Chapter 15

At the moment Luo Shan turned and left, Pei Er felt only that the whole world had fallen into darkness.

Forest Spring Town burned silently beside her, and in that disaster the survivors scattered, leaving the whole world nothing but fire and blood. She had grown up in this town since childhood, with no parents, no friends, except for her kind master, she had no relatives left. Flames scorched the earth, and she felt as if her own heart were also being burned to ash within them.

What could be more unfortunate than gaining something only to lose it immediately?

After her master passed away, she had thought she would continue living alone like this. Yet Luo Shan appeared so suddenly in her world, completely disrupting her life.

That morning, as usual, she carried a water bucket to Forest Spring River to fetch water, but she saw something in the river drifting downstream toward her. Curious, she went to look, and was astonished to discover it was a person.

Her master's teachings while he was alive she had always remembered: at all times, one must treat life kindly, even when holding a sword.

He was a person gravely wounded, his body covered in blood yet showing no obvious injury, likely the result of magic. Knowing such wounds were most perilous, she had no choice but to bring him back to her hut, beg herbs from the town's witch, brew them into a decoction, and pour it into his mouth.

She stood by the bedside, watching the unconscious boy; his face was handsome, with a reassuring aura that made her smile involuntarily as she continued to cool the broth and feed it to him. This care lasted two months. Two months of toil, two months of perseverance without slack—even she found it somewhat unbelievable. She even wondered what she would do if he never woke up—would she have to feed him for life?

Yet the boy did wake up. When she heard him speak, her heart filled with joy, though she kept her composure. At that moment she finally felt that those two months of hardship had not been in vain.

"Silly boy, what's your name?"

"Luo Shan."

So his name was Luo Shan, Pei Er thought. She suddenly felt a strange sensation—that this name would forever reside in her heart, until the seas run dry and rocks rot. Thinking of this, her face flushed, and she began to chide herself for such idle fantasies.

But some things, once had, are had; some feelings, once arisen, can never be erased.

She taught him sword practice, and they sat together by Forest Spring River, watching the clouds in the sky and the two clean, youthful faces reflected in the clear water. Suddenly she felt she only wished the days could continue like this forever, never changing.

Falling for someone is an instant; being with him, her heart felt only full happiness, and seeing him made any suffering seem trivial. Today not yet gone, tomorrow yet to come, the future unknown—no matter which day, minute, or second, as long as she could see the color in his eyes, it was boundless reassurance and joy. She had never felt this before, and likely never would again.

During that time, she merely feared that something would suddenly end all of this.

His origins, why he was injured, the name he kept murmuring while unconscious—she never mentioned any of it, not a word. She didn't know his past and didn't want to; she only wished to possess his 'present', or even more luxuriously, the 'future' that no one dared to predict.

But all of this ultimately ended in the flames of Forest Spring Town.

When he recklessly carried her away on the wind, she felt a vague foreboding. She suddenly grew afraid for no reason—not only because of the towering flames, but also because their formerly peaceful days were heading toward an end.

What Pei Er did not expect was that her thoughts would truly become a horrifying reality that very morning.

Surrounded by strong foes, she drew her sword without hesitation, but the knights' armor was too thick; her longsword striking it only gave a faint 'ding', utterly ineffective. She knew that apart from the gaps in the face and joints, the armor was solid steel plates she could never pierce with her strength. Yet facing so many enemies, swords like a forest, how could she find a chance to strike their weak points?

The relentless rapid attacks drained her stamina greatly, but if she did not turn offense into defense, the situation would only worsen. At that moment Luo Shan was also engaged with the mages not far away. Having just recovered from serious injury, holding his own against them was already commendable, yet fighting mages was far more dangerous than swordsmen—even a basic Light Strike Technique could pierce a heart. Worrying for Luo Shan's safety, she slowed her swordplay and instantly fell into a disadvantage.

When the knight's axe fell, Pei Er felt only a burning pain in her leg. She strained to block the attackers' successive strikes, and blood gushed from the wound. Despair spread through her heart, yet somehow, amid the loss, there was a hint of relief.

Because, even if she died, she would at least still be with him!

However, the situation that followed far exceeded her expectations.

Luo Shan, like a demon, took lives with every move, and in an instant he slaughtered all the knights surrounding her. Such an aura of carnage had never appeared before; for a moment she even felt a little afraid.

Perhaps that is why he left.

Then came parting, then disappearance. Unable to move, she heard Luo Shan's decisive words, her heart torn as if cut by a knife. When she propped herself up with her sword and struggled to stand, the boy's shadow had vanished from heaven and earth. He had gone, gone so suddenly, shattering the good life she had just rebuilt.

"I cannot let you be hurt because of me."

"Silly boy…… you are a complete fool."

Pei Er leaned on her longsword; each step sent sharp pain through her right leg. Yet she could not stop, for every second she lingered, the distance between them grew.

Luo Shan, you silly boy……

What harm or no harm—doesn't he understand her heart? His departure, this self‑styled 'protection', is actually the greatest injury to her. But he doesn't realize, he doesn't know that in a girl's heart, being together can overcome any peril and hardship.

And now, the whole world has no trace of him.

Following Forest Spring River northward, the woods grew denser, making it ever harder to find Luo Shan's trace. Pei Er couldn't help but sigh; her wound flared up again, forcing her to sit temporarily.

The water of Forest Spring River still flowed gently, but the town at its head had been reduced to ashes. Yet in this forest there was not a trace of a murderous aura.

Unintentionally turning her head, she saw that beside her had appeared an old man with white beard and hair, seemingly out of nowhere.

She did not know how this person had appeared; just moments before, the forest had been empty of any human figure. Instinctively she raised her sword, but a thought told her that if this old man were an enemy, she would already be doomed.

"Hey." Pei Er looked at him and slowly lowered her weapon. "Who… who are you?"

"Me?"

The old man lowered his head, his voice hoarse and hollow, as if from another world.

Yet after that brief reply, the old man closed his eyes again; no matter how Pei Er questioned him, he would not speak.

"What a strange person." The old man's arrogance somewhat annoyed Pei Er, but she was so low‑spirited she had no inclination to bother further. Deep down she actually wished this old man were an enemy, so that he might run her through with a sword when she wasn't looking—then she wouldn't have to endure this endless waiting and searching.

Such a pessimistic thought arose suddenly in her mind, surprising even her usually optimistic self.

"Never mind, do as you wish; I'm leaving."

Pei Er glanced at the old man, sighed softly, and turned to leave. But at that very moment a beam of light shot toward the old man, who sat eyes closed, meditating, tearing through the air with tremendous force, aiming to strike him down in one blow.

"Watch out!" Pei Er had no time to think, ignoring the searing pain in her right leg, she raised her longsword and lunged forward. Blood spurted from the wound, but in an instant the white light was upon her. Unable to pull the old man away, she had to block the blow with her sword held sideways. The magic's power was terrifying—though the spell had been cast from afar and had weakened by the time it reached here, it was still beyond mortal resistance. Her longsword shattered in an instant, her chest felt as if struck by a heavy hammer, and the sheer force sent her flying backward, out of control.

Was she dying? She felt blood seeping from her lips, the world warped, her body like a broken‑kite drifting aimlessly. After that heavy blow her consciousness began to blur. "Silly boy…" she murmured instinctively. A boundless despair welled up again.

She also didn't know why she had thrown herself forward to protect a stranger old man. Perhaps it was her master's dying instruction, or perhaps because after the boy's departure the world seemed devoid of his trace. Her bodily anguish and mental despair almost extinguished her will to live.

Perhaps severing her obsession in this way could be acceptable, even if the price might be steep; yet it could be called 'a one‑time solution'.

Just then, a force suddenly lifted her whole body. Some vital energy seeped into her five viscera and six bowels, like gentle hands soothing her, making the great pain in her leg and chest vanish in an instant. She felt as if someone were taking her hand, irresistibly, and gently setting her on the soft grass by the river, with a massive pine behind her whose firm feel gave her some reassurance. A warmth suddenly enveloped her whole body.

Then she astonishingly saw the stooped old man standing before her, his whole body suffused with a white light like that Luo Shan displayed in battle, only his light was purer and brighter, like sun and stars.

"Boom!" A tremendous explosion filled Pei Er's ears. Light flowed around the old man; he needed no staff like most mages, merely pointing a finger released unimaginably powerful magic that detonated nearby. The sight left her stunned. Who would have thought this unassuming old man was such a mighty mage? His strength must surely surpass Luo Shan's.

The pain in her wound turned into a faint numbness; after a while the successive explosions faded. Leaning against a tree, Pei Er saw the old man turn, his gaunt face expressionless. The battle‑light that had surrounded him had vanished entirely, leaving him once again the stooped, silent old man of moments before. She suddenly felt foolish—this man's magic was so superb that she need not have tried to block that spell with her own clumsy efforts……

"Little girl," he said in the same hoarse, muffled voice. "You saved me; your heart is good. Not bad, not bad."

"He saved me?" Pei Er couldn't help a wry smile. Her actions would better be described as 'overreaching'. She lowered her head, then was astonished to find that the dreadful gash across her right leg had healed in an instant; even in the torn mail and shirt seam she could see a fine, winding scar. "You… did you do this?" she blurted out.

"Since you risked yourself to save me, I will naturally repay you." The old man replied coldly. "Your leg wound and the injury from that 'Light Strike Technique' are healed. Once I channel my mana into your body and let it circulate three times, you will be able to move freely." "Who… who exactly are you?" Pei Er couldn't help asking. "Can you tell me now?"

"I am Bavariya." the old man declared proudly.

Bavariya! A name that makes mages tremble. On this continent, aside from the Lengshan Grand Hall, there are seven branch halls scattered across the lands. Each hall master is a top‑tier mage possessing 'Human Emperor' strength. Among them, the northwest's Goth possesses innate divine power, the south's Orden excels in swordsmanship—both are formidable battle mages; while the west's Saxon, the northeast's Black Forest, and the north's Mecklenburg are dark‑system mages like Mingguang, stronger in magical power than others. The east's Silesia focuses on summoning and transformation magic; though it loses in one‑on‑one duels to the others, in war its might is extraordinary, unstoppable. As for the center… the central branch hall master Bavariya, however, devotes himself more to restorative and protective defensive magic, often mocked by the other hall masters for this, yet in actual combat no one dares to underestimate him. At least on this continent, those who can break through Bavariya's defensive barrier are indeed few and far between.

If Pei Er were a mage, she would know that the unassuming old man before her is the fearsome presence of the Spirit God Hall. But years of secluded ease have left her almost ignorant of the outside world; even upon hearing the name Bavariya, she merely gave a simple nod.

"So, Bavaria… Uncle," Pei hesitated a moment, then settled on that address. "Your power is so great; could you do me a favor?"

If I had to find Luoshan using only my own strength, it would be like searching for a needle in the ocean. But if I rely on a more powerful mage, perhaps there is hope.

Bavaria looked at her with an amused expression, a hint of disbelief on his face. For years, whenever swordsmen or mages on this continent heard the name "Bavaria," they panicked and fled. Even the mage who had previously dared to attack him, upon witnessing his overwhelming magical power, dropped his staff, fled with his head in his hands, and was finally reduced to a vague mass of blood and flesh by explosive energy. Yet now, after learning his name, this girl still kept her original demeanor and even asked if he could help… Is this girl simply too ignorant, or is she truly braver than he expected?

"Tell me," he said, sitting beside Pei, forcing his voice to sound less terrifying. It was the first time in years he had seen someone show him no fear, and even his battle‑hardened heart stirred slightly. "I… I want you to help me find someone," Pei suddenly felt an uncontrollable sorrow. "He… he abandoned me, he doesn't want me. I… I want to find him, but I can't locate him."

"Who abandoned you?" Bavaria raised an eyebrow. "Tell me his name, and I'll kill him for you." "No… don't kill him," Pei panicked. "If you hurt him, I'll… I'll risk my life for you." "Risk your life?" Bavaria sneered. "If I decide to do something, even if you sacrifice ten lives, you still won't stop me."

"You… you are so unreasonable," Pei's tears swirled in her eyes. "If you don't want to help me, that's fine; I can do it myself." "Who said I have to help you?" Bavaria said with a cold laugh, standing up. "You blocked that move for me, though it was unnecessary, and I already healed your wound, so consider it settled. I, Bavaria, hold such a status—do I still have to obey your orders?"

He had just turned when a soft sob came from behind. He frowned, took a few steps on his own, but felt an unexpected pang of compassion. The emotion startled him; after years of witnessing human life and death, even amid seas of corpses, he never frowned, yet now, because of a lowly girl like an ant, his heart stirred inexplicably. He finally halted. "Little girl," he sighed. "Why did the person you seek leave you? Speak, and I will help you."

"He, that foolish boy, how could I know… how could I know why he left?" Pei buried her head between her knees, tears dripping to the ground. "He simply doesn't want me; he abandoned me and walked away, and no matter how hard I search I can't find him. He… does he not know how much I need him? Does he not know I have him in my heart? Why, why… foolish boy, bastard, bastard." She sobbed incoherently for a while, then slowly raised her head. "Uncle Bavaria… I'm sorry, you… you can't help me. Even if I find him, he'll still walk away. I know that. If he can abandon me once, he can do it again. Maybe… maybe I have absolutely no standing in his heart. He already has someone in his heart, and I only happened to save him once by chance; what does that amount to to him?"

"Little girl," even the aloof Bavaria felt a faint sorrow. "What is your name?"

"Pei‑Andrea‑Avensi."

"So you're a disciple of the Sword God," Bavaria nodded. "Uncle Bavaria, do you know my master?" Pei wiped her eyes. "Why has he never mentioned you?" "I fought him many years ago," Bavaria said, gazing into the distance. "An opponent like that is truly a once‑in‑a‑lifetime encounter. After that battle, he and I became confidants, agreeing that during our lifetimes we would meet to duel every five years. Last year was the five‑year appointment; I went, but he didn't come. I suppose he's already passed away."

"Yes," Pei whispered. "My master died three years ago."

"Another top master gone," Bavaria sighed. "Pei, the person you just mentioned… is he your lover?"

"Lover?" Pei couldn't help but smile wryly. "If he considered me his lover, perhaps he wouldn't have abandoned me."

When facing Bavaria, Pei felt a warm feeling in her heart, like family—she couldn't tell where it came from; perhaps it was Bavaria's healing magic, which soothed her spirit as it treated her wound, or perhaps it was because he knew her master. Though they had just met, she couldn't help but recount everything about Luoshan over the past days: their first meeting at Linquan River, two months of care, the battle in the fire‑engulfed Linquan Town, and finally Luoshan's departure. These scenes replayed before her eyes, each image vivid; the brief two‑plus months left an indelible steel‑like imprint on her heart. Yes, she loved him, she admitted it and never felt ashamed. But what about him? Luoshan, the enigmatic youth—does his heart hold another girl? In his thoughts, what place does she occupy, does she have even a trace of weight that makes him think of her face before sleep each night?

At this thought, Pei felt as if her heart were bleeding. He would think of someone, but not her face—of another woman. The woman named Qinyan, whom he called out to repeatedly while he was unconscious.

What kind of person is she, and what story lies between them?

"Pei," after hearing the whole story, Bavaria let out a long sigh. "That Luoshan seems to have a 'bloodthirsty' soul."

"Bloodthirsty?" Pei looked at him oddly. "What does that mean?"

"What we call 'bloodthirsty' is actually something no one truly understands," Bavaria said patiently, aware that Pei knew little of the Way of Magic. "For years, people with bloodthirsty souls have been rarer than even Human Sovereign‑level mages, and most are nameless. It's said that a bloodthirsty soul's power is corrupted by darkness, even if the person was once a pure angel. After experiencing killing, the soul becomes tainted, gradually losing its nature, but the power grows. In other words, such people can draw strength from death and blood. Therefore, those with this soul find cultivation far easier than ordinary people."

"However, a bloodthirsty soul is not attained through cultivation; it's innate. Thus most bloodthirsty people are only third‑ or fourth‑tier, weak and lost to bloodlust, dying quickly. In several hundred years, as far as I know, only one master truly possessed bloodthirsty power."

"That person is extraordinary; even now, no one has surpassed his level. He is also a battle mage who dual‑cultivates magic and swordsmanship, with exceptional talent—by eighteen he had reached the advanced 'Human Master' rank, and at twenty‑five broke through to 'Human Sovereign', becoming the youngest Human Sovereign in nearly a thousand years. To put it in perspective, most people need twenty‑five or twenty‑six years to reach Human Master, and even then many never do; reaching Human Sovereign is a once‑in‑a‑lifetime chance. Many spend their whole lives yearning for the Human Sovereign realm, even at the lowest tier, but often die in frustration. Even those with great talent fall short due to a lack of that final opportunity. That he became Human Sovereign at twenty‑five was a legend across the continent."

"But he was not content, and continued his cultivation. By then his fame had spread, drawing countless mages and swordsmen to challenge him. Many assumed his youth meant inexperience, believing their own battle‑hardened experience would defeat him. One challenger even possessed the strength of a junior Human Sovereign, convinced he could slay the youth in one blow."

"They were all wrong. The young man not only possessed an extremely high magical talent but also a finely nuanced mind; during combat, strategies poured forth endlessly, and none of the challengers could match him. Whether mage or swordsman, each fell beneath his long sword, their blood soaking his soul, driving his already bloodthirsty nature into boundless frenzy. Simultaneously, his power surged, and that very year he reached the 'Human Emperor' rank. Truly unprecedented, with no equal before or after."

"He began traveling the continent seeking masters to challenge; after defeating them, he would pierce their hearts, soaking his body in their blood. Within four or five years, the entire continent lived in fear, and Human Emperor‑level masters were almost wiped out. Even the continent's acknowledged foremost mage, the light‑aligned mage Fudenbo, fell beneath his sword. Fudenbo was the only person besides him to have reached the 'Human Emperor' realm, and after that the youth was called 'Supreme God'. That means his power was already enough to rival the deities above the Nine Heavens!"

"That was the climax of the Human‑God War. Humanity, thrilled to have such an unprecedented mage, unanimously appointed him as their leader. Twelve top mages and swordsmen followed Supreme God and launched the first assault on the gods. The battle was so dark that day and night vanished, the sun and moon lost their light. All twelve humans perished, but Supreme God grew stronger; he slew the death god Mikal in the Nine‑Underworld, the light god did not fight personally, but his son Boluomier was struck by magical power and instantly turned to ash. The dark god Makas was gravely wounded and forced to withdraw. When the fighting ceased, humans sought their leader, only to find Supreme God standing alone amid a field of corpses, expressionless, motionless, and already without breath."

"Later generations called that battle the 'God‑Eradication' campaign. From then on, the gods completely lost their power advantage over humanity. The remaining gods tried every possible method to undermine human strength and reclaim control of the continent, but to no avail. Humanity achieved an unprecedented victory, yet because of Supreme God's earlier ruthless slaughter and the losses of the God‑Eradication campaign, magic fell into a never‑seen low. It has not regained its vigor for a hundred years."

"Moreover, although Supreme God is dead, for unknown reasons people still preserve his body. Perhaps because his magical power in life was so immense, the corpse has not decayed to this day. Some say his great power remains sealed within it, never having vanished; if a certain method were found, Supreme God could be revived. But that is merely speculation—how could anyone discover a way to resurrect Supreme God? Even if they could, who would be foolish enough to unleash a demon?"

After Bavaria finished the long story, Pei only worried about Luoshan and paid little attention otherwise. Because she understood little about magic, she didn't realize that Luoshan now possessed power close to an advanced Human Master—only two years slower than the legendary Supreme God—and that he also bore a "bloodthirsty" soul, making him astonishingly similar to Supreme God in every way. "Uncle Bavaria," she called him. "Then, could Luoshan also go on a killing spree because of his 'bloodthirsty' soul?" The thought of the corpses littering Linquan Town made her shudder. If Luoshan were to do such a thing, she truly didn't know how to face it.

"A soul's nature is only a matter of innate factors; many humans whose souls have never been tainted are no more merciful when they kill than bloodthirsty ones. Whether one kills or not depends only on whether the person harbors benevolent thoughts." Bavaria said. Perhaps because he practiced protective magic—though the temple masters never cared—he had always opposed senseless killing. "Pei, you needn't worry so much. If this is why Luoshan left you, his inner benevolence is certainly enough to counter that portion of bloodthirsty intent. In fact, you shouldn't blame him. He may have acted that way simply because he feared you would be harmed."

"Heh…" Pei forced a bitter smile. "Do everyone think like that?" "Uncle Bavaria, you don't understand—I'm not afraid of the difficulties of being with him; I'm just…" She was only afraid of not being able to be with him. Yet how could others understand such a feeling?

Every event, every person's choice, is never due to a single reason alone. All things arise from countless tiny factors piled together; each factor can lead to a different choice, but sometimes they are so minute that people overlook them.

She dared not boldly guess what Luoshan truly thought. Yet even if it weren't because of those killings, he would inevitably leave her. Through the journey of searching, she gradually realized that many things simply cannot be forced.

Still, knowing she cannot force it, knowing the loss outweighs the gain, she still throws herself recklessly into it—like a moth burned by flame, its body turning to ash yet feeling no regret.

Is she like that moth?

"Uncle Bavaria, if possible… could you take me to find him?"

"I only want to see him once more, to hear his explanation. After that… after that, I'll be indifferent."