Against the Gods - Volume 03 - Name that Shakes the Profound Sky

by Mars Gravity

  Ling’er stretched out her hand and pointed to the distance. “My home is called the ‘Grandwake Clan’, and it’s at the bottom of the tallest mountain over there. That mountain is called ‘Grandwake Mountain’. Big brother Yun Che, have you ever heard of that mountain? Papa told me that our home’s mountain is very famous in the Azure Cloud Continent, you know.”

  “Mn, of course I have heard of it.” Yun Che nodded, and smiled. “My master once told me, Grandwake Mountain is a divine mountain, and is one of the thirteen divine mountains. There was a period of time when I yearned to see it. I did not expect that this place is… actually…”

  Yun Che’s voice suddenly slowed down, and then, it was completely stuck in his throat. Abruptly, his body trembled, and even his pupils had severely shrunk for a moment. His voice, began to tremble. “Grandwake Mountain… Azure Cloud… Azure Cloud… Azure Cloud Continent? You’re saying… this place is… is… Azure Cloud Continent?”

  “That’s right, this place is obviously Azure Cloud Continent.” Yun Che’s sudden strange reaction caused Ling’er to feel puzzled.

  Yun Che was completely stunned in place. His mind was in a state of chaos, and only after a good while, did he finally calm his state of mind down. Azure Cloud Continent… A place that had been sealed within his memories, a place where he had stayed in his past life, a place where his life had ended at. A place where he thought it was no longer possible for it to appear again in his life, and had thought his fate with this place had forever been severed then and there.

  In the Blue Wind Empire, he had once tried to inquire information about the Azure Cloud Continent, however, basically no one there knew about the name “Azure Cloud Continent”, and Azure Cloud Continent was not even mentioned in any of the various records. Hence, he knew that Azure Cloud Continent and Sky Profound Continent belonged to two completely different worlds, and there was essentially no sort of intersection between them. From then on, he had forever kept it within his memories, and, in the Sky Profound Continent, it was a place that only he knew of.

  He completely did not expect that, the place that the Evil God sent him to, was actually here!

  The Phoenix’s Spirit had once said, he had three lifetimes. Indeed, he truly did have three lifetimes. In his first lifetime, he grew up in the Xiao Clan of Sky Profound Continent’s Blue Wind Empire. When he sixteen years old, on the day of his marriage with Xia Qingyue, he was poisoned to death by Xiao Yulong, and his life ended there. In his second lifetime, he was born in Azure Cloud Continent, and was picked up by the Medical Saint. He spent half his life learning medical techniques, saving the ill and aiding the injured. He then spent the other half of his life with a heart filled with hatred, slaughtering countless of people. And when he was twenty seven years old, he was forced off Cloud’s End Cliff and died.

  In his third lifetime, he brought all of his memories in his first and second lifetimes, and awakened in his first lifetime’s dead body…

  His knowledge told him that his own experiences were so strange and shocking, to the point of that they could shock the world.

  He had once suspected that everything about the Azure Cloud Continent was actually just a dream as well… Otherwise, how would he have awaken in his own body that should have died at least twenty seven years ago… There was a possibility for everything in this world to be turned over, however, only time could not be turned back. If his lifetime in Azure Cloud Continent was not a dream, then, excluding every other possibilities, based on time, at least twenty seven years were turned back.

  However, currently, the name “Azure Cloud Continent” had once again appeared in his world, and it was telling him with a thundering voice… Everything about the Azure Cloud Continent was not a dream at all, and it was impossible for it to be a dream.

  “Big brother Yun Che, what happened to you? Your expression looks really strange? Ow…” Su Ling’er cried out painfully. It seemed like, when Yun Che was lost in a daze, he accidentally pressed on the bruise on her ankle.

  Yun Che regained his senses, and hurriedly held onto her small leg carefully, gently taking off her socks. “It’s nothing. I was just thinking of some matters earlier, did I hurt you… Right, Ling’er, can you tell me, which country are we in?”

  Grandwake Mountain was located in Supwake, a country that was situated furthest east in Azure Cloud Continent. Yun Che very clearly knew of this point, he simply wanted to use this girl’s answer to make a clearer confirmation that he had indeed returned to the Azure Cloud Continent.

  “Of course, it’s the Country of Supwake!” Ling’er answered clearly.

  “Then… What profound year is it this year?”

  “Azure Cloud’s 1999 Profound Year!” Ling’er blurted out, answering with complete confidence.

  Yun Che’s movements instantly paused…

  Azure Cloud’s 1999 Profound Year?

  When he leapt off Cloud’s End Cliff, it was clearly the Azure Cloud’s 2014 Profound Year, and now, time had past a year and a half since then, the time here should have been Azure Cloud’s 2015 Profound Year!

  If time had really turned back by twenty seven years, then this year should have been the Azure Cloud’s 1987 Profound Year!

  Why was it Azure Cloud’s 1999 Profound Year?

  On the day of Azure Cloud’s 1999 Profound Year, he was still in the Azure Cloud Continent, and had just reached twelve years old. Su Ling’er was two years younger than him, and had just reached ten years old. Back then, they had yet to meet, and he always followed his master to different places, learned more and more complex medical techniques while testing out all of the herbs on earth. At the same time, he had only just found out the existence of the Sky Poison Pearl…

  Could it be, the place the Evil God said he would send him to, was just a dreamscape he created? After all, the Evil God’s residue soul read his memories, and would believe that this was the place that he would wish to be in the most.

  His thoughts were once again in a state of chaos, and the movements with his hands became slow as well. On Ling’er’s leg, that dirtied sock was finally taken off. On her leg which was as tender as milk, two dots of hazel-colored scar marks were incomparably eye-catching…

  Yun Che’s entire body once again trembled, as though he was struck ruthlessly by a bolt of lightning.

  This scar…

  It was at the same position… as his Ling’er’s. The same shape. The same size. The same color… The exact same scar!!

  In his mind, the image of him first seeing this scar surfaced… Back then, Ling’er told him. “This was bitten by a very cute little snow mink when I was seven years old. But, it can’t be blamed, as I was the one who accidentally stepped on its tail. Oh right, that little snow mink is called Ling Ling, we even became very good pals.”

  After that, he had used a type of medical cream that he mixed himself and completely removed the scar by applying it on her leg, allowing her leg to once again return to being as flawless as white jade.

  Seeing Yun Che suddenly looking at the scar on her leg in a daze, little Ling’er blinked her eyes, and said cheerfully. “This was bitten by a very cute little snow mink when I was seven years old. But, it can’t be blamed, as I was the one who accidentally stepped on its tail. Oh right, that little snow mink is called Ling Ling, we even became very good pals.”

  “…!!!”

  Yun Che slowly raised his eyes and stared blankly at the little girl who had a charming smile, as his vision began to spin…

  Chapter 262: Su Hengshan

  “What happened? Why is your mind fluctuating so violently?” Jasmine suddenly asked. She felt that Yun Che’s mind was in an unprecedented level of turmoil, so much that she could even distinctly hear the violent “badump” “badump” sounds of Yun Che’s heart beating.

  Azure Cloud Continent… 1999 Profound Year… 10 years old… Su Ling’er… the scar… the same name… similar complexion… and the style of speech that’s exactly the same…

&nbs
p; All of this weaved within Yun Che’s mind chaotically, causing his spirit to tremble incomparably violently. This was because everything that happened pointed towards one possibility… Without caring whether or not he would frighten the girl, he suddenly reached out and lifted her dress and undergarments. On the upper end of her delicate right knee, he saw two small, crimson birthmarks side-by-side…

  “Ling’er… you’re Ling’er… you’re Ling’er… you’re Ling’er… YOU’RE LING’ER!!”

  The instant he saw those two birthmarks, Yun Che’s last emotional barrier completely collapsed. The blood in his body bubbled up, golden stars lined his vision, and he almost fainted on the spot! The things in the deepest recesses of his mind and spirit began to stir violently: grief, bitterness, pain, sorrow… All these feelings milled forward, and his eyes instantly grew hazy with tears. The moment his emotions crumbled, he suddenly hugged the girl, and held on firmly, as if he were embracing his entire world.

  “Ah…” The girl, who was completely unaware of the raging waves of emotion in Yun Che’s heart, was startled by Yun Che’s sudden action and change of heart. However, as for Yun Che’s sudden tight embrace, for some reason, she didn’t feel any rejection at all. After quite a while, she said feebly: “Big Brother Yun Che, it hurts, you’re hugging me too tightly, uu…”

  Right now, every single one of this girl’s words was like heavenly music from his dreams to him. Every aspect of her tightly linked to his spirit and lifeline. Hearing her voice, Yun Che loosened his arms practically in fright, then grew afraid that this would scare her, and hurriedly released his arms. But his hands still lightly rested on her thin shoulders, seeming as though he was afraid that if he didn’t hold on to her, she would disappear right in front of him.

  She’s Ling’er… My Ling’er…

  Then… All of this, is indeed a dreamscape brought by the Evil God?

  A dreamscape is alright! As long as I can see my Ling’er again, even if it’s a dreamscape, I’m willing to stay asleep forever…

  “Big Brother Yun Che, why did you cry all of sudden?” The girl’s heart was filled with bewilderment, but seeing the tear stains on Yun Che’s face, her eyes filled with pity. She reached out, met his gaze, and lightly wiped off the teardrops on his face. She definitely didn’t know how extremely precious every one of Yun Che’s tears was, and that they had gushed for her.

  “I’m… I’m alright. Only… only, some sand got in my eyes.” Yun Che shook his head and gave a clumsy excuse as he tried to hold his tears back. In this world, the only thing that could cause his state of mind to go out of control so thoroughly was Su Ling’er… even though everything in his awareness right now was an illusion. Su Ling’er could never actually appear in front of his eyes again, because his Ling’er perished in his arms back then, and he had personally buried her within that bamboo forest.

  “Eh? Does it hurt a lot? Uuu… I’ll help blow into Big Brother Yun Che’s eye, alright? Once, when I was really young, some sand got in my eyes. But after Mother blew into my eye, I was completely alright.”

  As the girl spoke, her pink and tender lips puckered… The Su Ling’er in front of him was so innocent and unaffected, so carefree and without worry, and her eyes were so bright and clear. Yes, the current her was still situated under the care and pampering of her close relatives. She hadn’t gone through any great changes, and still didn’t understand what sadness was, what sorrow was, what enmity was, what pain was… The Su Ling’er in his memories, with that eternally distressed and detached expression in her eyes, caused his heart to fill with needle-like pain every time he thought of her.

  “It’s alright, the sand’s already gone. Look, I’m fine.” Yun Che firmly blinked at her, and his mouth formed an extremely warm smile: “What’s most important now, are the injuries on Ling’er’s leg… Everything’ll be okay in a flash, and it won’t hurt at all.”

  Yun Che once again covered his hands over the girl’s bruised leg. Accompanied by a warm profound energy, the Sky Poison Pearl’s purifying force gently entered her bruise and slowly nourished it… Then, he took out a medicine bottle and delicately applied the ointment on her calf, ankle… He then swapped to her other leg, and applied the ointment on the two symmetrical scars there.

  In the entire process, Yun Che’s actions were very light, as if he was touching a beautiful and frail crystal doll. With Yun Che’s medical expertise, this little injury could not even be injury, but in order for Su Ling’er to not even feel a sliver of pain, he used his all to focus his mind. Painstaking effort was concentrated within every one of his movements. After the entire process, he looked even more exhausted than a patient nearing death. However, he gladly suffered through it.

  In not even half a quarter of an hour, the bruise on Su Ling’er’s ankle and calf had miraculously disappeared completely. Even the scar on her leg had also lightened by a lot. In at most three days, it would also completely disappear. Su Ling’er shook her leg a little, and then cried out in surprise: “Wah! It doesn’t hurt anymore! Not even a little! Big Brother Yun Che, you’re seriously too awesome!”

  The girl looked in his eyes with a gaze full of brilliantly shining stars. The admiration she felt for Yun Che had sharply risen by a substantial amount.

  Yun Che used his profound energy to drive away the dirt on Su Ling’er’s shoes and socks. Then, he carefully put them back on Su Ling’er’s legs. Su Ling’er did not resist, nor did she refuse. She didn’t even feel embarrassed at all. In her heart, there contained a type of warm happiness and an odd sort of feeling that she could not say out loud… Even she herself, did not understand why that was the case.

  “Ling’er! Ling’er… Where are you? Ling’er…”

  Suddenly, anxious shouts sounded in the distance. And what was being shouted, was surprisingly Su Ling’er’s name.

  Yun Che heard it before Su Ling’er. With a twitch of his brow, his gaze swept over, and saw a middle-aged man hastily run over. He was in a panic, his hair was disheveled, and the clothes on his body were rather worn out. However, there was a type of calm and mighty upper class feeling could be captured on his bearing.

  He’s… Su Ling’er’s father?

  The middle-aged man’s footsteps were lightning-fast, and he traveled over in a short time. Having heard his voice, Su Ling’er’s eyes shined as she spoke excitedly: “Papa, it’s Papa’s voice!”

  She stood up suddenly, and ran over in the middle-aged man’s direction. However, after running a few steps, she turned around and looked at Yun Che, and stopped again. Standing at her former place, she beckoned at the middle-aged man: “Papa! I’m here, I’m here!!”

  “Ling’er!” The middle-aged man became overjoyed, and rushed over with his fastest speed. He grasped Su Ling’er’s shoulders at once, and spoke with an extremely anxious tone: “Thank god thank god… Ling’er, why did you run to such a faraway place? Are you injured anywhere? Did anyone try to kidnap you?”

  “Papa relax, even though there were bad guys, but… Big Brother Yun Che saved me. Big Brother Yun Che is really amazing. Not only did he smack those bad guys running all at once, he also made the place I fell and hurt myself not hurt at all.”

  The middle-aged man’s entire heart was full concern about Su Ling’er’s safety, and when he saw her, all his attention was even more so focused on her. He had only now noticed Yun Che’s existence. He took a step forward, and said with immense gratitude: “This little brother, thank you for rescuing my daughter, this Su really is eternally grateful.”

  With Yun Che’s arrogant bones, let alone middle-aged man, even if it’s a highly respected elderly person, he would ordinarily just deal with them with a straight face. But the one before his eyes was Su Ling’er’s father, which was an entirely different matter. He hastily greeted back: “Senior Su is too polite. Ling’er is kind and cute, anyone would come to her rescue if they saw her. This junior also just merely lent a hand.”

  From the middle-aged man’s complexion, what Y
un Che saw was the deep care and concern for Su Ling’er. At least, his fatherly love toward Su Ling’er wasn’t the least bit impure.

  Yun Che’s modesty, gave the middle-aged man a very good impression. He smiled and said: “To receive such a praise from little brother here, my little girl here must be thrilled.” At this time, he noticed Xia Qingyue, who was laying there without a sound. Even though she was only silently laying there, there still remained the goddess-like beauty that would drive one into ecstasy. The middle-aged man went blank for a bit, then immediately recovered and asked: “Little brother, is this one your friend? Looking from her complexion, is she haunted by a severe illness?”

  Yun Che nodded: “This is my wife. Her body has been affected by the cold, and her vitality has been severely injured. Perhaps she will remain unconscious for a very long time.”

  “So that’s how it is…” The middle-aged man nodded, and inside his heart he exclaimed: The man is otherworldly handsome, the woman is as beautiful as a goddess; what a fine-looking pair! Their background definitely isn’t ordinary. Especially this woman, how can a normal family raise up such a goddess-like girl. This man’s age looks only to be seventeen or eighteen, yet his profound energy aura has already reached Spirit Profound Realm. He ought to be some disciple or even a heir of some top level sect…

  As he thought till here, the middle-aged man spoke: “Little brother, you ought to have come from a foreign place, right? Do you currently have any place to stay? If you aren’t unwilling, how about staying for a few days at our Grandwake Clan? It’ll also allow this Su to express his gratitude.”

  The inside of Yun Che’s heart moved. He took a glance at the unconscious Xia Qingyue, then took another glance at Su Ling’er, and said: “This junior does indeed need a place of settlement to treat my wife’s injuries… If that’s the case, then this Junior will gratefully receive Senior’s hospitality.”

  “Hahahaha, do not be so modest little brother. Compare to your great kindness of saving my daughter, this isn’t considered to be much.” The middle-aged man started to laugh warmly: “Oh right, this one’s surname is Su, with the name Hengshan. Come, Little Brother Yun.”