Chapter 99 - 99 - For People Are Still Drowning in a Sea of Suffering

"Hello, we are Nameless from the Astral Express. We've arrived at the Xianzhou Luofu. When we docked, although your side received our communication, there was no reply until some time later when the gate opened. Furthermore, after entering, we haven't received any further communication or encountered any reception personnel. Has some problem arisen within the Luofu?" Xin Yu felt that something must have gone wrong within the Xianzhou Luofu to cause issues at the cargo port, including the appearance of dangerous monsters. If they didn't clarify their situation, they might very well be subjected to suspicion and a subsequent series of targeted actions. It was better to lay everything out from the start, share the information they knew, and avoid any misunderstandings. "This is indeed strange. This humble one has learned that the Luofu has entered a state of lockdown. Under normal circumstances, the Jade Gate should not have been able to open." Tingyun used her folding fan to cover half her face. "That's what we'd like to know as well. However, this is clearly not a suitable place for discussion. Perhaps we should find another location later?" Welt stepped forward, taking over the conversation. At the same time, his gaze shifted to the injured Cloud Knights still collapsed on the ground not far away. This situation was clearly not conducive to further discussion. "Of course, benefactors. Please, accompany this humble one to the Sky-Faring Commission." Xin Yu glanced again at the humanoid monsters lying on the ground. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about them. And why was the armor they wore so similar to that of the Cloud Knights? Moreover, even though he had bisected them and imbued his attacks with the power of the Void, these creatures hadn't died. They were even attempting to heal themselves. Unfortunately for them, the energy Xin Yu now wielded was a form of cultivation power, a blend of the energies from three Paths and Honkai energy. If it were ordinary Void energy, it might have been worn down by the inherent energy within these monsters. But now, with the addition of the energies from the Paths of Abundance and Trailblaze, Xin Yu's own cultivation power had thoroughly gained a living, revitalizing quality. It could be said that annhilating this type of energy was extremely difficult; not only did the quality of the opposing force need to meet a certain standard, but the quantity also had to be sufficient. If the quality was insufficient, it couldn't even budge this energy. If the quantity was insufficient, it would only allow his cultivation power to continuously grow stronger. Perhaps sensing Xin Yu's continued gaze on the monsters on the ground, a Cloud Knight soldier approached and explained to Xin Yu just what these creatures were. These monsters were originally people, all Xianzhou natives. Long ago, the ancestors of the Xianzhou sought immortality and thus received the "blessing" of Yaoshi, the Aeon of Abundance, whom they called the Plaguelord of Longevity. But this long life naturally came at a price. At first, people didn't notice. But as the years flowed by, the emotions and memories accumulated from past ages became an incredibly heavy burden. Consequently, every Xianzhou native who reached a certain limit would become extreme due to their past, their emotions spiraling out of control, ultimately affecting their physical bodies and transforming them completely into mad, slaughter-driven monsters. They called this a disease: Mara-Struck. What followed later was the war between the Xianzhou and the Denizens of Abundance, and the tale of the birth of Lan, the Aeon of the Hunt. After listening to the Cloud Knight's explanation, Xin Yu looked at the monsters still meaninglessly roaring and writhing on the ground. He crouched down, withdrew the residual energy he had left on one of the monsters, allowing its body to become whole again. Simultaneously, however, he used his power to suppress it, rendering it immobile, able only to lie on the ground. Welt and the others, who were about to leave with Tingyun, paused and looked at Xin Yu, who was crouching on the ground. Welt asked, "Is there a problem?" "...I want to try and save them." "What?" The Cloud Knight soldiers present all stopped what they were doing. They stared in disbelief at Xin Yu, who was crouched beside a kinsman who had completely succumbed to Mara and become a monster. "Sir, it's no use. Those who have completely succumbed to Mara... their very souls and wills are thoroughly defiled. There's no bringing them back." The Cloud Knight who had just provided the explanation, though somewhat moved by Xin Yu's kindness, still tried to dissuade him from this futile effort. "It's alright. Just a small attempt. It won't take too long." Xin Yu responded with a smile, then placed his hand on the head of the Xianzhou native who had completely succumbed to Mara, fully immersing his consciousness. With that immersion, he saw many fragments of this Xianzhou native's past. He saw this person send off one friend after another, all of them short-lived species, far from possessing the longevity of the Xianzhou people. He saw this person crying his eyes out at the first funeral of a friend he attended, a grown man with his face streaked with tears and snot. He also saw this person at the last funeral of a friend, his face devoid of the initial tears and sorrow, only numbness remaining. He saw all the tragedies in this person's life, all the painful memories experienced, transform into one hidden wound after another, lingering in the body, lingering in the depths of the spirit. Due to the accumulation of time, these heavy past experiences all materialized into tangible pressure, crushing the person until, finally, the quantitative change led to a qualitative one, causing him to completely succumb to Mara, completely losing control of his physical body. In the depths of consciousness, Xin Yu saw the consciousness-form of a man, curled up, hugging himself, his eyes vacant. He approached, looking at this mottled, mud-caked consciousness-form. "You must be very tired, aren't you?" The man, as if hearing a voice, raised his head and looked at Xin Yu, who had appeared before him at some unknown moment, with numb and vacant eyes. "You've worked hard." Xin Yu reached out his hand, gently stroking the man's head as if comforting a small child. A glimmer of light gradually appeared in the man's vacant eyes. Slowly, his form grew smaller, his appearance younger, until he regressed to the likeness of a child. "It's alright to rest for a bit. Let me share your pain. Share all the sorrow in your heart, all the sadness, with me. You've already tried so hard. You've done so well. It's time to rest properly." "...I... I'm never as clever as others." "It doesn't matter. Just be yourself." "...My friends always leave before me. I try not to befriend those short-lived species, but their lives are just too brilliant. Why are their lives always so much more vibrant than ours? I can't help but be drawn to their light, but we can never face their departure." "I... I..." Xin Yu listened to the child's continuous complaints, listened as the child poured out the frustrations in his heart. He crouched down, embraced the child, gently patting his back, comforting him, consoling him, accepting all his pain. As the child was enveloped in the warm embrace, the tears that had welled up in his eyes could no longer be held back. Teardrops streamed down his cheeks, and snot ran from his nose. He cried out silently, as if venting all the frustrations accumulated over a thousand years. Meanwhile, in reality, the onlookers saw thorns suddenly sprout from the body of the completely Mara-Struck Xianzhou native, piercing deeply into Xin Yu's hand that touched the person. The thorns wound tightly around Xin Yu's arm, their sharp points puncturing his skin, drawing blood. Yet, those who were about to intervene saw that Xin Yu's face showed no pain, no fear, but rather a warm smile. And on the monster, whose body had been overgrown with plants that even entwined and covered its armor, the plants suddenly withered and fell away, one after another. The armor, too, slowly sloughed off as it lost the support of the plant mutations. "I will shoulder your pain. I will accept your sorrow. Sleep well, have a sweet dream, and rest properly." The thorns slid off bit by bit, turning into dry, white branches, eventually disintegrating into dust and vanishing. Xin Yu opened his eyes, ignoring the wounds on his arm, and removed the mutated helmet from the person lying on the ground, revealing a peaceful, sleeping face. "...The Mara... the Mara-Struck! He's cured! He's really cured!!!" The onlookers were stunned beyond measure by this sudden reality, disbelief and shock written all over their faces. Xin Yu stood up from the ground, shaking his slightly dizzy head. He had absorbed too many negative emotions at once. Although he had immediately assimilated and corroded them away using a method of the Void, his head still throbbed a little. The moment Xin Yu showed signs of discomfort, he was immediately supported by two Cloud Knight soldiers. "Sir! Are you alright?! Is there any discomfort?!" Hearing the anxious inquiries from those beside him, Xin Yu indicated he didn't need support. Standing firm, he said with a smile, "I'm fine, just a bit dizzy for a moment. I can still save more." "Sir... why are you doing this?" One of the Cloud Knight soldiers, seeing Xin Yu intending to save more, couldn't help but ask. After all, this person had no need to pay any price for them, strangers. Even if it was to gain the goodwill of the Xianzhou, curing just one person and demonstrating this ability would have been enough. There was no need to continue saving others. "Because people are still drowning in suffering." After answering, Xin Yu once again placed his hand on another's head. Hearing this reply, the Cloud Knight soldiers fell silent. They gazed at the not-so-tall figure from behind, yet at this moment, that back seemed incredibly imposing. They spontaneously gathered around. Some went to carry away the cured Xianzhou native, while others silently formed a protective circle around Xin Yu, instinctively guarding him.