CH 110

Chapter 110: The Naihe Bridge And The River Of Forgetfulness.

Bian Zhonghua clasped his fist and tiredly said: “Thank you.” Then, he followed Zhong Kui.

They both arrived at a place that was filled with ghosts and wandering spirits. In front of them, there was a large arch blocking the way, with a sign that said: ‘The Ghost Gate to Guimen Pass’.

Zhong Kui didn’t pause, instead, he walked all the way to the archway. Bian Zhonghua looked up and followed closely behind.

After walking a few meters, at the side of the yellow road, there was a spring. Beside the spring, there was a stone with the words ‘The Spring of the Three Lifetimes’ engraved on it.

When Bian Zhonghua walked near the spring, he looked down and found that his figure was reflected as it looked today. But there were no changes or other reflections.

Zhong Kui said: “Demon Emperor Zhonghua, you have no past lives. For you, this spring is nothing else than ordinary water.”

Bian Zhonghua nodded and kept following behind Zhong Kui.

After walking a few meters further, a yellow river overflowing with blood appeared right in front of them. Zhong Kui stopped to say to Bian Zhonghua: “This is it. This is the River of Forgetfulness.”

Bian Zhonghua remembered this place. He had dreamed of this place many times, and in his dreams, he was either standing on the bank of the river or inside it.

“Demon Emperor Zhonghua, look over there.” Zhong Kui stretched out his hand and pointed to a place. When Bian Zhonghua followed the direction pointed by the finger, he saw that there was a dense mist rising from the river filled with insects and snakes. The density of the mist was such that it was almost impossible to see what was beyond, and yet, Bian Zhonghua was able to faintly see a stone bridge over the river.

On the stone bridge, there was a sign with the words ‘Naihe Bridge’ engraved on it.

“If you want to find your third soul, you’ll have to go over the bridge,” Zhong Kui explained.

Bian Zhonghua clasped his fist and thanked him. Then, he began to walk towards the Naihe Bridge.

When Bian Zhonghua stood at the riverbank, he was able to clearly see the wandering souls rushing to Naihe Bridge from all directions. However, once Bian Zhonghua stepped onto the bridge, he was left completely alone.

Looking down, Bian Zhonghua saw the insects, snakes, and iron dogs in the river. As well as the solitary ghosts with grim and chilling faces. These lonely souls had to endure the bites of the insects, snakes, and iron dogs, which also howled miserably.

“These are wandering souls who can’t, or don’t want, to be reincarnated. Those who don’t want to reincarnate, are waiting for someone here.”

All of a sudden, an old and amiable voice rang into Bian Zhonghua’s ears. Bian Zhonghua turned his head to look, only to see an old woman smiling at him.

The old woman, leaning on her cane, took a few steps forward and approached Bian Zhonghua. As if she knew him very well, she told him: “You have finally come.”

“Do you know me?” Bian Zhonghua asked, confused.

The old woman unconvincingly answered ‘yes’. As she looked at the lonely souls in the river, she said: “These wandering souls are willing to suffer such hardships because they long to see those they miss again. They want to enter the cycle of reincarnation only with that person, in order to meet again in their next lives.”

Bian Zhonghua didn’t understand: “How do they know that the person they’re waiting for is going to come? If they don’t come, wouldn’t all these sufferings be for nothing?”

The old woman meaningfully looked at Bian Zhonghua and said: “Because I will tell them if it’s possible to wait for the person they miss. If it’s not possible, I will advise them to drink Meng Po soup so that they can forget their problems and be reincarnated. If it’s possible, I’ll let them jump into the River of Forgetfulness.”

“Hm, so that’s how it is.” Bian Zhonghua nodded.

“However, there was once a person whom I warned over and over again that it was impossible to wait for the person he wanted to see again at the Naihe Bridge. Still, that person insisted, and he’s still trapped in this river despite all the years that have passed. Suffering countless tortures, being endlessly bitten by insects, snakes, and iron dogs, and blinded by the mist of the river.”

The old woman looked at the river and whispered: “His mind and spirit were so exhausted that all three of his souls left his body, so he can’t even remember who he is. Still, his third soul is still waiting in the river.”

Bian Zhonghua didn’t respond, as he began to feel as if something from the bottom of the river were calling out to him in despair and mourning. To the point of screaming until the voice sounded hoarse.

Bian Zhonghua looked down. But when he was about to get closer, the old woman suddenly reached out to him and pushed him off the edge of the bridge.

As he fell into the river, Bian Zhonghua saw a pair of big eyes, with pupils that were as thin as a needle. These eyes were covered with green and black scales.

…

In the Capital, on the 3rd day of the 3rd Lunar Month, the nights were growing longer and the spring clothes became thinner.

At the Secret Servant Residence, State Master Li sat cross-legged inside an extremely complex formation. The formation was flooded with a silver light, until finally, the light gradually dissipated.

Lin Baihu, who was standing by the side, asked as soon as he saw the light diminish: “Have you found Lord Bian?”

State Master Li helplessly shook his head. As he stood up, he let out a long sigh.

Lin Baihu’s face was gloomy, and he was speechlessly silent.

State Master Li said: “It’s impossible. We can only hope that Lord Bian will manage to save himself from danger. Now, we should set out to stop Taotie and Taowu at the Southern Mountain, 800 miles away from here.”

Lin Baihu replied: “Alright.”

State Master Li looked at him and said: “Lin Baihu, it’s uncertain whether we’ll die or survive in this fight, since I’m afraid that everything points to disaster. Are you prepared?”

Lin Baihu nodded his head, and his eyes were firm.

State Master Li said it in another way: “Are you prepared to part with Qin Yicang?”

Lin Baihu froze, and for a long time, he didn’t reply.

State Master Li continued: “You should send a letter to Pingding Mountain and ask for their safety.”

Lin Baihu whispered ‘yes’, and went to his wing room. After taking out a brush, ink, and paper, he wrote a letter to the Phoenix Clan in Pingding Mountain. Then, he casted a spell and the letter turned into a white pigeon that flew out of the window.

After that, Lin Baihu picked up the brush again. However, this time, he was unable to write.

Lin Baihu wanted to write a letter to Qin Yicang, but he didn’t know what to write about.

As he looked at the white rice paper, the only thing that came to his mind was Qin Yicang’s cheerful smile.

After pondering about it, Lin Baihu finally wrote: ‘I will depart with State Master Li.’

But then, he stopped writing. Dissatisfied, he folded the rice paper and put it aside. After taking another paper, he began to write again: ‘I wonder if you have already met Qiongqi in Pingding Mountain….’ Still dissatisfied, Lin Baihu stopped writing again.

The lonely lamplight dimmed….

As he remembered that his lover was so far away, he felt as if they were separated by the vast blue sky1.

Finally, Lin Baihu settled his mind and wrote a few words: ‘My yearning for you grows deeper2.’

…

At the same time, outside the wing room, State Master Li looked at his hand under the silver light of the half moon. At that moment, he remembered the first time he met Bian Zhonghua.

At that time, State Master Li was known by the entire world as Immortal Lord Zhenwu.

Back then, the Four Fierce Beasts roamed the world freely, killing innocents indiscriminately. The world was plunged into chaos and destruction, and everyone was in severe danger. Therefore, the descendants of the Yellow Emperor decided to do a divination. But in the end, the entire clan was wiped out by the Four Fierce Beasts, reducing the peaceful village to ashes. The only one to survive was a teenage member of the clan.

For the sake of the world, and despite the fear of reprisals from the Four Fierce Beasts, Immortal Lord Zhenwu looked for the last surviving member of the Emperor Hong’s Clan.

That young boy was none other than Bian Zhonghua.

The young boy asked Immortal Lord Zhenwu, sobbing as he spoke: “What will I gain by sealing the Four Fierce Beasts? Will that bring my clan back?”

Immortal Lord Zhenwu replied: “You will be respected by the entire world, worshiped for thousands of generations to come. You can be part of the Immortal Ranks, meaning that you will no longer be affected by the hardships of the mortal world.”

The young boy said: “Respect? I don’t need such a thing. Immortal Rank? I don’t want it. Although the mortal world is filled with so much pain and unhappiness, I’m not afraid of it. Tell me, Immortal Lord Zhenwu, what else can I get?”

Immortal Lord Zhenwu was rendered speechless, and for a long while, he didn’t know what to say. In the end, he managed to say a few words: “The world will be stable and in peace. Most importantly, the tragedies that your Clan went through won’t happen again to others.”

The young boy’s eyes had reddened, and as he sobbed, he said: “If that tragedy won’t happen to others, then it’s enough.”

It was at that moment that Immortal Lord Zhenwu finally understood why the name of this young boy appeared in the divination.

It was better to swallow the hot blood in your throat and bring out your most sincere feelings, than to talk emptily about the deep consciousness of the righteousness of a cause.

That was also the beginning of Immortal Lord Zhenwu’s loyalty and sincerity towards Bian Zhonghua.

Now the Four Fierce Beasts have returned to the world. Even if Bian Zhonghua wasn’t here at the moment, even if State Master Li had to risk his life, he would not allow the Four Fierce Beasts to harm any more innocents.

State Master Li looked into the distance, just as Lin Baihu seemed to have finished writing his letter and had walked out of his wing room. They both looked at each other, nodded in unison, and headed to the Southern Mountain, 800 miles away from the Capital.

Ko-fi goal for extra chapies~~ ♡( ◡‿◡ )