Chapter 189: Purgatory

Chapter 189: Purgatory

At noon, Lily took Bran under the tree. Butterflies fluttered around them, occasionally sprinkling specks of golden light, making the siblings appear noble and holy.

Sister had a sunny face, steady like a mountain; brother had a fair complexion, somewhat delicate. Lily, not fully matured yet, made it hard to tell if she was male or female . If she weren’t clearly taller than her brother, the two would look more like twin brothers at that moment. Standing there, they perfectly represented the meaning of siblings being one. Anyone who saw them would only feel envy, and gossip would simply vanish before such a scene.

Adam looked at the pair of livewires under the tree and shook his head with a smile. After living together for so many years, this was the first time he saw them showing deep sibling affection, and in public view too. There was no pretentiousness in their actions; it was completely their true selves. Perhaps they were just taking this rare chance to temporarily drop their disguises.

Seeing Xirui beside him biting her finger with an envious look, Adam couldn’t help but reach out and ruffle her hair. At least this youngest sister still had a chance to join them, while he could only watch from afar, watching them go further and further away, higher and higher.

…

After spending a rare, heartwarming time with his sister, Bran decided to leave. This place was like a prepared stage, and his sudden intrusion had troubled many people.

He would cross the Western Territory and go to the Anya People’s defense line, where he would perform a lonely, desolate solo dance.

Holding Huahua, Bran leaped from the city wall and glided towards the distance. The butterflies wanted to follow him but were suddenly restrained by Lily’s force, keeping them at her side. Only two or three butterflies closest to Bran remained unaffected.

The sudden change almost made him fall. “We agreed, half and half!”

Rando and Langa sat on his shoulders, frequently looking back. They didn’t know when they would next get to play with so many companions. Under the admiring and envious gazes of their friends, they told their adventure stories, feeling proud and satisfied.

They exchanged experiences with Lijia, trying to prove that their own companion was the strongest, even coming to blows over it. Only Bran was somewhat disappointing, as he actually chose to escape.

…

With Bran leaping off the city wall, most of the seeing-off crowd let out a sigh of relief. This was for the best, sparing everyone awkwardness. Many people couldn’t help but feel a slight fondness for Bran. Though reclusive, he knew when to advance and retreat at critical moments.

Now things were back on track. There was no longer any need to worry about the trouble inadvertently caused by these two siblings. Placating the slightly reckless child Lily was much easier than dealing with the elusive Bran.

Feeling relieved, people enjoyed the bright afternoon sunshine, and laughter and conversation gradually arose.

Lily stood there, listening to the laughter around her, feeling disgust and helplessness. She knew why Bran chose to leave. It was these people who drove him away, with their attitudes, with their hints…

At this moment, she was filled with worry. Her brother’s state of mind was becoming increasingly abnormal. Last night, Bran had tightly held her hand, speaking with mad words, seeming weak and helpless.

Those words seemed to still echo in her ears:

“I fear not death. Life and death mean nothing to me, because no matter what I have done, people will only remember the name ‘Bran,’ this utterly meaningless name, this utterly meaningless appearance.

After I die, you will no longer know me. Even if I force my way into your dreams, to you, I will just be a stranger.

A strange soul will linger around you, and you will only drive it away in fear. You will only miss a meaningless shell, a meaningless name, yet turn a blind eye to the one most familiar.

I wanted to leave my own appearance, but I have forgotten it.”

As Bran spoke, the Mist in his hand began to constantly change, various figures flashing by. “I even remember passersby I brushed shoulders with, but I have forgotten myself alone.”

“Soul! I will find my own soul, and then see my own appearance.”

When the first rays of morning light covered Bran’s face, he suddenly woke up. He said it was the influence of Mana, that night was their strongest time. This was the price, the price for obtaining this Mana.

But she knew it was a lie! Yet she was unwilling, and did not want to expose it.

Mana always affected Wizards, but it could not create something from nothing. Her younger brother had probably truly gone mad, and Mana would accelerate the process.

Taking her brother’s hand under the tree, she didn’t know if there would be such an opportunity in the future, so she cherished it greatly. Perhaps her brother understood too, which is why he set aside his lazy demeanor and quietly leaned against her.

…

The Demon Clan army marching towards the Western Territory gained smooth progress after joining with the vanguard. The Insect Swarm, having fought the vanguard to a standstill, became easy prey for the following troops.

The flanks of the army slowly spread out, forcing the Insect Swarm to constantly tighten its formation and retreat. Under the relentless pressure, the exhausted Insect Swarm was finally compressed together and fell into a desperate situation. The Western Territory was now within sight, and the Demon Clan prepared to carry out this extermination before the eyes of the Northlanders.

Rio had already despaired. The retreat route was blocked, and the Northlanders were still nowhere to be seen. The surroundings were crowded with insects, occasionally bumping into each other, provoking short bursts of chirping from both sides.

Pawns! Rio thought he understood. Their purpose had long been served. That vague command was just the final use of waste.

Yes, what use was there in keeping them? They had attracted the Demon Clan army and led to its defeat. This grassland would then completely fall into the hands of the Northlanders.

This was not fair! They had abandoned everything just to stay alive. Yet they still ended up like this. So what was the point of begging for life on their knees back then?

A commotion from the Insect Swarm roused him. A youth holding a huge Black Cat walked in. Looking at him with a teasing tone, he said, “Can you understand my words?”

In that instant, joyful happiness enveloped Rio. He knelt down and answered in a trembling voice, “Yes…”

…

Along the way, Bran completed Lily’s request and resolved the Insect Swarm’s crisis. For him, it was just a matter of convenience, but for the Demon Clan, it was like a bolt from the blue. One of their units had vanished into thin air.

Scouts reported that nothing intact could be found there. It was as if everything had turned to powder, with a strong smell of blood permeating the air.

Dealt this blow, the Demon Clan stopped pursuing the Insect Swarm, and the troops began to regroup. Faced with the unknown situation, they decided to first secure their footing, scout, and then wait for the arrival of the main army, for the moment of the final assault.

…

During the dull, unbearable wait, in anxious anticipation, Kurt, who had been squatting on the city wall for days, finally saw a glimmer of hope. Far away, a small, unforgettable figure slowly approached.

His body trembled uncontrollably, and he mustered all his strength to squeeze out a hoarse, strange sound: “He’s here!”

His hand shook as he pointed in that direction. Fear once again overwhelmed this once-brave Knight. Someone wanted to sound the alarm bell beside him, but he desperately held them back. “Shh…”

People looked at the figure of the child in the distance, then at this tall, sturdy Knight, and a sense of strangeness arose. Many looked at him with contempt, but he still, without regard for image, put a finger to his lips and slightly crouched. “Shh…”

He hid completely behind the battlement, only revealing one eye to peek.

…

Bran looked at the broken flagpole and the filthy flag at his feet, frowning. The familiar pattern on the flag reminded him of many things. There were two such flags beside the gate of his Mountain Villa too. They were the boundary flags he first used to mark the villa’s territory. Standing there, no one dared to touch them.

He picked up the flag and raised it slightly. Under the effect of his ability, the damage was repaired, and the filth was removed. The great flag was re-erected, and a base formed along with it.

As the flag was raised again, the gate of the Demon Clan’s Camp swung open. It seemed someone wanted to charge out, but after quite a while, there was no movement. The entire Camp had fallen into dead silence.

The city wall of Anya was also eerily silent. The Demon Clan’s Camp had just been full of human shouts and horse neighs; even on the city wall, the sounds of drums and gongs could be clearly heard. But in an instant, all sounds vanished.

No, there was still one sound, softly sounding in the ears. “Shh…”