Chapter 847: Frenzy

Several hundred kilometers away, at the bottom of the Snow Valley, in a hidden cave.

Previously, the members of the Rán Sect had departed from here; now, upon their return, they brought back one more person.

Lu Ran casually summoned a Lie Tian Hammer.

Flames blazed atop the hammer, dispelling the cold air within the cave.

Deep within the cave, Deng Yu sat against the stone wall, cradling the motionless Yan Shuangzi, gently stroking her disheveled hair.

Her eyes brimmed with sorrow as her fingers lightly traced the deep hollows of her friend's eye sockets.

One by one, pale golden fish emerged from beside Yu Changsheng.

Their light illuminated everyone in the cave, restoring vitality to all.

Yan Shuangzi's pallid face gradually regained some color; her horrifying wounds, including internal ailments, were steadily healing.

Yet the hollows beneath Deng Yu's fingers did not bulge back.

Nor did Yan Shuangzi's severed arm regenerate.

Lu Ran's expression was grim.

His Jiang Pin demonic art—Huisheng Li—could not yet restore lost limbs.

Could Yu Changsheng's Hai Pin Divine Art—Changsheng Li—not achieve this either?

Yu Changsheng understood Lu Ran's expression and apologized: "Master, Changsheng Li can replenish vitality and aid recovery of injuries."

"But it cannot yet restore severed limbs."

Severed limbs cannot regrow.

Nor could Yan Shuangzi's lost eyeballs be replaced.

Lu Ran fell silent and nodded.

Yu Changsheng added: "When I ascend beyond the Sea Realm, and Changsheng Li improves another rank, perhaps it will be possible."

This was not mere consolation.

Yu Changsheng knew his healing divine art well—Hai Pin Changsheng Li had already reached its absolute limit in restoring vitality and healing wounds!

If it advanced another rank, it might achieve a qualitative leap, entering higher domains.

With those words, silence settled over the cave.

Yan Shuangzi's skin gradually grew smooth and fair, but this was only superficial.

The true horror of a Sea Realm Grand Physician lay in the absolute volume of vitality his Changsheng Li unleashed—transforming Yan Shuangzi's dying body from within outward.

Rekindling life!

Lu Ran waited quietly, then noticed Xiang Luoying sitting alone nearby and said: "You've worked hard, Luo Shenjiang."

Xiang Luoying looked up, bowing slightly to Lu Ran.

She had no bond with Yan Shuangzi and had long grown numb to tragic tales—but she admired Lu Ran's attitude.

For his own people, Lu Ran threw himself recklessly, risking everything to save them.

This was good.

One day, Lu Ran would treat her the same way.

Xiang Luoying grew more certain her loyalty and sacrifices would be rewarded in kind.

Lu Ran turned toward the cave entrance, where Jing Hong stood vigilantly on guard.

He said: "Well done."

Jing Hong's Thunder Horn had truly opened the Rán Sect's campaign with a powerful strike.

As Lu Ran was encouraging his troops, he suddenly heard a faint, drowsy sniffle.

He turned and saw Yan Shuangzi's fingers twitch slightly—she had awakened from unconsciousness.

"Shuangzi?" Deng Yu also sensed it.

Yan Shuangzi's body trembled faintly.

Deng Yu's voice was softer than ever: "Shuangzi?"

Yan Shuangzi stared blankly for over twenty seconds before asking in disbelief: "Deng… Deng Yuxiang?"

Her voice was hoarse, her lips trembling.

Deng Yu's nose stung; she pulled Yan Shuangzi into her arms: "It's me, it's me."

Yan Shuangzi struggled to lift one arm, her filthy palm brushing Deng Yu's face, searching desperately.

"Deng Yuxiang… Deng Yuxiang…"

She murmured, her fingers tracing Deng Yu's brows, gliding over her nose, her lips.

Blind, she kept touching her friend's face, trying to recall her features.

But those memories felt distant.

So distant she had nearly forgotten this former close friend.

Or perhaps, the prolonged imprisonment and torment had blurred Yan Shuangzi's memories, leaving them fragmented.

"H-how did you… how did you end up here?!" Yan Shuangzi's voice suddenly rose.

By her second sentence, her emotions shattered completely.

Yan Shuangzi frantically touched Deng Yu's face: "Why are you here? You shouldn't be here! Leave, go—have they captured you too?"

Suddenly, Yan Shuangzi froze.

Her arm went limp, hanging uselessly.

She shook her head, mumbling: "No… you shouldn't have come… no, no…"

As she spoke, two trails of tears spilled from her hollow eye sockets.

Deng Yu's heart ached; she quickly explained: "This isn't Daoji Peak—we rescued you!"

But Yan Shuangzi heard nothing; she was lost in her own world, whispering: "You shouldn't have come to Shengling Mountain—it's all a lie!

No, you shouldn't… they shouldn't treat you like this…"

"Yan Shuangzi!" Deng Yu raised her voice, trying to snap the woman out of her delirium: "This isn't Daoji Peak! Lu Ran rescued you!"

Yan Shuangzi fell silent.

Deng Yu gently stroked her back: "No one will hurt you again. Never again."

After a long while, Yan Shuangzi whispered: "I… I left Daoji Peak?"

"Yes. Lu Ran rescued you. Do you remember Lu Ran?"

"Lu… who is he?"

"Professor Yan," Lu Ran said softly. "Last January, we met in Beifeng City. You taught me."

Because of Deng Yu's connection, Yan Shuangzi had treated Lu Ran kindly during his time in Beifeng City.

She had taught him the three levels of the blade master's path:

Body and blade as one, heart and blade as one, person and blade as one.

With clearer theoretical guidance, Lu Ran now saw every powerful warrior as a blade.

"Lu Ran…" Yan Shuangzi frowned, straining to recall.

But the endless darkness had lasted too long; her mind was chaotic, and she could not remember.

"Don't try, Shuangzi. Let's not try now," Deng Yu urged, seeing her friend's pain.

"Mm-hmm." Yan Shuangzi's head drooped.

Her filthy face buried against Deng Yu's shoulder.

Just seconds later, she began sobbing again: "It's fake, Yuxiang… it's all fake… fake…"

Clearly, Yan Shuangzi's mental state was dire.

"I'm real. I'm right here. Everything is real," Deng Yu said with unprecedented tenderness.

Like soothing a child.

But Yan Shuangzi heard nothing again.

She kept whispering: "The gods aren't saviors. It's all a lie! The whole world has been deceived! Everyone has been deceived!

There's no way out, no hope. Mankind will never win!

It was ordained by the gods—the demons will always slaughter us. It's all the gods' doing."

Yan Shuangzi was raving, slurring words, uttering blasphemous speech.

In the mortal world, such words would have landed her in Beifeng City's custody, forcibly "treated."

"Yes, I know. I know."

Deng Yu remained patient, holding the emaciated woman, soothing her endlessly.

Yan Shuangzi shook her head violently, consumed by despair: "No, you don't know! The Beifeng you worship… it's not what you think!"

"I know, Shuangzi!" Deng Yu cupped Yan Shuangzi's face, instinctively reaching to see her eyes.

Deng Yu suddenly snapped back—her eyes had been gouged out.

The captured Beifeng disciples had all said: it was Elder Xing's order.

Elder Xing had announced to all that Yan Shuangzi had gone blind in the eyes and in the heart—that she no longer deserved eyes—and before everyone's gaze, her eyes were torn out.

Elder Xing had not gouged out her heart.

After all, he needed her alive—to use her horrific fate as a warning to all Beifeng disciples: never dare defy the gods again.

"You don't know… you…" Yan Shuangzi struggled on, raving.

Deng Yu spoke firmly: "I've severed my contract with Beifeng!"

Yan Shuangzi's body stiffened violently.

Deng Yuxiang cupped Yan Shuangzi's face, her thumb wiping away the endless tears from her eyes: "Months ago, I stopped believing in gods."

"You—you severed the pact?"

"Yes! This Sacred Spirit Mountain is the grave the gods created for our human race—they want us to be their slaves forever, don't they? Why should I still believe in so-called gods?"

Listening to Deng Yuxiang's words, Yan Shuangzi opened her mouth slightly.

A few seconds later, Yan Shuangzi suddenly laughed.

She was truly like a madwoman—crying, laughing, shouting, screaming.

Was it joy at finally finding a kindred soul?

Was it tears of relief at being finally understood?

Or was it uncontrollable grief at seeing the ugliness of this world?

Perhaps all of them.

The members of the Ran Sect stood in silence, watching the woman who wept and laughed in madness.

How much inner torment, what inhuman suffering, must one endure to become like this?

And this time, no matter how much Deng Yuxiang tried to soothe her, it was useless.

Lu Ran ordered: "Anhun Horn."

At the cave entrance, Jing Hong immediately summoned an ancient horn and pressed it to her lips.

"Wuuu~~~"

The horn's sound was not loud, deeply low, echoing within the small cave.

Divine Art: Anhun Horn—erases spiritual disturbances while soothing emotions and stabilizing the mind.

Amid the low horn's resonance, Yan Shuangzi, exhausted from crying, leaned against Deng Yuxiang's arms and fell into deep sleep.

Long moments passed; Lu Ran lowered his hand.

The Anhun Horn fell silent, and the tormented soul finally found a moment of peace.

Deng Yuxiang's straw cloak was wide enough, her embrace warm enough.

But Lu Ran did not find the scene tender—he felt only sorrow and desolation. He lowered his head, turned, and walked out of the cave.

"Huu~"

Cold wind swept through the valley; Lu Ran looked up at the night sky and took a deep breath.

Faintly, he sensed someone calling to him.

Lu Ran immediately linked his spirit with Yemo Xiesu, and the woman's words imprinted in his mind.

【Little Lu Ran.】

【Hmm?】

【I don't have many friends—just Jiaojiao and her.】 Deng Yuxiang paused, then pleaded, 【Help me. Take her as a devotee. Heal her, just as you healed me. Can you?】

【Of course.】 Lu Ran did not hesitate. 【Which statue do you want her to worship?】

He gazed at the star-strewn sky, his eyes glinting.

Of course it was good!

If he could bring Yan Shuangzi to seek revenge, let her personally gouge out Elder Xing's eyes—

That would be even better.

(End of Chapter)