Chapter 498

Chapter 498: Chapter 495: "Flying Bird and Her.Su Ming’an looked toward Xiber.

She stood in the smoke, still receiving the power of Jiu Shen, unheard of his conversation with Shadow.

Her curse was already suppressed by the power of Jiu Shen, she would continue to worship Jiu Shen, eternally unchanging.

...Although, the price was that she would be abandoned by everyone, exiled.

She would be ostracized, driven away, looked down upon,

She would be forced to live in a harsh environment, fending for herself by hunting before reaching adulthood,

She would fall to such a state... where she couldn’t even find a single person to speak with, living timidly in Qiongdi dominated by faith.

She would lose everything... including her noble status, the identity as Miss Zeven, her exceptional talent.

...She would lose Feng Qiqi who had just bid her farewell.

From then on, Feng Qiqi became Fengchang.

Between them lay a chasm formed by faith, growth, and pain that no one could cross, not even death could lift this isolation.

He is the Son of Bai Shen.

She is the sole believer of Jiu Shen.

Upon meeting again, Fengchang, who vowed to atone for the dead members of his tribe, would not spare those who worship Jiu Shen out of personal feelings.

Even if she was the most "righteous" one.

Xiber gazed at the colorful candy in her hand, seemingly for a very long time.

The candy she and her brother had wrapped together, its shell completely charred, like a puddle of mud.

When she saw Su Ming’an still looking at her, she pressed her lips together.

"Let’s go," she said.

She was still very weak, but the curse was completely suppressed, and she would be very safe for a very long time in the future.

Su Ming’an carried her on his back and looked toward Shadow who was smiling beside them.

This scarred-faced boy maintained a strange smile, his gaze subtly watching him.

"What about you? Where will you go?" he asked.

Shadow spoke softly, "Before, I told you that to briefly pull you from the future, I paid a little ’price.’"

"What price?" Su Ming’an knew that this ability beyond Shadow’s authority must have come at a terrifying cost.

Shadow smiled as he looked at him.

"You can see it now," Shadow said.

In the next moment, his figure began to shrink suddenly.

Soft flapping sounds resonated in Su Ming’an’s ears, he saw Shadow’s figure getting lower and lower, his hands on both sides tightening, a pair of bright red, blood-like eyes began to shrink.

"Swoosh——!"

...And then,

he saw a pair of wings flapping before his eyes, fluttering with black feathers.

A black raven with blood-red eyes looked into his own.

These were the words from the sheepskin scroll, translated by Xiber.

The price for Shadow defying time and briefly pulling Su Ming’an from the future was—

he would turn into a raven.

From then on, he could no longer speak ordinary language, could not stand in this world in human form, could not enjoy any of the world’s belletristic human life, but only exist as a dark raven, that was his punishment for defying time.

Perhaps, he would later, using his prophetic insight, audaciously take on the identity of a Divine Envoy of Bai Shen, and ironically, become the symbol of the "Bai Shen’s" Divine Envoy in people’s eyes.

...Then he would come to that window under the night sky, find Su Ming’an five years later.

He would open those sharp beaks, unveil those blood-red eyes, and look at Su Ming’an, still unaware.

"Lord Bai Shen," he would call out such a title.

He would use this title to make Su Ming’an mistakenly believe that he himself was Bai Shen, and then have Su Ming’an collect the three major authorities of Bai Shen on his own to assist Xiber by his side.

He would stick to Su Ming’an’s shoulder like a lump of shit in the First Tribe, impossible to shake off no matter how hard one tried.

He intended to expose Su Ming’an to the eyes of the First Tribe deliberately, forcing Su Ming’an to take Xiber’s side.

He would lead Su Ming’an into that underground passage to initiate the reversal of time.

He connected the past and the future, weaving a vast, vast web of time.

This game entangled Bai Shen, Jiu Shen, all outsiders, the First Tribe, Su Ming’an, Xiber, and even himself... shrouding the entire Qiongdi, all for the sake of gaining a loyal believer, for the awakening of the ancient, true deities.

It was to reverse the fabricated faith of the people and bring them back into the embrace of the deity that blessed them.

Three hundred twenty-seven times.

He succeeded.

Su Ming’an remembered the system prompt he heard upon first meeting Raven.

Su Ming’an seemed to understand why, even after accepting Raven’s company, the path still led to the "Jiu Shen Line."

...So that’s how it is.

Because Raven itself was a Divine Envoy of Jiu Shen.

And Su Ming’an was neither Bai Shen nor Jiu Shen.

In the future, Raven called him "Bai Shen" to deceive him, and in the past, it called him "Jiu Shen" to deceive Xiber.

All these identities he believed himself to hold were actually lies woven by Raven’s machinations.

He was but an ordinary adventurer ensnared by Raven’s schemes.

Raven called out to him, those bright red eyes brimming with mirth.

It spread its wings and turned to fly away.

Like an eagle darting into the blue sky, like a horse galloping across the fields, it was heading towards the high heavens and freedom.

It would wait, in Qiongdi, waiting for five years before seeing Su Ming’an again.

Just as it did in those three hundred twenty-seven times, day after day, waiting for the emergence of a believer.

Just as it did over the millennia, year after year, waiting for the awakening of the ancient deity.

Su Ming’an hoisted Xiber onto his back.

Shattered leaves fell on their heads and shoulders, the bright red flames scattering like twilight.

"Why did you save me?" Xiber suddenly asked.

Su Ming’an looked over at her.

She emitted a vibrant presence that was starkly memorable, as if cherished by all things, her eyes still bright even surrounded by fire.

"...Because you’ll become a very good person in the future," he said.

He glanced at the system bar; the favorability hadn’t changed, unfortunately.

"I have put my faith in Jiu Shen, and from now on, even my brother will turn away from me," Xiber said.

"No, there will be a top-ranked adventurer in the future who will walk with you," Su Ming’an said.

"Shadow just lied to me saying you were Jiu Shen, are you also a Divine Envoy of Jiu Shen? Otherwise, how could you predict the future?" Xiber asked.

"What if I am that very adventurer who will accompany you in the future?" Su Ming’an asked.

"I don’t believe that," Xiber said. "I am the only heretic on this land, no one will walk with me."

Su Ming’an didn’t reply.

"...Unless you sign a contract with me, then I’ll believe you," Xiber said.

"What kind of contract?"

"The method just taught to me by the great Jiu Shen, a way to make a contract. With this contract, I’m not afraid you’ll disappear in the future."

"Go ahead and sign," Su Ming’an said.

Xiber extended her hand forward.

He lifted his hand, pinching her fingers.

"In the presence of Jiu Shen, I forge an everlasting pact with you," Xiber said: "— a vow to walk together until the end with the person before me."

This time, her voice was gentle and soft, without a hint of aggression.

Her wolf-like wildness hadn’t yet surfaced on her.

In the future, she would experience a tragedy she had never faced before.

A sense of powerlessness against the world would descend upon her with crystal clarity. She would stand against the heavens and earth with her frail human body.

She would be destroyed like a fierce flame, wild and unrestrained like a madman.

She would be like a ferocious wild wolf.

She would learn to skin, execute, and strike the final blow, as watchful and alone as a hunter in the forest.

But at this moment, she who had yet to experience everything, who had just dyed her hair white, was still a girl who had just removed her sacrificial crown, stepping away from beside the magma.

She pinched his finger, her gesture not offensive, as if merely seeking comfort.

"I can’t escape now, can I?" Su Ming’an uttered the words she would say to him in the future.

"I’ll let you run," Xiber said, "if you can take off the mask on your face."

Su Ming’an was momentarily stunned before realizing that a white swath of skin hung beneath his face.

He had been wearing "Wang Han’s Human Skin Mask" all along, assuming a different face. Now, constantly burned by fire, the mask had begun to peel off.

"Alright," Su Ming’an removed the mask.

Xiber leaned in close, examining his face in great detail.

"Alright," she said, "I’ve remembered it."

"You definitely haven’t remembered it," Su Ming’an put on the mask and immediately protested.

Clearly, even though Xiber had seen his true face here, she obviously hadn’t recognized him five years later.

"...Hmph." Xiber wasn’t angry at his contradiction, just snorted. She was always good-tempered, only the future Fengchang would make her become timorous and apprehensive.

As Su Ming’an walked, he suddenly saw her reach out, pulling at his pocket, pinching something in her hand.

"What is this?" she asked.

Between her fingers was a dark black seed.

Su Ming’an remembered, this was probably one of the miscellaneous things those kids had stuffed into his pocket in the tunnel when they gave him candy.

"Cursed Fire Flower Seed," he said.

"I’ve never heard of this flower," Xiber said, "Flowers in Qiongdi are hard to bloom; there’s severe pollution here."

"This flower is the exception," Su Ming’an said, "It’s called ’Cursed Fire,’ its floral language is ’waiting’ and ’hope.’ It doesn’t need sunlight, it doesn’t need dew, as long as it stays with someone for at least five years, it will blossom."

"You’re a foreigner, how would you know the floral language of Qiongdi?" Xiber was puzzled.

"You told me this," he replied.

"I’ve never said such things," Xiber fell silent for a moment: "...Can I take this seed?"

"You take it," Su Ming’an had no intention of keeping the Cursed Fire Flower Seed; five years was too long for him, even one year was a bit too long.

A smile appeared on Xiber’s face.

When she spoke, her voice was especially soft.

It was a kind of voice that reminded one of swaying branches but would not lead to indulgence.

"Thank you," she said, "Thank you, I will keep it always."

She lifted her red robe and hid the seed in her hair.

Perhaps, years later, that tiny seed would grow into a blaze of flowers.

It would silently nestle in her snow-white hair, like a little secret hidden in the years.

She would take it out, impatiently explaining to the somewhat rebellious adventurer before her:

And then that bold and presumptuous adventurer, who claims he will win in the end, will tell her—

"Cici, Xiber," Su Ming’an looked at her, saying:

"You will definitely see the blossoms."

Su Ming’an lifted his head.

Dawn poured into his pitch-black pupils.

They walked through the sea of fire that burned, through withered black grass and shattered leaves, past the dried-up streams.

The distant sounds of lively conversation among the tribe members carried over; they had left the forest ablaze and found a settlement with enclosed buildings―

"I don’t want to live here," Xiber said.

She pointed in one direction, motioning him to keep walking forward.

They arrived at a spot near the Black Wall, at the edge of the forest.

There was a quiet wooden house that seemed long uninhabited. Jet-black fluid substances that resembled craggy rocks were piled around, like frozen sludge.

She said that she would live here from now on. The aura of Jiu Shen emanating from her would only grow stronger, and she did not wish to harm the other tribe members.

In fact, in the future, when Su Ming’an pushed open the wooden door, she indeed was waiting there.

With a Soul Stone in hand, draped in a red robe.

Her father gave her security, her mother gave her warmth.

She would stand under the contaminated sky, like a living flame, gazing at the distant light and freedom.

"Are you leaving?" she noticed his intention to depart.

"Yes," Su Ming’an suddenly asked, "I have made a pact with you, but what if I never appear in the future? What will you do?"

"..." Xiber was silent for a moment:

"I will wait here," she said, "you will surely appear."

"What do you plan to do next?" asked Su Ming’an.

"I think..." Xiber looked up, gazing into the distance.

Dawn’s light fell on her face.

At that moment, her eyes were as clear and bright as glass.

"...I’m going to bring down the Black Wall."

"I want... to bring long-lost light and freedom to Qiongdi."

"Ding―" The system notification sounded, six o’clock approached.

Su Ming’an was about to completely leave this timeline, to convene the "Malicious Ones" exile meeting.

As he left, he caught a glimpse of her eyes.

When people behold the vast array of stars, they often feel ashamed, marveling at their own insignificance.

But looking into her eternally bright eyes, he felt like he was taking a breath with his soul, dashing toward the beautiful planets in the night sky.

In her eyes was a wilderness-like calmness that made one think of galloping steeds and the wind across the plains.

Xiber once had a dream.

She dreamt of a forest, like a deep green ocean. Emerald lines extended and spread out within her field of vision, smoothly merging at the far horizon.

The Cursed Fire Flower, buried deep in the soil, took root in the filthy mud, struggling in the stinky black sludge.

In the distance, leaves overlapped leaves, branches pressed upon branches, everything growing and expanding in the green, chanting.

―Then a Flying Bird passed through the layers of shadows, landing on the ground above the flower.

Together with the Flying Bird, she would cross this cursed and hellish place―

Wearing the red robe, carrying the Soul Stone, with her faith and soul.

The Flying Bird said,

You will see that distant sea.

It said,

Xiber.

You will certainly see the flowers bloom.