After a brief exchange, Cheng Shi and the Blind One left the Void separately.
Before parting, Cheng Shi inford her of Lao Deng's death and instructed her to watch personally as Qin Xin used the Rembrance Needle.
His final words upon departure:
"Stay in touch at all tis. And if you find that you can't face Qin Xin, consider leaving the Torchbearers. The Destined Ones are also a warm... uh, little den."
The Blind One laughed. She'd finally recovered from the terror of being "abandoned" by Destiny, returning to the warm, confident An Mingyu.
"Trust
— I'll handle everything."
Cheng Shi scoffed and left without a backward glance. He'd had more than enough of the Void today. Not one second longer.
The Blind One, after Cheng Shi departed, traced a strange symbol in the void. From a yawning gate of pure darkness, she stepped onto the Path of Fire Passing.
Now — she needed to talk to Qin Xin.
...
anwhile.
While the clown and the prophet had been conferring in the Void, the Fire Passer Hall had settled into a rare quiet. Both Fire Seekers had departed, and the place had once again beco Qin Xin's "rest area."
Indeed — Qin Xin's rest area was right here. Although the Faith Ga had "assigned" him a plot of land in the real world, he'd practically taken up permanent residence here long ago. His bedroom was a small room off the left side of the Fire Passing Hall.
Having wrapped up all Torchbearer business, Qin Xin finally earned so rest ti. He downed two healing potions, then dragged his exhausted body toward the little bedroom and pushed open the door.
The room was small and spartan. Apart from a bed, a wardrobe, and a few black-and-white photographs nailed to the wall, there were virtually no signs of decoration.
Only the wardrobe at the foot of the bed stood out — conspicuously massive. It looked large enough to fit two Qin Xins, as if custom-built.
Qin Xin closed the door. His gaze swept over the photos on the wall, and a trace of sorrow surfaced on his face. He stood staring for a mont, then slowly walked forward and hung two fresh black-and-white photos alongside the others.
When that was done, he drifted toward the wardrobe. Ti to rest.
Yes — he never slept in the bed. He slept in the wardrobe.
The armor-plated arm pulled the wardrobe open. Inside the enormous wardrobe — no clothes. Only a gaunt young man curled in the corner, dozing.
The youth's face was deathly pale. Not a trace of color on his lips. Skin and bones all over, barely a few scraps of flesh. He looked as though a single tap from Qin Xin would snap him in half and leave him dead inside the wardrobe.
Yet Qin Xin still tapped him. With the gentlest force imaginable.
The frail youth awoke. He lifted heavy eyelids. Seeing Qin Xin return, he forced a smile.
"Back? How was the trial?"
Qin Xin nodded firmly, then shook his head firmly: "Trial went well. But you... not so well. Are you sure you want to swap?"
Hearing this, the frail youth struggled upright from the corner. He patted Qin Xin's armored arm, bloodless face splitting into a radiant grin:
"Swap! Why wouldn't I!
Your identity still needs to stay hidden, and it's inconvenient for you to go looking for those things. Leave it to ."
Qin Xin's eyes darkened: "But you..."
"Am about to die?" The frail youth trembled as he used Qin Xin's hand to pull himself upright. He was so weak, so pale — yet his eyes blazed with the exact sa light as Qin Xin's.
"Everyone dies eventually.
When I set foot on this path, I never planned on living!
As long as you're alive, that's enough. As long as you live — that's
living!
Qin Xin, I just want to use what little ti I have left to help you a bit more. Help all of you a bit more. Help myself a bit more.
I'm a warrior. Let
die on the road of fire passing. Don't let
rot in this cabinet."
With that, the frail youth gripped Qin Xin's arm with everything he had. And Qin Xin gently gripped back.
Worry flickered in his eyes — but he smiled and said one word: "Okay."
At that word, the frail youth smiled. His smile was so like Qin Xin's — no, not rely similar. Even the curve of the lips and the shape of the eyes were identical.
Because that wasn't a Torchbearer's warm smile. It was Qin Xin's own smile.
The two figures standing arm in arm — one powerful, one frail — wore exactly the sa face!
They were both Qin Xin!
Only one was sharp and full of spirit — and the other... hollow and fading.
"Can you... stand on your own?"
"Qin Xin, you're underestimating a warrior!"
"Fine. I won't. But I must correct you — you're not a warrior. You're a hunter."
The heavy-armored Qin Xin smiled helplessly. He released his grip, letting the frail Qin Xin stand independently. Sothing complex passed through his eyes. A sigh. Then he stepped into the wardrobe.
The instant the armored battle boots crossed the wardrobe's threshold, a figure vanished from the bedroom — while inside the wardrobe appeared a suit of... heavy armor.
As the armor settled in the wardrobe, the Dreamless Mirror slowly detached from within and floated before the frail Qin Xin.
He reached out with trembling hands and grasped it. A surge of azure mory power erupted, spinning into silken cocoons that wrapped around him.
Monts later, the mory power quietly receded. A sowhat more energetic Qin Xin reappeared in the room.
So of his strength seed to have returned — but compared to the heavy-armored Qin Xin, he remained small and weak.
That was enough, though. mory never required martial valor — only flawless rigor and unwavering devotion.
Qin Xin glanced at the armor in the wardrobe. Closed the door. A steady light flashed in his eyes. He strode from the room.
But the mont he stepped into the Fire Passing Hall, the Candle Man — who always liked to sit inverted midair — appeared silently above him.
Qin Xin looked up and smiled warmly: "You're here?"
"Sigh... I know I can't stop you, but after you die — what happens to them?"
"Ha ha ha! What happens is what happens!
No Torchbearer lives forever. They'll die. And so will I.
The deepest truth I've learned from countless mories is that history never stops for one person's sacrifice. After I die, thousands upon thousands of '' will rise to continue passing the fire for this world.
All I ask is to pass the torch just a little farther before I die. That way, on the stretch of road where I existed, perhaps a few fewer brothers and sisters will die.
Death isn't frightening. What's truly frightening is letting the world lose its hope."
As Qin Xin spoke, a brilliant light radiated from his entire being. His conviction was so absolute that the glow nearly eclipsed the candle's own fla.
The candle flickered. Noncommittal.
"Where are you headed this ti?"
"The Kingdom of War. Boro Battlefield. I've combed through the Land of Hope's war history and found there's a bow — a War giant bow as tall as a man. I think it suits him. And it can forge a soul.
With it... Qin Xin will be even better at protecting them for ."
"Have you ever considered pulling that bow yourself?"
"?" Qin Xin laughed bitterly. He held out his hand, studying his shriveled arm and deflated muscles. "I can't. I'm not perfect enough. Passion alone can't accomplish great things. Strategy without courage can't weather storms. So...
I created him.
As long as he lives, he'll carry my dream all the way to the far shore of a new world!
It's a pity... a dream this long — I probably won't live to see the ending."
With that, Qin Xin walked to the long table, sat down, and entered the trial through a silent prayer.
Seeing his resolve and conviction, sothing unreadable flickered in the Candle Man's eyes. It lted back into darkness, murmuring:
"Like a Dream... what a fitting na — Like a Dream...
That War beast... is the most beautiful dream you've ever dread."
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