Chapter 2 The Morning After
The next morning, a ray of sunlight streamed in from outside, landing on his eyelids.
He opened his eyes slightly, only to find the room filled with people.
Then, instinctively, he reached for his sword to defend himself, but found nothing. I retrieved the sword from behind and handed it to him, saying,
"Brother Yue, your sword."
He looked at me with a suspicious gaze, then glanced at the people behind me.
Among those he recognized by name were Xue Gucheng, Yan Wushuang, Dao Lang, Fei Xiong, and Liu Shinian.
Seeing so many famous figures he knew gathered in Black Mountain, he couldn't help but feel confused and asked me,
"Did you trick them into coming here too?"
Liu Shinian laughed heartily upon hearing this and replied,
"Brother, that's a good question, but unfortunately, we didn't come by trickery; we came of our own accord."
He was slightly stunned, finding it somewhat amusing, but then noticed that the Xue Dao Shuang Guai were not wearing their white masks that signified their status as chivalrous heroes. He asked in confusion,
"Gentlemen, where are your masks?"
Xue Gucheng shook his head slightly and told him indifferently,
"We no longer need such things."
He was utterly bewildered and couldn't figure it out. He then turned to Fei Xiong and Dao Lang and asked,
"Why are you two here as well?"
Fei Xiong chuckled,
"Big brother, we are like Liu Shinian; we came on our own."
"But, isn't this a demon's lair? How could you all..."
He tried to find any sign of demonic threat.
Fei Xiong sighed deeply and revealed the truth to him.
"Alas, those are just rumors spread by you righteous folk who care too much about appearances.
We bandits don't bother with such things; we just follow our hearts."
He found it unbelievable, even more so than Liu Muye becoming the King of Ten Thousand Ghosts.
Seeing that his emotions had stabilized considerably, Lin'er asked him,
"Young Master Yue, you must have had no choice but to come to Black Mountain."
His words made him vaguely recall the sword he had thrust at me last night. Feeling too embarrassed to speak, he simply said,
"I came here by chance."
Hei Feng knew he had a purpose for coming here, and rather than let him misunderstand everyone, it was better to ask directly.
"Since you've risked half your life to come to Black Mountain, speak your mind. If we can help, we will."
He thought for a moment but still didn't speak. I knew his worries and reassured him,
"Don't worry, Hei Feng has already healed the wound from your sword last night. You risked your life to come here; if you don't explain yourself, it will have been in vain."
Seeing our sincerity and lack of resentment, and our genuine concern for him, he felt ashamed of his actions. He then hesitantly revealed his purpose for coming.
"I came... to save Sister Liu.
She was disfigured in a great fire and didn't want to see me. I finally caught up to her, but she asked me to leave.
After many attempts to reconcile, we finally made up. Just then, a woman calling herself the Drought Demoness appeared.
She said she had a way to save Sister Liu, but in return, she wanted me to kill someone for her."
Despite saying all this, he didn't mention that Jin Yulan had instructed him to assassinate the King of Ten Thousand Ghosts. It seemed he still had reservations.
Liu Shinian said,
"So, you risked your life to come to Black Mountain to kill Muye."
He nodded and continued,
"But now, Sister Liu is in that woman's hands. She wants me to kill the King of Ten Thousand Ghosts before she will heal Sister Liu's face."
Dao Lang also thought carefully, finding it all rather strange.
"The Drought Demoness, I've heard of her. Legend has it she's a woman who brings misfortune, but she was imprisoned in the Desert Hell long ago. How could she suddenly appear?"
"I don't know, but it seems she must have escaped."
"Escaped?"
Dao Lang doubted this statement. He had only heard that the place was easy to enter but impossible to leave.
Moreover, the Drought Demoness's abilities were only slightly superior to Xue Gucheng's. How could she possibly have the power to escape?
The others also found it suspicious, but judging by Yue Jiucheng's demeanor, he didn't seem to be lying.
As his friend, I knew he desperately needed an answer now, and I, too, could not evade this.
"Brother Yue, I bear a great responsibility and cannot die yet. Furthermore, I do not wish to betray my loyalty to you.
How about this: I will cut a lock of my hair for you to take. After I fulfill my duty, I will deliver my head to you."
He was shocked by this and couldn't believe it. The others were also startled, except for Lin'er, who calmly said,
"To be honest, Young Master, the Ghost King bears the mission of saving the entire ghost tribe. The Ghost King cannot die. My life is worthless; take my head to the Drought Demoness."
Lin'er knew I was a person of great loyalty and righteousness. As the leader of the ghost tribe, how could I abandon the entire tribe?
If someone had to die, he would be that person.
He then took out a dagger from his sleeve, intending to end his own life, but Xue Gucheng struck his hand away.
I was also surprised and exclaimed,
"Elder, what are you doing? The ghost tribe cannot do without you. My life is not important. After we resolve the matter of the four cities' siege, I will personally go to see the Drought Demoness."
At this moment, Shi Sanniang, who had been standing in a corner, suddenly stepped forward and cupped his hands, saying,
"Elder, Ghost King, let me go. I believe that as long as it is the life of a ghost tribe member, it should be enough to exchange for Sister Liu."
Just then, guards from outside the door rushed in and knelt on the ground, saying,
"Ghost King, please let me go. I am willing to die for Black Mountain, to die for the Ghost King."
Chaos erupted as everyone vied to die. Liu Shinian helplessly rubbed his forehead and said,
"I've seen people scrambling to live, but never people fighting to die. What a peculiar bunch."
Xue Gucheng, however, did not think so. In his eyes, this was true loyalty and righteousness, and he sighed with emotion,
"Perhaps in this world, no one else can achieve such a feat."
Yue Jiucheng was also moved by this scene, lamenting that even a mere guard was willing to die for Black Mountain, let alone others.
This was enough to show Muye's importance, and how could he be so selfish?
He then said,
"I've made up my mind."
Everyone immediately calmed down and looked at him. He continued,
"As Muye suggested, I will take her hair back. I believe there must be another way besides death."
I also said,
"After I resolve the matter of the four cities, I will accompany you to see the Drought Demoness."
"Ghost King!"
They wanted to say more, but I waved my hand and said,
"Stop talking. Listen to me."
Everyone could only reluctantly agree. I picked up the dagger that had fallen on the ground, placed it on the lock of hair, and with a strong cut, severed a strand of black silk and handed it to him.
He took the black silk and suddenly covered his face, weeping uncontrollably.
The crowd was greatly perplexed and quickly asked,
"Is it still no good?"
He gently wiped away his tears and waved his hand, saying,
"No, it's just that I'm too moved."
Hearing his words, everyone else also burst into laughter.
Yue Jiucheng said,
"I think we should not delay. I will head down the mountain now."
"Very well, take care then."
"Take care."
He then hurriedly took the lock of black silk and descended the mountain.