Chapter 223: Chapter 193: We Who Cannot Become Great Trees (Part 3)
Including its blood itself.
Rather than calling it blood, it’s more akin to liquid evil. This substance indeed brings power, but it is also the source of madness — and Du Chengfeng is naturally aware of this. After all, he has personally experienced the frenzy and resentment contained within that evil, which can be called a source of power indeed. Yet, the resentment and hatred can also lead one down the path of self-destruction.
Just like the desolate giant in front of him.
To prevent Du Chengfeng from inheriting the overwhelming evil and resentment, the giant, who was gaunt, chose self-annihilation rather than giving Du Chengfeng a chance to kill him.
Dying in a great battle, dissipating into the world, maybe it was the best fate for that enormous giant.
But only perhaps.
"You don’t think I came all this way to return empty-handed, do you?"
As he spoke, Du Chengfeng had already drawn the Flaming Blade from his back.
The five-zhang-long flaming blade swept across, reducing the giant’s remaining feet to ashes. Then, with another sweep, the flaming blade shortened the giant’s legs.
Amidst the sky full of dust, Du Chengfeng swept one blade after another, like a diligent lumberjack, chopping down the towering tree.
The towering tree finally fell; those hard woods ultimately turned into firewood, the branches burned away, and the trunk shattered. The withered tree ultimately vanished into ash.
Leaving only a stump on the ground.
That was the giant’s original, massive head.
"Enough."
The giant’s head, now reduced to nothing else, uttered a hoarse whisper.
"It’s enough; you don’t need to go this far..."
"Not enough. I should still be able to bear it."
Du Chengfeng wiped the sweat seeping from his forehead.
This enormous giant might be right. Even just probing that immense evil qi, he felt tremendous pressure. It wasn’t a matter of killing thousands but all the people this giant had killed over hundreds of years, with all their frenzy and resentment.
But it doesn’t matter. He should be able to do it.
He should be able to do it...
"Do me a favor."
The withered head moved its remaining teeth.
"Bring me some sweets, can you? Some treats, I’d like to taste something sweet again."
"Do you know, you’re not very good at lying?"
Du Chengfeng shook his head.
"How could I go to the city for some treats, turn my head and you’d be dead."
"Then... let me speak a few more words, since after we met it seems we never had a proper chat."
The withered head gave a bitter smile, then opened the remaining eye to look into Du Chengfeng’s eyes.
"Do you think, after death, there’s another world?"
"...There might be."
Du Chengfeng finally averted his gaze.
He always felt that the giant seemed to know something.
"...Really?"
The enormous giant chuckled.
"That’s... wonderful. You know, this world is so meaningless, really meaningless. Every day is either you kill me or I kill you; there’s nothing else, like killing is the greatest thing under heaven..."
Saying this, the withered head no longer looked at Du Chengfeng, but shifted its gaze, looking at the starry sky.
Moonlight spilled on the face, now only half remaining, silent and long.
In that bright moonlight, he seemed to see the old bunker again, saw the prison he knew so well, saw the fierce-faced man, also saw the remaining Chu people, those Chu people handing over candies, praising his bravery, smiling so happily.
Though he knew this was merely a reward for a tool, yet it was his only remaining impression of the word ’home.’
"Du Chengfeng?"
"Hmm? Speak."
"If... if there’s truly another world, would that world be good?"
"Hmm..."
Du Chengfeng paused in silence.
"It must be most excellent."
"How good?"
"This..."
Du Chengfeng delved into thought.
"Anyway, it should be very good, there would be many interesting things, lots of fun. In that world, one could live even without fighting... Anyway, it’s all good, trust me."
"You’re not very good at lying either."
The withered head grinned.
"How could there be a place where one can live without fighting, at most a different way of fighting... that world is also meaningless, right?"
"How’s that possible."
Du Chengfeng immediately turned his head, preparing to argue.
But just as he wanted to say something, the damaged head that had been beside him had disappeared without knowing when.
Leaving only a voice with drifting fragments, scattered together in the wind.
"Gone, take care."
"You!"
Du Chengfeng turned his head sharply, looked all around.
He hadn’t finished what he wanted to say, he hadn’t carried that immense evil qi, he hadn’t personally ended the giant’s life, he hadn’t had time to bear this heavy life, he hadn’t had time to bring some sweet treats.
He hadn’t even had time to know, this person’s name.
