A long, long time ago, when Hei Yanjing was very young, he began to walk within the unfathomable Forbidden Land.
At that time, he had just lost everything. Although his eyes were covered with black cloth, they still ached intensely from the slightest airflow, as if a dull saw were slowly and deeply cutting into those two spherical organs, making him almost unable to resist plucking them out and stomping them into the ground.
But he was used to it.
He was like an unstoppable sharp blade, piercing directly into the Forbidden Land. Whether the path ahead was covered in thorns or hung with ghostly hands, he paid no mind. Along with the shattered mechanisms, blood also scattered, but so what?
—He couldn't die anyway.
He broke the lock in front of him with his bare hands, hearing a faint, crisp sound from afar.
The sound of metal colliding transmitted through the stone walls, rhythmic and steady, like someone walking around in golden-bottomed boots.
...It wasn't unusual for there to be people in the Forbidden Land in this era.
Wars were frequent, and the people suffered. Cases of cannibalism were common. Under such circumstances, even the highly lethal Forbidden Land could not stop desperate refugees.
If they died, at least they died quickly, which was better than starving and freezing outside; if they were lucky enough to steal something and come out alive, the pawned money would be enough for their families to survive a few harsh winters.
At first, Hei Yanjing would save these ragged people, but he soon realized it was futile.
The people he sent out whole and unharmed would re-enter the Forbidden Land the next day.
And the second time, good luck did not favor them.
Hei Yanjing had witnessed countless familiar corpses lying on the road, their faces bearing expressions of terror or resignation, their hands either empty or laden with gold and silver.
Thus, he gave up on doing pointless work.
His thoughts returned, and the mechanisms from earlier had slightly loosened the knot of the black cloth behind his head. Hei Yanjing's attention was drawn to the corner of the black cloth that had been lifted by a gust of wind, and he paused slightly.
And at the very moment he stopped, a crisp "click" sounded. The mechanism in front of him was triggered by something, emitting a sound like interlocking gears.
This could be poison gas, hidden weapons, or something else...
Hei Yanjing wasn't particularly inclined to pay attention.
It was as if a bottomless pit had appeared in his heart, and any emotion that was even slightly joyful would slip through that leak, transform into gurgling black mucus, and crawl out, seeping into every one of his blood vessels.
And those viscous fluids screamed every moment—
Why are you the only one okay?
The mechanism activated, which was novel. It wasn't the pile of things he had guessed earlier, but a giant pendulum. Judging by its design, the creator intended for intruders to experience a crushing death. Hei Yanjing, rather flippantly, gave his creativity a score of sixty in his mind.
He slowly smoothed the end of the tie, ensuring it was perfectly creased, while the pendulum roared towards him—
The sound of metal collision in his ears suddenly sped up.
A hand emerged like a phantom, grabbed his collar with force, and the immense power instantly shifted Hei Yanjing's position.
The pendulum struck the stone wall behind him heavily, sending countless fragments of rock flying, which pinged against his back.
This was the first time Hei Yanjing met Zhang Qiling.
Zhang Qiling could not see like Hei Yanjing, so he was holding a candelabra. The flickering flame was warm, yet it pierced Hei Yanjing's eyes like needles, making the stinging sensation in his eyes feel as intense as if it were penetrating his very brain.
It was absurd; even though he felt like his eyes would explode in the next second, they still functioned perfectly, allowing him to see clearly in the darkness like a nocturnal creature.
Thus, Hei Yanjing saw that this man in black had a white knife strapped to his back.
The white knife had no sheath, exposed and hanging on his back, bound by a thin iron chain. Every movement caused the hilt to collide with the chain, producing a crisp sound.
But upon closer inspection, there was a layer of soft cloth padding the blade, separating it from the cold chain.
...With this method, the person in front of him clearly had no intention of using the knife.
Hei Yanjing's interest was piqued, perhaps by the rare act of kindness in this Forbidden Land or by this swordsman who didn't use his sword. He withdrew his gaze, pulled up the corners of his mouth as if politely saying "Thank you."
Then he clearly saw the man in black pause and reveal an expression.
The expression was fleeting, but it seemed like he couldn't bear to look.
He didn't think his current appearance was anything to be ashamed of, so—
"You know me," Hei Yanjing's voice was certain. He seemed to trust Zhang Qiling, casually drawing the knife from his side and twirling it. The expression beneath the black cloth was calm.
But in reality, he was already tense all over.
In the present moment, after all that had happened, after wandering in the Forbidden Land incognito for so long, the sudden appearance of a powerful figure who knew him made him unable to help but overthink.
...He was willing to embrace death, but certainly not to be killed.
The man in black glanced at him, his expressionless face like that of a sculpture, not like a living person at all.
He stared at Hei Yanjing for a moment, then suddenly raised his hand to shield the candelabra's flame.
The flame, of course, could not be completely blocked. It seeped through his pale fingers, casting long shadows on the stone walls.
Thus, Hei Yanjing's eyes continued to ache.
The man in black lowered his hand, opened his mouth, and then closed it again, his lips as pale as his fingers pressed tightly together.
He left just like that, without leaving a single word.
—
Time could change a person, Hei Yanjing had to admit that.
A hundred years passed. Wars subsided, then flared up again, then subsided again, as if the world could never truly find peace.
But Hei Yanjing had long since learned how to coexist harmoniously with his damned fate, navigating through crowds with ease.
—At least, that's how it appeared.
The easily loosened cloth tie was replaced by sunglasses from the west, and the expression of suppressed madness was melted by a dissolute smile. Hei Yanjing had completely forgotten the person he had met once in the Forbidden Land—
Until he saw that guy expressionlessly playing the erhu on the street.
Hei Yanjing: ??????
Hei Yanjing wasn't very skilled at the erhu at this time, but he could tell that this guy played well.
His superb skill combined with that face delivered a blow several times stronger. A circle of young women around him seemed ready to ask for his home address.
He had a simple cloth tie on his back, and judging by its length, it was likely still that white knife.
Hei Yanjing was surprised by how good his memory still was, but what was stronger than surprise was disbelief and a strange sense of joy.
...In this world, there was actually someone like him.
Was he also cursed? Had he found a way to break the curse? Why had he saved him back then...
In the distance, Zhang Qiling was surrounded by a group of people but had not spoken a word.
Thus, Hei Yanjing suddenly had an idea—
His curse was to become blind, so was that person's curse to become mute?
What kind of curse was this? Was it dedicated to producing a group of disabled people?
Hei Yanjing's emotions churned. He waited nearby until dusk, and after the crowd dispersed, he saw the guy pack up his stall and walk into an alley. Only then did he suppress his excitement and step forward, intending to greet him.
They were acquaintances, so there was no need for pleasantries. Hei Yanjing directly clapped his hand on the guy's shoulder, pulled up a smile, and intended to get to the point—
Then he dodged an elbow strike with a backward lean and felt the full force of a follow-up flying kick.
The person in front of him looked up, his gaze completely unfamiliar and vigilant.
Hei Yanjing: ...???
Hei Yanjing looked closely, feeling he hadn't mistaken the person, but clearly, Zhang Qiling had no intention of giving him a chance to chat properly.
It wasn't completely dark yet, and Hei Yanjing hadn't fully mastered martial arts. Zhang Qiling was simply too monstrous...
For many reasons, in the end, Hei Yanjing was inexplicably beaten down. The fight was extremely frustrating.
And after he finally suppressed his temper, explained the cause and effect, and exchanged names, thinking he could finally get to the point—
Zhang Qiling looked even more bewildered than him: "...I forgot."
Hei Yanjing: ...Okay. (Smiles)
Hei Yanjing turned and left, feeling that he would be an idiot if he continued talking to this guy.
—
For those who live long lives, time-wasting activities can become romantic.
Another hundred years passed, and Hei Yanjing had largely adapted to life.
He still encountered Zhang Qiling occasionally, but most of the time, the guy was in a state of amnesia. At first, Hei Yanjing would try to indicate that they knew each other, but later, he saved himself the trouble and simply reintroduced himself.
Zhang Qiling wasn't mute, but Hei Yanjing had gotten used to calling him that and was too lazy to change.
During this century, he had mastered the erhu and learned a string of other skills. At the same time, he had also discovered the whereabouts of the Zhang family.
...It seemed that being "mute" or having amnesia wasn't a curse anymore.
But to be so forgetful, wasn't it practically the same as a curse?
Hei Yanjing thought this as he walked through the street and happened to see that familiar guy arguing fruitlessly with a driver, only to be instantly abandoned by the driver on the street corner.
...How many times had they seen this happen?
Hei Yanjing couldn't be bothered to think. He provocatively spoke with a carefree air and, as expected, found the guy's eyes were blank again.
...Forget it, it doesn't matter, they weren't that close anyway.
...Perhaps this guy would be useful as a henchman?
Hei Yanjing had tried to invite Zhang Qiling to accompany him before, but had never succeeded. However, this time, he succeeded.