Chapter 118: Dongfang Xing Amidst Suffering

This man is short and vigorous, the sharp light in his eyes hard to conceal.

Worry seemed to weigh on his shoulders, making his already short stature droop a bit.

The constant sea breeze left a faint fishy smell on his body.

The undulating seawater soaked his cloth shoes and pant legs.

"Clan Chief." A person slowly approached him.

"How did it go?" he asked, his gaze not shifting, still fixed on the Eastern Sea.

"The news has been released in all three northern, southern, and western aspects."

"Oh..." He is the clan chief of the Dongfang Clan, Dongfang Jie, who alone holds the power of life and death over the clan; in this Eastern Sea region, he can cover the sky with one hand.

"What should we do next?" The person approaching Dongfang Jie was his confidant and also his nephew, Dongfang Tian.

"Wait, wait for them to come to the door themselves." Dongfang Jie said coldly, he was colder than the Eastern Sea's water.

"What about that younger sister?"

Dongfang Jie turned his head, coldly looking at his nephew, "Don't meddle too much; you have no right to ask about what you shouldn't; just do your own duty."

"Uh... yes!" Dongfang Tian was startled, then he indeed said, bowing deeply to his uncle.

Dongfang Tian's father and Dongfang Jie were two brothers who died early. Dongfang Tian grew up under Dongfang Jie's cultivation from childhood; in his heart, Dongfang Jie was his father, and he obeyed this cold, unfeeling father completely, never daring to defy him in the slightest.

Dongfang Tian did not know whether Dongfang Jie treated him as a son, but compared to his sister Dongfang Xing, he was fortunate. Dongfang Xing was Dongfang Jie's only daughter, subjected from childhood to inhuman torment by Dongfang Jie; Dongfang Tian witnessed all of this, feeling sorrow for his sister, yet he dared not speak or ask further.

Everyone in the clan besides Dongfang Xing herself knew Dongfang Tian's feelings for her. He also knew the destiny burdening Dongfang Xing, which made it impossible for them to be together.

Dongfang Tian pondered as he walked back into the clan's settlement, gazing at the dilapidated houses, the extremely filthy ground, and the clan members reeking of fish; a wave of sorrow rose in his heart. Whenever this happened, he could also feel Dongfang Jie's hardships. If this continued, the Dongfang Clan, which once dominated the world three hundred years ago, would completely decline into mere fishermen within fifty years.

This is the world, this is human nature; when you pay no attention, you can only fend for yourself and perish.

Dongfang Jie cannot let the Dongfang Clan fall thus, nor can Dongfang Tian allow it to fall.

Unbeknownst to him, Dongfang Tian had already reached the prison gate, where two clansmen guarding the door blocked him.

"Ah Tian, you cannot enter."

"Let me in." Dongfang Tian pleaded.

"By the clan chief's order, no one may enter."

In the Dongfang Clan's prison, no one had been imprisoned for many years; now, only Dongfang Xing is held inside. Moreover, Dongfang Jie has placed a seal on her that no one can break, and she cannot escape.

Therefore, it only takes two people joining hands to be enough.

"Well then..." Dongfang Tian turned regretfully, about to leave, but suddenly he turned back and slapped the two clansmen twice, knocking them unconscious, "... sorry."

Dongfang Tian warily glanced around, then tiptoed into the prison.

"Ah Xing, Ah Xing, are you there?"

"Ah Xing, Ah Xing, can you hear me?"

Dongfang Tian's calls went unanswered; he could only hear the dripping of water, and he felt his way in the dark to the deepest part.

Dongfang Xing huddled in the corner, arms wrapped around her knees, her frail body trembling incessantly, shaking without pause, her vacant gaze fixed on the ground; she wanted to hold herself but could not manage it.

She could not hear any outside sounds.

"Ah Xing!" Dongfang Tian crouched before Dongfang Xing, level with her, yet he noticed her gaze was not on him.

"Ah Xing, what's wrong?" Dongfang Tian grasped Dongfang Xing's arm, anxiously asking.

Finally, Dongfang Xing's gaze turned toward Dongfang Tian, but her gaze was so numb, so empty! Before her stood her childhood sweetheart, yet she could not utter his name.

"Ah Xing, speak!" Dongfang Tian, on the verge of tears, held Dongfang Xing in his arms, gently stroking her head with his hand, tears streaming, "How thin you've become... how much suffering you've endured..."

Originally petite, Dongfang Xing has become even smaller.

"Ah Xing, do you still remember me? Look at me, think!" Dongfang Tian cupped Dongfang Xing's cheeks, making her look at him, and asked again.

The numb Dongfang Xing finally spoke, word by word, haltingly, "... one... one... He?"

"One He?" Dongfang Tian was bewildered, wondering what those two words had to do with him; he grew more upset, tears flowing harder, "I am Ah Tian!"

"One He, one He... one He..." Dongfang Xing, as if struck by electricity, suddenly gathered strength, she flung herself into Dongfang Tian's arms and cried out in anguish and longing, "One He!"

Dongfang Tian did not expect this outcome; his heart ached, and he held Dongfang Xing merely to share her pain.

"Uh! Ah! Ahhh!" Dongfang Xing suddenly clutched her head and let out a heart-rending wail! She broke free from Dongfang Tian's grip, rolling on the ground, tormented beyond words!

Though small, Dongfang Xing's suffering is beyond what ordinary people can endure.

"Ah Xing! Ah Xing!" Dongfang Tian could not approach Dongfang Xing, as a powerful force surged from her body, thrusting him back and preventing him from getting near.

"What on earth is happening?" Dongfang Tian knelt on the ground, staring blankly at the blackened ceiling, at a loss. His mind continuously replayed every moment he had shared with Dongfang Xing.

Dongfang Xing gradually slipped into sleep amidst the pain.

"One He..." Dongfang Xing smiled in her sleep, calling out another's name. She was still so beautiful, beautiful enough to stir the heart!

Dongfang Tian realized he had been surpassed in Dongfang Xing's heart by an outsider; this "One He" could it be Chen Yi He, who had suddenly risen to prominence in the martial world this year?

"Ah Xing, I will surely rescue you." Dongfang Tian seemed to have understood, clenched his fists, and silently swore to his beloved woman.

Dongfang Tian understood what Dongfang Jie intended: to resurrect Dongfang Wuji, which required Dongfang Xing's life as payment. It was also possible that Dongfang Wuji could never be revived; Dongfang Jie might want Dongfang Xing to become a second Dongfang Wuji, using her to have the entire Dongfang Clan slaughter their way back to Bei Du!

Why must the burden of the Dongfang Clan's three hundred years be borne by Dongfang Xing alone!?

Dongfang Tian left the prison, intending to confront Dongfang Jie for an explanation!