Chapter 883: Companions

Chapter 883: CompanionsAuthor: Sanyin YinyuWord Count: 1284

A timid and gloomy figure knelt in the snow, their eyes filled with emptiness and despair.

Bang!!A gunshot rang out.A bullet pierced through the wind and snow, striking Jian Changsheng directly in the forehead!A wisp of cinnabar-red blood drifted out, silently merging into the snow beneath him. Jian Changsheng fell backward, face-up, his empty eyes staring unmoving into the wind and snow.

Opposite him, a figure clad in a vermilion opera robe, with a length of ruptured intestines hanging from their waist, staggered to their feet...His gaze slowly swept over Jian Changsheng on the ground, finally settling on Sun Buming, the only one still standing. He spoke hoarsely:“Come on... didn't you want to kill me? I told you, to truly kill me, it takes two shots!!”

Sun Buming's eyes were filled with deep bewilderment.Before he could speak, a ghostly black hand reached out from behind him. After lightly tapping the top of his head, a flash of white light appeared, and Sun Buming fell headfirst to the ground.

“...So slow, what a nuisance.” Molian seemed highly displeased by the interference from Jian Changsheng and Sun Buming.All he wanted was to release the 'Mockery Disaster' within Chen Ling's body; what happened to the others didn't matter.

“Who are you?”Chen Ling stood weakly in place; excessive blood loss and emptiness made his vision blur, and even his thoughts felt incredibly heavy... He watched the figure slowly approaching him and asked hoarsely.

“Me?” Molian's lips curved into a slight smile, “I am the one here to control you.”Molian knew Chen Ling's mind had been pushed to its limit, making it the perfect moment to steal his 'reason'. He gently raised his black-gloved hand...The next moment, a faint glimmer flickered, and Chen Ling's figure vanished into thin air, leaving only a small snowman silently falling from above.

Molian was startled. He turned to look, and saw that Jian Changsheng and Sun Buming had also transformed into two snowmen...Meanwhile, Jiang Xiaohua, who had initially fallen in the snow, had also vanished without a trace.Molian wondered about Jiang Xiaohua's origins, to be able to escape so silently right under the nose of a 'Thieving Sage', and even take Chen Ling and the other two with him?Molian's face instantly turned ashen.“A cursed substitute, huh... Do you think that will shake me off?”Molian scoffed, his figure swayed, and he vanished from the spot.

Not far away.Three figures, like lumps of mud, tumbled out of thin air into the accumulated snow.White hair floated silently in the wind and snow. A deep knife wound remained on Jiang Xiaohua's chest, and crimson blood flowed down from it... But even though the blade had struck a vital spot, he had not died.

“A curse to restore memories... I only know one type.”Jiang Xiaohua murmured softly as he took a strand of hair from each of the three figures' heads. After knotting them together, he quickly wove them into a seamless circle with his fingertips.Among the three figures lying on the ground, only Chen Ling retained a sliver of consciousness. He vaguely opened his eyes and asked hoarsely:“You... who are you?”Even though he had already met Jiang Xiaohua twice moments ago, he now felt as if he were meeting him for the first time.Jiang Xiaohua continued weaving the circle as he patiently replied:“My name is Jiang Xiaohua.”“Even the Divine Path has abandoned me... Why are you saving me?”“Because you said you would take me out of here.” Jiang Xiaohua paused. This time, he quietly added, “And you said... we are companions.”“Companions?” Chen Ling tried hard to recall something, but finally shook his head bitterly, “I don't remember...”

Chen Ling felt his eyelids grow heavy. Perhaps it was due to severe injuries, or excessive blood loss. His heart was now like a bottomless void, constantly forgetting, while an unprecedented emptiness washed over him like a tide.Just as Chen Ling was about to close his eyes completely, Jiang Xiaohua responded seriously:“It's alright. Even if all of you forget... I will remember.”Chen Ling vaguely closed his eyes.

Jiang Xiaohua placed the circle in the center of the three figures. After reciting a few incantations, an aura of the Witch God's Path spread through the air...“Curse.”Jiang Xiaohua pointed at the circle in the air.The next moment, the auras of Chen Ling and the other two connected, just like the hair circle. Their souls and bodies silently intertwined, and the hair circle vanished without a trace...

After completing all of this, Jiang Xiaohua's expression was utterly exhausted. His eyelids drooped, and his lips were pale, devoid of any color.Just as he was about to get up, a ghostly figure appeared behind him, unnoticed until now;The black staff twisted into a long sword. With a casual swing in the air, a cold gleam flashed, and Jiang Xiaohua's body suddenly froze in place...An extremely thin line of blood split his entire body down the middle, cleaving him in two.Warm blood gushed forth like a spring, splashing over Chen Ling and the other two.

Crackling sounds— The noisy crackle of firecrackers echoed through the streets. Amidst the clamor of gongs and drums, Chen Ling slowly opened his eyes.He didn't know when it happened, but he was now in an incredibly bustling street. Countless people bustled and jostled around him—men, women, old, and young, all smiling cheerfully. Laughter and joyous chatter came from all directions, along with festive sounds like those of a New Year celebration in the distance, plunging him into deep bewilderment...“Where... is this?”Chen Ling's consciousness was a bit muddled. The feeling was like... like he was dreaming, dreaming a dream between wakefulness and confusion.

“Happy New Year!”“Happy New Year, happy New Year! Brother Wang, a new look for the New Year, huh!”“Hahahahaha, oh, that's right, we still have plenty of New Year's goods at home. Bring the child over to grab some!”“No need, no need, the child doesn't eat that.”“It's fine, we have plenty. Just grab a handful and take them. Next year, when the child goes to school, they can share in the good fortune!”“Then we won't be polite! Nuannuan, say thank you to Uncle.”“Thank you, Uncle!”

The New Year's festivity and bustle flowed past Chen Ling, yet he felt like an outsider, out of place with everything.Just as Chen Ling was wondering, a burst of cheers and applause came from ahead. The next moment, a lively lion dance costume agilely leaped onto a tall pole, blinking and sticking out its tongue, incredibly lifelike!Children's laughter and adults' applause rolled in like a tide. The lion dance figure twisted and turned, garnering countless cheers, then leaped in front of several children. Hands emerged from beneath the fabric, and with a gentle rub...Two bright red and translucent candied hawthorn skewers magically appeared and were offered to the two nearest children.The gongs and drums grew louder. The lion dance figure shook its head and returned to the pole. It extended its long tongue, and two red paper scrolls, like couplets, unrolled on either side, each bearing four large characters:“Good fortune and prosperity, peace year after year.”Chen Ling looked at the eight large characters, feeling a sense of familiarity. Standing alone amidst the festive hustle, he fell into contemplation.