He Killed Her? . . .
Feng Zhi-Ling opened his mouth and rubbed his arms in mock discomfort, saying, "Ouch... What's wrong? My bones are about to break down. Brother Gu, you grabbed me so hard. My arm was going to be ripped off!"
Gu Jin-Ling, his eyes wide with disbelief, was momentarily at a loss for words.
[Did I grip him that hard? Did I fracture his arm?
Was I really that reckless?
I swear I didn't exert excessive force. I merely held his hand casually. It must have been the array that caused his arm to get trapped!]
After a brief silence, Gu Jin-Long conceded, "I believe the Purple Lotus Decree Master must have cast some peculiar enchantment on this mountain to safeguard it from outsiders. It appears that you are the sole person who can enter and exit this mountain. I doubt your master will leave until he has completed crafting supreme dans!"
Gu Jin-Long envisioned what actions he would take if he were the Purple Lotus Decree Master and pondered the fate of Cha-Eun Xiao's master. Fortunately, Cha-Eun Xiao was quick to fabricate a story.
Gu Jin-Long, who couldn't enter the mountain, declared, "I think I should abandon the endeavor. I'll visit your master when the opportunity arises."
Cha-Eun Xiao attempted to persuade him, saying, "Let's give it another try, Brother Gu. Maybe you'll succeed this time..."
Gu Jin-Long responded dismissively with a roll of his eyes.
[Another attempt?
Try again? Are you kidding me? It's futile; I'll never get in no matter how many attempts I make!]
"No need. I am destined not to enter this mountain." Gu Jin-Long shrugged off his disappointment and grinned, "Brother Feng, since you have already delivered those materials to your master, he is likely busy working on them. My presence might be a disruption. Additionally, there is that formidable array. I believe I'll take my leave..."
Standing there, hands clasped behind his back, he scanned the surroundings. Confusion briefly flickered across his eyes but vanished just as swiftly.
He gazed at Cha-Eun Xiao and suggested, "Brother Feng, may I invite you to explore that mountain over there with me?"
Cha-Eun Xiao followed Gu Jin-Long's pointing finger to a modest-sized mountain, approximately 300 meters in height and a dozen miles away.
In comparison to the surrounding mountains, it appeared rather insignificant.
"That small mountain? For what purpose? There's just a big tree there. Nothing of significance," Cha-Eun Xiao remarked, perplexed.
Gu Jin-Long responded with a wistful smile, "Heh heh. Brother Feng, because you grew up here, you may not perceive its uniqueness. In truth, the reason I continue coming to the Land of Han-Yang is linked to this small mountain."
Cha-Eun Xiao was taken aback, inquiring, "What? What's on that mountain that piques your interest? There doesn't seem to be anything remarkable. Well, I'll keep you company. Perhaps, after accompanying you, I'll gain some insight. I'm genuinely curious about why you're so interested in it."
Gu Jin-Long smiled and commenced their journey.
The mountain was just over a dozen miles away, and they reached it promptly.
Gu Jin-Long stood at the base of the hill, gazing up at the small mountain. His eyes conveyed a range of emotions, ultimately settling on sadness. He said, "Let's go."
They ascended the mountain slowly.
The narrow trails on the mountain had become overgrown with wild grass.
Wherever Gu Jin-Long stepped, the grass and underbrush vanished instantly.
He maintained a solemn silence as he walked.
Cha-Eun Xiao trailed behind, his thoughts churning. [He appears melancholic. Could there be a significant figure buried in this place? Is there a story behind it?]
As they neared the hillside, Gu Jin-Long gracefully leaped down and reached the colossal tree, its canopy resembling an umbrella that covered most of the mountain. Beneath the tree lay a small, forlorn grave—a solitary mound devoid of any headstone.
Gu Jin-Long began clearing away the weeds that had encroached upon the mound. With his potent spiritual power, he channeled the hidden spring water through the tree, and his power extinguished all insects residing on it. Afterward, he gazed at the evidently ancient grave in contemplative silence.
Finally, he took a seat, his head bowed in silence.
After an extended period, he raised his head and uttered softly, "Brother Feng, thank you for accompanying me. Would you like to hear a story?"
Cha-Eun Xiao replied, "Certainly, I'd be delighted."
A faint, sorrowful smile touched Gu Jin-Long's lips as he began, "Long, long ago, beneath this mountain, there were two villages: Li Village and Gu Village. In the Gu Village, there resided a young man named Gu Da-Long, while in the Li Village, there lived a girl named Li Ming-Han. They grew up together like siblings and, as they matured, their engagement naturally transitioned into marriage."
"Li Ming-Han was renowned for her beauty, the loveliest maiden within a hundred miles of their villages. Gu Da-Long cherished her as though she were his very life."
Cha-Eun Xiao quickly pieced together the implications of Gu Jin-Long's narrative. [Gu Da-Long is undoubtedly Gu Jin-Long. So, the Land of Han-Yang was Gu Jin-Long's birthplace.]
"A year after their wedding," Gu Jin-Long continued, "Gu Da-Long encountered the most pivotal person in his life—a man who hailed from the upper realms but had suffered severe injuries, ultimately descending to our land. This man became Gu Da-Long's master, initiating him into the world of cultivation. Under his guidance, Gu Da-Long proved to be an extraordinary cultivation talent. Once his master had completely recuperated, he sought to bring Gu Jin-Long to his sect for further training..."
"...at that time, Han-Er clung to my leg, imploring me to stay," Gu Jin-Long's voice quivered, and his thoughts seemed momentarily distant. Accidentally, he had said 'my leg' instead of 'Gu Da-Long's,' but he remained unaware. He continued, "However, my sole aspiration was to concentrate on my cultivation journey and achieve greater heights. Regrettably, I disregarded Han-Er's anguish and departed. As I left, Han-Er wept, pledging, 'I will await your return... Please promise me you will come back for me.'"
"As I arrived in the Qing-Yun Realm, I became utterly engrossed in my cultivation. It was a veritable paradise for a naive simpleton like myself. I was consumed by it... It wasn't until I began pondering the individual waiting for me back home that I realized fifty years had elapsed!"
Cha-Eun Xiao couldn't help but sigh.
Despite his strong aversion to Gu Jin-Long, he found himself sympathizing with the man.
Sympathizing with the girl.
Fifty years!
Waiting fifty long years for someone!
She had begun waiting for him shortly after their wedding.
Ten years after another ten years!
How many years does a typical person possess?
An ordinary girl in the mortal realm...
A lovesick girl who had devoted her entire life to awaiting a man...
"I returned as soon as I could," Gu Jin-Long continued, his voice laden with emotion. "But when I saw her once more, she was still waiting there, just as she had promised. However, I was still a young man at the time, while the girl I had missed had transformed into a white-haired elderly woman before my eyes..."
"It was a time of immense sorrow and agony," Gu Jin-Long confessed, his expression laden with profound sadness. Yet, amidst his anguish, Cha-Eun Xiao couldn't help but detect a hint of malevolence in his demeanor.
"Fifty years of yearning, and she was finally reunited with you. She got her husband back," Cha-Eun Xiao offered softly. "Her long wait ultimately bore fruit."
Gu Jin-Long nodded in acknowledgment, though his teeth were clenched in frustration. "Yes, she had me back," he uttered bitterly. "But... she had aged so terribly by then."
Cha-Eun Xiao swiftly turned to look at Gu Jin-Long, incredulity etched across his face. [Inconceivable! A woman who had dedicated her entire life to waiting for him to fulfill his promise, and he dares to call her old and unsightly? Old and unsightly because of whom?]
"When I beheld that elderly woman, I wanted to address her as 'Han-Er'... but I couldn't," Gu Jin-Long admitted, closing his eyes as if recounting the painful memories. "Moreover, when she laid eyes on me, she was overjoyed. She wept tears of excitement. However, her once melodious voice had transformed into a harsh, unrecognizable sound..."
Cha-Eun Xiao sighed, his heart heavy with sorrow.
After half a century of waiting, she had finally been reunited with her husband.
Yet she had lost her youth. She had lost her beauty.
It was an incredibly cruel fate for a young woman.
But even more heartbreaking was the realization that the man she had waited for was, in Cha-Eun Xiao's opinion, utterly heartless.
"What happened afterward?" Gu Jin-Long had fallen silent, prompting Cha-Eun Xiao to inquire further.
"And then..." Gu Jin-Long's countenance twisted with an intensity that resembled that of a deranged creature.
Cha-Eun Xiao was taken aback, sensing that Gu Jin-Long was about to divulge something dreadful.
[Could it be...?]
Cha-Eun Xiao desperately hoped that his intuition was mistaken. [Can a person truly be so wicked?!]
But then...
"...And then... I killed her," Gu Jin-Long's face contorted with anguish, his voice trembling as if overwhelmed by immense torment.
"You killed her?!" Cha-Eun Xiao cried out in shock, his disbelief palpable. [He killed her?!]