Chapter 545: Unprecedented Lament

Hong Zhan was flung backwards, spinning in dust and stained with blood, he vomited blood with a splat. With a few staggering steps, he finally stabilized himself with his saber and lifted his head with eyes wide open, taking in the scene before him with disbelief.

There was absolutely no trace left of Venerable Lord Ice at the point he had just been standing on. Additionally, two of his four subordinates with weaker a cultivation base had already turned into dust due to the explosion, no remains were left. The other two were flung away like gunny sacks and were now moaning on the ground, both bearing severe injuries.

Hong Zhan felt like he was dreaming, he rubbed his temples, and murmured, "This... f*cking hell... what's going on?"

The leader of the Hall of Crimson Blade felt like he was about to lose his sanity, his mind was a complete jumble of thoughts. He had never encountered something so absurd in his whole life!

Had Venerable Lord Ice lost his mind? He had stepped up to provoke them without reason and just went ahead and killed one of their men. Perhaps the Four Seasons Tower was accustomed to being so tyrannical. Yet if he was so renowned, how could he not withstand a single strike and instead suffered a severed arm?

If it were only limited to that, then his reputation may have been proven as false, for Venerable Lord Ice was barely living up to his name, and only seemed to possess the reputation but not the capability that was attached to it. However, what about this self-explosion without hesitation? What was that all about!

Was he sending himself straight to death instead of dying by another's blade or was he so indignant about being humiliated that wanted to kill himself and bring his enemy along with him? It was too dramatic! Moreover, he was resolute to die yet he sounded as if he had been so wronged that he even asked Yun Yang to relay a message so his brothers could avenge his death?

This...

Hong Zhan was absolutely befuddled, rendered unable to think at all. What did Venerable Lord Ice even mean by doing this?

Seeing that reality was indeed set in stone, he remained in disbelief when he turned to look at Yun Yang, only to see the Tiantang City's Young Master Yun keeping a piece of a shiny item in his embrace while speaking with a heavy heart, "Venerable Lord Ice, rest in peace. Don't worry, I'll deliver your message for sure! I shall fulfill your last wish and I shall never disregard this relationship of ours!"

Hong Zhan, "..."

"Uh, Young Master Yun..." This was all Hong Zhan managed to say before he heard two moans of pain from the side; it was his two subordinates who were beginning to wake up. Both of their injuries were rather serious, blood was pouring out of their wounds. If they were not saved in time, he would have to bear the responsibility for these two lives as well.

It would make sense to care for the living first. Considering this, he bolted over and picked up both the men to quickly assess the extent of their injuries before letting them consume some medicine.

After some time, they were both stabilized.

As Hong Zhan turned to look, he newfound relief was short lived as he stood frozen on the spot.

Where was Yun Yang?

Where had the guy gone to?

His eyes scanned the spot where Young Master Yun stood quietly, but it no longer contained that recognizable fluttering purple silhouette that spoke of grace and carefreeness!

Hong Zhan howled, "Young Master Yun? Yun Yang?!"

He then soared up several hundred feet into the high altitude, overlooking their surroundings, which were being steadily covered in falling snow. A purple silhouette flashed far away before it disappeared entirely.

Why did he leave just like this?

Shouldn't he at least talk about it? Express his opinion on the matter? They could discuss their future plans too. What did he mean by fleeing like this?

"What I've encountered today..." Hong Zhan thought to himself. He was an experienced martial person, one whose martial world knowledge and experience was rich and thorough. However, today he was thoroughly bewildered!

He could not even begin to understand the sort of people and things that he had encountered today; neither could he guess the reason nor cause for all that had just transpired.

They had come, they argued, they fought, they killed, and it had ended.

By the time the end neared, he was left with a fog of question marks. It was like he was dreaming, floating and drifting amidst the clouds.

"Who can tell me what happened? Why have things become like this now?!"

Looking at the fluttering snow, Hong Zhan was so lost that he began mumbling to himself.

"I wonder if Young Master Yun is a friend or a fiend... but the Four Seasons Tower is now a nemesis for sure..." Hong Zhan thought he had been falsely persecuted. "I've never - in my life, thought I'd become enemy of the Four Seasons Tower."

...

Yun Yang sped through the flurry of snow.

He called out for his horse and Reddie galloped over from afar like a bolt of red lightning towards Yun Yang. It shook its tail in ecstasy as it snuggled its head against Yun Yang.

Yun Yang mounted the horse, the Nine Heavens Dictum that was in his embrace relayed messages continuously.

There was no discovery in the east, no trace in the west, and nothing in the north - Yue Rulan had just disappeared off the face of the earth. Yun Yang was in utter distress. Yun Zuiyue had disappeared after knowing about Supreme Flame's death, thoroughly and utterly gone; Yue Rulan had similarly disappeared after knowing about Supreme Wind's death.

"I know I'm a little selfish for saying this," Yun Yang murmured, "But have any of you ever thought about how heavy the blow is for me to handle all of you disappearing just like this, to just die like this?"

"Does no one... ever consider how I feel... in any aspect at all?"

Yun Yang sighed.

He would daresay that in all he had done in life, especially for friends and siblings, he had always thought about them by standing in their shoes. However, considering was what was happening all around him, it seemed that no one had ever thought on his behalf.

"To be honest... even if you can't bear to live anymore, or you don't want to live anymore, or that living is only suffering... shouldn't you still let me know? I can't stop all of you from seeking death, or at the very least I can arrange a proper funeral for you..."

"At least, I'd be able to see your body..."

"But what now!"

Yun Yang was in deep lament. "I don't see anyone living nor do I see anyone dead! All that remains is my grief, regret, and unsolved mysteries!"

Taking in the majestic outline of Tiantang City from afar, Yun Yang halted his steps.

Tiantang City was farther in front. Where he stopped now was still an abandoned wilderness where snow fell into oblivion. The inside and outside of the city were two different worlds entirely. As long as he entered, what would occupy him would not only be this one matter. But he had no choice but to enter! So, what else could he do?

Yun Yang observed his surroundings subconsciously, feeling his thoughts clear up all of a sudden amidst the snow. It was as if he had suddenly understood something at this moment.

He howled loudly into the sky, "Come to an end! Let this come to an end then!"

His legs kicked inwards. Reddie neighed and picked up its speed, shooting in Tiantang City like a streak of red lightning. The city gate's guarding soldiers felt a piercing cold simultaneously as he entered, shuddering as they were consumed by the iciness so much so that their minds paused for a moment.

Yun Yang had galloped off far away and was no longer in view when the soldiers fell out of their daze and mumbled, "Why was it so cold when Young Master Yun came!"

Yun Yang did not feel cold but he felt the Bone of Ice God resting against his skin, giving him a very strange feeling.