244: Chapter 244 Shen Yuan's Letter

Shen Zhao sat in the small courtyard for the entire night.

The tea on the stone table was already thoroughly cold, but he did not drink it.

That jar of spiritual spring water from the Lingxi Realm was still placed at the corner of the table, and the water droplets on the body of the jar faintly glowed in the moonlight.

The tea his uncle loved to drink the most—he couldn't bring himself to open it.

He was afraid that once opened, he would truly never see his uncle again.

He was afraid that once finished, there would truly be nothing left.

As dawn was approaching, Director Su Yun pushed the door open and entered.

Her complexion was very pale, and the dark circles under her eyes were heavier than yesterday; obviously, she had not slept for another night.

Holding a Jade Slip in her hands, it was not the cyan Jade Slip commonly used by the Investigation Department, but an ancient black Jade Slip engraved with fine runes on its surface.

"Shen Zhao, the Investigation Department has discovered another thing at the Shadow Society stronghold."

Shen Zhao took the Jade Slip, and when he saw the runes on it, his hand paused slightly.

That was not the runes of the Shadow Society, nor the runes of The Designers, but the runes of the Guardian Academy — the runes of the old Guardian Academy, belonging to those ancient patterns from before the 472nd generation.

The runes used by his grandfather's generation—his uncle had taught him how to recognize them.

"Who left this?" His voice was somewhat hoarse, his throat feeling as though it were blocked by something.

Director Su Yun fell silent, her eye sockets turning somewhat red.

"Your uncle. It was left by your uncle."

Shen Zhao's hand was trembling slightly, his fingertips touching those fine patterns on the Jade Slip, not daring to inject spiritual power into it, not daring to read it.

Afraid of reading things that shouldn't be read, afraid of hearing words that shouldn't be heard.

"The Investigation Department found it in a hidden compartment deep within the stronghold." Director Su Yun's voice was very soft, so soft as if she were afraid of disturbing something.

"The hidden compartment is very concealed; if it weren't for a careful search, it wouldn't have been discovered at all. Your uncle probably didn't want people to easily find this letter. The person he wanted to leave it to is only you."

Shen Zhao did not reply, only lowering his head to look at that Jade Slip.

He knew what his uncle had written in the letter. Perhaps the truth, perhaps instructions, perhaps those words he had always wanted to say but had never spoken aloud.

"Shen Zhao, you... you read it alone."

Director Su Yun turned and walked out of the small courtyard, gently closing the door behind her.

Only Shen Zhao was left alone in the courtyard.

The rustling sound of the wind blowing through the bamboo leaves, the water droplets condensed on the rim of the teacup, the slightly cool dew on the body of the jar.

And the heavy Jade Slip in his hand.

He took a deep breath and pressed the Jade Slip against his glabella.

The moment his Divine Thought probed in, a familiar voice resounded in his Sea of Consciousness.

Not text, not images, but a voice.

His uncle's voice was older and hoarser than in his memory, sounding as if he were speaking with his last ounce of strength.

"Zhao'er, if you hear this voice, it means Uncle is no longer here."

Shen Zhao's tears gushed out of his eyes.

He knelt on the ground, grasping the Jade Slip, listening to his uncle's voice.

"Do not be sad, nor blame yourself. The greatest fortune in Uncle's life is having a nephew like you."

His uncle's voice paused for a moment, seemingly gathering strength to speak, or perhaps recalling something.

"When you were little, you were very naughty and liked running around everywhere."

"Once you ran into the Forbidden Ground of the Guardian Academy, and your mother cried with anxiety."

"When Uncle found you, you were sitting right in front of a stone tablet, foolishly smiling at the runes on the tablet."

"Uncle asked you what you were doing, and you said these runes could speak."

"Uncle didn't believe it. But now you know, those runes really can speak."

Shen Zhao's tears dripped onto the Jade Slip, and the Jade Slip glowed faintly.

His uncle's voice continued.

"The year you turned ten, your father and your mother were going to the abyss."

"On the night before they left, your father came to find Uncle."

"He stood at Uncle's doorway for a long time, neither knocking on the door nor leaving."

"Uncle opened the door and saw him standing in the moonlight, his complexion pale."

"He said: 'Brother Yuan, if Ruoxue and I cannot return, I leave Zhao'er to you.'"

"Uncle said: 'You will definitely return.'"

"Your father smiled, smiling very bitterly."

"He said: 'Do not tell Zhao'er what we are going to do. Just say we went on a distant trip and will be back soon.'"

"Uncle said okay."

Shen Zhao knelt on the ground, hugging the Jade Slip, his tears blurring his vision.

Father had actually known long ago that he might not return.

His uncle's voice became deep, carrying a hint of suppressed choking.

"On the third day after your parents left, Mo Chen came."

"He stood in front of the Monument of Heroes, looking at your grandfather's spirit tablet for a long time."

"Uncle didn't know what he came to do, but Uncle knew he wasn't here to pay respects."

"Mo Chen said: 'Shen Yuan, do you know what your brother and sister-in-law went to the abyss to do?'"

"Uncle said: 'I don't know.'"

"Mo Chen smiled, a smile that made one's hair stand on end."

"He said: 'They went to throw their lives away.'"

Shen Zhao clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.

His uncle's voice carried a hint of trembling.

"Uncle asked him what he meant."

"He said: 'Your brother discovered the secret behind the door and learned the truth of the Universe cycle.'"

"He wanted to enter the New Universe to scout the path for the people of this cycle."

"But he didn't know that not just anyone can enter the New Universe. Only the Chosen One can pass through that door.'"

"Your parents were not the Chosen One; if they went, they would simply be throwing their lives away."

Shen Zhao's tears flowed uncontrollably.

His uncle's voice continued.

"Uncle did not believe Mo Chen's words."

"But when Uncle rushed to the edge of the abyss, it was already too late."

"Your parents fought fiercely against the Abyss Clan for three days and three nights; your father was heavily injured, and your mother, in order to protect him, was struck by the palm of the Abyss Emperor."

"When Uncle rushed up, your father grasped Uncle's hand and spoke his last words."

"'Brother Yuan, take good care of Zhao'er.'"

Shen Zhao hugged the Jade Slip, his entire body trembling.

His uncle's voice paused for a long time, so long that Shen Zhao thought the spiritual power inside the Jade Slip had already been exhausted.

Then, the voice sounded once more, even weaker and hoarser than before.

"Zhao'er, Uncle investigated for a long time and finally found out the truth."

"There is still someone behind Mo Chen."

"That person is older and more powerful than Mo Chen."

"He has always been hiding in the dark, waiting for the right moment, waiting for the cycle to end, waiting to reap everything."

"That person is related to 'Shi'."

"Perhaps... perhaps it is the other half of 'Shi's' consciousness."

Shen Zhao's hand paused slightly.

The other half of Shi's consciousness.

That black figure in the World Behind the Door, at the end of time, behind "Shi".

That existence who gave him the realm-breaking stone and said he came to save everything.

His uncle's voice continued.

"Zhao'er, that person is not an enemy."

Shen Zhao was stunned.

Not an enemy?

"Uncle discovered that he has been protecting you in secret all along."

"When your parents went to the abyss, it was he who lured Mo Chen away."

"When you were guarding the door within the door, it was he who blocked the first reconnaissance of The Designers' advance team."

"The realm-breaking stone he gave you is real."

"He is simply waiting, waiting for a person with a pure Dao Heart."

"The Chosen Ones of the first five cycles were all too strong."

"They didn't believe others, believing only in themselves."

"Therefore they couldn't see him, nor could they hear his voice."

"Only you, you are willing to trust others and willing to let others help you."

"That is why you were able to see him, hear his voice, and obtain the realm-breaking stone."

Shen Zhao's tears gushed out once more.

That black figure, those scarlet eyes, that phrase "Latercomer, you have finally come".

He is not an enemy; he has always been waiting, always guarding, from the first cycle to the sixth cycle.

His uncle's voice grew weaker and weaker.

"Zhao'er, Uncle has one more thing to tell you."

"In the Shadow Society stronghold, there is a secret room, and that secret room hides the complete star map of the tree of civilization."

"Only you can open that secret room."

"Because the Seal of the secret room requires seven types of power to unlock."

Shen Zhao's hand paused slightly.

That secret room—he had seen it.

It was the one he entered yesterday, the secret room that hid the Jade Slip.

His uncle's voice continued.

"Zhao'er, Uncle is tired."

"Uncle is going to rest."

"Promise Uncle, no matter what difficulties you encounter, do not shoulder them all by yourself."

"You have Director Su Yun, you have the Disciples of the Guardian Academy, you have Cultivators of various domains, and you have billions of common people."

"You are not alone."

Shen Zhao knelt on the ground, deeply kowtowing toward the Jade Slip.

"Uncle, this Disciple remembers."

His uncle's voice sounded for the last time, carrying a hint of a smile and a trace of reluctance.

"Zhao'er, Uncle is waiting for you at the Monument of Heroes."

The light of the Jade Slip dimmed, and the voice also disappeared.

Shen Zhao hugged the Jade Slip, kneeling on the ground and weeping for a long time.

Director Su Yun waited outside the courtyard for a long time, and upon hearing that there was no sound inside, she gently pushed the door open.

She saw Shen Zhao kneeling on the ground, hugging the Jade Slip, his face covered in tears.

She didn't speak, but simply walked over, squatted down, and gently hugged him.

"Shen Zhao, your uncle... he doesn't want to see you like this."

Shen Zhao did not speak, only leaning against Director Su Yun's shoulder and closing his eyes.

Director Su Yun gently patted his back, just like how his uncle used to pat him when he was little.

"Shen Zhao, your uncle said you are his greatest pride. You cannot let him down."

Shen Zhao opened his eyes, wiped away his tears, and said with a hoarse voice: "This Disciple knows."

He stood up, tucked the Jade Slip into his bosom, and then walked to the table, picking up that jar of spiritual spring water from the Lingxi Realm.

The body of the jar was very cool, but he did not feel cold.

"Director Su, this Disciple wishes to go before the Monument of Heroes."

Director Su Yun nodded, following behind him.

The morning light of Yongning City shone upon the Monument of Heroes, making the names on the monument shine brilliantly.

Shen Zhao knelt before the monument, placing that jar of spiritual spring water before his uncle's spirit tablet.

"Uncle, this Disciple has brought the tea you love to drink the most."

He opened the mud Seal sealing the mouth of the jar, and a faint fragrance of tea permeated the air.

That was tea brewed with the spiritual spring water unique to the Lingxi Realm, carrying a hint of sweetness amidst its fresh fragrance.

He poured a cup and placed it before his uncle's spirit tablet, poured another cup, picked it up himself, and gently took a sip.

The tea was very bitter, so bitter that he furrowed his brows.

But he did not stop, taking another sip.

His uncle had drunk bitter tea his entire life, yet he had never asked his uncle if it was bitter.

"Uncle, the tea is very bitter. But this Disciple will finish it."

He drained it in one gulp, placed the empty cup beside the spirit tablet, and then deeply kowtowed.

Director Su Yun stood behind him, looking at his back, her eye sockets turning red.

She had seen his back countless times from the tower of the Investigation Department, and each time it was thinner and more exhausted than the last.

But each time it was also straighter and more resolute.

Shen Zhao stood up, turned around, and looked at her.

"Director Su, this Disciple will go to the tree of civilization three days later."

Director Su Yun nodded.

"Before this Disciple leaves, I want to go to the New Universe to see my parents' Origin."

"Then go to the Guardian Academy to give the Disciples their final lesson."

Director Su Yun's eye sockets turned red, but she did not cry.

"Alright. I will accompany you."

Shen Zhao smiled, and as he smiled, tears streamed down once more.

He did not wipe them away, simply letting them flow as the morning light shone upon his tear-streaked face.

The seven-colored light at the top of the Monument of Heroes pulsed gently, as if saying — "Go. We are all waiting for you here."