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墨書 Inktalez
Dreams exist in everyone's life; they can bring pain, allow us to fantasize about something, perhaps a sudden meeting with someone, a longing for something desired in the past, or perhaps a yearning for loved ones. These specific intentions may be what we hope to see, even if they exist only in fleeting dreams. They are an indispensable part of our cyclical lives.
There is also a saying: it was just a dream.
Perhaps that rainy night was particularly difficult for Ran Xing. Although An Qi had been placed in another room of Ran Xing's house, watched day and night, and the task of delivering meals had been passed through Meng Jiang to Lan An, it seemed that something was stealing away the confidence that Ran Xing had just begun to build. The expression on his face resembled that of a walking corpse, showing signs of fading hope.
An Qi was clearly exhausted, snoring loudly, while Lan An, tasked with delivering food, simply handed the meal to Ran Xing without saying much and left quietly.
At that moment, Ran Xing was engaged in some torturous struggle within his dream, seemingly connected to what he had heard during the gap that day.
That day, a mysterious figure in black had entered his room. Accompanied by several thuds from outside the door, an unfriendly atmosphere descended upon Ran Xing as he was eating.
"Who are you?" Ran Xing asked warily, quickly hiding his disheveled letters and gathering his Vitality against this stranger he had never met.
To his surprise, the eyes peeking from beneath the black veil were strikingly similar to those of Luo Yue.
"What? Only now do you think about apologizing?" The figure seemed to sense that Ran Xing had seen something secret in his eyes and shattered the oil lamp with his Vitality. The room was plunged into darkness; however, the figure did not seem inclined to approach him but appeared to be there merely to deliver a message.
Ran Xing was taken aback. How did this person know he needed to apologize? Could they be a relative of Luo Yue? No, this was a forbidden place; aside from An Qi and Teacher Ziyuan and Teacher You Long, no one else could enter. How had this person gotten here?
The figure seemed to realize he had forgotten some lines and coughed before speaking mysteriously. He claimed he was there just to talk and meant no harm; as for the apology, he didn't care because the one who needed it no longer required it.
Those words instantly pierced Ran Xing's Vitality. "What nonsense are you talking about? You’ve violated the leader's prohibition by coming here; there will be no good outcome."
The sudden rise in tone made the figure laugh heartily. He coldly retorted to Ran Xing, asking if those who were already asleep would know what happened today. Perhaps by coming here, he had already ensured that anyone who might know about this matter no longer existed!
Ran Xing refused to accept this thunderbolt from a clear sky. If it were a sincere apology, Luo Yue would surely accept it. He considered himself a hero; such actions were meant to win back everyone's acceptance. He would not be someone who harmed others carelessly or abused power!
The man in black smiled calmly and stood his ground, delivering an unexpected statement to Ran Xing: "No, apologies are meaningless now, because the facts are laid bare. If an apology could earn forgiveness, then countless people would have bared their hearts to others—some for a smile from a beloved, some merely to survive. What about you? You’ve left wounds in people's hearts; do you think a mere piece of paper can restore dignity and heal the injured? Is that even possible?"
Ran Xing stood there, stunned. This was not what he wanted to hear. He knew that Luo Yue was recovering and that she was eagerly asking An Qi about him. He also understood that this was not something that could be easily dismissed by the casual words of the man in black. But why did this situation arise so suddenly and coincidentally?
"No, how would you know if you don't try? I refuse to believe that sincerity cannot be exchanged for sincerity. I also refuse to believe that those who cause harm cannot be forgiven by the other party. In the world, two rival nations have their leaders bowing three times at the monument of the nation they harmed, offering national gifts to earn the respect of surrounding smaller states. Why can't ordinary people do the same?" Ran Xing confidently cited what he had heard in town to counter this rude individual. Even if he considered himself a close friend of Luo Yue, he had no right to draw conclusions before the true actions of the one seeking forgiveness.
"Kid, I know your knowledge well enough, and I can guess you would say something like this. However, I have information that differs from what you know: sometimes, the departure of the one who causes harm is the best choice for the one who has been hurt. Rather than wallowing in sorrow, it’s better for both parties to forget each other in this vast world. I believe you understand this principle. The victim also has the right to refuse; sometimes, sincerity cannot exchange for sincerity. No matter how sincere your intentions are, they cannot undo the reality of a city filled with storms after a fleeting smile." The man's rebuttal instantly shattered Ran Xing's momentum. He stood there speaking eloquently, yet his tone remained unusually calm, as if the matter had nothing to do with him while expressing anger through his cold words.
"Are you saying that leaving here will bring relief? To let someone burdened with guilt distance themselves from their mistakes and wander aimlessly through life while being tormented by their conscience? I think you and I are both heroes; although I don’t know your name, do you truly wish to be someone pointed at by thousands? As a hero, who gave you the audacity to say such things?"
Ran Xing was furious. As a hero—albeit an inconspicuous newcomer—he had done some things he shouldn’t have. Yet even if his sins were unforgivable, he had to stand tall and face it all boldly. Whether it was a guillotine or some form of torture, there was nothing to fear.
How could he accept living in seclusion with guilt while dreaming day and night of the cries of those he had harmed or facing accusations from others?
The man in black remained silent but simply stated that perhaps what the other needed was precisely to leave—to never meet again and forget everything without further inquiry.
Ran Xing watched as this detestable figure left with a chilling laugh, standing there staring at the letter in a daze.
Is this really me? Am I truly this person? Someone who stands out from others yet is targeted by many; someone whose only crime is causing harm and thus deemed unforgivable; someone who is genuinely trying to repent but is told they are unnecessary?
Even though such words cut through Ran Xing like sharp blades, disrupting his still youthful heart, they did not prevent him from finishing the letter. Even if it truly seemed impossible as the man in black claimed, he still wanted to try as much as possible; even if it ended up being just as he feared, he didn’t want to leave behind anything he didn’t wish to remember.
The man in black walked away, leaving a chilling wind that pricked at his already weary body after their heated argument—like a knife slicing through fragile skin to reveal blood red beneath. Perhaps it was indeed as the man said: what good would an apology do?
Or perhaps it aligned with Ran Xing's belief that giving up equated to failure; striving to let go of burdens and face reality might yield better results.
Perhaps this question should be answered by more people; maybe an apology could preserve a special love or mend a family already torn apart—or perhaps something larger than what Ran Xing could comprehend at this moment. The answer lay hidden in corners, waiting for one side or another to bring it forth and resolve this strange dream.
The dream did not end with the departure of the man in black. When An Qi came to deliver food and was about to leave, she noticed the broken oil lamp and asked what had happened.
"A mysterious guy came specifically to tell me something; it seems apologies aren't welcome," Ran Xing summarized their conversation without much expression. However, the letter was neatly organized; it was clear he had made an effort to tidy up his previously hasty writing. The envelope was carefully sealed—something An Qi had never seen him do before.
"The man in black? When did he come? What did he do?" An Qi immediately asked about him, as if such figures were not allowed here except for her bearing the Jiangshan Hall insignia.
Ran Xing recounted that dark and stormy night when that enigmatic figure visited—describing his general appearance and what he said—and after sharing this account, it seemed some tension eased from his face as if he felt much more relaxed.
"Brother, how can you believe what this person says? I will tell you about Luo Yue's situation. An outsider who can't even enter Jiangshan Hall could never know anything about Luo Yue. This is just nonsense; don't let yourself be fooled! Trust me and leave it to Teacher Ziyuan. Before I return, don't do anything foolish!" An Qi immediately approached Ran Xing, lowering his voice as he recounted his recent encounter with Luo Yue.
Upon hearing this, a spark seemed to flash in Ran Xing's eyes, but the lingering sorrow from last night still weighed heavily on his heart, not enough to completely dispel his doubts. He forced a smile and downed the drink An Qi had left behind in one gulp. "I understand."
These four words shocked An Qi's ears. This was supposed to be good news; why was this guy speaking so dishearteningly? In a fit of frustration, An Qi slammed his fist on the table and cursed loudly, "Stop saying such meaningless things! Just because you say you are who you are, does that make it true? Why don’t you just go die then? I told you, believing in your own heart will bring rewards. Luo Yue is not someone who holds grudges. If you let these rumors get to you, watch out—I might just take your life!"
This harsh statement left Ran Xing's mind buzzing. He had clearly written a letter; why was he speaking such defeatist words? He mentally berated himself, "I really am an idiot!"
An Qi stormed out, leaving Ran Xing sitting there with an empty bowl in hand, lost in thought.
Then came another loud bang of a door, followed by heavy footsteps echoing around the already bound mysterious figures. The dim oil lamp allowed the occupants of the room to see each other's faces clearly. One man stood out with long hair and formal attire adorned with the emblem of Refined Hall, his hands clasped behind his back as he looked down at them.
With Ziyuan's assistance, their identities were no longer in question—thanks to Meng Jiang's investigation, a list of eighteen names had already been delivered to Ziyuan after discussions with Xing Han and Qianwen. Seventeen of those individuals were present in the room; it seemed the mastermind behind it all was finally coming to light.
You Long arrived carrying another scroll marked with the commander’s seal, detailing the decisions regarding these seventeen individuals: Given that the Convention was approaching, they would receive a temporary reprimand and have their powers revoked at Xing Han's residence. They would be temporarily led by Meng Jiang to conduct reconnaissance missions outside the Trial Ground at the Soul Severing Cliff area.
"I am not here today to tell you how unforgivable your actions are. You are all part of the Trial Ground. There is no indiscriminate killing before the Convention, so you need not fear what I might do. Someone will come to take you away shortly. What you've done here will be noted for future rewards or punishments; I await your reports," You Long's calm words eased the tension among the seventeen men, who promptly knelt on the ground in gratitude for their lives being spared.
According to past practices, unauthorized communication with personnel from other halls could lead to imprisonment or even expulsion from the Trial Ground—a fact everyone was well aware of regarding You Long’s methods. Amidst their kneeling thanks, You Long casually flicked his sleeve and smiled lightly.
This was not an act of mercy on his part; during this time of year, no matter how serious matters became, they rarely escalated into extreme situations. So there was no need for them to thank him for reading this order aloud. He then instructed them to prepare their final testimonies while awaiting Meng Jiang’s team for extraction.
One by one, their testimonies were delivered into You Long's hands. At this moment, all clues seemed to point toward one individual: Xing Han.
Firstly, between the morning and noon when Ziyuan accompanied Qianwen to discuss and review the list, Xing Han had already left home after a brief discussion with his butler—though they were unaware of its content.
Secondly, they received word that Xing Han had departed three days prior to these individuals' capture—coincidentally coinciding with Ziyuan expressing concerns about unusual activities within their ranks.
Next, they learned that their orders were under the guise of working in Jiangshan Hall’s kitchen to investigate Ran Xing’s residence and observe Luo Yue’s situation. However, they were unaware of what else Xing Han had done behind the scenes.
Combining these three clues led You Long to believe he had found an answer. When he returned to Jiangshan Hall with the scroll after meeting with Qianwen earlier—who did not seem concerned about this matter—Qianwen simply remarked that given the upcoming Convention, they should avoid any violent actions. These individuals should be educated through punishment but released afterward without exceeding limits on demotion or investigation since they were merely peripheral figures without significant fault.
You Long nodded in agreement as Qianwen called for Ziyuan and stated that he had already reviewed Ran Xing's letter. "I have a general understanding of its contents; quite a decent attitude! Though it could use some tidying up—being managed like this can be stifling; friends should meet occasionally."
Qianwen spoke lightly, but the subsequent revelation left You Long and Ziyuan even more shocked: hundreds of letters exchanged daily to and from the Trial Ground, along with dozens of special correspondence, were laid out on Qianwen's desk. A terrifying decision seemed to dawn on You Long and Ziyuan: these might all be family letters from Xing Han and some correspondence from the outside world.
Beside this pile of letters were communications from other halls, which Qianwen did not seem to take to heart. "Meng Jiang has brought all the letters from Xing Han's home. This might break some rules, but everything has two sides. Since they don't follow the path of the game, I can't be blamed for being ruthless."
With his hands behind his back, Qianwen gazed out at the rainy night. A sudden thunderclap split the sky, illuminating three faces that had been shrouded in darkness. Each face bore a faint inscription of life on the left and death on the right, with the nose serving as the only boundary between the two. It was as if Qianwen stood between You Long and Ziyuan, embodying that thin line between life and death in an instant!
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