**Chapter 119: You Should Go d*e!**
Qing Ji said he would recount the past to Luxianbei, but when he opened his mouth, he fell into silence, as if the words were stuck in his throat.
After a long while, he looked at Luxianbei, then at Huasang, and asked an oddly unrelated question about why he left the remnants of Ling Tai Purification in Dachunyang Palace.
“Do you know that, during my time, there was a period of over two hundred years where no new calamities were born?”
Luxianbei shook her head; she had heard Jumeng mention it once that before the night began to stretch, the existence of calamity grade beings was quite rare, but beyond that, she knew nothing.
“I know a bit,” Huasang said quietly.
Qing Ji’s gaze shifted from Luxianbei to Huasang, raising an eyebrow, he smiled, “Tell me.”
Huasang glanced at Luxianbei, as if seeking help, her expression showing a hint of difficulty.
However, the tacit understanding from earlier, when they had fought together, seemed to vanish; Luxianbei completely failed to notice her thoughts and even made gestures for her to continue.
Huasang, “…”
After two seconds of silence, she cupped her hands towards Qing Ji and continued, “I once saw a report from the Siye Society. In that report, certain scholars believe that the increase in urban legends and the number of spiritual ability users did not start alongside the lengthy nights.”
“Data indicates that from the end of the Ming Dynasty until about a hundred years ago, the number of spiritual ability users and urban legends, as well as the density of stray spirit energy, remained at a very low level. However, about a hundred years ago, both began to slowly rise.”
“Approximately ten years ago, the numbers of spiritual ability users and urban legends, along with the density of stray spirit energy, were three or four times greater than they were over three hundred years ago. And by the time the nights began to lengthen, they exploded in a mere five years to more than seventy times what they had been ten years ago.”
“Some scholars believe that fifteen years from now, the entire world will be plunged into eternal night. The scholar who wrote that report was also a proponent of this idea. He stated that when eternal night descends, the number of spiritual ability users and urban legends, as well as the density of stray spirit energy, will reach about two hundred times what it was ten years ago…”
As her words finished, Huasang’s eyes sparkled briefly, silently letting out a long sigh.
I really am impressive!
Being able to say so much at once surprised even her.
She felt a strange joy, as if she had finally managed to stand after years of paralysis.
But…
Following that joy, a wave of confusion washed over her, and she suddenly realized that Qing Ji’s question seemed to have a deeper meaning.
“…”
In previous casual chats with Qing Ji, he had mentioned a few times that he lived about a hundred years ago…
This timeline overlaps with when urban legends and spiritual ability users began to rise…
Could it be that Qing Ji’s decision to leave the ruler in Dachunyang Palace is related to this matter? Huasang thought.
“Haha… That’s probably how it is,” Qing Ji smiled at Huasang.
Although there were some terms in her speech that he did not quite understand, the general meaning didn’t differ much from what he already knew.
“Speaking of which, I actually had the chance to become the first newly born calamity in hundreds of years, but unfortunately, that opportunity came a bit too late…”
—
In fact, the levels of spiritual ability users and urban legends have various names around the world, just like how an A Grade is commonly referred to as a Bishop level in Europe.
The naming from D Grade to S Grade was a straightforward and crude categorization established by the Siye Society, eliminating various aliases for the ranks of spirit energy fluctuations.
However, among many levels, only S Grade retains the former title of calamity due to its uniqueness.
In fact, whether it’s D Grade or A Grade, aside from the strength of spirit energy fluctuations, there is hardly any other difference. But once one becomes calamity grade, spiritual ability users and urban legends fundamentally change.
The existence of calamity grade beings has become a symbol of certain specific phenomena, an indelible part of this world, much like typhoons, tsunamis, and earthquakes.
Qing Ji indeed had the opportunity to become calamity grade, and not just once.
If he wanted to, he could almost guarantee becoming calamity grade.
But Luxianzhi did not have such an opportunity…
She hadn’t even become a high-tier spiritual ability user.
Without being able to become calamity grade, not only do high-tier spiritual ability users not ensure longevity, but it’s also possible that the series of negative effects from spirit patterns would consume their bodies more quickly!
—
When Qing Ji first had the chance to advance to calamity grade, Zhang Hainan rushed from Dachunyang Palace to Huacheng to prepare a celebration for him.
However, upon arrival, Zhang Hainan was surprised to find that Qing Ji had chosen to forgo the advancement.
“Senior brother, I don’t understand! Why do you give up such a golden opportunity? What if in the future…” Zhang Hainan questioned Qing Ji incomprehensibly, even getting a bit angry.
While carrying a child and busy washing diapers, Qing Ji looked up and smiled, “Even if I advanced now, it would be the worst calamity grade, it’s meaningless. Do you think I’m the kind of person who settles for less?”
It was the end of spring, and the pomegranate flowers in the backyard of Lipstick Tavern were in full bloom. A slightly warm breeze filled the air with the beauty of life.
“Since you’ve come, why not…?” Qing Ji looked at Zhang Hainan, his eyes spinning playfully with a gradually perverse smile.
Seeing that smile ingrained in his DNA, Zhang Hainan’s expression changed. As he was about to flee, he realized his perception of his body had dulled, as if petrified, leaving him frozen in place.
Then… he was brutally tormented for more than two months.
Aside from daily enduring what could be considered abusive—but was possibly just rigorous training—by Qing Ji, he also had to juggle the roles of a waiter, kitchen helper, and babysitter.
After more than two months, having endured countless dog food and fattened up to the point of nearly developing stones, Zhang Hainan finally seized the opportunity when Qing Ji took Luxianzhi out for a picnic to escape, returning to Dachunyang Palace with tail between legs.
However, that experience of torment allowed him to vaguely touch upon the path leading towards calamity grade.
Thus, for the next twenty-plus years, Qing Ji spent his time managing the Lipstick Tavern together with Luxianzhi, watching each other grow old.
To him, that feeling was truly beautiful, more so than any astonishing power in the world.
If they could watch their child grow up, marry, have children, and then see their grandchildren grow up, marry, and have children, then that would be even better.
Of course, that was the plan; in reality, Luxue Bo remained in a semi-free range state, as if he were just an accident.
Twenty years later.
When Qing Ji had his second chance to advance to calamity grade, Zhang Hainan again mustered his courage and went to Huacheng, only to find the Lipstick Tavern long abandoned, covered in dust and cobwebs, with neither Qing Ji nor Luxianzhi in sight.
He inquired all around Huacheng, searching for days, and finally found Qing Ji outside a lone grave, disheveled, spiritless, and so emaciated that he no longer resembled a person.
The wind blew, causing red leaves to fall onto the grave. With trembling hands, he cautiously brushed away the fallen leaves, as if afraid that a slight movement might disturb the person resting within the grave.
Noticing Zhang Hainan’s arrival, Qing Ji did not turn back but continued to wipe the grave with a clean white cloth, which looked completely out of place against his scruffy appearance, breathing heavily, “You little brat, do you know I can advance to calamity with a single swing of my sword now?”
Zhang Hainan, “…”
He didn’t speak, but if Qing Ji said he could do it, he believed him.
“But what use is that? She’s already gone…” Qing Ji said to himself.
Having said that, he slumped beside the lonely grave, the evening sun in the sky dimming as if it would never rise again after sinking below the horizon.
“She, is already gone!”
Qing Ji suddenly let out a long howl, disturbing a flock of crows from the treetops not far away, flying into the half-lit woods.
From the moment he gained the chance to advance to calamity, he spent over twenty years exhausting all his knowledge and effort, finally coming up with a sword capable of severing time.
Not for anything else, but merely to cut the “time” that would take Luxianzhi away!
But when he finally could advance to calamity and swung that sword, Luxianzhi had been gone for a long time…
Therefore, this time Zhang Hainan said nothing further to Qing Ji, kneeling on one knee, cupping his fists, and bowing to Qing Ji reverently three times before beginning his journey back to Dachunyang Palace.
That was his last meeting with Qing Ji.
The greatest power of d*ath lies not in its ability to take away life but in making those who remain not wish to continue living…
Years later, Zhang Hainan encountered Luxue Bo in Dachunyang Palace, learning of Qing Ji’s d*ath and receiving the remnants of Ling Tai Purification sent by Luxue Bo.
“Uncle, my father entrusted me with this at the end of his life, worried that…” Luxue Bo said to Zhang Hainan.
Sealing that fragment of Ling Tai Purification, laden with old memories, in Dachunyang Palace was Qing Ji’s last wish; he feared that his obsession with Luxianzhi would cause his spirit patterns to go out of control at the moment of his d*ath and turn him into an urban legend.
His spirit patterns were already special, combined with the potential to become a calamity grade; during that rare period in which calamity grade beings were scarce, it would be disastrous if his spirit patterns turned into an urban legend.
—
“Can you guess what the last thing Little Luxianzhi said to me was?” Qing Ji looked at Luxianbei and Huasang, and before they could respond, he answered his own question, “She said she had been chasing after me since the first time we met, and would continue to do so for the rest of her life.”
“But in this life, I walked too fast, fast enough that she couldn’t catch up at all. However, when we grow old, I finally let her get a step ahead of me on the other side. She will walk slower there and wait for me to catch up.”
“How foolish…”
After speaking, he leaned against the Shuishu Beast, closing his eyes.
It seemed that merely recounting this past had drained him of all his strength.
Seeing this, Huasang opened her mouth, hesitated to say something several times, and ultimately chose silence.
Just recently, she had restored some memories for her senior brother Qing Ji, remembering who she had been waiting for in front of that small tavern and feeling happy.
But now it seemed, recalling it might not be a good thing.
Luxianbei, “…”
Though it didn’t sound good to say, it was indeed somewhat foolish.
Jumeng had said, this world had no existence like the underworld; when one dies, unless they turn into an urban legend, they truly cease to exist, and surely the ancestor knew this.
Listening to her great-grandmother say such a thing, he likely felt completely hopeless and devoid of any possibility to give chase, his heart burning like ashes.
While Luxianbei was lost in thought, the Ling Tai Purification in her hand suddenly shook violently, then “buzzed” out of her grasp, shooting straight into the dazed Qing Ji’s hands, emanating a silvery light.
Then……
Qing Ji’s ears echoed with the sound of his younger self.
That voice was filled with intense rage, as if a beast about to tear him apart was roaring.
“You b*stard! Are you tangled up over such trivial matters?”
“You have never died, how do you know what it’s like? You gave up before even trying; this isn’t like something I would do! You’re not possessed by some ghostly thing, are you?”
“Do you have any idea how long Little Luxianzhi would have to wait if there were another world after d*ath?!”
The broken sword and the ruler, being so closely situated for a long time, had long established a subtle connection between the lingering souls in them, knowing everything.
Hearing this, Qing Ji trembled as if struck by lightning; the moment he opened his eyes, his eyes turned red…
“Then I should…”
“I think you should go d*e!”
Qing Ji, “…”
Gazing at the sky, lost in thought for a moment, he clenched the broken sword in his hand, trembling as he stood up, murmuring, “Right, right, I should go chase after Little Luxianzhi… I need to go after her… She has waited too long…”
As he spoke, he slowly raised the broken sword in his hand and lightly slashed forward.
In that moment of the sword’s swing, dazzling brilliance erupted from the broken sword, and the air shook violently, emitting a low hum. Amidst that hum, a clear sound rang out, as if two pieces of metal had clashed together.
…
In the dazzling light of the sword energy, Qing Ji seemed to see that girl again, wearing a blue scarf and a pink skirt,
That girl, barefoot, ran towards him, shouting, “Who is this pervert? Daring to steal my shoes! If I don’t twist your head off today, my last name isn’t Lu!”
Seeing the girl charging at him, Qing Ji displayed a serene smile, opening his arms as he embraced her.
“Sorry for keeping you waiting…” Qing Ji murmured.
As those words fell, the white light gradually dissipated.
The weathered Qing Ji quietly vanished without a trace, leaving behind a completely silver long sword, which fell to the ground with a “clang.”
In front of that long sword, a pitch-black rift, like a strange cavity, was exhaling chaotic colors, as if time had come to a standstill, with drizzle and dense fog suspended in mid-air…
Gugugu
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Today encountered a major outrageous event.
I originally planned to move tomorrow, having scheduled to transfer my telecom services, but the telecom made a mistake with the timing and moved it ahead, forcing me to move overnight; otherwise, it would be difficult to write tomorrow… So, taking a day off.
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