Death… and me

1350 Let’s Have A Casual Chat?

Every time Wu Juecheng mentioned his own brothers, he would always shroud his face in a cloud of fog. He didn’t wish for anyone to see the expression he had at this moment.

He held nostalgia and persistence but was prideful too.

People didn’t understand his pain, his agony and his solitude. Neither did they understand his pride nor his contentment!

When Chu Yang saw Wu Juecheng’s agonized look, even though he was initially filled with hesitation, he couldn’t help but sigh deeply.

Although Wei Wuyan had died, he had personally shaped his next lifetime with his own hands!

It hadn’t been long since Hong Wuliang’s death.

According to the typical myths, if the aggrieved soul of Wei Wuyan’s wife really didn’t dissipate because she had died an unjust death, it was highly likely that her soul was still around. Of course, as for his son… he had probably disappeared into the cycle of reincarnation…

What kind of grudge could a child who wasn’t even a year old possibly have?

But Wei Wuyan’s wife was different.

Thus, with his death this time, as long as Wei Wuyan was willing to put in the effort to search or if the string of fate brought them together… then Wei Wuyan reuniting with his wife wasn’t something vague and uncertain!

Even though Chu Yang was grief-stricken, there was some form of consolation in his heart.

However… Wu Juecheng’s case was a very difficult situation.

Wei Wuyan’s death had evoked Wu Juecheng’s melancholy and made him think of his brothers.

Those were true brothers. This could be seen from how Wu Juecheng’s feelings for his brothers had never diminished over several tens of thousands of years, all the way till now!

Did they have a next lifetime?

This was a question which Chu Yang really had the answer to!

But what he didn’t know was how he should answer him.

Because this involved someone whose fate was absolutely tragic! A hero of a lifetime who could make someone weep painfully!

If the topic of this person was brought up as well, the truth would be revealed. With Wu Juecheng’s character, even taking his own life out of shame was a light consequence.

Chu Yang could only sigh and not say anything.

As Wu Juecheng watched Wan Renjie and the other two use the most primitive way to dig the grave, there was actually a strong sense of envy in his eyes.

I miss my brothers too. They have died, but I don’t even have the right to dig a grave for them…

Wu Juecheng sighed melancholically. “Chu Yang, you seemed very familiar with what you were doing… And… you also seem to believe very much in matters of reincarnation…”

He let out a bitter laugh. “Chu Yang, you are also aware of my background and what had happened to me. There’s something I want to ask you!”

Chu Yang’s heart jumped. He asked, “What is it?”

“Does that world really exist?” Wu Juecheng asked.

“It likely exists!” Chu Yang thought about it and answered cautiously, “In this world, there are a lot of fascinating things that can’t be explained… But we know that some mystifying things truly do exist. If it were a regular person, he naturally would have received education which claims that that world doesn’t exist; but when one reaches a level such as ours, one would already be able to cultivate his soul… So he would know that perhaps… that kind of world… truly does exist!”

“For example, we now know that there’s another Imperial Court above us… That is where the real experts are, or rather… a place that belongs in legends and where the so-called gods are.”

“Since there are gods, then there are naturally ghosts too,” said Chu Yang softly.

“Since there really is such a world and karma and the cycle of reincarnation really exists, then…” Wu Juecheng was silent for a moment. At this instant, it seemed like yet another layer of fog shrouded his face. He asked softly, “Do you think… those eight brothers of mine… have a next lifetime?”

“Would they exist in that world below too?”

“If I were to die someday… would I be able to find them?”

Wu Juecheng asked, murmuring softly.

Chu Yang had no answer to that.

Would he be able to find them in that world? Of course not! Because the Nine Tribulations… were all in the extraterrestrial battleground now!

But Chu Yang couldn’t tell him that. Because once he did, Wu Juecheng would ask, “How would you know?”

“Where… can I go to find my brothers?” Wu Juecheng asked, “The Heavenly Orchid… Would it be of use to me?”

Chu Yang, “…”

“Where are they?” Wu Juecheng’s voice became lower and lower. “Do they still remember me?”

Chu Yang felt like his own heart was also starting to ache. Taking a deep breath, he said, “The ancient legends all say… that good people will go to heaven… And that good people are the constellations in the sky… So could it be that… somewhere in the Nine Heavens Imperial Court… is where the souls of heroes reside?”

Wu Juecheng fell silent, seemingly considering this suggestion of Chu Yang’s and seemingly contemplating and thinking about it.

Chu Yang hated himself somewhat for being so loose with his words and saying too much. But when he saw how sorrowful Wu Juecheng was because of his brothers, he thought of how he himself had brothers too and… became somewhat extremely unable to bear with it.

“Even though I can’t tell him the whole truth now, consoling him is something alright too.” Chu Yang consoled himself.

Chuckling, Wu Juecheng said, “Back then, during happy times, we would sing in chorus; where the wind blows, we would dash through the martial world together on horseback; against powerful enemies, we would go through life and death together; when facing danger, we would brave through perilous situations together… If an elder brother was in trouble, the younger brother would draw his sword and go forward; if the younger brother was in trouble, the elder brother would face death without even looking back!”

“Back then, Juecheng was trapped in the Dragon Straits. Among the snow, my brothers’ howls, cries and blood were everywhere. For just my sake alone, all ten of us brothers were almost wiped out… When we treated our injuries after the incident, more than 30 hidden weapons were extracted from my Big Brother’s body. That day, the ten of us brothers supported and held each other as we staggered out of the Dragon Straits. We were weak and feeble, almost unable to stand. But as we looked out into the world, all of us felt that with our brothers by our sides, we were invincible!”

“And now… I’m all alone!”

“Now, I’m all alone… My brothers, do you know that I miss all of you?!”

“Now that I’m all alone passing time by myself, even if I’m wounded, injured by others and suffered grievances… there’s no one whom I can pour my woes to and no one who will stand up for me anymore… hurhur…”

Wu Juecheng’s voice became lower and lower, as if the moment a sentence left his lips, it died out in the wind and disappeared without a trace.

He was an almighty expert in this world; he naturally didn’t need anyone to stand up for him. But during the Slaying of the Tao back then, he was ambushed by the Dharma Supreme and critically injured.

After he was injured, he thought countless times of how his brothers had stood up for him back then! He thought to himself countless times, “If my brothers were still around? If my brothers were still around!”

What would have happened?

They probably would have charged ahead long ago! Whether he was the Dharma Supreme or whoever else, he would have been pummeled into the ground by now!

If my brothers were still around, who would dare to bully me? Who would dare to deceive me?!

That feeling of having brothers who would stand up for him… was simply too heartwarming! Too heartwarming!!

Every time he thought of that, Wu Juecheng, who was already several tens of thousands of years old, would feel exceptionally lonely, solitary and desolate. He felt exceptionally like a child who had no one to depend on in this vast and boundless world… The sorrow in his heart made him desperately want to burst into tears and bawl.

But his brothers were no longer around. Even if he wanted to cry… there was no one he could cry to!

Chu Yang watched the sky in front of him somewhat absentmindedly. He murmured, “Sing together in chorus, dash through the martial world together on horseback, go through life and death together, brave through perilous situations together… If an elder brother was in trouble, the younger brother would draw his sword and go forward; if the younger brother was in trouble, the elder brother would face death without even looking back! With our brothers by our sides, we are invincible! …”

These words, when said by Wu Juecheng, were filled with sorrow and melancholy. But when said by Chu Yang, they were filled with a heroic sense of contentment!

Wu Juecheng was talking about his brothers, but the ones whom Chu Yang was talking about were his own brothers. The two of them uttered the same words, but the feeling they gave off was two complete opposites — One was filled with the desolation and bleakness of the autumn wind, whereas the other gave off the blinding rays of warm light of the blazing summer!

Sighing, Wu Juecheng turned and looked over.

Even though neither his eyes nor his expression was visible, Chu Yang could sense that his eyes were filled with envy.

“Back then… we were the same as what you’re like now…” As though Wu Juecheng wanted to prove something, this line of his was said exceptionally emphatically and forcefully. As if he was sulking, he added, “More content than you are!”

Chu Yang replied heavily, “I believe you!”

When such emotions existed in their hearts, anyone would feel that they were more blissful and more content than others!

“Chu Yang, let’s have a casual chat?” After staying silent for a moment, Wu Juecheng said.

“Alright.” Chu Yang laughed wryly in his heart. Wu Juecheng had just reminisced with much emotion and looked back at his past. Why was that?

An expert who had reached a level such as his, every action of theirs was pretty much in line with the way of the great Tao. How could there possibly be something like a ‘casual chat’?

The moment this line left Wu Juecheng’s lips, Chu Yang knew that he definitely had something to say! And it was likely… it was likely something he had been very worried about!

That was about to happen!

But even after he said to have a ‘casual chat’, Wu Juecheng remained silent. After a long while, he said, “Le’er, go to the cliff and keep a lookout. Don’t let anyone come near. Your Big Brother and I have something to discuss.”

As though she had just awakened from a dream, Chu Le’er responded with a sound of acknowledgment. She got to her feet and walked off.

Chu Le’er was by their side the entire time, but she had been very out of it. Sometimes, she would look at Wei Wuyan’s body and sob. She didn’t hear a single word of the conversation between Wu Juecheng and Chu Yang.

But Wu Juecheng had sent her away nonetheless.

Watching Chu Le’er go far and watching Wan Renjie and the other two continue to busy themselves, Wu Juecheng asked, “Chu Yang… Do you know what I want to say?”

Chu Yang let out a resigned laugh. “I’m all ears now.”

“Chu Yang, how old are you now?” Wu Juecheng asked after staying silent for a long while. When he asked this question, it seemed like the fog shrouding his face became even thicker.

“I’ve just turned twenty!” Chu Yang answered after being stunned for a moment.

“Just turned twenty… hurhur…” Wu Juecheng chuckled lightly. He said, “More than three years ago, when you were not yet eighteen, you subverted the Lower Three Heavens by yourself… and was hailed as the King of Hell Chu… Truly impressive!”

A jolt went through Chu Yang’s heart.

“Two years ago, you were not yet nineteen.”

“And now, you are not yet twenty!”

“Yet your cultivation has already reached second-grade Supreme Martial Artist, and a second-grade Sword Supremacy!” Wu Juecheng went on. “And it hasn’t even been two years since you came to the Upper Three Heavens!”

Wu Juecheng’s voice was very indistinct. He went on. “You’re neither from a large clan nor do you have that kind of premium-grade Heavenly Treasure aura around you…”

“And yet you’ve achieved such an accomplishment.”

Wu Juecheng’s words were very peaceful and very calm, but Chu Yang felt an intense reverberation within him that came from the bottom of his heart.