Chapter Fifty-Two: Dispelling Doubts

"Alright then. By the way, didn't the Elder say we should head to the Central Plains? When are we leaving?"
Xu Xing put away his short sword and gently reminded the Elder.
"What Elder? You'll probably have to call him Grandfather in the future. His name is Zhang Sanqing. You might as well start calling him Grandpa Zhang now."
Kong Mo stroked his white beard, his expression suddenly shifting into a smile.
"Master, you... don't say such things. That's not true at all,"
Zi Yan's cheeks flushed, her voice shy.
"Oh, little girl, don't pretend with me. You shouldn't put on one face for me and another behind my back. If you don't speak up about certain things soon, you might regret it,"
Kong Mo replied, grinning mischievously, thoroughly pleased with himself.
Xu Xing, listening to this farce, kept silent. If he wasn't careful, he might fall into another trap.
As their conversation continued, Xu Xing faded into the background.
He glanced at the sky and felt somewhat comforted.
He had barely arrived in Great Shu, yet had already met like-minded companions—people who cared about him and valued him.
A smile crept onto his lips, joy welling up from within.
"Hey, kid, what are you smiling about?" Kong Mo walked over slowly, arm draped across Xu Xing's shoulders.
"I'm not smiling, just thinking of something that makes me happy."
With a gentle wave of Kong Mo's hand, the group found themselves, almost without noticing, atop a sheer cliff.
The cliff overlooked a vast and tempestuous sea.
The roar of waves came from afar; Xu Xing snapped back to reality and turned to look at his companions. Just then, the barrier Kong Mo had conjured began to dissolve.
The waves surged, and the sea stretched endlessly.
"Where is this?" Xu Xing asked in surprise.
The others remained silent, standing behind him. Faced with such grandeur, Xu Xing was overwhelmed.
After a long while, with the sea filling his heart, he turned around to find the three of them staring at him.
"Where is this? What are you planning? Are you going to jump into the sea?" Xu Xing asked, pointing at the ocean below the cliff.
Kong Mo had jumped into the sea by the dam last time—was this going to be a group affair? Had they all lost hope?
"Go where you need to go. Take Zi Yan with you."
The Elder broke the silence first, shielding Zi Yan protectively lest the cold wind chill her.

"Alright. I promised to take Zi Yan to the Central Plains to seek the divine doctor. When do we leave?"
Kong Mo came over, standing beside Xu Xing, gazing out at the sea, his voice low:
"Is there anything left undone? Do you need us to help? This time, when you leave, who knows when you'll return—or if you'll ever return at all."
"Sigh, I hope you fare well in the Central Plains. There's something we've kept from you for a long time."
"What?!"
Xu Xing was startled and dryly replied. Was there some unresolved matter? What could it be?
"The decaying wood block in your pouch is one such secret. If you don't believe me, take it out and drop a few drops of blood on it—you'll see the truth revealed."
Xu Xing had tried this before.
The first time he dripped blood upon the block, he had seen fifteen giant tortoises bearing immortal mountains, roaming the four corners, and glimpsed the secret of the world's formation.
Had this decaying wood block been arranged by them as well?
He had found the wood outside the village of the guest named An—could it be connected to Kong Mo?
Xu Xing looked up at the blue sky, as if something was about to happen.
Thunderclouds gathered overhead, pressing the sky down, threatening to collapse.
"To be honest, it's time I told you the truth. I am also of the bloodline of the Sin Tribe."
Kong Mo moved beside Xu Xing, explaining.
What? Xu Xing had long suspected this. Ever since Kong Mo had rescued him, he had guessed as much.
He had heard from Hang Ri that the weakest person from that village had become the master of Mount Shu, even if he was the weakest.
But now Xu Xing wondered—was everyone in the village of the Sin Tribe's bloodline? Why were they confined there?
Suddenly it all became clear, and Xu Xing murmured:
"I understand now. I see... that's how it is."
Kong Mo smiled, relieved, his voice soft but audible to Xu Xing.
When Xu Xing had infused his blood into the decaying wood, he had discovered the arcane secret of the world's birth.
It had begun with giants fishing for the immortal tortoise, then the immortal mountain fixed upon the tortoise drifted and was finally torn apart.
The immortal mountain became fragments, which in turn formed today's world.
Then others came to pioneer the lands, until a meteorite fell and changed everything.
The Sin Blood—was the curse brought by the meteorite!

"Are my parents also of the Sin Tribe's bloodline?"
Xu Xing asked anxiously. If they were, then…
Kong Mo saw the worry in Xu Xing's heart and fell silent. In that moment, a heavy stone settled in Xu Xing's chest.
"Damn, what a mess! You don't have to say it—I already know."
Xu Xing roared. Yes, he already knew…
Having learned the truth, Xu Xing collapsed to the ground, head bowed, powerless, gazing at the far horizon.
What lay beyond the sea?
"Sigh, your foster parents have always treated you well—better than they treated Xu Hai. At the time, they could only save one child, and so they saved you. When the Li family sent assassins to pursue you all, Xu Hai sacrificed much to save you—even ruined his cultivation prospects."
"When I arrived, it was already too late. The master who saved you back then was me. Both you and Xu Hai had your spiritual roots sealed into dispersal pearls, and your roots were lost."
Kong Mo sighed, difficultly recounting the facts.
"Why? Why?"
Xu Xing, devastated, didn’t know how to respond. Where were his real parents now? How were they living?
If the future was unpredictable, he should cherish those before him—his foster parents, Xu Hai, everyone.
"By seniority, you should call me Uncle..." Kong Mo stammered.
"What!?" So much had happened; Xu Xing could barely breathe.
The clouds above grew ever darker and heavier, suffocating.
"Sigh, you and I both grew up in that village. By chance, I came out, then brought you out and delivered you to the Xu family. As for how you entered the village, your parents entrusted the youth who left a mark on the diseased tree to bring you there. Your parents' situation is likely not good now. When you have the strength, I'll tell you more."
Kong Mo spoke as if unwilling to say too much, lest Xu Xing break down.
"What is this block of decaying wood? Who was that youth?" Xu Xing asked, gazing at the wood in his hand.
"It's a sapling—the seedling of the diseased tree that has protected our Sin Tribe for generations. Only those of the Sin Tribe can awaken it!"
…
"Have you decided when you'll leave?" Kong Mo sat beside Xu Xing and asked gently.
"I want to see, one more time, the place where I once lived."