stay by your side." Baili Mo knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly once more. He understood his current predicament, and he understood the profound meaning behind Jinxuanzi's words.

"Silly child, do you truly love that child?"

"Yes, unto death," Baili Mo raised his head and said with certainty.

"Heh, heheh, Hahaha! Good! Mo'er, help your master up." Jinxuanzi suddenly burst into hearty laughter.

"Okay." Baili Mo scrambled to his feet and carefully supported Jinxuanzi by his right arm, helping him stand.

"Child, come here." Jinxuanzi waved gently at Lu Lianhua, beckoning her over.

"Daoist," Lu Lianhua hurried over with a small jog.

"It's time to change how you address me, child," Jinxuanzi looked at her with immense fondness, just as a father would look at his daughter-in-law.

"Father." Lu Lianhua paused slightly, but then, thinking of something, she smiled sweetly at Jinxuanzi.

"Ha, hahaha! Good, good." Clearly not expecting Lu Lianhua to reply like that—having merely intended for her to call him Master—Jinxuanzi laughed so hard that tears streamed down his face.

Baili Mo gently took Lu Lianhua's hand, exchanged a glance with her, and together they knelt down side by side.

As the darkness finally receded, the setting sun blazed forth like golden rays, bringing warmth to the heart. Their silhouettes stretched long and slanted, and two hearts drew closer to one another.

The cold wind ceased, the accumulated snow melted away, the dust settled, and the vast white expanse vanished, leaving only the brilliant sunset.

The desolate ruins remained beautiful nonetheless.

"Master, this disciple was abandoned since childhood and knows nothing of my past. All I know is that ever since I was very small, Master has been by my side, raising me to this day."

"It is this disciple's unfilial nature that has brought about such a massive disaster, leaving me unable to stay by your side any longer. With this parting, I fear it may be a very long time before we meet again. From now on, since I cannot be near, please take good care of yourself, Master."

Kneeling, Baili Mo looked up at the heavily injured Jinxuanzi, his eyes filled with reluctance, like a newly fledged bird forced to leave its father's protection to face the world alone.

"Your master is not so fragile that he needs a wet-behind-the-ears punk to take care of him. Having the lass from home is quite enough."

"From now on, it will just be the two of you. You must support each other through everything."

"You need to keep a close eye on this silly boy, Lianhua. This blockhead only knows how to act on impulse, rushing in blindly every single day without any real ability."

"Even when he's dead tired, he puts on a tough front; even when he's gritting his teeth in pain, he still forces a cheeky grin."

"This boy has no idea how to read between the lines—blundering around foolishly, goodness knows who he might have offended along the way."

"He..."

Beneath the setting sun, the one-armed Jinxuanzi gazed at Baili Mo before him, chattering endlessly to Lu Lianhua as if he could never see enough of him, as if he could never give enough warnings. Having no children of his own, he had poured more than a decade of his life entirely into this boy.

Even the longest lingering attachment must eventually reach its punctuation mark. Whether a comma or a period, this moment had finally come to an end.