Of Mountains and Rivers 50

Chu Huan held the ring, still warm from Nan Shan's hand. He seemed frozen in the glow of the fire, remaining silent for a full minute. He knew exactly why Nan Shan was doing this, and if roles were reversed, Chu Huan felt he might make the same decision. However, his heart was burning with anger, and he couldn't suppress it.

Despite being among the more mild-tempered people, Chu Huan hadn't lost his temper like this in years. After a while, he couldn't hold back any longer and spoke in almost a whisper, "Can you say that again, please?"

Nan Shan's throat moved, and he replied hoarsely, "I'll send you away. Don't come back."

"This," Chu Huan's gaze remained fixed on Nan Shan's eyes as he raised the ring and held it in front of him, "You don't want this anymore, do you?"

A pained expression briefly flashed across Nan Shan's face, and he stared straight at the fire, veins bulging slightly on his forehead. After a while, he nodded, "Mhm."

"Fine." Chu Huan nodded as if he had just understood something, and there was a hint of cold determination in his smile. He raised his hand and tossed the platinum band into the fire, causing sparks to fly.

Nan Shan was taken aback and immediately reached out to retrieve the ring from the fire, but Chu Huan grabbed his wrist firmly.

Chu Huan's hand felt like an iron claw, and the strong grip made Nan Shan's wrist ache. They stood there in a stalemate, Chu Huan's voice becoming low and slow as he said, "Didn't you say that the mountain guardians always keep their promises?"

Nan Shan couldn't find the words to respond, and he struggled to maintain a calm expression, which proved increasingly difficult.

Chu Huan's hand trembled slightly, which infuriated Nan Shan even more.

In his mind, he tried to convince himself that they should sit down together, calmly discuss the pros and cons, explain their concerns, and try to reach some consensus through negotiation like adults. But he couldn't find the words to say anything.

They had faced life and death together on this journey, and now, in the end, all Nan Shan, the tribe's chief, wanted was to send him far away.

Holding Nan Shan's wrist, Chu Huan took a deep breath, letting the cool night air flow into his lungs. He closed his eyes, trying hard to regain control of his emotions.

But beside him, Nan Shan was still fanning the flames.

"I'm sorry," Nan Shan finally broke the silence, not hesitating to admit it openly. "You can do whatever you want."

The phrase "I'm sorry" was undoubtedly one of the most infuriating things one could say, and Nan Shan practically threw a kilogram of explosives directly at Chu Huan, setting him on fire.

"I can do whatever I want." Chu Huan's anger turned into a sarcastic smile. He suddenly grasped Nan Shan's neck, forcing him to look up in an uncomfortable position. Chu Huan lowered his voice to almost a whisper, barely audible over the crackling firewood, and leaned close to Nan Shan's ear. He asked coldly, "Is that what you said, Tribe Chief?"

Chu Huan held Nan Shan's neck as if he could strangle him at any moment. Nan Shan's carotid artery pulsated wildly under Chu Huan's fingertips, and his eyes were bloodshot. His clenched fists were like tightly strung bowstrings, and the friction of his tense joints was almost audible. His thin lips were pressed into a tight line, and his eyes were filled with blood vessels.

The two of them stood there in silence and tense confrontation, their proximity both near and far. Chu Huan's face was just inches away from Nan Shan's ear, but his tribe chief sat upright, eyes gazing into the distance, showing an unwavering, stubborn determination.

Chu Huan could feel every inch of Nan Shan's muscles tensing up like unyielding stones. He sighed soundlessly and didn't do anything to harm him.

Releasing his hold, Chu Huan took a step back and lay down on the ground again, looking up at the starry sky. The stars seemed to be dancing, and he closed his eyes, remaining silent as if falling asleep.

Only when Chu Huan was quiet, Nan Shan slowly turned his head, watching him across the fire.

Suddenly, Chu Huan murmured, "They can easily leave with a few words, full of loyalty and good intentions. But the moment things change, they leave without a second thought."

He seemed exhausted, lying flat on his back, his collarbone visible, and his jaw now more angular and his neck more pronounced due to the days of hardship.

Chu Huan asked quietly, "In your heart, what do you think of me?"

Nan Shan was rendered speechless, and even Chu Huan beating him or insulting him didn't hurt as much as this one sentence did.

Ignoring him, Chu Huan continued, "You and your elder with the goat-like head probably think that people on the other side of the river can never be trusted, right?"

Nan Shan hoarsely denied, "I don't."

Chu Huan pretended not to hear and suddenly turned over in place, presenting his back to Nan Shan. His spine curved slightly, sinking into the hollow of his waist. He kept his back turned, saying with a hint of despair, "I'm not a moral exemplar, but I'm not scum either—at least not scum to you."

Chu Huan's words were initially meant as a tactic to show weakness and play the martyr. But as he spoke, he actually began to feel genuinely hurt, so he abruptly stopped himself.

The cold and hard ground beneath him seemed to amplify the chill, even though there was a fire nearby. The pebbles, not properly cleaned, felt rough against Chu Huan's arms as he hugged himself defensively. This posture, normally used to defend against attacks, now seemed to hold a pool of sour water.

Chu Huan decided not to say anything more. His silver tongue, capable of wounding enemies and allies alike, had backfired, leaving him feeling miserable.

If gazes had warmth, Chu Huan would probably have been scorched by the intensity of Nan Shan's eyes. Nan Shan wished he could embrace him or even reach into the fire and retrieve the ring that remained motionless within the flames. He clenched his teeth so tightly that he could taste the blood in his mouth.

"Do you know what the Fallen Land is?" Nan Shan asked hoarsely.

Chu Huan remained motionless but slightly opened his eyes.

"The Fallen Land is a dead land. There's no consciousness; there's nothing that can move. It's not death, but there's no life either. Haven't you seen those living dead in our tribe's caves?"

The fire was starting to dim, but neither of them bothered to tend to it. Nan Shan continued, "Long ago, there were more than just our tribe here. Back then, this world had many people—plains and mountains were inhabited by various tribes, and merchants traveled between them, exchanging goods. Our ancestors had been living on the Holy Mountain for generations and were highly respected because of their special relationship with the gatekeepers. Over time, we earned the name 'Mountain Guardians.'"

"According to the Sacred Scriptures, one day the world will turn dark," Nan Shan said. "At that time, no one understood the meaning of this phrase. However, later on, several refugee tribes arrived nearby, claiming that their settlements had been swallowed by darkness."

Chu Huan finally responded, asking, "What do you mean by 'swallowed'?"

"It means they vanished," Nan Shan replied. "Those living dead in our caves—at least they had intact bodies. But the people they spoke of being 'swallowed' left nothing behind as if they never existed in the first place."

Chu Huan pondered for a moment before asking again, "What is this Sacred Scripture you mentioned?"

"It's said to be a large stone," Nan Shan explained. "The legend of the Sacred Scripture is widely known, and there were similar versions among various tribes in the past. However, no one knows exactly how it started, and over time, the contents were lost, and it became a tale passed down orally."

Oral traditions are always unreliable, and Chu Huan couldn't help but inquire further, "Has anyone ever really sought the true Sacred Scripture?"

"Yes," Nan Shan said, turning his head and gazing in the direction of the Fallen Land. "But the legendary Heavenly Stone Scriptures are already in the Fallen Land, and no one can find them."

Chu Huan frowned. "But I saw mountains, water, and trees on the mountain. If any life would disappear in the Fallen Land, why do the trees exist?"

"Trees lack consciousness," Nan Shan replied.

A memory flashed in Chu Huan's mind. It was when they were on the mountaintop, and Nan Shan shouted, "Don't look, don't listen, don't think!" Suddenly, he had a realization and blurted out, "Is your consciousness what the Fallen Land swallows?"

Nan Shan shook his head and said, "I don't know."

Chu Huan struggled to articulate his thoughts: "When those veterans entered your territory during the vibration period, it was like erasing their existence on the other side of the river. Time stopped, and if it's the same reason, the so-called 'Fallen Land' and your side are not in the same… dimension?"

He didn't know how to put it into words. After a while, he found a word that came close: "Dimension?"

Nan Shan tore his gaze away from him with difficulty, his throat moving slightly. After a moment of silence, he repeated, "I don't know."

"The elder said it's alive. For many years, it has been devouring and expanding its territory. The movement has become especially prominent in recent years. But I thought there were still decades left, and I didn't expect…" Nan Shan paused for a moment before continuing, "The mountain gate connects to another world; it is the only way out of here. At this rate, within the next year or two, we'll likely face two outcomes—either the mountain gate will be trampled by those hopeless creatures, and we'll die in battle, or the mountain gate will close in front of the Fallen Land, and we'll all be swallowed and disappear together."

"So, you decided to kick me out," Chu Huan said.

His words were like a splash of hot oil, instantly causing chaos in Nan Shan's heart. His chest heaved violently a few times, and his fingers cruelly clutched the innocent grass, nearly drawing blood from the tough stems.

Chu Huan glanced at Nan Shan, then wordlessly got up and found a spot in the farthest corner to lie down. Nan Shan's back was rigid as if it might break with a slight touch, and he kept his head low without looking back.

The next morning, the atmosphere felt off, but nobody could pinpoint exactly what was wrong. Little Fang anxiously looked at everyone, trying to figure out the source of the unease. It wasn't until they followed the original plan and reached the secluded mountain cave and cold pool that they realized the root cause—their "Jerk King," Chu Huan.

Chu Huan silently walked in the rear, not uttering a word since morning. Usually, even if the chief led the way and he took up the rear, Chu Huan would engage in banter with Yuan Ping or crack a joke at Nan Shan's expense, eliciting a begrudging glance from the chief and a mischievous smile in return. No matter how tense the situation, as long as Chu Huan had the energy, he always seemed to be in a "no big deal" state, never wearing such a depressed expression before.

As they neared the pool, everyone stopped to rest and cautiously checked for any other dangers in the area. Chu Huan continued trailing with a sour expression, holding a grass stem in his mouth, and he didn't seem to care about anything.

Little Fang shouted to him, "Hungry or not?"

Chu Huan nonchalantly shook his head in response and ignored them.

Perplexed, Little Fang turned to Nan Shan, but the chief averted his gaze.

Little Fang then looked at the mountain. He saw the bewildered expression on the silly kid's face, and so he finally decided to poke Yuan Ping and gesture toward Chu Huan.

Yuan Ping asked, "What's wrong?"

Little Fang pulled him aside and whispered in his ear, "What's with our Jerk King?"

Yuan Ping, not understanding, replied, "I don't know; either he's in a bad mood or he's on his period?"

Little Fang begged, "Chief's brother, can you go and check on him?"

Yuan Ping grumbled, "Why should I care? I…"

Little Fang stomped on his foot forcefully, putting on a fierce Li Kui-like face, and transformed into an angry little monkey.

"Argh!" Yuan Ping shot Little Fang an annoyed look before giving in and walking over to Chu Huan. He kicked him lightly and said, "Hey, they want me to ask you what's wrong with you? Why are you pretending to be melancholic?"

Chu Huan lifted his lips without looking up and said indifferently, "Get lost."

Despite his rude response, Yuan Ping wasn't agitated. He squatted down, studied Chu Huan's expression for a moment, and noticed something interesting. Then he turned to glance at Nan Shan, who had been staring at Chu Huan all this time. Seeing Yuan Ping's attention, Nan Shan quickly averted his eyes.

Yuan Ping's mind was now spinning with wild ideas. He patted Chu Huan's arm, squatting beside him, and playfully probed, "What's up? Do you have something bothering you? Tell me all about it; the journey is lonely, and I could use a good laugh."

Chu Huan seemed like a jack-in-the-box; no matter how Yuan Ping tried to prod or joke, he remained silent.

When Yuan Ping was about to lose his patience and leave, Chu Huan suddenly mumbled to himself, "I want to go to the Fallen Land."

This statement left Yuan Ping rooted in place.

Yuan Ping turned his head, his eyes filled with disbelief, and asked slowly, "What did you say? Say it again."

"I plan to visit the Fallen Land," Chu Huan enunciated clearly.

Yuan Ping twisted his head in confusion and scrutinized Chu Huan. "Are you out of your mind?"

"No," Chu Huan replied.

Yuan Ping noticed that Chu Huan had been staring in the direction of the Fallen Land. His gaze was fixed, making Yuan Ping shudder. Yuan Ping rolled up his pants legs and crouched beside Chu Huan, inquiring in a lowered voice, "What's wrong with you? Chu Huan, are you planning to do something reckless? Does your chief know about this?"

Chu Huan remained silent for a long time before replying in a barely audible voice, "He intends to let me go back to where I came from."

Yuan Ping didn't immediately comprehend, but after a while, it dawned on him, and he stared at Chu Huan with an incredulous expression. He enunciated each word carefully: "So, you mean, because of this, you plan to go there and… do something desperate, to die or find something?"

Chu Huan didn't respond.

Yuan Ping shook his head in disbelief, then patted Chu Huan's shoulder. "You've truly amazed me. Fine, go ahead; I support you."

Chu Huan was shaken by Yuan Ping's pat. Although Yuan Ping was often carefree and bad at reading people's emotions, he wasn't so clueless. At that moment, he realized Nan Shan's intention, so he looked at Chu Huan and asked, "Are you serious?"

Chu Huan nodded.

Furrowing his brows, Yuan Ping fell silent for a while before speaking, "Then at least come back with us first. Regarding the Fallen Land, I think it's best if you talk to the Elder and Chief Rug."

Chu Huan finally retracted his gaze and said to Yuan Ping, "I know. I don't plan on sneaking away in the middle of the night."

Yuan Ping sighed. "Whether it's the Fallen Land or anything else, it actually has nothing to do with you; you know that, right?"

Chu Huan ignored him.

Seeing Chu Huan's expression, Yuan Ping knew that his mind was made up, and there was nothing he could say to change it. He sighed heavily, stood up, and walked away.

At this moment, Chu Huan seemed to remember something. He turned to Yuan Ping and asked, "By the way, did you see a flash of white light on the mountaintop that day?"

Yuan Ping raised an eyebrow and looked puzzled. "What white light?"