Chapter 115: As if It Were the First Time We Met
A dream that lasted forever.
In the early morning, the sun shone perfectly, illuminating the room. The floor gleamed brightly as the sunlight reflected off it.
Bai Wei opened his eyes and slowly let out a breath. Unbeknownst to him, he had been sitting quietly in the tea room throughout the whole night.
In the world, there is no medicine for regret, and time cannot easily flow backward. What happened in a previous life will always remain in the past. The memories and traces of what we have experienced can only be passed down in the scenes of our dreams.
But now, it is very difficult for him to break free from the vivid memories.
The symptoms were much worse than the previous time Saki Jingūji had experienced the memories of her past.
Even if the memories were his own, the overwhelming obsession and emotions could completely transform Bai Wei's current personality.
Luckily, the emperor's will was strong and unaffected. His current personality was like a massive reservoir, intercepting the rushing river water, allowing it to settle, slowly digesting it, and expelling any excess sediment. Only the pure water remained, becoming a part of himself.
If it was truly him who died in the bamboo forest on that snowy night, Bai Wei might not have been able to alleviate his sorrow and worry.
Luckily, it wasn't like that at all.
His strong determination guided him to find a way to break free, and it also provided a resolution to the mysteries of his past.
Bai Wei opened his eyes and saw a young man wearing a fox mask sitting at the other end of the table. The young man's features were blurry, like a fading image.
He rested his chin on his hands, sitting in a somewhat ungraceful manner, sighing softly with a hint of sadness.
"Saizō, it's Yukichiyo, the girl from long ago…"
"I can't believe it, I never thought this could happen."
"Upon careful reflection, if one were to say that his nature was that of a girl, it would actually seem quite normal."
"Hahaha… I really wonder if I am blind. I have no face to mock the knights at the round table."
"So in the beginning, inside RashoMon, what he actually wanted to say was this sentence."
The young man slapped his knee, feeling both irritated and angry, he was extremely upset.
He said to Bai Wei, "Where can I go to reason with this? Oh dear, I'm so frustrated."
Bai Wei chuckled and said, "Isn't it actually quite nice?"
The young man paused for a moment, squinted his eyes, then burst into laughter. He even laughed until tears came out, rubbing the corners of his eyes. The long-standing and difficult knots in his heart dissolved completely in laughter. "It's actually quite nice," he said with a smile.
"Did you repay the kindness?"
"I have finished it."
"Have you understood?"
"Yes, I have no regret now."
"That's good." Bai Wei poured a cup of already cold tea and took a quiet sip.
"The rest is up to you, the other me," the young man took off the fox mask and placed it on the table, saying, "Take it."
"Okay, okay!" Bai Wei smiled lightly. "Even if you didn't say it, I would have taken everything. What's yours is mine."
"I know what you want to do, be more frugal with it, these remaining fragments are not enough to squander a few times."
"Not wasteful, just treating illness and saving lives."
"Your words are so pleasing to hear, not at all like myself…" the young man advised, "Greet Yukichiyo properly."
"That is my little sister."
"She is also my friend, brother, and first love."
The young man's voice slowly faded away, becoming fainter and fainter, as the light shone through his illusionary figure.
"Goodbye," he said softly.
"Goodbye," Bai Wei murmured to himself.
The teahouse was empty, with no one in sight anymore.
The young man finished drinking the cool tea, feeling the bitter taste lingering in his mouth. He stood up and walked away, leaving the cooling tea behind.
He picked up the fox mask from the table and in an instant, it transformed into a spark of light that merged seamlessly into the young man's body, like a swallow returning to its nest.
[The obsession has dissolved]
[Swordsmanship level breakthrough, current level is 23]
[Unlocked a new style of swordsmanship, gaining new sword techniques]
[A new scenic spot has been opened: RashoMon]
[The mystery intensified]
[Acquired fragments of a lesser Heroic Spirit Principle]
[The shattered truth cannot be resounded again, yet it still holds great mystery.]
A series of tinkling sounds echoed, and new words kept appearing one after another. As Bai Wei's determination faded away, his strength effortlessly grew even stronger.
"Speaking of which, I didn't bring Tengu Cut with me…"
Bai Wei thought about the precious sword he carried with him, a treasured gift from a powerful monster known as Tengu.
"The origin of the Han sword remains uncertain, it seems it doesn't belong to this life."
He temporarily gave up searching for the origin of the Han sword. Instead, he closed his eyes and began to imagine his past.
Scene: RashoMon.
…
It was still the same area covered in a mysterious white fog.
The old swordsman sat by the roadside, gazing downwards, like a weathered old tree that seemed on the verge of aging.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps, thinking it must be one of the two people coming again.
He could lift his gaze and saw a familiar figure standing there.
The old man widened his eyes and exclaimed, "You…"
He asked with a dry voice, "Have you come back?"
Bai Wei expected to arrive directly at the RashoMon gate, but he never imagined he would encounter the elderly Saizō here.
With just a quick glance, he understood everything.
Obsession, it's not just Bai Wei who would have it; Saizō would have it too. In the moment she learned the truth, even death couldn't bring her peace.
Reincarnation happened, and this lingering obsession remained attached to the soul, refusing to fade away.
Bai Wei, who had already regained all his memories, looked at the old man and whispered, "I… am not him."
Saizō's shoulders shook, and he lowered his head, speaking softly to himself, "I understand, I know now."
Bai Wei walked up to the old man and handed him the fox mask, saying, "This belongs to him. I think it would be better to give it to you."
The power stored within the fox mask was taken away. What remained here was only the lingering memories left after the dissipation of obsession.
Saizō reached out his hand and slowly grasped the fox mask, feeling a gentle wave of fond memories swirling within.
The old man's fingertips felt the long-lost warmth, as if he was momentarily transported back to the memories of the past.
That period of time, which he cherished dearly, was filled with the carefree moments of drinking under the moon with his dear friend and practicing swordplay.
She saw the young man smiling at her and said, "How long has it been? Can't you let go of it?"
"Yes, it has been a long time. You made me wait for such a long time," she wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye.
"Alright, I apologize… But I also said that, wait for me to come back. Now that I have returned, you should let go."
"Don't go, okay?"
"I won't leave anymore. I have come to pick you up," said the young man as he reached out his hand. "Let's go together, Yukichiyo."
These words, waiting for too long, for a very long time.
Her eyes were blurry, the old man reached out his hand and touched the young man.
In an instant, the old man transformed into a beautiful young lady, full of youth and charm. She was wearing a pure white traditional kimono. Bathed in moonlight and surrounded by snowy scenery, she looked like a pure white fairy, smiling as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Her obsession turned into a demon, but with a single thought, she found liberation.
I waited for a very long time, as long as two lifetimes. I traveled across mountains, crossed waters, and experienced life and death, only to return to the place where I felt the greatest regret.
Finally, I saw you again.
In this lifetime, I have no more regrets.
This time, no matter where we go, no matter how far we travel, I will be by your side. We will stay together, from the beginning to the end, and never be apart again.
A meal becomes the bond of destiny.
In our next life, we will meet again.
…
The old man held the fox mask in his arms, slowly sat down, and gradually transformed into a bright light, gently fading away. It revealed a glimpse of her once youthful and stunning beauty.
As she slowly faded away, the sky began to snow, with big fluffy flakes falling gently. In just a short while, the ground was dressed in a beautiful silver blanket.
In the place where the old man disappeared, only a simple, ancient-looking sword and an unnamed tombstone remained.
Bai Wei lowered his head and gazed at the stone tablet. Suddenly, he heard laughter coming from behind him. He turned around to see what was happening.
In the snowy distance, a little girl was playfully chasing after a boy. They vanished into the whiteness of the snow and the mist, holding each other's hands tightly. The sound of their innocent laughter echoed in their ears, just like the first time they met in this world.
PS: Volume 13 has been published on Amazon (https://amzn.to/493V0Bo).
