Chapter 39 – Letting Go 释怀

Just after the battle ended, the sky remained gray. The smell of blood and gunpowder filled the battlefield. The army was busy dealing with the zombie corpses, and the superpower users were also organizing their equipment respectively. However, Xiao Hei suddenly stopped in its tracks, raised its huge head, and its ears stood up high, as if it had heard some sound that others couldn't detect.

It let out a low growl, then turned to look at Jiang Tianming, and bumped its head against Jiang Tianming's leg, motioning for him to ride on its back. Jiang Tianming was startled. He wiped the fresh tears from his eyes and said hoarsely, "Xiao Hei, what's up this time?"

But Xiao Hei didn't wait for his response. It directly grabbed Jiang Tianming's clothes in its mouth and almost lifted him onto its back. Then it took big strides with its thick legs and ran towards the direction of the World Tree at a very fast speed.

"Hey, Xiao Hei, what on earth are you..." Jiang Tianming shouted in surprise while trying to steady himself. Vaguely, he felt a trace of familiar warmth in his chest. That feeling reminded him of Jiang Yulian.

The branches and leaves of the World Tree swayed gently. Even without the wind, it seemed to be whispering softly. Xiao Hei stopped in front of the World Tree and raised its head to let out a long, low bark towards the trunk. Jiang Tianming hopped off the dog's back, frowned at the World Tree, and muttered, "Xiao Hei, what are you trying to show me... "

Just then, the World Tree suddenly emitted a soft green light, and several branches stretched out gently, like warm hands. Jiang Tianming was immediately stunned because in that light, there was vaguely a familiar figure. It was Jiang Yulian. Her face was blurry and illusory, but her gaze was as gentle as water.

"Sis..." Jiang Tianming choked up and reached out to touch her, but the World Tree's branches gently blocked him. The green light soothed him, and Jiang Yulian's faint figure smiled, as if saying, "Live on."

Jiang Tianming stood there, eyes blurred with tears. He felt his sister's soul was protected by the World Tree.

...

In the days after the war, the residents of the Capital City began a difficult reconstruction work. Most of the buildings were severely damaged and resources were scarce, but the surviving people were full of hope. They regarded the zombie siege as the darkest moment, and those who had survived all decided to stand up again.

Lin Yuan, his aunt Cao Yuwei, Jiang Tianming, and Xiao Hei all actively participated in the reconstruction work. Cao Yuwei's spatial superpower played a great role in transporting supplies. And because of its huge size and extraordinary intelligence, Xiao Hei also became a member of the supply transportation team. It often carried supply-filled boxes in its mouth and ran around. For a time, it became the Capital City's "transportation star".

One evening, when Lin Yuan dragged his tired body back to the rest area, he saw Xiao Hei lying lazily on the ground, and Cao Yuwei beside it was feeding it snacks.

"Hey, Auntie, when did you get so close to Xiao Hei?" Lin Yuan came over and teased.

Cao Yuwei smiled and said, "Xiao Hei is very smart. And it cooperates very well when transporting supplies. It works even harder than you." She also patted Xiao Hei's head, and her tone was somewhat playful.

"Hey, sounds like you're calling me lazy..." Lin Yuan pouted.

Jiang Tianming walked over from a distance. When he saw this scene, he couldn't help but sigh, "Xiao Hei is more popular than me recently..."

Lin Yuan grinned and said, "Brother Tianming, you're Xiao Hei's owner. It's so smart, maybe it's influenced by you."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tianming actually let out a soft laugh, but there was still a hint of faint sadness in his smile. His gaze fell on the World Tree in the distance, and he said in a low voice, "I hope it can continue to protect everyone..."

======================

大战刚刚结束,天空依旧灰蒙蒙的,战场上弥漫着鲜血与硝烟的味道.军队忙着处理丧尸尸体,异能者们也各自整理装备.然而,小黑却突然停下了脚步,抬起了它巨大的脑袋,耳朵高高竖起,似乎听到了什么别人无法察觉的声音.

它低吼了一声,然后转头看向江天明,用头撞了撞江天明的腿,示意他骑到它的背上.江天明怔了一下,擦了擦眼角还未干的泪痕,声音低哑地说道:"小黑,你又怎么了?"

但小黑没有等待他的回应,直接叼起江天明的衣服,几乎将他拎到自己背上,然后迈开粗壮的腿,以极快的速度朝世界树所在的方向跑去.

"喂,小黑,你到底..." 江天明一边惊讶地喊着,一边稳住自己.隐隐间,他感觉到胸口似乎有一丝熟悉的温暖传来,那种感觉让他想起了江玉莲.

世界树的枝叶轻轻摇动,即使没有风也仿佛在轻声低语.小黑跑到世界树前停下,仰头对着树干发出一声长长的低吠.江天明跳下狗背,皱眉看着世界树,嘴里喃喃道: "小黑,你到底想让我看什么..."

就在此时,世界树突然散发出柔和的绿色光芒,几根枝条轻轻伸展,宛如温暖的双手.江天明顿时愣住了,因为他看到在那光芒中,隐约有一道熟悉的身影.那是江玉莲,她的脸庞模糊而虚幻,但她的目光温柔如水.

"姐..." 江天明喉咙哽咽,想要伸手触碰,却被世界树的枝条轻轻拦住.绿色的光芒似乎在安抚他,而江玉莲的虚影只是对他微笑,仿佛在说: "好好活下去."

江天明呆呆地站在原地,泪水模糊了视线.他隐约感觉到,姐姐的灵魂似乎被世界树保护了下来,但具体是为什么,世界树却没有进一步透露.

...

战后的日子里,首都城的居民们开始了一场艰难的重建工作.大部分建筑损毁严重,资源短缺,但幸存下来的人们却充满了希望.他们将丧尸围攻视为最黑暗的时刻,而熬过这一切的人都决定要重新站起来.

林远,小姨曹雨薇,江天明和小黑都积极参与了重建工作.曹雨薇的空间异能在运输物资上起到了极大的作用,而小黑由于体型巨大且异常聪明,也成了物资搬运队伍中的一员.它时常叼着装满物资的箱子跑来跑去,一时间成了首都城的 "搬运之星".

某天傍晚,林远拖着疲惫的身体走回休息区时,却看到小黑正懒洋洋地趴在地上,旁边的曹雨薇正在喂它吃点心.

"喂,小姨,你什么时候和小黑这么熟了?" 林远走过来调侃了一句.

曹雨薇笑了笑:"小黑很聪明啊,而且搬运物资的时候配合得很默契,干起活来比你都勤快."她还拍了拍小黑的脑袋,语气带着几分戏谑.

"诶,搞得好像我很懒一样..." 林远撇撇嘴.

江天明从远处走过来,看到这一幕时不由得叹了口气:"小黑最近比我还受欢迎了啊..."

林远咧嘴一笑:"天明大哥,你可是小黑的主人,它那么聪明,说不定是受你的影响."

江天明闻言,竟也轻轻笑了一声,但那笑容中依旧藏着一丝淡淡的哀伤.他的目光落在远处的世界树上,低声道:"希望它能继续守护大家吧..."