Hu Yulun traveled day and night, tirelessly traversing the long road. The path beneath his feet felt like an endless abyss of darkness, filled with unknown mists and numerous obstacles. Yet, his steps remained strong and resolute, each one like a nail hammered into the earth, unwavering and unyielding.
His determined figure moved through the dawn and dusk. With every step, he carried an unwavering resolve. Whenever he passed a peaceful and serene village, he would pause, his gaze reflecting both envy for the tranquility and firmness towards the road ahead. Watching the smoke rising from the village's chimneys and listening to the innocent laughter of children, he silently estimated the distance to that unattainable goal.
"Still far, but I won't stop." He said to himself, then turned resolutely and continued forward.
Each time he traversed a lush forest, he was touched by the vibrant scene. Birds sang on the branches, and the leaves rustled in the breeze, as if nature itself was cheering him on. He took a deep breath, feeling the fresh air, and simultaneously estimated the distance to that unattainable goal in his heart.
"Even if there are thousands of mountains and rivers, I will surely arrive." His eyes flashed with a stubborn light, and his steps became more forceful.
One day, as the first ray of sunlight just spilled over the earth, Hu Yulun slowly entered a bustling Town, filled with the scent of everyday life. The streets were filled with carriages and people, a constant stream of noise, calls, and laughter. These sounds interweaved forming a joyful and energetic symphony that played in his ears.
However, his face, weathered and marked with fatigue, showed not a hint of ease or joy. Years and hardships had left deep marks on him. At this moment, his brows were furrowed, his eyes serious, and he seemed like a bowstring stretched to its limit, constantly maintaining a high level of vigilance.
He dragged his leaden feet, moving with difficulty. Each step seemed so labored, as if he was carrying a heavy burden. Slowly, he walked to the Town entrance, under a large tree with lush branches, like a giant umbrella. Then, as if all his strength had been drained in an instant, he collapsed onto the ground.
He was gasping for air, his chest heaving violently like an old bellows. Sweat poured down his forehead, dripping onto the dry earth and vanishing instantly. He didn't bother to wipe it away, greedily inhaling, trying to replenish the oxygen he'd been deprived of for days.
Despite his extreme exhaustion, his eyes were sharp, like a hawk's. They darted around, missing nothing, not even the slightest movement. The crawl of an insect, the fall of a leaf – everything caught his attention.
I can't relax. Danger could come at any moment, he warned himself, his nerves still on edge.
Suddenly, an Auntie, her face kind and her eyes gentle, passed by, leaning on a slightly bent cane. Her cloudy eyes widened in shock when she saw Hu Yulun's haggard, emaciated form, as if he might collapse at any moment. Her eyes instantly welled with tears, which threatened to spill over. Her lips trembled, filled with deep pity.
The Auntie slowly reached out a hand, wrinkled, with swollen joints and a slight tremor. Her hands, like dry branches, held infinite warmth. As if handling a precious treasure, she pulled out a piece of dry food still warm from her body. Then, with extra care, she unfastened the old water flask from her waist, filled with fresh water. Every wrinkle on her face spoke of her concern, her gaze was filled with warmth, like the winter sun, comforting and reassuring. Trembling, she offered them to Hu Yulun, her voice gentle, filled with a touch of urgency and worry, "Child, you look so pitiful. You must be in a hurry, right?"
A flash of surprise and gratitude lit up Hu Yulun's previously dull eyes, like a meteor in the darkness, brief but dazzling. Something seemed to be caught in his throat. After a few seconds, he quickly reached out his hands, receiving them respectfully, as if receiving a rare treasure. His fingers trembled slightly, showing his inner excitement.
His voice was slightly hoarse, sincere and gentle, with a hint of excitement, "Thank you, Auntie. I do indeed have something extremely important and urgent to do."
Hearing this, the Auntie sighed deeply, her sigh filled with helplessness and worry. Her eyebrows furrowed tightly, and the wrinkles on her forehead deepened, like the ravines carved by time. She anxiously urged again and again, "The world is chaotic now, child. There's danger everywhere. You must be very careful on your journey, don't fall into the hands of villains. It's best to be safe."
Hu Yulun nodded solemnly, his gaze as firm as iron, as if burning with an unquenchable flame. His chest heaved a few times, as if suppressing the surging emotions within. After thanking them sincerely again, he gritted his teeth, the muscles on his face tense, displaying his determination.
With steady steps, he resolutely continued on that journey filled with unknowns and difficulties. His figure gradually faded into the sunset's afterglow, which cast a long shadow behind him. Finally, his figure disappeared into the vast distance, leaving only the sound of his determined footsteps echoing in the air.
The night was like a huge, heavy black silk, silently and slowly descending from the sky, as if a large and mysterious curtain, slowly enveloping the entire world in its boundless darkness. Hu Yulun, alone, was in this darkness as thick as ink, his steps staggering, swaying like a drunkard. His hands groped forward blindly, as if searching for a glimmer of non-existent light in the darkness.
His brow furrowed, the wrinkles like deep canyons, his eyes filled with anxiety and fatigue, like two flames about to be extinguished. In this endless darkness, he struggled to move forward, finally finding a dilapidated, abandoned Temple that exuded a sense of decay. The Temple was like a forgotten corner of the world, eerie and desolate, and Hu Yulun decided to use it as a temporary shelter.
The Temple was gloomy and cold, the atmosphere filled with a feeling like an invitation from hell, sending chills down one's spine, as if every breath could inhale endless fear and coldness. When he bent down, his body felt unusually heavy due to days of running around and extreme fatigue, as if an invisible mountain was pressing on his back, and every bend brought a painful groan.
He struggled to search in the corner, every movement seemed so laborious, as if bound by an invisible force. Only after much effort did he manage to gather some dry branches, which were like lifesavers in his hands.
His hands trembled non-stop, like falling leaves shivering in the cold wind, fumbling to start a fire to warm himself. When the branches rubbed against each other violently, the sparks scattered, like fleeting meteors in the night sky, brief and dazzling. The faint firelight flickered like fireflies in the darkness, dimly illuminating his determined and weathered face. At this moment, his face was etched with the marks of time and suffering, every wrinkle telling a story of untold hardship.
He leaned against the wall, his eyes unfocused, like a soulless puppet, staring blankly. His thoughts were like flying willow catkins, chaotic and directionless. Countless emotions surged up in his heart like a surging tide, impacting his inner world, immersing him in endless memories and contemplation.
"Father, you must protect me from the heavens. I swear I will avenge you!" Hu Yulun muttered, his voice hoarse, to the boundless darkness that seemed to swallow everything. His face was contorted in extreme pain, every line etched with sorrow.
His eyes were already red-rimmed, tears swirling in them, threatening to break free like a surging flood. He pressed his lips together tightly, until they were bloodless, a pale, thin line. A boulder seemed to be rolling in his throat, and each difficult swallow was accompanied by a tremor.
He fought to keep the tears from falling, but his slightly trembling chin betrayed the tsunami of grief within.
Thinking of the Mysterious Organization's heinous deeds, his hands were driven by an unseen force, clenching into fists. They were clenched so tightly that the veins on his arms bulged. The knuckles, strained from the force, were a deathly white, like ice that had not melted for a thousand years.
His teeth ground together with a "grinding" sound, which was particularly piercing in the deathly Temple, as if he were truly chewing on the bones of those villains, wanting to grind them into dust.
The muscles of his face were contorted with rage, each one stretched to the limit, as if they would burst any second. His eyes widened, bloodshot, and he roared fiercely, "I will never let you heartless villains get away with this! You will be punished, blood for blood! Even if it costs me my life, I will do it! Father, watch, I will succeed!"
As his words fell, the entire Temple seemed to tremble with his roar of hatred and determination. He gasped for breath, his chest heaving violently, and the raging fire in his eyes seemed to break through the darkness, to burn away all evil in the world.
"Father, I will not disappoint you, I will succeed!" he muttered again, his voice hoarse, but filled with unwavering belief.
The next morning, as the first ray of sunlight gently pierced through the dilapidated window of the Temple and fell upon Hu Yulun's weary body, the clear and melodious chirping of birds was like an incredibly exquisite key, radiating mysterious magic. It gently turned, silently opening the sleeping world. The melodious and ethereal chirping, like a mother's gentle and powerful hands, with endless love and care, gently and firmly awakened Hu Yulun from his deep and weary slumber.
Hu Yulun struggled to lift his eyelids, which felt as if they were weighed down by a thousand pounds of lead. They were so heavy that every lift seemed to exhaust all his strength. His eyes narrowed into slits, his gaze cloudy and confused, as if he were still immersed in the nightmares of the previous night. He slowly raised his hand and rubbed his sleepy eyes, still filled with sleepiness and confusion. His expression was still a bit muddled, as if his soul was still trapped in that chaotic dream, unwilling to break free from the illusory bonds and return to the cruel reality.
"Ugh..." he groaned softly, as if the sound came from a distant place.
Then, he took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling greatly, as if to draw all the fresh air of the morning into his lungs. He closed his eyes tightly, his facial muscles tense, as if he were trying to inject himself with a powerful force. "I must pull myself together," he thought to himself.
After a moment, he slowly opened his eyes, steeling his spirit, and began to tidy up. His fingers were slightly stiff as he gently brushed the dust off his body. Every movement seemed so slow and labored, as if in slow motion. His movements were mechanical and numb, but his eyes gradually became firm.
"Father, I won't give up," he murmured softly, his voice small but full of strength.
Next, he turned around without hesitation, his gaze fixed on the rising sun. The sunlight shone on his face, outlining a golden silhouette, but it couldn't dispel the weariness in his eyes. The shadows in his eyes were like a deep lake, hiding endless hardships. But amidst that fatigue, a glimmer of unyielding light flashed.
He lifted his foot and stepped onto the path forward again. The mountain path was rugged and uneven, with jagged rocks. Those abrupt stones were like
The ferocious monster bared its fangs and claws, as if gloating, mocking him, deliberately blocking his path.
"Hmph, you think this little obstacle can stop me?!" Hu Yulun gritted his teeth, speaking fiercely.
He frowned, his brow furrowing into a deep "川" shape, completely focused on the ground, each step taken with extreme care, as if he were on a thrilling adventure. His feet searched for a foothold between the stones, his body slightly leaning forward to maintain balance.
But even so, he wasn't careful enough. Suddenly, his foot slipped, and his entire body instantly lost its balance, lunging forward.
There was a muffled "thud," and he fell heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. The dust was like a yellow fog, instantly enveloping him. His body collided violently with the ground, making a dull sound.
"Argh!" He couldn't help but cry out in pain.
Sharp stones were like sharp fangs, instantly tearing open his knee. Blood gushed out like a broken dam, quickly staining a large area of his trousers. The glaring red was shocking, like a tragic painting.
He gasped in pain, his face instantly turning as pale as paper, without a trace of color, like snow in the dead of winter. Cold sweat poured down his forehead, beads of sweat like broken strings of pearls, rolling down his cheeks and dripping onto the dry ground, disappearing instantly, leaving only a small patch of dampness.
"No, I can't fall here." He roared in his mind.
But he gritted his teeth, his lips almost losing their color, yet he didn't utter a sound. He encouraged himself inwardly: "Hu Yulun, this injury is nothing. You have to endure! You have a great mission, you absolutely cannot be defeated by this setback!"
"Father, I won't let you down." His eyes were filled with determination.
His eyebrows furrowed into a deep "川" shape, the veins on his forehead bulging, and the worry in his eyes seemed to ignite a flame. He was panting heavily as he quickly tore off a piece of his clothes. Although his hands were trembling slightly, appearing flustered, the practiced movements clearly showed that he was bandaging himself based on experience accumulated from multiple injuries.
"Endure, you must endure." He muttered to himself as he bandaged the wound, his voice trembling yet incredibly resolute. The bandaging was somewhat clumsy, and every movement seemed so difficult, but the hands gripping the cloth strips were full of determination, as if engaged in a desperate fight against the pain.
Then, he used his hand to support himself against the moss-covered stone beside him, struggling to stand up. His body swayed violently, as if a gentle breeze could knock him down again. He clenched his teeth, his cheeks puffed out, and the muscles on his face twitched from the pain.
"I can do it, I definitely can." He gasped, cheering himself on, the sound seemingly squeezed from between his teeth.
He took a deep breath, his chest heaving, as if trying to suck all the pain into his belly, and then swallowed it down.
He limped forward on this arduous path, each step accompanied by excruciating pain that coursed through his body like an electric current, making him suck in a breath. Yet, his silhouette remained resolute, showing no sign of retreat. Bathed in sunlight, his shadow stretched long, resembling an unyielding mountain peak, radiating an aura of awe-inspiring strength.
"This pain is nothing! I won't be defeated!" he roared, as if declaring his defiance to the world. Sweat streamed down his cheeks, dripping onto the ground and instantly being absorbed by the parched earth.
His steps were heavy and slow, each lift of his foot a struggle against an invisible, powerful force, as if he was exhausting every ounce of his energy. His feet felt as though they were mercilessly weighed down by tons of lead. With each inch he lifted them, the muscles in his face contorted with the strain, his forehead veins bulging, and beads of sweat rolling down. But his gaze remained fixed on the path ahead, where a blazing fire seemed to be burning, capable of incinerating all darkness. That was his goal, the deepest hope in his heart, its brilliance dazzling, like an eternal lamp illuminating his thorny path forward.
"No matter how far, I will keep going," he gritted his teeth, forcing the words out from between them, each word carrying the resolve of steel. The corners of his cracked lips seeped blood, but he didn't care. He moved forward, step by step, the movements small yet brimming with earth-shattering power, as if each step etched his oath of never giving up onto the ground.
In the grass beside the road, the chirping of insects rose and fell like an impassioned symphony. The little insects seemed to know of his perseverance, chirping happily, as if cheering him on. A gentle breeze brushed past, bringing a fleeting coolness, gently stirring his hair. However, this breeze was like a drop in the ocean compared to the pain he was enduring. The pain, like the claws of a demon, dug deep into every inch of his skin, every cell, almost suffocating him.
"Just a little further, almost there," he kept telling himself, the voice echoing in his mind, like the stirring drums on a battlefield, shaking his very soul.
Sweat poured down like a waterfall, soaking his clothes, which clung to his back, outlining his gaunt but iron-willed figure. But he was oblivious, as if his body had become completely numb, unaware of the sweat. His heart held only one unwavering belief: to keep moving forward, never stopping, until he reached his long-cherished goal.
"I can't give up, absolutely not!" he screamed in his heart, the sound like thunder exploding in his soul, making his body tremble slightly, but also making his eyes even more determined, even more fervent.
After an unknown amount of time, the sun climbed higher, and the sunlight intensified. Hu Yulun's lips were cracked, and his throat felt like it was about to smoke from thirst. His eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for any possible water source. However, all he saw were barren rocks and withered plants. He felt his body growing weaker, his steps heavier.
"I can't give up; I'll find it," he swallowed hard and continued his arduous journey. Suddenly, his eyes brightened. He saw a clear Creek not far ahead. Excited, he quickened his pace, eager to reach it. Arriving at the Creek, he didn't care about the cold water and bent down to drink deeply. The cool water flowed down his throat, bringing him immense relief.
"So refreshing," he sighed, a brief moment of ease appearing on his face. After resting briefly, he continued his journey. The mountain path became steeper, and his breathing grew more rapid. But he never stopped, climbing step by step. His heart was filled with thoughts of Father and hatred for his enemies; these emotions fueled his progress.
"Almost there, almost there," he kept encouraging himself. Finally, he reached the summit. Looking at the vast scenery before him, his heart was filled with emotion. At that moment, he felt as though Father was present, and he knew Father would be proud.
"Father, I will avenge you; I will do it!" he shouted towards the distance, his voice echoing through the valley. Hu Yulun stood on the mountaintop, the breeze caressing his face and drying the sweat on his forehead. His eyes were firm and resolute, as if he could already see the dawn of victory.
Then, he turned and stepped forward with firm strides, towards the unknown future. His figure, bathed in sunlight, seemed taller and more resolute. He knew the road ahead was filled with difficulties and challenges, but he was fearless because he had an unwavering belief and an indomitable spirit in his heart.
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(End of Chapter)