Chapter 273 The Dream

　　There was a second of silence in Chunlai Temple.

　　"No way, you remembered just like that?"

　　Li Qingsui muttered, "Were you pretending before?"

　　Everyone burst into laughter.

　　"Alright, everyone, it's rare for us to get together, and everyone's finally here."

　　Gu Shen stood up and closed his book. "Shen Li, Brother Qingyang, stop fighting… Don't forget that Grandpa Gu is hosting today. It's almost time, we need to leave."

　　Unknowingly, the people who once laughed and played in Chunlai Temple were now standing at the heights of Nagano.

　　Perhaps this was why both continents wanted to elect Gu Shen as the "Nexus."

　　He had a strange magic that attracted everyone to him—

　　Before Gu Shen came to Nagano, no one could have imagined that the future leaders of the Three Schools and Five Families would gather in a courtyard.

　　Now, even meeting once a year was a luxury.

　　There was no snow falling in Snow Forbidden City tonight.

　　But the clinking of glasses echoed with countless cheerful laughs.

　　…

　　…

　　Late at night, everyone left.

　　Gu Shen walked in the alleyways of Snow Forbidden City.

　　"…Gu Shen!"

　　Someone called out to him from behind.

　　Chu Ling took over [Wind Eyes] and erased the images in this deep alley. Tonight's banquet was very lively, but after the party ended, the Tomb Oni couldn't hold back and took the initiative to find Gu Shen.

　　After the Heavenly Sheath incident.

　　He lost his memory, and only regained it today when he stepped into the small courtyard.

　　Tomb Oni wasn't an idiot.

　　He was on the scene for two consecutive Heavenly Sheath collapses… Such major events should have triggered an investigation in Nagano, and he should have been thoroughly examined.

　　But the matter just passed like that.

　　Smoothly and without incident.

　　"Don't you have anything to say to me?"

　　Tomb Oni was full of confusion. "Aren't you going to ask me how I regained my memory, or how I solved the 'Storm Equation'? Don't you have anything you want to ask?"

　　"…"

　　Gu Shen turned around.

　　The reason why Tomb Oni was able to be transferred away from the Heavenly Sheath weapons base.

　　Was his suggestion.

　　And bringing Tomb Oni back to Nagano to rest was also part of the plan… However, Gu Shen didn't expect this guy to regain his memory so quickly. He originally thought it would take a long time for Tomb Oni to remember what happened in Nagano.

　　"I do."

　　Gu Shen said calmly, "If I ask, will you tell me the truth?"

　　Tomb Oni was stunned.

　　The two of them looked at each other in the deep alley.

　　Gu Shen calmly looked into Tomb Oni's eyes, eyes he was too familiar with.

　　In the Black Snow Mountain dreamland.

　　The traveler pierced by the spear, looked up at himself with those same eyes.

　　In those meetings to remove the Heavenly Sheath curse.

　　Gu Shen had gotten infinitely close to the "answer"—

　　Sometimes, what the truth is doesn't matter.

　　In fact, when Gu Shen entered the Black Snow Mountain dreamland for the second time, he felt "familiar." He always felt that within that dry, broken shell, which could collapse at any moment, there might be a young, confused soul…

　　An unlucky guy.

　　"I…"

　　Tomb Oni opened his mouth, hesitating.

　　"The Gu Family's investigation into you has been suspended. I called it off."

　　Gu Shen said calmly, "The Night Watchers work in twenty-four hour shifts, and the images of you in the two bases are recorded… The data shows that when you were in closed-door study, deciphering ancient texts, you often fell asleep. This situation did not improve over time, and it also happened frequently after you came to the Heavenly Sheath base, and the sleep was irregular. The Gu Family's current report is 'nerve damage,' which is a reason that can't be faulted. If this happens again in the future, remember to stick to it."

　　"???"

　　Tomb Oni was a little confused.

　　The amount of information in what Gu Shen just said was a bit too much.

　　Tomb Oni reacted for several seconds. "Are you helping me?"

　　"What else? You lost your memory, not your mind."

　　Gu Shen was a little helpless. "It's good that you've regained your memory now, but remember what I just said… In the future, when you fall asleep, remember to say you have a headache. As long as you insist that your head isn't feeling well, the Gu Family's report can continue to be issued, and no one will suspect anything. After all, it's normal for a unlucky guy who's been hit by a Heavenly Sheath twice to have some problems with his head."

　　Tomb Oni fell silent.

　　He came to find Gu Shen this time to talk about some "forbidden matters."

　　Like the Black Snow Mountain dream that haunted him.

　　And the dry shell that bound his soul.

　　In the months he lost his memory, the only person he knew was Gu Shen… He didn't know if the Disaster Dream was real, but if it was, he hoped Gu Shen could give him some answers.

　　So he came.

　　Now he had his first answer.

　　That dream… was real!

　　After a long time, Tomb Oni recovered. "Thank you… I'll remember."

　　"Also, don't try to be a hero sometimes."

　　Gu Shen nagged, "Just pour out three or four tenths of the stuff in your head. If you pour it all out, how will others see you? If I hadn't pulled you out of the Heavenly Sheath base this time… the next research target for those research group members might not have been the 'Storm Equation,' but you."

　　"Being one step ahead of the times is called genius."

　　"Being two steps, three steps, a hundred steps ahead… is called crazy."

　　"Do you know how terrifying the power of a Heavenly Sheath bomb with 70% activity is?"

　　Gu Shen cursed, "It almost blew me to smithereens five hundred meters underground in Frozen Lake!"

　　"I…"

　　Tomb Oni covered his head, and said in a hoarse voice, "I don't know why, but I remember these things… That 'equation,' those codes, and ancient texts… It's like they're engraved in my blood, I can't forget them, and I can't control them."

　　"I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"

　　Tomb Oni leaned against the wall, his tone weakened.

　　He took the initiative to find Gu Shen, and originally had many things to ask, but as soon as they exchanged blows, he knew he was wrong. How could he be Gu Shen's opponent? This guy didn't play by the rules at all, and now his mind was in a mess, completely passive.

　　Gu Shen sighed softly.

　　He looked at the unlucky guy with much gentler eyes. "Okay, I forgive you… Is there anything else?"

　　"…"

　　"If there's nothing else, go back and get some rest. Remember to continue 'disassembling' the ancient texts I gave you, and I'll come get them in a few days." Gu Shen waved his hand.

　　Tomb Oni, leaning against the stone wall of the alley, asked very quietly, "How did you know… that I knew?"

　　Gu Shen paused.

　　Tomb Oni said, "So… that dream was real, wasn't it?"

　　Gu Shen turned his head slightly, looking at Tomb Oni's pale face in the moonlight.

　　Some things shouldn't be investigated too deeply.

　　During the Dolu River mission…

　　The Northern Continent legions had already made many sacrifices…

　　And Central City's re-ascension relied on the Traveler's spark…

　　So even in the private Qing Tomb Cemetery, Mr. Bai Shu interrupted Gu Shen's questioning and ended the topic about the "Traveler."

　　The implication was already clear.

　　Under the surging undercurrents of the Seven Gods' distinct factions, the Two Continent Alliance needed to protect the "Traveler's spark," based on considerations of "divination" and "unknown destiny artifacts"—

　　The top-secret information about the Traveler still being alive had to be locked down at the causal level.

　　As long as it wasn't revealed publicly, then theoretically… the Five Continent's landscape wouldn't be drastically affected.

　　"I don't know what you're talking about."

　　Gu Shen said expressionlessly, "Did you really break your brain, or didn't you understand what I just said?"

　　Tomb Oni was stunned.

　　The next moment.

　　Gu Shen took out a Heavenly Sheath fragment from his "Miracle Silver" box. Most of the fragments he got from fighting Han Dang in the Frozen Lake depths were given to Grandpa to secretly make more Heavenly Sheath weapons for emergencies.

　　Gu Shen kept some for himself.

　　"Chī chī chī…"

　　The Heavenly Sheath fragment pierced into his skin, and the dark curse energy instantly swept into Gu Shen's body.

　　"Hey."

　　He stared at Tomb Oni and said calmly, "Look into my eyes—"

　　Tomb Oni looked into Gu Shen's eyes.

　　Gu Shen touched the wound with his fingertip flame.

　　The next moment.

　　The alley scene changed rapidly.

　　The world spun, drowsiness struck, and Tomb Oni, leaning against the wall, slid limply to the base of the wall.

　　And when he opened his eyes again, he was in the familiar Black Snow Mountain. He was still the lonely soul trapped in the shell… and in front of him, the snow scattered, revealing a young, majestic figure in a black robe.

　　Gu Shen was no different from usual. He sat cross-legged on the top of the snow mountain, with his hands on his knees.

　　"Whirl…"

　　The wind and snow rolled back, and the Traveler looked up, staring at Gu Shen.

　　"Detoxification."

　　Gu Shen stretched out his hand. This time he didn't say a word, just calmly looked at the "Traveler" on the stone wall. He stared directly into those clear, confused, and bewildered eyes.

　　But this time—

　　The Traveler didn't immediately detoxify Gu Shen.

　　He laughed dryly, "So little curse… are you in such a hurry?"

　　The Traveler's spirit had obviously improved a lot.

　　These days.

　　Due to the Tundra purge, Gu Shen had actively absorbed a lot of Heavenly Sheath curses, and as he came to Black Snow Mountain again and again, the Traveler, who was locked in the stone wall, went from not saying a word at the beginning to gradually opening his mouth… Now he would take the initiative to talk to Gu Shen.

　　The active and passive relationship between the two was slowly reversing.

　　Now, it was Gu Shen who was "tight-lipped."

　　It wasn't that Gu Shen didn't want to talk anymore.

　　But he had realized that the soul in this shell was Tomb Oni in the real world…

　　And the "Traveler," locked on Black Snow Mountain by spears and arrows, was gradually recovering his strength by relying on the Heavenly Sheath curses he brought, which was very similar to the scene inside the "Ruler of Truth."

　　He was afraid that the more times he came, the more power he would give it.

　　"I have things to do outside."

　　Gu Shen said calmly, "Detoxify me first, and I'll come find you when I'm done."

　　The Traveler smiled silently.

　　He had actually guessed what this young man was planning… The curses had been getting less and less lately.

　　But the Traveler would never refuse.

　　Because he had no right to refuse.

　　To him… the curses Gu Shen brought, no matter how small, couldn't be missed.

　　The snowstorm swept through Black Snow Mountain, and the Traveler removed the "Heavenly Sheath curse." The dream shattered, and the scene returned to the deep alley. Gu Shen opened his eyes and kicked the sleeping Tomb Oni awake.

　　"…"

　　Tomb Oni looked pale and his lips were dry. He looked up at Gu Shen.

　　The two of them met, from the real world, to the Black Snow Mountain, and back to the real world. It seemed like only a few seconds had passed, but it also seemed like years… After a long silence.

　　"Did you see it?"

　　Gu Shen asked calmly.

　　"I saw it."

　　Tomb Oni huddled in the corner, answering in a trembling voice.

　　Then he asked softly and aggrievedly, "So… who am I?"

　　"…"

　　Gu Shen looked at this pitiful guy.

　　He felt both sad and lucky.

　　If this man hadn't been cowering in the corner, but had stood up when the Heavenly Sheath collapsed.

　　If this man hadn't lowered his head, but had reached out his palm when the giant drew his sword.

　　The world would probably be a lot worse now…

　　"You are you, you are no one else."

　　Gu Shen said word by word, "You are my friend, Gu Shen, the ancient text expert re-hired by Gu Nanfeng, the array master who made great contributions to the construction of Qing Tomb, and the research genius who deserves the first credit for detonating the Infant Bomb… You've walked in this world for so many years, don't you know who you are? You know the answer better than anyone else."

　　Tomb Oni lowered his head even further, muttering.

　　"But, I've been dreaming lately…"

　　"I dreamed of that big guy who was banging his head on the ground…"

　　"Alright, why don't you answer my question—"

　　Gu Shen interrupted Tomb Oni and squatted down, asking calmly, "Tell me, who am I?"

　　Tomb Oni was stunned. He looked up at Gu Shen.

　　This scene was familiar.

　　In Black Snow Mountain, they had "met" like this countless times, but this time it was in the real world.

　　Gu Shen… was also a member of the Black Snow Mountain dream.

　　"You…"

　　Tomb Oni opened his mouth.

　　"Twenty years ago, there were two crazy guys who signed two life-risking contracts…"

　　Gu Shen said, "Maybe the heavens couldn't bear to reject the pursuit and ideals of the crazy guys, so the two life-risking people got their wish. One probably 'died' on the Snow Mountain, and the other probably 'died' in the Eternal Darkness, but they wanted to 'live' again, and the price was to find a brand new body."

　　This story was very short.

　　But for Tomb Oni, it was enough.

　　"This is a story I made up, without any allusions or metaphors. Don't take it personally. I just hope you can understand the core of it: someone wants to 'live,' so someone has to 'die.'"

　　Gu Shen said, "So it doesn't matter who you are, what matters is whether you want to 'live'…"

　　The two looked at each other, like countless times in Black Snow Mountain.

　　Tomb Oni was in a daze.

　　Countless thoughts swirled and swept through his mind.

　　Those fragmented, complex memories, memories that were only a little short of being recalled under the giant's cry… were now drowned out by simple memories such as the courtyard's sunlight, Nagano's snow, and the like.

　　This wasn't a complicated question.

　　It was easy to make a choice.

　　So…

　　The moonlight turned over the high walls of the deep alley, falling on the man huddled in the corner.

　　Tomb Oni said in a hoarse voice, "I want to live."

　　"Then… remember it, remember it for the rest of your life."

　　Gu Shen said coldly, "Unlucky guy, your name is Xing Yun. If you want to live, do as I say!"

　　He stood up and turned to leave.

　　"…Hey!"

　　Tomb Oni took a deep breath. He looked at Gu Shen's back and asked loudly, "You haven't told me yet! What am I supposed to do now?!"

　　"You kid… deserve to be exploited."

　　Gu Shen stopped and said irritably, "Decipher that drawing for me, the sooner the better!"

　　…

　　…

　　(ps: This chapter had writer's block, it took a long time to write, please continue to ask for monthly tickets~ There's more tonight~)