Chapter 328: Dead Ashes

In legend, the world once fell apart.

When the primordial gods fell from the sky, the sun disappeared, and the earth was desolate. In the darkness, frost and death flames were like a tide, sweeping the earth, covering everything.

Afterwards, the kings of the chaotic era dragged the corpses of the gods and marched on the earth.

They bound the sun, fought against desolation, imprisoned the darkness, and expelled the frost and flames, recreating everything today.

Now, the fire has been rekindled.

As if returning once again.

Endless scarlet danced on the earth, strands of ashes and sparks fell from the sky, landing on Lü Yingyue's shoulders, like rain of tears.

The heavy protective suit isolated the heat, but could not resist the destruction and death rising in the flame. The flames climbed on the skin, like maggots on the bones.

When she turned back, she couldn't see the way she came.

But when she looked ahead, it seemed that only destruction and death remained.

Can't remember how long she suffered...

Clap!

The heavy pressure of Tian Tian Yuan appeared out of thin air, crushing the corpse wriggling in the flames.

Then another, and another...

The sound of bursting was endless.

In the burning of the disaster flame, those countless dead seemed to have come alive again. Crying and wailing full of bitterness and resentment, shedding tears, praying, but wanting to pull every living thing within reach into hell.

Unless, someone pushed them back into hell again...

Just like herself.

At this moment, behind Lü Yingyue, countless bones were burned into charcoal in the flames, piled into a mountain from hell, as if stretching to the end of the line of sight.

That was all her doing.

All...

Rushing into the deepest part of this sea of fire regardless of her own safety, sacrificing everything, but couldn't find a single survivor.

What she saw was not the future and light promised by that bullsh*t committee when she was selected back then, only hell and death.

Until the end, completely exhausted.

She sat on the ground tiredly, forgetting the pain of burning...

Boom!.!

When the roaring sound of bursting came from the depths of the endless flames.

A ray of fierce light descended from the sky, like a sharp blade, piercing through the burning earth and sky—immediately after, the endless flame tide stalled, just like the receding tide, and began to dissipate gradually.

At this moment, the natural disaster retreated!

"You've worked hard, Commissioner Lü."

Amidst the dissipating flames, a projection that did not exist here appeared in front of her. A craftsman in white clothes leaned on a crutch, his face blurred, difficult to distinguish his age: "Thanks to the precious time you fought for, the Sealing Committee completed communication with the Federation and successfully awakened the Heavenly Supervisor.

Haizhou was saved because of this, this trip truly made a great contribution."

"..."

Amidst the ashes, Lü Yingyue turned back tiredly, looking at him: "What exactly happened?"

"A few hours ago, the present world and the vortex had a collision. Between the vortex and reality, a crack like the abyss appeared, causing this disaster."

"The lock?"

Lü Yingyue was suddenly nervous, "Was the lock opened?"

"It's not that exaggerated, it's just a crack."

The craftsman shook his head slowly: "The existence of the Sealing Committee is to maintain reality and ensure the stability of the lock.

The existence of the lock is built on the Twelve Goodness and the Great Sin, using the supreme heavenly craftsmanship formed by the T5 in the past—Heavenly Track, Life Flow, Corridor, Spirit River, Copy as a wedge, everywhere, covering everything.

If it could be opened so easily, the present world would have been destroyed long ago, right?"

Lü Yingyue asked back: "Then why go to such great lengths?"

The craftsman was silent for a moment, as if surprised by her courage and rebelliousness, but he did not fly into a rage.

On that blurred face, the expression was inexplicable.

"Even if the flame seed is difficult to exhaust, if you leave it alone, burning most of Haizhou, it will naturally go out, without damaging the overall situation.

It's just that, the key is if the crack cannot be closed... after a long time, in case something under the vortex is thrown into the present world, I'm afraid it will be troublesome."

"More troublesome than Quancheng?"

Lü Yingyue sneered, no longer hiding her dissatisfaction.

But what answered her was not a reprimand or perfunctory, but a short silence.

Then, it was a calm answer.

"Yes, that's right."

The craftsman said: "More troublesome than Quancheng."

"..."

Lü Yingyue had nothing more to say.

She supported her body tiredly and stepped on the way home, her steps staggering.

But by comparison, the phantom that was not here was so light, and even had time to look around, lowering its head to gaze at the corpses turned into charcoal under its feet.

As if accustomed to it, just treating it as a spring outing.

Until a long time later, the phantom's footsteps suddenly stopped, standing in the ashes and scorched earth, as if puzzled, raising its head.

Looking into the distance.

In the extinguished ashes, it seemed that there was still wailing or screaming, but it couldn't isolate the sound coming from the distance, that wisp of soft singing.

Hoarse and low, echoing in the broken hell, but full of hope and wishes.

Survivor!

For a moment, Lü Yingyue's eyes seemed to light up, uncontrollably, but immediately after, she stiffened in place, just like, the late realization.

"It seems that this is an unexpected situation." The craftsman's phantom sighed, "The regulations did not specify such a situation, Commissioner Lü, you can decide for yourself."

"..."

Lü Yingyue was silent, not speaking.

She stood in the burnt ruins, outside that broken carriage, across the broken door, silently, gripping the hilt of the sword.

But for some reason, she didn't have the courage to push open that door.

And the craftsman seemed to have nothing to do with himself, standing far away in place, still gazing at hell.

"Do you know? There was a story in ancient times."

That phantom suddenly said, "The story says that the gods gave a little girl a box and asked her to keep it properly and not open it."

"..."

Lü Yingyue turned back, looking at him, her expression inexplicable.

"Yes, that's right, according to the general story plot, it's like this." The craftsman sighed: "If a gun appears in the first act, then it must be fired in the back...

Since the gods gave a box to an ignorant mortal, then the mortal will definitely open it."

"So the things in the box ran out."

"Disaster, despair, plague, terror, misfortune... turning the whole world into this appearance."

Under the reflection of the residual flames, on that blurred face, no expression could be seen, nor could it be distinguished whether it was compassion or mockery.

He suddenly asked: "Do you think mortals are wrong?"

Lü Yingyue was silent for a long time, and suddenly asked: "Since it is known that mortals might open it, why give the box to mortals?"

"Yes, the gods are arrogant and cruel, always bringing down tests and suffering that mortals cannot resist."

"But mortals also made mistakes."

"Her mistake was not opening the box, but in the end... closing the box."

"So, when all disasters and pains swept everything, only hope remained in that box, buried deep in the darkness, never appearing in this world..."

The craftsman sighed, looking at her: "Don't you think this is a good story?"

"So what?"

Lü Yingyue asked back: "What's good about it? What's the meaning?"

"Do not pin hope on the mercy of the gods, do not expect the foresight of human wisdom, and do not count on... the so-called suffering and despair having an end."

The craftsman paused and sighed, "Most importantly, be careful of the 'box'."

Boom!!!

The movement of the earth cracking rose from the distance, and the last bit of flame light fell from the broken dark clouds above the sky, but in mid-air, the broken flame light dissipated.

The flame tide surged and rushed, flowing east into the sea.

Leaving only the last echo of destruction, echoing in everyone's ears.

"Now, perhaps the box has appeared in front of you, Lü Yingyue."

The craftsman told her: "Time is running out."

He said, "You have to make a choice."

When the disaster comes like a tide and goes like a tide, what is left behind?

What is singing at this moment, hope or the evil fruit that has not been burned out?

Even if you can luckily survive, in such a huge destruction, you have already been deeply infected by sin.

Perhaps one day, the dead ashes will eventually reignite. By then, greater disasters will be released. And everything at this moment will eventually sink into the vortex, unable to extricate itself...

Now, do you want to open it.

Or, destroy it, once and for all, forever remove future troubles!

The craftsman waited quietly.

Lü Yingyue didn't speak again.

She pushed the door and entered.

In that instant, the singing stopped.

In the broken and derailed carriage, among countless wrecks, only the last broken figure remained. It was like a bubble and phantom that was too fragile, so elusive.

In the dead silence, Lü Yingyue drew her sword.

Stepping forward step by step.

Until that figure finally turned back, looking at the visitor who came with a blade.

Making Lü Yingyue freeze in place.

On the pale face covered in ashes, it was full of compassion and tenderness.

That look had no resentment and pain, just staring quietly, but Lü Yingyue, who was covered in blood and burns in the reflection, seemed to be the real evil ghost.

A broken sound rang out.

Cracks spread silently on that face, climbing, gradually covering the whole body. The destruction and death that had been owed for too long finally arrived.

No, it was more like, actively welcoming the end.

Without any hesitation.

"You've worked hard."

She smiled for the last time, full of gratitude, lifted the treasure she had exchanged for everything, and handed it to Lü Yingyue.

Lü Yingyue instinctively wanted to retreat.

But before that, she couldn't help but... reach out her hand.

Just like that, witnessing the last remnant in the disaster, dissipating silently.

Ashes to ashes.

No, there was one more.

She lowered her head, looking at the dying child in the fireproof blanket in her arms, the blade in her hand trembling silently.

Is it enough?

Too many people died today, what's wrong with one less?

But...

The world is desolate, only pain, what's wrong with one more?

In that instant, Lü Yingyue closed her eyes.

The blade slashed down!

In the silence, there was no more singing.

For a long time, Lü Yingyue finally walked out of the burnt carriage, staggering.

"The disaster has been eradicated, Your Excellency."

Her eyes lowered, reporting hoarsely: "The mission is successfully completed."

The craftsman nodded, looking at the child on her back, full of doubt.

"Who is this?"

"An innocent child, nothing more..." Lü Yingyue sighed contemptuously: "Suffering from the curse of natural disaster, even if he survives, I'm afraid he won't live long."

"I understand."

The craftsman seemed to laugh, unable to see whether it was mockery or appreciation, but he did not raise any objection or order.

"Then let it be."

He said, "I will write the report like this when I go back."

Just like that, in silence and stillness, Lü Yingyue staggered forward, crossed the scorched earth and ashes, walked out of hell step by step, and crossed the isolation line.

Amidst the chaos, anxious voices came.

"Survivor, survivor!!!"

"Faster, there's another one here!"

Surrounded by many medical staff, emergency treatment began, noisy and complex, but immediately after, it quickly returned to silence.

When Lü Yingyue pushed away, she only saw the leading doctor shake his head.

"Too late, Captain Lü..."

The doctor said, "There is no heartbeat anymore."

"..."

Lü Yingyue's lips trembled, sluggish, subconsciously waved her hand, but didn't know what to indicate, and turned around tiredly, wanting to walk out.

Looking at the scorched earth that still remained with flames.

Wanting to roar and shout, but couldn't make a sound.

But in that instant, it seemed that crying rang out.

Hoarse and intermittent.

As if a baby was born.

On the operating table, the child who should have died opened his eyes, dim and dazed, just like walking from a long and painful dream to another nightmare.

So, the heartbeat resumed.

In the singing that gradually faded away like a hallucination, he lost consciousness again, only tears couldn't help but gush out.

"Does this count as a mistake?"

At the edge of the blockade, Lü Yingyue asked tiredly.

"Who knows?" The craftsman's phantom said, "Maybe you have already opened that box."

"Then what came out? Suffering or despair?"

So, the craftsman turned back, looking at her, meaningfully:

"Think on the bright side, maybe it's hope?"

"..."

Lü Yingyue closed her eyes.

"'Please take that box back, gods', Your Excellency Lord Tianlu, the little girl at that time must have thought so. People shouldn't experience such choices and tests.

Or, let the box see all this, let it choose for itself—"

—Giving to this world, is it hope or destruction.

Lord Tianlu was silent.

Before dissipating, in the final silence, he gazed at the stars reappearing in the night sky.

"The wind is blowing."

He sighed, reached out his hand, as if wanting to grab something, but the fingertips of the phantom hand were empty, unable to touch the elusive breeze, or, the so-called fate.

The great wind rises from the end of the duckweed.

Perhaps the destiny is flowing, and it has already descended.

The forging of embers, starting from this moment...

Ji Jue had a dream.

Dreamed of things in the past, but couldn't remember clearly.

Flames, thick smoke, scorched earth, red sky, the world was like a glass ball full of cracks, wailing and cracking in the furnace.

At the end of the dream, he saw the endless deep sea.

Don't know how long it passed, as if thousands of years, in the deepest part of the ocean, a wisp of flame appeared silently.

Amidst the dead ashes, the old flame reignited. ===== CHAPTER 329 =====