Immortal God of War-Chapter 676 - 643: Hazy Memories, The Shadow Reappears_2
Qin Feiyang shook his head, pondered for a moment, and said, "Next, let’s go to Yan Province, Yan City."
「...」
「Over the skies of Yan City!」
WHOOSH!
Qin Feiyang and his two companions appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
Qin Zhong asked, "Who are we inquiring about this time?"
Qin Feiyang said, "We’re looking for someone named Yan..." However, he abruptly stopped mid-sentence.
Qin Zhong asked with a puzzled tone, "Yan what?"
Yan what? Qin Feiyang also asked himself. He clearly had a name in mind just moments ago, so why did he suddenly forget it now? What was going on?
Suddenly, he remembered. The name he was thinking of was Yan Nanshan.
"You go and find out if there’s someone named Yan Nanshan, and another person named Jiang..." At this point, Qin Feiyang’s memory blurred again. After trying to recall for a moment, he said, "Yes, Jiang Zhengyi."
"Alright."
Qin Zhong nodded and quickly swept downwards.
Qin Feiyang lowered his head to look at Yan City, his eyes full of confusion.
Yan Nanshan and Jiang Zhengyi. Such familiar names. Why did it take so long for him to remember?
Just then, a light sigh reached Qin Feiyang’s mind.
"Who?" Qin Feiyang was startled, scanning his surroundings.
"Your Highness, what’s wrong?" Qin Yi also looked at Qin Feiyang with surprise and confusion.
How come there’s no one? Qin Feiyang frowned slightly and shook his head. "It’s nothing," he said. "Perhaps I hallucinated."
But before he could finish speaking, a shadow materialized out of thin air right in front!
"Hm?" Qin Feiyang looked at the shadow, surprise evident in his eyes.
The shadow’s voice echoed once more in Qin Feiyang’s mind: "How much longer will you remain lost here?"
"What do you mean?" Qin Feiyang frowned.
"Your Highness, who are you talking to?" Upon hearing Qin Feiyang speak again, Qin Yi’s confusion intensified. He followed Qin Feiyang’s gaze but saw nothing.
Qin Feiyang paused, then looked at Qin Yi and asked, "You don’t see it? There’s a shadow over there."
"A shadow?" Qin Yi looked again but still saw nothing.
The shadow glanced at Qin Yi and said to Qin Feiyang (mentally), "Here, only you can see me. Others cannot see me, nor can they hear what I’m saying."
"Why?" Qin Feiyang asked in shock.
The shadow replied (mentally), "Because this is an illusion. Everything you see before you is conjured by the obsessions in your heart."
BOOM!
These words shook Qin Feiyang to his core.
"Are you confused as to why you suddenly forgot the names Yan Nanshan and Jiang Zhengyi?" the shadow continued (mentally).
Qin Feiyang nodded.
"Let me tell you, if you don’t face reality soon, not only will you forget Yan Nanshan and Jiang Zhengyi, but you will also forget the Wolf King, Fatty, and the others. Even the experiences, people, and things you’ve encountered over the past ten-odd years, will gradually fade from your memory. Until, at last, you forget entirely," the shadow said (mentally).
"Why would that happen?" Qin Feiyang asked in dismay.
"Because the Bridge of Helplessness tests your willpower. If your willpower is not strong enough, you will be forever lost in this illusion. Once you’ve forgotten everyone and everything, that will be the moment of your death. Child, I understand you. You long for familial warmth, a worry-free sanctuary, and wish the past torments had never happened. That’s why I didn’t remind you immediately. However, no matter how wonderful this place appears, it’s all false. You mustn’t continue like this. Otherwise, you’ll never leave this illusion, never return to the Imperial Capital, and never see your real mother. Face it courageously. Don’t lose your life over a momentary fantasy, for that will only lead to more regrets," the shadow sighed (mentally).
This... is an illusion... Qin Feiyang scanned the sky, the land, the mountains, and the rivers, a trace of disbelief still lingering in his eyes. He had only just managed to believe in and accept all of this, yet now someone had suddenly appeared to tell him it was all false. This sudden turn of events was something he found difficult to accept.
The shadow asked (mentally), "Don’t you believe me?"
Qin Feiyang retorted, "I don’t even know who you are! Why should I believe you?"
"Does it matter who I am?" the shadow asked, puzzled (mentally).
Qin Feiyang said angrily, "Of course it matters! Only by knowing your identity can I judge whether this place is real or fake!"
"It seems your obsession is deeper than I imagined. But I don’t blame you. After what happened all those years ago, any other child would have likely collapsed by now. It’s remarkable that you’ve remained strong and made it this far," the shadow sighed deeply (mentally).
"Since you know about that incident, you should understand how much I yearn for the life I have now. Why did you have to come and disrupt it? Do you want to hear what I truly feel? I truly want to stay here and continue living like this, even if everything here is false." As Qin Feiyang finished speaking, he lowered his head, his expression utterly desolate.
"I understand," the shadow said (mentally). "But have you considered what would happen to your mother, so far away in the Imperial Capital, if you were to die in this illusion? How devastated would she be if she learned that her most beloved child died out here, alone? And Qin Yuan. He has told you countless times to remain strong and courageous, no matter what difficulties you face. If you give up on yourself here, would that be living up to his expectations?" the shadow’s voice thundered (mentally).
Qin Feiyang’s body trembled as if struck by a thunderbolt on a clear day.
With a soft sigh, the shadow said (mentally), "Child, wake up. For your mother, for your Uncle Yuan, and for yourself."
Qin Feiyang’s face was etched with anguish. After a very long time, he finally asked, "What must I do to break this illusion?"
The shadow replied (mentally), "The attachments in your heart are your parents. Only by destroying them will the illusion disappear. You need only a thought, and they will turn to ash and smoke."
"What?" Qin Feiyang looked up sharply at the shadow. Even if they’re not real, I can’t do it!
"That is the only way," the shadow stated (mentally).
Qin Feiyang’s hands clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, drawing blood. After a moment, he unclenched his hands and said, "Give me some time."
The shadow nodded (mentally). "Alright. But I must remind you, you have at most an hour left."
"So little time!" Qin Feiyang’s gaze flickered. An hour will pass in the blink of an eye. What can I do in such a short time?
"There’s one more thing I need to tell you: the Wolf King and Ren Wushuang have also fallen into illusions. You should go and rescue them quickly," the shadow added (mentally).
"What?" Qin Feiyang’s expression changed.
"But rest assured, they are not in any immediate life-threatening danger," the shadow said (mentally).
"Can’t you just tell me everything at once?" Qin Feiyang gave the shadow a helpless look, then sighed in relief. "I have a question I’d like to ask you."
"What question?" the shadow asked (mentally).
"Since this place is an illusion created by my own desires, why has the Imperial Capital remained unchanged while Spirit State has altered, the ancient castle has disappeared, and people like Uncle Yuan and Ren Wushuang aren’t here?" Qin Feiyang frowned.
"Because the illusion needs you to believe that all of this is real," the shadow explained (mentally).
Qin Feiyang understood. All of this was meant to confuse his mind. Because if everything within the illusion were identical to reality, he would certainly become suspicious. Therefore, the illusion had erased everything that had happened in the past ten-odd years, leaving only the people and things from the Imperial Capital, and reverting him to his ten-year-old self. This way, he would believe it was all real and continue to sink deeper, until he was beyond redemption.
"What a terrifying illusion," Qin Feiyang muttered, a chill running down his spine. He looked at the shadow and said, "One last question: who exactly are you, and why can you appear within my illusion?"
"When the time is right, you will naturally know who I am," the shadow said with a smile, then vanished instantly without a trace.
’When the time is right,’ again. Qin Feiyang shook his head with a bitter smile, gazing down at the land below, a trace of melancholy filling his eyes.
"Your Highness, what in the world is wrong with you?"
"What illusion?"
"What’s fake?"
"Who is Uncle Yuan?"
"Who on earth are you talking to?" Meanwhile, Qin Yi, standing beside him, was frantic with worry.
Qin Feiyang smiled and said, "Don’t worry, I’m fine."
"Fine?" Qin Yi frowned. He was muttering to himself for ages. How could I not be worried?
