Chapter 689: The Blade That Severs The Worldly Realm
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
"Hence, I asked, 'What sort of treasure map would make you react in such a manner? We had already transcended into the ranks of the most distinguished presences of the world! What sort of treasure is worth such a yearning – Old Dugu, after all these years, you have certainly changed, perhaps far too much!"
"I still remember how my words were full of disdain, but it was only reciprocated by a surreptitious glance from him. He laughed abruptly, and said, 'What would you know? If gods truly existed in this world, my youngest son would definitely be one! His accomplishments in this world are second to none! In no time, he shall be unrivaled - he shall rule above everything beneath the skies!"
"After that, he said, if I were to pass him my treasure map, and if he were to find that place, he would truly become a god! At that moment, my heart experienced the slightest of quivers. I then asked, 'Could it be... the treasure map of the Seventeenth Master of the Abyss - the treasure map to his legacy?' He laughed, but spoke no more, and slept for the rest of the night."
"He slept, but I stayed awake for the whole of that night, thinking to myself, 'A map that Dugu Jimo would place such importance on – what sort of map would that be?' However, my real motivation was that I too possessed a treasure map!"
"If Old Dugu really had a map like this, my chances of finding the treasure would increase vastly after combining the two parts of the map – could this be an opportunity bestowed by the heavens? For the next ten days, I was caught in a dilemma - whether to make my move or not. On one hand, he was my brother for ten long years... yet on the other, it was the absolute temptation of becoming unrivaled in the world – the lust of embarking on the path to become a god."
"The day had finally arrived. I was still caught in the same dilemma a day before, but Dugu had suddenly decided that the targets in the Ziyou Empire had almost been completely wiped out. After eliminating the Ziyou infantry and marshals the next day, which was the last and final strike, he wanted to seek his revenge elsewhere in a different nation. I said that I'd go with him, and I could offer some help; however, he refused."
"He rejected my offer in such a direct manner. For a moment, I thought, subconsciously, that he might have begun to be wary of me since I had made attempts in the past to gather news about these treasure maps… Perhaps after parting ways this time, I might just lose my greatest opportunity with the treasure map, or never come in contact with my old friend again - hence… I decided to see this through until the end. On the second evening, just as he was heading out to make another kill, I dosed him with a pinch of Immortal's Odium…"
"He never suspected, or rather, he never suspected me. After the meal, he bid his goodbyes as usual and went on his way, alone. That was the only time I was alone, without his company…"
"Then, there was that event that happened during that assassination... that treasure map had been taken away from him right at the moment of his capture. It was only the shortest encounter, but at that moment, he never uttered a single word; he only gave me a very frank, sincere look, his gaze boring into me in a forthright manner…"
Ouyang Xiaoshe let out a sudden sob. "H-he just stared right at me... without disbelief, without shock, not a hint of doubt and completely void of any emotions... he wasn't even angry. He only stared straight at me, not even putting up a fight when he was taken away – he only stared fixated in the direction I left towards..."
Yun Yang felt his own heart twitch in a violent manner, his whole body suddenly quivering.
"... I took the treasure map back just as I had wished and spent days cooped up in the room which we have lived in together for a while, not knowing what I was doing, nor what I was thinking. There was absolutely no joy from the success of obtaining the item of my deepest desires... and I was hit with a sudden realization. Until the very end, he had never, ever suspected me, but I—"
Ouyang Xiaoshe suddenly let out a loud howl. "Brother! Dugu! I've let you down! I'm sorry! I'm truly sorry!"
He howled, tears gushing out in torrents as he sobbed in silence.
"Due to my obsession for a map... I-I wronged my one and only brother..." Ouyang Xiaoshe let out a hysterical laugh. "Did you know, Supreme Cloud? Until this day, even when I have been tortured to the brink of being better off dead, I did not despise you... I truly had no hatred for you... for I am a disloyal scum who betrayed his own brother..."
He gazed into the void fixedly for a good while before letting out a sudden chortle. With a slight tremor of his hand, everything fell out from the Spatium Ring he wore upon his finger. He retrieved a parcel among the fallen things, and lo and behold - the items within were two dilapidated-looking pelts.
"These are the only two treasure maps that I own. The triangular-shaped one is mine; the one that resembles an oblong was Dugu's. For you – all of them are yours now!"
Ouyang Xiaoshe laughed hysterically. "Let's just take this as a form of repayment to his son, shall we?"
Yun Yang glanced at the two treasure maps before him. His eyes were remained cold and emotionless - he seemed to have no intention to pick them up.
The lucidity within Ouyang Xiaoshe's gaze had started to dissipate. He panted heavily and inhaled equally laborious breaths. In an instant, he bellowed, hysterically. "Supreme Cloud! Take out your blade!"
Yun Yang turned to look at him.
Ouyang Xiaoshe shrieked in a frenzied manner. "T-Take out your blade– take out your blade– Take out your blade—!"
Yun Yang clenched his teeth and took a deep, long breath. With a twist of his wrist, the Divine Edge materialized within his grasp, reflecting glints of cold light. "If you so insist, I shall fulfill your wish!" He muttered under his breath.
Ouyang Xiaoshe roared facing the sky. "Dugu, are you watching this? Your son is avenging you! Hahaha—"
In a flurry of manic laughter, he mustered up his remaining energy and inclined his body sharply to the side, forcing his neck impetuously against the sharp edge of the blade.
With a soft puff, a shrunken brain shot across the skies.
The laughter echoed in the air, filled with the taste of an ultimate release.
The decapitated body of Ouyang Xiaoshe dropped to the ground with a soft thud.
"Hhhh--"
Yun Yang let out a long breath of air. "Father, I've finally answered the question on your behalf, but I cannot tell if you are satisfied with this outcome. No matter what, Ouyang Xiaoshe is on his way down to wherever you are. If you're not contented, you can settle your scores with him personally." He mumbled softly.
"I did not scare him out of his mind, nor did I consign him to eternal damnation, for I have kept the sanity within his soul to search for you… I don't know for sure if you can see this, or hear this - but I have always felt that you two had the opportunity to meet again, granting you this chance... this regret instead. From how I see it, he had already paid dearly for whatever wrongdoings he incurred in his own way. Whatever that remains shall be a score to settle among yourselves – I shall not interfere further!"
Yun Yang mumbled, "Father, looking at the way I handled this situation – are you... satisfied?"
He closed his eyes, and they remained shut for a long time. Two drops of tears gradually seeped out of them.
Yun Yang could almost make out Old Dugu's silhouette gradually emerging from the mist of ethereal illusions. He was wearing the familiar, kindly expression just like in the past, nodding his head as he smiled gently.
It was as if he was saying, "... Child, I am contented with whatever you do..."
Yun Yang's mouth hung open as he exhaled a deep breath. Unable to control himself, his palpating heart was the only thing he felt at the moment.
"The blade severs the worldly realm."
Yun Yang took a long, deep breath. "Father, in truth, I wanted to keep him alive - I did not want to kill him just like that. His connection to this worldly realm was not the only thing severed with this strike…"