https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-338-Gossiping-Behind-Someone-s-Back-Will-Bring-Retribution/12970023/
Chapter 337: The Hard Road Back
Chapter 337: The Hard Road Back
"Huff... Huff... Huff..."
Emma, who had nearly stumbled, leaned heavily on Lyon's body, her beige silk dress damp with sweat at the back.
Even though she had freed herself from Lyon's memories, the chillingly realistic suggestion from the slender girl still haunted her. She recalled the girl's calm demeanor as she spoke of disposing of her own body after death, as if discussing what to have for dinner.
Emma's heart felt as if it had been ripped out, just like Lyon's once had, being crushed and mangled by someone's hands, the pain almost taking away her ability to breathe.
Was this what Lyon had been enduring all along?
After catching her breath, Emma looked at Lyon, who was supporting her with a helpless expression, as if he had just been pulled out of the water. She couldn't help but ask with a trembling voice:
"Lyon, does it... does it not hurt you?"
"..."
Lyon, understanding her question, shook his head slightly, then glanced at the system prompt.
【Through your observations, inductions, and repeated experiences, you have obtained a large amount of intelligence regarding the 'Bridge of Yin and Yang'. The anomalous badge 'Materialist Soul (Crimson)' has been activated.
Due to your profound understanding of the activation rules of the 'Bridge of Yin and Yang', your resistance to this anomaly has greatly increased, and you are now able to block extremely deep influences.】
It was impossible for it not to hurt. This incident would be etched in his memory for life.
However, one instance was significantly mitigated by the [Materialist] badge, and the other had a known positive outcome. Thinking about Anna, who took care of her younger siblings at home, and Melanie, who got along well with them, made the pain more bearable.
...
"It... it still hurts a little..."
Seeing Emma's eyes filled with shock and guilt, clearly misunderstanding the strength of his heart, Lyon smiled slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed. He then explained:
"But when I think about how I eventually joined the Purification Bureau, preventing things from reaching that point, and how Anna and the others were still waiting for me at home, leaving dinner for me even when I returned late, it doesn't feel as painful."
Is that so?
After hearing Lyon's explanation, Emma tried to put herself in his shoes.
But no matter how hard she tried, the image of the girl who calmly suggested disposing of her own body to secure a pension for her siblings kept tearing at her heart.
Nonsense, how could it not hurt?
I only witnessed your memories once, and my heart aches as if it's being cut by a knife. To help me step on the white brick, you had to relive your powerlessness and pain over and over again. How could you not feel sad?
"Don't think about it."
Seeing Emma, who seemed to want to say something, Lyon considered her situation and couldn't help but offer some encouraging words:
"The past pain is behind us. Instead of dwelling on what we've lost, let's focus on what we still have. The most important thing is to cherish the people around us."
"..."
Cherish the people around her?
Emma had heard similar advice countless times from the Red-Haired Director, but after sharing Lyon's memories on the Bridge of Yin and Yang, experiencing his happiness and pain firsthand, things were different.
Facing Lyon, who had lost his parents at a young age, struggled to raise his siblings, joined the Purification Bureau to support his sister, and genuinely cherished what he had, the comforting words that she had heard countless times finally resonated with her.
"Senior Emma?"
After looking at Emma, who was staring at him in a daze, Lyon released her hand and squatted down slightly, saying:
"We're just a few dozen steps away from the end of the bridge. For the last stretch, let me carry you on my back!"
"..."
Although she instinctively wanted to refuse, seeing Lyon's not-so-broad but reliable shoulders, Emma remained silent for a moment before leaning forward and climbing onto Lyon's back.
After floating in the air, listening to Lyon's steady and powerful breathing, and feeling the slightly slender back beneath her, Emma's tense body finally relaxed as she leaned against him, her hand gently encircling his neck.
Cherish the one before you...
...
Finally, they've crossed the bridge...
After stepping on over twenty black bricks, Lyon couldn't help but exhale as they reached the end of the bridge.
Although the Materialist Soul provided some shielding, preventing him from experiencing the pain of his memories too vividly, even a vague recollection of pain, when repeatedly scratched, would still cause discomfort.
Taking a few steps forward, completely out of the range of the Black and White Bridge, Lyon, having just shown off his good looks, felt awkward reminding Emma to get down. So, he raised his head and looked ahead.
What met his eyes was a towering black cliff, so high that its top was invisible. This cliff, named Death, had a color that grew lighter towards the top, as if it seamlessly blended with the dim sky of the Dead Realm.
At the base of Death, the ground was as dark as the Dead Realm's earth, pitch-black and pure, with barely any reflection, giving the impression of an abyss that would swallow anyone who stepped on it.
Countless crimson Death Raven's Nests, like red berries growing from the black earth, twisted upwards from the ground, resembling drops of blood oozing from the dark sky. They were both captivating and eerily beautiful.
"Something feels a bit off..."
Squinting, Lyon gazed at the black wall and the red nests at the end of the No Return Path... or its beginning. He saw a giant, misty gate and gently patted Emma's thigh, signaling her to look up. She furrowed her brows slightly and said:
"The Director said that as long as we follow the No Return Path, past the Black and White Bridge and the Death Raven's Nests, we'll see the Dog God guarding the entrance to the Dead Realm."
"But we've already crossed the bridge, reached the Death Raven's Nests, and even seen the entrance. Why haven't we seen this Dog God yet?"
"It's fine, just keep walking forward."
Hearing Lyon's question, Emma, feeling the warmth from Lyon's body and blocking out the escalating curses from behind, replied:
"The people of the Dead Realm don't like the Director. So, she must have forced her way in. The Dog God's duty is to guard the entrance, preventing the living from entering the Dead Realm. If she's there, she might have been knocked out."
"So, we can walk a bit further. If we see three heads tied up by hair on the side of the road, passed out, then it's likely the Dog God responsible for guarding the entrance."
"If we don't encounter her along the way, then let's check the Death Raven's Nests near the entrance. After the Director defeated the Dog God, she might have forgotten where she left it, and when she returned, there was no one to help open the gate, so she stuffed it into the nearby nest."
"..."
"Oh..."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
