Dance Of The Dragons
Chapter 340 : The Yellow Springs (3)

Chapter 340: Chapter 340 : The Yellow Springs (3)

A sardonic chuckle rippled from Zhang Fengxi’s throat, a private jest that echoed in the bustling depths of the Dark Capital. He followed in the Goddess’s wake, his footsteps a faint rhythm against the vibrant cacophony of the city.

"You tricked me," he then said. "I was expecting to meet my wife before he returns on the seventh day."

[I will not let you steal his soul away,] the Goddess spoke with a nonchalant tone. [Don’t you think that it is absolutely disrespectful to do that to the Crown Prince?]

"He will want to stay," Zhang Fengxi argued as they walked past several lost souls that wandered the streets. Some souls were sitting at the side of the streets and complained about broken legs.

"For me. For our children."

Speaking about their children.

Zhang Fengxi’s heart ached with the weight of his guilt, a silent torment that was not lost on the Goddess’s discerning gaze.

[You haven’t even taken a single look at your children, have you?]

"..."

Zhang Fengxi clenched his jaw.

[You have disappointed the Crown Prince greatly,] the Goddess remarked.

On the verge of crafting a biting response to the Goddess’s provocation, Zhang Fengxi found himself silenced by a chorus of clamorous shouts.

"Move, move, move!!!"

A phalanx of expressionless guards mercilessly pushed aside the huddled figures of the city’s destitute, clearing a path for a figure of ostentatious wealth. Clad in a shimmering golden robe, adorned with a gilded headband and shoes that gleamed like captured sunlight, he exuded an aura of opulence that stood in stark contrast to the squalor that surrounded him.

His eyes, cold and calculating, surveyed the scene with a disdain that spoke of a life untouched by hardship or compassion.

"Too many poor people," he complained, his face crumpling in annoyance. "I thought that I already ordered you all to throw them out of the city. How annoying."

From the depths of despair, a figure emerged, a soul cloaked in tattered garments that bore the weight of countless trials. With a movement that spoke of desperation and a voice raspy from neglect, this embodiment of hardship implored the attention of the opulent figure.

His outstretched hand, calloused and scarred, held a silent plea for a small token of mercy amidst the vast abundance that flowed past him like a mocking mirage.

"Please, Sir. I have not eaten anything in an entire month."

The rich soul pulled back in disgust, his nostrils flaring at the destitute existence before him.

"Get rid of him!" he hollered while pointing a finger at the poor soul. "I don’t want him to come near me! Go away, you reek of poverty!"

With a steely determination etched on his face, Zhang Fengxi advanced toward the affluent individual, poised to instill some much-needed humility. His unwavering resolve was, however, tested by the intervention of the Goddess of Fate and Destiny, who subtly restrained his progress with a gentle pull on his sleeve.

[General, they are dead. In death, there is neither poor nor rich. The worldly riches are not going to help anyone when they stand before the judges.]

The Goddess blinked at Zhang Fengxi with her deep blue eyes.

[You, too, need to realize that you cannot save everyone and change the world as you please. Everything comes at a price, and you do not have enough to pay for everything.]

After relinquishing her hold on Zhang Fengxi’s sleeve, the Goddess resumed her steady stride towards the Dark Capital’s egress. As they approached the exit, the throng of souls thinned, their presence gradually dissipating into the labyrinthine depths of the city.

Two hulking guardians of the underworld, their grotesque forms reminiscent of ogres, stood sentinel before the imposing exit gate, their three-pronged spears menacingly crossed, forming an impenetrable barrier. Their eyes, glowing with an infernal light, scanned the approaching figures, their presence exuding an aura of raw power and intimidation.

In the face of the Goddess’s ethereal presence, the hulking guardians of the underworld underwent a swift transformation, their menacing postures melting away like wax under an inferno’s heat.

With swift, almost practiced movements, they retracted their three-pronged spears, their once formidable weapons now resting harmlessly at their sides.

Their knees buckled before the Goddess and they sank to the ground, their hulking forms prostrating themselves in a gesture of profound reverence. Their glowing eyes, once ablaze with an intimidating light, now flickered with awe and respect, their very beings humbled by the divine radiance that emanated from the Goddess.

"Goddess..."

[Open the gate,] the Goddess ordered them. [Let us pass.]

Despite the precedent of no living soul ever breaching the exit gate, the guardians, their hearts held captive by the Goddess’s divine authority, obeyed her command without a shred of hesitation.

With synchronized movements, they heaved upon the colossal stone gates, their hinges groaning in protest as the gateway to the realm beyond swung open, revealing a panorama that defied all earthly beauty.

Beyond the threshold lay Naihe Bridge, a vast expanse of stone bridge stretching as far as the eye could behold, its very presence exuding an aura of antiquity and otherworldly grandeur. Beneath the bridge’s imposing structure, a vast expanse of water unfolded, its tranquil surface mirroring the ethereal glow of the heavens above. Upon this watery expanse, countless soul-laden boats glided silently, their passengers embarking on their final journey to the Underworld.

Flanking the river’s winding course, an endless tapestry of pavilions and verdant greenery sprouted from the fertile soil, their vibrant hues shimmering under the celestial canopy.

According to ancient lore, the very appearance of these structures shifted and morphed with the gaze of each passing soul. Every individual beheld a unique panorama, a reflection of their deepest desires and the memories they held most dear.

As souls traversed the bridge, bidding farewell to the life they once knew, spectral figures materialized along the riverbank, their forms mirroring the unique visions of each departing soul. These spectral figures waved farewell to the departed ones, offering the souls a final piece of solace, a gentle reminder of the enduring bonds that transcended the boundaries between life and death.

From the depths of the infernal abyss, a procession of souls emerged and stepped onto the bridge. These ethereal figures had just been recently released from the crucible of Hell’s punishments, but their faces bore no marks of torment or despair.

Instead, observers could see how their countenance radiated an aura of serenity and hope, reflecting their newfound understanding of their past transgressions and their unwavering anticipation for the cycle of reincarnation that lay ahead.

[Naturally, the Crown Prince had very little to account for in front of the judges,] the Goddess remarked. [He has done the three realms a great service, thus he is given the first priority for reincarnation.]

Zhang Fengxi was barely listening.

His heart hammered against his ribs, its frantic rhythm echoing the turmoil that churned within his soul. His gaze darted across the throng of souls emerging from the Gates of Hell, each one a fleeting glimpse into the vast tapestry of human existence.

A thousand souls must have passed before him, their ethereal forms blending into a blur of indistinct faces and fleeting emotions. Yet, amidst this sea of departing spirits, his eyes remained fixed on the horizon, his heart yearning for the one soul that held the key to his redemption.

The moment the anticipated soul materialized, Zhang Fengxi’s heart seized, his chest constricting as if caught in a relentless squeeze.

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Author’s note :

Finally we are meeting baby Jianyu again ｡⁠:ﾟ⁠(⁠;⁠´⁠∩⁠`⁠;⁠)ﾟ⁠:⁠｡