Chapter 1799: Ruoshui's Curtain Call

Ruoshui's Curtain Call

Chen Ling fell silent.

He just watched with his own eyes as Wen Ruoshui gradually turned from a young man into a decaying old man. It was as if time had drained his entire life, leaving behind only a frail shell in the end.

Among the Nine Monarchs, Wen Ruoshui was definitely the most low-profile existence. He didn't like to speak when there were many people around, and his presence was the lowest, but his contribution to humanity was the greatest... In a sense, he had saved humanity a full six times.

He saved humanity six times, not because he was so powerful, had such vast magical abilities, or wanted to prove himself...

All of this was simply because he was kind.

Because of his kindness, no matter which world it was, no matter which generation's Red King found him, he would willingly sacrifice himself to become humanity's final line of defense. In reboot after reboot, he had always made the same choice.

Watching Wen Ruoshui's life force rapidly slip away, veins bulged on Chen Ling's neck. At this moment, countless thoughts and impulses flashed through his mind, but ultimately they were all rejected by him...

Wen Ruoshui was right. In order to fight for a future, he must remain clear-headed at all times.

He lay on the ground, and even as his life was about to run dry, those eyes remained moist and persistent. As if using the last of his strength, he managed to speak with great difficulty, word by word:

"Save... hu... manity............"

As his voice faded,

Wen Ruoshui's hand slipped down powerlessly.

Strands of light spilled in from the cracks of the base. In the dim twilight, the figure in the Theatrical Robe sat alone beside the aged corpse, like a silent sculpture.

Chen Ling did not shed tears. He was long past being that greenhorn Six of Hearts; he was this generation's Red King. The burden on his shoulders was too heavy, and he was already the pillar of support in too many people's hearts... How could the Red King easily shed tears?

The moisture in the corners of his eyes was his way of bidding farewell to the first old friend to depart in this world.

After an unknown amount of time,

His cracked lips slightly parted:

"'I saw the sky weeping,'"

"'I heard your voice;'"

"'I smelled the longing blooming amidst the thorns,'"

"'I walked over from the direction of the sunset'..."

...

"This is..."

Outside the Ruoshui Base, everyone stood frozen in place.

They looked back at the Ruoshui Base, from which a sorrowful and melodious ballad was resounding, echoing in the sky above the entire Ruoshui Bastion.

This ballad seemed to possess some sort of magic that made one feel at ease the moment they heard it...

It was like a farewell, yet also a dirge.

"It's Lord Red King..."

"What ballad... is Lord Red King singing?"

"I don't know, but it sounds so peaceful, yet... somewhat melancholic?"

Whether it was the members of the Dusk Society or the Fire-Stealers, all were immersed in the sound of this ballad at this moment. The grayish-white world had completely shrouded the domain; amidst the barren silence, only the lilting, melodious ballad remained.

"'The earth and rosy-red are your warm bed,'"

"'The frost, snow, and setting sun are your heavy makeup;'"

"'I will weave hope into dancing kapok flowers,'"

"'Until the rocks remember the fragrance of the flowers'..."

Li Leider gently took off his black fedora.

An indescribable complexity appeared in his gaze as he looked at the base...

For some reason, Li Leider could feel even more emotions from this ballad. He felt as if he was savoring a glass of red wine brewed by his master himself; as the liquid slid down his throat, a surge of sorrow and weight rushed towards his face.

Gradually, he actually became somewhat entranced.

This...

Just what was this?

"'Oh, crying child,'"

"'Please gently close your eyes;'"

"'When dusk falls upon the darkest era,'"

"'I shall promise you the morning glow and blue skies.'"

As the final line of the ballad fell, barren silence once again enveloped everything.

Faint roars of Calamities traveled over from beyond the bare Outer Wall, seemingly heralding the end of all this. This human domain, which had existed for hundreds of years, would ultimately be entirely submerged in the long river of history following the Lord of Ruoshui's departure.

At the same time,

Within the grayish-white world, a figure draped in a red-and-black Theatrical Robe slowly walked out from the Ruoshui Base.

Between his palms, he seemed to be holding three of something, and a pair of cinnabar-like earrings swayed silently in the wind... The moment he appeared, everyone present looked toward him, their gazes full of respect.

Chen Ling's eyes clearly reflected the final appearance of this domain. After an unknown amount of time, he slowly spoke:

"Let's go..."

"It is time for us to leave."

...

Chengtian Domain.

Imperial Palace.

The pristine white snow continued to fall silently, accumulating on the window eaves without anyone noticing. Eunuch Zuo pushed open the door to the quiet Imperial Study and walked into the room, bringing with him a few flakes of snow and the wind from outside...

Like a taut string finally relaxing, a touch of exhaustion surfaced between his brows.

He took a deep breath and bowed respectfully forward:

"Your Majesty."

"The Lord of Ruoshui's Domain... has completely disappeared."

The thin curtains swayed silently in the breeze. The figure sitting in the back froze for a moment, and a touch of complexity appeared between his brows as well.

He gently placed the calligraphy brush in his hand onto the brush rest to the side. After a long silence, he spoke calmly:

"I know..."

"Have the refugees from the Ruoshui Bastion all been settled?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, all refugees have been appropriately settled," Eunuch Zuo smiled. "Tonight, everyone will be able to sleep well."

"...Mm."

"Your Majesty, there is one more thing." Eunuch Zuo hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Marquis Wei did not follow the decree to return to the court... However, he sent his only adopted son to the Chengtian Domain."

"Wei Chen has been fiercely loyal his entire life, exhausting his mind and efforts for humanity... Then let him stay in his hometown in peace. Pass down my verbal decree: hold a grand funeral for Wei Chen using his garments as his remains, and... treat him with the rites of a Duke of the State." Ying Fu paused for a moment,

"As for that adopted son of his... arrange a position for him in the court."

"In the future, if he performs well, then promote him further. If he is like the domineering children of those so-called powerful and noble families... you know how to handle it."

"This humble subject understands." Eunuch Zuo immediately assented.

"Those 'quasi-Dukes of the State' who have returned to the world of the living and been reborn... how is their progress?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, only three remain who have yet to return to the Demigod Position. Right now, they have all recovered to the peak of Rank 8... However, they were once Demigods and possess histories sufficient to pass the Divine Path Certification. Passing the certification again to return to Demigods is only a matter of time." Eunuch Zuo did some calculations,

"If nothing unexpected happens, within half a year, the number of Demigods we have in Chengtian... will be quite a terrifying figure."

"Mm, you may step down."

Eunuch Zuo bowed once more, turned around, and left the Imperial Study.

The curtains fluttered. Ying Fu seemed somewhat tired and gently waved his hand, causing the heavy snow clouds over the Chengtian Domain to gradually disperse... He stood up, took one last look at the talisman scroll he had just finished writing on the desk, turned around, and left.

The breeze rolled in through the open window, making the talisman scroll pressed down by the inkstone rustle. Four neat and clean large characters were reflected upon it:

—[The Highest Good Is Like Water].