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墨書 Inktalez
Three people crossed the light pillar and arrived in a forest shrouded in gloom.
The trees here are tall and twisted, with dense foliage that blocks out the sun. In the darkness, it seems like countless eyes are peering at their every step.
Zhang Jin looked up at the sky, only to see dark clouds gathering, with no sign of light. She took a deep breath, understanding that every step here needed to be taken with caution.
Standing beside Zhang Jin, his gaze was resolute, holding a short sword in his hand, ready to face any potential danger.
Yun Yan gently grabbed Zhang Jin's sleeve and whispered, "Jin, the air here is filled with strangeness. We must be careful."
Zhang Jin nodded, her eyes scanning the surroundings, trying to find a clue.
Suddenly, there was a slight creaking sound under her feet. She looked down and saw a broken dry branch.
At that moment, a voice echoed in the woods: "Why have you come to this place?"
Three people looked around vigilantly, but did not see the speaker. Han Che Gripping the hilt of the sword, they answered solemnly, "We are here to seek the God of the Underworld as part of a ritual for the new bride."
The voice sounded again, this time seemingly closer: "A ritual for the new bride? Why does it have to be this way? We clearly requested a woman of pure heart to be chosen, to be selected with a sacrificial mindset, yet it's still so difficult to find one."
The mysterious voice continued to speak slowly, as if to clarify a misunderstanding: "Styx's trial tests not only the body, but more importantly, the soul."
Then, with a hint of sigh, the voice said, "Well, since you're here, let's see if you can pass. Those who fail will forget their name and past, as well as what they saw in Styx, and will be exiled elsewhere."
Zhang Jin Close your eyes, it seems to communicate with the invisible voice in your heart: "In that case, why not explain it clearly to the tribe?"
The voice fell silent for a moment, then slowly said, "What difference does it make whether it's clear or not? The mouth is on the high priest, do you think it's easy to find a pure-hearted woman?"
Zhang Jin firmly responded, "It's outrageous to sacrifice a woman from the tribe every hundred years just to find a woman like this. I will put an end to this sacrifice."
The voice in the forest seemed to show some interest, "Oh? It's been a long time since I've met someone who speaks like this. There was a woman before who said the same, but unfortunately, she was already committed. Since you are so confident, then let's put it to the test and prove it to me."
Zhang Jin's eyes flashed with a hint of understanding, and she asked, "Okay, so how do we pass these tests to prove it?"
The sound seemed to be drifting through the woods from all directions: "The test has begun. From the moment you entered this forest, your souls have been under judgment. Remember, true tests often lie not in what you face, but in how you face it."
Suddenly, the trees in the forest began to move, as if they had come to life. Their roots twisted and encircled the three people in the center. This was a trial, a test of their wisdom and determination.
Yun Yan flashed a hint of panic in her eyes, but Zhang Jin calmly observed the movements of the trees.
She found that the movement of the trees seemed to follow a certain pattern, and she said softly, "The movement of these trees is systematic. We need to find the pattern in order to find a way out."
Han Che He nodded, his gaze becoming more focused as he began to look for the pattern of tree movement. Yun Yan tightly held Zhang Jin's hand, her eyes filled with trust.
Zhang Jin carefully observed for a while, and suddenly her eyes lit up. She pointed to a tree and said, "Look at that tree. Every time its roots twist three times, the tree next to it moves once. We can pass through during its twisting intervals."
Han Che and Yun Yan were heard, and immediately followed Zhang Jin's instructions. The three of them carefully shuttled between the moving trees, every step was cautious, fearing to trigger any unnecessary danger.
Finally, under Zhang Jin's lead, they successfully passed through the maze formed by the trees.
When they walked out of the woods, a peaceful and beautiful scene unfolded before their eyes. It was a beautiful garden with an ancient pavilion in the center. Yun Yan couldn't help but exclaim, "Jin, you are so clever."
Han Che is looking at Zhang Jin, the admiration in her eyes is even greater: "Your wisdom has illuminated our path."
Zhang Jin smiles slightly, knowing that this is just one of many trials.
The sound in the forest rang out again, this time with a hint of inquiry: "Each of you will answer three questions for me. These questions will determine whether you can stay on the shore of Styx. The first question is, what is your most precious memory?"
Han Che Without hesitation, his voice was firm and clear: "My most precious memory is the days of hunting with my fellow tribesmen in the tribe. It was my responsibility and honor as the Young tribal leader."
A hint of tenderness flashed in Yun Yan's eyes: "My most precious memory is the time spent planting medicinal herbs with my mother in the garden. Those flowers and herbs not only healed the illnesses of our people, but also healed the wounds in my heart."
Zhang Jin smiled slightly, her voice carrying a hint of confidence: "My most precious memory is the moment I decided to follow my heart, whether it was traveling through time and space to come here, or choosing to face the test of fate with Yun Yan. That was the embodiment of my free will."
The voice in the woods seemed satisfied with their answer, and then posed a second question: "So, what is your greatest fear?"
Han Che's brows furrowed slightly, his gaze sweeping through the dark woods as if searching for the invisible questioner.
After a moment, he took a deep breath, his voice carrying a barely perceptible tremor: "My greatest fear is losing the tribe, losing the power to protect them. The brothers who fought alongside me, the people who rely on me for protection, they are my responsibility."
Yun Yan Gently playing with the jade pendant in her hand, her voice was deep and powerful: "I'm afraid of losing myself, becoming a thoughtless, emotionless shell. I'm afraid that one day I'll wake up and find that I can't even feel the most basic emotions."
Zhang Jin closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, the fear in her eyes had been replaced by determination.
"I am afraid of not being able to control my own destiny, afraid of being led down a path I do not want by fate. I am afraid of feeling powerless, afraid of feeling manipulated by fate."
The voice in the woods seemed to soften at this moment: "Fear is a common human emotion. In the face of fear, courage becomes even more precious. Your answers have already proven your courage."
Then, the voice became serious again: "One last question, what price are you willing to pay to protect everything you cherish?"
Han Che tightly gripped the hilt of his sword, his voice resounding and firm: "I am willing to sacrifice my life, just as my ancestors did, for the tribe, for my people. There is no price I cannot pay."
Yun Yan flashed a hint of determination in her eyes: "I am willing to give up everything, even my memories and past. Because I believe that even if I lose everything, as long as the flame in my heart still burns, I can find my way home."
Zhang Jin smiled gently, her voice filled with resilience: "I am willing to face any challenge, even if the road ahead is full of thorns, I will never back down. Because I know that only through trials can I become a better version of myself."
After their response, there was a brief silence in the forest, then a gentle beam of light filtered through the treetops, illuminating their faces.
The voice finally said, "Your test is over, and the trial of Styx has come to an end for you. But remember, the real trial lies in facing challenges and making choices, where your inner selves will guide you to find the answers."
As these words fell, the three felt an unseen force surround them, and when the light dissipated, they were astonished to find themselves back on a vast expanse of land, on the banks of the Styx.
In the distance, a magnificent palace stood tall in the center of the city. The city was located on a solitary island, with a stone bridge connecting it to this shore.
After the three of them set out on the road to the city, the voice in the forest continued to whisper, "The divination this time shows that a pure and flawless maiden will come, but now there are two. Which one could it be? The previous exchange did not reveal any clues."
He sighed softly, "Well, let Underworld deity judge for himself. May he find that woman this time and endure the punishment of thunder and fire required every full moon night..."
As his words fell, the forest returned to tranquility, leaving only the gentle whispers of the wind and the leaves.
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