Fleeing from Life and Death (5)

Xianyue raced forward, her mind a blank slate, as if she had lost all capacity for thought. She couldn't recall anything; if not for the violent beating of her heart in her chest, she might have believed herself already dead. Her hands felt cold and clammy, drenched in icy sweat. She longed to cry, yet no tears came forth; she was utterly at a loss for how to express her emotions. A chill seeped into her being, as if she had been doused with a bucket of frigid water in the depths of a bitter winter, leaving her shivering uncontrollably. Her legs weakened beneath her, and without the agility of a cheetah, she was certain she would collapse onto the ground.

The sky had not yet fully darkened. In the Zhou Dynasty, wealthy families might have hung bright red lanterns, but here, beneath the eaves, only wind chimes danced. Fire was a luxury they could not afford to waste.

Occasionally, Xianyue encountered a few young men along the way. In this matriarchal society, these boys were not yet capable of contributing as laborers, and thus could not venture to the sacred site of the rituals.

Xianyue moved with great speed, stirring up gusts of wind in her wake. As the young men reached out to seize her, her white figure had already glided past them, several meters ahead. They pursued her, warning that this was a sacred time for the rituals and that as an outsider, she must not intrude. But Xianyue paid them no mind. In her current state, she was consumed by urgency, with no time to turn back and dismiss them. Her breath came in rapid bursts, charged with seething anger, as if it could incinerate everything in its path. Yet her gaze remained frigid, reminiscent of ancient ice; merely standing there, a glance from her could send shivers down one's spine.

She hastened toward the ritual site, though it was not particularly close to her home and she had only traversed the path once. However, anything she had taken the time to memorize was etched firmly in her mind after just one pass.

The ritual ground was expansive and still teeming with people. Without a moment's hesitation, Xianyue deftly stepped atop their shoulders, using them as a springboard to reach the altar.

A great cauldron burned with fervor, the charcoal crackling loudly, reminiscent of a carnivorous plant feasting on delectable morsels. Above the cauldron, a large pot bubbled, with white vines floating in the simmering water. The local leader, clad in the same shamanistic garb as the day before, bore a face painted with bizarre totems. He held a wooden bowl, still slick with remnants of the broth, and upon seeing Xianyue, he paused in astonishment.

Xianyue did not see Lanyu Xuan; instead, she pressed the blade of her knife against the leader's neck, releasing a sharp gasp. The onlookers glared at her in shared outrage, but Xianyue's smoldering anger, born from worry, was potent enough to obliterate this entire place. If anything had happened to Lanyu Xuan, she would sacrifice her life to enact vengeance on all present. At the very least, she would not permit the leader to continue living. She would upend the cauldron ablaze with fire and ignite the flames in every dwelling and the so-called sacred tree. In her eyes, every person here was implicated in Lanyu Xuan's suffering—culprit, accomplice—none were innocent.

"You drank the grass wine brewed from our divine milk, and it roused you. You are a messenger sent by the gods; it is their command that you accompany her."

Xianyue had no inclination to listen to his drivel. She drew blood along his neck as she walked toward the depths of the forest. Scenes from her dreams replayed vividly before her, like a film on repeat. Panic constricted her breath, and had she not feared a collective backlash and obstruction, she would have eliminated that leader, erasing him from this world without hesitation.

She withdrew her sword, her thumb and forefinger bloodied and throbbing from the injury. Yet she gripped the sword tightly, unaware of her wounds.

As she took her leave, the shaman swiftly followed, incessantly chattering behind her. "Your friend is leaving this world shortly. He just bid you farewell through the wisdom of the divine, which is why you awakened so quickly. Until he passes, I will not harm you. You should depart; he is not the delicacy our gods desire. Once he leaves, we will hunt you down with all our might and offer you to our deities. I am certain she will be pleased."

Xianyue's heart raced in terror, for the words spoken by the man behind her echoed eerily with the messages from her dreams. Pain surged through her, a rupture in her chest that threatened to spill over like a breached dam, the blood red and boiling like tumultuous waves. Her complexion drained to a ghostly pallor.

"Lanyu Xuan."

"Lanyu Xuan."

The leader, like Xianyue, had long raced with animals and was fleet of foot. Yet the people here lacked inner strength and agility; their robust movements were honed through years of practice. The leader's imposing size was no match for the nimble Xianyue, who soon distanced herself from him.

"Lanyu Xuan."

In the distance, she spotted a purple silhouette—his soul torn from him, leaving only a lifeless shell. Mechanically, it moved toward the tree, now brimming with anticipation. Just a step away, he reached out to embrace the tree, which danced eagerly as if sensing food's approach. Its tentacle-like branches writhed in excitement, revealing the white bones it had regurgitated the day before.

Xianyue felt her heart leap from her chest. Her eyes widened in horror, and she screamed as the world seemed to dim around her. Just as those vines were about to ensnare Lanyu Xuan, she lunged forward, her small frame resembling an arrow released from its bow, sword raised high as she severed the white tendrils that threatened him. The force was so tremendous that the vines split apart, spraying crimson blood in all directions.

The carnivorous tree recoiled from the attack, its six large leaves instinctively retracting while the remaining branches surged with even greater vigor toward Lanyu Xuan.

Xianyue stood protectively over Lanyu Xuan. As she turned, she saw the vines lashing toward him and retreated a couple of steps, her sword moving like a nimble serpent—hard and soft—slicing through the supple tendrils. The tree, seemingly sentient, felt pain and fear. After several strikes from Xianyue, it shrank back, its open maw resembling a pair of glaring eyes fixated on Lanyu Xuan and Xianyue.

Xianyue retracted her snow-white sword, now splattered with blood—her face, hands, and pristine garments stained, yet the blade remained spotless. She executed a swift turn and landed behind Lanyu Xuan, seizing this rare moment of calm to pull him down from the tree.

"Lanyu Xuan."

Xianyue grasped Lanyu Xuan's shoulders tightly, shaking him fervently. His eyes were a shimmering amber, glazed with the effects of enchantment, vacant and lost, staring blankly at the now subdued carnivorous tree, waiting for the opportune moment to strike.

"Don't go."

Xianyue positioned herself firmly in front of him, but Lanyu Xuan tilted his head, gazing at the unusually placid tree.

Seeing him disregard her, Xianyue raised her hand and slapped him hard. "Lanyu Xuan, I am Feng Xianyue."

Her voice was laced with desperation; she would have given her life for him. Why, after consuming the broth, did he remain unresponsive even to her pleas?

Lanyu Xuan, like a bewildered child, glanced down at Xianyue. Rather than focusing on her face, he seemed fixated on the bloodstains adorning it, the vivid hues flowing like blossoms in full bloom—strikingly bright and captivating.

Upon noticing Lanyu Xuan's gaze, Xianyue saw his vacant pupils momentarily contract. Suddenly inspired, she slashed her arm with the sword. Not holding back, blood flowed steadily down her pristine arm, each drop audible as it hit the ground, a rhythmic echo of her racing heart.

She expressed that her feelings for him stemmed from her deep gratitude for his unwavering support during the most critical moments. She revealed her lingering concern for the one she cherished most, Feng Jiulan, and no matter what the future held, she hoped to protect both her brother and the people of Feng Kingdom. At that moment, she was resolute, prepared to face death; if she could not bear this responsibility, she wished for Lanyu Xuan to shoulder it in her place. 

When faced with life and death alongside those dear to her, one inevitably wishes for the other to remain strong, even while knowing that it is the one left behind who suffers the most. 

Due to his childhood experiences, Lanyu Xuan's greatest fear was witnessing his beloved bleed before him, only to be lost forever. This fear resided deep within his soul, unshakeable by any remedy. Just as she, consumed by the dread of losing him to the maw of the man-eating tree, fought desperately to awaken, Lanyu Xuan must have realized his decision then. Yet he deceived himself into believing that Gong Shaohua would one day perish at his hands, perhaps knowing that if he departed, he would inadvertently fulfill that fate, personally confronting the powerful yet cruel woman. 

Lanyu Xuan merely watched as Xianyue's left arm bled, tracing the invisible wound with his gaze. His eyes followed each drop of blood as it fell, glistening like rubies before fading into the earth, the vibrant amber hue gradually dimming. 

"Lanyu Xuan, this place is still governed by a matriarchal clan, where only women may enjoy exalted status. I can communicate in their tongue, and they regard me as a messenger of the divine. Here, only men are offered as sacrifices, while women cannot be forced; no one wishes to be consumed by a tree. They have sworn oaths to their deities, promising that if I willingly become their offering, they will escort you to safety." 

Xianyue pressed on, indifferent to whether Lanyu Xuan understood, her urgency driving her need to explain. She sensed he was listening, regardless of how much he grasped. 

"Therefore, Lanyu Xuan, only in my death can you be saved. If this man-eating tree devours you, they will pursue me relentlessly once you are gone. Should I remain unconscious, upon my awakening, they will seize me to offer to their gods, and we would both perish." 

"Lord Lanyu, if you wish to prevent my death, you must help me awaken. You must understand, how could I abandon you? It is beyond my capacity." 

Xianyue stepped closer, gripping Lanyu Xuan's arm tightly, her flowing blood staining his garments. She leaned against him, gazing upward through tear-blurred vision, a haze of white filling her sight. 

No more shall there be endless exchanges; Lanyu Xuan, with his intricate mind, could not fail to notice her distress. In the face of death, she might have appeared composed, yet her heart raced with fear. How could she not comprehend that Lanyu Xuan, willing to risk his life for her, truly loved her? His affections were rarely vocalized but made felt profoundly in the most critical moments. 

Fearing the departure of his beloved, Lanyu Xuan could not bear to watch her sacrifice herself for him. She cared for her brother, yet equally could not imagine life without Lanyu Xuan. Thus, if death was to be their fate, let them face it together, to spare the living from torment. 

Xianyue clung to Lanyu Xuan as the sound of hurried footsteps erupted behind them. Suddenly alert, she raised her head to find the locals rushing towards them, their eyes fierce, as if intending to devour them whole. 

The leader pointed at Xianyue, commanding the others, "That is not a messenger sent by the gods; she is a demon from the inferno! Quickly, seize her so our gods may purify her filthy and bloody soul!" 

The furious crowd surged forward, their dark faces and white eyes glowing with fiery rage. 

"A pack of ignorant fools, deluded lunatics! Only you would worship this man-eating tree as a deity, only you would harm your own kin, feeding a never-satisfied monster with their blood!" Xianyue grasped her sword, positioning herself to shield Lanyu Xuan, unwilling to let anyone near. Yet she feared he might be seduced into the clutches of the tree. Gripping his garment, she was taken aback when Lanyu Xuan obediently remained behind her, motionless, his gaze lowered to his bleeding arm, his vacant eyes shimmering with an unexpected tenderness. 

Stung by Xianyue's words, the mob resembled rabid beasts, their fervor ignited. She knew she ought not to provoke them, yet at times, actions defy reason. She felt dread, her heart suspended since entering the royal tomb of Chu Kingdom, never finding peace. Especially after encountering the man-eating ants, this crowd was a band of damned lunatics. Their barbaric mindset was unacceptable, yet it should not be imposed upon her and Lanyu Xuan. 

With arms spread wide, they crouched, each step causing the ground to tremble. Their movements were unnaturally synchronized as they advanced toward Xianyue. 

"Lord Lanyu, stay close to me." 

Casting a worried glance at the stoic Lanyu Xuan, she still felt uneasy. She extended her bleeding left hand and took his right, aware that they were encircled. With resolve, Xianyue lunged forward, cleaving through the throng, and forcefully severed a man's arm. 

The remaining crowd recoiled, their eyes fixed on her like feral predators, filled with malice, bloodlust, yearning to rend her apart. 

Lanyu Xuan remained obedient, following Xianyue wherever she went. Despite his left hand being tethered by her bloodied grip, her movements remained agile. The mob demonstrated an unprecedented sense of teamwork; their every motion flowed seamlessly together. 

They recognized Xianyue's concern for Lanyu Xuan, knowing she would not release his hand. With her left arm wounded, blood streamed more profusely from the injury due to her actions. Those perceptive enough quickly altered their course, lunging towards Lanyu Xuan with predator-like swiftness. 

As one approached Lanyu Xuan, Xianyue swiftly turned, using her sword to deflect their hands. Most wielded crude wooden tools, with flimsy iron weapons, never having encountered a weapon as versatile and formidable as Xianyue's, capable of slicing through them with ease, creating wide gashes that would sever limbs. Yet, for these people, death seemed inconsequential. They pressed on, undeterred by her blade, charging forth with a reckless abandon. 

In that moment, Xianyue cared for nothing but the advancing foes, swinging her sword at every one of them. The sky darkened, and the torches illuminated every corner, revealing the crimson splatter before her. One by one, they fell, yet as long as they lived, they ignored their injuries, rising again to continue their relentless assault.

The air was thick with the pungent scent of blood, rousing the slumbering cannibal tree. The white branches once more danced in the air, stretching out like the supple waists of women, swiftly ensnaring those thrown against the trunk by Xianyue. The robust bodies, with their eight massive leaves resembling steel, formed an impenetrable iron cage. Their tiger-claw-like thorns pierced into the flesh of the assailants, eliciting sharp cries of pain, echoing like the heavy mountains in a relentless chorus. Beneath the tree, the accumulation of bones grew increasingly apparent.

Like a surging tide, the assailants swarmed forth, and Xianyue, her vision clouded with fury, wielded her sword instinctively, more and more foes collapsing before her, only to rise again, the frenzy unsustainable. Her hands grew weary, fatigue beginning to set in, yet the number of attackers surged like a relentless wave. With each fallen comrade, their determination only intensified.

They encircled her in a tight formation, isolating Xianyue and Lanyu Xuan at the center. Now, they split their assault; some focused on Xianyue, while others targeted Lanyu Xuan, with a few attempting to separate the two.

Xianyue felt a creeping exhaustion as she fought to fend off the attackers while also shielding Lanyu Xuan. Blood splattered, blurring her vision; in her efforts to protect him, new wounds marred her body.

Suddenly, an attacker lunged at her, crashing onto her injured left hand that held Lanyu Xuan's. Xianyue gasped, her sword slicing toward the intruder, yet she did not let go. In their wake, five or six more surged forward, and just as she attempted to tighten her grip on Lanyu Xuan, he unexpectedly released her hand. Before long, the torrent of bodies had separated them.

Xianyue sought to push through, but the attackers' stout arms were like solid iron barrels, blocking her escape as they split into two factions, encircling Lanyu Xuan and Xianyue respectively.

The shaman-clad leader approached Lanyu Xuan once more, palm open and resting on his head, guiding him again. Xianyue watched in horror as Lanyu Xuan began to walk toward the cannibal tree, just as before.

"Lanyu Xuan!"

The towering figures surrounding Xianyue prevented her from clearly seeing him, forcing her to stand on tiptoe to glimpse Lanyu Xuan's head. Just like in her dreams, she called his name repeatedly, yet could not halt his advance.

"Didn't you say you wouldn't marry anyone else? You promised to take me safely from this place. I would marry you and care for your mother; I would help you eliminate Gong Shaohua. You must not deceive me!"

Xianyue sniffled, "Even if you're using me, it's of no consequence; I would willingly be your pawn, Lanyu Xuan."

"Lanyu Xuan, you cannot die! If you do, I cannot survive either! I was lying before; my promise to marry you was not born of gratitude. I care for my brother, but I cannot be without you. If you die, they will not spare me; even if I escape this place, I will never find happiness again!"

Xianyue cried out in desperation, tears streaming down her face. But Lanyu Xuan seemed lost in a dream, unresponsive to her frantic calls.

The onlookers around her, however, were exhilarated, shifting their feet like crabs, inching closer. To them, Xianyue was merely prey, and they reveled in her weeping and struggles, relishing the triumph of subduing such a formidable quarry.

Lanyu Xuan drew closer to the cannibal tree while the mob advanced toward Xianyue. Distraught and desperate, her resolve hardened into a fierce determination. She stood as an indomitable warrior, raising her sword against the wild-eyed savages who reveled in her despair, striking down one, then two, for every enemy that approached.

Her gaze remained fixed on Lanyu Xuan, now entangled with the shaman-like leader, who seemed hell-bent on sacrificing him. With deft movements, she dodged their assaults, yet each step closer was fraught with struggle.

One of Lanyu Xuan's hands clutched the tree's thick trunk, its gnarled surface gleaming darkly as it absorbed fresh blood. Taking a deep breath, Xianyue suddenly erupted into tears, crying out, "Lanyu Xuan!"

As her eyes widened in alarm, the sword in her hand, imbued with icy resolve, swept forth like crashing waves, forcefully clearing a path through the throng. Her petite figure leaped into the air, moving with a speed that eclipsed even thunder and lightning, rushing toward Lanyu Xuan. Almost simultaneously, Lanyu Xuan, initially climbing the tree toward doom, abruptly turned around, his amber gaze replaced by a cold, deadly intent. With a swift motion, he executed a turn, unleashing a fist imbued with formidable strength against the encroaching vines. In that moment, he dashed forward, a fleeting shadow, reaching the shamanic leader chanting fervently, lifting him effortlessly before delivering a decisive kick that sent him directly into the gaping maw of the cannibal tree. A piercing scream erupted, and the mouth slowly closed, only to reopen moments later, revealing a chilling sight of bleached bones.

All the transformations occurred in the blink of an eye. Xianyue gasped, her heart racing as if it had leaped from her chest, then returned. Lanyu Xuan turned to her with a smile, embracing her tightly around the waist. His eyes reflected concern and affection, mingled with an exhilarating euphoria. Xianyue smiled back at Lanyu Xuan for what felt like an eternity, but then her gaze fell upon the ravenous, wolf-like eyes below. She patted Lanyu Xuan's shoulder and declared resolutely, "Let's go."