Kill Me! End It! . . .
"Furthermore, not all the most capable men endure until the end," Boundless Saint shared with a heavy heart. "My brother, the vice-Saint, just before his passing, confided in me with a bittersweet smile. He said, 'Make Feng Monarch pay... Me and our brothers down there will curse him ceaselessly. If he pays, we'll offer prayers even in the depths of hell... When you obtain the money, lead those who survive toward brighter lives. Cease killing for money... Otherwise, we won't find peace.'"
Boundless Saint was overcome with emotion, his voice faltering.
"We've taken lives, countless lives, staking our very existence this time," he continued. "We did it for the money, knowing it could secure a better future for us."
"We may not all survive to enjoy that money, but our brothers and families can. That's why we fought with unwavering determination."
"We kill for money, and we die for money."
"Before we can claim that money, we must settle scores with those who seek our demise, ending the enmity of old. Ning Biluo, you are the foremost among them, the first I must confront."
"As long as animosity lingers, regardless of where we hide or for how long, we remain plagued by constant worry."
"We fret over the prospect of our enemies reemerging."
"You could shatter the dreams we've nurtured, our cherished homes."
"You see, before this opportunity arose, we scarcely dared to dream. Why? Because we had no money. We'd earn over a million for a contract, a substantial sum. However, we'd divide the money among us, using it to buy food and medicine. It was never enough. Some received more, while others had but a few hundred."
"Some would exhaust their funds swiftly. We led lives without hope, without saving, always yearning for that one substantial sum of money."
"That would breathe hope into our existence, something we could rely upon for the rest of our lives."
"But the funds remained elusive, and we weren't sure how long we'd continue to exist. That's why we spent freely. Regardless of the sum, it could all vanish in a single night."
"Ning Biluo, do you grasp the sentiment?"
"You're living a comfortable life, following Feng Monarch, a wealthy individual. You needn't worry about food or anything else. Even the people you look after are well-provided for. But what about us?"
"Now we have a chance, the possibility of accumulating sufficient wealth to sustain ourselves for the remainder of our lives and even those of future generations. That's why we were willing to fight with such fervor, why we were prepared to make sacrifices."
"Still, some of our brethren survive."
"Some of us can experience the days we once could only dream of."
"Today, I've come to bring closure to the longstanding feud between you and me, once and for all."
"I no longer wish to dwell in fear. We've sacrificed too much to secure a brighter future."
Boundless Saint unburdened his heart.
He had held his potent energy in check since entering Ling-Bao Hall, but now he released it, directing it squarely at Ning Biluo.
Cha Eun Xiao, listening to this heartfelt revelation, felt a profound sense of ambivalence. It was challenging to discern the boundaries of right and wrong in this complex narrative.
One thing was clear: The Boundless Lake was the most formidable and ruthless assassins' collective in existence.
Now, these individuals carried within them a complex blend of wounds and aspirations, their destinies poised on a precipice.
Cha Eun Xiao observed as Boundless Saint fixed his gaze unwaveringly on Ning Biluo, and it became apparent that a confrontation was inevitable. However, what struck Cha Eun Xiao with even greater force was the realization that Boundless Saint harbored no true desire for victory. He was prepared to meet his demise in this confrontation.
"Why not choose an alternative path? Ning Biluo came to Ling-Bao Hall. Liu Changjun came. You all could have," Cha Eun Xiao inquired, his brow furrowing in perplexity.
"Of course, the thought crossed our minds, but Ning Biluo was already within these walls. The grudge ran too deep! I worried that even if we did come, only one of us could remain, either him or me," Boundless Saint replied with a bitter smile. "If I had come and squared off against Ning Biluo, whose side do you think you'd be on? The answer was clear. We would undoubtedly have fought, and the fight would only culminate in death. That was the stark reality."
"If we had made the journey here, Boundless Lake would have crumbled long ago. None of us would have survived," he added, his voice weighed down by the gravity of the enmity.
Cha Eun Xiao fell into silence. Their mutual loathing ran so deep that it seemed an insurmountable divide, one not easily bridged by outsiders.
"Ning Biluo is here, and so we would never have come, we wouldn't!" Boundless Saint declared with a deep breath, his eyes holding back tears. "We would rather clash in the martial world like wolves than prostrate ourselves like dogs."
Boundless Saint's voice swelled, and he suddenly exclaimed, "Marvelous!"
"I've never spoken so candidly in my life. For many years, these words were locked in my chest. Now, I finally have the opportunity to voice them. I've said them to Feng Monarch of Ling-Bao Hall, to Ning Biluo, and to Zhao Pingtian. It feels liberating!"
Ning Biluo's countenance darkened as he retorted, "You feel liberated now? What about me?"
Boundless Saint responded with a cold humph before continuing, "I'm here to bring you liberation. You'll feel genuinely liberated!"
"How?" Ning Biluo inquired, his brow furrowing.
"End me. How about that?" Boundless Saint unsheathed his sword, and it emitted an icy gleam that struck the floor beneath Ning Biluo, embedding itself.
The sword quivered, producing an eerie sound.
Boundless Saint gazed intently at Ning Biluo and calmly proposed, "Kill me. What do you say?"
"End me. Let's put an end to this age-old grudge. I'll bear your hatred. Do it swiftly, and you'll find closure too. How splendid!"
Boundless Saint inhaled deeply and continued, "But on one condition: after my demise, you must release it all. You won't pursue my thirteen brothers any further. Grant them the freedom to depart with the money and live the lives we've long yearned for."
"That, my friend, is the dream of not just me but also over a thousand brothers."