Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
After the two calmed down, they carefully considered that aside from being "dead," the person in the coffin matched almost all the physical characteristics of Third.
"Could this really be Third?" Seven asked uncertainly. "What are you talking about?" Second scolded. "This person looks refined and dignified; it really doesn't fit Third's style," Seven added. Second didn't respond but continued to stare at the person in the coffin.
Seven murmured to himself, "How can there be two such similar people in the world, and separated by some years?"
Second reached for the sword lying inside the coffin, slowly drawing it out. A cold gleam emerged, piercing to the core, and Second quickly thrust the sword back in.
"Damn it, you scared me to death," Second muttered. He placed the sword back into the coffin while Seven carefully observed the clothing of this person. The garment was adorned with a pattern of an animal that Seven had never seen before—something like a dragon but not quite a dragon. In any case, the entire outfit was covered in this creature's design, and its color was white.
The belt tied around the waist, however, was black. Staring closely at him, one could feel a faint pressure that was almost imperceptible. When their gaze shifted away, a subtle fragrance wafted through the air.
It was unclear how this corpse had been preserved so perfectly; perhaps it had something to do with Third, Second speculated. Seven said gravely, "There might really be a connection, but unfortunately, Third isn't here right now." Seven also picked up the sword, and Second reminded him to be careful.
In one swift motion, Seven drew out the sword, and instantly the temperature around them seemed to drop several degrees as a chilling aura spread from the blade. "This is truly an extraordinary sword!" Seven exclaimed.
He waved the sword casually a few times; it felt as if even the air around him paused in response. Ultimately still feeling unsatisfied, he returned the sword to its place in the coffin. Holding onto something that didn't belong to him was something Seven understood well. Moreover, since this person resembled Third, he couldn't take away someone else's beauty.
After examining for a while, they decided to seal up the coffin and wait until they reunited with Third before informing him. They struggled to lift and secure the coffin lid again, nailing it shut once more. After finishing everything, both sighed in relief; all feelings of pressure, fear, tension, and excitement dissipated with the final placement of the coffin lid. They resolved to return along their original path to reunite with Third.
After they left, the fire inside the stone chamber continued to burn. Another figure emerged from a corner; its shadow was magnified several times by the flames. Following the marks left by prying open the coffin, this figure effortlessly lifted the lid. Upon seeing what lay inside, he stepped back in shock, his face contorted with rage as if harboring years of resentment. Finally, that shadow took away the sword from within the coffin and replaced the lid before vanishing in a few swift movements.
As time passed, the fire's glow began to dim until it finally extinguished completely. The space fell back into darkness and silence; within that darkness, the expression on the statue transformed from a maintained smile into one filled with barely concealed anger—though no one witnessed this change.
Using an iron rod as a walking stick due to fatigue, Second struggled slightly while Seven, shirtless, walked beside him. Both were still filled with doubts; each harbored unspoken concerns: could it really be Third?
When they first saw the young man in the coffin, what should have slipped from their lips was "It's Third and Third." However, they suppressed those words because fundamentally they were still in denial.
The two quickly made their way back to that stone door together. "Seven, I wonder what lies behind this door," he said.
" Second, hurry up! We need to reunite with Third. We've already delayed for too long," he urged. With that prompt, Seven quickened his pace; since the lights here had not gone out, walking posed no obstacles for them. Having traversed this path before left them without doubts as they strode confidently forward until they reached a fork in the road. They stared at another dark passageway and entered without hesitation.
Once again lighting a lamp, as seeking light is an instinct of humanity, they advanced about two or three hundred feet when they discovered bloodstains glimmering under the firelight. "Third, could something have happened?" Second expressed his concern anxiously.
Seven felt uncertain, unable to draw any conclusions based solely on the bloodstains. It wasn't until they saw the writing left on the wall that he realized it was from Third. With a hint of surprise, Seven said, "It's from Third." Second, who had grown up in a poor family and couldn't read, urged, "What does Third say?" After leaning closer to the wall, Seven spoke heavily, "He says he knew we would catch up and told us to stop here and not go any further. He also mentioned he found a clue about our older brother and that he would safely bring him back."
Hearing this, Second felt a surge of anger and cursed, "That little brat is too ungrateful. I’m going to follow him. Let’s go, Seven," he shouted.
Seven hesitated and replied, "I think we should listen to Third." Second glanced at Seven and said, "Why are you so timid?" It was a simple question: would they go or not? Looking at Second, Seven recalled how Second had risked his life to save him earlier and firmly said, "Let's go, but we should still be careful," he reminded.
Second grinned, "Now that's the spirit." Without further ado, they pressed on without hesitation, only lighting up when absolutely necessary. After walking for a while, Seven added, "Still better to be cautious."
Second let out a wry laugh; these literate people were so verbose. Seven chuckled lightly as they continued on their way. The path began to change direction, and during this time, they encountered no unexpected events. However, an inexplicable sense of oppression filled the air, causing their footsteps to slow involuntarily as their alertness heightened. "This place feels off; be careful," Second warned.
"Yeah," Seven agreed; it was no longer a time for jokes—they needed to be on high alert. "Should we light a fire?" he asked. "Not yet," Second replied.
They moved forward in the dark, each step taken with caution, fearing that any mistake could lead them into an irretrievable situation. The invisible pressure here made it hard to breathe; after some time, Second finally said, "Let’s light it."
Without surprise, Seven found the lamp on the wall and lit it. The weak flame flickered to life, revealing the arrows marked on the wall. Upon noticing this, Seven remarked, "Third seems to understand us well; he's pointed us in the right direction. As long as we follow the arrows, we should be able to find them."
Second agreed with what Seven said. They began following the arrows ahead. These arrows were carved into the wall with a knife and occasionally stained with blood; it seemed that Third was not in good condition either, as noted by Seven. The path was complex with many branches—a multi-layered maze—he analyzed. Thankfully there were routes marked by Third, or they might have fallen into an unknown predicament.
"Enough chit-chat; let’s hurry," Second urged.
Swallowing back his words that were stuck in his throat, Seven continued forward quietly. The arrows appeared every few dozen meters. Finally reaching another intersection where they discovered more writing left by Third. It read: "I've found our older brother; the situation isn't great."
"You must follow the arrows and never stray from this path," Seven read aloud. However, all that registered for Second was the news about First. He felt mixed emotions—happy that they had found him but worried about his current perilous situation. Seven, too, was concerned about their older brother's condition.
As per Third's instructions: "We follow the arrows," said Second. They quickened their pace through this area without encountering any dangers.
Due to his injuries, sweat began to bead on Second's forehead; his body was struggling to keep up as fatigue set in. He leaned against the wall for support and took labored steps forward. Noticing something was off with him, Seven rushed over to help him as blood seeped through the white fabric again.
"Second, are you okay?" asked Seven.
"I'm fine," gritted out Second, teeth clenched.
Continuing to support him, Second shook off Seven's hand and forced himself onward. With no other choice left, Seven kept a close watch on him. After walking a bit further like this, Second finally couldn't hold on any longer; dizziness overwhelmed him as he staggered unsteadily before collapsing altogether.
Seven hurried over to check on Second's injuries and found that they had merely fainted. A sigh of relief escaped Seven as they lifted Second onto their back. Instantly, a weight pressed down on them, prompting Seven to take a deep breath, steady their footing, and continue forward. They walked on, grateful for the markers left by Third.
As Seven trudged along, they estimated that they might not be able to keep going much longer. Their bare torso was soaked with sweat, making each step particularly arduous. After what felt like an eternity, a breeze brushed against them, jolting Seven back to alertness. They quickened their pace and emerged from the path, only to find themselves back at the edge of the pond, tears streaming down their face. They looked at the last arrow pointing the way and noticed a line of text beneath it—words from Third.
It read: "You all wait here for me. Do not wander off. Once I find the elder brother, I will return to meet you."
After reading this, Seven made their way to the pond's edge with Second still on their back. The pavilion stood there gracefully as ever. Gently placing Second down, Seven approached the water's edge and cupped their hands to bring water through their fingers for Second to drink. Even in unconsciousness, Second sensed the moisture—a primal instinct kicking in. Their lips began to move as they absorbed the water. After several trips back and forth, Second finally seemed satisfied and slipped back into a deeper sleep.
Squatting by the riverbank, Seven drank enough water and splashed some on their face before sitting down on the ground to rest with their eyes closed. However, they dared not fall into a deep sleep; after all, someone needed to keep watch.
The terrain resembled a gorge, allowing a faint sense of wind movement in this secluded spot. Seven began to enter a state of semi-sleep or "pretend sleep."
Ripples danced across the water's surface, creating a delicate sound that brought peace to the heart and tempted one into comfort. The girl etched into the wall seemed to smile continuously, her laughter silent yet vivid; if she were to move, she would surely be mistaken for a living being.
Time flowed by unnoticed, gradually stealing life from all beings. Nothing could resist the erosion of time; many who sought immortality ultimately fell along the way.
Throughout history, various kings and so-called sages have traversed this path but eventually succumbed to it. The legendary Peng Zu was said to have lived for eight hundred years, while Xu Fu supposedly crossed the sea to a mythical island where he lived for over a thousand years. Qin Shi Huang was deceived by alchemists who led many scholars astray with false promises of longevity—these tales of eternal life were often shrouded in illusion; no one could clearly define them.
As Second and Seven rested, their strength gradually returned; the body naturally repaired itself through sleep—a mysterious process that remains an enigma of human existence. Many things may seem ordinary but often conceal astonishing secrets within.
While in this semi-sleep state, Seven was abruptly awakened by a commotion. Instinctively reaching for their dagger, they prepared for action. The water in the pond began to churn violently as if boiling; alarmed, Seven quickly carried Second away from the water's edge. Standing firm yet anxious, they focused intently on the surface of the water, gripping their dagger tightly until veins bulged in their hand—ready for whatever might come next.
Comment 0 Comment Count