Questioning the Heart

"Who are you?"

Bai Heng stood with his sword, surrounded by blood rain. Yet, the heavy, crimson-tinged downpour merely passed through him, leaving him unaffected.

Clearly, this was just an illusion.

Or rather, this was originally his sea of consciousness, transformed into its current state by the influence of that black sun.

And that black sun was perhaps the ancient dragon before him, a mountain of a creature covered in black scales.

In response to Bai Heng's question, the ancient dragon spoke in a deep, ancient voice:

"If you know of Suiren, then you can understand my existence."

Having lived on the Xianzhou for over a decade, Bai Heng had naturally heard the stories of Suiren.

Legend had it that during the Xianzhou's Fire Calamity, the Wingweaver's homeland, Qiong Sang, was drawn to the power of the Ambrosial Arbor and slowly approached the Luofu.

The Wingweavers and the Abundance's giant beasts also began to encroach upon the Xianzhou fleet.

At that time, a Nameless hero stepped forward and made a possession deal with Suiren, who was imprisoned on the Xianzhou "Zhuming," borrowing Suiren's power.

The Nameless hero severed the Ambrosial Arbor with a single arrow, pierced through the giant beasts, and severed the connection between the "Luofu" and Qiong Sang, turning the tide of the battle in one fell swoop.

Later, the Nameless hero disappeared in that war, and the descendants of the Xianzhou respectfully called him the "Lord of the Divine Bow."

"I remember that Suiren was originally imprisoned on the Xianzhou 'Zhuming.' If you are also a Suiyang, could you be related to it?" Bai Heng asked the question in his heart.

"As you can see, I am different from ordinary Suiyang. They imprisoned me here because I am Suiren's shadow, a split part of it, a part that harbors destruction! And the most powerful part!"

It stared at Bai Heng, its golden pupils shining with a light like the rising sun, as if it could devour everything.

But Bai Heng was not affected by that pressure. He spread out his hands and said:

"I may know your purpose. Just like Suiren and the Lord of the Divine Bow, you want to make a possession deal with me. Give me your power, but in return, you need to use me to gain freedom, right?"

"That's right." The ancient voice seemed to descend from the dome of the sky, its momentum like a rainbow.

Hearing the answer, Bai Heng frowned. He looked at the ancient dragon and asked:

"Why me?"

The ancient dragon spread its jet-black dragon wings, its mountain-like wings covering half the sky. It spoke again:

"You are not the only choice, but the most suitable choice so far. There are two reasons. First, for us Suiyang, the emotions of the long-lived are like a cup of bitter wine, while the emotions of the short-lived are like fine wine. If it comes to life or death, we will not choose to co-exist with the long-lived. And you are the best body I have found so far."

"Secondly, I am the shadow of Suiren's entrusted destruction, and on your body, and on that sword, there is a strong aura of destruction. It makes me feel very familiar. Moreover, He seems to be watching you as well."

"Destruction... He... those dreams?" Bai Heng murmured slightly.

He was not sure what other purpose this Suiyang had.

But with the "Luofu" at a time of life and death, he had no other choice.

Even if he entered the game, he had to try.

After a moment, he raised his head and said, "If I agree to your deal, what do I need to do?"

The ancient dragon looked up at the blood-colored sky and said:

"The reason I entered your sea of consciousness is to prepare to give you a final test after you agree to my deal. After all, I only have one chance, and I can't bet my life on it. If you can pass this test, I can sign a contract with you immediately."

"What is the test?"

Bai Heng held Lihun in his hand and asked.

The ancient dragon's voice was like a bell:

"Interrogation of your heart."

After saying that, it did not give Bai Heng any time to react.

The surrounding scenery changed, and the scorched earth of blood and fire turned into another scene.

Bai Heng found himself in a dilapidated town. The place was desolate and dead, with only ruins and broken walls left of the low stone houses, and the pedestrians on the street were weak, as if they had no life. Everyone seemed to be operating numbly and mechanically, silently waiting for the day when the loom broke.

Even after more than a decade, Bai Heng could not forget this place. After all, this was once his home.

Bai Heng continued to walk forward, and the people around him did not seem to notice his existence.

Until a thin boy with delicate features stood in front of him.

Bai Heng recognized the boy. It was him, once.

The former self looked at Bai Heng and asked:

"Big brother, you clearly knew that being taken away meant death, why didn't you tell your sister that night and let her be taken away by mom and dad? You clearly had the opportunity to leave with your brother and younger brother? Why did you abandon them and leave alone? You are so powerful now, why don't you go find them? Why don't you take revenge? Why, tell me, why?"

Bai Heng could not answer this question, because in the process of interrogation of his heart, he was only a defendant with no right to speak.

The scene changed again, and the desolate town turned into a silent, abandoned starport.

A boy covered in dust and with abrasions on his face looked at Bai Heng and questioned:

"Why, why are you the one who survived in the end? Why is it that only you, this selfish guy, survived? And they had to become sacrifices in the game? They were the ones who came up with the plan, they were the ones who drove the star skiff, you were just a burden who couldn't help at all, but in the end, you became the only survivor, why!"

Bai Heng ignored the other party's anger and took a step forward.

This time, he appeared in the Sea of Stars Skiffs of the Xianzhou "Luofu."

The one who appeared before him was no longer the child from before, but Bai Heng, now a Cloud Knight Vanguard and disciple of the Sword Master.

He held his sword in one hand and spoke as Bai Heng brushed past him:

"Why do you wield a sword? Bai Heng, is it just to personally kill your comrades in arms? One strike after another, you pierce their bodies, sever their flesh. They call you the Grim Reaper, and I think it's fitting. After all, your hands are stained with more than just the blood of abominations! Do you feel remorse when you swing your sword? Do you feel pity for them? Sadly, I know the answer in your heart. You don't. Because to you, they are still just strangers. If it were your master or your fellow disciples who had succumbed to Mara-Struck, would you so easily swing your sword?"

Bai Heng's steps remained unwavering as he continued forward.

Until he returned once more to the scorched earth of blood and fire, and the person standing before him became himself.

The person before him asked the final question:

"Tell me, what is the path you seek? What have you been striving for all this time? Tell me."

He repeated the question incessantly until Bai Heng stood before him and spoke his first words:

"Are you finished?"

Without waiting for a response, Bai Heng drew his sword, and Lihun slashed out.

The afterimage named inner demon shattered into fragments.

Bai Heng whispered:

"Sorry, you all talk too much. I'm too lazy to listen."

Group: 3……..0……1……8……0……6……3……6……4……

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