I know you have your reservations, but if I don't say everything now, and regret it later... I will deeply resent my present self.
As for your true decision, I will accept it wholeheartedly.
"I know you are all honorable people who keep your promises. Now that your promise is fulfilled, there is no need for you to stay.
I cannot force you, but before you leave, I want you to know... my heart, and everyone's heart these past few days.
We have already embraced you as part of us, so I dare to ask you... stay.
If you still must go, I will silently wish you well."
As his heartfelt words poured out, tears welled up, and he looked at them with tear-filled eyes.
Dao Lang and Fei Xiong, standing beside him, were also reluctant to see them leave and urged them to stay.
"I say, the two of you, we've all come this far, why are you still leaving? Everyone knows you're with the King of Ten Thousand Ghosts now. Where can you go after you leave?"
Fei Xiong also chimed in.
"Exactly, exactly! I think being a villain is quite nice. You've been good people for so long, it's time for a change of pace."
Xue Gucheng and Yan Wushuang found their words amusing, caught between laughter and tears.
Seeing that they still hadn't responded, Dao Lang stepped forward and patted Xue Gucheng on the shoulder.
"Brother, you're a good person, and we'll miss you dearly. Don't go, okay? At worst, I'll cook delicious food for you."
"I can make bear cookies, very fragrant ones," Fei Xiong added with a smile.
Xue Gucheng finally couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Hahaha, I wouldn't dare eat anything you two make.
Actually, Shuang'er and I have wanted to stay for a while, but we were hesitant due to our promise to the elder.
Although we haven't known each other long, we already feel like old friends who have known each other for ages. In my heart, I've already considered everyone my good friend."
Yan Wushuang also said.
"Whether we are good or evil, we are born without a distinction between right and wrong. To have come this far is simply following our hearts.
Since you all are so reluctant to see us go, and Xue Ge and I no longer wish to live a life of constant travel, then Xue Ge, let's stay."
Yan Wushuang looked at Xue Gucheng, and beneath his unseen mask, his gaze was likely filled with affection.
Xue Gucheng smiled faintly and nodded.
"Alright, then we shall stay."
My heart swelled with uncontrollable excitement, and a sweet smile spread across my face. I eagerly extended my hands and clasped theirs tightly, my eyes brimming with tears.
"This is wonderful, truly wonderful. From this day forward, no matter how many years pass, you will always be my good friends, my family."
Xue Gucheng and Yan Wushuang exchanged a smile, their thoughts aligning, and said in unison.
"Good, we are now eternal friends, eternal family."
My heart was filled with emotion, tears shimmering, and I longed to embrace them both tightly.
Suddenly, Xue Gucheng spoke again.
"However, before I stay, there is one thing I must do."
My heart skipped a beat, and I wondered what it could be.
Under the suspicious gazes of the others, Xue Gucheng slowly removed his white mask, a symbol of justice, and tossed it into the river.
I found it strange, and turning back, I was struck by breathtaking beauty. Before me stood a man with slightly sword-like brows and bright eyes, his features refined and refined, exuding an aura of youthful chivalry.
Then, Yan Wushuang, like Xue Gucheng, removed her white mask and tossed it into the river, revealing her gentle and lovely face, her lips bright and her teeth pearly white, a beauty.
Dao Lang also curiously turned to look and was instantly astonished, unable to help but praise.
"Indeed, a pair of peerless beauties! It was a good thing to cast them away; you'll never be bound by these masks again."
Fei Xiong leaned in and added.
"A match made in heaven! Such lovely faces, they make my heart flutter."
I, however, was a little confused and asked.
"What is the significance of abandoning these masks?"
Seeing my confusion, Fei Xiong took it upon himself to explain.
"You wouldn't know this, but a true knight is one who does good deeds without revealing their name or face; they must be mysterious.
These masks are symbols of knighthood. By shedding them now, they are showing their resolve to follow you."
Hearing his explanation, I suddenly understood and realized.
"So that's how it is, that's wonderful."
In my excitement, I paid no mind to anything else and opened my arms, pulling them both into a tight embrace.
Dao Lang and Fei Xiong, seeing this, also stepped forward and said.
"And us too."
They joined the embrace, and the five of them, at that moment, were like a single flame, a fire in the darkness, illuminating each other.
However, they still forgot one person, Liu Shinian, who lay quietly sleeping to the side.
Yan Wushuang then remembered to ask me why I was there.
"Mu Ye, why are you here? Didn't you say you were staying at Black Mountain?"
Speaking of this, I explained to them.
"After you all left that day, I inexplicably received a secret letter. The letter said Liu Shinian was in danger and I should hurry to North Divine Capital. So, without further thought, I rushed here at top speed."
"I see. But who could have sent the letter? Could it be someone from Black Mountain?"
I knew very well who it was, but that was a matter between Liu and me, and none of their concern. So, I fabricated a story.
"I'm not sure, perhaps someone else. But it doesn't matter, we should hurry back to Black Mountain now. The elder and everyone are still waiting for us."
With no leads, everyone could only agree to return to Black Mountain.
"Alright, let's head back to Black Mountain first."
I looked up at the dark sky, feeling the chill in the wind. Coming back to my senses, I realized it was getting late and said.
"I think it's getting late, it's best we get some rest."
"Very well."
With that, everyone dispersed, each finding a comfortable spot to rest.
When dawn broke, the group set off for Black Mountain. However, this journey was a one-way trip, and perhaps when they returned, the scene would be entirely different.
...
In a serene forest, there was only a tranquil river and the gentle sound of dripping water. A butterfly, fluttering down, landed like a pure white flower on the water's surface.
Liu Xiang stood quietly by the riverbank, gazing into the clear riverbed, a flicker of emotion in his eyes.
"Are you the strongest person here?"
Suddenly, a childish voice asked from behind him. He turned around in surprise and saw a small boy holding a wooden stick, his eyes filled with a hint of fear.
Liu Xiang smiled gently, looking at him kindly, but did not answer his question.
"You must be the strongest here."
The little boy asked again.
Liu Xiang looked at the wooden stick in his hand and smiled faintly, explaining.
"This wooden stick of yours has been used to catch fish for three days, to hit someone, and to smash through several bushes."
The boy was momentarily stunned, then amazed. He couldn't understand how this person before him could see all these things he had done.
Although a little frightened, he put on a brave face and said.
"You, you, you can see my past, so you must be the strongest around here. In that case, I'll just have to defeat you."
Saying this, he brandished the wooden stick and charged forward. Liu Xiang raised his hand slightly, and the boy was rendered immobile.
Then, a pair of jade-white hands descended upon his face, and in his terrified gaze, they removed his face.
He instantly became a person without features. He struggled to sit on the ground, his hands constantly stroking his face.
Liu Xiang bent down slightly and placed his face back.
The boy blinked, looking at him in terror.
Liu Xiang smiled gently, saying nothing, and turned to leave.
The boy suddenly reacted, scrambling to his feet and chasing after him, grabbing his red robe and calling out anxiously.
"Wait! Wait!"
Liu Xiang stopped and turned around, pushing his hand away, and asked.
"What do you want?"
The boy fell to his knees and kowtowed earnestly.
"What are you doing?"
Liu Xiang, who spoke little, surprisingly said so much.
The boy raised his dirt-covered face and pleaded with him.
"You must be the most powerful person around here. I can't defeat you, so please, take me as your disciple."
Saying this, he kowtowed again.
Liu Xiang slowly crouched down, gently lifting his head with his bone fan, and asked with a clear, cold gaze.
"For your mother?"
Upon hearing the word "mother," the boy's long-suppressed heart ached, and tears involuntarily welled up in his eyes, looking at him pitifully.
Seeing his appearance, Liu Xiang was momentarily reminded of his own youth, and of his mother.
However, he would never have the chance to see his mother again; only this bone fan remained as a memento of his longing.
He slowly stood up, having no intention of helping him, and said.
"I am merely a passerby here, I cannot help you. You should go back."
With that, he turned and walked into the forest. The boy quickly got up and chased after him, shouting as he ran.
"I've already kowtowed to you! You are my master! Master! I beg you! Take me as your disciple!"
However, by the time he caught up and pushed aside the bushes, there was only a silent forest. Liu Xiang had already vanished.
The boy, however, paid no mind, running wildly, shouting.
"Master! Master!"
Standing atop a tree, Liu Xiang coldly watched the boy searching frantically in the forest and thought to himself.
"I'll just leave him be. Such a small matter, it's not my responsibility, is it?"
Thinking this, he turned and went to another open space. Suddenly, a rumbling sound reached his ears.
He looked up, and in the distant sky, a dark cloud had appeared at some point, with surging lightning crackling within the cloud.
Seeing that it was about to rain, he looked back and thought again.
"That kid will go back, won't he?"
He then walked forward aimlessly, but the booming thunder constantly disturbed his thoughts.
He couldn't help but stop, his gaze drifting towards the cloud, and in a daze, he saw raindrops falling.
He couldn't help but think again.
"Is it raining? He must have gone back by now, that would be good, so he doesn't have to suffer."
Though he thought this, his mind was still contemplating whether to go back and check on him.
"That child, perhaps I should take a look."
He couldn't bear it after all, and transformed into a gust of wind, returning.
In the vast forest, the boy was still shouting at the top of his lungs.
"Master! Master! I can cook! I can chop wood! I can do anything! I'm not afraid of hardship! Master! Don't go! Just take me as your disciple!"
He shouted for an unknown amount of time, tears streaming down his face, but he still didn't give up, still searching as usual.
Until the dark cloud arrived, and the pouring rain came, he was still shouting.
Liu Xiang stood on a tree branch, watching the boy shouting in the pouring rain, a slight touch of emotion in his eyes. He couldn't help but think.
"He's still here. If I hadn't come back, would he keep shouting? He probably would."
"Master! Master!"
The boy shouted, wiping the tears and water from his face.
Suddenly, a flash of red appeared before him, and the rain overhead abruptly stopped. But he looked around, and it was clearly still pouring.
Curiously, he looked up and saw his master, clad in red, holding a red umbrella.
"Master!"
He rushed towards him excitedly. Liu Xiang slowly crouched down and blew a breath towards him, and the boy, in a daze, fainted.
He caught him, picked him up, and walked away through the fallen leaves until they reached a cave.
He gently placed him on a flat stone, waved his hand, and the boy's clothes became dry and warm.
Then, placing his hand on the boy's forehead, he slowly closed his eyes. In an instant, a mist cleared.
He also saw the boy's memories.
It was a small mountain, and at its foot was a village with about ten households.
One day, his mother was tending to the rice as usual in front of their door when suddenly, a commotion erupted ahead. The boy ran home.
His mother asked him what was wrong, and he said that the people from the mountain had come again.
As soon as he finished speaking, more than a dozen men, looking fierce and carrying looted food on their shoulders, entered the courtyard.
The boy hid behind his mother, frightened.
The leader, a man with a handlebar mustache, asked as soon as he entered.
"It's time to pay the grain."
The mother hurried into the house and handed the prepared grain to the man.
The man weighed it and seemed satisfied. At that moment, crying was heard from outside the door.
An old man was shoved in by the man's subordinates, and with a forceful push, he fell to the ground.
The boy's mother tried to go to his aid, but she was pushed to the ground by the man with the handlebar mustache. The boy anxiously ran to his mother's side.
The man with the handlebar mustache asked the subordinate what was going on. The subordinate said the old man hadn't paid his grain. When asked about it, the old man said he had already given it.
The man with the handlebar mustache thought he was lying and, without further ado, slapped him twice, knocking the old man to the ground.
Several men surrounded him, kicking and punching. The mother, without thinking, rushed forward to try and pull them away, but she too was pushed to the ground and subjected to kicks and punches.
The boy tried to rush forward to protect his mother, but he was kicked away. He rushed forward again, only to be kicked away once more.
Finally, he was kicked heavily on the forehead and lost consciousness. When he woke up, the surroundings were silent.
His mother and the old man were gone. He searched for a long, long time but couldn't find them.
Then one day, someone told him that his mother had been beaten to death by those people, and that everyone, to spare him the grief of seeing his mother's body, had helped bury her.
However, upon hearing this, he bit back all his tears.
From that day on, his heart was filled with hatred, and he vowed to become strong enough to avenge his mother himself.