Chapter 156 – Let's Call You Xing

Volume 2: Battlefield Between Two Worlds

He dug the grave with his own hands, lowered Sun Ruixing's body into it with his own hands, then chopped down a massive tree and carved a giant tombstone with his own hands.

On the tombstone, he wrote:

"Here lies a man of integrity and principle."

"His life was meant to be ordinary-raising children, supporting a family, and experiencing the bitters and sweets, the loves and hates of a normal existence."

"But in the final stage of his life, he was destined to become extraordinary."

"The Apocalypse arrived, destroying his home, his wife, and perhaps even his daughter. Yet, it could not destroy his conscience, his kindness, or the softest part of his heart."

"Countless people managed to survive day by day in this dying world because of him. The outcome may not have been perfect, but at the very least, he acted, he strove, and he gave everything for it!"

"This is something I might not necessarily do, and something I am incapable of doing. His strength may have been meager, but he possessed a noble soul!"

"I often ask myself: what is my greatest ambition?"

"Before the Apocalypse began, my ambition was to make a lot of money and live a life above others."

"After the Apocalypse began, my ambition was simply to survive."

"However, this man told me that some things are worth protecting with one's life, worth giving everything for."

"Perhaps I haven't found that thing yet, but I will work hard to find it."

"This man used his life to tell me that even in hell, there can be sunlight. Even in despair, there can be flashes of humanity. Even in the Apocalypse, one must never forget that they are human, not a cold-blooded animal."

"Some people are alive, but no one will remember their names."

"Like me."

"Some people are dead, but they will live forever in the hearts of others."

"Like you."

"I dedicate this to the memory of my first teammate, my first comrade-in-arms, and my first friend-Sun Ruixing!"

"Offered by Wen Yu."

As Wen Yu retracted Greed's Touch from his hand, he couldn't help but exhale a long, heavy breath.

Writing an epitaph was no simple task, but as Wen Yu recalled every little moment spent with Sun Ruixing, the words had flowed naturally.

He thought back to Hualin Town, when Sun Ruixing had broken down and told him, "They're all dead."

He thought of their first night in Chaihe Town, when Sun Ruixing told him, "He looks a lot like my daughter."

He thought of the Treasure Land, where Sun Ruixing had carried Wen Yu on his back while clutching the Fourth Prince in his arms, stumbling through the final stretch of the journey.

He thought of the roof of their Small Stronghold, where he and Sun Ruixing had spent the night drinking and talking about the mundane details of family life.

He thought of just moments ago, when he had pierced the man's heart with his own hands.

He thought of so many things…

So many that Wen Yu didn't even notice Little Dragon slowly waking up nearby.

"What… are you doing?"

When the familiar, youthful mental fluctuations entered Wen Yu's mind, he finally snapped back to reality.

Setting down his cigarette, Wen Yu stood up and looked toward Little Dragon.

The scales that had been torn away had already grown back. Having sent the mental message to Wen Yu, Little Dragon was now looking left and right, searching for something.

"You're awake."

Wen Yu greeted Little Dragon with a faint smile.

"Mm."

The massive dragon head nodded twice as an answer to Wen Yu's question.

"You still… haven't told me… what you were doing. I saw you… write many, many things. But… I don't understand…"

"You mean this?"

Wen Yu gently patted the tombstone planted at the head of Sun Ruixing's grave and spoke seriously to Little Dragon.

"I'm writing down the story of what just happened. Do you want me to read it to you?"

"Mm."

Little Dragon's body slowly shrank, returning to the size it was when they first met. It then climbed up Wen Yu's pant leg onto his shoulder, its vertical pupils staring intently into Wen Yu's eyes.

Wen Yu saw it-in those eyes, there was nothing but pure innocence.

Then, Wen Yu's voice rang out, low and slow.

"Just now, a flash of white light swept past, and the Little Dragon suddenly fell into a deep sleep!"

"Then, the Ruler's voice rang out once more."

"He said, 'The rule from before was just a joke I was playing on you. You performed very well in the Battlefield Between Two World just now, but the main reason was that there was an Invincible Little Dragon. Now, I have used a Skill to put the Little Dragon into a deep sleep, and I am going to restart the Battlefield Between Two World.'"

"After the Ruler finished speaking, the Demon Realm Gate opened once again."

"But the power of the Demon Realm Gate had been mostly exhausted during the last time."

"So this time, only a very, very small number of Demonic Creatures poured into the battlefield."

"Under the heroic struggle of the humans and Mutant Beasts, we once again achieved victory in the battle."

"Then the Ruler said, 'As a reward, I will send you to a place where there is no conflict, no fighting, and countless delicacies. But the Little Dragon cannot go, because he did not contribute in the second Battlefield Between Two World!'"

"With a flash of white light, everyone including me went to that place."

"The air there is very fresh, without the smell of rot like here. There is so much food there; every large tree is covered with all kinds of food, both meat and vegetables. There are no enemies there, and the space is vast. All life can live a beautiful life there!"

Listening intently to Wen Yu's words, the Little Dragon noticed a certain hollowness in Wen Yu's eyes and couldn't help but ask.

"I can understand… a little… of what you said. But, why didn't you… stay… there?"

"Because all the Mutant Beasts came to find me and asked me to come down and keep you company, saying they were afraid you would be… lonely…"

The Little Dragon nodded, seemingly understanding but still a bit confused.

"Is it… really… that good there?"

"Yes, it's very beautiful!"

"They really… aren't fair… such a good… place, and they didn't call me."

The Little Dragon exhaled puffs of hot air against Wen Yu's neck; seeing the little fellow hopping mad, it was clear he was truly fuming!

After a long while, the Little Dragon finally calmed down and said to Wen Yu.

"They… will live very… happily, right?"

Wen Yu nodded with certainty.

"They definitely will!"

"Whew, then I… can rest easy!"

…

Wen Yu took another look at Chaihe Town, where everything had been restored by the Ruler. After a long silence, he turned and walked toward the distance.

The Little Dragon on his shoulder continued to mutter incessantly.

The general gist was that he had protected those Mutant Beasts for nothing; in the end, they didn't even invite him to such a good thing. He even kept murmuring that when they came back, they absolutely had to bring him some delicious food!

"By the way, there are no other living creatures left in Chaihe Town now. What do you plan to do?"

"Me? I… don't know. I want… to stay here, but… hungry!"

Wen Yu looked at the Little Dragon's pitiful little eyes and, after a moment, burst into laughter.

"Come with me. If you follow me, you'll have friends-many, many friends. And you'll have food-lots and lots of food!"

"Are they… like the Big Dog… and you… the same kind of… friends?"

The Little Dragon blinked his eyes and asked Wen Yu.

Wen Yu nodded.

"Then the food…"

Seeing the Little Dragon's somewhat bashful gaze, Wen Yu laughed immediately.

"All you can eat!"

"Then I… will go with you. It's a deal… all I can eat… pinky swear!"

Wen Yu gently hooked the claw the Little Dragon stretched out and said firmly.

"All you can eat!"

The power of a contract slowly enveloped the Little Dragon's entire body. Then, a mysterious soul connection linked directly to the deepest parts of the Little Dragon's and Wen Yu's souls!

"By the way, you don't have a name yet, do you?"

"Name? What is… that?"

"Well, how should I put it… it's just a way for friends to address each other."

"Don't have one yet…"

As the figures of Wen Yu and the Little Dragon walked further and further away, Wen Yu's voice drifted out slowly.

"From now on, I'll call you Xing!"