Chapter 108: When the Rain Stops

This shout was still too late. Blood splattered everywhere as Lin Changming chose to commit suicide to prevent Ming Han from leaving the array. The Manji curse dissipated instantly, and his body fell back to the ground.

Ming Zhuo's expression changed several times, and he said, “You... why did you have to do this!”

Blood gushed from Lin Changming's throat. His brush and sword had long been lost, so he used the golden Fire Fish charm he always wore at his waist to end his life. Luo Xu approached, propping him up slightly and using a fire spell to seal his wound, but the injury was too severe, and even with the fire spell, it was hopeless.

Ming Zhuo said, “I just said I wanted to kill you to test if Ming Han was real. With the Lord here today, it wouldn’t have come to the point where you needed to commit suicide.”

Lin Changming's voice was hoarse, “I understand the Lord's good intentions, but I am old and frail. Even if I survived this conflict, I wouldn’t live much longer.”

Ming Zhuo raised his hand, seemingly wanting to remove the white silk band, but for some reason, he stopped when his hand touched it.

Lin Changming said, “The Lord is a good person, willing to give me dignity even at this moment.”

It turned out he understood that Ming Zhuo didn't remove the blindfold because he didn't want Lin Changming, who had been dignified all his life, to see himself die a miserable death.

The smile at the corners of Ming Zhuo’s mouth faded, leaving only a bit of indifference, “This counts as being a good person? I'm not doing this to give you dignity; it's because I don't get along with Ming Han. If he wants to see you, I won't.”

Luo Xu stopped the blood at Lin Changming's throat and said, “Even if the sky falls, the Lord’s words will hold it up. Ruyi Lang, do you have any parting words?”

Due to Lin Changming’s suicide, Ming Han and the black mist dissipated together. Without the support of spiritual energy, Lin Changming reverted completely to his old, frail self. His eyes were empty, and he said, “Ming Han was eloquent, falsely claiming I led you two into the array to test him... In reality, I had two selfish reasons for bringing you in. The first was to use myself and the Lord as bait to lure Ming Han in and kill him here. Now, that goal has been achieved. The second was to use opening the array as a condition to ask you to leave me here forever.”

Luo Xu said, “Nothing lasts forever. If you die, you’ll turn into a ghost and eventually dissipate.”

Lin Changming replied, “Nothing lasts forever. Back then, my Shifu...”

He choked on these words and, after a moment, gave a wistful smile.

“Back then, Jiang Linzhai was implicated by me, dying young, which left the Posuo Sect weak and ostracised by other sects. I intended to use marriage to help Yishi Niang establish herself, but she proved herself capable, and able to command respect across the Six Prefectures on her own. Still, no swordsman as great as Jiang Linzhai has ever appeared again.”

The flying snow and paper scraps swirled around, and in the chaos, it seemed the noise of a small town could be heard. Lin Changming sighed deeply, letting go of the golden Fire Fish charm. It transformed into a lightweight lantern, rising before his eyes and floating into the night sky, reminiscent of the night his feelings for Jiang Linzhai first took root.

“I am not Jian Yi,” Lin Changming's voice grew to a faint whispering murmur, “...see me one last time.”

A wind rose within the array, this time a gentle one, dispersing Ming Zhuo's pipa and the white silk band. Black hair flew, beads scattered, and embers flew into the sky as he and Luo Xu reverted to their original attire amidst the flying snow.

Ming Zhuo said, “I have fulfilled this wish.”

He raised his palms, sealing the disappearing array with Luo Xu. The boundary between the array and reality blurred, and Lin Changming slowly sank into the illusory scene, eventually vanishing with the Nightmare Sealing Array before their eyes.

Outside, the sunlight was blinding, as if only half a night had passed. Raindrops from when they entered the array still lingered on the blades of grass surrounding them. Ming Zhuo said, “A loss.”

Luo Xu said, “Saying it’s a loss now, it’s too late to ask him to repay the debt.”

Ming Zhuo examined Luo Xu's ring on his finger repeatedly, seeming unused to its return, “A loss of a head, Ming Han died too easily.”

Luo Xu said, “Indeed, it was too easy.”

Ming Zhuo asked, “You don't believe he’s dead?”

Luo Xu flicked the coin, turned his face towards Ming Zhuo, and said something unrelated, “The rain has stopped.”

Ming Zhuo's heart stirred, and he frowned. Yes, the rain had stopped, meaning they were no longer trapped in Lin Changming's story. However, this was no ordinary place; it was the outskirts of Peidu.

“Peidu only has rainy days,” Luo Xu looked up, “Under what circumstance would there be sunshine?”

“One circumstance,” Ming Zhuo enunciated clearly, “Hui Mang and I are both dead.”

The Author Has Something to Say

(Because the meal was too little, I don’t dare to shout loudly) (I gently offered it up) (I whispered a thanks for reading) (then pedalled away on a shabby tricycle, leaving in a sorry state)