Free Web NovelChapter 241: Shadows and Words [5]
"Fuck... How could you still have the energy to fight..." Hilum said while coughing blood due to the long slashed wound on his chest. His eyes lowered to look at it, then he realized that the person in front of him was a monster.
"You truly are the successor of the sect. Please, give me the honor of dying at your hands." Hilum then continued, with his face facing the ground.
Dalin had deep eyes that looked at him, then grinned. "Sure. My pleasure." He raised his sword and covered it with dark and purple particles. And as he slashed, a vicious line was created. A cut appeared on Hilum’s neck as well, and he died in the next second.
"I am still not interested in being the successor. Remember that even in the afterlife."
The massacre went on, but the ninjas began to flee as they were being wiped out. They were already triumphant, though, because three-fourths of the sect died at their hands. Even with the sacrifice of numerous elders who had faced the sect’s strongest, the ambush they laid was faultless.
Dalin, on the other hand, coughed up blood and collapsed from fatigue. He wasn’t just tired; he was also losing blood with each breath.
His blood continued to flow out of his body. And the next second, his life flashed back.
A bitter smile appeared on his face while facing the sky, which at his end was tainted with red. It was only due to the blood in his eyes, but it truly seemed to be a nightmare sky to the whole sect.
"Hah... I think I am about to die... Then, if this ends here, I just hope that my son can find the inventory where I left all of my techniques. I want him to continue his legacy by living the way he wanted to live."
"It was pretty amazing that I could remember all of the experiences I had throughout my life. It was, in fact, amazing and hard at some points. I hope that my son can understand that the reason I wasn’t by his side was the fear that he might reject me. Hence, to still teach him the ways of a proper person, I’d orchestrate everything in the shadows."
"Everything... was all for him... I am sorry, my wife... I wasn’t able to fulfill my promise to you. For our son to survive this era, I will still make him the greatest word user. And I hope that I can still guide him even after death."
Dalin continued to hold his breath and speak slowly, believing that if he worked his brain hard enough, he would be able to stay awake. However, as time passed, his eyes became blurry and fatigued, and his lungs forced him to cough up blood.
Another bitter smile formed, but this time his teeth were visible in crimson, and his lips were already gleaming in red. It was all red, and when Forged Shadow arrived, all he could see of his master was red.
"Master! Master!"
Forged Shadow panicked. Dalin then looked to his side, seeing Forged Shadow. And there, hope appeared before him.
"Forged Shadow, I want you to give Ji An my diary and the key to the inventory. In my final breath, I want to be confident that my son will learn everything I have prepared." Dalin said in a tired tone.
"Master! Master! Please stay with me! Don’t close your eyes!"
"You bastard. Are you ordering me?"
"N-No! But please, give your diary by yourself to Young Master Ji An." Tears then started to appear in Forged Shadow’s dark eyes, which showed sorrow at seeing Dalin dying.
"I don’t have enough energy. Just give it to him, Forged Shadow. And thank you." And, without remorse, content that his wish would be granted, Dalin let go of the string that bound his life, beginning to fade his life essence.
Forged Shadow cried loudly as Dalin’s presence and life disappeared. He could not handle the sorrow that, the next second, dark particles and an aura appeared around him. freēwēbηovel.c૦m
Forged Shadow then looked at his hands, which Dalin was holding, and felt something in them. While his tears continued to drop, he opened Dalin’s hand and saw the medallion where the emblem of the Heavenly Moon Shadows was forged.
"Master... even after death, you still wanted to give everything to Young Master Ji An." A solemn tone was uttered. Then, later on, Forged Shadow continued. "But you don’t have to worry, Master. I will serve Young Master Ji An, as you wished for."
***
While carrying Ji An on his back, Lucas came to the main stage of the incident. The ninjas had already departed, and all Lucas and Ji An could see were the sect members’ dead bodies.
Ji An was at a loss for words. Should he be sad or pitied in their presence? He believed it would be alright for him, but when he saw the dead bodies, all he felt was a piercing ache in his chest.
’What is this?...’ Ji An asked himself but was forced to stop thinking as Lucas suddenly stopped.
Lucas seemed to be looking blankly at one spot, and curious of it as well, Ji An peeked. His eyes suddenly turned wide and trembled. His heartbeat became fast and his senses became numb. He saw his father, dead, in the arms of Forged Shadow, who he knew as well.
Ji An knew that Dalin’s life essence had already disappeared, and he had no life anymore.
"Ji An, do you want me to approach your father?"
Ji An was speechless. He still didn’t have the recollection of his thoughts on how to react to this situation. If he had been oblivious to what he was feeling before, he was now as if he had been dragged into the abyss, where his thoughts had become blank.
"I think you should at least see him."
Recalling himself as a father in the past, Lucas knew that Dalin deserved to be seen by his child in the final moments of his life. Even though he had not experienced it, he knew the respect and emotion that the dead person would feel, not just as a human, but also as a father.
He noticed Ji An trembling as he put him to the ground, forcing him to support him as he reached Dalin. As he looked into Ji An’s eyes, he could sense his sadness. Even though the tears were not visible, he could tell Ji An was preparing himself not to cry.
However, as they neared Dalin, tears began to fall. Ji An burst into tears since he couldn’t hold back his emotions any longer. It was a matter of expressing himself that caught Forged Shadow’s attention.
Despite the mourning, Forged Shadow had already made a resolution. He waited for Ji An to finish his cry.
"You stupid father... How could you do this to me? My mother left me, and now you? I can’t even find my grandfather. What are you guys doing? Why do I deserve this shit in life? It is painful! Why?!"
Throb... Lucas’s heart throbbed in pain as he watched Ji An cry all of his tears at his father’s death. The heavens could hear Ji An’s cry, and the souls around him should be able to hear it as well.
Ji An’s face became more fatigued, as he cried more even after 30 minutes. Until the time came when no tears could be formed anymore, and only hiccups were getting out, Ji An started to breathe calmly.
"You should have at least told me why you neglected me as your son... I deserve an explanation..." Ji An mumbled on his own, reflecting on everything that had happened.
He was still confused, and slowly, his face removed the emotions plastered on it. After a few moments, Ji An stood up, but he was startled to see Forged Shadow, half-kneeling in front of him as if he was pledging.
Half-expected and half-unexpected, Ji An lowered his head to look down on Forged Shadow.
"Did Father tell you before his death?" Ji An asked in an authoritative manner.
Forged Shadow reformed his head, facing the ground more, and answered, "Servant Forged Shadow answers ’yes’."
"I see... But stop acting weird. Father is already dead, so you don’t have to act in front of me like that anymore. His will disappeared as he died, so you don’t have to feel roped to me since I am no longer the son of your master. Your master is dead. He is dead."
Forged Shadow didn’t react to contradict Ji An’s words; instead, he reacted to clear up the slight confusion that was about to arise.
"My previous master, Master Dalin Xian, had left his diary for me to deliver to you, Master Ji An Xian. And I am here as well, pledging my life to you as your servant. Please accept me, Master. I will put my life on the line to serve and be loyal to you. I am Forged Shadow."
Ji An’s eyes, after the sorrowful sight, became deep as he gazed at Forged Shadow. Then, he answered. "There is no need to reject you. Then, Forged Shadow, you are my first sword and first servant. You shall listen to my orders."
Even though he was confused at first, Forged Shadow ignored it and respectfully responded to him. "Master, the previous Great Elder had tasked me with giving this to you." He took out a jade-made medallion with golden linings around it. It had an emblem sculpted on it as if a character was indicating something.
"What is this?"
"That is the seal of the owner of the Heavenly Moon Shadows. As the in-command of the Xian family and the head of the security of the previous sect, you became the new owner of the Heavenly Moon Shadows, Master. They shall listen to your orders."
