The Voyage In The Blizzard - Chapter 63
“Why? Do you know where the book is?”
“Yes. It’s in my library.”
“What? In your library?”
“We need to go there now.” Lei said.
Noticing something strange in Longwei’s expression, Yun Qi ran up to him and grabbed his hand.
“You have a very smart child. But this is not surprising.” Lei coldly but still with the warmth in his voice said.
Lifting Yun Qi up, Longwei said, “Xing Fu said that this book should not fall into the wrong hands.. So let’s go.”
Walking down the stone stairs, Longwei moved as quietly as possible so as not to attract Yue Liang’s attention. But once on the first floor, Yue Liang nevertheless appeared in front of them in his night robe and with a mug of hot tea. Without recognizing him, Longwei had to approach him and after making sure it was really him, he said, “Yue Liang, I have decided to return to my clan. It will be better this way. And besides, I cannot burden you with my presence.”
Taking a sip of tea, Yue Liang, surprisingly, behaved quite calmly than a day ago. “Burden? What are you talking about? You know that you are generally part of my clan. My father once wanted to make you an irreplaceable part. So here, you are always at home.”
Intervening in the conversation, Lei said a little rudely, “You shouldn’t be selfish. He can’t sit here forever. The First Clan also lost his warrior. Longwei is still a Warrior of the First Clan, so it’s time for us to go.”
Leaving the main house behind, Lei, looking back, asked, “Don’t you think he is somehow strange?”
“I think you don’t need to trust him.” Yun Qi added, which quite surprised Lei.
“I’ve never seen kids like that.”
“Yun Qi grows and develops very quickly. This is probably one of the features of those who were born in the Spherical Stone.” Longwei said, remembering her uniqueness and that he needed to protect her from everyone before they knew about her.
After all this time, now feeling awkwardness between each other, Lei behaved as distant and aloof as possible. Although with every look and every word Longwei said, his heart skipped a beat.
Walking silently through the dark night, they both walked looking at their feet. Yun Qi, holding tightly to Longwei’s neck, gradually began to fall asleep.
After making sure that she fell into the realm of sweet dreams, Longwei covered her head with a scarf and quickening his pace, approached Lei. Not knowing how to start a conversation, he just said, “How are you? I mean, how have you been all this time?”
“As you can see, I’m still alive.” Lei answered.
“Yes. You’re alive.”
And again a long silence.
“The weather is so calm these days.” breaking the silence said Longwei.
“Yes.”
“You know, I want to tell you something.” Longwei began, but Lei stopped him with a hand gesture. “Did you hear something?”
“No.”
Listening to the rustling wind, Longwei moved forward.
“You saw someone?”
“I have the feeling that we are being watched.” he answered.
“It must be Sun. Everyone saw him that evening. It’s definitely him. He’s hiding somewhere nearby.” Longwei said with anger in his voice. “After what he did to Xing Fu, I just won’t let him go.”
Moving smoothly through the snowdrifts, Lei asked, “What are you going to do? Kill him?”
“Don’t you want to get revenge on him? For everything he did.”
Lei said nothing.
Arriving at the village and then at the house where they both once lived, Lei went inside first.
After making sure that no one was in the house, he invited Longwei to enter.
Putting Yun Qi to bed and covering her with a fur blanket, Longwei lightly touched her cold cheek and leaving her behind, quietly closed the door.
Returning to his reality, Longwei, feeling the pressure from the walls so familiar to him, suddenly remembered all those happy times when he first experienced the full range of emotions here.
Sliding his hand along the rough walls, he himself, without noticing it, reached that very library.
Looking around, he whispered, “And here nothing has changed.”
“It’s because the house has been empty whole time.” Lei answered lighting the candles.
“I thought Xing Fu found a replacement for you and me. But it looks like the First Clan has been without a teacher all year.”
“Dewei was a teacher. Of course not always, but from time to time.” Lei said throwing all the books on the floor.
“Are you sure that the book is right here? Father wrote that it was in some kind of a box under the ground.”
Lei started searching for the mysterious book without answering. Fumbling through thick volumes from unknown authors, he threw books aside with quick movements.
The soft light emanating from the candles smoothly fell on his face and body, casting a powerful shadow on the floor. Longwei, watching him could not help but smile through his tears. But considering that such behavior is now not acceptable, he immediately began to help him.
“Do you even know what this book looks like?” asked Longwei looking at one of the books.
Trying not to look in his direction, Lei turned away and began to search further. “My great-grandfather had a large library. And this is just a part of it. And as my father said, he always told him that in his library, anyone can find what he needs. I don’t know what a book looks like. But one thing is for sure. My father once told me about a book that mentions some kind of curse. Then, I did not pay attention to it. But after reading your father’s letter, I remembered his words. So I am sure he was telling about this book.”
“Have you ever wondered why this world is constantly at the mercy of coldness and beasts? Have you never wondered how and where it all began.” approaching him asked Longwei.
Feeling him close behind him, it was clear that Lei flinched slightly.
“I didn’t have time to think about it. I tried to think as little as possible about this world.” he answered.
“When we find this book, I think we can finally figure out how to remove the curse and stop these beasts.”
Dozens of books strewn across the floor soon completely surrounded them. Rereading the title and prefaces of each book that came across, Longwei, feeling a slight pain in his neck and fatigue in his eyes, was about to lean against one of the shelves when suddenly the topmost book almost fell on his head. But Lei caught the book before it fell.
“Be careful. You might get a concussion.” he said standing so close to Longwei.
Holding his breath, Longwei, feeling Lei’s breath on his face, involuntarily, without noticing it, came even closer and lightly touched his lips, giving him a kiss.
Before he could say what was on his mind, Longwei immediately felt a kiss in return.
“Lei. Stop.” Longwei said.
“I’ve missed you so much. So much that at times I thought I was going crazy. Longwei.” Lei whispered.
Suddenly, Longwei pushed him away with force and waving his fist, hit him in the face. Then grabbing his collar, he asked with fury in his eyes, “You and Sun. What happened between you? I know how Sun feels about you. And our last meeting, remember? What did you do on his bed?”
“Longwei.”
“Answer me! What did he make you do?” pressing him against the wall Longwei tightened his grip.
Embracing him in return, Lei looked at him with a tired but happy look and then said, “Nothing happened. I would not allow anything to happen. For me, all over the world, all over the universe, there is only you. My eyes, my thoughts, my soul and heart, it’s all for you. ”
Shocked by what he heard, Longwei, not expecting such a sharply tender and romantic response from Lei, let go of him and walked aside.
“We need to find this book.”
Returning to his search, Lei quietly laughed at Longwei’s expression.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing. Just in a year, you have not changed at all. You already became a father, experienced a lot, but still, you are the same.”
“What do you mean?”
“Stop talking. We need to find the book as soon as possible and find the key to lift the curse.”
Distracted from the thought of Xing Fu and On’s death, Longwei for a moment completely forgot about all the troubles. Seeing Lei next to him revived his soul and now, he was calm as never before.
“I found it!” exclaimed Lei, showing a small black-bound book.
Longwei, grabbing it in his hands, at first with delight, but then changing his mood to disappointment, said, “The book is locked. A key is needed.”
Taking the book back, Lei thought and said, “I think it won’t be difficult. You just have to hit the lock with the sword correctly. After all, it’s just an iron.”
“Maybe it isn’t this book either. Maybe it’s just your father’s or grandfather’s diary.”
“I doubt it. Look, there are traces of fire. Someone wanted to burn it.” Pointing to the book block, Lei brought it closer to the candle. “No doubt. This is that book.”
Longwei pulled out his sword and said, “Put the book on the floor.” Aiming at the small lock that was keeping the hardcover of the book from opening, he raised his sword and was just about to strike but Yun Qi’s thin voice stopped him.
Standing on the threshold, holding something shiny in her hand, she said, “I think this key can open the book.”