Chapter 225: Return
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Ji Jing’s chanting of the spell wasn’t particularly lengthy, yet for Xue Zhong, it felt like time was passing at an agonizingly slow pace.
He could vividly sense himself gradually losing control over his body, as if someone were pulling him away from that physical shell, strand by strand. As his vision ascended, he realized that he had now become a spirit.
Xue Zhong could see Ji Jing and the others, all standing guard with wary expressions. They were likely guarding against him.
Strangely, he didn’t experience any strong emotions. There was no madness, no desire to harm, just an idle thought of the refrigerator. What a shame, he couldn’t indulge in ice cream in this state.
Soon, he witnessed the familiar body next to him gradually regaining consciousness; it was Xue Meng, his lost soul returning.
Xue Zhong observed this scene with a sense of wonder. In his limited memory, this was the first time he had met his twin brother, Xue Meng. He wondered what kind of person Xue Meng was.
However, before Xue Zhong could contemplate it for a moment longer, he was drawn towards the paper effigy.
Would the paper effigy make noise as it moved? Xue Zhong was curious.
Up until a moment ago, it had felt like he was in a dream that was partially real and partially not. Everything was so vivid, yet his emotions seemed separated by a layer of film, never quite touching reality.
It was like he was watching a movie of his life, where he felt joy when the protagonist was happy and sorrow when the protagonist was sad. However, his emotions never felt as direct or intense as they should have.
The emotions he observed, like Wu Lin’s calmness, his casual storytelling of the past, and his matter-of-fact attitude about his origins, all came across as though he had been watching from a distance, an emotional detachment.
But now, at this moment, all those intense emotions seemed to pierce through the barrier that had been separating them and surged directly into Xue Zhong’s heart.
He realized he wasn’t as calm as he appeared, nor as untroubled. He had lacked his own emotions.
“Whether created by humans or formed naturally, spirits gradually lose their self-awareness over time. In no time, they can only remember their most persistent desires while losing all other emotions and memories. Can we still call these beings alive?”
Xue Zhong now truly understood the words spoken by Xiao Taowu. It was like experiencing being a spirit himself—his love and hate had been stripped away, leaving only his obsessions.
Much like the repeated consumption of the ice cream he had often longed for, there was no substantial happiness, excitement, or joy. He was merely repeating the act of eating ice cream.
It was terrifying.
“Let me wipe your tears.” Ji Jing handed him a tissue.
Xue Zhong hesitated, then gently touched his face, realizing that his cheeks were already wet with tears. He accepted the tissue, but as he wiped away the tears, more kept coming. He couldn’t stop the flood. “I… I hate him…” he finally said, using the simplest three words.
Ji Jing silently handed him tissue after tissue. Fu Xian patted Xue Zhong’s shoulder in comfort, while He Xin, like a protective older brother, embraced him.
These two brothers had endured countless unjust suffering, but, fortunately, they had persevered.
“Wu Lin will pay for this,” Xiao Taowu couldn’t stand the emotional scene and turned his head aside, grumbling.
“Indeed, he will pay!” Xue Meng attempted to exclaim loudly, but his weakened spirit could only manage a whispered shout, as he raised his finger in a symbol of support.
“Just stay put for now,” Ji Jing sighed and gently returned him to his seat. “Both you and your brother need to rest here. We’ll figure something out..”