In a place that should be grand and solemn, a rotting corpse was hung on the city gate.
Stink, filth, and mosquitoes everywhere.
People tried to avoid it, but there were still dedicated officers and soldiers guarding the corpse day and night. It was unclear whether they were guarding the corpse or the wooden sign hanging around the corpse's neck - the traitor was dead and the road was approaching.
A few days ago, the long-lost "religion" suddenly appeared outside Jinyang City with the banner of Prince Gao Yang. Moreover, the number of members of the sect was not only five as rumored, but now there were five thousand members gathered outside the city.
The rest!
Gao Yang was found guilty of treason, and after being given poison and alcohol, his corpse was exposed in the market. Of course, the people in the city soon knew that the dead Gao Yang was just a substitute, and the real Gao Yang was still alive. Not only that, but he was currently hiding somewhere to dispatch troops and
Yuwenxuan, the prince of the Zhou Dynasty outside the pass, planned to cooperate with the inside and outside to attack Jinyang.
Zhou's army has successfully entered the pass, and most of the defenders along the way are watching the wind. Jinyang will surely fall in less than half a month - Gao Yang's spies have already penetrated into the city and told everyone the news.
He did not order anyone, but just told everyone about something that was about to happen. Everything was left to the people in the city to make their own decisions. Because of this, the city fell into chaos for a while and everyone was in danger.
Killing "Fake Gaoyang" can only stabilize the situation for a while, but no one dares to act rashly until the outcome is decided. Therefore, the people do not go out day and night, and the whole Jinyang becomes a desolate scene.
At the same time, the suburbs that were supposed to be completely silent were in full swing with singing and dancing. Every morning or evening, Murong Yan would lead everyone in singing songs together. The sacred melody was like nectar, nourishing those souls that had long since dried up.
Yes, countless Taiping Taoists have chosen to defect and join the sect. Among them, most of them came from the Taiping Tower and no longer remember where their hometown is.
In the early morning, Murong Yan's skinny limbs were like twigs, and she extended her palms towards the rising sun to pray. People looked at her bruised body, but their hearts were inexplicably filled with comfort.
In the evening, blue lights burned around Murong Yan. On the short hillside, people yearned for that place and bowed their heads in confession.
Murong Yan gave up her "bloodline of witches" and used a white lie to awaken countless lost people. She did not have the name of a saint and was left with only a broken body, but instead aroused the respect of more people.
In the past, crazy people were obsessed with ancient Xianbei legends in order to obtain the immortal blood. They fought and killed each other just to get the legendary things.
Now, the legendary people are standing in front of them, but they are told that all their previous madness is in vain. At this time, most people should feel angry or repentant, but when they see Murong Yan, everything is different, because Murong Yan told them that in
No one is wrong in this matter, and everyone can be forgiven, except Sima Tu.
"This legend is like a mirror. In the process of chasing, the other side of you in the mirror will slowly become yourself. Think about it carefully, is he really you?"
"Sima Tu just wanted to be the perfect version of himself in the mirror, so he used lies one after another to beautify his actions, including deception, torture, and murder. In order to achieve his goal, he would not hesitate to harm everyone."
"If you think about it carefully, the person in the mirror may be just an artificially constructed virtual image. It has never existed and will never exist. Just for this kind of thing, are you willing to give up your life?"
Under the sun and the moonlight, Murong Yan told her day after day: Both she and Sima Tu were just ordinary people, but the two of them were more well-known images.
It's yourself in the mirror.
Regarding this point, Murong Yan dared to admit it because she had no agenda and only wanted everyone to be happy; while Sima Tu could never expose the truth. He had one and only one purpose, to become himself in the mirror and become a real person.
immortal.
Gradually, more and more people choose to follow Murong Yan. In fact, it is not so much choosing to follow her as choosing to follow their original selves. More and more people realize that there will always be people in the "mirror" Sima Tu created for them.
There is only one person, and that is Sima Tu himself. No matter who looks in the mirror, what he sees is Sima Tu, and then his own consciousness will follow and surrender to the person in the mirror as a matter of course.
The number of people in the sect is increasing, and Bai Feng's confidence in winning is also increasing day by day. However, there are inexplicably many new tombs near the gathering place of the sect, and all the tombstones are swords.
Is that the sword's grave?
A lone gravedigger is burying a sword.
Bai Feng walked up to her and asked, "Are you, Ayu?"
"We haven't seen each other for so many years, but you still recognize me at a glance?"
The adopted daughter of Yuan Fengzi, the unknown person Ayu, her appearance was not unexpected. Bai Feng continued to ask: "A few days ago, I heard that a suspicious swordsmith came to the sect. He usually stays silent.
, I only focus on making swords all day long, but I have never seen these swords put into use. You must know that the purpose of the Order here is not to start a war. In other words, we do not need a swordsmith."
Ayu's short body has become extremely stocky due to years of hard work, and her hands and feet are very strong. However, she still looks like she is in her early twenties. She ignored Bai Feng's dissuasion and continued to bury the newly made sword.
"Including this sword, there are already more than two hundred graves." Ayu said to himself: "Of course I know you don't need me, so I never asked for shelter. But... I need you!"
Bai Feng sighed: "Is it about Fu Wentao?"
"Don't kill him, bring him back, and I promise not to let him harm anyone again." Ayu knelt down and prayed: "This little girl has nothing to repay, so she can only build an unknown sword hill for everyone, and let everyone sacrifice for this."
The heroes can leave their names in the world."
Bai Feng hesitated slightly: "Run Wentao has committed many crimes. He was once a friend, but he also harmed many people. Even if he comes back, he will probably not be the Rune Tao you are familiar with. When the time comes, will Ayu be able to accept the reality?"
"If he still doesn't repent after returning to me, I am willing to hand him over and then commit suicide to apologize." Ayu kowtowed several times, his face covered with dust and his eyes pitiful.
Bai Feng said: "Yan'er said that everyone can be forgiven, not to mention Fu Wentao, he is still my friend now."
Sword graves are scattered all over the mountains and fields, blending in with the cascading mountains, the shaded woods, the morning glow and the setting sun.
Sword Hill is worthy of its name.
Bai Feng asked Ayu to stand up and asked gently: "Do you think we can be regarded as heroes?"
"Baixia Bai is already a hero, but people like me and Run Wentao are not worthy of it." After Ayu said this, tears finally fell from his eyes that had been filled with tears.
Bai Feng sneered and said: "Haha, I think we are all pathetic people. No matter how hard we struggle, we still can't escape this cycle of fighting for each other."
Not long after, Murong Yan came after hearing the news. She saw this huge sword hill for the first time and was deeply shocked: "Our existence will be remembered because of this sword hill."
"Lord Saint!" Ayu quickly lowered his head.
"Call me Yan'er." Murong Yan looked at Ayu with a smile: "You will definitely become a greater swordsmith than the senior Yuan Fengzi."
Bai Feng asked Murong Yan: "Yan'er, why don't you rest? You've been busy all day. Your lips are chapped and you forgot to drink water?"
Murong Yan looked at Bai Feng, her expression suddenly became serious: "Follow me, I have a hunch, maybe this is the last time I will divine for you and me."