Chapter 48: Revenge 8

  Everything has been turned upside down for several hundred years, and now everything is starting all over again.

  History is forever unable to judge right and wrong, no one will go out of their way to hurt others for no reason, and there is no harm that is deserved or should be endured. In such a chaotic era, innocence is ignored.

  For some reason, a familiar yet icy voice suddenly emerged in Nalan Xiong's mind.

  "Do you know how many people he has killed? Do you know how many people he has killed for this world?!"

  "In that war, all three of my brothers were killed by his hands, and he didn't even spare my mother and my younger sister who was still in her infancy!"

  Nalan Xixi's eyes suddenly felt a sharp pain, and a hot flow surged up from her heart, filling her eye sockets.

  "So, you want to repeat the same mistake, all of you want to repeat the same mistake, huh..." She struggled to hold back the hot tears in her eyes, she couldn't cry. "You want me...to be like you, is that it?"

  You want me to watch you kill him with my own eyes, to feel your pain, you want to kill him again. The first time was killing him in my heart, the second time is really killing him. So, are you happy now?

  Nalan Xixi suddenly didn't know whether this sentence was asking Dugu Qiu or someone else.

  But she didn't want to, no matter who it was, she didn't want to see them slaughter each other. Originally heroes who were sworn to live and die together, why must they be tormented by hatred to the point of being so miserable?

  "You can think whatever you want, but now, can you take me to see him?"

  "Alright." Dugu Qiu didn't hesitate. "But there's one condition."

  In the mountain cave, heavily guarded by soldiers.

  Nangong Jin leaned against the cold and hard cage, looking at those serious and vigilant soldiers, couldn't help but laugh.

  This formation looks like it's guarding some kind of ferocious beast, as if one careless move would bring disaster in all directions.

  The entrance, transmitted a faint footsteps, there were three people, one familiar person, two masters.

  After a while, the three of them slowly emerged from the darkness. Dugu Xueyan looked at Nan Gongyu who was waiting with an expectant expression in his cage and signaled to the two behind him that they didn't need to follow too closely.

  He slowly walked closer to the cage, then stopped half a meter away from it. He stood there, looking at Nan Gongyu, the thick scars on his neck looking particularly frightening in the firelight.

  Nangong Jin turned around and met his eyes, the original icy stiffness unexpectedly melted.

  Dugu Yan couldn't speak, nor did he speak, but somehow, it was as if he could hear what he was saying, and see through what he was thinking. Despite his utmost efforts to conceal himself, he was still seen through at a glance.

  Perhaps it's just like this, after many years of not seeing each other, reuniting again, everything is still in its original place, and it's always those beautiful things from the past.

  For those who grew up in cruelty, goodness is more memorable than the unbearable and harder to forget.

  Just over a decade ago, they rode horses, chatting and laughing, envying others. On the battlefield, they promised to live and die together, cherishing each other like hands and feet. They were people who would only meet once in a lifetime.

  Also the most cherished yet unattainable person in each other's life.

  Suddenly, Nangong Jin was startled awake by his own thoughts. His face quickly regained its usual icy calmness. He slightly furrowed his brow, and his voice was cold to the bone. "Why hesitate over such trivial matters? Take action."

  Dugu Yan suddenly choked up.

  He didn't say a word, but Nangong Jin saw through what he was thinking at a glance.

  Nangong Jin was also shocked in his heart.

  What he said was insignificant, but it allowed him to understand the person in front of him at this moment, and he could know what he was thinking without saying much.

  What an ironic scene.

  At this time, a rustling sound came from the doorway, and Nan Gong Jin's face suddenly turned pale.

  In the darkness, two voices, one big and one small, accompanied by the sound of a wooden wheel rolling on the ground, slowly approached. Nalan Xianyu's face was pale and haggard, and when she saw Nan Gongyin, she almost burst into tears.

  Nangong Jin could no longer remain calm, he wanted to go up and hug her, tell her that he was fine, don't worry, ask if she was okay, let her leave quickly, and then tell her, perhaps he would have to abandon her again...

  A cold cage separates them, as if they are in different worlds.

  Nan Gong Jin gradually regained his composure, his face cold and stern as he looked at Dugu Qiu in the wheelchair. Dugu Qiu's expression was unreadable, but his eyes were even colder than before.

  His revenge is about to begin.

  Dugu Yan retreated behind Dugu Qiu, Nalan Xixi slowly walked closer to the cage, Nan Gong Jin looked at her step by step approaching, and suddenly had a bad feeling in his heart.

  She stopped in front of the cage, Nalan Xianyu halted her footsteps. Nan Gongyin looked at her, her face was expressionless, and her eyes were filled with a indifference that he couldn't decipher. She stood there, right in front of him, within arm's reach, yet untouchable.

  "Kneel down." Du Guo Qiang ordered coldly.

  Nalan Xixi heard this and didn't hesitate for a moment. She turned around and fell to her knees with a thud.

  Nan Gong Jin looked at Nalan Xian Nu, who was kneeling in front of Dugu Qiu, with unbelievable eyes. That was his Xian Nu, proud and arrogant, never admitting defeat or bowing her head. But at this moment, she seemed to have no life, allowing Dugu Qiu to manipulate her at will, slowly, one by one, kowtowing to Dugu Qiu.

  "Nalan Xino, get up for me!" Nangong Jin's face was pale, he struggled to suppress his anger, forcing himself to calm down, he clenched his fists tightly again, another warning. "Nalan Xino, what qualifications do you have to kneel here, who asked you to come and save me, who needs you to be so humble to save me?"

  Nalan Xixi heard the words, her movements paused for a moment, and then she continued to kowtow to Dugu Qiu. Across from her, Dugu Yan's face was expressionless. This should have been their happy moment, but they didn't feel any sense of revenge or pleasure.

  They didn't understand why the moment they had been longing for had finally arrived, yet they didn't feel happy at all. Suddenly, Dugu Qiu's body trembled, and he turned his head to look at Dugu Yan.

  Dugu Yan felt it was still not enough. Dugu Qiu hesitated for a moment and coldly said: "Take off your clothes."

  Nalan Xixi's body trembled slightly, but she didn't make any refutations. She stretched out her hand and began to untie her waistband.

  Nangong Jin looked at her actions and roared: "Stop!"

  Nalan Xixi gritted her teeth, her eyes reddening again. She didn't stop the movement of her hands, her waistband was already undone, she took off her outer robe and threw it aside, starting to take off the only remaining inner shirt.

  Everyone in the cave held their breath, Nangong Jin shook his head and involuntarily took a step back. The feeling of powerlessness, despair, and helplessness was like a vine that bound him tightly, almost unable to breathe.

  Finally, Nalan Xixi's last shirt was also shed, revealing a body that was far from the perfect and unblemished one he had imagined. On the contrary, his snow-white skin was covered in scars, with whip marks and knife wounds scattered all over his body, even more than those of a veteran warrior who had been through many battles.

  Everyone was shocked, and even Nangong Jin couldn't help but be surprised.

  Nalan Xixi's body trembled slightly, an unprecedented sense of shame striking the last line of her heart. However, those pride and dignity were nothing compared to him.

  Dugu Qiu lightly clenched her fist, and she... actually did it too.

  When he asked her to obey all his orders, she surprisingly agreed without hesitation.

  He thought that no matter how much she loved Nan Gong Jin, no matter how loyal she was to Nan Gong Jin, she would never be able to put down her own dignity and pride. That was something more important than her life itself, a hundred times over, and she definitely wouldn't give it up.

  But... she actually did it!

  In comparison, even if you don't want anything and have nothing, aren't you willing to give up on someone who is already at death's door? You clearly know I won't let him go, clearly know he will definitely die. But you still want to abandon everything to grasp this faint glimmer of hope?

  Nalan Xixi, this shouldn't be you, where is your pride? Where has your arrogance gone?!

  Suddenly, a gleaming sword emerged from its scabbard with a "swish" sound in the deathly silent cave and landed right in front of Nalan Xinnuo. The blade reflected the firelight onto Nalan Xinnuo's pale face.

  "Cut off his left arm, or..." A cold glint flashed in Dugu Qiu's eyes. "Comfort my soldiers a bit, choose one of the two, you decide for yourself."

  Nalan Xixi raised her eyes and looked at the soldiers on both sides of the cave, whose breathing was somewhat disordered. She clenched her fists tightly, her fingernails digging deep into her palms. How she wanted to pick up this sword and kill him, but she couldn't.

  Now she has no choice.

  "Hmph." In the cage, Nan Gong Jin coldly smiled. "Is this your punishment for me?"

  Nalan Xixi heard his cold laughter, knowing he was feigning calmness, and also knew that he wanted her to choose the former, but how could she? Even if it meant death, she wouldn't allow anyone to harm him, not even a little.

  "Xī nuò." Nángōng Jǐn's voice was cold and firm. However, before he could finish his request, Nàlán Xīnuò slowly stood up, her petite and alluring body fully exposed to the air.

  She walked slowly forward. Nangong Jin's heart skipped a beat, and he shouted: "Halt!"

  Nalan Xixi walked as if she hadn't heard, continuing in the direction of the soldiers. Suddenly, Dugu Qiu burst out laughing.

  That laughter was like a sharp blade cutting into Nan Gong Jin's chest, this is his punishment.

  He smiled like that, no more than wanting to tell him, Nangong Jin, Luo Tian Da Di, this is the price you have to pay. You can make the whole world surrender at your feet, you can save all living things, but you just can't save the woman you love.

  Whether it's Nan Gongyan or Nalan Xianyu, you are destined to save neither of them. You are doomed to watch helplessly as the women you love suffer humiliation and be trampled upon, but there is nothing you can do about it.

  This is his punishment.

  Du Gu Yan lightly waved his hand, and the Qiang soldiers behind him, like hungry wolves, rushed towards Nalan Xianyu, who was naked. Nalan Xianyu didn't move, allowing them to press her down.

  The Qiang soldiers had been lonely in the deep mountains for too long, with no way to vent their desires. When they saw Nalan Xianyu naked, they were already burning with desire. Now that they had received the order, they were like hungry wolves and tigers, eager to pounce.