Journey to the End of the Night
Chapter 140 - 140 139 Better to Die than to Be Silent

140: Chapter 139: Better to Die than to Be Silent 140: Chapter 139: Better to Die than to Be Silent Baili An felt that such a fine sword should not be sullied by such foul, thick blood.

Had she not struck too hastily, drawing her sword directly and sweeping with Sword Qi, it would not have been tainted by even a speck of filthy blood.

“I was careless; I did not expect to encounter a ‘Candle-Eye Ghost’ in Chaotic Netherworld Valley,” she mused.

Wen Hanwei collected her not-so-disheveled blue-black tresses, moving toward Baili An while retrieving a clean handkerchief from her sleeve.

The Candle-Eye Ghost was a type of Evil Spirit of the Ghost Path, nurtured by the Demon Sect during its heyday a thousand years ago.

By means of brutal torture, they would peel away the Spiritual Power from the mortal Cultivators and refine it into resentful power, solidifying it within an eye, then forging it into a Candle-Eye Ghost with a combination of Astral Wind and Karma Fire.

Although the Candle-Eye Ghost was not strong, it could not even rival those in the Kaiyuan realm in direct confrontation.

But its advantage lay in its speed, as swift as a shadow, lacking a heart or any traceable breath.

Amid the tangled battles of righteousness and demons, such creatures excelled in ambushes.

Should it invade a human body, the flesh tendrils in its eyes could sever the meridians storing the Spiritual Energy within a cultivator’s body, abruptly cutting off the life force, then seizing control of the brain and mind.

The methods of creating a Candle-Eye Ghost were too cruel, belonging to an utterly nefarious and malevolent path.

A thousand years ago, when the Demon Sect fell, countless Candle-Eye Ghosts along with the scrolls documenting the creation process of Evil Ghosts were all thoroughly consumed by the Red Lotus Karma Fire.

Unexpectedly, in this forsaken land, such evils still existed.

Wen Hanwei’s expression remained composed, yet her mood slightly heavy.

Chaotic Netherworld Valley was a forbidden region in the Mortal World.

They were only at the outer edges of the valley now, where abnormal creatures already appeared.

To leave this place, one would have to venture deeper into the heart of the valley, seeking the living spring’s array eye for safe passage.

In this place, visible beings might not truly be alive, and the flora and the earth might not be devoid of consciousness and soul.

Before Wen Hanwei could approach, Baili An reached out to grasp the Yuxiao Sword on the barren rock, pulling out the Longsword with a snap, carefully wiping away the stained blood on the sword tip against his arm before handing it back to her.

Unbeknownst to him, at the moment he drew the Yuxiao Sword, a flicker of surprise crossed Wen Hanwei’s cool façade, causing her to involuntarily halt in her tracks.

Baili An sat quietly on the ground, gazing at her without a word.

The bloody wind brushed against the face, with a bone-chilling chill.

Somewhere in Chaotic Netherworld Valley, the sound of wolf howling echoed.

Wen Hanwei also watched him quietly, her surprised look quickly settling back into an expression of indifference.

She did not glance at her usual sword, but squatted down, her snow-white robe sprawling on the ground, taking out a handkerchief from her sleeve to delicately wipe the bloodstains from Baili An’s cheek.

This unexpected moment of gentleness seemed to lull the freshly awoken Baili An back into a hazy sleepiness.

It felt as if the pitter-patter of rain could be heard beside his ear—in a place forsaken by gods like Chaotic Netherworld Valley, rainfall presaged ominous omens.

Yet when her snowy sleeve brushed his face and the faintly itchy fragrance of her being reached his nose.

It differed from Wen Hanwei’s distinct, aloof character.

The underlying scent was pleasant and warm, like a mix of warm water and soapberries beneath the winter sun.

Baili An obediently lifted his cheek, squinting his eyes, allowing her to wipe his face.

He was a corpse demon and shouldn’t possess a sense of smell, yet strangely, he could detect the warm scent radiating from her.

Just as warm water under a winter’s day is odorless, people could remember an indescribable scent.

He knew, it was a warmth and sunlight he, born a demon, was unable to touch.

He grew a bit obsessed with this scent, like a moth in the dark yearning for the light of a flame.

The rain grew more urgent, but their clothes remained untouched by even a drop.

Wen Hanwei withdrew the handkerchief, noticing the boy with half-closed eyes, looking as if he were about to doze off.

She couldn’t help but chuckle, patting his cheek, “Don’t sleep now; this isn’t a place for peaceful slumber.”

Baili An opened his eyes, his gaze falling on Wen Hanwei’s soft lips, flickered slightly, and he couldn’t help but ask, “Wen…

Sister, have you applied any perfume?”

Wen Hanwei paused, caught off guard by his question.

She put away the handkerchief, picked up the Yuxiao Sword and sheathed it, saying, “I have not applied any perfume.”

A deep dark pooled in Baili An’s eyes, fitting for a being who walked in darkness.

He lowered his gaze and spoke softly, “There’s a scent about you that’s hard to forget, very warm, like sunshine.

It smells really good…”

His words were frank and could be construed as brazen, yet they did not provoke any discomfort.

Wen Hanwei thought for a moment and took out a clean handkerchief from her chest, placing it in his palm.

She pondered seriously for a while and said, “I only love two things in life: sword-fighting and basking in the sun.

Maybe what you like isn’t my scent, but the aroma of sunlight I’ve carried with me.

Keep this handkerchief to smell it, so stop showing such a sad expression.”

Baili An clenched the handkerchief tightly, revealing an expression caught between laughter and tears.

He suddenly asked, “Wen Sister, did we know each other before?

Do you know who I was in my previous life?

Do I…

still have family in this world?”

Wen Hanwei’s eyes widened slightly, “You don’t remember your past life?”

Baili An nodded.

Wen Hanwei murmured, “I see, I see.

Now that you have become a corpse demon, the affairs of your past life are dead and forgotten, memories from the past hardly remain, no wonder…”

She suddenly stopped, as if a critical revelation had struck her and did not continue speaking, instead looking at him with a complex expression.

“Xiao An, now is not the best time to trace past memories.

You saw how Jing is—right now, the righteous people and the Hundred Immortal Sects won’t tolerate a corpse demon from the Mortal World.

Knowing too much about your past too soon will only lead to a quicker death.”

She looked at him earnestly, “You’re my only friend; I don’t want you to die.”

“So, this will be the last time I call you Xiao An.”

Baili An was taken aback, then gave a wry smile, “So, I must find the answers for myself.”

Wen Hanwei patted his head, saying, “I don’t think that’s a wise thing to do.

Although I don’t know what happened back then, I never expected your death.

In this world, anyone can die.

Why did it have to be you…”

Baili An shook his head, “Perhaps you’re right, perhaps knowledge of my past life will only become unnecessary danger and burden.

But since it’s a part of the life I once had, I…

want to know.”

Embrace fearlessness and rejuvenate daily.

Rather with a roar die than in silence live.