Chapter 11 The Truth

Due to the severity of the calf pain, Deming didn't sleep much. Before anyone woke up, Deming decided to start another escape plan, but his calf pain prevented him from walking. He has no choice but to fall asleep again. When he was awakened by the noise of other people, it was too late to escape. With the help of Tam Kun, Deming followed the group and walked slowly towards the intersection. Everyone went down the mountain and returned to Waterfall City. After walking for two hours, Deming's calf was bleeding again.

Tam Kun shouted, "Sister Ah Qiu, come and look at his leg, it's bleeding again."

Tam Qiu saw that the bandage was soak with blood. She shouted, "Senior brother, we are going to take a break and change brother Deming's wound dressing. Ah Kun, I ask you to help him, why do you let the wound bleed this much?" She looked at Deming. "Don't put pressure on your feet."

Tam Liang wiped the sweats on his forehead and said, "It is impossible not to put pressure on the feet because he is walking."

Tam Qiu wrapped a new dressing on Deming's calf. She looked at Tam Laing and Tam Kun and said, "Brother and cousin brother, you two take term to carry brother Deming on your back. This way he doesn't put pressure on his legs. Blood pumps faster when walking. Carrying him on your back, will help prevent bleeding."

Tam Kun suggested, "We could build something to carry him, which is very easy for us."

They saw a group of thirty people in black and three men in white fighting not too far from them.

Tam Kun said, "From the perspective of clothing, it must be Snow Sector."

When the hunters approached closer, Hu Dingxiang and three disciples were fighting with thirty people. The Guozhao Hunters went to help Snow Sector fight off the bandits.

Tam Kun said wildly, "I can't believe there are bandits around here." He looked at Deming. "You stay here."

Tam Liang and Tam Kun left Deming to fend for himself, and another twenty bandits approached from behind, aiming at the defenseless Deming. One bandit caught Deming, and another bandit caught Hu Dingxiang.

Tam Qiu quickly turned around and shouted at the bandit who took Deming hostage, "Let him go."

Bandits one said confusedly, "There are two Hu Dingxiang. Which one is the real one?"

Deming looked at Hu Dingxiang. Hu Dingxiang also glanced at Deming. Deming couldn't believe he was looking at himself. Everything about this man is very similar to him. The only difference is the clothes they wear.

The bandits pulled Deming and Hu Dingxiang next to each other. Guozhao Zhiqiang's gaze has been fixed on Hu Dingxiang. Guozhao Zhiqiang suddenly sent a talisman at the man holding Deming hostage as he lunged at the man who took Hu Dingxiang hostage. Guozhao Zhiqiang grabbed the man's sword and twisted the man's arm. Guozhao Zhiqiang broke the man's wrist, the man's sword fell to the ground, and Hu Dingxiang walked out unharmed.

On the other hand, Deming was not so lucky. Guozhao Zhiqiang's icicle pierced through Deming's left chest and hit the bandit left chest, Tam Liang's icicle hit bandits' head, and killed the bandit instantly. Both the dead bandit and Deming fell on the ground. The Deming was on top of the dead bandit.

Tam Qiu shouted worriedly, "Brother Deming." She rushed over. She knelt down and pulled Deming off the dead bandit. She began to put pressure on the wound.

Tam Liang stood beside Tam Qiu, "What can I do?"

Tam Qiu said, "Give me my bag."

Tam Liang started searching for Tam Qui's bag with other bags on the ground.

Deming looked at Tam Qiu with tears, "Sister Ah Qiu… don't save me." He looked at the sky, and the clouds moved with the wind. "It's beautiful here. I like it better than the dark dungeon."

Guozhao Zhiqiang knelt down, "I'm sorry." He turned his head to look at Hu Dingxiang who stood a few feet away.

Blood gushed out from the corner of Deming's mouth. He smiled and said, "It's okay. I forgive you."

Tam Qiu, "Don't talk too much. I will heal you." She held his right hand. "Older brother, where is my bag?"

Deming reached into his belt and pulled the tassel with the silver bell out. He held the bell in his left hand tightly. He looked at Tam Qiu and said, "Sister Ah Qiu, I understand now." He scoffed, as more blood poured out of his mouth, he coughed. "I understand what the man meant when he promised me that 'In a faraway land there is a city up in the cloud. There lives a goddess who always welcomes me with open arms." He started sobbing. "I think I'm going there now. Please don't save me."

Guozhao Zhiqiang was taken aback, and quickly looked back at Deming. He asked, "What did you say?" This is exactly what he said to Hu Dingxiang nine years ago, but Hu Dingxiang didn't remember their conversation at all. What shocked him was that Deming, whom he had only met two days ago, would know of his private conversation with Hu Dingxiang.

Deming cried and said, "I'm too stupid. I'm too stupid. I also begged him to take me with him." He sobbed and smiled. "Ha...ha...ha..." Deming began to vomit blood.

Guozhao Zhiqiang grabbed Deming's left hand, and he saw that there was still a red dirty thread tied to Deming's left wrist. He remembered nine years ago that he told Hu Dingxiang never to take it off. He started to laugh, and now he also understands.

Guozhao Zhiqiang laughed hysterically, and then murmured, "I understand now."

It was getting darker and darker, and Deming saw Tam Qiu screaming at Tam Kun, but couldn't hear what she was saying. He was very happy that Guozhao Zhiqiang ended his sad life for him. Then everything darkened.

In the dark room, Guozhao Zhiqiang opened the window and listening to the rain. He wanted to confirm his suspicion. He sat on the floor next to the bed, holding Deming's hand.

Deming woke up slowly and snorted in pain. Deming realized where he was and quickly withdrew his hand. His heart sank, and he thought he must have returned to the dark prison again. He quickly got up and retreated towards the wall.

Guozhao Zhiqiang climbed onto the bed and held Deming's hand. From Deming's heavy breathing, Guozhao Zhiqiang knew that Deming must be very scared, so Guozhao Zhiqiang slowly raised Deming's hands and pressed it on his face.

Deming remembered the touch. Deming said in a trembling voice, "Is that you? Please let me go. I didn't see your face. I can't identify who you are."

Guozhao Zhiqiang asked, "Do you still want to go to the city in the cloud?"

Deming softly cried, "There is no such a city in the clouds, please don't lie to me..."

Guozhao Zhiqiang confidently said, "There is." He held Deming in his arms. "I promise to take you there."

Deming struggled to break free from Guozhao Zhiqiang's embrace, "I know you are the boss's friend. The boss lied to me, and you lied to me. Please let me go. I didn't see your face and I won't be able to identify you."

Guozhao Zhiqiang released a fire talisman to the oil lamp, brightly illuminating the room. Deming quickly closed his eyes. Guozhao Zhiqiang watched Deming closed his eyes in tears but refused to open his eyes. Guozhao Zhiqiang brought Deming's head closer. He kissed Deming's left eye, then his right eye. Then he kissed Deming on the forehead. Guozhao Zhiqiang slowly kissed Deming's lips.

Deming opened his eyes. He stared into the big hazel eyes. Deming pulled his head back, "It's you... the person from nine years ago, is that you?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang nodded. He held Deming tightly in his arms, "It's me."

Fear slid down Deming's spine and sank his heart. Nine years ago, the boss told him that they are good friends. They must be waiting for the boss to show up. He must leave. He didn't want to go back to the dungeon again. He would rather run away and die than be locked up in that smelly dungeon.

Inside Guozhao Zhiqiang's arms, Deming was thinking, if they can lie to him, why can't he lie to them. He will use their tactics against them. Deming broke free from Guozhao Zhiqiang's embrace and lied, "I'm hungry, can you get me something?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang nodded. He walked to the door and glanced at Deming again. He closed the door.

Deming quickly got up and walked out the back door of the inn slowly. His left calf and upper left chest were very painful. As he wandered the street, the pain became intense. He can no longer walk. His left leg completely abandoned him. He fell to the ground and crawled bit by bit using arms. He crawled and sobbed in the rain, desperately trying to escape. He knew he could not continue, so he stopped. Then a pair of powerful arms picked him up. He opened his eyes and saw that it was Guozhao Zhiqiang.

Deming pleaded, "Please let me go. I don't want to go back to the dark dungeon."

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "I will take you away as we promised." He looked at Deming. "I want you to know that I was being lied too as well."

Deming, "How? You are a friend of the boss."

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "I don't know who it is. I can only assure you that from now on, if someone wants to harm you, they must pass me first." Guozhao Zhiqiang kissed Deming on his forehead. "I will never let anything happen to you. I swear."

With heavy rain pouring down on them, Guozhao Zhiqiang returned to the inn with Deming in his arms.