Chapter 34

Chapter 34

That stream seemed like a vast river between life and death, no, even broader than the boundaries of existence itself. It was a "threshold" spanning across two dimensions. A parting in life still allowed one to know that the other remained in this world, whereas a farewell in death signaled that the beloved had ventured far, far away...

...A threshold that could never be crossed.

Yaoguang suppressed the urge to rush into the water towards Long Jianlu, throwing himself into his arms. He repeatedly told himself: He doesn't know me yet. I need to remain calm.

Long Jianlu merely stared blankly at Yaoguang on the other side of the stream. Yaoguang stood on an endless northern grassland, with autumn's creamy-white weeds stretching behind him, swaying like waves in the fierce wind.

In the distance, a horn blared, echoing through heaven and earth. The pursuing army was still several miles away, but the military call resounded particularly clearly beneath the vast, open sky.

"Come quickly!" Yaoguang couldn't help urging when he saw Long Jianlu's continued silence.

Startled by the voice, Long Jianlu, covered in blood, waded across the stream towards Yaoguang with great difficulty. The water reached his waist, washing away the blood from his body. Already exhausted, he relied solely on his willpower to keep from collapsing. Eventually, he stumbled across the river.

Yaoguang reached out to steady him. Long Jianlu's deep voice rumbled, "Who are you?"

"I'm here to save you."

Yaoguang glanced in the direction of the pursuers, estimating their numbers and contemplating whether to unleash a chaotic inferno to eliminate them all. But with Long Jianlu present, such a brutal display might overwhelm him. It was better to adhere to a more conventional escape plan for now and reveal his powers gradually as Long Jianlu grew more accustomed.

"Come on!" Yaoguang took Long Jianlu's hand, dashing deeper into the grasslands.

Long Jianlu's breathing was labored; he was severely injured and had been on the run for three days and nights without rest.

"We can't outrun them," Long Jianlu whispered. "They may not kill me, but I can't burden you. Whoever you are, you must go! Leave me behind!"

Yaoguang halted, feeling Long Jianlu's hand on his shoulder as he stared deeply into his eyes. Suddenly, Long Jianlu's legs gave way, and he slumped down the slope.

"Follow the Yimin River downstream," Yaoguang instructed, "We'll lose them soon! Hold on!"

Beyond the hill, at another stretch of the Yimin River, a small boat came into view. Yaoguang half-carried, half-dragged Long Jianlu onto it. Gasping for breath, Long Jianlu murmured, "Why now? Why you?"

Untying the mooring ropes, the boat drifted downstream with the current.

"Hush," Yaoguang said softly, "Don't speak."

He noticed a dark purple wound on Long Jianlu's side, still embedded with half a arrow shaft. Reaching out, Yaoguang carefully pulled it out.

Long Jianlu let out a pained cry, his pupils constricting, and his heart ceased its beating.

But in the next moment, Yaoguang's pendant glowed with a gentle blue-white light. A white radiance then emerged from his hand as he pressed it against Long Jianlu's wound. The pendant began to work its magic – the injury miraculously started to heal! A surge of robust vitality flowed into Long Jianlu's body, reigniting the strong pulse of his heart!

Long Jianlu's breathing evened out, and under the glow of the light, all the wounds on his body began to mend.

So that was how it worked!

Yaoguang was astonished. The crystal had activated according to his initial design, meaning that these abilities had to be pre-set in the real world before being utilized through the crystal once inside the story!

The crystal pendant was like a storage device programmed with specific instructions... Why didn't I try this earlier? Yaoguang scolded himself for his foolishness. If he had known about this function in the previous world, the storyline would have unfolded entirely differently.

Long Jianlu fell asleep, his head resting on Yaoguang's lap within the small boat. He was utterly exhausted, and everything that had just transpired felt like an endless dream. He couldn't tell if it was reality, a hallucination, or a series of memories flashing before his eyes as he neared death.

The Milky Way shimmered above the horizon, and Yaoguang breathed in the crisp autumn air, feeling a momentary sense of liberation. However, he had forgotten to assign himself the "superhuman strength" attribute before entering the game, so he still had to struggle to carry Long Jianlu while panting heavily.

In the swaying boat, Long Jianlu had a long and vivid dream. He saw his deceased parents and the enemies he had slain, as well as countless bloodied bodies – named and nameless – and vengeful spirits standing in his path to unifying the continent, demanding his life.

He abruptly awoke to find himself in a small wooden cabin. There was a fire crackling in the hearth, and the young man, wrapped in a blanket, sat by it, with a pot of fragrant soup simmering on top.

It was a route Yaoguang had predetermined as the best escape path after rescuing Long Jianlu.

"Where are we?" Long Jianlu asked, exhausted.

Yaoguang turned to face him, meeting his gaze. "Changlin County, on the edge of the vast Echazhi Forest. This is a cabin for hunters, a temporary shelter for them when they venture into the mountains."

Long Jianlu propped himself up on one hand, sitting up slowly, and looked intently at Yaoguang.

"Who are you?" Long Jianlu now had too many questions.

Yaoguang scooped a bowl of meat broth and handed it to Long Jianlu, who was ravenously hungry and quickly devoured it with some bread.

"I know you're the emperor of the Central Plains Dynasty," Yaoguang said, "Long Jianlu."

Long Jianlu replied, "No one has addressed me by my name in a long time."

Yaoguang smiled, and Long Jianlu asked, "Why are you here?"

"I am a seer who practices in the forest," Yaoguang said, "My name is Duan Yaoguang..."

Long Jianlu abruptly halted his movement, lifting his head to look at Yaoguang with an expression of disbelief.

Yaoguang: "?"

Long Jianlu's voice trembled as he put down his bowl. "Say it again? What's your name?"

"I'm Duan Yaoguang," Yaoguang said. "I'll protect you... What's wrong?"

Long Jianlu rose to his feet, the flickering flames casting his shadow upon the wall, exaggerating its size and lending an air of grandeur to his figure.

Faced with the light, he began to silently remove his armor, letting it clatter to the ground.

What was he doing? Yaoguang was startled by this sudden action. Was he already proposing a dual cultivation session right after their meeting? Though he had come for that purpose too... wasn't this a bit hasty?

Long Jianlu peeled off his armor, then unfastened his upper garment, revealing his bare chest. A tattoo – the character "Light" in ancient script – adorned his left pectoral.

The archaic "Light" seemed like a flaming torch, flickering before his chest.

Yaoguang rose, disbelief etched on his face.

"It's you," Long Jianlu stammered. "Your name has appeared in my dreams countless times since I was a child. That's why I etched it as a mark on my heart."

Yaoguang: "I... I..."

Involuntarily, he felt the urge to escape, but Long Jianlu quickly stepped in front of him, kneeling on one knee to match Yaoguang's seated height, looking directly into his eyes and murmuring, "Tell me, who are you? Why have you come to me?"

"I don't know... I..." Yaoguang was flustered. He hadn't expected Long Jianlu's memories within this book to be even deeper than before!

"Where is your home?" Long Jianlu asked, studying Yaoguang. "You claim to be a seer? Who are your parents?"

Yaoguang's thoughts were in turmoil. He was contemplating how much of Long Jianlu's memory remained while searching for a plausible explanation. Finally, he decided to cut to the chase. "I know nothing! Don't ask anymore. I have no parents. I grew up with my master..."

"Where is your master?"

"Let me finish! My master has passed away. I learned magic under her guidance from a young age. According to her final instructions... when... when... when the stars align, my mission is to save... to save the emperor of Central Plains and ensure his safe departure. That's all." Several times, Yaoguang instinctively tried to avoid Long Jianlu's penetrating gaze, but he managed to maintain eye contact.

Long Jianlu was filled with confusion. Yaoguang continued, "You can think of it as fate's arrangement, Emperor. That's all I know. If you ask any more, I'll have to leave you..."

"No! No!" Long Jianlu immediately seized Yaoguang's wrist. "You can't go! I've waited for you for so long, so very long! Every day, every night, in my dreams, I see you, looking at me, you looking at me. Yaoguang, yes, I've heard your name spoken more than once in my dreams, beneath a tree, on a silver horse, in a cave... I can't recall all the details, but I remember you, I remember you, Yaoguang!"

"Easy... Your grip is too strong." Yaoguang's expression contorted as his wrist was seized. Long Jianlu promptly released him.

They fell into a silent stare, with Long Jianlu appearing to have much to say but finding himself unable to express it. He gazed at Yaoguang and suddenly laughed, a mix of self-deprecation and relief in his smile.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Nothing," Long Jianlu shook his head, "I'm happy. I don't know why, but I've never been this happy in my life."

Tears shimmered faintly in his eyes.

Yaoguang was also moved. An impulse stirred within him, urging him to lean in and kiss Long Jianlu's lips.

"Can I hug you?" Long Jianlu, who usually took what he wanted, found himself strangely cautious around Yaoguang.

"No." Yaoguang snapped back to reality, promptly rejecting Long Jianlu. He had never imagined their reunion would unfold like this. In just half an hour, Long Jianlu had rushed past casual conversation and was now pushing for intimacy. If he gave in, they might end up in bed right here!

This was too fast! Yaoguang wanted to rebuild their connection gradually.

Despite being turned down, Long Jianlu didn't seem upset or persistent. He nodded and said, "You won't leave me."

Yaoguang looked at him, thinking to himself, That's not necessarily true.

Long Jianlu continued, "Fate has brought us together. You are heaven's gift to me."

I am heaven... Yaoguang thought to himself.

"Your Majesty!" Yaoguang reminded, pulling Long Jianlu out of his reverie.

"You should be thinking about what to do next," Yaoguang mused, hoping to divert his attention. Otherwise, this guy would be too love-struck, just like when he was the Demon King, neglecting his eternal reign for cultivation practices. It would be a disaster if the story couldn't reach its conclusion because of that.

"You're right," Long Jianlu regained some clarity, examining his condition and noticing that his wounds had healed. "The wound is gone?"

Yaoguang replied, "My spell took care of it. There were also fractures in your body that I've healed as well."

Long Jianlu nodded, relieved.

"I have a map of this place," Yaoguang offered. "Do you want to take a look?"

"No need," Long Jianlu replied. "It's all in my mind. Our immediate concern is to traverse the Echazhi Forest and meet with my personal guards at Luguan. Thankfully, you're here with me. After crossing the pass, I'll take you south back to Province Yong in Central China. You'll follow me, won't you? You grew up in the north, never having ventured beyond the Great Wall, right? You'll surely come to love the heartland."

Yaoguang didn't answer, lost in thought. He had indeed come here in search of Long Jianlu, but he couldn't let his intentions be too obvious, or else he'd end up like a devil, making it seem as if Long Jianlu couldn't survive without him.

"Stop asking so many questions," Yaoguang said. "I'll follow you wherever you lead."

"Alright, I swear! I won't ask another thing!" There was a subtle shift in Long Jianlu's self-address, from "your emperor" to "I." It was as if, in front of Yaoguang, he had shed all his titles and returned to being simply "human."

The cold wind howled outside. The wooden cabin nestled in a sheltered spot on a hillside. Long Jianlu donned an inner lining for his battle robe and said, "I'll keep watch outside."

"No need, you can stay here," Yaoguang said. "It's too cold outside."

He wasn't worried about pursuers arriving tonight; even if they did, he wouldn't be afraid.

He was already feeling a bit drowsy. In this world, where cultivation didn't exist, people needed to eat and sleep regularly to replenish their strength.

Leaning against the headboard, he gazed at the Celestial Emperor Sword on the table. The entire sword was golden, forged from a blend of metals, with traces of blood still visible on it. He picked it up, nearly buckling under its weight. Long Jianlu watched him intently, then chuckled, taking the sword and effortlessly twirled it before returning it to its scabbard.

His wrists were thick and strong, and his figure tall. Though he no longer bore the daunting appearance of a demonic overlord, the familiar physique and expression of the mighty Knight Dragon Jianlu had returned.

His eyebrows were dark and well-defined, his eyes large and luminous, with a straight nose bridge, making him exceptionally handsome. The contour of his jawline was graceful, and his lips exuded a gentle warmth. Back when he was a Great Knight, Long Jianlu had an air of carefree rakishness; as a Devil King, it transformed into malevolence. Now, after years as an emperor, he carried an innate sense of authority.

When he didn't smile, his face took on a stern aspect that would likely intimidate many, despite his striking good looks. It was the expression of one in a position of power, tinged with a chilling aura of lethality.

I didn't pay much attention to these details before... Yaoguang observed Long Jianlu, noting his broad shoulders and narrow waist. As a Great Knight, the effect of his trench coat had concealed this, but now, his physique exuded strength.

"What's that?" Long Jianlu asked. "A treasure from your sect?"

"You just promised not to ask," Yaoguang replied, aware that Long Jianlu had recognized the hexagonal pendant.

"Apologies," Long Jianlu promptly responded, "I've been talking too much today."

Yaoguang replied, "Stop looking at me like that; it's keeping me awake."

With a gentle smile, Long Jianlu turned away and leaned against the doorframe. As an emperor, he was now standing guard through the night, yet he did so willingly, all for the person before him. He felt as if he had been waiting for this moment for an eternity.

There were certain things that power and wealth could not buy. Even the supreme position of an emperor could not alleviate the feeling of solitude. When the courtiers dispersed, that sense of loneliness became especially profound.

Seated on the imperial throne, Long Jianlu often found himself at a loss, as if he had been born without something of immense significance –

Yet in this tiny wooden cabin, Yaoguang's presence finally offered him genuine company.

Yaoguang always felt that Long Jianlu was sneaking glances at him from the corner of his eye, but he didn't bother to comment. Let him look, he yawned, curled up in the moldy blanket, and fell asleep.

When he woke up the next morning, Yaoguang found Long Jianlu had somehow moved to the edge of the bed, cradling the Heavenly Sovereign Sword as he slept.

"Emperor?" Yaoguang tapped him, and Long Jianlu jolted awake.

Opening the door, Yaoguang discovered it was snowing outside! The first snow of autumn had unexpectedly blanketed the northern lands overnight, the biting cold invigorating their minds.

"We need to find a way through the forest today," Long Jianlu said, "to meet up with my men. My warhorse is dead, so we'll have to walk. If we encounter pursuers, stay behind me, Yaoguang. I'll protect you."

"I can also use my magic to help you," Yaoguang replied.

Long Jianlu packed his gear, leaving the Imperial Armor behind to avoid drawing attention, taking only the Heavenly Sovereign Sword and setting off like a loyal knight alongside Yaoguang, who had left the shelter of the wooden cabin. "What exactly is this magic? This is the first I've heard of it."

He couldn't quite believe it as he touched the spot on his waist where the wound should have been. His battle robe was torn there, but the skin beneath, which should have been injured, had fully healed.

"You swore not to pry," Yaoguang reminded him. "How many times do I have to tell you?"

Long Jianlu, mindful of his promise, refrained from further inquiry.

This was rather challenging to explain. Yaoguang had introduced an enigmatic "prophet" into a world devoid of magic, where he alone possessed "spells." These spells were unstructured and undocumented, disrupting the world's established rules. Now, it was impossible to reconcile the inconsistencies.

If only I had limited it to a healing or restoration ability, treating it as a superpower... But never mind that for now, Yaoguang decided to use his spells sparingly.

Ever since their meeting, Long Jianlu couldn't help but frequently glance at Yaoguang.

"You have too many questions," Yaoguang said, "They're all written on your face."

"I haven't said a word," Long Jianlu chuckled. He reached out towards Yaoguang, who understood his intention but didn't allow him to take hold.

"Your gauntlets are too cold," Yaoguang remarked.

As Long Jianlu moved to remove them, Yaoguang stopped him, gesturing for him to listen.

Distant barking echoed, signaling the arrival of pursuers. Long Jianlu's expression turned grim, indicating silence.

Yaoguang knew that Long Jianlu was mostly capable of protecting himself. After all, this man had been a genius from a young age, mastering everything he learned, from astronomy to geography, warfare strategies. He was a martial arts master in Qi Kingdom. His current predicament was due to betrayal and being caught off guard by a barrage of arrows.

Following behind Long Jianlu, he heard a voice from the other side of the bushes: "He's somewhere nearby! I can't be wrong, the snow has made it hard to track... footprints are indistinguishable..."

"How did he manage to escape so far..."

Long Jianlu placed a hand on Yaoguang's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze before turning sideways and bursting out from behind the bushes! As he drew his sword, a cry of pain echoed from outside!

Yaoguang peered out, startled. The area was swarming with people. The enemy had dispatched nearly a hundred soldiers to search for Long Jianlu. Upon his appearance, Long Jianlu swiftly killed two foes with his Emperor's Sword, the blade so sharp that it seemed he was a tiger among sheep, despite his own injuries having healed.

However, there were simply too many of them. Upon seeing Long Jianlu, the enemies retreated into the woods, their crossbows at the ready. Yaoguang held his breath, fearing that Long Jianlu would be hit by an arrow. He wanted to use magic, but in the forest, a fireball could easily ignite the surroundings, and a meteorite would likely kill the emperor as well... What should he do? Oh, right! I can kill silently! Even if it's only one at a time... and I need to see my target... That one will do!

Yaoguang secretly activated his spell, hoping that this absurdly unrealistic ability wouldn't fail him in this crucial moment.

The hexagonal pendant shimmered, and a hidden archer, about to loose his arrow from within the bushes, silently slumped forward, his powerful crossbow dropping to the ground.

Did it work? Yaoguang looked up into the trees, activating the spell again. The assassin clinging to a branch also froze.

Was it successful? Yaoguang wasn't entirely sure. Long Jianlu was currently surrounded but held his own. Yaoguang decided to test the spell on a few infantry soldiers closing in on him.

The chosen target fell to the ground after being struck by Yaoguang's instant death spell.

It seems to have worked! This spell is usable! Yaoguang began unleashing the Instant Death Spell indiscriminately upon his foes. As long as he focused on someone and silently uttered, "Die!" the target would collapse on the spot, judged deceased.

The pursuers around Long Jianlu dwindled. Eventually, the enemy retreated, fleeing deep into the dense forest.

Long Jianlu had also taken out quite a number of them. With the Emperor's Sword in hand, he decapitated his adversaries, filling the woods with a stench of blood.

This was Yaoguang's first encounter with such a devastating battlefield, and it left him dizzy and nauseous.

Supporting himself with his sword, Long Jianlu regulated his breath and slowly sheathed it. Turning to Yaoguang, he asked, "Are you alright?"

Yaoguang nodded reluctantly. Long Jianlu explained, "That's how war is. I couldn't risk letting you out of my sight, for fear that you might be captured."

"No problem," Yaoguang said. "You're very strong. I'll get used to it gradually."

Long Jianlu seemed perplexed and said, "But why do I feel like, as we kept killing, some people ended up falling on their own?"

Yaoguang: "..."

With his sword pointing at the assassin in the tree, Long Jianlu asked, "I didn't even touch him, and yet he suddenly died, just like this one on the ground?"

Yaoguang replied, "Perhaps they were frightened to death? Seeing His Majesty leading the troops personally, with his majestic presence, it's quite reasonable that they were scared to death."

"You're mocking me."

"I'm not."

Long Jianlu palpated the carotid arteries of a few intact corpses. His doubts were overwhelming, but the situation didn't allow for a thorough investigation. Thus, he had no choice but to lead Yaoguang away from the forest through the other side.