Light Fortress
Chapter 295 - 2 Hair Strands

Chapter 295: Chapter 2 Hair Strands

"There is death, and there is rebirth."

"Just like going to sleep, close your eyes, open them... we’ll forget some things. Embarking with brand-new memories. A hundred years and another hundred years, time and time again born anew," Gu Shen spoke calmly, "I need to clarify here, these aren’t my words... they’re from the priests of Southern Continent. As for myself, I’ve always been firmly..."

He had wanted to say atheism.

But those three words were swallowed back by Gu Shen.

"Well... maybe those priests have a sliver of reason..." he sighed gently.

After the funeral.

The already modest rain became even lighter.

The human presence on the barren hill gradually thinned out, with Zhao Qi still kneeling before the wooden stele, and others leaving one after another.

Someone gently tapped Gu Shen on the shoulder from behind.

"... Teacher," he turned around and saw the old man with a cane. This time, Zhou Jiren was not dressed in a white suit but donned a sober black one. Just the previous night, the old fellow had been adamant in declaring that he would not attend the funeral the next day, for he disliked sad farewells and gatherings.

Yet today, Zhou Jiren came regardless.

"Don’t get me wrong... I didn’t come here to mourn Zhao Xilai, that old fella..."

Zhou Jiren glanced over at the wooden stele, his eyes drifting as he defended himself subconsciously.

Gu Shen noticed that between his two fingers, he held an unlit cigar that seemed slightly moist from the dampness. He hadn’t seen his teacher at the funeral earlier... but now, with this outfit and the damp cigar, it was clear that he was a man whose actions belied his words.

"Alright, alright..."

Zhou Jiren, seeing the look in his disciple’s eyes, sighed and said softly, "Maybe it’s my old age, I can’t stand to witness farewells anymore... I just watched from a distance earlier, and the funeral wasn’t as somber as I’d imagined."

He warmly squeezed under Gu Shen’s umbrella and whispered, "Don’t close the umbrella... look in that direction."

With two fingers pinching the cigar, he gestured lightly.

Following his teacher’s gaze, Gu Shen saw a tall figure who hadn’t yet left—a rugged man with a face half-covered in scar wounds. Without speaking a word, his mere appearance pressed heavily upon those around him.

Gu Shen had taken note of this man early on, for aside from his imposing stature, there was one very important reason.

His bearing.

The man exuded an air of "cold, steely resolve" and was starkly out of place among the people around him. From the moment he arrived at the summit of the barren hill, he hadn’t interacted with anyone for even a second, not even making eye contact.

As if the whole world was superfluous to him.

And yet, such a person... was fixated on Zhao Qi, who kept kneeling and wouldn’t rise.

"Who is this?"

"In the advance city of North Continent, Duke Zhu Xue has three confidants with great strength, known outside as the ’Three Dogs.’"

"...Three Dogs?" It was the first time Gu Shen had heard this term.

"Loyal to their master to death, and madly fearless when they go berserk... what else could such people be but dogs," Zhou Jiren said indifferently, "This is the infamous Wild Dog, Duan Feng."

"People from North Continent coming here..." Gu Shen looked towards Zhao Qi, narrowed his eyes, and said, "Are they here to take him to the fortress?"

The will had been explicitly made public.

Yet many still couldn’t believe... would Mr. Zhao be willing to let his son suffer in North Continent? It must just be for show.

Gu Shen believed Zhao Xilai would do it.

However, he hadn’t expected the people from North Continent to act so swiftly.

"The Luoyin City Fortress, to the west of the right wing at the North Continent Fortress, is one of the larger fortresses... that’s where Zhao Qi will be sent next," Zhou Jiren said with an expressionless face, "The location of this fortress is vital, as it is the unavoidable passage to the ’Arch Point.’ Should the day come when the Gu Castle Fortress, leading the ’Arch Point Frontline,’ falls, it will be the job of Ture Wing Fortress to hold the line."

Gu Shen, who was in the middle of a Spiritual Link, immediately had the overall outline of the North Continent Fortress appear in front of him.

Chu Ling very thoughtfully attached several key annotations.

The entire North Continent Fortress formed a huge arc running from east to west, like a pair of wings spread for flight, with the center arch point protruding greatly, resembling the head of a bird... This was the arch point.

The most "dangerous" part of the arch point was Gu Castle where, it was said, snow fell year-round and the climate was extremely harsh. Even the warriors stationed at Gu Castle had incredibly strong wills, yet every year, many would still get injured due to the natural climate.

"For real?"

Gu Shen was somewhat surprised. There was a multitude at the North Continent Fortress... The overall environment and atmosphere were very solemn, and sending Zhao Qi to the fortress was already a very severe punishment. But to send him to Luoyin City Fortress, that was not a place where normal warriors could stay.

"It’s said that Zhao Xilai made the call to the Lin Family personally, perhaps it was his request."

Zhou Jiren smirked sarcastically and said, "Or perhaps it was because of the bill... The Duke Zhuxue decided to help an old friend properly educate his good-for-nothing son, but to dispatch such a trusted follower here, is it out of fear that Zhao Qi might run away?"

Gu Shen silently watched Wild Dog step forward, come up to the stele, and say something to Zhao Qi.

The dutiful son who never dared to rise looked up, his face filled with sorrow, and said something in return... but in the end, after only a slight delay, once most of the people on the mountain had dispersed, Zhao Qi was grabbed by the neck by Wild Dog who took him away in hand.

Wild Dog did not leave directly.

Instead, he walked toward the direction where Gu Shen was.

This was somewhat unexpected.

Was he coming for him?

The closer the distance... the more intense was the oppressive aura that the man brought with him.

Gu Shen subconsciously raised his umbrella so that he could see the man’s face clearly; the man’s left cheek was full of scars, looking extremely ferocious.

"..." Wild Dog and Gu Shen exchanged a glance.

But it was only a glance.

He ignored the young man.

A murderous aura emitted from him naturally, forming a dense, tangible oppressive field like needles, yet just as it was about to get close to Gu Shen’s umbrella, this oppressive field was gently dissolved by an invisible force.

The person Wild Dog was truly looking for... was actually Zhou Jiren.

The seemingly proud, rough man spoke.

Yet his voice was not as vicious as imagined, but rather calm, even mild enough to be considered gentle.

"Duke Zhuxue entrusted me with something to deliver to you..."

Even Wild Dog, in the face of the Grand Judge of the East Continent, used a respectful tone.

Zhou Jiren narrowed his eyes slightly, a bad premonition faintly appearing in his heart.

Wild Dog extended his palm, and around the joint of his little finger was wrapped a strand of fine hair.

"?!"

Gu Shen recognized the strand of hair... This was Senior Sister Luo’s Lifebound Sealing Item!

Since Da Teng parted ways, Senior Sister Luo and Brother Zhong had set off together on a mission... and there had been no news since then.

This was... did they go to the North Continent?

"This is the strand of hair that Lady Tian Tong recently sent to the fortress, within which she left a trace of spiritual power, to shatter upon being read."

Wild Dog said softly, "I am acting on the orders of Duke Zhuxue to hand this strand of hair to you... Please accept it."