Chapter 671: But Fate

Forgotten River.

In the Nine Underworlds where the living cannot reach, the Forgotten River, the lifeblood river running through the Underworld, has flowed for hundreds of millions of cycles.

It is the river of washing sins, it is forgetting, it is rebirth, it is neither good nor evil, it is the cycle of Heavenly Dao.

Joy, anger, sorrow, happiness, love, hate, resentment, obsession... all are regarded as "impurities" of the soul, ruthlessly extracted, washed, and dissolved by the water of the Forgotten River.

This is fading dust, this is baptism.

This is the afterlife, this is the welcome speech of the Underworld.

The river water churns and floats. In the waves, there are the small faces of infants, a hillside covered with wild flowers, a tragic parting...

There are also golden ecstasy, deep blue sorrow, crimson anger, pale green jealousy...

Countless memories, immeasurable feelings, they roll, collide, merge, and settle in the river water.

They become the mineral deposits of the Forgotten River, marking the billions of joys and sorrows of endless living beings.

Ordinary people cannot mine them, nor can they touch them. It is the most magnificent commemorative monument between heaven and earth!

The washed souls are as light as nothing, floating to the surface, drifting to the shore. There, they are ignorant, carrying the heart of a newborn, stepping into a new world. Regardless of the outside, or the inside.

Forgetting is the end, and also the beginning.

The long Forgotten River flows endlessly on the gloomy and vast land of the Underworld, without end. In the river, new souls carrying "weight" constantly fall, sink, struggle, are washed, become "light", float up, and drift...

It uses its ancient torrent to wash away the past of the soul, taking away joys and sorrows, and also taking away the proof of existence. It flows silently, it is the pulse of the Underworld, it is the cornerstone of reincarnation. In front of this river, no matter how heroic the epic, no matter how deep the love, in the end, it is nothing more than... a speck of dust at the bottom of the river, a wisp of blue smoke on the water surface.

Forgotten River, the place of restart, the place of returning to zero.

Even if it is a tributary, the Forgotten River still does not change its power.

Unlike Ning Zhuo was ultimately swallowed by the Forgotten River tributary, he fell into it, unable to extricate himself.

The river water of the Forgotten River was bone-chillingly cold, and the terrifying cold eroded and penetrated into his soul. The violent power washed his soul fiercely, attempting to tear his memories and emotions apart, forcibly stripping, washing, and scouring them!

"No, I cannot forget, nor should I forget!" Unlike Ning Zhuo stared with wide eyes in the river water, gritting his teeth.

He struggled with all his might, performing magic techniques, wanting to break free from the water flow and fly out of the Forgotten River.

Futile!

His body became extremely heavy, falling heavily toward the bottom of the water, as if he were tied with an iron anchor like a giant ship.

The cruel and cold reality would not change because of his anger and persistence.

Memories and emotions blurred one after another, and the next moment they were about to be stripped away, washed away, and leave him.

At the critical moment, in the divine sea dantian, the My Buddha Heart Demon Seal shone brightly, suppressing his soul.

The brilliance covered his entire soul, resisting the great power of the Forgotten River tributary!

Those memories and emotions he had deeply felt were stirred up at this moment, becoming unusually vivid.

Fire Persimmon Immortal City.

Little Unlike Ning Zhuo knelt by the bed, crying and begging.

Before Meng Meng Yaoyin died, she told him: secretly cultivate mechanical arts, wait for the opportunity of the Fire Persimmon Immortal Palace to appear. Seize this opportunity and rise.

The aunt hypocritically cared, repeatedly coaxing: "Little Zhuo, be good, take it out, let Auntie keep it well... when you grow up, I will return it to you..."

In the empty house where he could hear the echo, all the valuable items, even the traces of his mother's existence, were completely moved away.

In the corner, the mechanical classics were worn out by little Unlike Ning Zhuo, who had read them countless times, and reciting them backward was just normal.

Hiss!

He gasped, his little hand retracted sharply.

His finger was cut by a knife, blood flowed, and the pain made Unlike Ning Zhuo shed tears.

But he ultimately persisted and successfully assembled the first mechanical doll of his life.

In front of the small stall outside the school, little Unlike Ning Zhuo looked at the exquisite mechanical toys, his eyes full of undisguised longing and envy.

Beside him, the well-dressed Ning Ji walked by, throwing a disdainful sneer.

Sun Lingtong stuffed a brand-new mechanical toy into his arms, and a pure, brilliant smile instantly burst out on the face of the childhood Unlike Ning Zhuo.

That smile illuminated his gloomy childhood era.

"My sorrow, my endurance, my warmth forged the me of childhood. Without them, what am I?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo gritted his teeth, desperately pouring magic power into the My Buddha Heart Demon Seal, stimulating the treasure seal's power.

He was unwilling to give up these, so much so that his body sank deeper and deeper.

Beside the Forgotten River tributary, Luo Si was full of anxiety, unable to help urging Qing Chi: "General Qing, now is not the time to hesitate! The Young Master is sinking!"

Qing Chi's eyes were red, her heart was in a panic, and she couldn't make up her mind—"What memories or emotions should I choose to act as bait?"

The small courtyard was overgrown with weeds, and wild flowers climbed on the fence.

Little Qing Chi had her hair tied up, chasing a flower butterfly and giggling, accidentally falling down, tears swirling in her eyes.

The weeds parted, and little boy Jiao Ma ran over. He was not much taller than her, with a tight little face, extremely concerned: "What's wrong, did you fall and hurt yourself?"

He clumsily took out a washed-white handkerchief, carefully wiped her tears, and took out a sweet treat he had cherished for a long time and couldn't bear to eat from his pocket, stuffing it into her mouth.

"Qingqing, be good, don't cry." In the immature voice was wholehearted care.

This colorful memory, like a picture thrown into the water, blurred, the sweet candy taste, the smell of sunlight on the soil, the slight pain of knee collision, and the sense of security brought by that clumsy little figure... were extracted and quickly left Qing Chi.

Qing Chi let out a muffled groan, her heart feeling as if a piece had been gouged out, empty and painful. Hot tears gushed out without warning, instantly blurring her vision, dripping down drop by drop.

Her heart was full of regret, but seeing Unlike Ning Zhuo struggling in the tributary, her gaze became firm again.

"Little Ma, childhood is not the most important thing. Don't blame me, I have to pay these!"

However, the bait was thrown into it, but it didn't fish up Unlike Ning Zhuo at all.

Luo Si's expression changed: "Could it be that the weight of the bait is not enough?"

The brilliance of the My Buddha Heart Demon Seal poured a dam for Unlike Ning Zhuo's soul.

The Forgotten River water constantly impacted and collided, causing the treasure seal to vibrate slightly in Unlike Ning Zhuo's divine sea.

Under Sun Lingtong's guidance, Unlike Ning Zhuo had the ability to steal.

He secretly sneaked in and put the stolen money into the homes of the poor.

Climbing over the wall, just as he landed, little Unlike Ning Zhuo was startled, and saw Sun Lingtong standing in front of him, arms crossed, toes tapping frequently, watching him with ease.

Unlike Ning Zhuo immediately showed an embarrassed expression of being caught: "Old, Boss..."

Sun Lingtong: "What did you do?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo lowered his head: "I, I saw these people were pitiful during the day, so I wanted to help them."

Sun Lingtong hummed: "Helped how many families?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo answered truthfully.

Sun Lingtong hummed again: "Helped quite a few. I told you, we are thieves."

Unlike Ning Zhuo: "But, but my mother told me before she died that one should be kind and help others as much as possible. She wanted me to be a good person..."

Little Unlike Ning Zhuo's voice was weak, but also had a persistence.

Sun Lingtong showed a playful smile: "Then let's wait and see a good show."

After a period of time.

The poor families "subsidized" by Unlike Ning Zhuo made a fortune in silence, and their lives became affluent.

Unlike Ning Zhuo observed secretly, seeing them show happy smiles, no longer worrying about bitter days, and was very happy.

But good times didn't last long, and these families soon had conflicts.

Some families had internal quarrels, fighting for the huge sum of money that appeared suddenly, and there was no harmony between brothers and fathers and sons. Some family owners began to eat and drink, waste at will, and linger in gambling dens and brothels. Some families showed their wealth and were targeted by ill-intentioned people. Whether they were fawning or blackmailing, they quickly went from rich to poor.

Even, the cultivators of the City Lord's Mansion followed the clues and almost found Unlike Ning Zhuo, the thief.

In the end, Unlike Ning Zhuo was scared and apologized to Sun Lingtong: "Boss, thanks to you! Otherwise, I would have been discovered and thrown into jail."

Sun Lingtong hummed coldly with pride, stood on tiptoe, and touched Unlike Ning Zhuo's big head: "Now you know, you did a stupid thing?"

"A hero is not so easy to be."

"Most people can't keep the wealth that appears suddenly, it will only become a disaster."

Unlike Ning Zhuo had early wisdom and nodded immediately. Only a very few families remained silent, planned to use it, and slowly got better. Most of the poor families were worse than before. Some even scolded the air at home, scolding why there was no more money appearing out of thin air.

Sun Lingtong pointed to himself: "The real change in life starts from oneself, not a sum of money from outside!"

"They are poor and suffer for a reason."

"Some people deserve wealth, and some people deserve poverty. People who can really change don't actually need your money to get better, they just need more time."

Unlike Ning Zhuo nodded: "I know, Boss."

Sun Lingtong showed a serious expression: "No, you don't know."

"We all live together, some are poor, some are rich, some are heroes, some are thieves."

"Snakes have snake paths, rats have rat paths. Since these identities exist in reality, these identities have the meaning of existence, and all deserve to live."

"We are thieves, little brother."

"This is our way of survival!"

"If we don't become thieves, if we don't hide ourselves, we will live quite badly. Do you think your uncle and aunt will deal with you if they know your talent?"

"Aren't you still wanting to confront the City Lord's Mansion? Do you have power? Do you dare to challenge them with real swords and guns?"

"We are weak, if we want to achieve our goals, what should we do?"

Unlike Ning Zhuo thought of his mother's last words, his gaze dimmed, and his tone became firm: "Follow the thief's way."

Sun Lingtong smiled: "Hehe, that's right!"

On the tower.

Zhu Zhu Xuanji instructed Unlike Ning Zhuo: "The road is walked out by people!"

"... just like Li Leifeng... he is so respected."

"Actually, everyone has a scale, measuring others and things at all times. Those who carry the burden forward and gather firewood for everyone are the people who emit light."

"You have also been illuminated by this light! Li Leifeng has already pointed out the way for you."

Unlike Ning Zhuo was silent, then looked into Zhu Zhu Xuanji's eyes, not dodging.

"Lord Zhu, people are different."

"And I am ultimately the one under the stage."

"Do you know what it tastes like to steal the cakes left by those guests?"

"I am at the bottom, I have been since I was a child."

"Although my surname is Ning, I never feel that I am noble."

"I am despicable."

"I am a thief!"

"I am someone who picks up food from the trash."

"No one can really help me. People are lonely, and people cannot fully understand others."

"Most of the time, I can only rely on myself."

"The road I walk is my own choice!"

In the puppet show "Fang Qing Clears the Grievance", Unlike Ning Zhuo performed to the critical point, his heart moved!

He understood Zhu Zhu Xuanji's meaning.

Zhu Zhu Xuanji persuaded him to surrender and walk on the right path.

"Can I really walk on this path?" Unlike Ning Zhuo asked himself. He indeed longed to be illuminated by the firelight.

But Fate...

Hehe, Fate—is always so helpless and involuntary!

Qing Chi was in tears.

The fishing line was still pulled straight, truthfully conveying the cruel weight of reality to her.

Unlike Ning Zhuo was still sinking. The previous bait was absolutely not enough.

"Then what else can I give up in my memory?" Qing Chi was in so much pain she couldn't breathe, "That would be these."

Summer night.

In the Yin Tide Black Swamp, rare moonlight fell on the courtyard. The night wind blew the old locust tree in the courtyard, and the branches and leaves swayed gently.

Qing Chi was lying on the table, sighing at her homework, her face full of distress.

From the open window, a night wind sent the fragrance of locust flowers, and the clean soap scent from the boy's sleeves.

Qing Chi raised her head suddenly and saw Jiao Ma's face poking out from outside the window.

The girl called out in surprise: "Little Ma!"

Jiao Ma was anxious: "Keep your voice down, do you want me to be beaten out by your father again?"

The girl hurriedly covered her mouth: "Little Ma, come and help me quickly, I'm being tortured to madness by these homework."

Jiao Ma showed a helpless, gentle smile: "I knew you couldn't handle it..."

Millennium Cold Pool.

In this kind of adventure where the two were together, they were about to escape.

Jiao Ma was unfortunately invaded by cold evil, almost completely frozen, his magic power operation was stagnant, and his consciousness blurred rapidly.

"Little Ma!" At the critical moment, Qing Chi ignored her own safety and turned back to rescue.

She transferred the power that protected her heart to Jiao Ma. A layer of weak green flame covered the latter's body.

Jiao Ma gained a chance to breathe and barely opened his eyes.

Qing Chi couldn't protect herself, but still transmitted her divine sense: "Little Ma, wake up, don't sleep!"

"Wake up, you big idiot!"

"Listen! Don't sleep! Hold on for me! If something happens to you, I, Qing Chi... will never live alone in this life!"

Jiao Ma was encouraged, gritted his teeth, and widened his eyes.

Both of them struggled with all their might, resisting the bone-chilling cold pool water, and swam upward. Their burning emotions, like quenched blades, broke through the past restraint, and also prompted them to cut through the final obstacles and drill out of the water surface. ===== CHAPTER 672 =====

"Wake up, you big idiot!"

"Listen! Don't you dare sleep! Hold on for me! If anything happens to you, I, Qing Chi... will never live alone in this life!"

Jiao Ma was encouraged, gritting his teeth hard and widening his eyes.

The two exerted their strength simultaneously, resisting the bone-chilling cold of the pool water as they swam upward. Their fervent emotions, like quenched blades, broke through their former reserve and spurred them to shatter the final barrier, breaking through the surface of the water.