The Spider Lily of Life and Death

It was already midnight, but the night sky wasn't visible at all. Covered with black clouds, it was raining profusely with occasional lightning and thunders.

" You did well… I never saw anyone more proficient than you."

A hoarse voice spoke. It was a voice of a middle-aged man. In his voice contained an incomparable pride, but a strange sense of twisted madness.

In front of him stood a young man, with a blank expression. He looked at the middle-aged man with his blue pupils. However, it felt like two blue-colored voids, staring at nothingness.

" According to the rule, You have won. I would like to congratulate yo- ARGH!"

The young man moved his sword as he sliced off the left arm of the middle-aged ma. The middle-aged man cursed in pain, but his expression turned calm in a few seconds.

He talked as if he wasn't bleeding and his left arm wasn't lying on the ground near his feet.

" Stop spouting bullshit."

" Hoho, Straight to the point as always, huh?" The middle aged man chuckled as he trembled and took out a box.

It was an ancient box, made up of bronze. On it was made various pattern. But most of it was carved with Red Spider Lilies on it.

The box opened and there was a black colored cube inside it. It was a pitch black cube. But under the dim light, it didn't produce any reflection.

The young man picked it as he looked all over it. It was smooth like jade, but it wasn't jade. It felt like metal, but also soft like wood.

It looked more like a seal, with a giant spider lily inside a circle. The young man clutched it.

" Seal of Life and Death?"

" Yes."

The middle aged man nodded as he fell to his knees. " You won this. So, Now according to the rule, the organization will fall under your rule. Tell me, what will you do?"

The young man was still expressionless as he raised the Seal of Life and Death.

" From today, the Mountain of Life and Death shall be disbanded. You are all free, and not allowed to do any work for the mountain."

" Dismiss!"

The lightning crackled as the young man's voice became imposing. Several shadows moved as they left the scene.

The middle-aged man chortled as he fell to the ground.

" You really did it… Haah, Now I can rest in peace."

" Long Ming, You really deserve the title of King of…"

The young man snorted as he chopped his blade, beheading the middle aged man in one go.

The head rolled on the ground as Long Ming's face was devoid of any emotions. Clutching the Seal of Life and Death, he threw his sword as he started to walk.

Suddenly, he knelt as he embraced a woman, who was lying on the ground.

" Xingyan… I did it. All of us are free now."

Long Ming's voice was faint as water droplets slid down his cheeks. It was unknown if it was his tears or raindrops.

" You must be mocking me, huh… These are really rainwater. No way I will cry."

" I hope… You will find the peace and happiness you always longed for."

Lowering his head, he kissed the lips of that woman in his embrace.

Her lips were cold her corpse already turned cold due to the rain. Her heartbeat stopped long ago.

Looking at her pale, snow white skin, Long Ming could see her beauty for the final time.

" Unblemished, untainted, perfect as you asked…"

Lightning arcs roamed in the clouds, signing the next lightning strike.

Long Ming raised the Seal of Life and Death, attempting the crush it.

However, the lightning flashed as a pillar of flame descended on Long Ming. In his final scene, he could see the Seal of Life and Death cracking up as the spider lily bloomed.

" What do you seek?"

A voice asked. Long Ming's expression finally changed as a bit of a smile appeared on his face.

" Hallucination, eh? But if you are asking…"

" I wish to forget…my pains. I wish to not remember them… Just a life without those memories and those acts…"

" Very well."

Everything happened in a millisecond. However, Long Ming felt it really took quite an amount of time.

The spider lily bloomed as its petals grew, devouring Long Ming's body completely. All Long Ming felt a warm embrace and the faint figure of the woman he kissed.

The blooming spider lily, looks so beautiful.

That was Long Ming's last thought before his vision faded.

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