Chapter 122: The Unpredictable Path, Shrouded in Mystery

"All the troubles and turmoil are merely the result of fate toying with us. All living beings are nothing but chess pieces for Him to play with. From the moment we descend into this world, the game begins, and in the end, the only one who can smile is the Heavens. We have long since become numb to all the rights and wrongs, eventually destined to run aground and perish in the boundless sea of suffering. Since that is the case, I would rather settle my debts and grievances before departing. I do not wish to leave this world with regrets in my final moments." The person in the black night-suit did not answer her question directly, but the woman had already perceived the firm resolve hidden within those words.

Having said this much, the woman did not wish to speak further, for between the lines, she suddenly seemed to understand the scar hidden in the heart of the woman in black. Since hatred had taken root in her heart and could not be extricated, she, as her only kin, could only help her clear it away. Beyond this, she could not find a better solution; since she could not persuade her to let go of her hatred, it was better that she help her settle this long-standing feud.

"Since your mind is made up, I have no need to waste my breath on persuasion. Count me in for your revenge; as the saying goes, two heads are better than one. Besides, I do not wish to watch you sink into suffering without escape. And regardless of whether you consider me your sister, I have already accepted you as mine!" With that, the woman leaped into the river without looking back and vanished, leaving the woman in black standing on the bank, head bowed, lost in thought.

On the other side, Yu Shang and Ye Wangchen were returning along their original path as quickly as possible, hoping to arrive before daybreak so that the others would not grow suspicious of Yu Shang’s disappearance. After all, Yu Shang and Ye Wangchen were currently in opposing positions. If others were to know of their close association, it would likely lead to further complications, and they would never be able to return to the peaceful times they yearned for.

However, events turned against them. They seemed to have lost their way in the fog-shrouded forest. No matter how far forward they ran or how they retreated, they could not pass through the dense thicket to reach their destination. It was as if the forest extended endlessly with no end in sight. For the first time, the two of them felt a sense of powerlessness and frustration. Being trapped in this labyrinthine forest, caught between moving forward and pulling back, was truly unsettling.

Helpless, they sat cross-legged on the ground to focus their consciousness and explore, only to discover that the forest was as vast as a world unto itself. Even as their consciousness drifted for thousands of miles, they could not escape this place. For some reason, Yu Shang suddenly felt an emptiness in his heart, mingled with a touch of bewilderment. Was it truly impossible for them to return? No, he still had more important things to do; nothing could stop his footsteps toward the future!

Yu Shang abruptly opened his eyes, his consciousness rushing back into his body in the blink of an eye. He stood up swiftly and scanned his surroundings, his eyes filled with newfound sharpness. This inadvertent shift was enough to recover his lost will. Indeed, nothing could block his path as long as he harbored reluctance. There was no reason to give up and let himself perish in this desolate place. Even if he were to fall, he would vanish in a blaze of glory!

Seeing Yu Shang’s determination, Ye Wangchen stood up and smiled at him. This lad truly had his own superior qualities—not just his unfathomable cultivation and brilliant mind, but his amazingly unyielding willpower. Whatever he set his mind to, he never failed. It seemed that wherever Yu Shang was, miracles followed; or perhaps it was not that miracles favored him, but that he was the one who created them.

"How is it? Did you discover anything? Honestly, I always feel that everything before us is illusory, not real, as ethereal as a dream," Ye Wangchen said softly, looking around with trepidation. He dared not act rashly, remaining still for fear of being swallowed by the shifting illusions. Yet, they could not remain passive, or all hope of escape would be lost.

"Perhaps you are right. We are indeed in a dream—a nightmare deliberately woven for us!" Yu Shang sneered, then summoned his blade and channeled all his true energy into it, striking a powerful blow. Instantly, a sound of shattering echoed from the spaces between the trees. It turned out that these barriers were to blame; they had never left their original spot, and everything was merely an illusion created by someone.

"How did you discover these invisible barriers? Could it be that your eyes can see what ordinary people cannot?" Ye Wangchen looked at Yu Shang’s eyes with curiosity. If a person’s gaze could truly pierce through targets, Yu Shang’s current situation would be truly tragic. However, after this incident, Ye Wangchen found himself reluctant to kill Yu Shang. It was rare to find an opponent he admired as much as this one.

"I, too, was nearly deceived by this seemingly boundless forest, truly believing it had formed a world of its own. But when my consciousness probed outward, I accidentally discovered that the scenery, both ahead and behind, was identical, which was quite strange. When you mentioned that this place felt like a dream, I guessed that perhaps none of this was real. So, I swung my blade to test it, and to my surprise, it broke the barrier," Yu Shang said gently, his tone devoid of emotion, though he secretly thought to himself that he wasn't just good at finding trouble—he was useful when it counted!

"Regardless, you have helped me once. While I show no mercy to my enemies, I never leave a debt unpaid to those who have helped me. If you survive the trial ahead, I shall reconsider the stance from which I interact with you." Ye Wangchen looked at Yu Shang and smiled softly. This time, there was no coldness or indifference in his laughter, but a sincerity he had never shown before.

Perhaps only an opponent truly understands you and sees through you, yet it is often the opponent who delivers the fatal blow that sends you back to the Yellow Springs. Maybe in this world, there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies, but the only thing one can choose is who becomes a friend and who remains an enemy. Ye Wangchen had become a friend in Yu Shang’s heart, and Yu Shang was slowly eroding the defenses within Ye Wangchen’s heart.

"Rest assured, I will never let myself die before you. Think of how lonely and boring your life would be! I’ll just do a good deed and take you as a brother, so you won’t look so pathetic all by yourself." In truth, even Yu Shang did not know why, upon first seeing Ye Wangchen, he felt they would become friends—perhaps not as intimate as Xiao Yin, but as close as brothers.

"I said 'if.' Besides, I never said I would be your friend. I prefer to be your enemy; that would be much more interesting." Ye Wangchen’s lips curled into a mischievous smirk. Perhaps everything was destined; no matter what their relationship was, they could not escape the subtle bonds between them. Whether as friends or enemies, that delicate feeling would not change, because they understood each other's nature better than anyone else.

Yu Shang said nothing more and walked straight ahead. Ye Wangchen watched his back, nodded with a smile, and followed. Along the way, they said nothing, each lost in their own thoughts yet bound by an inexplicable connection. This calm was reminiscent of the moments before a storm—mysterious, eerie, and unpredictable. May they safely escape this wretched place this time!

After walking for an unknown duration, Ye Wangchen could no longer contain himself. He asked the silent Yu Shang beside him, "Do you feel something is wrong here? It is too quiet—so quiet it makes one shiver. And apart from the two of us, there seems to be no other life here." Even the quietest forest should not be like this; let alone beasts, not even a single bird had appeared.

"Such anomalies have only one cause: there is a ferocious beast here. We had better be careful and not get separated, or I won't be responsible for what happens," Yu Shang said, walking briskly while vigilantly scanning his surroundings, fearing something might leap out from the shadows. In his view, this was no safe place, and they needed to leave quickly before they disturbed whatever lived here.

"You should worry about yourself first. The injuries you sustained while fighting that woman are far worse than mine; who knows who will end up taking care of whom!" Ye Wangchen shot him a look. He was already injured, yet he was still thinking about taking care of others—what a talent he had! Still, even if there were a beast here, he would not let it harm Yu Shang. He had said that Yu Shang’s life could only be taken by his own hand; anyone else would have to go through him first!

Ye Wangchen’s mindset was truly baffling. If he cared so much about Yu Shang’s life, why insist on taking it himself? Was that not contradictory? To forbid others from harming him, yet insist on doing it himself—what difference would the end result make? It would be better to let someone else finish him off, so he wouldn't have to face the moment where he couldn't bring himself to do it, potentially costing his own life in the process.

"I have no energy to argue with you. Just take care of yourself. You and I still have a battle to fight; I don't want you to kick the bucket and head to the legendary Avici Hell before we can settle our score." With that, Yu Shang walked on, ignoring Ye Wangchen. On the surface, he didn't want to fall behind, but in reality, he was clearing the path for the person behind him. After all, the person in front would be the first to sense any danger, at least giving him a chance to save the life of the person behind.

In truth, Yu Shang did not do this out of greatness, but because he did not want to owe anything to anyone who had helped him. Regardless of their original intentions, as long as the result was what he wanted, that was enough. Take Ye Wangchen, for example: he had entered this place because he helped him pursue that woman. If he were to come to harm because of that, Yu Shang would feel guilty. It was better for him to bear whatever was meant to be borne, as long as he didn't drag an innocent person into it.

But Yu Shang did not know that Ye Wangchen’s thoughts were the exact opposite. He wished he were the one in danger, so that at least Yu Shang’s life would be preserved, giving him another chance to take it himself. Although no one could understand this strange logic, it sounded like a form of twisted, warming care. Perhaps, invisibly, Ye Wangchen had already come to treat Yu Shang as a bond forged in life and death.

Human emotions are sometimes so marvelous; having known each other for such a short time, it felt as if they had known each other for ten thousand years. They were closer than those who saw each other every day. Perhaps this was the legendary "fated encounter," or perhaps it was all the will of Heaven. Regardless, being able to meet was already a rare thing. Some people brush past each other countless times without such a connection, while others are etched into one's heart after a single glance.