Chapter 410: Blank

After what seemed like an eternity, Old Dugu's soul finally took form; his vision refocused as he looked forward, from left to right in a daze. When he finally saw Yun Yang following the latter's call, he frowned and murmured as if he was dreaming, "Why have you come?"

Yun Yang sobbed, "If I had not come, how would I have known what has befallen you?"

Old Dugu took on a look of concern, suddenly recalling something as he cast his gaze on his own broken body lying on the bed without a sign of life; he sighed dejectedly and said, "Son, you should not be here. You shouldn't linger any longer than you have to. Leave quickly!"

Hearing the two words, Yun Yang felt even more heartbroken. "I'm here to take you home. I want to take care of you and send you off."

"Nonsense. I'm already dead."

Old Dugu smiled faintly, "When a person dies, everything stops; what's left is rotting flesh. Whether I've died or my enemy has died, we're the same - a pile of bones. Risking your life to carry a bunch of bones back; is it worth it?"

"Absolutely!" Yun Yang gritted his teeth. "Even if I die, I want to bring you home, father!"

Old Dugu sighed, "My naïve child! This old man is comforted, without any regrets, being able to see my next generation here to send me off even after I die. Don't you dare something foolish. This is Zilong City. You wouldn't be able to escape if you're burdened by this old man!"

He frowned and said softly, "Son, I don't know what arcane skill you've used to reassemble my soul, but I know myself. My spirit is beginning to disperse again; this means that I'm not left with much time. Instead of getting entangled in my funeral, be patient and listen to me - consider it a fitting end to our relationship."

Yun Yang nodded forcefully, listening to Old Dugu quietly without saying another word.

"After your seventh brother passed on, I did not harbor any intention to keep on living in this world... I should have died then."

Old Dugu was silent for a moment before he continued sadly, "If I couldn't obtain revenge for my child and act upon my resentment, I knew that I would always feel some form of regret. In the past year, there were many generals and high-level officials from the different empires who have died in my hands. I've gained more than I've lost!"

"I was bound to be caught eventually. This game of cat and mouse couldn't have gone on forever. We don't do such unreasonable things. Life and death, resentment and revenge, they're all fair game. Besides, to me, this is a conclusion, an end!"

"The reason I didn't totally release my will to live is probably because I still have an unfulfilled wish, I still have something I can't let go - I've been wishing to see you once more. I've thought that there's no hope for this wild dream, but I didn't expect God to bless me yet again. I've finally gotten to see my child one last time."

Old Dugu's eyes ran across Yun Yang's face indulgently. The face in front of him was that of a stranger, but Old Dugu's gaze remained the same, like when he had first looked upon Yun Yang.

He knew that this person in front of him was his child - he was his family!

"You've probably expended too much, gathering my soul with your arcane skills... I won't say too much and prolong your strain."

Old Dugu sighed contentedly, "What I wanted to tell you is the background of my son. Actually, I don't know the details of his birth either; he was found a long time ago, but there's a crescent symbol on his back. It was as if some wealthy family had imprinted the family symbol right after the child was born. Within the crescent symbol, there is the word 'kill', while under the word, there is a horizontal line."

"If you could find the clues about this family in future or even find his parents, child, remember to ask them for your brother - why did they abandon him? If there is a valid reason, fine; if there isn't, you have to bring justice back for your brother!"

"Such a family will never be unable to bring up their children." Old Dugu said softly.

"Yes!" Yun Yang's voice was hoarse with conviction, "I shall find them and ask them why they abandoned my brother!"

"There is one other thing. It was by chance that I found your brother when I was out hunting for treasure at the Grand Blade Summit. After that, I had my heart set on bringing up this child and no longer cared for the martial world, so I've long forgotten about the treasure hunt. Now that I think about it, it was a wasted opportunity. The treasure map that I have is only one of many pieces; there are still many others scattered elsewhere. The destination of the treasure map refers to a historical site tens of thousands of years ago. The site contained a divine secret, a chance to triumph over heaven and earth!"

"Those fortunate enough to enter the site can become a deity and achieve immortality!"

"I have placed this piece of the map on the jade pendant I always carry around. However, it was because of this map that I was harmed and poisoned, leading me to where I am today. The map is in Ouyang Xiaoshe's hands right now. If you are so able, remember to kill Ouyang Xiaoshe and reclaim what is ours. It's one thing to forget and ignore what we have, but it's another to let it be taken away by others!"

Yun Yang swore, "This child shall tear Ouyang Xiaoshe to pieces, torment his soul for a hundred years. I won't let him have an easy death!"

Old Dugu's silhouette wavered, the image turning illusory again; Emmie delivered energy with more fervor to try and stabilize it, only to realize that it could no longer do anything to help. Things were going out of its control and it cried out in panic.

Yun Yang was also anxious, seeing what was happening. Helpless, he cultivated the Endless Divine Art and delivered all of it into Old Dugu's body. However, Yun Yang's shallow cultivation base was a futile drop in the ocean when Emmie's own air of vitality was already of no use.

Old Dugu, as the direct litigant, naturally felt it as he smiled faintly and said, "Child, I had a thought to visit each family one by one and live a quiet life when all of you have bestowed peace upon the world and found your own wives, had your own children. It's a waste that this old man is destined not to be able to see it..."

"When you find a wife and have your children in the future, don't forget to offer an incense to the heavens... tell me about it. I'll offer a toast even if I'm in the underworld."

Yun Yang replied with tears in his eyes, "Of course."

"Remember to make more children." Old Dugu smiled warmly. "Your brothers didn't have any heirs... If you make more, you can pass a few to them. The lineage of your nine brothers is all upon you now."

Yun Yang could only nod his head continuously, no longer able to speak. He was still delivering his art, hoping for a miracle.

"Son, you... must continue living." Old Dugu's body was slowly dissipating. "Don't be impulsive in whatever you do, don't act tough... I have no regrets dying this time. If you must leave with my corpse, I won't be able to rest in peace if anything were to happen to you... There is no shame or loss if you were to just leave me here."

Yun Yang was stunned, finally stopping his efforts because he knew that nothing more could be done.

"Son... the Chinese cabbage tofu... that was your favorite, was it not? Remember to use Chinese cabbage that's half circular and tightly packed. Peel the outer layer away and leave the center. For tofu, you have to use aged tofu made from soya bean. The best is if it's hard when you press it. Stir-fry the vegetables with lard and when the lard dries, put in the spices. Once the spices are fragrant in the wok, add pork belly. With a flip and the meat is about done, toss the Chinese cabbage in... Before the Chinese cabbage curls, don't add any water. After the water boils, add the tofu..."

He recited the recipe sonorously.

"... it's your favorite and I really want to make it again for you and watch you eat... It's a pity... you'll have to make it for yourself in the future..."

Old Dugu's gaze towards Yun Yang was loving and indulgent like he could never get enough of watching Yun Yang. "My child... live well... you must live happily..."

The kind gaze stayed on Yun Yang's face but Old Dugu's own visage was already turning into wisps of smoke. "Leave me... here..."

"I... can't protect you anymore..."

He stretched out his hand, as if he wanted to stroke Yun Yang's face for one last time, but the moment his hand extended, it disappeared. Yun Yang closed his eyes, imagining the lingering touch of that old hand...

The dissipating silhouette wavered slightly before it vanished entirely.

At the same time, the faint warmth that was on Old Dugu's chest was finally gone.

He had passed to the other side. He no longer existed in the human realm...

Emmie retracted its deific sense wearily.

Yun Yang stood there in a trance, feeling his mind and heart adrift in a featureless fog.

Yun Yang knew that Old Dugu could have held on a while longer, but to fulfill his longing, the latter had used the last of his spirit to dispel the last bit of life remaining in him, obliterating his presence in this world.

"Father..."

Both of Yun Yang's hands stretched out, trembling as if he could make the vanished silhouette stay, but he could only grasp at empty air.

...

The door opened.

Jun Moyan stood at the door alone, his gaze even colder than before. "Old Dugu has passed on?"

Yun Yang still felt rays of lightning bolts shuttle back and forth in his mind. He was in an utter state of confusion. He actually did not hear what Jun Moyan was saying. He only felt cold all over; his heart was sinking rapidly. He felt like the last man left in this vast world.

Glancing around, only loneliness surrounded him.

His brothers were gone.

Sister Yue was gone.

Now, Old Dugu was gone too. The only family he had in this world was gone.

They had left him behind, just like that.

He had already stood before his old sire, but he could not save him!

He had trekked tens of thousands of miles, coming from a faraway land and putting in so much effort. In the end, such was the ending that he received.

What was worse, he had to give up Old Dugu's remains due to the circumstances. He was unable to bury him in his homeland!

Did he really want to give up the body?

Yun Yang felt his heart beat faster as a hysterical emotion rushed through him.

No, I'll never give up!