Chapter 390: Meeting Again, Zhaoming

"Lingxiang... you must stay safe and sound!"

It was unclear how many times this nightmare had recurred; Lingxiang could only watch helplessly as Maidong slaughtered the disciples of Yuanqing over and over again, and Zhaoming Zhenren's heart was ripped out, over and over again.

Whether from numbness or resignation, Lingxiang just sat slumped on the bluestone slabs in front of the hall, her eyes bloodshot, watching blankly as Maidong repeated the slaughter time after time.

Her lips were cracked and bleeding, her throat raw and aching, and when she opened her mouth, only hoarse, heavy gasps emerged.

How Lingxiang wished this were merely a dream; that upon waking, she could still see Maidong's familiar smile, could still bicker and chat with Zhaoming Zhenren. But she was too tired—too tired to even dare to hope for such a delusion.

Everything around her was gradually being eroded by an inexplicable rust, losing its original color, leaving the world in a shade of yellowish-brown.

This was entropy; its spread was entropy increase, which meant Maidong's consciousness was on the verge of Collapse, with no room left for recovery.

And Lingxiang would also sink into this Chaos, becoming a part of the rust, unable to escape for all eternity.

Gazing at the all-too-familiar Wuji Hall, Lingxiang wished those senior brothers were truly inside, that they would suddenly appear amidst the countless wails to save Maidong, to save Zhaoming Zhenren, to save everyone.

Yet she understood that this was nothing more than a delusion born of despair.

The entropy grew ever more prevalent, eroding the entire Wuji Hall until it looked like a pile of scrap metal, no longer possessing its former grandeur. And the entropy, as if unsatisfied, continued to spread along the brick seams; even Zhaoming Zhenren had turned into a rusted statue.

It had been too blind after all; if not for her rash actions in breaking into Maidong's sea of consciousness, she would not have caused Maidong's consciousness to Collapse.

It was her fault!

It was her fault!

If she could, she would willingly trade places with Maidong, letting everything that happened to Maidong happen to her, so she could bear this endless suffering in Maidong's stead.

But what could be done? Everything was already too late!

Lingxiang let out a long sigh, no longer caring about the encroaching entropy, and just knelt there, looking up at the yellowed sky and drifting clouds, then resignedly closed her eyes, waiting for fate to arrive in the dim crimson darkness.

A breeze blew by, stirring Lingxiang's disheveled hair, and a figure arrived with the wind, standing beside her.

The figure was slightly stout but stood straight, holding a horsetail whisk in one hand, while the other reached out quite naturally to stroke the top of Lingxiang's head.

Lingxiang slowly opened her eyes, and with just one glance, closed them again.

"Senior Brother Zhaoming..." Lingxiang murmured, "Has my time finally come..."

There was no response, but the touch on her head made Lingxiang think of her childhood; back then, although Zhaoming Zhenren was always huffing and puffing, he would stroke her hair just as gently.

No!

Lingxiang's brow furrowed, and she snapped her eyes open, looking again at the burly figure beside her. She studied him for a long time, and Zhaoming Zhenren looked back at her with a face full of kindness.

"Senior Brother Zhaoming?" her hoarse voice revealed her confusion.

Lingxiang wanted to stand up, but her legs were rusted by the entropy and could not move in the slightest. Ignoring her current disheveled state, she reached out and tugged at Zhaoming Zhenren's robe sleeve.

It was Senior Brother Zhaoming!

It really was Senior Brother Zhaoming!

Lingxiang could not suppress the wild joy in her heart; with sore eyes, she looked at the familiar face and gripped Zhaoming Zhenren's sleeve even tighter.

Zhaoming Zhenren smiled dotingly and flicked his whisk; the entropy imprisoning Lingxiang shattered and scattered like glass, and the entropy spreading around them also receded significantly.

"You have suffered, Junior Sister."

The deep voice instantly brought hot tears to Lingxiang's eyes; she threw herself into Zhaoming Zhenren's arms and began to cry loudly, as if to pour out all her grievances.

Zhaoming Zhenren was in no hurry, only gently patting Lingxiang's back, indulging her as she vented the grievances in her heart.

"Senior Brother... I missed you so much..." Lingxiang looked up at Zhaoming Zhenren, tears streaming down her face, "I couldn't save you, I'm sorry..."

Zhaoming Zhenren smiled and shook his head, gently wiping the tears from Lingxiang's face.

"Silly girl, what are you saying? Did you read the books in the pavilion for nothing?" Zhaoming Zhenren ruffled Lingxiang's messy hair, "Everything has its karmic cause, and all things are destined. Since this is a tribulation, how can it be blamed on you?"

"But... but..." Lingxiang still felt it was her fault that she couldn't save Zhaoming Zhenren.

At that time, Lingxiang had held the Life-Prolonging Pill she had taken from Zhao Wuyang, but Zhaoming Zhenren had already lost his breath, so the Life-Prolonging Pill was useless; and the Huitian Pill she had could not save Zhaoming either, for his heart—the fire spirit of a human—had already been crushed, and even if he were revived, he would still not escape the fate of death.

Hadn't Bigan, who had his Seven-Orifice Exquisite Heart dug out, also ended up dying in the marketplace?

That was why Lingxiang had felt so guilty and depressed all these years—no matter how much she knew of the Dao of alchemy or how many medical arts she understood, in the end, she was powerless.

Wait...

A tribulation?

Lingxiang, immersed in sorrow, suddenly raised her head and looked at Zhaoming Zhenren inquisitively, only to see his kind face and smiling expression. Seeing this, Lingxiang could not help but frown in thought.

For those who cultivate, there is the concept of undergoing tribulations, and responding to them is an essential part of cultivation. When a person reaches a certain realm, they naturally must undergo tribulations, and those with profound cultivation can even foresee their own tribulations in advance and avoid them properly.

Although Zhaoming Zhenren's cultivation was not as profound as Shangqing Zhenren, Qianyuan Zhenren, or Chengxin Zhenren, he could still trade blows with Donghui Zhenren; with his cultivation, calculating fortune and misfortune was second nature to him. He could not have been unaware of the coming tribulation, unless...

Lingxiang's heart skipped a beat, and she looked at Zhaoming Zhenren again; although he was still smiling, there was now a hint of approval in his eyes.

So that was it!

Following the direction Zhaoming Zhenren pointed, she saw Zhaoming Zhenren—now a rusted statue under the eaves of Wuji Hall—with his hands forming a Seal Mark, pointing at the collarbone of Maidong, who was also imprisoned by entropy.

It was the Seal Gate Heart-Protecting Mark!

Zhaoming Zhenren's heart was still in Maidong's hand, yet he had managed to form the complex Seal Gate Heart-Protecting Mark with his fingers!

Lingxiang looked back at the Zhaoming Zhenren behind her, his brows locked, his expression one of endurance.

It was said that the Fifth Senior Brother could not possibly be caught off guard by Maidong; it turned out he had long anticipated this tribulation, yet still chose to sacrifice himself to save Maidong!

"Fifth Senior Brother..."

Lingxiang choked up, not knowing what to say, only looking at Zhaoming Zhenren with teary eyes.

"Practicing medicine and saving people is like doing good and defending the Dao; there is no such thing as futility. As the saying goes, 'Do your best and leave the rest to fate.' Only by doing your utmost will you have no regrets later."

Zhaoming Zhenren's eyes shone brightly, dispelling the gloom in Lingxiang's heart. She took a deep breath, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and nodded heavily.

That's right!

It was merely a bit of entropy increase; what did a recurring nightmare matter? If she gave up, how could she be worthy of Zhaoming Zhenren's sacrifice?

Lingxiang turned around and looked at Maidong once more; this time, she would never lose to this nightmare!