He dismounted his horse immediately, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect.
"I never imagined, Young Master Liu, you would be so righteous. I had only heard tales of the Liu family's loyalty and integrity, and today I see it is indeed extraordinary.
Since you have decided to go alone, I will grant your wish. Should you unfortunately perish, I will ensure you are buried properly."
Liu Shinian offered an awkward smile, his mind preoccupied with other matters.
"There's no other way, I can only deceive him like this. Who asked Muy野 to be so kind to me? So be it."
He also cupped his hands in a bow.
"Then, farewell."
Just as Liu Shinian was about to leave, the other man called out to him.
"Wait!"
He turned back in confusion, looking at the man and asking.
"Sir, what is it?"
The man replied with great excitement.
"I am Yang Pingfeng, from the Yang family of Hanshan."
"Ah, so you are the Yang brothers. Then I should respectfully announce my name as well.
I am Liu Shinian, from the Liu family of Cangshan."
Yang Pingfeng grinned, his face beaming with joy. However, he then spoke with solemnity.
"Brother Liu, you must be extremely careful. If we meet again in the future, I will insist on treating you to a good drink."
Liu Shinian laughed heartily, agreeing with his sentiment. "Agreed. If we meet again, we shall drink until we are thoroughly inebriated."
"Indeed, until we are thoroughly inebriated."
"Brother Yang, farewell then."
"Brother Liu, take care."
The two men parted with genuine affection. Yang Pingfeng, in particular, watched Liu Shinian depart with lingering reluctance, remaining in place until the green mountains and trees obscured him from view. Only then did he snap back to reality and sigh to himself.
He lamented.
"It is truly a pity to have met such a person only today. The Myriad Ghost King is no ordinary foe.
If he engages in combat on this journey, he is certain to fall to the Myriad Ghost King.
Yet, knowing the danger, he insists on proceeding. His filial piety is truly moving.
I am ashamed that I could not assist him today, and can only offer my sincere farewell."
With that, he was moved by his own words. Suddenly, he lifted his robes and knelt down, bidding farewell to this noble individual.
Liu Shinian, however, was oblivious to all this, feeling only a slight pang of guilt for having deceived the other man.
His thoughts, already burdened, were stirred by a sense of longing. Recalling the formidable group that had arrived earlier, he couldn't help but worry.
He quickened his pace.
After walking for a while, he suddenly remembered he had a horse. He looked back and couldn't help but laugh at himself.
"Liu Shinian, oh Liu Shinian, you were so anxious you lost your head. You have a horse here and you chose to walk. You'll be the death of yourself with laughter."
After chiding himself a few times, he finally mounted the horse and set off towards Wanxue Mountain.
Meanwhile, on Wanxue Mountain.
After that night, I pondered for a long time but could not find a logical explanation.
After lying on the snow for a while, I struggled to get up and search for the Wanxue Spider.
However, amidst the vast expanse of white snow and towering mountains, I never caught sight of it, and had no idea where it had gone.
I had no choice but to return to the cave for the time being, planning to hide for a few days and then think of another plan.
I lay on my side, closing my eyes slightly. In a daze, I remembered that night in the heavy snow, and I remembered Liu Shinian.
I recalled his shock, his sadness, my mind in turmoil. I opened my eyes and turned over, forcing myself to sleep.
Suddenly, a dark figure darted in and shook me awake.
I rubbed my eyes and opened them. Seeing a man in black before me, I immediately rolled aside, becoming vigilant.
I sternly questioned him.
"Who are you!"
The man hastily pulled off his mask. I was instantly shocked; it was Liu Shinian.
Upon seeing me, he urgently said.
"There's no time to explain, quickly, come with me."
I frowned slightly, filled with confusion.
"Go where?"
"Anywhere, just come with me."
Without waiting for my reaction, he dragged me out of the cave and fled down the mountain as if pursued.
My heart was a mixture of shock, fear, and joy. Shock that he had come to find me, fear because he had come to find me, and joy also because he had come to find me.
After descending the mountain, he led me into the woods and escaped along a small path.
He chattered on ahead, saying things I couldn't understand.
"I remember I have an uncle who lives in seclusion in Qianmen Cave. We can go find him."
Confused for a moment, I quickly asked him.
"Why do we need to go there?"
Liu Shinian replied.
"Don't ask so many questions for now. You'll know when we get there."
"But, I, I can't."
My identity as the Myriad Ghost King, how could I possibly go.
He understood my concern and replied calmly.
"With me here, it's fine."
Those few words meant more than a thousand. I was so touched I almost shed tears. I knew, in the end, I still owed him.
After walking for a day and a night, I became utterly exhausted. I slowly sat down on a rock, looking at him with a hint of grievance.
He paid no mind to it, walked over, pulled me up, and continued walking.
After walking for a while longer, it was now late at night, and the surroundings were eerily quiet.
Only the crescent moon in the sky cast a faint glow.
A cold wind blew, and I let out an involuntary yawn.
Liu Shinian finally stopped, looked back at me, and asked with concern.
"Muy野, are you alright?"
I waved my hand.
"I'm, I'm fine."
He smiled slightly, feeling that they had walked far enough, and said.
"I don't think they can catch up for a while. Let's rest here."
"They?"
I guessed he was referring to the people chasing me.
My nose suddenly felt a sting, and I said with great sadness.
"I am now the Myriad Ghost King, your enemy. Why are you still coming to save me?"
Hearing this, he also became melancholic. He looked up at the crescent moon, sighed, and then let out a bitter laugh.
Only then did he speak.
"Perhaps, because, you are Muy野."
"But, I am no longer the Liu Muy野 I once was. I am now the Myriad Ghost King.
If you wish for revenge, then kill me. It would be worth dying by your hand."
In my heart, I still had some doubts.
Liu Shinian gave another bitter smile, turned around, grabbed my shoulders with both hands, and said earnestly.
"I do hate, but not you. You protected me once, and now it's my turn to protect you."
Tears of grievance welled up in my eyes. With his words, the stinging tears were about to fall.
Seeing my reddened nose, he couldn't help but laugh again.
"Hahaha, you look quite cute like this, much cuter than your fierce demeanor."
I flung his hands away and turned my back, wiping away the tears in my eyes.
Liu Shinian patted my shoulder as if to comfort me and said softly.
"I know you must have had your reasons, and that's why you've had to keep it from me all this time."
"I haven't kept anything from you!"
I turned around excitedly and said earnestly.
He looked puzzled for a moment, frowning, and asked.
"Haven't you always been the Myriad Ghost King?"
Angrily, I kicked him. Liu Shinian cried out in pain.
"Ah, that hurts! What are you doing! Did I say something wrong?"
"Mm."
"Then what happened?"
"That, that, that happened later. But, it's true that the Myriad Ghost King lives within me."
"The Myriad Ghost King lives within you?"
Liu Shinian was utterly astonished, his calm expression suddenly unsettled.
"The Myriad Ghost King lives in your heart?"
I was speechless. He really knew how to pick out the important points.
Seeing my displeased expression, Liu Shinian couldn't help but chuckle. He raised his hand to his mouth and teased me.
"You actually let him live in your heart, why don't you let me live in yours."
Suddenly angered, I reached out to hit him. He quickly ran away.
"I'm talking about serious matters, don't be so flippant."
"Alright, alright, I'll listen carefully. Go on."
"After we returned from Myriad Ghost Forest that time, we went our separate ways. Later, I encountered the Myriad Ghost King."
I deliberately omitted mentioning Ah Li, as I didn't want to involve him.
However, Liu Shinian suddenly brought up the person I least wanted to remember.
"Went our separate ways? What about Ah Li? Didn't he always follow you? Where did he go?"
I knew he would ask about him sooner or later, so I had my reasons prepared.
"Ah Li, after you left, he also left and returned to Nanshan."
"He's truly generous. I thought he and you would become a family.
I believe he knew my true feelings and wanted to give you to me. If he had told me then, I would never have let you leave."
His sudden confession made me feel incredibly awkward.
Indeed, no matter how much time had passed, he was still the same, unable to change his foul mouth.
I sighed softly, sat down, and said helplessly.
"It's a pity that things have changed, and I am no longer the person I once was."
He slowly reached out, placed his hand on my shoulder, and said.
"I wasn't there when you were in danger, nor when you needed me.
Now that I see you, no matter the trials and tribulations, I will accompany you."
His sudden display of deep affection touched me once again.
However, I suddenly lowered my head sadly and said.
"No, I am the Myriad Ghost King, your enemy. How can you be with your enemy?
Alright, you should go back. You've escorted me far enough."
With that, I resolutely stood up and urged him to leave.
I knew that if he stayed with me, it would be disrespectful to his master and would bring trouble upon himself.
He was already burdened with guilt, and how could I let him risk further danger.
Liu Shinian gently grasped my hand and said with deep affection.
"I cannot stand by and watch you suffer without acting. That is not something I can do."
I pulled his hand away, suddenly becoming cold and bidding farewell.
"Enough, you've said enough. You owe me nothing, leave quickly."
After saying this, I walked away alone.
Liu Shinian followed behind, sighing.
After walking for a while, I couldn't help but look back. Seeing that he wasn't following, I finally let the suppressed pain flow out.
Leaning against a large tree, I gazed at the half-moon, my heart feeling as if it were being cut by a knife.
"Crying like this will ruin your eyes."
It was Liu Shinian's voice. I turned around in a hurry and, seeing that he had still followed, felt both happy and sad.
I pretended to be angry and said.
"Why are you here again? Don't follow me."
"Yes, I won't follow, I won't follow. Then why are you crying? Are you reluctant to part with me?"
I turned my head away and wiped my eyes discreetly.
Liu Shinian sighed softly, slowly approached, and said with genuine affection.
"I know you became the Myriad Ghost King against your will. I don't hate you.
I am willing to accompany you to find a way to break free from the Myriad Ghost King."
I shook my head, refusing him.
"It's useless. You should go. If, one day, I have nowhere else to turn, I will come to find you. This life, I entrust this life to you."
Liu Shinian's heart ached. His lifelong feud with the Myriad Ghost King would never end here.
But it was Muy野 who was suffering and in pain before him.
He could not bear to see that innocent and lively girl live in eternal suffering.
He slowly raised his hand, placed it on my face, and comforted me.
"You don't need to worry. My matters with the Myriad Ghost King have nothing to do with you.
My affairs with the Four Cities also have nothing to do with you."
I let out a bitter laugh and slowly raised my hand, wanting to grasp him, to grasp this lifeline.
But, I couldn't... I couldn't.
With a heart of resolve, I pushed his hand away again and fled as if pursued.
My own destiny, I would bear it myself.
Liu Shinian quickly caught up, grabbed me, and pulled me into his embrace, comforting me repeatedly.
"Muy野, don't be afraid. Don't carry so much. I believe there will be a way, there must be a way."
Faced with his sincere words, I could no longer hold back. I wept uncontrollably in his arms, and finally chose to believe him.
As dawn broke, we traveled west. After two days and one night without rest or sleep, we arrived at Chumen Mountain.
Beyond Chumen Mountain and over another mountain, we would reach Qianmen Cave.
For some reason, as we reached this point, I felt extremely drowsy and ravenously hungry.
I plopped down on a rock, panting, while Liu Shinian seemed unfazed.
He turned back and said to me.
"After all, you're human. You're already exhausted at this point."
I took a breath and explained to him.
"I don't know. I feel very strange. Once I reached this place, I just felt tired and hungry."
"I'll carry you, and we'll keep going. We can't be caught."
"Caught? Will someone come?"
He took out a piece of flatbread from his embrace and handed it to me.
"Eat as we walk."
As I took the flatbread and was about to take a bite, a flying dart suddenly flew out and knocked it away.
I stood up in shock, and Liu Shinian also sensed that something was amiss.
Suddenly, a figure descended from the sky, landing behind Liu Shinian, grabbed him, and instantly pulled him several meters away.
The newcomer was Jin Yulan.
He slowly opened his fan, fanned himself, and loudly declared.
"Hero Liu has achieved a great feat today, risking his own safety to lure out the Myriad Ghost King. He will be heavily rewarded upon our return. Everyone, come out!"
As soon as he finished speaking, with a "whoosh," a crowd of people emerged from the grass, surrounding me.
Among them were the group from Myriad Ghost Forest, as well as the Snow Blade Twin Fiends.
Upon seeing me, they were instantly greatly alarmed and asked.
"You are the Myriad Ghost King!"
I looked helplessly at the people before me. The experts present today were truly top-tier. It seemed my fate was sealed.
They, however, were righteous. They immediately said to Young Master Jin.
"Young Master Jin, Miss Liu has also helped us before. She is a friend to us both.
We cannot bear to strike her, nor can we bear to see her perish. We shall take our leave."
Jin Yulan smiled slightly and nodded in agreement.
Yan Wushuang cast me a regretful glance and reluctantly left with Xue Gucheng.
Liu Shinian struggled and cursed him.
"You despicable scoundrel, you used me!"
Jin Yulan smiled at him, punched him in the back, knocking him unconscious, and dragged him away.
Surrounded by the crowd, I dared not make any rash moves, merely watching their next actions.
At this moment, someone in the crowd spoke.
"Myriad Ghost King, I didn't expect you to still be alive after a thousand years. Don't blame us for your capture today.
As you can see, you are doomed today. End yourself here."
They drew their swords and prepared to charge forward and kill me.