Journey to the End of the Night
Chapter 99 - 99 99 The Name

99: Chapter 99: The Name 99: Chapter 99: The Name “Puppets destroyed, two of them; truly a heartache,” a voice mused with an ironic chuckle.

“Fortunately, your obsession is deep enough, and your resentment is profound enough.

You are indeed qualified to become my new puppet, heh…”

The man laughed with pleasure, “A forsaken disciple from the Taixuan Sect becoming a puppet of my Demon Sect, I wonder what expression the Sect Master would have.

How amusing it would be.”

In the midst of talking to himself, a wholly crimson, eerie infant rolled out from within the ample fold of his robes, its blood-red mouth gaping wide as if to bite a chunk from Wen Yu’s broken body.

The man in the purple robe casually slapped the infant’s head with a gesture as carefree as a breeze, turning the creepy child into a mist of blood upon contact.

The man’s usually calm voice grew cold, an inexplicable chill pressing in, “I wonder if you’ve become too tired of the Mortal World’s scenery and become more disobedient with time.

If you dare to act of your accord and touch my things again, I won’t mind sending you straight to the Netherworld Hell.”

The exploded blood mist re-condensed into the shape of an infant, albeit noticeably weaker and trembling as it clung to the man’s robe, not daring to make another move, its eyes pitifully fixated on the man.

With a snort of derision, the purple-robed man’s hand movements revealed an inexplicably tender touch as he stroked the infant’s head, chuckling, “There, that’s better.

I was only scaring you.

You are her child, how could I bring myself to kill you?

If you continue to be obedient and please me, I might just take you to meet your real father.”

Upon comprehending the man’s words, a spark of excitement brightened the infant’s demeanor, its pupils turning a fierce crimson with excitement though devoid of warmth, only fierce cruelty.

The infant stuck out its crimson tongue, licking its mouth ferociously as if looking forward to something.

Clearly pleased with its state, the man in the purple robe laughed heartily and embraced the child, planting a kiss on it.

“That’s more like it!

Remember this ravenous, gluttonous state.

When you see your father again, you must remember to devour him.

You can’t be soft-hearted.

You have to consume him completely, leaving nothing behind, for only thus…”

Beneath the metallic ghost mask, the pitch-black pupils flickered with a light of madness and trickery, “Because only then, the second scripture of Taixuan…will never wake again.

This is truly thrilling.”

Crossing the Barrier at the lake’s bottom, Baili An’s body submerged once again in the icy waters.

Lin Yuan, holding both Baili An and Lin Guiyuan, continued swimming towards the surface.

Oddly enough, the familiar and beautiful blue fishtail reappeared on Lin Yuan as they landed back into the water, despite her legs previously taking form.

Upon reaching the shore, Lin Yuan’s expression was complex as she looked at her legs that had re-formed, her gaze uncertain.

She quietly raised her eyes to sneak a peek at Baili An, her deep blue pupils harboring a hidden worry and unease.

The forest was silent, and the sky, absent of sunlight, lent a pallid hue to everything.

The ancient Divine Tree that had once overshadowed most of the lake was now bare, its leaves shed, leaving only a few signs of life on its branches amongst a sorrowful carpet of fallen foliage.

The old mighty tree no longer full of vigor, seems as if it could die at any moment.

Baili An, gazing at the tree with eyes about to close forever, knew that the Mountain God’s life, long as a curse, was reaching its end, only a lingering obsession holding on until now.

His pupils had fully petrified, resembling ancient tree rings.

Unable to shift his gaze, the elder now sensed the presence of Lin Guiyuan and Lin Yuan, his hollow and failed eyes showing a faint change.

The old man’s features were entirely turned to wood, rendering him unable to speak.

However, his voice resounded through the woods with a miraculous power.

“My children…have finally come home,” the old man’s voice, as ever, brimming with gentleness.

Lin Guiyuan stared blankly at the elder, his face and pupils revealing a deep despair akin to ashes.

Lin Yuan’s body shook violently, and Baili An immediately stepped forward to steady her, watching as she slowly closed her eyes and covered them with her arms.

“The matters of the mountain have settled at last.

My greatest concern has always been for the children, both Yuan and Guiyuan.

New Mountain Master…

can I entrust them entirely to you?”

Baili An lifted his gaze towards the Divine Tree at the brink of life, its bark disintegrating bit by bit, and he nodded slowly.

The elder’s voice touched with a hint of guilt, “I am sorry…

that I cannot give you a whole and intact Kongcang Mountain.”

Baili An offered a faint smile, soothingly saying, “You have given me a place to call home.”

Heaving a sigh, the elder murmured his children’s names softly, “Guiyuan, Yuan…”

Lin Guiyuan managed to move stiffly.

In a low voice, filled with sincere intent, the old man spoke, “Can you…

come before me?

Let me see you once more.”

With a slow and struggling pace, the two approached the elder.

They both knew too well that fulfilling the elder’s last wish meant they would never see him again…

At long last, the elder was granted his wish, the empty wooded eyes reflecting epochs as they faded like withering petals.

Two crumbling, severely eroded vines gently spread forth, touching the cheeks of Lin Yuan and Lin Guiyuan, lingering like a final caress.

“Yuan, you were the first child I found.

Though your past is tragic and cruel, I hope you never forget…

that you were born of the sea, a child of the Sea God.

No matter how far or how long you’ve been away, never forget the mission you bear.

Although that mission might be too heavy, and I can no longer shelter you in your youth or watch you grow, one’s fate should not be neglected, nor the heavens defied.

The path ahead…

still demands you to grit your teeth and move forward.

Fortunately, you’re not alone.”

As the elder spoke, his gaze stiffly shifted to the straight, fine legs beneath the golden coat, revealing a sense of contentment.

Lin Yuan’s beautiful eyes filled with moisture; though she thought she had enough courage to face this, upon hearing the old man’s gentle and hoarse voice, her tears could no longer be controlled and spilled over.

“Mountain Father…

I don’t understand, nor do I want to understand what you’re saying.

This is my home, and you are the dearest family to me.”

“Foolish child, speaking such nonsense,” the broken vine gently patted her head, as if offering a final comfort.

“And Guiyuan…” The withered vine brushed lightly over the deadly wound on his neck, the voice trembling slightly, “Do you know why I named you Guiyuan?”

Lin Guiyuan rubbed his cheek against the rough vine, his pupils tearless but shaded with hidden grief.

With a hoarse and broken voice, he said, “Mountain Father, you once told me that my life was once interrupted, and it required the protection of the Divine Power of the Five Elements and the gods.

Hence, my name was given as Guiyuan, representing the wandering of the gods, encompassing all things, revealing myriad forms.

The Golden Crow’s Sun Vine bestowed upon me was also a hope that Guiyuan would live up to his name…”

He clenched his jaw rigidly as he spoke, with a tinge of self-loathing, “And yet…

I am utterly unworthy of this name!”