章 111: No one can comprehend the sorrow of the Demon Emperor
In the boundless void of darkness, two young maidens embraced one another, surrounded by shimmering lights that danced and twirled like living sprites.
Ethereal green ribbons gently floated from Arnoia, entwining around Lux's form like drifting seaweed, while the glowing specks settled upon Lux, causing Arnoia's own figure to become increasingly transparent.
As Arnoia's transparency deepened, a sacred aura gradually enveloped Lux.
At the moment when Lux's soul was on the verge of being consumed by the youthful goddess, a faint sigh echoed through the darkness.
A figure, cold and indifferent, slowly emerged from the shadows—a man draped in a tattered cloak, with hair streaked in shades of gray and white, and eyes as frigid and merciless as ice, silently observing the two girls entwined in their embrace.
"Is evasion truly your final choice?" The icy voice resonated, devoid of any movement, yet the once-dazed girl in Arnoia's arms suddenly jolted to attention.
She slowly lifted her gaze to the man suspended in the darkness, her eyes widening in unexpected surprise. "Is that you, Mr. Mu Yu?"
"..." The cold gaze remained fixed on the girl who had regained her senses, as Xiao Mu Yu responded coolly, "You may call me senior brother or junior brother... the choice is yours."
"Senior brother... junior brother?" Lux pondered this unexpected revelation, momentarily stunned. "You! You are the disciple that the teacher spoke of?"
"Ah, indeed, that is correct." Xiao Mu Yu nodded indifferently.
"But... why are you here?" Lux's bewildered eyes scanned the surrounding darkness as she murmured, "Isn't this my consciousness space?"
"..." The cold man offered no reply to her inquiry, as he regarded Lux with an expression that suggested her question was merely trivial. He coldly countered, "Have you truly resolved to abandon everything?"
"I..." The girl opened her mouth weakly, yet ultimately found no words to defend herself.
She lowered her head in silence, seemingly acquiescing.
With a sorrowful gaze, Arnoia lifted her head, unperturbed by the unexpected intrusion of Xiao Mu Yu, the uninvited guest threatening to disrupt her. The goddess of despair and sorrow bore no trace of anger; rather, her ethereal eyes reflected an everlasting depth of sadness and despair.
Thus, in the infinite darkness, two pairs of eyes, equally filled with despair and sorrow, silently met.
"There is the essence of night upon you," Arnoia said softly, extending a hand as if attempting to reclaim something lost in the void. "Did you slay her?"
"... No." After a tense silence, Xiao Mu Yu coldly denied her accusation.
"Then why do you bear her curse?" Arnoia gazed at him with a look of pity, sorrowfully stating, "Such a curse can only be awakened upon the fall of a demon."
"Acquiring power always comes at a corresponding cost; there has never been success without effort in this world," Xiao Mu Yu replied indifferently. "I consumed the demon's power, and thus, it is only natural that I bear its curse."
"Is that so? To obtain the requisite power, you willingly endure the curse of a demon?" Arnoia regarded him with a gaze filled with shared sorrow, tears of sadness glistening beneath her lowered lashes. "O wielder of the demon's curse, do you... suffer?"
"Do I... suffer?" After a moment of silence, Xiao Mu Yu finally replied coldly, "The pain of the body pales in comparison to the torment of the soul."
"But bearing the demon's curse means that with every step you take upon the earth, you endure agony akin to treading upon sharp blades that tear your flesh; with every breath you draw, the air that fills your lungs brings a searing pain, as if molten lava coursed within you; you need not eat, for even the most exquisite delicacies will taste as bitter as dry sawdust; every drop of blood flowing within you feels like acid, scorching through your veins," Arnoia gazed sadly at Xiao Mu Yu, "Even while enduring such ceaseless suffering, do you truly remain indifferent?"
"If one fears the pains that the body may endure, if one fears the uncertainties that lie ahead, then they shall accomplish nothing," Xiao Mu Yu stated coldly, his gaze fixed on Lux, whose sacred aura grew ever more potent. "Moreover, often it is only the most profound pain that serves as a relentless reminder of our original purpose."
Lux's body trembled, disbelief etched upon her face as she regarded the seemingly eternally cold and unfeeling figure before her.
The curse and torment described by the youthful goddess instilled a deep-seated terror within her. She could scarcely fathom the kind of resolve that allowed this man to endure such horrific suffering without succumbing.
...
The bright sunlight streamed through the wooden porch, gently illuminating the interior.
Soraka, holding a cup of herbal tea, listened in astonishment to the white-robed man's account, finally unable to restrain her curiosity. "That... that child bears such a curse?"
Her voice trembled with profound shock and disbelief, so much so that the woman, initially skeptical of Xiao Mu Yu, could not help but refer to him as "child," a term imbued with affection for a younger generation.
"Furthermore, the demon's power is inherently incompatible with the human soul. While that malevolent force grants him strength rivaling that of the sanctum, his soul is perpetually eroded by evil. If I had not eradicated all the incompatible aspects of that power, he would likely have only a decade or so to live," the white-robed man explained. "What a reckless individual! I cannot believe that the demon did not issue a warning when he forcefully consumed its power, yet this fool devoured it all."
At this point, the white-robed man sighed in resignation. "Ultimately, my disciple's character is far too extreme. In his quest for immense power to resurrect his wife, he even risked consuming a demon's entire essence and thus incurred its curse. Such actions are virtually unheard of in the annals of Valoran's history! I have never heard of anyone going to such lengths to gain power."
The peaceful interior of the abode fell into a temporary silence.
For a time, only the sounds of birds chirping among the trees outside could be heard.
After a long moment, Soraka sighed softly. "I now understand your reasons for choosing him, but I still cannot agree with your decision."
"To wield the Sword of Life is to save the world; this is the true essence of your Infinite Sword Path. Yet the sword you seek is not merely a Sword of Life," Soraka lamented. "In my eyes, this Sword of Life could easily transform into a Sword of Annihilation. If it were to evolve into such a fate, how would you choose then?"
"Ha ha... my friend, your concerns are unwarranted. In my view, for the scenario you describe to occur, the Winter's Claw must be utterly vanquished, and the mountains of Freljord must thaw. Otherwise, this Sword of Life shall forever remain just that," the white-robed man replied, exuding confidence in contrast to his friend's apprehensions.
"Oh? You are quite confident."
"Of course, when has the Sword Saint of the Infinite ever lacked confidence?"
"..." After a brief silence, Soraka sighed, somewhat at a loss for words. "I almost forgot; self-aggrandizement has always been one of your most notable traits."
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