Chapter 271

Chapter 271

Fleeting life is filled with regrets and scant joy.

Life always has more regrets than joys.

Even if there are moments of happiness, they are but fleeting and can never last forever.

Like the flowers Jie Wang Xun wanted to appreciate that Shen Huai Shen couldn't grow; the lifelong companionship Chen Xiangling yearned for that Chen Yuqing couldn't give; the vast world they hoped Xie Yin Xue would explore now seemed to him just an endless, desolate journey.

This time, Xie Yin Xue didn't touch Jie Wang Xun's face. He shifted closer to her, seeking brief solace next to his beloved, reminiscent of past visits to the hospital where the young ghost would gently rest its head against his leg.

He asked Jie Wang Xun, "Mom, did you see the flowers you wished to see?"

Of course, Jie Wang Xun wouldn't respond.

Xie Yin Xue leaned close to her, his shadow stretching out at his feet, resembling blood pouring from him. Oblivious, he continued, "I'm not sure if you like pear blossoms, but the paths I've walked were lined with many."

"The next time I visit you, I'll bring a blossom for you."

After saying this, he struggled to reach the window, painstakingly pulling himself out from the mangled wreck of the car. He crawled onto the dark asphalt road, knelt down, and bowed deeply toward the figure of Jie Wangxun inside the car. Only then did he rise, embarking once more on that road.

The last time he set forth, he was uncertain of what awaited him amidst the enveloping fog. But this time, Xie Yinxue knew—there was no one waiting for him ahead.

Everyone he encountered was just a passerby.

On this road, he was eternally alone.

Xie Yinxue remembered a time during the New Year, back when Chen Ma was still alive. They had all watched a horror movie together, along with Liu Buhua and Shen Qiuji.

The film told the story of a woman trapped in a Sisyphean cycle of tragedy, endlessly killed by herself, or killing herself. Yet, no matter how many times she started over, she'd resolutely board that cruise, choosing this endless cycle of death.

Because on that path, she could once again encounter and embrace her long-departed son.

So, some critics believed that the film was a warning—don't attempt to reclaim lost love in repetition.①

However, when Xie Yinxue realized he too was trapped in this ceaseless cycle of tragedy, he felt it was okay.

There's no better place than here.

Here, he doesn’t need to dream to see those he longed to see again.

And beyond the vast world below the mountains, Bu Jiuzhao will explore on his behalf.

He was content to walk this road like the woman in the film, over and over again, once, twice, thrice... indefinitely.

Even if his path was constantly met with wind and rain, and nights of frost and snow, he would march on without pausing or looking back.

.

Xie Yinxue plucked a pear blossom for Jie Wangxun.

Pear blossoms enhance beauty. Though the blood on Jie Wangxun’s face might unsettle many, to Xie Yinxue, she remained beautiful.

So, he wanted to pluck even more pear blossoms for her, perhaps enough to surround her in a myriad of vibrant colors, painting a vivid spring tableau.

Were there other blossoms blooming along the way?

Xie Yinxue couldn't quite recall.

He hadn't paid much attention before, so he decided to be more observant of his surroundings this time on his journey.

"She already has flowers. Are you still going to pick some for her?"

Yet, as Xie Yinxue was in the midst of plucking flowers this time, a faint and mysterious voice emanated from the pear tree branches. Had it not been followed by the emergence of a crane with a vermilion crown, dark cheeks, and white feathers near its ears, one might have mistaken the tree for being enchanted.

Xie Yinxue glanced at the crane and retorted, "Is one blossom enough to match her?"

The crane pointed with its long beak towards the snowy backyard of the neighboring Mingyue Cliff, under the pear tree where there was a snow figure, inquiring, "What about him then?"

That snow figure was a puppy-shaped sculpture crafted by Xie Yinxue, lifelike and vivid, even adorned with a green circlet made of wild grass on its head.

The crane inquired, "You paired it with green?"

Xie Yinxue explained, "It's entirely white. Adding more white wouldn't look good."

The crane descended from the pear tree, grooming its feathers upon landing, before resuming its inquiry, "So you're quite enjoying yourself here?"

Xie Yinxue candidly replied, "Most of the individuals I've encountered are my elders. They make me feel like I've returned to my childhood. Here, I can only act like a child and play endlessly."

The crane: "..."

After a brief silence, the crane asked, "Xie Yinxue, do you know where you are?"

"I do."

Xie Yinxue gently shook the pear blossom branch he had just plucked and brought it close to his nose for a soft inhale, "This place knows no bounds of suffering, of self, of time, or form."

"From the moment one enters, through countless kalpas, each day and night, dying and rebirthing endlessly. One cannot rest even for a brief moment. This cycle continues unless one's karma is exhausted. There is no expected time of departure, hence it's called 'the boundless'." ②

Lifting his gaze to meet the crane's eyes, he proclaimed, "This is where I am meant to be."

—This place is the boundless hell.

Xie Yinxue knew it the second time he laid eyes on Jie Wangxun.

Here, he would suffer day and night, enduring endless tribulations, reliving over and over the moments in life he most wished to forget. Regrettably—

"Qin He, my life was filled with countless sins, yet genuinely, there wasn't much suffering." Xie Yinxue sincerely apologized to the crane, "Forcing out these memories must've been hard on you."

Qin He, the crane: "..."

"Come to think of it, this is only the third time I've faced such peril, right?" Xie YinXue delicately selected the most blossoming branches of pear flowers and held them close, "What brought you here?"

He pondered for a moment, "Could it be you want a pear blossom too? Or perhaps..."

Xie YinXue turned her gaze to the green grass ring atop Xue Tuan's canine head, hinting at something.

Qin He's expression darkened further: "Better to give that to Bu JiuZhao."

"So what did you come here for?" Xie YinXue raised an eyebrow, "Don't tell me I've already passed."

Qin He shook his avian head, "There's no 'clearing the level' here."

The damned souls cast into the endless abyss surely suffer incessantly, only to be liberated once all their sins and misdeeds have been atoned for. However, where Xie YinXue found herself was not quite this abyss, so there's no talk of liberation.

Qin He said, "This is the 'eternity' you sought."

"Life comes and goes, in an endless cycle of birth and death. Thus, to escape this cycle is to achieve immortality."

"If you wish to change your mind, it's not too late. I can return you to the mortal world where you'll enjoy a century of health and happiness, free from worries, and in your next life, be born into a noble and prestigious family."

"But if you don't want to turn back, you'll remain here forever. Even when your karmic debts are paid, you'll never be released, with no end in sight."

Xie YinXue, with a calm demeanor, listened to Qin He's words and simply nodded, "Mhm."

She then turned with her bouquet of pear blossoms and walked straight ahead. As she passed Chen YuQing's grave, she placed some blossoms next to the tombstone. Her gesture was clear — she chose immortality over worldly riches.

Qin He flapped his wings to follow her, "Just a 'mhm' after all I've said? Just one 'mhm'?"

Xie YinXue: "Mhm, yes."

Taking a deep breath, Qin He pursued, "You should at least scold Bu JiuZhao a bit."

This time, Xie YinXue graced him with a three-word response: "I can't bear to."

Despite being a bird, Qin He felt like he was fed dog food and was instantly irate, "You must!"

Xie YinXue, now more verbose, responded, yet not in the way Qin He wished for: "Are you mad?"

"It's his fault you're like this."

"He used you, deceived you, played you."

"You can't even bring yourself to blame him. Yet if he truly loved you, how could he bear to let you remain in this eternal abyss forever?"

Qin He circled around Xie YinXue, speaking incessantly. It was only when he reached this point that he finally made Xie YinXue pause. He thought he had struck a chord with Xie's inner turmoil. But when the young man stopped, he simply sighed, "Qin He, he knows what you're saying, and so do I."

— It's just an unspoken understanding; neither ever voiced it out.

"He has his desires, as do I."

Xie YinXue turned back and said, "I wanted him to grant me this eternal life, and he wanted me to occupy this never-ending icy prison on his behalf. Both our wishes were fulfilled. It's a mutual agreement, without regrets. He didn't betray me."

His fate? Chen YuQing had made it clear from the beginning.

The human heart is like a snowy surface. Occasionally, a bird might leave its footprints, but once it takes flight, it leaves no trace behind.

So, if one were to delve deep, he has only deceived, hurt, and wronged himself.

Look, how free Qin He appears, soaring in the sky.

Gazing at the red-crowned crane with white feathers in the sky, Xie YinXue said, "With the vast world around, I wish he could fly even higher... without remembering where he left his mark."

As his words fell, Xie YinXue shifted his gaze to Shen HuaiShen, who waved at him from the base of MingYue Cliff, and took a firm step forward.

The speeding car came hurtling towards him again, plunging Xie YinXue's world into a desolate darkness.

But this time, when he opened his eyes, the face in front of him was no longer Jie WangXun's — it was Bian YuChen.

He and Bian YuChen sat face-to-face, legs crossed. Surrounded by a vast expanse of white snow, where neither sky nor ground could be seen.

Xie YinXue's expression shifted slightly, and he frowned, "Why are you in hell too?"

'Eternal life' meant remaining in this endless abyss, which he was willing to endure. But if Bian YuChen was to join him in his abyss, he might reconsider.

As if this abyss was some kind of paradise.

Left speechless, Bian YuChen retorted, "I'm not the one destined for hell, Xie YinXue. You are."

Xie YinXue: "Oh, then why don't you get lost?"

Bian YuChen: "..."

"You should thank me," Bian YuChen's face darkened, shadows filling his eyes, "Your 'eternity' was granted with my assistance."

The Infinite Abyss was their final dungeon. As Qin He remarked: "There is no way to conquer this dungeon."

Because its beginning and end form a cycle; entering the dungeon grants eternal life.

Unless you don't wish for immortality.

Thus, Bian YuChen and Xie YinXue each experienced cycles within their respective Infinite Abysses. Whoever halts first, whoever looks back, can return to the mortal realm and continue the cycle of life and death. The one who remains will fall eternally into the Abyss, enduring endless torments for eons, granted eternal life but never liberation.

Initially, Xie YinXue was puzzled when Qin He approached him during his third cycle. Had Bian YuChen already renounced his quest for eternal life?

Yet, it was unthinkable for Xie YinXue to express gratitude towards Bian YuChen.

After all, he earned his place in the Abyss through his own merits. What did it have to do with Bian YuChen?

Xie YinXue scoffed, "No, my Abyss is off-limits to both you and dogs. Begone."

Even a clay figurine has its temper. Bian YuChen, time and again humiliated by Xie YinXue, once endured due to the rules of the eternal lock. Now that matters were settled, he would tolerate no more. In a flash, he threw a punch towards Xie YinXue. Yet before it could reach its mark, Xie YinXue deftly countered, grabbing Bian's wrist and delivering a swift kick to his chest.

It was a fierce kick, sending Bian YuChen sprawling to the ground.

Xie YinXue, with his hands clasped behind him, sauntered over to stand beside Bian YuChen's face, pressing his foot firmly on the back of Bian's head and pushing it to the ground. "You think you can challenge me?" he taunted.

"I've already achieved immortality."

Xie YinXue rubbed his neck and rotated his shoulder, feeling he could easily take on ten foes like Bu JiuZhao. He sneered at the fallen Bian YuChen, "You'd be wise not to cross me; it's a fool's errand."

His arrogant demeanor was so intense that one might expect him to utter, "Those who obey me thrive; those who defy me perish." He seemed like another god of war incarnate, making Bu JiuZhao seem pale in comparison. Observing this, Qin He genuinely felt that two distinct personalities could emerge from the same person.

Seeing Bian YuChen pinned and helpless, Qin He intervened, defending the weaker party, "Stop! Release him."

Author's Note:

① The plot is inspired by the movie "Triangle" and its reviews.

② Referenced from the "Sutra of the Past Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva".