Chapter 434: So, It Was Him!

Standing before Shangguan Lingxiu, the middle-aged man smiled. It was a care-free smile, a smile of a man that had put everything down and was finally free of worries.

The gentle woman beside him looked on with a sense of blessing; she first pointed at Shangguan Lingxiu and then at Lord Supreme Cloud beside her, before holding her husband's hand tightly.

Her smile at Shangguan Lingxiu was strangely comforting. It seemed like a blessing; it also seemed like she was trying to remind her of something...

However, the middle-aged man shook his head and held his wife's hand back lovingly, as if the husband was stopping his wife from saying something. A helpless grin appeared on the gentle woman's face; she looked at Shangguan Lingxiu again with curved lips.

Then, the man and woman turned at the same time to formally bow towards the east, the direction where Tiantang lay. They straightened up again and turned around to stare at Shangguan Lingxiu. The middle-aged man waved, a sign of farewell.

He held the woman's hand and picked up the child. A horse suddenly appeared out of thin air and the three of them were suddenly seated on the horse.

The horse carried the three of them away as it galloped amidst the clouds and mist. Soon, they turned into a soft breeze and vanished entirely.

The ancestral tablets in front of Yun Yang and Shangguan Lingxiu did not move, but the three parcels containing the remains deflated in unison.

The difference in the weight of the packages woke Shangguan Lingxiu up from her trance and she quickly opened the parcels to peer inside.

As expected, there was nothing left in the three parcels that had held their remains, except for white ashes.

"It was Ancestor Wudi..." Shangguan Lingxiu was misty-eyed but she was smiling. "His wish has finally been accomplished. He has finally left in peace, together with his beloved wife and child to be in each other's company in the underworld."

Yun Yang heaved a long sigh and said, "It's an eye-opening experience for me today as well. The heroic soul does not just disappear; it remains in this world for a long time indeed!"

"It was also my first time meetnig Ancestor Wudi. He is a senior of the Shangguan Family of Generals, that goes without saying. His grace and demeanor has never before been seen on any existing generals," Shangguan Lingxiu said, smiling through her tears.

Yun Yang said in all seriousness, "Wudi, truly second to none!"

He had to admit that he understood why the Empire of Ziyou had to annihilate this General Shangguan Wudi, even if they had to resort to the vilest of tactics. The nonpareil grace was truly impressive!

As long as this man emerged, mounted on his horse, despite being among millions of men in the army, he would be the embodiment of victory!

He was the Hero Wudi1!

The feeling was deeply embedded in everyone's heart, whether they were on his side or the enemy's side - no one would dare to think that they could ever defeat such a force like him in the battlefield!

"A divinely unequaled warrior!"

Yun Yang commented. "Too bad..." He did not continue the rest of his sentence.

No matter what it was, Shangguan Wudi's wish had been fulfilled after all. The rest of it could remain unspoken, lest it ruin the peerless heroic spirit!

Hopefully, General Wudi, alongside his wife and son, could rest in peace without being lonely ever again.

Handing Shangguan Wudi and his family's remains to Shangguan Lingxiu could be considered the ending point for all matters concerning Ziyou; Yun Yang wished for nothing but to have a good rest now.

He had been really stretched thin during this entire time, especially the few recent days. He first planned his set up and snuck into Zilong City, always living in suspense and playing mind games with Ziyou's high authorities. Then, he finally met Old Dugu and the huge battle had broken out. After he charged out of Zilong City, he had directed the Lunar River's water to Zilong City's border, almost expending all his energy in the process.

The steering of the Lunar River had looked like a magnificent effort, but Yun Yang knew that it had only been a small portion of the river that he had been able to pull out. Yun Yang would not have been able to redirect the entire contents of the river even if he was beaten to death.

The monstrous waves that everyone saw were real indeed, but other than the front-facing tides, the back was mostly comprised of weak flows of water. It was nowhere near as dire as the Ziyou's officials and the emperor had thought it was.

The borderless tides that everyone had seen and heard was an exaggerated act by Yun Yang's Holy Water Charm in its crux. All the world was a stage, and all men and women were its actors!

If Yun Yang's Holy Water Charm cultivation base could actually steer the entire Lunar River over, he would not have arrived over four hours later, when he said he would return within an hour.

This was the genuine reason for his tardiness.

Yun Yang had already exhausted all of his spiritual power but still could not successfully redirect the Lunar River to Zilong City's border. Ultimately, it was Emmie's great effort that made a portion of the water obey his command.

To lead the river water there had drained most of Yun Yang's willpower.

The authoritative manner Yun Yang had assumed when facing Ziyou's emperor and officials was nothing but an empty show, a smoke screen made by kicking up a cloud of dust.

Afterward, what happened with the little bear depleted the rest of Yun Yang's physical strength once more. When he had left, 'gracefully', as seen by others in the water stream, he was actually on his last legs!

Yun Yang had almost fainted amidst the currents, only holding out by sheer willpower. That was how he had persevered until he left the sight of Ziyou's people and had the opportunity to recover. It was also about then that Emmie had told him about the change regarding the little bear's death. Thus, the trip to the forest was added to his journey in order for the little bear to be revived and reignite its cultivation journey.

Of course, the act to save the little bear took up all of Yun Yang's recently-recovered mystical Qi once again!

When Yun Yang landed on Shangguan Lingxiu's ship, it was one of the weakest and most powerless moments in his life. He knew that he was on the brink of exhaustion and could fall unconscious into a deep slumber at any minute, further bolstered by a vision that was slowly darkening.

If an enemy were to come now, Yun Yang would most probably accept that his death was imminent, and would be pliable to anything done to him.

The air of vitality was not omnipotent, it was not an all-purpose antidote. At the very least, it was useless in Yun Yang's current state of fatigue!

Now that Shangguan Wudi's matter was resolved, Yun Yang felt that he could not hold it in anymore. He asked directly, "Lady Shangguan, can you prepare a quiet room for me without disturbance from anyone? I need to rest for a bit."

Hearing Lord Supreme Cloud's unexpected request, Shangguan Lingxiu was struck with the realization that Lord Supreme Cloud must have been worn out from the activities of the past few days!

What he had done was beyond the abilities of a normal man! Every act of his was an unimaginable miracle!

How could it not be taxing, to perform such divine feats?

Even with an unsurpassable cultivation base, one must have been sucked dry to come to this stage; furthermore, Supreme Cloud had never been known for his endurance.

"Forgive me, I have been a poor host," Shangguan Lingxiu said apologetically. Immediately, she placed an inhibition order for anyone to come up to the third story of the ship. She then emptied the biggest bedroom on the said deck and cleaned it up a bit before exiting it quietly.

Yun Yang waved and produced a cloud of mist to be placed at the door. This was the last safety measure he could muster from his barely functioning mind, the last weary act he could perform in his fatigued state.

If anyone were to enter the room without permission and touch the mist, Yun Yang would come awake at once and react in time.

Then, he laid down on the bed, succumbing to slumber before his head could even hit the pillow.

In his dream, Yun Yang felt dazed. It felt like he was awake, but not truly awake; like he was in a dream, but not yet fully there.

In his trance, it seemed like he was reunited with his brothers once again, completing a mission together as nine. There was a soft, contented smile hanging on the corners of his lips despite being fast asleep.

"Big brother, second brother, third sister, fourth brother, sixth brother, seventh brother, eighth brother..."

"What are we going to do today? Shall we ambush the fort? I have the information needed. Give me some time, I'll come up with the plan."

"Something else today? Alright, I'll plan it."

"Ol'Ninth, don't tire yourself. A balance of work and rest is the way to go, no need to push yourself in such a hurry."

"I'm not tired! How can I be? As long as we're together, I won't be tired, no matter how much I do!"

"I just miss all of you so much!"

In his dream, Yun Yang was vaguely aware of the oddity. He was with his brothers, why would he miss them?

His brothers were all looking at him with a smile - were they grinning because he was being foolish?

"Right, fifth brother, have you found Sister Yue? Were you not the one who was supposed to pick her up?"

"Young brother..." Yun Zuiyue appeared; she was still as friendly as ever, laden with smiles.

"Sister Yue, you don't know how badly you deceived me! Oh, how you've tricked me, I was so scared..." Yun Yang bawled in his dream, "I thought that I've brought harm upon you, that I brought about your death... I - I..."

He sobbed and bawled in relief, pouring out all the accumulated pressures, maligned sentiments, and hidden longings within him, like a broken dam.

Yun Yang, who was deep asleep on the bed, wore a genuine smile, but tears streamed from the corners of his eyes.

They were still fooling around in their dream, the Nine Supremes were still executing their missions in endless loops. Yun Yang only hoped that their missions were truly endless, that they would be doing things together, forever!

It was the only way everyone could stay together, always and forever.

It was a pity that no matter how numerous and how complicated the missions were, there would come a time when everything reached its end. The completion speed far exceeded Yun Yang's expectation; the missions were accomplished smoothly, but why did he still feel a sense of reluctance?

What was he being reluctant about? Could he have drained himself to the point of insanity?

"Let's have Chinese cabbage and tofu later!" The eldest brother had suggested.

The brothers cheered simultaneously in response.

In the next instance, all nine brothers had arrived at the tattered alehouse.

Old Dugu was seated at the front door, hunched over as usual. Watching the brothers enter, his wrinkled face was all smiles, beaming warmth and contentment, like he was watching his long-departed sons coming back together.

It was still the same - each of them had a table of their own, a dish of Chinese cabbages and tofu, a pot of wine; the refreshing aroma filled the small space to its rafters.

Yun Yang devoured the meal heartily, feeling the overflowing warmth in his heart while eating.

It was scrumptious!

It was so tasty!

No matter how much he ate, he would not get enough of it.

Yun Yang realized that he had emptied his dish while his brothers still had full plates while they feasted.

Just like a child who had finished his candy first, or maybe Pigsy from the Journey to the West who had snatched the fruit, the ravenous Yun Yang had no regards for his own image when he stood up with his chopsticks and was about to steal a bite before he was blocked by the group.

"Are you all not letting me eat?" Yun Yang was shocked.

The eldest, Supreme Earth, raised his head - it was the crown prince's face, and he looked at Yun Yang warmly, saying, "Ol'Ninth, you can't eat what we're eating."

"What do you mean I can't eat it? It's the same thing. I've just finished a plate of it!" Yun Yang was adamant. "I want to eat it! Just a bite! Let this young brother have a bite please, my dear older brothers!"

From being stubborn to acting spoilt and even being a brat, the brothers watched Yun Yang with warm smiles but they shook their heads vehemently, rejecting his plea.

Old Dugu smiled lovingly in his hunched form, and said, "Why are you fussing about this bit in front of you? Isn't it easy that you want to eat? Haven't I taught you how to do it? Can't you do it yourself if you want to have it?"

"No!" Yun Yang was stubborn. "I want to eat theirs. I want a bite of theirs. What's the fun if I do it myself?"

Before Yun Yang's words could echo in his ears and heart, the small alehouse suddenly disappeared.

The brothers were not where they had been as well, leaving, as they picked themselves up. They chattered with each other while Old Dugu followed behind them, walking towards the distance as they bantered, but no one was bothered with him.

Yun Yang was at a loss, helpless.

The sky was high and the yellow earth stretched endlessly. There were no signs of life no matter how far he gazed, not even a tree or a blade of grass. There was no living creature in this vast earth, he was the only inhabitant left in this whole wide world!

Of course, there would be no one left to answer him.

Yun Yang asked, like a lost child, "Where are you all going? Why aren't you bringing me along?"

The silhouettes of the dozen backs were chatting with each other intimately as they went further, no one responded to his question.

Yun Yang grew increasingly anxious and started to sprint as he shouted, "Wait for me! Wait for me, you fellows! Leave with me!"

However, the group only moved faster as the distance between them grew. The silhouettes turned into a group of black dots before they vanished entirely. Then, Yun Yang vaguely felt as if his brothers had turned into the stars in the sky, watching him in as they twinkled merrily.

Then, the wind came,the rain came, and the snow came...

Storms, floods, fire, thunder - countless disasters and calamities, blood and flames intersected in chaotic loops in the human realm. He was left alone to struggle, fighting, shouting; how he needed help, needed a hand, needed someone to walk this path with him... but no one came.

He was the only one holding on, persevering...

In another trance, a silhouette flashed before him. Old Dugu's hunched form reappeared with the usual warm smiling face as he watched him with loving sympathy, "Child, go back. This is not where you belong."

"I'm not going back!" Yun Yang cried, his eyes were teary as he said vehemently, "I'm not going back!"

Old Dugu looked at him indulgingly and said softly, "My child, remember... take care of yourself in the future..."

As he finished, he stretched an arm out with some hesitation before slapping Yun Yang's shoulders.

Yun Yang shouted, feeling his body involuntarily falling back, into the darkness.

Old Dugu, who was in front of him, grew smaller and smaller, gradually turning invisible just like everyone else.

He was still flying backward uncontrollably.

Yun Yang struggled as he did, shouting incessantly, "I'm not going back! I don't want to go back! Don't you dare think about abandoning me!"

"You all talk about being brothers in unity every day, talk about sharing life and death every day, but now you're all leaving me behind! How can you speak such lies so easily!"

Yun Yang yelled, "There's no free lunch in this world! I'm going to find all of you wherever I have to go!"

"Don't abandon me, I'm alone in this world! What's the meaning of it all if I'm alone?"

"I'm alone now, can't you all see it? Can't you see how I'm suffering?"

"I can't take it anymore!"

"I really can't! Take me away!"

"Bring me along!"

"Bring me with you!"

"Wait for me!"

"Big brother, brothers, wait! Wait for me!"

...

Outside the door, Shangguan Lingxiu's face was drenched in tears as she wore a pitiful look.

She had been sitting here since yesterday. Supreme Cloud, who was inside, had slept for an entire day and night until he began shouting and crying uncontrollably as if he was in a nightmare. The sudden, hoarse cries were frightening.

She could hear Supreme Cloud talk in his sleep clearly. Although most of it was vague, she could still understand part of it.

These were what Supreme Cloud would never have said in a conscious state even if he was being beaten to death.

He was a deity in the Empire of Yutang! A living god!

How could he show such fragile emotions?

Perhaps, only when he was so exhausted that he could not even stand it, when he was entirely drained that he had no say in his subconscious mind, in addition to the huge blow to his physical and mental state... when he truly could not endure it all, that he would vent it in his dreams.

"I'm not going back! I don't want to go back! Don't think about abandoning me!"

"Don't abandon me, I'm alone in this world!"

"Can't you all see it? How hard I'm suffering?"

"I can't take it anymore!"

"Take me away!"

"I miss you all so much..."

...

Shangguan Lingxiu was in tears.

Putting herself in his place, if she were to be Supreme Cloud and the brothers who had always been with her were to all die in a battle within a single day...

What would she become, if she were left alone in this world?

What was more, he had to bear so many responsibilities despite being alone!

He was the supporting pillar of almost the entire empire!

Furthermore, he still had to seek revenge! He had to continue working! He had to bear the responsibilities without fail.

He had to fight, had to kill - he had to face the endless traps and everything that was crude and dirty in this world, everything that was also high and mighty, everything...

The spies in the imperial court, the forces of the martial world, the enemy nations, the battlefields on all four sides...

Everything was supposed to be the shared responsibility of nine people; they had worked together and did their own parts, but now, there was only one person left and all the jobs had multiplied for the sole survivor.

The loneliness, the desolation, the helplessness of being alone had to be daunting, yet he had to move forward, persevere and hold out until the end.

Even if one were to be made of steel, he would have collapsed a long time ago.

It was said that the Empire of Ziyou's assassin was one of the Nine Supremes' relatives but Supreme Cloud had witnessed the death of a family... Even if had achieved a landslide victory in the recent battle that was clearly a massacre, what was the use of it when his family could not be brought back to life?

There was an additional sense of loneliness in this world.

The heart was hurt and the soul was gone!

Lord Supreme Cloud, how had he persevered until now?

Even when he only wished to dream, he had to chase everyone else away, just so he could bawl and chastise to his heart's content in absolute privacy.

It was an almost hopeless sense of abandonment and despondency that Shangguan Lingxiu could empathize with, feeling like her heart was about to be torn apart. She honestly could not imagine how resilient one must be in order to endure all of these.

...

"It's him, it has to be him..." Shangguan Lingxiu murmured as she wept.

Truthfully, she was already suspicious of Supreme Cloud's identity, especially from the meow when the Eclipse Panther had come to relay his message.

Now that Supreme Cloud was in the room, separated by a door which did not hold back the true voice of the unconscious man, Shangguan Lingxiu could recognize the owner of that voice immediately.

The Supreme Cloud who had been helping her, helping the Shangguan Family of Generals, helping the Empire of Yutang - the Supreme Cloud who had been gracefully at ease and could tease and mock the generals of four nations, was Young Master Yun!

It was Young Marquis Yun!

The Young Master Yun who had always looked clean, where not a single speck of dust could ever land on him - the man with the gentle smile and tall back.

Despite wearing the title of a popinjay, a deliberate investigation would not unveil a single popinjay-like matter that could be relevant to Yutang's head of popinjays, Young Master Yun...

No matter how smooth a talker he was, he had never really given in, regardless of time and place.

It was Young Master Yun who had always worn a faint smile while calling her "Sister Lingxiu" - it was him!

It was actually him!

Shangguan Lingxiu finally understood and she realized the many things that had eluded her all this while.

No wonder I've always felt that Yun Yang carrieD a lot of secrets like he can never truly be figured out. No one can understand what he's thinking, what sort of aspirations or ambitions he holds...

No wonder I've always felt that this person is thoughtful and he has never shown his true feelings, whether he was joking or truly angry, whether he was being unreasonable...

Everything has been so illusory! His true self has never been shown to outsiders, no matter the time and place.

Now I know why this is so.

Yun Yang, in the eyes of others, was only an image, a fake one from head to toe! Young brother Yun, Yun Yang, was Supreme Cloud - Lord Supreme Wind whom the entire Empire of Yutang saw as a deity, a savior!

He was weighed down with so many things along his way, how could he be carefree? How could he have the luxury to express his true emotions?

The multitude of things he shouldered would have been crippling if it had been anyone else, but he was still elegant now. He did not reveal even the hint of a crack to others.

He was alone, no one could understand it - and no one could help him shoulder it in the slightest.

If it were not for this exhaustion that had brought him close to the edge, who would have thought that he was actually Supreme Cloud?

Translator Note:

1Wudi (无敌wú dí): used as a character name Shangguan Wudi but the Chinese characters, when put together, also stand for nonpareil, peerless, and the like.