Chapter 130: Weight of the Shadows
Chapter 130: Weight of the Shadows
Just moments ago, he was battling at the Su family estate.
But now, Li Wei had returned to his familiar room. Although he had only spent less than five minutes in the game world, he felt an inexplicable sense of detachment, as if a lifetime had passed. His emotions were a tangled mess.
He felt a sense of loss, a deep emptiness.
Like an elderly man living alone whose children were all striving far away, only able to hear about their recent lives through phone calls.
He longed to see them again, to gather with these descendants he had never lived with, to chat about everything under the sun, to discuss life's important matters. Ideally, they could share a meal together, and he could treat each of them to a cup of milk tea.
Perhaps some things in this world were just like that. Despite never having met, they had already poured their emotions into each other, connected by an invisible thread that transcended space and time.
"Ah, it felt like a real world. My descendants, even as characters in a game, they felt truly alive."
Li Wei let out a long sigh.
He suppressed the urge to return to the game world and suddenly widened his eyes.
Seeing the words "Farewell, Ancestor!" above Li Yundou's head in the game, he nearly went back to give the boy a good thrashing.
"You little rascal, your ancestor will remember this! Just wait until I get back there!"
...
It was also because of Li Yundou's interruption that Li Wei snapped back to reality. As for returning to the game world, that was a matter for later. Right now, he should focus on the battlefield.
With all the Golden Core experts eliminated the Su family was beyond saving.
As Li Dalong smashed another False Core cultivator with his coffin, the tide of the battle completely turned in favor of the Li family.
The over twenty thousand people in Su Family Town couldn't withstand the onslaught of the Blood Spirit Fruit Tree, along with the hordes of corpses and flying corpses.
The potions sent back by Li Yaoqing also allowed the Li family members to replenish their spiritual energy continuously.
[You have used 'Ancestor's Raging Fury,' consuming 500 incense value.]
Although he had returned to his own world, Li Wei was still fighting. The ancestral spirit tablet, under his control, continued to slay enemies!
"Brother Su, you chose the wrong side."
Half a day later, Su Family Town lay in ruins. All the corpses of the Su family were collected into the Heaven-Piercing Coffin, and the Blood Spirit Fruit Tree returned to the picture-like scroll—
[ Spirit Tool: Spirit Storing Scroll]
[Stores spirit beasts and treasures, contains the spiritual power of a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator, nourishes the objects within the scroll]
The Li family members stood before Su Jinming, the head of the Su family, now bound by chains that sealed his magical power.
"Alas."
After all, he was the head of the family. Even after witnessing the downfall of the Su family and the destruction of their seven-hundred-year legacy, he didn't resort to insults or express any regret for his wrong choices. Only a sigh escaped his lips, filled with the weight of the world.
He understood why Li Dalong had spared him. With a bitter smile, he said, "Brother Dalong, I will tell you about all the techniques, martial skills, and the location of the hidden treasury that the Su family possesses. But you must promise me one condition."
"The children of my Su family, and those within Su Family Town, are innocent. They are too young to understand, let them go."
"Also, the branch families of my Su family in various cities and towns, they are unaware of this matter."
Hearing this, Li Dalong glanced towards the young children huddled in a corner of the Su family estate.
They had been planning this for two months and were fully prepared. They were responsible for eliminating the Su family and Elder Qiuli's group, while Cloudsea Pavilion and the Gu family were in charge of eradicating any future threats.
He frowned. "I apologize, Brother Su, but your branch families in various cities and towns are already gone. As for these children... I won't harm them. I will use a technique to extract their memories. As for their future, it depends on whether they can survive on their own."
"Alas, that's acceptable too."
Witnessing this scene, Li Wei remained silent. Although ruthless towards enemies, Li Dalong ultimately had a kind heart.
Besides... killing children, no matter who faced such a decision, would evoke compassion. This was a dilemma no one wanted to confront. If it were Li Wei himself, would he choose momentary compassion or eliminate all future threats? He, too, would find this choice incredibly difficult.
However, Li Wei still respected Li Dalong's decision. Even if these children grew up seeking revenge, so be it.
Weren't human affairs often like this?
But as soon as Li Dalong finished speaking, Li Wei swallowed hard, his eyes drawn to a message in the event log.
When Su Jinming revealed all the valuables of the Su family,
[Your descendant, Li Yaowen, knowing the kindness of her family, anticipated that the Su family might offer their secret techniques and valuables as a bargain, causing her father, Li Dalong, to hesitate and ultimately choose compassion, sparing the children.]
[To eliminate any future threats, she issued an order, and the Dawn assassins are currently on their way to the Su family estate.]
"..."
Li Wei was momentarily speechless. This girl had always been ruthless since childhood. Not only did she have a thorough grasp of the enemy's intelligence, but she even anticipated her own family's thoughts.
But he also felt a pang of heaviness in his heart for Li Yaowen.
This was how the Li family was. Often, Li Dalong and others would show compassion and kindness; after all, that was human nature. But every time this happened, Li Yaowen would secretly make a completely different choice, one that was most beneficial to the family.
Some people wholeheartedly pursued goodness, standing in the sunlight, while others carried heavy burdens, walking in the shadows.
Li Yaowen had always stood in the darkest corners behind the scenes, doing the dirtiest deeds, unknown and unacknowledged.
Perhaps the reason she was enduring such profound tribulations and struggling to become a cultivator of the scholarly path was because she carried the weight of her sins.
Soon, the Li family members collected their spoils of war and headed back to their estate.