togophonebook #458 - Chapter 458
#458 - Chapter 458
Leaving the borders of the Northern Zhou Dynasty and heading east, Qin Huan caught up with his enemy.
Covered in dust, Qin Huan had been tracking for days and nights. He sped east from the Northern Zhou border and finally caught sight of that familiar figure in a lush mountain forest.
It was none other than his arch-enemy!
Qin Huan silently channeled his inner strength, slowly敛reining in his aura, and followed without a sound. Soon, the figure stopped by a small stream and began to tend to his horse.
This was a golden opportunity! A murderous intent flashed in Qin Huan's eyes. Gripping his sword, he was about to draw it for a surprise attack when the man suddenly turned around, his eyes like lightning, glaring fiercely at Qin Huan's hiding place!
"Who's there? Get out here!"
A deep, powerful voice suddenly boomed, startling Qin Huan. This was clearly his elder brother, Qin Han, whom he had never met! Years ago, due to internal family strife, Qin Han was expelled from the family and disappeared into the Eastern Lands, his whereabouts always a mystery. And now, in this remote mountain forest in the Northern Lands, where people and horses were constantly moving, he had run into his executioner!
Qin Huan felt a sense of both amusement and helplessness. He had no choice but to hold his sword, bow, and slowly reveal himself. "This humble monk, Qin Huan, is the one who came out."
The man was taken aback, then lowered his guard, a look of surprise on his face. "Qin Huan? Are you that little boy from the Qin family thirty years ago? How... How did you get here?"
Qin Huan took a deep breath and looked around. It was still the familiar mountain forest, lush and green. Patches of sunlight fell on the stone steps by the stream, and the clear water flowed gurglingly, as peaceful and serene as it had been back then. But now, everything had changed.
"Today, I am here to avenge the deadly feud from thirty years ago and reclaim justice."
Qin Huan held his sword in hand, his eyes as sharp as lightning, revealing a heroic spirit.
Qin Han sized up the short but upright monk before him, as if searching for something in his memory. After a long while, he suddenly realized. "Thirty years ago? Are you referring to that internal strife back then... But wasn't that all the work of my crazy cousin, Qin Yi? You..."
The more Qin Han looked, the more familiar he felt. His eyes suddenly widened, as if he had finally recognized the person before him.
Qin Huan nodded. "It is indeed the massacre that wiped out my family thirty years ago. My sect suffered a tragic fate, leaving only me alive. And the culprit who caused my family to be destroyed and my teachers and fellow disciples to die tragically was none other than my cousin, Qin Yi!"
As he said this, Qin Huan's voice trembled slightly.
Qin Han opened his mouth, as if he had instantly recalled that horrific past. He was silent for a long while, then let out a long sigh, his aged face full of melancholy and vicissitudes.
"Ah... that was a tragedy caused by Qin Yi when he lost his mind..." Qin Han lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then said earnestly, "Huan'er, in fact, you and I have both been victims of that tragedy all these years. You lost your entire sect, and I was expelled from the family, wandering and displaced..."
Upon hearing this, Qin Huan's heart tightened. This old senior before him was not only his long-lost elder brother, but also, like him, had lost the most important people in his life in that tragedy.
Qin Han seemed to see through Qin Huan's inner turmoil. He reached out and patted his shoulder heavily, saying solemnly, "Huan'er, the past is unbearable to recall. Now that we are both old, why not let go of our grievances and enjoy the rest of our lives..."
"No!" Qin Huan interrupted him abruptly, his face with unprecedented determination. "Brother, I have waited thirty years! Now that the time, place, and people are right, I will definitely seek justice and avenge the blood feud of my teachers and fellow disciples!"
Seeing his determined expression, his eyes like sharp swords, Qin Han knew that he could not be persuaded. He could only let out a long sigh, slowly step back a few paces, and solemnly draw a precious saber that was unadorned and flawless from his waist.
"Huan'er, you are indeed a resolute person. Then let your brother help you, so that my heart can be somewhat cleansed."
Before he finished speaking, Qin Han had already become one with his saber, rushing towards Qin Huan like thunder!
Qin Huan was overjoyed and immediately raised his sword to meet the attack!
The two of them fought fiercely on this forest path. Sword light and saber shadows flashed, erupting in a heart-stopping clash of blades.
Soon, Qin Huan discovered that his long-lost elder brother's swordsmanship was still as superb as it had been back then!
The two of them moved back and forth, spinning and dodging in the forest, fighting inextricably. For a time, the sword light and rosy clouds reflected each other, and the splashing water shone brightly, illuminating the scene by the small stream as if it were a fairyland.
After who knows how long, the two of them had exchanged dozens of blows, neither able to gain the upper hand.
Just as Qin Huan, burning with anger, charged towards Qin Han again, Qin Han suddenly waved his hand to stop, gracefully sheathed his sword, and smiled faintly.
"Alright, Huan'er, let's stop here. I see that you have completely seen through this old bone of mine."
Qin Huan was taken aback, then smiled knowingly. "Brother's martial arts are indeed extraordinary! It's just a pity..."
"It's just a pity that I am old and weak and no match for you." Qin Han laughed and shook his head. "Then I'll let you go alone to face that damned fellow! But remember, you must be careful!"
In the mountain forest, Qin Huan's pace slowed as he followed Qin Han, his face full of thoughtful expression. In the battle just now, he had already seen that his brother was holding back, seemingly not genuinely wanting to stop him.
"Brother, you were so energetic just now that I almost felt inferior," Qin Huan said in a deep voice. "But in the end, you didn't try your best to defeat me, but instead deliberately let me leave. Could there be some other reason?"
Qin Han turned his head and smiled slightly. "Huan'er, you are getting more and more shrewd as you live." He leaned on his cane and hesitated for a while, as if weighing something.
"To be honest, I just don't want you to continue investigating," Qin Han sighed. "Lest... you know the truth and become even more painful and self-reproachful."
Qin Huan frowned. "What do you mean? Is there some hidden secret behind this?"
Qin Han took a deep breath and slowly sat down on the stone steps beside him, signaling Qin Huan to sit down as well. "Huan'er, listen to your brother carefully..."
"That year, the Qin family experienced an unprecedented internal strife, and you and I were both victims of this internal disaster. Only you don't know that the root of all this actually came from within your own sect!"
Qin Huan's eyes widened in shock. "What? Do you mean... there was a traitor in the Divine Saber Sect back then?"
Qin Han nodded. "That's right. Back then, someone in the Divine Saber Sect did many unscrupulous things in private, causing the Divine Saber Sect to become infamous and despised. And that cousin named Qin Yi, who had been fantasizing about usurping the position of family head, took the opportunity to sow discord, leading to the tragedy that you and I suffered."
The horrific scene from back then flashed through Qin Huan's mind, and he couldn't help but beat his chest and stamp his feet, feeling heartbroken.
Seeing this, Qin Han quickly held his shoulder and said slowly, "Huan'er, listen to me finish. Things are far more serious than you think."
"That person not only did unscrupulous things, but also secretly passed on the secret martial arts taught by the Divine Saber Sect to outsiders, causing the martial arts to be leaked and bringing unparalleled shame and danger to the Divine Saber Sect. It's a pity that everyone was kept in the dark back then. He did all the bad things in secret, and by the time the truth came out, it was too late."
Qin Huan's face turned pale. "Is what you're saying true? The martial arts leaked... the unique skills passed down by our Divine Saber Sect for generations... actually..." He couldn't go on, covering his face in great pain.
Qin Han nodded, saying with a broken heart, "Yes, now I can only tell you this heart-wrenching truth. That year, there was a traitor in our Divine Saber Sect, causing the sect to be destroyed without exception, and no one survived. And that guy named Qin Yi took advantage of the situation and sowed discord, leading to the root of the internal strife."
Qin Huan was overcome with grief, covering his face with his hands and crying bitterly. Years of persistent investigation and eagerness for revenge, in the face of this shocking truth, were like a handful of ashes splashed with cold water, vanishing in an instant.
Seeing this, Qin Han remained silent, simply watching over him quietly from the side. After a long while, Qin Huan finally choked out, "Brother... why... why did you hide it for so many years? If you had told me earlier, how could I have chased after it in vain for so many years..."
Qin Han sighed, "I didn't want you to know this shocking truth. Just like how you are in so much pain now, if you had found out earlier, I'm afraid you would have been crushed by this fact long ago."
"Huan'er, many years ago, I had already seen through all of this, but I was also powerless. We martial artists may not be literate, but for our sect, losing the unique skills of our ancestors is more important than life! Now it seems that this hatred can only be buried in our hearts."
Qin Huan choked, finally understanding a despairing fact: the path of revenge for many years had been blinded from the beginning. And his passion could only vanish like white clouds.
After several days of rapid marching, Zhong Wuye and Qin Huan, tracking Qin Yi's trail, finally arrived at the coast of the East Sea. This was the former site of the Divine Saber Sect.
The two stood on a mountainside, looking into the distance. They saw a misty expanse over the sea, and gusts of sea breeze blew against their faces, carrying a salty, fishy smell. Waves crashed against the reefs in the distance, making dull collision sounds. A round of red sun was slowly setting in the sky, rendering the entire sea surface like a pool of molten gold.
"This is it," Qin Huan took a long breath, looking into the distance, "The Divine Saber Sect was located on that reef back then. It was destroyed by the flames of war, and now only ruins remain."
Following Qin Huan's gaze, Zhong Wuye saw a few mottled and broken building outlines faintly visible on the misty reef. Gusts of sea breeze blew past, adding a sense of desolation and decay.
"No wonder the Divine Saber Sect chose to build its lair here back then. It's far from the hustle and bustle, backed by the sea, and has a wide field of vision. It's indeed an excellent place for cultivation," Zhong Wuye sighed. "Now it seems that only these wet reefs and broken walls remain."
"That's right," Qin Huan nodded, his eyes dim. "The Divine Saber Sect was passed down for generations, and talents emerged, unparalleled for a time. Our ancestor was high above, and his cultivation was so profound that it was truly difficult to reach. It's just a pity..."
The two were silent for a moment, and all that could be heard was the sound of the waves crashing. Zhong Wuye knew the sad story in Qin Huan's heart, so he didn't say much, just standing quietly by the side.
After a long while, Qin Huan finally spoke, "Let's go, let's go down and take a look. Maybe we can find some clues."
So the two crossed the mountainside and slowly descended along a steep, narrow path. Thorns grew everywhere along the way, and the two had to draw their swords and roll up their robes, proceeding carefully.
In this way, the two spent a lot of effort before they arrived at the reef. They saw piles of rubble scattered all around, towering large and small stone pillars scattered among them, overgrown with weeds, and wild animals, insects, and snakes were hard to find. Only the gusts of sea breeze never stopped, whistling past, bringing up a burst of dust.
Qin Huan rubbed his eyes, staring at the scene in front of him, speechless for a long time.
Seeing him so excited, Zhong Wuye quickly stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder, comforting him in a low voice, "Junior Brother Huan, let it be part of your memory. The past cannot be traced, let's take advantage of the night before it gets too late and look for some clues here first."
Qin Huan took a deep breath and nodded, then took out an old yellowed map from his arms, carefully following the markings on the map, walking through this messy ruin to investigate.
The two spent a lot of effort, searching every broken wall, but unfortunately, there were very few old objects that could be found. This place had indeed been uprooted by the flames of war, completely razed to the ground.
Finally, in a dark and damp corner, the two found a few scattered old stone tablets, with some blurred inscriptions engraved on them.
Touching the inscriptions, tears couldn't stop rolling in Qin Huan's eyes. Seeing this, Zhong Wuye stepped forward and comforted him a few words, then carefully collected the remaining steles.
"In that case, let's change places and continue searching," Zhong Wuye said, taking out the magic weapon in his hand, "Maybe using my Life-Chasing Sword to guide us, we might be able to find some other clues."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Life-Chasing Sword in Zhong Wuye's hand trembled violently, and the sword body glowed with a dark red light, as if spiritual power was driving it to fly and spin automatically, and soon shot sharply in one direction!
The two looked at each other, smiled knowingly, and hurried to follow!
Following the guidance of the Life-Chasing Sword, Zhong Wuye and Qin Huan hurried all the way, and soon came to a steep cliff.
At the bottom of the cliff was a wide beach, where the waves were constantly lapping, making dull collision sounds. On this wet sandy ground, Zhong Wuye saw some very unusual traces.
"There seems to be something strange here!" Zhong Wuye frowned, bending down to examine it.
On this beach, there was a hideous giant footprint, and even the dense scales and claw marks on it could be clearly distinguished! Next to it were several relatively small footprints, all seemingly from some unknown monster!
"These footprints... look like they belong to two different creatures," Zhong Wuye murmured to himself, "And their sizes are quite terrifying, actually able to leave such deep marks on this sandy ground. It's really incredible!"
Qin Huan nodded to the side, his expression solemn.
Zhong Wuye continued to search forward along the footprints, and soon discovered a shocking wreck!
Behind a reef, they saw a massive, decayed skeleton lying there! It was enormous, stretching several dozen yards in length, with remnants of scales and fearsome claws still clinging to the bones!
"This… this is clearly the remains of a Pulao from legend!" Zhong Wuye exclaimed, gripping his Life-Seizing Sword warily. "According to the records, the Pulao was a ferocious giant beast from the ancient times, with an extremely frightening form and extraordinary strength, practically a beast unseen in our generation!"
Qin Huan, seeing this, couldn't help but feel apprehensive. The two cautiously approached, carefully examining the remains.
Soon, they discovered another corpse nearby, though this skeleton was smaller, only about two or three yards long, with even some muscle and fur remaining.
Zhong Wuye scrutinized it carefully for a long while, then suddenly realized, "This is clearly the Suanni, the notorious beast recorded in the classics!"
Sure enough, on the remaining parts of the skeleton, one could vaguely see a hideous and terrifying head covered in fangs. Coupled with the lean and muscular beastly frame, it was almost identical to the description of the Suanni in the records.
"No wonder I saw two different kinds of footprints on the beach," Qin Huan remarked. "It seems there was a battle of ancient beasts here that completely wiped out these two ferocious creatures."
Zhong Wuye nodded, lost in thought. After a long while, he finally spoke, "If I'm not mistaken, these two ancient beasts were both related to the dragon clan of the ancient times. They have the blood of the ancestor of all things flowing through their veins, which is why they possessed such great power and frightening forms."
"However, even so, they ultimately could not withstand the erosion of time and were destined to become decaying corpses on this beach," Zhong Wuye shook his head, speaking earnestly, "No matter how strong the bloodline is at any given moment, it can never withstand the test of time."
Qin Huan listened, and couldn't help but sink into contemplation. Past events were but fleeting clouds. Why dwell on the past as if it could swallow the void? Securing one's life and future is the priority.
The two exchanged a glance and smiled knowingly. Then, they continued to follow the guidance of the Life-Seizing Sword, leaving this strange and mysterious beach, and venturing into the dense fog.