Chapter 128: Never Stop!
Chapter 128: Never Stop!
Run, run wildly, run with sorrow!
Walk, walk violently, walk with tears!
In the endless Dense Forest, Tang Jinbiao endured the pain on his body and the agony in his heart, running wildly. He did not know where his goal was, but his current objective was to flee this place; he did not want to stay there for a moment longer and to survive.
He did not understand why Captain Wang had suddenly attacked him upon leaving.
Because it was far too sudden, too sudden that it left him bewildered.
Clearly, it was he who had extended a hand to save Captain Wang’s life; clearly, it was he who had sincerely treated him; clearly, it was he who had acted disregarding his own safety; clearly…
He did not understand why he had seen that world.
Clearly, he had already been reborn in a world capable of cultivation; clearly, he had lived there for over a year (four years?); clearly, he had left many memories there; clearly…
He did not understand why he could see those so-called souls; he did not understand what seeing those things signified for him.
He further did not grasp what the meaning of seeing those things was to him.
He did not comprehend why Tang Bi had given him such a Protective Amulet? If it was a Protective Amulet, why did it evoke a feeling like a devil?
He further did not understand, was Tang Bi, who gave him the Protective Amulet, truly that seemingly naïve friend who appeared more foolish than he?
He did not comprehend the many things Huang Biaozi had told him in the past; he did not wish to believe what Huang Biaozi had said. Could it be true what Huang Biaozi had stated: “If one day you uncover the truth of this world, if you feel cornered without any way out, then welcome back…”
There were too many things he failed to comprehend!
…
“Ah!”
Tang Jinbiao’s clothes had been soaked by the rain; the rain mixed with blood, painting his entire body crimson. Under the bright moonlight, it appeared somewhat strange.
Although he had run out of that area, Tang Jinbiao’s body was still wet. It seemed at that instant, only running wildly could calm him down; only running wildly made him feel better.
Gulu gulu!
The wound on his waist and abdomen leaked blood continuously; his chest was also bleeding; even the spot on his face where the Lion had struck him seemed to seep blood now.
Wind, the wind rose!
There was no wind at that moment, but Tang Jinbiao felt a piercingly cold breeze rushing against him, as if to freeze his entire body. He accelerated his pace even more swiftly, yet such rapid running did not bring warmth; instead, the more he sprinted, the weaker his body grew, his vision blurred, his whole body chilled, his footsteps turned heavy, and he felt he might collapse at any time.
But even so, Tang Jinbiao still did not halt, heading north, running and running urgently.
…
One hour later!
The Divine Wind Continent had mostly plains and hills; this Suzhou region, apart from the Hundred Thousand Mountains, was nearly entirely flatland forests.
Cutting through thick thickets of Dense Forest, crossing one small hill after another, Tang Jinbiao simply kept running and running.
His bloodstains had dried in the wind, forming blotches of black and red. His complexion had shifted from rosy to pale; his lips had turned blackish-purple; his pupils were beginning to grow unfocused.
Yet in that unfocused state, he did not fall. Instead, he pushed forward unrelentingly, with an air of unwavering determination in his eyes.
As for his wounds, possibly because he was a Body Refiner, they not only did not worsen but showed signs of healing; additionally, a faint red glow emitted slightly from the injured areas.
Though the wounds were healing, he had lost too much blood and was at the brink of death. If he did not get aid soon, it would not be long before he collapsed from blood loss and perished.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Despite this, Tang Jinbiao still refused to stop. Wind at his heels, even the deep forest couldn’t hinder his footsteps or hold back his yearning to advance.
Or rather, it wasn’t that he consciously chose to keep fleeing; a deep instinct screamed at him: Run. Don’t stop. Just keep running like this. You will run straight into the future you desire!
All he needed to do was run and run and run!
…
Two hours later.
Tang Jinbiao had already dashed a full three hundred li. His pace had slowed, each step a heavy, laborious effort.
His face was deathly pale, weak, utterly devoid of blood—like a zombie clawing its way out of mass graves.
This was his absolute limit. Even at his peak, he couldn’t have covered such distance in two hours, yet driven by desperation, he’d done it.
Step by agonizing step, Tang Jinbiao forced himself forward. But he failed to notice that the wounds that had once torn his body were now completely sealed, new flesh grown smooth, not a scar left behind.
Screech!
Chirp chirp chirp!
His relentless flight startled countless birds and beasts asleep in the forest, sending them scattering in panic.
“Agh!”
Suddenly, Tang Jinbiao’s foot slipped into a hidden pit. He pitched forward, face planting hard into the dirt.
After the impact, his body convulsed a few times before falling still, unconscious.
Whooooosh…
Rustle rustle rustle…
As Tang Jinbiao lay unconscious, a gentle breeze stirred in the forest, lifting the clothes on his back and flapping them noisily; it also brushed through the leaves, whispering softly.
For no clear reason, an aching sadness began to emanate from Tang Jinbiao, spreading slowly outward to blanket the entire forest.
Screech!
Chirp chirp!
After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the frightened birds and animals, now reassured, gradually returned to their perches and dens.
Screech!
But just as they settled back in, ready to rest, a sudden, piercing, crystalline cry rang out… emanating from Tang Jinbiao’s very body.
…
In a world of profound, boundless darkness. Here, no light existed. No wind. No air. No towering mountains or vast rivers. Not even the warmth of sun or the touch of rain.
It seemed as though nothing inhabited this place, yet something undeniably persisted there.
Perhaps it was an illusion, but one could faintly perceive one human and one dragon figure drifting through this absolute blackness.
Clop clop!
Abruptly, the rider atop the dragon shuddered as if discovering something. They instantly snapped their head up, gazing intently into the empty, featureless void above.
“Great Immortal Huang? What’s the matter?”
The dragon beneath the person seemed to sense something. With a stirring of its soul, it communicated directly with that person.
Logically, in such a world where nothing existed, not even sound could travel, making communication between the two impossible. Yet, it still managed.
“That kid is in trouble! And it could be life-threatening!”
The person opened their mouth, lips moving slightly. Though no sound emerged, the dragon heard nonetheless.
This person and dragon were Huang Biaozi and the Azure Dragon.
Back then, Huang Biaozi had claimed he wanted to search for something inside the black bead. Little did anyone expect it would take him three long years.
Within that black bead existed a world – the Netherworld!
Long, long ago, this Netherworld was one of the Three Thousand Great Realms. However, it was later destroyed during a war of god-slaying. Tang Jinbiao had obtained it by chance, but it held no use for him.
In the beginning, Huang Biaozi had searched only outside these black holes. No one knew exactly what he was seeking, he simply kept searching.
Later, Huang Biaozi seemed unable to find the answers he sought and entered the Black Hole to continue his search. Yet, it appeared he still hadn’t found what he was looking for.
“Great Immortal Huang, what exactly is that kid’s relation to you? Why would you, esteemed elder, be so attentive towards him? And why insist so adamantly on passing on your mantle to him?”
The Azure Dragon sent a puzzled mental message to Huang Biaozi.
“Hmm?”
After the Azure Dragon’s question, Huang Biaozi was momentarily taken aback, as if he had discovered the crux of the issue. His brows furrowed deeply in contemplation. “That’s right… I, Huang Biaozi, having roamed freely through the Three Thousand Great Realms my entire life, what sort of genius haven’t I seen? Why must it be that kid, specifically?”
Ding!
Just as Huang Biaozi was pondering this, suddenly, within this pitch-black world, a point of light appeared. An infinitesimally faint glimmer emerged amidst the endless darkness.
Yet, no matter how faint that light was, in such utter blackness, how utterly brilliant it seemed!
It was like sparkling dewdrops on leaves after rain, illuminated by sunlight. It was like the everlasting stars in a night so dark one couldn’t see their hand. It was like an oasis in the midst of a boundless desert.
“What?”
Huang Biaozi instantly noticed the source of that light. Surprise and delight flashed in his eyes. Without even acknowledging the Azure Dragon, his figure blurred with eerie swiftness, vanishing without a trace. He almost forgot about Tang Jinbiao’s plight in that single moment.
“Ahem!”
After an unknown length of time, the Azure Dragon sighed mentally. “Never mind. The world of great immortals is something we can never truly comprehend!”
…
Divine Wind Continent, outskirts of the Hundred Thousand Mountains in central Suzhou. Under cover of night, four young men, around eighteen or nineteen years old, lay hidden with extreme caution, their eyes fixed intently on a nearby cave.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Though there was no wind, a succession of thunderous snoring sounds came from the cave, accompanied by waves of a foul, fishy stench.
Thwack!
One of them threw a bamboo tube billowing dense smoke towards the cave entrance, then immediately hid again.
“Brother Hu, do we really have to go to the Northern Domain? The distance from here to the Northern Domain is unknown, and the depths of the Hundred Thousand Mountains are crawling with Demon Beasts. I fear we might perish before arriving.”
A rather sturdy, handsome-looking young man spoke to another beside him who was roughly the same height, equally burly, with skin somewhat dark in complexion.
“Ridiculous! Surviving death is fortunate indeed, but as members of the Tang Family, how can we not seek vengeance? If we want revenge, our only path is to head to the Northern Domain, join the Wu Family there, and learn more advanced Body Refining Techniques. Only then, if we become key members of the Wu Family, might we have even the slimmest chance of revenge in the future!”
The youth with the darker skin replied with palpable dissatisfaction.
“But, Brother Hu, if we just want to learn, couldn’t we go to the Divine Wind Academy? Why must it be the Wu Family?”
The one who spoke first seemed puzzled.
“Hmph! Go to the Divine Wind Academy? That’d be courting death! The fall of the Tang Family may seem like the work of the Corpse Dao Sect, but I’m sure the Divine Wind Academy is backing them from the shadows. Besides, Brother Biao and the others may well have met their doom by now. If we go to the Divine Wind Academy, it’d be simply seeking death!”
The dark-skinned youth’s eyes burned with hatred as he spoke.
ROAR!
Just at that moment, the beast within the cave seemed to awaken. It let out a furious bellow and charged to the entrance. Emerging was a giant bear, nearly ten feet tall, standing upright on its hind legs. Huge, vicious eyes glowed with hostility, scanning for whoever had disturbed its slumber.
ROAR!
The giant bear’s gaze swept the area and instantly spotted the hidden youths. With another deafening roar, it lunged forward with a crashing sound, its enormous body hurtling towards their hiding place…