The Voyage In The Blizzard - Chapter 61
Accepting Yue Liang’s invitation, Longwei thought that it would be better for him if he and Yun Qi stayed in the Third Clan for some time, where there was almost no one there now. Thinking about the next plan of how to hide Yun Qi from everyone and whether to hide her or not, Longwei was still convinced that his child could fit into this world, although doubts were still in his mind.
Sitting tensely in a leather chair by the fireplace and watching Yun Qi examine the swords that hung on the walls, Longwei said, “I heard that after I left the clan, Sun disappeared. Don’t you think that he is somewhere close. Walking and watching everyone.”
After taking a few sips of tea, Yue Liang replied, “After he disappeared, to be honest, it became much quieter and better in this world. Without him, everything has changed. And whether he walks anywhere, nobody cares anymore. Because even if he is somewhere nearby, no one will let him in. After what he did … ” Saying this with sadness in his voice, Yue Liang abruptly fell silent..
Sensing that he was clearly hiding something, Longwei asked, “What did he do? You mean that he wanted to side with beasts and take over the whole world?”
As if afraid to say it out loud, Yue Liang moved closer and with a slight fear in his eyes and asked, “Don’t you know what else he did?”
“No. Xing Fu told me that he just ran away.”
“After everyone knew what he was up to, Sun finally showed his true colors. The day we all went to the Second Clan to dethrone him, that very day, Sun tried to kill Xing Fu with his own hands. After injuring him, Sun ran away.”
“Did he want to kill Xing Fu? In front of everyone?”
“Yes. And that’s not all. Later, when I searched the main house of the Second Clan, my father and I found a lot of papers there. Whole stacks of papers containing notes about you and your father.”
Dropping the cup on the floor, Longwei asked, “About me and my father?”
“I was surprised too. But when I studied the contents of these records, I realized that Sun had been studying your father from the very distant times. His words, fighting technique, his drawings, letters. He had everything.”
“Do you have these notes now? May I have a look?”
“Yes, but only …” Yue Liang wanted to say when suddenly loud voices were heard outside.
Approaching the window, Yue Liang fell to the floor in horror.
“Yue Liang!” Longwei approached the window and looked out. When he did, he saw a crowd of soldiers of the Third Clan and among them Xing Fu who was carrying On.
Without noticing that On’s face was completely disfigured, Longwei muttered, “Yue Liang, open your eyes.”
Pointing to Yun Qi who was looking out the window with delight, Yue Liang said, “Take Yun Qi away.”
Before Longwei had left, a crowd rushed into the room.
Xing Fu, carrying On who did not show any vital signs, and who was covered from head to toe with fresh blood, shouted, “Move!”
Seeing On’s face that was unrecognizable now, with the skin peeled off, Longwei pressed Yun Qi to him and closed her eyes.
“What’s wrong? Father?!” grabbing On’s hand, Yue Liang fell to his knees. With tearful eyes looking at Xing Fu, he asked, “What happened? Tell me something!”
Dropping his head down, Xing Fu quietly replied, “I’m sorry Yue Liang.”
Striking his fist on the floor, Yue Liang made a growling sound that was replaced by a loud cry. Feeling Yun Qi tremble a little while clutching at his shirt, Longwei hugged her tighter.
“How could this happen?! How!” Raising his hands up, Yue Liang let out a loud cry that made the candelabra tremble.
Approaching him, Xing Fu put his hand on his back. “I’m sorry I couldn’t keep him from dying.”
The unpleasant silence that crept into the room brought with it the feeling of death around. Without a vital body, On, lying on the bed, still harbored his former majestic qualities. And only, Yue Liang from time to time shaking his hand made him move involuntarily.
“Father. Wake up. You’re alive.”
A warrior with short hair and a surprisingly calm expression went up to him and despite the fact that there were people around him, gently hugged Yue Liang.
Not paying attention to such a frank display of feelings, the warriors of the Third Clan silently looked at the floor.
Pulling Longwei’s hand, Yun Qi whispered, “Dad, let’s go from here. I’m cold.”
Turning his head towards them, Xing Fu, casting a quick glance at Yun Qi, said, “Longwei, why did you bring your son here? And why are you still here? Leave.”
“Yes Master.”
Lifting Yun Qi, Longwei moved to the door, and the moment he opened it, his eyes met Lei.
Lei, clearly surprised by what he saw, looked at Longwei with a lost expression. Not knowing how to behave, he just dropped his eyes and walked past him.
Hearing his footsteps hitting the rhythm on the stone floor, Longwei walked away as fast as possible.
After the incident, still in shock, Longwei still thought about the future of his child. After making sure that Yun Qi, despite all her uniqueness, could be among others without arousing suspicion, Longwei decided not to hide her.
But the very thought that Yun Qi would be away from him caused in him an anxiety. Thinking about this, he suddenly heard Xing Fu’s voice behind of him.
“Longwei wait.”
“Yes Master.”
“Forgive me.” Suddenly, Xing Fu said looking down.
“What are you sorry for?”
“I couldn’t save your father, and now I couldn’t protect Yue Liang’s father. I caused a lot of suffering to everyone around. Perhaps in my whole life I have never done anything good. All this time I just made the image of a noble warrior. But this is only an image.”
“Don’t blame yourself for anything. Taking responsibility for the death of others is sometimes silly.”
“Longwei, forgive me. Of course, after all, it’s too late to apologize, but still, forgive me. I’m sorry for Fei Jian and forgive me for making you suffer like this.”
After letting Yun Qi go, Longwei walked over to him.
“I don’t blame you for anything. It’s no use. It won’t bring my father back. So I’m not mad at you. Your image is clear in my eyes. And perhaps, in this crazy world, you are the only normal person and the head of the clan.”
“He died because I could not warn him that there was a beast behind of him. It attacked sharply, unexpectedly. In the blink of an eye, On was already dead.” continued Sing Fu.
“I understand you. The feeling of guilt is perhaps the worst and most poisonous.”
“Longwei, forgive me for everything. In this cold world, in this merciless world, I myself have become worse than a beast. But now, I understand that this cannot be continued. After all, we are living people. And as long as we are alive, we need to be a human. We need to keep our souls warm despite the severity of this blizzard.”
Looking at the pale sky, Longwei said with irony in his voice, “For a person to understand the whole philosophy of life, he must go through suffering.”
Without showing his tears, Xing Fu looked away and after a few seconds directing his gaze at Yun Qi who was standing and looking at him, said, “And what is the child doing here? You should have sent him to school.”
Coming closer to her, Xing Fu bent down and with an obvious surprise carefully examined her. “I’ve never seen anyone like him in my life.” he added. “What’s your name?”
“Yun Qi.” the girl answered with confidence.
“The name of a real warrior. I have no doubt that your child will bring a lot of luck to this world.” Taking Yun Qi by the hand, Xing Fu thought a little about something, then reaching into the pocket of his vest, he took out a pendant with the sign of the sun and handed it into the little girl’s hand. “My father once handed it to me. And his father gave it to him. You could say that it is a kind of family heirloom. I wore it all my life as a talisman. And it gave me hope more than once when everything was terrible.”
Examining the iron pendant in her hand with a golden sun pattern, Yun Qi said, “This is the sun.”
“How do you know, you were born in such a cold world.” Looking at her, Xing Fu continued, “That’s right. This is the Sun. Yun Qi, keep it to yourself. And maybe the sun on the pendant can always warm your soul.”
“Master, we cannot accept such an important gift. Please take it back.” Longwei said.
“I like this.” Yun Qi happily said and put it around her neck. Smiling, she looked at Xing Fu.
Standing up, Xing Fu, after talking with Yun Qi, gained some happiness in his eyes. Opening his mouth, he wanted to say something but suddenly an arrow flying past Longwei’s face with a slight whistle pierced his neck.
“Master!”
Grasping the arrow with both hands, Xing Fu slowly fell to his knees. Blood gushed from the artery turning white snow into the red.
Catching him before he could fall, Longwei pulled out an arrow and threw it aside. Pressing the wound, he spotted Lei running towards them.
“Lei take Yun Qi away!” he shouted.
Holding on, Xing Fu was clearly losing his strength, but he was still able to speak. “Longwei, I have to say.”
“Be quiet. Everything will be all right.” While trying to lift him, Longwei stood up but Xing Fu pulled him down and said, “That book, don’t let this be found by Sun. Find the book and hide it until the curse is destroyed.” After saying this he took a deep breath and quickly whispered, “Longwei, change this world.”
Closing his eyes, Xing Fu, with the corner of his lips smiled and the next second his soul left his body.
“Master!” Holding him in his arms, Longwei was still trying to stop the bleeding. “Master!”