The Voyage In The Blizzard - Chapter 77

With each step forward, squeezing Longwei’s hand more and more, Yun Qi tried to look only ahead even if there were too many dead warriors.

Walking in unison and keeping silence as a sign of respect for the fallen warriors, they shivered from cold and hunger, but tried not to show it. After all, everyone wanted to be an example of strength and resilience.

“After this journey, I guess I will always see the world as an icy and hopeless layer of thick snow that every time obscures your eyes.” Yun Qi suddenly said, clutching her vest.

“It seems so to you now. Over time, what seemed terrible, alas, is forgotten.” Lei replied recalling his past years.

Passing the warrior with an open mouth in horror and with furious eyes in which one could see death itself, Longwei distracting Yun Qi from him said, “When I first entered the territory of the Three Mountains, I thought it was the worst day of my life. I thought that now, my life would turn into a graveyard for broken dreams. And for the first days, I was afraid that I would become like everyone else.. That I would become a part of the cold and without noticing it I would give up my heart and soul. But now, looking back I understand that if it were not for the fear that I felt then, then I would not exist now. Of course I could live my whole life on my own, far from everyone. With my wild dreams and goals. But what would become with me then? I would just die without fulfilling a single dream. And all because I refused to experience deep fear once. So, probably, to start living the life you want to live, you first need to jump headlong into fear, into a feeling of fear and hopelessness. The fear that is in you now is a sign that you will have a decent future.”

After finishing his short speech, Longwei caught Lei’s gaze. He smiled. And you could see the edge of a crystal tear on his eyelash.

Taking a deep breath so that Longwei’s words gave her a kind of energy, Yun Qi said, “I’m scared. I’m afraid of what lies ahead. But you’re right father. I can sit in one place all my life to avoid the sense of responsibility and fear of the unknown. But life is not given for this kind of existence.”

Continuing the encouraging conversation, Lei added, “Life is clay. And everyone sculpts their own pattern to make this life their own. And while life just makes your heart beat, it’s not your life. It’s just the fleetingness that slowly leads you forward. Therefore, you need to create the life in which you want to live. You need to give it a certain shape.”

Playfully nudging him in the side, Longwei quietly laughed and said, “Life is clay?!”

“Still, as a child, I had more courage than now. When I first appeared in this world, I was curious. I was in a fairy tale. But over time, I began to understand that I was like a stranger here. And when I found out that I was the key to removing the curse, I wanted to hide in the Spherical Stone. But I changed myself. I realized that you always need to keep that childish courage in yourself.” said Yun Qi, now looking sadly at the bodies that were still escorting them in an unknown direction. “After reading the legend, I felt like I knew the queen herself. And accepting the fact that my birth was not in vain, I threw off all doubts. After all, Queen Li Hua would have done the same thing.”

“Queen Li Hua, warrior Lan Jun, their love, all this became the reason for such a strong curse that divided everyone thereby creating two different worlds. Jang Sun cursed Li Hua, because thereby he wanted her not to be happy with any man. Not only with Lan Jun. And he probably succeded in it. The kingdom was without a single warrior while they were all trapped in the ice.” Lei murmured to himself ignoring the main topic of conversation.

Responding to Yun Qi’s previous words, Longwei looked at her face and said, “What Queen Li Hua would have done does not matter. But what Yun Qi would have done does.”

Stopping near a strange stone that seemed to be propping up the icy ceiling, Longwei said, “Let’s rest a little.”

“Do you still have food left?”

“Yes.” After handing them a bun and a few nuts, Lei sat down with a loud sigh.

Longwei, from time to time, illuminating Yun Qi with his gentle smile, he still desperately plunged into his worries that were hidden from everyone.

Slowly closing his eyelids, he sank into a deep sleep.

Taking off his cloak, Lei covered him and began to walk to and fro so as not to freeze.

After making sure he was really asleep, Yun Qi got up and walked over to Lei. Starting to follow him, she quietly said, “If it were not for my father, I would never have started this path. I would not care about the curse. But looking at him, I rather want to do everything for him to live in a better world. Lei do you think the kingdom of waterfalls exists?”

“Even if it does not already exist, then I will do everything so that it begins to exist again.” Lei answered.

“And you and I are alike, we both have the same goal. And this is to make father live happily. Lei, can I call you father too?” Yun Qi suddenly asked.

Hearing this Lei slipped and almost fell down. With surprise and an obvious shock on his face, he asked, “What?”

After repeating her question, Yun Qi asked again, “I’m asking if you can be called Dad?”

Coming to his senses, Lei almost fell again.

“Why do you look so scared?”

“What!” Lei shouted again, and several icicles fell from his shout.

“If you don’t want to, you could tell me why shout like that.”

After a moment of silence, Lei finally said, “Come on. We need to find a way out of here.” Not daring to wake Longwei up, he easily put him on his back, supporting him under the bend of his knees, moved forward.

Carrying him on his back, Lei was still thinking about Yun Qi’s question. Pondering the answer and feeling her gaze, he turned his head cautiously and, as he thought, met Yun Qi’s surprised gaze.

Deciding to embarrass him even more, Yun Qi asked, “You love my father, don’t you?”

Laughing nervously, he felt the beads of sweat on his forehead.

Not knowing how to answer, he said, “You are new in this world and you are already asking about this.”

“I’m not a child. I’m 17 years old. And besides, I’m much smarter than you think. I know everything. I mean about love.” Walking up to him and without taking her eyes off his tomato-red face, she repeated her question, “So you love him?”

Knowing that she would not leave him alone, Lei, thinking that he had no reason to hide it from her, finally answered, “Yes.”

“I knew it.” Yun Qi said with joy in her voice. “I love my dad too. But how is my love different from yours?” she asked again.

Feeling the heaviness of Longwei, Lei seriously replied, “Love has various forms. In due time, you will understand.”

“But what are you willing to do for my father?”

Stopping, Lei lowered his head and then silently continued on his way. Taking his time to answer, he walked a few more meters until Yun Qi herself answered her own question, “I’m ready to sacrifice myself for him. I will do everything for him. The main thing is that he is always with me.”

Trying to stop the tears that flowed by themselves, Longwei tightly gripping the cape of Lei, quietly cried, feeling his heart breaking into millions of pieces.

After a two-hour journey through a seemingly endless tunnel, Longwei was now carrying the sleeping Yun Qi.

Losing their thoughts from the monotony, they felt sleepy.

Lei stumbled and fell asleep as he walked. The sharp frost, slowing their steps, had a soporific effect.

“How long have we been going? Is it day or already night?” Longwei asked.

“I am awake.” Lei replied by slapping himself in the face.

“Lei look! Open your eyes! I think I can see trees!” Longwei exclaimed waking up Yun Qi. “This is the way out.”