One person: Starting with the Snow Drinking Blade

Chapter 158 The Vanished Memories 2

The terrain beneath their feet changed more and more drastically, sometimes even causing spatial distortions—they would walk forward only to find themselves back where they had just been. They had to be more careful, constantly trying to find their way while avoiding terrain that could turn into traps at any moment.

But as they walked, Zhang Chulan spoke again.

"Oh right, I remember we seemed to...fight with someone?" he said, leaping around a patch of quicksand that suddenly appeared. "It was pretty fierce, and I even got hurt."

He rolled up his sleeve, revealing his forearm. There were indeed several scabbed wounds on his arm, some deep, some shallow, the longest stretching from his wrist to his elbow. The wounds were covered with dark red scabs, and the edges were slightly swollen, clearly fresh injuries.

But when he looked at those wounds, his eyes were blank.

"How did this happen? I have absolutely no recollection of it..."

He reached out to touch the wounds, but as soon as his fingers touched the scabs, he hissed in pain and quickly withdrew his hand.

"I'm injured too." Wang Ye looked at the tear in his Taoist robe. A large gash ran from his shoulder to his chest, revealing the skin beneath, with a shallow, already healing knife wound. He touched the wound, his eyes equally blank. "But I don't remember how I got hurt."

"Me too." Zhuge Qing nodded and pointed to his left hand. There was a burn mark on the back of his left hand, the skin and flesh were rolled up, and although it had begun to scab over, it still looked quite frightening.

"And me too." Zhang Lingyu frowned as well. He lifted the hem of his Taoist robe, revealing a large bruise on his calf, a mixture of blue and purple, as if he had been hit hard by something.

Baron and Xia Liuqing remained silent, examining their injuries. Baron had a deep scratch on his back, the blood visible even through his clothes. Xia Liuqing's right hand was split open at the base of her thumb, haphazardly wrapped with a strip of cloth stained with dark red blood. Their eyes were equally blank, as if they were trying to remember, but couldn't recall anything.

Nie Lingfeng's heart sank.

These golden specks are... altering their memories.

Or rather, it is about "blurring" their memories of the core secrets of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley.

That bronze door, that "administrator," that sealed "being," that breathtaking battle, those truths that overturned their understanding—are being erased from their memories little by little, or... distorted and covered up.

It's like someone holding an eraser, erasing chalk writing from a blackboard. Those words were once so clear, so important, but now, only blurry white traces and faint outlines remain.

Only he and Chen Duo had their memories intact, thanks to the protection of the jade pendant.

But he couldn't say.

Just as Zhang Chulan asked, "Brother Feng, shall we go back to Tianjin together?", Nie Lingfeng suddenly felt a pang of heart palpitation.

It was a very strange premonition, like a sixth sense, or some kind of unseen warning.

That palpitation wasn't fear, nor tension, but a deeper, soul-deep tremor. It told him: if he spoke the truth, if he said "I remember," then—there would be big trouble.

It didn't come from an enemy, nor from that "being".

It comes from...this world itself.

It's as if this world doesn't allow this "truth" to be spread, doesn't allow the "keys" to retain their complete memories. Is this a rule, a protective mechanism, or... a curse?

Just as the Bronze Gate automatically erases the memories of those who approach it, this world is also preventing the truth from spreading.

Nie Lingfeng looked at Zhang Chulan, Wang Ye, Zhuge Qing, Zhang Lingyu, Feng Baobao, Balun, and Xia Liuqing, and saw the blank expressions on their faces, as if they were trying hard to remember but couldn't. A complex emotion welled up in his heart.

Some truths are more painful to know than to not know.

Sometimes, it's safer not to make a choice than to make one.

He looked at Chen Duo.

Chen Duo was also looking at him. Her emerald green eyes reflected his face, and also... a hint of inquiry.

She was also hesitant about whether to speak up.

She definitely remembered. She remembered the "administrator," the enormous eye, the feeling of unleashing her Phoenix form, the indescribable complexity of punching the administrator through the chest. But she could also sense that those memories were unspeakable.

Nie Lingfeng shook his head almost imperceptibly at her.

The head shake was very light, almost invisible. But Chen Duo saw it.

She blinked, then lowered her head and buried her face in the panda plush toy in her arms. The plush toy, fluffy and soft, rubbed against her face, obscuring her expression.

"Brother Feng?" Zhang Chulan asked again when Nie Lingfeng didn't respond for a while, "Shall we go back to Tianjin together? And then visit Elder Lu?"

His eyes were still so bright, without any doubt or probing, only pure trust.

Nie Lingfeng took a deep breath, suppressing the pounding emotions and complex feelings in his heart.

He had to say something. Something normal, something that wouldn't arouse suspicion.

"Okay," he said, his voice lower than usual but still steady. "I'll go back to Tianjin first, and then visit Elder Lu. It just so happens that I also have something I'd like to ask him."

That's the truth. He needs to consult a reliable elder about that "existence," about the "key," and about the "truth" of this world. Old Master Lu Jin, having lived for over a hundred years, is knowledgeable and experienced, and is also the leader of the righteous path; perhaps he knows something.

"Alright, it's settled then." Zhang Chulan nodded, then looked at Wang Ye, Zhuge Qing, Zhang Lingyu, Balun, and Xia Liuqing, "Gentlemen, shall we part ways here? We can exchange news later."

"Okay." Wang Ye stretched and yawned, a yawn so loud it almost dislocated his jaw. After yawning, he rubbed his eyes and said, "I'm exhausted from all this commotion. I'm going back to Wudang Mountain to sleep for three days and three nights. Call me if you need anything, otherwise don't bother me."

"I'm going back to the Zhuge family too." Zhuge Qing closed the ancient book and tucked it into his robes. The pages were slightly curled, which he carefully smoothed out, as if caressing something precious. "I've gained quite a bit this time; I need to go back and digest it. Although I've forgotten the specifics of what I gained, I feel I've gained some insights."

"This humble Taoist returns to Longhu Mountain." Zhang Lingyu clasped his hands together and performed a Taoist salute. His movements were still as elegant as ever, but his face was somewhat pale, clearly indicating that he had expended considerable energy. "Everyone, take care."

Baron and Xia Liuqing nodded to the crowd, turned and left, quickly disappearing into the depths of the maze.

They were always loners; this collaboration was an exception. Now that the mission was over, they naturally parted ways. Old Xia's pipe was still smoking, the smoke dissipating in the distorted air and soon disappearing from sight.

Only Nie Lingfeng, Chen Duo, Zhang Chulan, and Feng Baobao remained.

"Let's go, let's get out of the valley first," Nie Lingfeng said.

The four continued on their journey.

As they approached the valley entrance, the golden lights gradually diminished. The surrounding scenery began to return to normal—no longer the distorted and eerie scene, but a normal, desolate valley. Rocks were rocks, soil was soil, and occasionally a few crooked trees stood, their branches bare, like dried-out skeletons.

Finally, at dusk, they emerged from the Twenty-Four Valleys.

The last rays of the setting sun shone on the stone tablet at the valley entrance, making the five characters "Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley" appear somewhat blurred in the twilight. The characters were carved, but the strokes were worn, as if they had weathered countless years of wind and rain. Moss grew thickly at the foot of the stone tablet, and a few wild grasses swayed gently in the evening breeze.

"Finally out."

Zhang Chulan let out a long sigh and plopped down on the ground. He didn't care if the ground was dirty or not, he just sat there with his legs stretched out straight, as if all his strength had been drained away.

"I'm never coming back to this godforsaken place again."

Feng Baobao sat down in imitation of him, but her posture was very proper, her back ramrod straight, like a primary school student in class. She placed her hands on her knees, gazing at the distant sunset, her eyes unblinking.

Nie Lingfeng sat down as well. Chen Duo sat next to him, hugging a panda plushie, her little face buried in the plushie, only half of it showing. The setting sun shone on her face, gilding her fair skin with a faint golden hue.

The four of them sat there, and no one spoke.

What happened in the valley was like a dream. Now the dream is over, but its contents are fading from memory quickly.

Zhang Chulan tried hard to recall, but only fragments came to mind—a door, light, fighting, and… pain. He couldn't remember anything else. Those once so clear and so shocking images, like ink washed away, grew fainter and more blurred.

Feng Baobao was thinking too. But she thought even less. She only remembered a door, an old man who said he was her father, and then… then what? She didn’t know. But strangely, she wasn’t in a hurry. It was as if forgetting those memories wouldn’t matter.

Only Nie Lingfeng and Chen Duo had memories as clear as if it had just happened yesterday.

Nie Lingfeng looked at Zhang Chulan, at his slightly tired but still young face, and a complex emotion welled up in his heart.

This kid should have known everything. He should have known what his grandfather Zhang Huaiyi did back then, the truth about the Eight Extraordinary Skills, Feng Baobao's background, and the secrets of this world. But now, all those memories have been erased, leaving only some blurry outlines.

Is this protection or deprivation?

he does not know.

But he knew that some truths were better left unknown.

"Chu Lan," he suddenly said.

"Hmm?" Zhang Chulan turned to look at him.

"Do you think... our trip was a success?"

Zhang Chulan thought for a moment and then smiled.

That smile was radiant, as warm as the setting sun.

"It's a success," he said. "At least we know that Bao'er's background is related to Wugensheng. We also know that there is indeed a great secret hidden in the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley. Although I can't remember the specifics, I... have a better understanding now."

"You know?" Nie Lingfeng raised an eyebrow.

"Hmm." Zhang Chulan nodded, his eyes turning serious. This seriousness was rare; he was usually so carefree. But now, there was a light in his eyes. "Brother Feng, although I can't remember the details, I have a feeling—what we're seeing isn't good. And this isn't over yet. There might be even bigger trouble later. So, we need to make plans early."

Nie Lingfeng looked at him, somewhat surprised.

That kid has a really good intuition.

The memory has faded, but the sense of crisis and vigilance remain. Like a wary fox, even in sleep, its ears are perked up.

"So what do you plan to do?" he asked.

"Become stronger," Zhang Chulan said decisively.

He clenched his fist and waved it at the setting sun.

"No matter what we encounter in the future, having the strongest fist is the only true principle. So I need to focus on my cultivation and thoroughly master the Qi Source Flow. Bao'er, too, needs to recover more of her memories. And..."

He paused, looked at Nie Lingfeng, and grinned:

"Make more friends and find more helpers. Like you, Brother Feng, like Master Wang, Zhuge Qing, Master Lingyu... If anything happens in the future, we'll have to rely on everyone."

Nie Lingfeng smiled.

This guy's got a really sharp mind. He's already starting to plan for the future.

"Okay, call me anytime if you need anything."

"Absolutely." Zhang Chulan stood up, brushing the dust off his backside. The dust rose and drifted in the setting sun. "Let's go, find somewhere to eat, I'm starving. Then buy a train ticket back to Tianjin."

"Um."

The four of them got up and headed toward the nearest town.

The setting sun cast their shadows long, very long. The four shadows stretched across the ground like four silent, weary, yet still moving silhouettes.

Behind them, at the entrance to the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley, a few faint characters, as if scratched with a fingernail, slowly appeared on the stone tablet:

"The key is here, the door will open. Wait for the right moment."

The writing only lasted a few seconds before slowly fading away, as if it had never existed.

Only a gentle evening breeze rustled the wild grass at the foot of the stone tablet.

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