⤄CHAPTER 7: ‘Reflection of One’s True Self surely, hides Behind the Obscure Mirror’ (Part 1)
Xianwu stared at the boy kneeling in front of her. Due to darkness his face couldn't be seen but from his voice Xianwu could guess really clearly, the way he was tortured. "A miracle…?" she thought bending on her knees. The boy sobbed hard continuing "Believe me… I was only waiting all this time for a miracle…" the boy added stuttering "It's true I'm a part of the city of no return, but I didn't meant any harm. Please spare me!" he pleaded.
Xianwu who was bewildered at the same time questioned "I have no enmity with you or your people but from what I saw on the bridge. Anyone who comes near you turns into a Human Eating Corpse, however, right now I'm standing right in front of you… how come I don't change into one?" Xianwu looked at him suspiciously.
The boy gulped "If you don't mind… will you listen to my whole story?" he asked scared. Xianwu hummed accepting. This was now the right time, when everything would join itself together. The boy sat straight, his hands shivering and his voice stuttering he spoke "My name is 'Mo Bingwen.' (The bright and cultivated one) up until now, I've lived up to more than seven hundred years. I am neither a Heavenly Supreme nor a dead. I am a human sorcerer and I just wished to be ascended as a heavenly supreme. "
Xianwu stared at him as she repeated "More than seven hundred years old? Even as a sorcerer in the mortal world. No mortal can live that much of an age… seven hundred years could mean adulthood for a heavenly supreme… but he looks just like a kid. Bingwen continued "You might be wondering why I have lived for so long and how am I alive after falling into the pit. It's all because of my curse." he added. "A curse?!" Xianwu pondered in shock.
"700 years ago, the forest of no return was the city of no return. I was its citizen. In front of our city after crossing the bridge of forever return lied the Silent city. Due to its prosperity and frequent visits of heavenly Supremes. It was also known as the city where people ascended to the heavenly realm. Even my brother ascended from there. After seeing everyone prosper, I also wanted to ascend. I worked hard from the day I was born and was the best sorcerer in the city. The city master was also pleased and told me to go to the Silent city to ascend." Bingwen told. Xianwu questioned "So you were sent to the Silent city?"
Bingwen nodded "Yes, I went there… and tried to ascend. With my skills I was even granted an honorable position by the king in the kingdom of the silent city. However, six months later. After the city master found about my position, he would send me letters. And each and every letter urged me to kill the king or assassinate him. He wanted me to kill him to regain the glory and pride our people had lost because of them." he added.
Xiao yin walked towards Xianwu who heard Bingwen attentively. Bingwen wincing in slight pain continued "By the passage of time his requests turned into threats on my family, I became afraid of him and his continuous pestering. So then, I wrote a letter to my family and asked them to come to the Silent city and live with me.
However, the chief already knew about them coming to me and forbade them to go anywhere. They locked them up and won't let them meet. I continuously asked for them to have mercy and let me meet them just once but, they never did and at the end. The whole city was toppled around and they all died." Bingwen sobbed.
Xianwu stared at him complexly. "When I heard about what had happened, at first I couldn't believe it. But, I did after I saw it with my own eyes. Everything was finished, even my family. But even after the city was toppled, the chief of the city of no return as alive. He came to the Silent city and planned the plague, to make them suffer. The plague was introduced by the chief of city of no return." he confessed.
Xianwu was shocked "I can't be…" she whispered. Bingwen nodded while wiping his tears. "Meanwhile, I who was unable to believe what had just happened with his family, was cursed out of nowhere. Whenever I would see the corpse of the people of no return. A sudden rage would take over me and the next moment they would be turned into Human Eating Corpses. Indeed, I too was scared about that and chose to hide in seclusion. But, the chief found me again. He threatened me with the life of the whole city which I ignored due to fear of Human Eating Corpses. And, at the end the silent city was engulfed by the plague. The chief of no return died due to this reason but he felt as if he had avenged himself." he added.
Xianwu who couldn't believe her ears at all couldn't help but ask "Then the antidote of the plague, how was it found in the silent city?" Bingwen gulped "When I saw the sight around me, I felt guilty. I knew everything that was about to happen, but in the end I couldn't do anything to save them. Only to suppress my guilt I tried to find a cure for them… nevertheless, by the time I did found the cure, it had already been too late…" he confessed.
Xianwu stood up while compiling "So, what you meant to say is that the Human Eating Corpses are made by you unknowingly and only the people of no return can turn into ones?" Bingwen nodded "It's as if I'm cursed. Tribesmen of no return know that I'm alive so their descendants always come to find me. However, the moment they step in the silent city and come to me, they are changed into human eating corpses." he clarified. Xianwu questioned "Bingwen, how were you cursed?" Bingwen's eyes widened. Xianwu looked at him seriously. "No wonder, this question bugged me a lot…" she pondered.
Bingwen who fell silent spoke up "I was cursed on my own… I was so guilty and angry. There was nothing I could do and that hatred cursed me over my own people." he replied. Xianwu nodded pondering "Mo Bingwen was cursed causing the people of the No return to turn into corpses. Hongqi and the others were continuously coming here. Moreover, they had no embarrassment on lying over my face. The plague was caused by the chief of the city and Hongqi seems to be his descendent… but how can somebody curse himself…?"
Suddenly Hongqi stood on his broken leg and rushed towards Bingwen. Throwing his sword in the midair, the sword plunged with full force towards him. Xianwu was pulled back by Xiao yin however, the sword stuck hard at Bingwen "Arrghh!!" he shouted. "You liar! Just die!" he roared scrawling on the ground. He picked up his sword and hit Bingwen again. Bingwen again screamed in pain. Xianwu tried to call Fa ling but he won't come out. Xiao yin on the other hand had no intention of interfering and continued to grab her.