Let's Burn Them to Ashes

Phew...

Phew...

Phew...

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the two of them grew tired from running. They bent over in unison, hands resting on their knees, staring into each other's eyes while gasping heavily for air.

I... I can't do this anymore. I need to rest for a bit.

After looking at her for a moment, Ye Shu propped himself against a wooden stump with one hand and sat down heavily on it.

On the other side, Xia Hanmo was also exhausted from running.

She sat down on the stump as well, back-to-back with Ye Shu, the backs of their heads touching. Using each other's weight to keep balance, she tilted her head up and looked at the night sky through the gaps in the leaves.

The sky was filled with stars, shining as brilliantly as diamonds.

The two sat there quietly, neither saying a word.

Listening to the sound of breathing behind her, she caught the scent of his sweat. It was the scent of hard work, mixed with a faint bamboo fragrance, like a deeply buried aged wine that made one want to take another whiff.

Xia Hanmo subconsciously twitched her nose.

But her mind wandered into a daze.

Looking at the starry sky, her eyes were filled with confusion.

He was different.

Way too different.

Was this guy behind her really the same person from her memories?

Completely different cultivation methods.

A different personality.

A different timeline.

Moreover, he had saved her... Even though before she woke up, he didn't know her and had no idea she would appear here. He was completely saving a stranger.

Xia Hanmo suddenly recalled the recording stone she had seen a few days ago.

In that scene, the youth sitting cross-legged, his body battered and broken, faced the Soul Formation realm Feng Mengli with perfect composure, asking three times if he had ever done wrong.

He truly felt completely out of place compared to the youth in her memories.

Nothing matched up.

The timeline, the personality, the character.

But... the location matched.

Ye Shu existed, and Feng Mengli existed.

For a moment, Xia Hanmo felt lost.

She didn't know if those memories were real, or just an exceptionally vivid, incredibly coincidental, and long dream. Her heart was suddenly consumed by bewilderment.

Just then, a voice came from behind her.

What are you thinking about?

I'm wondering... have I really been reborn?

Are those memories actually real? Xia Hanmo didn't hide anything and spoke her mind completely.

Hearing this, before Ye Shu could even speak, Danxia was already stunned.

Her eyes widened in disbelief.

You've got to be kidding me. Has this girl actually started doubting if there's something wrong with her memories?

She, the master who had been with her for fifteen years.

Was somehow less influential than a complete stranger...

For a moment, Danxia looked at Ye Shu with deep guilt.

On the other side, Ye Shu had no idea that Danxia was feeling insecure again.

He just asked calmly:

What makes you say that?

Because you are different from the one in my memory. The cultivation techniques you practice, the time you appeared, your attitude towards me... apart from your somewhat handsome face, everything else is different.

Perhaps... I just had a dream?

Maybe those memories are all fake, and I never actually caused anyone's death?

Zhuang Zhou dreaming of a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming of Zhuang Zhou.

Who can say for sure? Ye Shu said casually.

Exactly. Xia Hanmo nodded in agreement, then let out a somewhat relieved sigh. This makes me feel a bit better.

But I'm going to die anyway.

Whether the future happens or not doesn't really matter. Once I'm dead, the foundation for it to happen will be gone anyway.

She planned to lean there a little longer, and then go jump into the river.

The forest fell into a certain silence once again.

The two of them just sat back-to-back, looking at the starry sky.

Neither spoke.

Fireflies danced in the forest.

Fluttering about.

Watching those faintly glowing little bugs, Xia Hanmo's eyes gradually softened. Life truly was a wondrous thing.

As long as she died, everything would be resolved.

Um, there's something I don't know if I should say or not.

Go ahead.

Xia Hanmo's lips curled up slightly. As long as you're not asking for a quick thrill, anything else is fine.

Alright, I just have a question I want to ask you.

It's just...

Ye Shu scratched his head and asked with a hint of puzzlement:

Have you ever thought about this.

Do you think there's a possibility that if you die, the Cholera Poison Body won't disappear? Instead, without you suppressing it, it might completely lose control and erupt... rendering a hundred-mile radius utterly barren?

Of course.

Ye Shu smiled.

I'm just proposing a hypothesis.

Xia Hanmo froze.

She sat blankly on the stump, her eyes glazed over.

After a long while, she replied numbly: That question... I really haven't thought about it.

Theoretically speaking.

That possibility did exist.

So if you really commit suicide, everyone around Yuanyang Town will die, right? Ye Shu continued.

And that's just my guess.

After all, no one can say for sure how large the range of something like the Cholera Poison Body is. If you die, I might not even have time to run away.

Xia Hanmo fell silent.

The moment this question was raised, all her plans were completely thrown into disarray.

So should I die now or not?

She muttered softly.

If she died, the Cholera Poison Body would very likely erupt.

If she didn't die, the Cholera Poison Body would still erupt eventually.

Either way, she would end up hurting others.

She thought everything would be fine as long as she died, but now she realized that even her death... would hurt others.

The future still couldn't be changed.

She was an absolute jinx through and through.

Seeing her looking so conflicted and distressed, a fully rested Ye Shu suddenly stood up and patted the dust off his pant legs.

If you can't figure it out, then don't think about it.

Eh?

Xia Hanmo was stunned.

Ye Shu looked back with a smile, flashing a mouthful of bright white teeth. In your memories of rebirth, are there any particularly bad guys in Yuanyang Town?

Bad guys?

Exactly.

Like the kind who covet you and want to use the chaos to kidnap you and take you home as a wife, but actually just want to force you to heal their injuries exclusively.

There are.

Xia Hanmo nodded.

There's a Mercenary Association in Yuanyang Town that always charges everyone exorbitant hunting commissions and processing fees, as well as high medical costs. Because I've been providing free medical clinics for everyone, they've tried to get rid of me several times so people would have no choice but to go to them for healing.

Fortunately, everyone protected me together.

So they didn't dare to go too far.

Saying this, Xia Hanmo blinked curiously. But how did you know?

Heh, isn't it like this everywhere?

Ye Shu chuckled and didn't elaborate.

Was he supposed to tell her that he had read this kind of cliché plotline thousands of times? Even if Xiaobai and Xia Hanmo didn't say anything, he could have guessed it with his eyes closed.

Anyway, as long as they exist, that's good enough. Ye Shu spun around, his steps dashing and carefree.

Let's go burn that place to ashes!