Chapter 35: A Song of Lingering Feelings Recalls the Mortal World

After a brief silence, the camp master looked at Xu Qing and spoke. "Child," he said, "how about we let this matter rest? You've already rescued Lei Team, and that person is dead. There's no need for us to fight to the death. Besides, I am an elder of the Vajra Sect. If you continue to fight me, you'll be declaring war on the Vajra Sect. Our patriarch is a Foundation Establishment expert!"

Xu Qing remained silent. Suddenly, he spat out a mouthful of blood and staggered slightly, raising his right hand as if to wipe it.

Just then, the camp master, who had just suggested a truce, suddenly had a cold glint in his eyes. With a roar, he charged rapidly towards Xu Qing. His speed was incredible, and his entire body erupted with an unprecedented golden light, transforming him into a golden form. "Vajra's Third Method!" he bellowed.

From a distance, the camp master was enveloped in golden light, his aura imposing, and his killing intent incredibly potent.

Xu Qing’s expression, however, remained unchanged. His initial stagger vanished instantly, as if it had been a feint. His raised right hand wasn't for wiping blood, but for lifting above his head. His bloodshot eyes closed slightly. In his mind, he recalled the statue from the temple that day, descending like a deity, and the astonishingly brilliant blade strike it performed with a raised hand, seemingly embodying some profound truth. He had imitated this strike countless times but had never used it. Now, he felt he could.

A purple light erupted from his body, covering him entirely, including his raised right hand. Unlike the golden light of the statue, the energy Xu Qing emanated after his imitation was distinctly purple.

Under this purple light, as the camp master roared and approached, Xu Qing's right hand descended slowly, almost casually. There was nothing remarkable about the motion; it seemed utterly ordinary and simple. Yet, within this simplicity, an extraordinary essence was contained. This essence caused all the purple light to instantly converge on Xu Qing’s right hand. The moment it descended, a blurred image of a colossal blade appeared above his head! This shadowy blade was enormous, like a celestial weapon! The purple light surged and shimmered, eclipsing the sunlight, the golden glow, and everything else. Along with Xu Qing's right hand, it suddenly… struck down!

Thunder rumbled in the sky, and the camp ground roared. A powerful wind, accompanied by a blinding light, exploded outwards like a surging tide. All the scavengers instinctively recoiled. The camp master’s body, which had been moving at incredible speed, gradually slowed until it stopped about ten feet in front of Xu Qing.

He stared blankly at Xu Qing, then slowly lowered his head to look at the ground beneath his feet. On the earth, a perfectly straight fissure had appeared, stretching about seventy or eighty feet long, extending from directly beneath him to behind him.

"This strike…" the camp master murmured. A crimson line suddenly appeared on his forehead. This line instantly split open, extending down to his chin, then across his chest, and finally to his dantian. Blood erupted, and his body, still standing moments before, split directly into two halves and collapsed.

A profound silence descended, broken only by ragged breaths that betrayed the unimaginable shock in everyone’s hearts. Under the setting sun, the lingering light spilled onto the blood-stained ground, reflecting the boy’s solitary face. Drops of blood flowed from between his fingers, splashing into the puddles on the ground and creating ripples. His form within those ripples was somewhat indistinct, but the profound sense of desolation and the chilling coldness in his eyes were unmistakably clear.

Xu Qing silently put away his blood-stained dagger and the black iron skewer. After retrieving the talisman treasure with faded writing, he turned and walked towards Shizi and Luanya, who were standing among the onlookers.

Shizi and Luanya watched Xu Qing approach, their expressions filled with awe. They observed him silently take Lei Team, who was unconscious and at the end of his strength, hoist him onto his back, and walk away. Then, they lowered their heads and followed him into the distance.

Under the setting sun, Xu Qing’s shadow stretched long, covering the blood on the ground and emanating an unspeakable sorrow.

The surrounding scavengers involuntarily watched his receding figure and the blood and bodies strewn across the long street. The blood behind Xu Qing seemed to form a striking, continuous crimson trail. Someone remembered the blood trail Xu Qing had left when he dragged the giant horned python in the arena during the camp entrance trial. Two scenes, two blood trails, seemed to merge at this moment.

"Child!" Someone, it was unclear who, was the first to cry out. Soon, all the scavengers gathered there joined in. "Child!!" "Child!!!" The sound grew louder, coming from elders, children, strong adults, and women with feathered headpieces. Their eyes slowly filled with fervor, and their roars reverberated, growing louder and louder. This was… the scavengers' unique salute!

***

At dusk, by the camp entrance, Xu Qing, with Lei Team on his back, paused and looked back at Shizi and Luanya.

They looked at Xu Qing, their eyes holding both awe and a complex understanding, clearly having guessed his intentions. "Are you leaving?" Shizi asked softly.

"I'll see Lei Team off on his final journey, and then… yes, I'll be gone," Xu Qing nodded.

Shizi and Luanya fell silent.

A sense of parting welled up in Xu Qing’s heart. He gave them a profound look, then his gaze swept past them, settling on the camp where he had lived for nearly half a year.

"Take care," Luanya said, gazing at Xu Qing. She stepped forward to tidy his messy hair, not at all bothered by the blood on him, and gently embraced him.

"What about you two?" Xu Qing asked softly, not resisting her embrace.

"We're leaving here too. Don't worry, Shizi and I have hands and feet, and our strength is decent; we can go to any camp," Luanya replied with a smile.

Shizi remained silent but stepped forward and embraced Xu Qing tightly.

Xu Qing took a deep breath, waved to them, then turned and strode out through the camp gates, walking further and further towards the forbidden zone.

Behind him, in the setting sun, Shizi and Luanya stood silently, watching him walk away until his figure disappeared from their sight. "Shizi," Luanya murmured, "will we ever see him again? It's a shame we don't even know his name."

"Perhaps... his name isn't important," Shizi said softly, taking Luanya's hand.

Xu Qing left the camp, heading towards the forbidden zone. He walked silently, carrying Lei Team on his back, just as Lei Team had carried him when he was severely injured years ago, and just as he had carried him during their initial parting. The same path, the same person. But he could feel Lei Team growing lighter, his life force fading, and the aura of death spreading irresistibly. Xu Qing’s sadness deepened with each step.

He silently entered the forest, walked quietly through the forbidden zone, continuously moving in one direction. Time slowly passed; the sun had set, and night had fallen. Yet, perhaps sensing the blood and lingering killing intent emanating from Xu Qing, no strange beasts appeared before him. They left him undisturbed to continue his sorrowful journey. An hour later, a faint, hoarse voice came from behind him.

"Child, I just had a dream."

Lei Team had woken. His expression was dazed and fading as he murmured softly. He didn't ask why he was there, or why Xu Qing had appeared, nor did he speak of his own experiences. "I dreamed of Taohong," he whispered, "and I dreamed of you too."

Xu Qing’s eyes were slightly red, his sorrow intensifying. He quickened his pace but struggled to maintain a steady gait as they drew closer to their destination.

"In the dream, you were still very obedient," Lei Team whispered, "always first in the school." He tried to smile, but those few words seemed to consume most of his remaining strength. His voice gradually weakened, and before falling unconscious, he murmured softly, "What a wonderful dream." "Child, I can't hold on much longer."

Xu Qing lowered his head and sprinted with all his might. Along the way, he had tried using his purple crystal to help Lei Team, but it was to no avail; it couldn't sustain his life force. Finally, half an hour later, he reached the place where they had heard the singing that day—the same area, the same large tree.

Upon reaching the spot, Xu Qing gently set Lei Team down, helping him lean against the tree. His eyes were red, and his nose stung as he gazed at the deeply wrinkled, dying old man before him. "Lei Team," Xu Qing whispered.

The old man leaned against the tree and slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was cloudy and unfocused as he looked blankly at the world around him. After a long moment, he seemed to recognize the place, a faint smile spreading across his face, and a flicker of light returning to his eyes. "Child," he rasped, "do you have any wine?"

Xu Qing nodded silently. He took a flask of wine from his leather pouch, brought it to the old man's lips, and helped him drink a large gulp. This mouthful of wine made the light in the old man's eyes brighten, like the final flicker of a candle. At that moment, he seemed to clearly see Xu Qing’s red eyes and smiled. "Why are you crying?"

Lei Team seemed to regain a little strength. With Xu Qing's help, he struggled to sit up further. Leaning against the large tree, he tried to lift his hand to touch Xu Qing’s head, but couldn't. The moment he faltered, Xu Qing took his hand and gently placed it on his own head. The old man smiled.

"Actually, I'm quite lucky," he said. "At least now, I have someone with me, I have wine to drink, and someone will bury me when I'm gone. In this world, among the countless people, how many die alone and miserably, their bodies left to decay in the wilderness? Truthfully, death itself isn't frightening. What's truly terrifying is to have no familiar face before you in your final moments…"

As he spoke, the lingering light in Lei Team’s eyes slowly dimmed. Then, he suddenly spoke, "Child, I want another sip."

Xu Qing's heart swelled with sorrow. He gently brought the flask to Lei Team’s lips. As the wine spilled, Lei Team looked past him, his expression distant and dazed, and murmured softly, "Taohong, have you come for me…?" The wine spilled onto the old man's clothes and into the soil. He had not drunk it. The light in his eyes, along with his life's fire, extinguished.

Xu Qing’s body trembled. He lowered his head, his sorrow no longer controllable, spreading from his heart and engulfing his entire being. He gripped the flask so tightly it deformed in his hand, yet he didn't notice. After a long while, Xu Qing bit his lip and silently placed the flask aside. He looked up at the old man before him, who would never awaken. In his mind, the image of the old man from the city ruins, suddenly turning back to look at him from afar, replayed uncontrollably: "Child, are you willing to leave this place with me?" Tears, one by one, streamed down Xu Qing’s cheeks. They washed away the bloodstains on his face, leaving two distinct trails before falling onto his clothes. Having grown up in the slums, he had long ceased to cry. But today, he couldn't stop himself. He watched the old man's body until the sky began to lighten again, then silently buried the old man and the flask beneath the tree.

Scavengers didn't need gravestones because no one commemorated them. But the old man had one. In front of the makeshift gravestone, Xu Qing gazed blankly. After a very long time, he took a piece of canvas from his leather pouch and retrieved the single piece of candy inside. He silently placed it in his mouth, leaned against the large tree, and closed his eyes. The candy was very sweet. Someone had once told Xu Qing that eating it when sad would make him feel a little better.