Chapter 1539: Truth and Lies of the Past! (part 2)
To quickly open the passage, ‘Jing’ used his life as the price!
At this time, ‘Jing’ was probably not just growing old.
His strength was less than a tenth.
He was completely disregarding his life.
"Using his life as the price… I underestimated you!”
‘Yao’ muttered harshly to himself.
This ‘Councilor’ from ‘Uptown’ still didn’t understand why ‘Jing’ did this.
He couldn’t figure it out.
However, he understood.
He must stop the twelve Shadowy Knights.Otherwise…
The entire ‘Uptown’ would be doomed.
Once ‘Uptown’ fell, he would fall too.
This was an unbreakable fact.
Thinking of this, ‘Yao’ took a deep breath.
In the next moment, his entire figure, layered with illusions, blocked the path of the twelve black charging figures.
In his hands bloomed a dazzling brilliance.
That brilliance seemed white.
Yet carried threads of golden hues.
Characters made up of Dufol Language revolved around the light, spiraling upward, finally converging at the peak.
The radiance was dazzling.
A pair of gauntlets completely made of light appeared in ‘Yao’s hands.
What followed was—
Weight.
Sharpness.
Heavy as a hammer, like a mountain range.
Sharp as a sword, like a meteor.
Tones that were initially distinct manifested on those gauntlets.
Whoosh!
‘Yao’ took a deep breath.
"Lan. Yue!”
With a loud shout, the radiance moved.
‘Yao’s figure vanished from where he stood.
Only the continuously swinging double fists remained.
The shadows of fists filled the sky.
Like a torrential downpour.
Dense.
Layer upon layer.
Transforming into…
A mountain range!
A peak appeared out of nowhere, so heavy it felt oppressive.
As if people were looking up at a towering mountain top.
Breeze!
The mountain wind blew past.
The substantial peak moved.
It blocked the path of the twelve black figures charging forward.
Bang bang bang!
The sounds of impact rang out.
Endlessly.
Once, twice, thrice…
A total of twelve times!
After twelve sounds, the twelve black figures stopped, revealing the true faces of the Shadowy Knights.
Meanwhile, that mighty peak became shattered.
Bits of stone still occasionally fell.
Panting heavily, gasping.
‘Yao’ was already pale, breathing hard.
But, immediately, he swung his fists again.
Because—
The twelve Shadowy Knights launched another charge.
…
Near the ‘Council’, the ground shook and the mountains trembled. .
‘Uptown’ became tense and anxious.
However, ‘Jing’ was leisurely walking.
Even though…
He became old and feeble.
Occasionally, he’d cough.
At this moment, ‘Jing’ was already with grayed hair and a wrinkled face, completely different from the previously gentle middle-aged man, with whom someone would believe is seventy or eighty years old.
But, ‘Jing’s condition was very good.
One could even say it was unprecedentedly good.
It was a state of untying a heart’s knot.
The fulfillment of a long-awaited wish.
So much so that ‘Jing’ hummed a tune as he walked.
His destination was clear.
Thus, even though he walked and stopped along the way, he soon arrived at a corner of ‘Uptown’.
Here was…
A cemetery.
Not a public one.
A private burial ground.
A place he purchased under another identity.
A small cabin stood at the entrance of the cemetery, inside lived a Tomb Guardian.
Upon seeing ‘Jing’, he silently opened the cemetery.
The entire process was dazed, wooden.
As if soulless.
In fact, it was true.
When ‘Jing’ returned to ‘Uptown’, certain means had already been triggered, making seemingly regular people and things become irregular.
Just like the Tomb Guardian before him.
The counterpart, like Holle Viktoria, had signed a contract.
However, unlike coercing Holle Viktoria.
Back then, the counterpart volunteered.
He gave the counterpart a choice.
Then, collected the corresponding compensation.
It was reasonably fair.
But to Holle Viktoria?
There wasn’t much fairness.
"People always change.”
‘Jing’ murmured softly.
Then, instead of walking directly into the cemetery, he headed towards the Tomb Guardian’s room. Half a minute later, he came out,
Holding a bouquet of fresh flowers and…
A pot of wine.
The flowers were white gardenias.
The wine was a famous strong liquor.
Holding these, ‘Jing’ walked into the cemetery.
He first bowed towards the tombstones around.
Even if the people in these graves were not the ones he wanted to pay respects to, their existence protected the one he did want to honor.
He felt he needed to bow.
"Thank you.”
Saying this, ‘Jing’ passed through the gravestones that served as a cover and reached the depths of the cemetery.
Four graves without tombstones appeared there, overgrown with weeds.
This was intentional.
‘Jing’ placed down the flowers and wine and began to pull out the weeds.
Then, he fetched a bucket of water and started cleaning the worn-out stones in front of the graves.
Only then did he place the flowers in front of the four graves.
"Old friends, I’ve come to see you.”
‘Jing’ said quietly.
Then he pointed in the direction of the ‘Council’.
"Did you hear that sound?”
"They are your best offering.”
"Traitors…”
"Deserve to die without a complete body.”
As ‘Jing’ spoke, he uncorked the bottle and began to pour the strong liquor evenly before the four graves.
This simple act made his breathing become rapid.
Especially when he straightened up, his joints creaked noisily.
So much so that ‘Jing’ had to support his waist to stand up straight.
"Alas.”
"I originally planned to see you in a better state.”
"Ended up meeting a bastard.”
"Had no choice but to become like this.”
"If you want to laugh, just laugh.”
"I’m used to it anyway.”
As ‘Jing’ spoke, his gaze turned to the first grave on the right.
"Captain, you said I was the weakest and youngest and should survive.”
"I didn’t agree with you.”
His gaze moved left.
"Te, you told me not to seek revenge, to find a place to live incognito for the rest of my life.”
"I didn’t agree with you.”
His gaze continued to move left.
"El, you told me not to hate anyone, to learn to forgive.”
"I didn’t agree with you.”
His eyes moved left again.
When he stopped at the last grave, ‘Jing’s eyes were already bloodshot.
"Lin, you told me to find a better woman, to live, to have a bunch of kids.”
"I didn’t agree with you.”
"After losing you, how could I possibly love someone else.”
As ‘Jing’ spoke, tears streamed down his face.
"After losing you all.”
"I lost everything.”
"I will make sure all of them feel this pain—”
"Feel the pain!”
He roared.
Using all his strength.
Then, his body leaned weakly against the side of the grave.
Just like back in the day before they undertook their last mission together.
He stood last in line.
Now, it was the same.
His wish had been half fulfilled.
The rest?
Was to fulfill another promise to someone else.
“‘Paradise’…”
"Is there really a ‘paradise’ in this world?”
‘Jing’ asked himself.
He didn’t know.
He hoped it existed.
But reason told him it was impossible.
But whether possible or not, he would do it.
Not because of a promise.
To him, a promise was nonsense.
Was it because the other person gave him ‘Strength’?
That was nonsense too.
None of that was important.
What was important was the promise to resurrect the Captain, Te, El, and Lin.
That was the most important.
As for the rest?
What did it matter to him!
After my death, let the floodwaters run wild!
All I want is for my friends, my loved ones to be alive.
You killed my friends, my loved ones.
I will make you accompany them in death.
I will destroy your world.
Obsessive, irrational, once again made ‘Jing’ sit up.
"Wait for me!”
"It won’t be long!”
Saying farewell to his friends and loved ones, ‘Jing’ retraced his steps. The Tomb Guardian stood dazed at the door, watching ‘Jing’ disappear.
Only when ‘Jing’s figure disappeared did he look around blankly.
"What happened?”
The Tomb Guardian muttered to himself.
He would never know what happened.
But Jason knew.
Standing in the shadows, Jason frowned.
His eyes were full of doubt.