Mu Zhe didn't hear clearly and took half a step forward: "Master?"
Shen Gurong looked up at him slightly.
That face, eight or nine parts similar to his master's, though a reincarnation, was a completely different person.
Back then, it took Shen Gurong a long time to finally accept this fact.
Accepting that his master would never return.
Accepting that his master was born and reincarnated with the spirit of the Record of the Capital.
Shen Gurong had always despised the Record of the Capital. The Record of the Capital could reveal the future but kept it a secret from others, causing countless people to kill each other for that so-called "destined fate."
A laughable and almost useless artifact, no wonder it was sealed in the secluded Huitang City, never seeing the light of day for thousands of years.
And the existence of the Record of the Capital also firmly bound the chosen one to this world, preventing him from forming any karmic ties with anyone, otherwise he would be punished by heaven.
Shen Gurong loathed the Record of the Capital, and by extension, the reincarnation of its spirit—Yu Xinghe.
Before his death, the Master had told him that a hundred years later, he would be reborn alongside the spirit of the Record of the Capital.
Initially, after finding Mu Zhe, Shen Gurong couldn't determine which spirit of the Record of the Capital had accompanied him. It wasn't until the young Yu Xinghe was mistakenly brought to Liren Peak that the Record of the Capital in Shen Gurong's sleeve frantically tried to fly towards Yu Xinghe.
At that moment, Shen Gurong knew.
The spirit of the Record of the Capital was Yu Xinghe.
Shen Gurong's first thought was to shatter that so-called spirit of the Record of the Capital in his hand.
The Master's reincarnation had already been born. If he destroyed the Record of the Capital and returned the spirit of the Record of the Capital, Yu Xinghe, then Mu Zhe would no longer be bound by the shackles of being the "chosen one" and could live freely in the world.
In the past century, Shen Gurong had killed countless people, but he had never laid a hand on a child.
In the Records of the Capital, little Yu Xinghe came to him, holding a Fire Spirit Stone, his words full of flattery.
Meeting those clear eyes, filled with longing and adoration, the spiritual energy Shen Gurong had condensed in his hand instantly dissipated. He stared at his fingertips in horror, his heart pounding in his ears.
"Am I insane?"
"Am I really so insane as to harm an innocent child?"
Shen Gurong nearly fled, but finally managed to force a smile and stiffly replied, "No need, take it back."
The Fire Spirit Stone seemed to reflect his ridiculous and despicable face.
He dared not accept it.
From that moment on, Shen Gurong never again entertained the thought of killing Yu Xinghe, but he also stopped paying him any attention, letting him fend for himself.
This is why Shen Gurong brought this upon himself, meeting a tragic end in the Record of the Capital.
For him, Yu Xinghe was the worst opportunity that led to his demise.
Fortunately, due to the Heavenly Tribulation, he was able to treat the two children as a sixteen-year-old boy. At that time, he was merely a boy who, because of his younger sister, extended his affection to all the young children.
After leaving the Record of the Capital, even without his memories, he did not repeat his mistakes.
Shen Gurong fell into deep thought, waves of emotion surging through his consciousness. Mu Zhe, relying on the Daoist Companion Pact, sensed for a long time before realizing that his master was grieving, and… longing for a deceased friend.
Mu Zhe nearly dented the hilt of the Jiu Xi Sword, his eyes burning as he met Shen Gurong's gaze.
He heard his own low, hoarse voice: "Master, who are you thinking of?"
You're looking at me again, and who are you thinking of?
Shen Gurong snapped out of his reverie, tilting his head to look at him, puzzled. "I was thinking of you."
What had sounded like sweet words to Mu Zhe now felt like a needle piercing his heart. He clutched his chest, wanting to laugh but unable to.
"Is that so?" Mu Zhe asked. "I'm right here, Master, are you still thinking of me?"
Shen Gurong, not understanding why he was so agitated again, chose a more pleasant-sounding phrase, saying with practiced ease, "It's precisely because you're by my side that I think of you every single moment."
Mu Zhe: "..."
Mu Zhe pursed his lips, quite pleased with the words, but still feeling uncomfortable. He whispered, "What are you thinking about me for?"
Shen Gurong choked, not expecting him to be so persistent. He tilted his head, thought for a moment, then leaned close to Mu Zhe's ear and whispered, "Do you know I possess a divine artifact?"
Mu Zhe nodded.
Shen Gurong's words were shocking: "The reincarnation of the divine artifact's spirit is Xinghe."
Mu Zhe: "..."
Mu Zhe: "???"
Mu Zhe was completely bewildered, never expecting Shen Gurong to tell him this so abruptly.
Wasn't this... a secret that should be kept hidden in one's heart?
Why was he told this so easily?
Mu Zhe struggled to think for a long time before stammering, "Xinghe... Master, are you lying to me?"
With Yu Xinghe's foolish appearance, people would believe he was a reincarnation of an idiot, how could he possibly be the reincarnation of a divine artifact's spirit?
Mu Zhe would rather believe Shen Gurong was lying to him.
Shen Gurong was completely innocent: "He is, I'm not lying to you."
Mu Zhe didn't believe it. If Yu Xinghe was the reincarnation of a divine artifact, then he was the artifact's father.
As Shen Gurong was trying to explain, his spiritual power sensed a demonic aura approaching the city wall.
He had no choice but to abandon his explanation, telling Mu Zhe to go away and go fight the demonic cultivator.
However, when Shen Gurong turned around, he saw someone unexpected.
Shen Xiwu, dressed in a warm yellow robe, tiptoed towards the city wall.
Shen Gurong was stunned for a moment before immediately tearing open the protective barrier on the city wall, letting Shen Xiwu step onto it.
"Xiwu!" Shen Gurong almost staggered as he approached, his eyes reddening. He said urgently, "Weren't you at Liren Peak? What are you doing here?"
Just as he approached Xiwu, he felt a strong demonic aura rush towards him.
Shen Gurong stared at her in astonishment.
Shen Xiwu was now covered in demonic energy, a hissing spirit snake coiled around her wrist, staring expressionlessly at Shen Gurong.
She was born with a ghostly aura and should have cultivated the path of the demon, yet now her entire body radiated an undeniable demonic aura.
It seemed she was on the verge of demonic possession!
Shen Gurong quickly realized that Li Genglan was behind it all, intending to use Shen Xiwu to blackmail him.
He gritted his teeth, his jaw clenched tightly, his previous composed demeanor completely gone.
As for Xiwu…
If the one coming to kill him was Xiwu, he simply couldn't bring himself to do it.
Shen Xiwu had already conjured a jet-black longsword and was walking towards him step by step. Just as Shen Gurong was about to speak, Mu Zhe rushed forward, grabbing Shen Gurong's wrist and saying in a deep voice, "Master, she has fallen into demonic possession! Do not approach!"
Shen Gurong stared blankly at Xiwu, who was approaching him with murderous intent, his lips trembling in disbelief.
Shen Xiwu's eyes had transformed into eerie and ferocious demonic pupils, churning with a murderous intent that threatened to destroy everything.
Just then, Xue Manzhuang, fully recovered, flew up from the ground with a shriek and landed beside Shen Gurong, beaming, "Holy Lord, I can spare Li Genglan's life, but I can kill this enemy for you."
Shen Gurong: "..."
Shen Gurong, who had been in a state of frenzy, strangely calmed down upon hearing this.
He stared coldly at Xue Manzhuang, his gaze as if he were looking at a roasted bird.
Xue Manzhuang, unaware of what was happening, was still basking in his own delight.
Shen Gurong expressionlessly raised his hand, about to swat the bird away, when a powerful demonic aura rushed towards him. Before he could react, he felt the demonic aura graze his shoulder and strike Xue Manzhuang directly.
Poor Xue Manzhuang, whose injuries had just healed, was caught off guard again and knocked off the city wall by a burst of spiritual energy.
"Chirp."
Now, he might not be able to get up for at least half a day.
Shen Gurong: "..."
Shen Gurong blankly turned his gaze from the city wall below to the opposite side.
Shen Xiwu slowly withdrew her hand, parted her pale lips slightly, and murmured, "So annoying."
Shen Gurong: "..."
Even if his sister was possessed by a demon, she was still different from others.
Shen Xiwu withdrew her gaze and stared directly at Shen Gurong... and Mu Zhe beside him.
Mu Zhe: "?"
The next instant, a surge of demonic energy rushed towards Mu Zhe, grazing Shen Gurong's shoulder again and forcing Mu Zhe back half a step.
Shen Gurong: "..."
Mu Zhe hadn't used his full strength because Shen Gurong valued Shen Xiwu, but now, forced back in front of Shen Gurong, his face was extremely ugly, like a male bird that had failed to mate; if he had feathers, he would have already exploded.
Mu Zhe was about to return with a grim face when he heard Shen Gurong transmit his voice: "Don't come any closer."
Mu Zhe paused.
Shen Xiwu sent everyone around Shen Gurong flying before strode lightly to his side and buried her face in his chest.
"Brother," Shen Xiwu called out in a clear, sweet voice.
Shen Gurong was startled. This was a form of address he had never heard before in a hundred years; now it sounded like heavenly music.
He lowered his head, gently stroking Shen Xiwu's head, and murmured, "Call me again."
Shen Xiwu's eyes still churned with demonic energy and killing intent, but that killing intent was not directed at Shen Gurong.
Her eyes curved into crescents, like those of an innocent little girl. Towards Shen Gurong, she revealed only intense dependence and a possessiveness hidden deep within her pupils. She happily exclaimed, "Brother, brother!"
Shen Gurong stared at her blankly for a long time, then suddenly tightened his arms around her, pulling her into his embrace. His voice was hoarse as he whispered, "Yes, Xiwu, I am your brother."
Xiwu, calling him brother, seemed to be quietly lighting a lamp for Shen Gurong in this world where his loved ones were long gone, slowly illuminating the desolate world.
Shen Xiwu hugged her brother's slender waist, smiling, "If brother won't come to my side, then Xiwu will come to brother's side."
Shen Gurong almost burst into tears at these words. A hundred years ago, his last words to Shen Xiwu were: "Xiwu, don't be afraid, brother will be by your side soon."
And Xiwu, reborn as a human, still remembered those words.
Shen Gurong murmured, "Brother was wrong."
Shen Xiwu said, "Brother was right."
She smiled like a true child, her eyes curving with joy: "Xiwu loves brother the most."
She took her brother's hand, looked at Mu Zhe behind her, a glint of ruthlessness flashing in her gentle eyes. She whispered, "Only Xiwu can stay by brother's side; everyone else must die."
Shen Gurong was still immersed in the joy of his sister remembering him, and didn't quite hear her. He tilted his head and asked softly, "What did Xiwu say?"
Shen Xiwu's eyes curved into a smile. "Nothing," she said, "Xiwu is just so happy to see brother."
Shen Gurong forced back his tears, raising his hand to stroke Shen Xiwu's small face, unsure whether to laugh or cry. He could only repeat the promise he had kept in his dreams for a hundred years.
"This time, brother won't leave Xiwu alone again."
Shen Xiwu's eyes widened slightly.
Her deepest desire was for Shen Gurong to come to her side as quickly as in her dream, to take her away from that desolate dreamscape.
When this desire was magnified countless times by Li Genglan, it slowly twisted into "Only she can be by her brother's side; no one else is worthy to stand shoulder to shoulder with Shen Gurong."
Anyone who gets in her way deserves to die.
Like the little red bird, and like Mu Zhe, who seemed entangled with her brother by countless red threads.
Only she can stay by her brother's side.
Shen Gurong's words struck a chord with Shen Xiwu's deepest desire. Overjoyed, tears welled up in her eyes; she gripped Shen Gurong's hand tightly, her eyes brimming with moisture.
She said softly, "Then it's a promise, brother, you can't lie to me."
Shen Gurong's mind was completely focused on the fact that Shen Xiwu still remembered him, and he didn't pay attention to Shen Xiwu's strange behavior. He nodded and said, "It's a promise."
"That's wonderful." Shen Xiwu's small hand grasped her brother's ring and little fingers, gently shaking them as if they were children watching lanterns together. Her demonic eyes were eerie, and she said softly, "Then brother and I will go to a secluded place to live together, without seeing anyone, okay?"
Immersed in joy, Shen Gurong took a long time to react before saying somewhat blankly, "What?"
He didn't understand.
"Right now." Shen Xiwu took his hand, pointed in a direction, and said, "That's the Endless Rainforest. Brother and I will go there to live, detached from worldly affairs, without any karmic ties to anyone. Just you and me, never to be separated for eternity."
She smiled and asked, "Okay?"
Shen Gurong paused, somewhat regaining his senses, and finally realized that Shen Xiwu's state seemed different now.
He stared blankly, wondering how his sister could have fallen into demonic possession.
What exactly had Li Genglan done to her?
Shen Xiwu was still holding his hand like a child: "Don't be afraid, brother. You may not know the way, but Xiwu does. I'll take you to the deepest part of the rainforest, a place where even using my cultivation wouldn't lead me to the right path, and then I'll build the most exquisite house and lock you up there, so..."
She seemed quite satisfied with her idea, a carefree smile appearing on her face.
"That way, you'll never be able to leave Xiwu's side again."
Author's Note:
Mu Zhe: I was here first! These lines are clearly mine! Why is this happening?!
Xiwu suddenly provided Mu Zhe with an idea, laying a solid foundation for the future "little black room."
Li Genglan: You've been strengthened, go kill Shen...
Shen Xiwu: Kill everyone around Shen Gurong, right? Okay, I understand.
Li Genglan: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
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