Chapter 1160: The People We Once Were |
***
Xiao Wu shrank back. "But…"
Taking a step forward, Tang San lifted both hands and cupped her delicate face. "Silly girl, there's no 'but.' So what if you're not human? So what if you're a soul beast? The only thing I know is that you are my sister… and the one I love."
Pulling her into his arms, holding her soft body tight, Tang San raised his voice so all could hear: "If you want to take her, then you'll have to step over my dead body first!"
***
"You're the first man to comb my hair. And you'll be the only one. Forever and ever. No matter what the future holds, in my heart there will never be space for anyone else but you."
***
"Xiao Wu! Soul bone flight! Go, quickly!" Tang San's voice was hoarse, as if his throat had been torn apart. He poured the very last of his strength into that one desperate push.
She embraced him lightly, whispering into his ear, "Brother San, you really are a fool. Do you think I could live on if you died? I don't want you to die, I want you alive. I truly wished we could live together, like before. But it's too late now. If I'm gone, you must take care of yourself, otherwise I'll be heartbroken."
She would burn her life away for him, offering up her soul ring in sacrifice.
***
Looking at Xiao Wu, who stood beside him, Tang San's eyes grew impossibly tender. "About my marriage with Xiao Wu… I want, before you all, to first become engaged with her. And once she's fully recovered, we'll marry at once. Please, grant us your blessing." He pulled Xiao Wu down to kneel before his parents.
Huge tears rolled down her cheeks. Her spirit had been temporarily restored to her body, and that body was quivering violently. In a trembling voice she called out two words: "Dad… Mom…"
***
Xiao Wu did not hesitate for even one second. "Senior, give him my blood."
Bo Saixi looked at her gently and patted her head. "What a foolish child you are. For Tang San to have you as his lover is the greatest blessing of his life."
Xiao Wu shook her head, choking back tears. "No. Meeting him… is the greatest blessing of my life. Senior, tell me what to do."
***
Lifting his eyes to the sky, Tang San thought to himself, Da Ming, Er Ming, did you know? Reviving Xiao Wu was your last wish, but it is my only hope. For me, her resurrection is the same as my survival. I don't need to promise you anything; if Xiao Wu cannot return, then I have no reason to go on. No one loves her more than I do. From the very first moment I saw her, she was the destined love of my life.
"Xiao Wu, we'll be together again soon. I'll make sure your resurrection is perfect, and I won't allow you to suffer anymore. You must stay by my side, until the day we both grow old and move on together."
He did not waver as he locked eyes with that spectral gaze. His voice roared with desperation, "REVIVE NOW! MY LOVE"
***
He kissed her gently on the forehead. "Xiao Wu, will you marry me? At last, I have the right to say these words to you."
"I will. I will!" Xiao Wu cried, her voice trembling, her eyes overflowing with tears once more—this time, tears of happiness.
Tang San whispered, "When we return to Heaven Dou City, I'll give formal notice to Master and then marry you properly. I will give you the grandest wedding, let the whole world know you are my wife. Your joy will be my greatest happiness. I will love you in this life, and in every life. Even if seas dry up, even if the heavens collapse, we will never part."
Burying her face in his chest, Xiao Wu replied softly, "Whatever you do, I'll follow you."
***
Tang San apologized, "It's my fault. Since you revived, I've barely had time to be with you. Xiao Wu, I truly want to marry you, to give you the most glorious wedding on the continent. Remember, that is my promise. It won't be long. When we defeat the Spirit Empire, I'll make you my wife. From then on, all my time will be yours. We'll have children, however many you want. We'll live wherever you wish."
***
Tang San lifted her hands to his lips. "Xiao Wu, I once proposed to you, and you accepted. No matter how hard the road, I will succeed, because at the end of that road, you'll be waiting for me."
Her eyes reddened, and she threw herself into his embrace, caressing his face. "Brother San, I love you. For me, you must live. Remember this: Whether you are man, god, or ghost, I will follow you forever."
***
At the mention of marriage, Xiao Wu's cheeks flushed red. Leaning on his chest, she whispered, "Brother San, this time… I really feel I'm about to become your wife."
Tang San laughed heartily. "Of course. From the first moment I saw you, it was destined. You are mine."
Xiao Wu giggled. "I remember that the first moment you saw me, someone got thrown flat on his face. Guess I can say I once threw a god to the ground!"
"Uh…" Tang San scratched his head. "We were little, and your Soft-Bone Art was incredible. And anyway, I don't mind you throwing me around. You know what they say, hitting means closeness, scolding means love. Xiao Wu, do you know when my happiest years were? From when I was six years old until the tournament ended. Because during those years, we were always together, always carefree. Just training with you and seeing your smile every day was enough for me."
Xiao Wu nodded softly. "For me too."
***
"Brother San! How could you… leave me like this?" Xiao Wu cried, her voice cracking. "You can't die! You promised—you promised to marry me, to give me the grandest wedding. You haven't fulfilled it yet. You can't die. Please, wake up! Wake up… No matter the cost, as long as you live, I will pay it!"
***
From start to finish, Tang San said nothing. He only carefully braided her hair once more.
When he finished, he gently turned her face toward him. Meeting her tearful eyes, he pressed his forehead to hers and whispered, "My love… I love you."
Xiao Wu's whole body shuddered. She clung to his waist, pressing her face tightly to his chest. "If you truly love me, then let me stay with you forever. The ending won't change, so let me face it with you."
***
"Still so playful, even as a mother."
"So what if I'm a mother? Can't I still act spoiled? Even if you're Sea God, Judge of the God Realm and all that, you're still Tang San. Still my Brother San."
***
Xiao Wu giggled, arms around his neck. "That's better. Now, what shall we name our baby? The Goddess of Life told me our second will be a boy."
Settling his mind, Sea God Tang San said: "Our daughter will be Tang Wutong. 'Tang' from me, 'Wu' from you, and 'Tong' from the tree where the phoenix perches.[1] Tang Wutong—our little phoenix. For our son, let's follow the same idea. I think he should be called Tang Wulin. What do you think?"
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up. "Our little qilin? Perfect! Yes, let's do it. Though… the characters are a bit hard to write.[2] You'll be in charge of teaching him."
Tang San smiled. "Of course. Leave it to me."
***
"Brother San, don't worry. I'll always be with you. I'll get better." Xiao Wu rubbed against his leg, smiling.
She always tried not to let him worry.
Tang San kissed her forehead gently. "I'll heal you, Xiao Wu. Be patient. When the War of the Gods ends and we seize control, we'll leave this black hole. We'll find our son. Once we're together again, everything will be fine."
She nodded. "Yes. We'll be together as a family."
Tang San smiled. "Do you know, Xiao Wu, that there's a power in this world no god can explain? It is the greatest force of all. That power will heal you."
She looked at him in surprise. "What power?"
Tang San said softly, "Love. The power of love. Our son may be away from us now, but I've arranged everything for him on the Douluo Continent. And you still have me and Wutong. We all love you so deeply. For us, you must endure. I already told you: If you leave, I will follow you. When I said that, I really meant it. Wherever you are, I will be too."
***
"Children, forgive me. I must leave the rest of my time to your grandfather. Though you're all my descendants, the one I love most is still him." When she said these words, a faint blush touched Xiao Wu's face, a rare girlish shyness.
"Tang San…" she whispered.
She turned slightly and embraced him tightly; her arms looped around his neck, and her cheek rested against his.
Tang San held her tighter, as though to imprint every detail of her presence.
"I always knew," Xiao Wu murmured. "You came back late on purpose, didn't you?"
Tang San said nothing. Tears simply streamed down his face.
"I'm sorry, Brother San. I'm sorry."
"There's nothing to be sorry for. If I'd been in your place, I would've made the same choice. Xiao Wu, I love you." His voice shook uncontrollably.
Xiao Wu smiled gently. "Don't cry. Today is a day of reunion, a day of joy. Don't cry. You're not handsome to begin with, so when you cry, you're even uglier."
Tang San drew a long breath, forcibly controlling himself. "Alright. I won't cry."
"That's right," Xiao Wu said with a soft smile. "Today really is a good day. My final wish has been fulfilled, and our grandson is safe. Brother San, in this lifetime, to be your wife has been my greatest happiness. I never once regretted it. Maybe in my past life I saved the universe, so in this life I could meet you. We've been together for so long, but I still can't bear to leave you. I don't want to."
Her voice finally trembled with suppressed tears.
"I've always known… We already returned long ago. But you hid it from the God Realm, just to stay with me a few more days. I pretended not to know, too. I wanted to spend those days by your side. Brother San, I love you so much. But now… I must go. When I'm gone, I know you'll grieve. But you still have duties. You must guide the God Realm, take care of our daughter and son, lead our family. If you miss me, look at this."
She reached back, pulling forward her long scorpion braid.
"Xiao Wu…" Tang San's voice choked instantly.
In the next moment, her braid was severed at the root. She held it trembling in her hand. As it came free, her face turned deathly pale.
She pressed it into Tang San's palm, whispering, "Living is courage, death is escape. You must be brave. There are so many things left for you. Protect our children. Help Xuanyu with the divine realm. You have so much left to do. Brother San… I love you."
"I love you too, Xiao Wu." Tang San clutched her braid, his entire body quivering violently.
"I love you, and our children. I love you all—so much, so much. I can't bear to go…" Tears fell from her bright eyes, soaking into his clothes, dripping into his hand.
Her gaze grew distant. "Do you remember our first meeting? Do you remember all that we were? Brother San, for you I would love the entire world. If there is a next life, I will still be your wife…"
Her eyes closed. In Tang San's arms, Xiao Wu's body dissolved silently into motes of light, fading into the void of space.
At that moment, the whole world froze. Among the many God Kings present, none could utter a sound.
***
"Xiao Wu, don't go too fast. Wait for me. I'll come find you. Please, let me find you quickly…"
As his blue divine flame dimmed, the figure of Tang San, God King and Head of the God Realm's Committee, grew indistinct. Only his eyes remained—still shining with brilliance.
"Xiao Wu… by the time I find you again, you may have forgotten everything. Forgotten the Star Dou Great Forest, forgotten that we were soul masters, forgotten Shrek Academy, forgotten Douluo Continent… even forgotten me. None of that matters. As long as I can find you, I will love you with all I have, until you return to my side. Wait for me…"
***
Though her appearance had changed, and even her temperament was different, the mark carved into his very divine consciousness branded that figure into his heart.
***
"Hey, here's your drink!"
"Xiao… Xiao Wu?"
"You've got the wrong person. I'm not Xiao Wu. I am called Mei Gongzi!"[3]
***
"Come with me for a moment," Mei Gongzi said when she reached him, then walked towards a nearby grove.
Tang San felt the whole world had become more colorful when he saw her, and his mood significantly lifted. Even his dim divine consciousness felt a bit more lively.
He followed Mei Gongzi into the small grove.
"Big Sister Mei, " Tang San called out with a smile.
Mei Gongzi turned to look at him and said, "I am leaving."
The simple words almost instantly froze Tang San's smile, and a strong sense of loss surged uncontrollably within him.
"Where are you going?" he blurted out instinctively. And he nearly added, I'll go with you.
Mei Gongzi shook her head. "I will not be leaving Kali City, but I will enter seclusion and cultivate with my father. I don't know how long it will take, but it will definitely be a while. I came to say goodbye to you."[4]
***
Asura remained silent, just looking at her.
She put the milk tea cup away in her hand, saying, "Then I must go."
Asura's heart suddenly fluttered, and he impulsively asked, "Can I have that milk tea cup?"
Mei Gongzi paused, looking at him with a bit of wariness in her eyes. She fell silent for a moment but then shook her head. "Sorry, that won't do. I've drunk from it."[5]
***
"Oh, wait a moment," the old man suddenly interjected. "I have something for you."
"Something for me?"
Old Mao walked to his desk, picked something up, and turned toward Tang San.
Tang San was taken aback. When he saw what was in the old man's hand, he couldn't look away. Despite having lived three lifetimes, his vision blurred with a mist of tears in that instant.
"A young lady asked me to give this to you this morning. She's a beautiful human," Old Mao said, handing the item to Tang San.
Tang San took it, a cup still filled with warm milk tea… milk tea from Mei Gongzi's Milk Tea Shop.
The cup that Asura had failed to obtain yesterday, today was in Tang San's hands.
At that moment, his heart was filled with happiness, and all the misgivings and oppressive feelings of the night before were swept away.
Tang San smiled, though his smile was tearful. In that instant, everything before him seemed bathed in sunlight.
Big Sister Mei, Xiao Wu, thank you.[6]
***
Mei Gongzi believed him, but she immediately wanted to ask why Tang San had such an accurate understanding of the Holy Blaze Saber's functions. He couldn't have seen it before, could he?[7]
But before she could ask, Tang San continued, "Concentrate, use your spiritual power to guide the Holy Blaze Saber, and then drop a tear onto the blade."
A strange expression appeared on Mei Gongzi's pretty face. "A… what? Not blood, but tears? You want me to cry?"
Tang San helplessly said, "Just imagine we are being attacked, I am seriously injured, and I am about to die."
"Don't say that." Mei Gongzi instantly raised her hand to cover Tang San's mouth, but the next moment, her face turned red, and she withdrew her hand.
"I... I really can't cry!" she said with a distressed expression.
Tang San pondered momentarily and said, "Let me tell you a story."
"What?"
***
"You must live well," his voice whispered in her ear.
Mei Gongzi suddenly felt that his voice seemed to have changed, somewhat familiar yet also strange. It was familiar because she felt she had heard it before, but strange because it did not seem to belong to the Asura she knew.
Tang San closed his eyes, smiling faintly. He murmured, "The sword is sacrifice."
"NO—" she shouted…. Or at least she tried to shout, but in the spatial channel, though her lips moved, no sound came out.
He never turned back to look at her, because he feared that if he did, he wouldn't be able to bear the parting.[8]
***
With tearful eyes, Mei Gongzi stood by the window, repeatedly murmuring, "Big Brother, you haven't taken off your mask yet. How could you leave me like this?"[9]
***
Tang San smiled bitterly and said, "Yes, Asura is Tang San, and Tang San is Asura. Asura didn't die, and Tang San never went missing. One way or another, I've always been by your side."
"But, but, why? Even if things are as you say… Let's say they are, but why are you so good to me? Why do you always go to such lengths for me?" Mei Gongzi asked. She had finally begun to organize her thoughts and immediately grasped the key issue.
Tang San was silent for a moment before he said, "What I'm about to tell you may seem unbelievable. But it's the only explanation for the incredible things that have happened. Little Mei, do you believe in fate? And… Do you believe in reincarnation?"[10]
***
"So… You… You were my husband in a past life?" Mei Gongzi murmured.
"Yes." Tang San nodded.[11]
***
Mei Gongzi gently caressed Tang San's carbonized hand, her eyes dreamy. "The first time I saw you, you came to buy milk tea. You kept looking at me, and I saw you seemed to be crying. If we really had a past-life connection, you must have recognized me then, right? You were so weak back then.
"After that, I always saw you in the milk tea shop or at the academy. I've always felt close to you, and I could never understand why. I was always on guard against everyone, but not against you, and I could not understand why that was the case. Thinking back, if what you said about our past-life connection is true, then everything makes sense. It was the bond from our past lives, wasn't it?
"Then you put on a mask and you became Asura. You were right; if Tang San had shown the abilities of Asura back then, I would have thought he was a monster. So you hid your identity. But maybe it was because of that strange feeling toward Tang San that I always kept a distance from Asura, even though he was always helping me."[12]
1. The Chinese name for the parasol tree is "wutong," but in this case, the original character "wu" (梧) is replaced by Xiao Wu's name, which is 舞 (dance). ☜
2. The last character in Wulin's name is the second half of the word "qilin" and it looks like this 麟. Yes, it's annoying to write. ☜
3. This is from chapter 30. ☜
4. This is from chapter 266. ☜
5. Also from chapter 266. ☜
6. This is from 267. ☜
7. The original paragraph in chapter 590 is completely different from what was here. We used the original paragraph for accuracy purposes. ☜
8. This is from 597. ☜
9. This is from 599. ☜
10. This is from 610. ☜
11. This is from 611. ☜
12. This is from 629. ☜
the poing team's Thoughts
penguin: I hope you guys enjoyed the recap. I think it was pretty good.