Light Fortress Chapter 1871 - 459: Beneath the Mask_3

Tianshui continued to remain silent.

This was indeed something he had said.

After the two exchanged a glance.

Tianshui’s voice was hoarse: "So?"

"Everyone will die..."

Qinglong lowered his eyes and slowly began to speak.

"Everyone will die, but you will not."

The longest-living person in Upper City was not Master Ian.

But Tianshui.

The person who has been with Tianshui the longest is Qinglong.

Everyone is curious about how this master and disciple managed to live for so long...

Relying on the Fire Seed to extend life? Slowing down the time flow in the Divine Domain with seals?

There are countless theories about this, but none are correct.

The vast majority of people believe that Qinglong has lived so long because he is powerful enough and has found the secret to "immortality."

But the truth.

Will surprise everyone.

"Give me some more of your time..."

On the chessboard of the Reincarnation Realm, a piercing cold wind arose, which was the chilling sword intent forged in the [Furnace].

Thoughtfully, Qinglong raised a cloud shield to block the cold wind for his teacher.

But the words he spoke at that moment were colder than the sword intent.

Many years ago.

Qinglong was just a weak, frail boy.

He was saved by Tianshui, nurtured, and grew... At the height of his confidence, he suffered an unprecedented defeat.

He was shot grievously by the Extinguishing Candle, on the brink of death.

If it hadn’t been for the "Divine Miracle," Qinglong should have died there.

But...

Tianshui, in his mortal form, created a Divine Miracle.

He shared a portion of his own "lifespan" with his beloved disciple on the verge of death, saving Qinglong’s life... It was precisely this portion of lifespan and vitality from Tianshui that helped Qinglong successfully ascend to the Sky Divine Throne.

Moreover, it allowed his "lifespan" to surpass other Fire Leaders by far!

He has lived until now not because Qinglong himself is strong enough.

Rather...

The gift from Tianshui back then was immensely generous.

Yet even the most generous gift will eventually be used up one day.

Qinglong extended his hand, and a myriad of clouds lifted Tianshui upwards from the chessboard of the Reincarnation Realm. These clouds also formed a gigantic palm which, viewed from the sky... looked like it was asking for something.

Yes.

He was indeed asking for something.

"Everyone will die, and I am no exception."

Tianshui raised his head and saw his disciple’s true face.

At that moment, feelings of severe melancholy and stabbing pain surged within his heart like a sharp knife.

"Abandon these unrealistic desires... I will not give you any more time."

The words from Tianshui washed away the last trace of feigned compassion in Qinglong’s gaze.

"So, you do have a lot of time left."

The clouds swirled around the Reincarnation Realm as a cold, indifferent giant face slowly emerged.

Divine might descended.

The sense of oppression suddenly intensified.

But Tianshui showed no fear whatsoever.

He softly whispered to himself: "How ironic, the one who once feared death the least, now is willing to abandon all principles and boundaries for survival. Someone once advised me not to support you, but I went ahead against all advice. Looking back now, my judgment... was indeed poor. If we meet again, he would surely mock me, wouldn’t he?"

"...?"

Qinglong squinted his eyes.

Someone had advised Tianshui not to support him.

All these years, he had never known about this?

This is not the main point, the true focus is, is that person who advised Tianshui long ago still alive?

Can someone live as long as Tianshui?

"Who is that person?"

The giant face formed by the clouds was full of confusion.

"Ha..."

A raspy laughter sounded from behind the mask.

"Guess."

The sharp sarcasm in those two words rendered Qinglong speechless for a moment.

"..."

Qinglong gazed intensely at the mask on his teacher’s face, trying to discern something from it.

When he was saved years ago, Tianshui was already wearing this mask, and now, after so many years... Tianshui still wore this mask, which seemed like a great chasm, thicker than any barrier in the world.

Even as a Divine Throne, he could not see through the mask to his teacher’s face.

What an ironic situation?

For close to a hundred years.

He has never seen Mr. Tianshui’s true face, not even once.

Through the [Cloud Mirror], he can see all the secrets of this world.

But he cannot penetrate his teacher’s mask or guess his teacher’s heart.

"Do you want to see the face beneath my mask?"

Tianshui asked softly: "All these years, you’ve been curious, but you never took the initiative to ask."

Because—

Qinglong was always playing the role of an excellent disciple.

Initially, he genuinely respected Tianshui, so he never probed his teacher’s secrets.

Later on.

He ascended the Divine Throne, and there were too many significant matters in the world.

Compared to those, his teacher’s secrets seemed unimportant.

Even if he was curious, due to his "pride," he was unwilling to lower himself to ask... If his teacher wished, wearing this mask indefinitely was not a big deal.

Now that Tianshui brought up the topic himself.

Although the two were completely opposed, sword drawn... yet Tianshui’s tone still remained as gentle as a hundred years ago.

As if master and disciple had never had a dispute.

As long as Qinglong lowered his head and softly said "yes."

Then he would lift the mask and show Qinglong what lay beneath.

The silence in the Sky Divine Domain lasted only a few seconds.

Qinglong spoke coldly: "If I wanted to see, there are a thousand ways to do so... I don’t need your charity."

Tianshui said nothing, merely looked softly at his disciple, with eyes gentle, compassionate, and mocking.

As if he hadn’t heard what Qinglong had just said.

This attitude.

Completely infuriated the giant face in the clouds.

From his Throne, Qinglong expressionlessly extended his hand and swiped it across his teacher’s cheek!

In an instant, a countless gale surged across the chessboard of the Reincarnation Realm, thousands of blades brushed past Mr. Tianshui’s cheek!

"Ssslash!"

The flesh tore apart like ripped paper.

The mask seeped scarlet blood...

Qinglong stared grimly at his teacher’s face; his swiping had not removed the mask.

Perhaps it had been worn for too long.

The mask had become one with Tianshui.

At this moment, Tianshui’s face continued to bleed, the drops quickly coalescing into a small pool of blood as he lowered his head, laughing softly, the laughter tinged with pain, sadness, and disappointment.

He lifted his head again, casting the same gaze upon his disciple.

As if filled with compassion, charity, and mercy.

"Ssslash!"

"Ssslash!"

"Ssslash!"

Relentless gales swept over the chessboard in the Reincarnation Realm, as endless torrents of blood swamped Tianshui’s frail shell.

Rooted in a century-long, drawn-out span of years.

This was the second time Qinglong so completely lost his reason.

The first was on that disastrous stormy night.

This time, he wanted to see his teacher’s face.

Yet the howling winds surged like furious waves, blades slashed out torrents of blood.

Even after he severed his teacher’s entire head...

Still no answer.

It was then he realized, holding the power of the Divine Throne does not make one omnipotent.

Some things just cannot be done, no matter what.

...

...

(There is another Chapter tonight, the volume seems a bit longer than I imagined, no more flag-planting, quality comes first.)