I walked into the interior from the stone gate, descending the dark stone steps, the wailing from hell striking my face like death knells.
Despite my extensive combat experience, my heart tightened as I faced the terrifying cries alone.
Upon reaching the depths, bathed in the blue light, I suddenly saw two familiar figures.
"What are you two doing here?" I called out.
Mo Zhidu turned back, smiling at me. "Third Sister, you're awake."
"Elder Brother, Second Brother, what are you doing here?"
They didn't answer directly. Chi Yan Long Wang asked, "Third Sister, how is the swordplay I taught you progressing?"
"It's almost complete."
"That's good."
Mo Zhidu pointed to the skeletons in the River of Death and asked me, "Do you dare to cross?"
"I dare!"
He then said some seemingly irrelevant words, "This is not your war, you don't need to be entangled. Let go and leave."
I shook my head.
"This is not just my war. It concerns the life and death of the Ghost Clan, as well as the lives of Liu Shinian, Xue Gucheng, Yan Wushuang, Lin'er, Hei Feng, and others.
Since I brought them onto this path, I must ensure they have a good future."
"Even if it means death, you are resolute?"
"If my death can save all of them, I am willing to die."
Seeing my firm tone and resolute gaze, my determination to do anything, anywhere, anytime, he laughed heartily. "As expected of the person I favor, you have spirit. If that's the case, we will help you."
With that, he leaped into the dead water first, stepping on the skulls. Chi Yan Long Wang immediately leaped onto him and moved forward.
"You..." I was momentarily confused, unable to guess their intentions.
Mo Zhidu shouted, "If you want to get out, hurry up! If you don't come now, you'll lose your chance!"
Only then did I realize and leaped forward, jumping from Mo Zhidu onto Chi Yan Long Wang. At that moment, Mo Zhidu shouted.
"Third Sister, wait for me to come over, reach out and pull me."
So, I stood on Chi Yan Long Wang's shoulder and extended my hand. Mo Zhidu leaped up, grabbed my hand, and swung to a distance.
"Good, just like that, maintain this posture."
At this moment, the skeletons beneath the dead water sensed movement and began to swim towards us from all directions.
Chi Yan Long Wang leaped swiftly, grabbing my hand and swinging me to a distance.
"Come quickly!" he shouted.
I hurriedly leaped over, stepping on him. In this manner, they sent me to the other side, one after another.
Mo Zhidu suddenly shouted, "Don't look back, keep moving forward."
I took two steps forward, and the sounds in my ears were no longer terrifying wails but chilling laughter. What about them if I left? How would they get back?
Thinking of this, I suddenly turned back and witnessed a scene I would never forget.
I saw countless skeletons grabbing Mo Zhidu and Chi Yan Long Wang's feet, climbing up step by step, and they were gradually sinking into the dead water.
Chi Yan Long Wang shouted, "Go quickly! As long as you get out of that exit, you can go back."
"I'm leaving, what about you? What about you?" I yelled.
Mo Zhidu forced a smile and persuaded me.
"I told you not to look back, why did you look back? We were already dead. What difference does it make to die again?"
Hearing his words, a pang of sadness surged from the bottom of my heart. I was only thinking of my own escape, without considering that they would be eternally trapped in this dead water because of it.
Thinking of this, my heart ached. Although we hadn't known each other for long, we had already sworn brotherhood.
I gritted my teeth and roared, "We promised to die on the same year, same month, and same day. How can I abandon you?"
With that, I leaped into the dead water without hesitation. Chi Yan Long Wang was both sorrowful and angry.
"If we had known you would be like this, we wouldn't have sent you across. We would have preferred you to stay here forever. But now, all three of us will be trapped here forever, unable to reincarnate."
I watched them sink deeper, the dense skeletons crawling all over them like ants.
At this moment, more and more skeletons rushed towards me. The guilt buried deep in my heart amplified infinitely.
The death of the Elder, the death of Xue Ji, and the death of the Black Mountain soldiers flashed through my mind. The Elder's words seemed to echo in my ears again.
"Ghost King, the Ghost Clan will rely on you from now on."
Remembering these things, I couldn't help but shed a tear and murmured.
"I don't want anyone to die for me, no one to die for me, no!"
With this cry, it felt as if countless resentments had accumulated in my heart. I then extended my hands, summoning Mo Zhidu's sword and Chi Yan Long Wang's sword.
The two swords merged, and a single strike formed an invisible great sword energy that forcibly split the dead water in half.
At this moment, Mo Zhidu and Chi Yan Long Wang were also propelled ashore by the sword energy. The skeletons transformed into black mist that swirled around me. Those that did not turn into black mist leaped into my sword, turning it into a skeleton sword.
Mo Zhidu looked up, confused, and asked, "What's wrong with Mu Ye?"
"It seems she's been controlled by her own resentment."
"What?"
Just then, the dead water began to churn. A black dragon flew out from the bottom of the water, landed on the surface, transformed into my likeness, and also conjured that great sword.
At this moment, I felt an immense resentment in my heart. The unvented resentment held me tightly, making me even more enraged.
Upon seeing someone identical to me appear, without a word, I raised the skeleton sword and charged, cleaving her in two.
However, she did not disappear. Instead, she turned into an illusion and flashed behind me, striking with her sword.
I couldn't dodge in time and took the full force of her blow.
Mo Zhidu, seeing a person identical to me suddenly appear, asked, "What is that?"
"That is likely Mu Ye's inner demon."
"Inner demon?"
"She must want to save everyone, but feels she isn't capable enough, which is why she's trying so hard."
"I didn't realize she had suffered so much," Mo Zhidu murmured sadly, his heart aching.
"Is there anything we can do to save her?" he asked.
"No, her inner demon can only be defeated by herself."
I struggled to rise and swung my sword, repeatedly cutting her down. She reappeared each time, always striking from behind me.
After several repetitions, I began to feel my strength wane, panting.
"Is this all you've got?" the voice, bearing my face but sharp and mocking, said.
I raised my sword and slashed at her. She still turned into an illusion and appeared behind me, striking down with a pitiable cry.
"You're such a pitiful worm, wanting to protect everyone but failing to protect anyone. Truly a failure."
As she spoke, she no longer dodged but swung her sword to meet mine, each move filled with force. She continued to laugh.
"Hahaha, imagine what Liu Xiang would say if he saw you like this. He'd surely laugh at you, calling you useless."
The moment I heard Liu Xiang's name, his mocking words flooded my mind.
"Truly useless," "Why don't I just kill you," "You're not worthy."
My anger surged, and I furiously slashed at her.
Chi Yan Long Wang suddenly thought of something and said, "Perhaps we can help her."
"How?"
"Encourage her."
He then shouted towards me.
"Mu Ye, you are the most amazing girl I have ever met. No one is as brave as you."
Mo Zhidu also said.
"You know, you don't have to push yourself so hard. It doesn't matter if you're an ordinary girl or a high and mighty monarch. You are always yourself."
Chi Yan Long Wang continued to shout.
"I know you want to protect everyone, but you also feel you can't protect anyone. Do you know?
The people you want to protect also want to protect you. Like us, you are not a perfect person.
Everyone makes mistakes, and everyone's abilities are limited. We can't save everyone. It's enough if we can save some."
Hearing his words, I stopped and turned to look at them. At that moment, the imposter behind me furiously slashed, whining.
"Scared now? Terrified? You can't save anyone."
Mo Zhidu smiled slightly and called out to me, "Mu Ye, do you know?
It doesn't matter if you're good or bad, whether you can save people or not.
What I like is your true self, the slightly silly, yet persistent Liu Mu Ye, the Liu Mu Ye who knows nothing but still wants to learn.
That you is already enough, enough to be cherished in the heart, forever and ever."
Hearing his words, I, who was always stubborn, suddenly shed tears, recalling all the moments spent with them.
I also remembered my days in Black Mountain with Liu Shinian and others, composing poetry, drinking, and enjoying ourselves, which was truly delightful.
Thus, I gradually put down the skeleton sword, a happy smile appearing on my face.
The imposter also raised her sword and placed it on my shoulder, asking, "Can you still do it?"
I smiled slightly and replied.
"I know I'm not perfect, wanting to save everyone but unable to save anyone.
It's okay. My mission is to lead the Ghost Clan out of despair, and then we can all happily drink and eat together."
Hearing my words, she smiled with satisfaction, lowered her sword, and transformed into the familiar figure of the Myriad Ghost King.
"It's you. I thought Liu Xiang had dispersed you."
He chuckled and explained.
"I was blown away by his gale. Later, I followed you to this Nether Stream and didn't appear. I also wanted to see how you would fare without my demonic power. The result is gratifying."
I raised my hand to reach for him when I suddenly heard a creaking sound.
The black mist attached to me, as if losing interest, retreated back into the dead water. The skeletons attached to the sword also dispersed and crawled back into the water.
The two swords also transformed into two streams of light and flew back into Mo Zhidu's and Chi Yan Long Wang's hands.
Mo Zhidu asked Chi Yan Long Wang, "Who is that person?"
"According to the resentful spirits here, a great demon named Myriad Ghost King appeared a thousand years ago. It seems to be him."
"And how did he get involved with Mu Ye?"
"That's not something we should be concerned about, is it?"
"Haha, indeed."
Only then did I remember the two people on the shore. I waved and called out to them, "It's safe now. I'll take you out."
Mo Zhidu shook his head and refused, "Your elder brother and I died long ago. Now we are just lingering souls. It's better to stay here than to go out."
Chi Yan Long Wang also said, "It's quiet and leisurely here. We won't leave. You should go quickly."
"Then when will I see you again?" I asked.
Mo Zhidu smiled, "Whenever you miss us, we will be in your heart."
I suddenly remembered a conversation I overheard between Mo Zhidu and Chi Yan Long Wang when I was drunk that day. I knew Mo Zhidu had been waiting for someone.
Perhaps it was this obsession that kept him waiting until now. Today, I will be the one to resolve his inner conflict.
"Mo Zhidu, you asked me under the tree that day if I would have fallen in love with you if you had met me ten thousand years ago. I am giving you my answer now. Thank you."
He was suddenly stunned, realizing that Mu Ye had not been drunk that day and had heard everything clearly. However, hearing this sentence made him very happy.
"Good, I accept your love," he replied.
A warmth spread through me. Knowing they wouldn't leave, I waved goodbye, "Then we're leaving. Take care of yourselves."
"Good. Third Sister, you must also take good care."
"Okay."
After bidding farewell, I walked with the Myriad Ghost King towards the other side of the river, entering the beam of light.
After I left, Chi Yan Long Wang casually asked him, "Is waiting ten thousand years for a single sentence worth it?"
Mo Zhidu smiled faintly and retorted, "You accompanied me for ten thousand years and gained nothing. Is that worth it?"
Chi Yan Long Wang smiled helplessly and said, "I'm accompanying you out of loyalty. You must repay me well in your next life."
"I know."
The two looked at each other and smiled, walking forward. Their bodies gradually turned into specks of starlight and disappeared into the air.
It seemed their obsessions had vanished, and they had reincarnated. I hoped they would live happily and peacefully in their next lives.
If fate allowed, I hoped we could meet again in the next life and be good brothers once more.
Meanwhile, on the other side, after entering the light with the Myriad Ghost King, I heard the shouts of Liu Shinian, Yan Wushuang, Hei Feng, and others.
"Mu Ye, Demon King, wake up quickly."
I followed the sound and felt a blinding light. As I slightly opened my eyes, I saw the four Protectors, the Twelve Star Generals, the Twenty-Four Mountain Masters, and Lin'er all crammed into a room.
Seeing me awake, everyone became excited. "She's awake, she's awake! The Demon King is awake!"
My head throbbed, and I asked faintly, "How long have I been asleep?"
Shui Fang replied, "Not long, only three days."
"Three days? It feels like a month."
I struggled to sit up but suddenly felt a pain in my body. Lin'er hurriedly advised me.
"Demon King, your injuries are serious. You cannot move carelessly for now. You need to rest for a few more days."
Only then did I slowly lie back down. Yan Wushuang picked up a washcloth and carefully wiped the cold sweat from my forehead.
At this moment, I suddenly remembered something important and asked.
"Has the Western Purple Kingdom been conquered?"
"It has been conquered," everyone replied in unison.
Feng Xiaoyi comforted me.
"Demon King, you don't need to worry. We have already resolved the matters in the city. With the Elder here now, there won't be any problems."
Hearing him say that, I finally nodded with relief.
Then I remembered my Dragon's Roar Sword and Crimson Blood Sword. The dual swords I learned in the Nether Stream couldn't be useless. I quickly asked.
"Where is my Dragon's Roar Sword?"
Lin'er then got up, carried a long box from the side, and brought it to me. Opening it, I saw the Dragon's Roar Sword and the Crimson Blood Sword lying within.
"That's great, the Dragon's Roar Sword is here, and the Crimson Blood Sword is also here."
Lin'er said, "Demon King, rest well. Don't worry about other matters."
I nodded in agreement. He then ushered everyone out to create a quiet environment for me.