Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils: The Successor of Bodhidharma

Page 47

"Run!" The diners and the innkeeper were terrified when they saw that a real fight had broken out, and that the fighters were such experts. They scrambled out of the inn, knocking tables and chairs over.

"Bang!" A solid cypress table was swept by the edge of Kumārajīva's claw and shattered into pieces instantly!

The woman in white, still with her hands behind her back, faced Kumārajīva's fierce attack. She merely shifted her body slightly, her footwork subtly sliding, and narrowly avoided the sharp grab. Kumārajīva's move was swift; his finger strike, seemingly without warning, aimed for her waist. The woman casually flicked her toes across the ground, and a flying splinter of wood struck the path of the finger strike. With a soft "plop," the wood shattered into dust, and the finger strike vanished without a trace.

Kumārajīva was horrified. He had used seventy percent of his strength in these attacks, yet he couldn't even touch the hem of her clothes? The woman's movements were so strange and her responses so composed, far exceeding his expectations! 'I was careless! I'm too careless! I can't get involved in this mess!' He lamented inwardly, but he was now in a bind.

His chanting suddenly rose to a high pitch, and at the same time, his palm techniques changed. He unleashed a series of powerful and fierce techniques, such as the Prajna Palm and the Vajra Palm. The wind from his palms howled, shattering all the remaining tables and chairs in the inn, and sending wood chips flying like rain.

The woman weaved through the flying wood chips and fierce palm winds, her white shadow flickering like a ghost. She dodged attacks at the last second, and occasionally flicked her finger to shoot out a condensed energy as sharp as an ice needle, forcing Kumārajīva to retaliate and defend himself, leaving him looking disheveled.

Seeing that Kumārajīva was clearly at a disadvantage, Jinzha became extremely anxious. He knew that if this "protective talisman" fell, his beating today would likely be doubled! He couldn't care less about anything else, let out a clear whistle, and joined the battle. He knew that the Tianshan Plum Blossom Hand was almost ineffective against this woman, so he immediately activated the Northern Darkness Divine Art with all his might. An invisible suction force was generated in his acupoints, interfering with the woman's internal energy flow. At the same time, he used the Dragon-Capturing Skill, and his "Azure Frost" sword transformed into a streak of azure lightning, combining with Kumārajīva's palm strikes to stab at the woman from an extremely tricky angle.

For a time, sword energy and palm winds crisscrossed the inn. The fierceness of Kumārajīva and the unpredictable combination of Jinzha managed to turn the tide for the time being.

Faced with the combined attack of the two, the woman finally took it a little more seriously for the first time. She sensed Jinzha's Northern Darkness True Qi attempting to drain her inner strength, and her cold smile deepened, carrying a hint of "showing off one's meager skills before an expert." She then gestured with her delicate hand towards the inn's door!

Across the street corner was a fabric shop, displaying bolts of silk. With a wave of her hand, as if pulled by an invisible hand, two lengths of bright red silk, each over ten feet long, snapped off on their own and flew into the inn as if they had a life of their own, landing precisely in her hand! Inside the shop, the wooden shaft from which the silk had been pulled was still rolling wildly, leaving the shopkeeper dumbfounded.

Holding a piece of red silk in each hand, the woman channeled her inner energy, transforming the originally soft silk into something as strong as steel, yet possessing incredible flexibility. With a flick of her wrist, her long sleeves billowed, and the two pieces of red silk, like two crimson dragons, swept towards Kumārajīva and Jinzha with a howling wind!

Kumārajīva roared, his palm blade slashing like an axe at the red silk; Jinzha, meanwhile, wielded his Azure Frost Sword, its blade flashing, cutting with all his might. Fragments of the red silk fluttered down through the air like a red rain, creating a scene of poignant beauty. However, the red silk seemed endless, its force immense, each strike sending numbness through their arms.

Suddenly, the woman's wrists changed again, and two red ribbons emerged like venomous snakes from their holes, moving so fast that they were difficult to see with the naked eye. They dodged the palm wind and sword shadows and landed solidly on the chests of Kumārajīva and Jinzha!

"Poof!" "Poof!"

As if struck by a heavy hammer, the two men coughed up blood and flew backward uncontrollably, crashing heavily into the solid earthen wall of the inn. The impact caused the wall to crumble and soil to fall before they slid softly to the ground, their faces pale and their breaths weak.

The woman, having landed a successful blow, remained composed, even taking the time to pick up the half-finished wine jug on the table and take a long gulp. At the same time, the other two red ribbons she controlled, like deadly whips, lashed out with a sharp whooshing sound, striking the two fallen figures once more! If these blows landed squarely, their bodies would likely burst open like watermelons!

Despair was evident in the eyes of both Kumārajīva and Jinzha.

At this critical moment!

A gray figure, like a ghost, appeared suddenly in front of Kumārajīva and Jinzha at a speed too fast for the naked eye to see, using its back to block the two deadly red ribbons!

"Om-!"

The expected scene of blood and gore did not occur. Instead, the man's silk robes billowed up as if inflated, and a powerful, masculine inner energy burst forth, colliding violently with the terrifyingly forceful red silk! The clash of energies produced a dull, resounding thud.

The man suddenly shouted, his voice booming like a bell: "Open!"

With his shout, the surging true energy behind him erupted, and the two red ribbons, powerful enough to split stone tablets, were torn apart from the inside by an invisible force, breaking into countless red fragments that slowly drifted down.

The white-clad woman, who had been calm and even somewhat playful, finally lost her composure for the first time. An unprecedented seriousness flashed in her beautiful eyes as she stared intently at the gray-clad man who had suddenly appeared and shattered her attack with his protective true energy alone—it was none other than the Mad Monk Xuan Cheng!

Having narrowly escaped death, Kumārajīva recognized the person who had come from him and was so moved that he almost cried. Ignoring the excruciating pain in his chest, he hurriedly exclaimed, "Senior! Thank you so much for saving my life!"

Jinzha, quick-witted as ever, endured the pain and immediately began to flatter him: "Senior Xuancheng's divine skills are unparalleled! Indestructible! This female demon is nothing but a clay chicken and a dog in front of you, utterly vulnerable! Senior is mighty!"

Xuan Cheng ignored their flattery. He first glanced at Kumārajīva, whose mouth was bloodied and who looked miserable, a hint of displeasure flashing in his cloudy eyes. Then he turned his head, staring intently at the woman in white, tilting his head to examine her for a moment. Suddenly, he grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, and uttered a sentence that left everyone speechless:

"Hey! Little girl! Not bad kung fu! If I beat you into submission, you'll become my Xiaozhi's wife, how about it?"

"Pfft—cough cough cough..." Upon hearing this, Kumārajīva almost choked on his own saliva. He couldn't catch his breath and coughed violently. His mouth twitched, and his face instantly became even more interesting than when he was injured.

Chapter 139: The Eight Sounds of the Heavenly Dragon

Wudang Back Mountain · Feiyun Stream

The moonlight, as silvery as silver, poured over the flowing springs and strange rocks of Feiyun Stream. The open terrain and the biting mountain wind made it the perfect place to test one's skills.

Qiao Tian, ​​Wu Yazi, Wu Xingyun, and Huang Shang stood in a viewing pavilion in the distance, their eyes all fixed on the flat boulder at the bottom of the ravine.

In the center of the giant rock, Yao Yao stood proudly in a white robe. Before her was a zither table, where the "Heavenly Demon Zither," newly crafted by a master craftsman, hung half a foot in front of her, supported by her pure Northern Darkness True Qi. The zither undulated slightly, flowing with the faint light of sandalwood, the cold luster of jade, and the sharp gleam of gold.

She took a deep breath, her eyes suddenly sharpening like an eagle's. Her delicate fingers swiftly touched the strings!

A sharp, tearing sound rang out! Without any visible movement, her figure spun out like a white lightning bolt, the music transforming into a visible pale gray sonic wave ring that crashed violently into a giant rock, about three zhang away and as tall as a person! Boom! The boulder shattered instantly, sending stone dust flying everywhere!

The melody suddenly became dense and poignant, like silk threads. Yao Yao lightly touched the ground with her toes, her figure elusive like a ghost, weaving among the pebbles. Threads of invisible sound flowed from her fingertips, entangling and slowing down all the pebbles that were scattering everywhere, as if they were caught in a sticky spider web, and finally fell down helplessly.

She whirled around and struck the tail of the zither with one hand, causing the Heavenly Demon Zither to flip in mid-air, its seven strings vibrating in unison! A beam of sound, as condensed as a solid ice cone, pierced the air with a "whoosh," instantly creating a small hole through a protruding piece of hard granite on the distant cliff face, its edges as smooth as a mirror!

The melody shifted again, turning into a low, eerie, trembling sound. Yao Yao, cradling her zither, spun rapidly like a dancer, distorting the air with vibrations that spread outwards from her. Tiny pebbles on the ground bounced wildly, then burst into dust! It was as if an invisible force was destroying everything from the inside out.

The music suddenly became ethereal and dreamlike, inspiring contemplation. Yao Yao's figure blurred beneath the waterfall, as if she had transformed into several figures, each with a bewitching smile. With each pluck of her slender fingers, distorted light and shadow and hazy illusions appeared in the air. If someone with a weak mind were to be placed in this, they would likely lose themselves in an instant.

A glint of light flashed in her eyes as she caught a subtle gap in the flow of a small waterfall in the distance. With a flick of her finger, a sharp, piercing sound, like an invisible needle, precisely struck the flowing energy! Whoosh! The waterfall's flow was momentarily interrupted, a brief interruption in its course!

Yao Yao thrust the Heavenly Demon Harp forward with a swift motion, its feet embedding themselves deeply into the rock. Her hands, however, remained on the strings, her fingers flying across the strings! The stirring music transformed into a semi-circular wall of sound waves, completely protecting her. Just then, several boulders, shaken down by the earlier sound waves, crashed down against the sound wall, only to bounce off as if hitting an impenetrable barrier, shattering into pieces!

Finally, all the sounds of violence ceased abruptly. Yao Yao's fingering became incredibly gentle and soothing, the music flowing softly like a spring breeze and gentle rain, like a clear spring. The violent atmosphere that had permeated the air was completely swept away, leaving only tranquility and peace.

As the music ended, Yao Yao stood still, the Heavenly Demon Harp hovering quietly in front of her. She was slightly out of breath, sweat beading on her forehead, but her eyes shone brighter than the stars in the sky. Moonlight shone on her, her white robes as pure as snow, her beauty unparalleled.

In the distant viewing pavilion, all was silent.

Huang Shang was mesmerized, his heart pounding, not only by the power of the "Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds," but also by the person playing the zither. After much hesitation, he finally mustered his courage, his face slightly flushed, and bowed deeply to Qiao Tian, ​​his voice stammering, "Master...Master! This disciple...this disciple would like to ask, Junior Sister Yaoyao...her...her family background...uh...I don't know...I don't know if she is suitable for marriage?"

The question came as abruptly as it was asked, and everyone in the pavilion was taken aback.

Qiao Tian looked at his eldest disciple, who usually only knew how to study ancient texts but was now flushed with anger. He was taken aback at first, then couldn't help but burst into laughter, his voice echoing through the pine forest: "Hahaha! You, Huang Shang! I always thought you were only interested in the Daoist scriptures, but it turns out you can have a breakthrough!"

Wu Xingyun raised her eyebrows and reprimanded him without any politeness: "Huang Shang, you brat! Have you lost your mind? Have you forgotten your own identity? You are the leader of Wudang! You bear the responsibility of bringing glory to Wudang, how can you indulge in personal feelings!"

Huang Shang shrank back after being scolded, but her eyes still stubbornly looked at Qiao Tian.

After laughing, Qiao Tian waved his hand and said to Wu Xingyun, "Uncle-Master, please calm down. Rules are rigid, but people are flexible. As long as we are still here, Wudang will not fall into chaos. If the two of them are truly willing and compatible, then we can choose another virtuous and capable person to take over as sect leader. What's wrong with that?"

Upon hearing this, Huang Shang was overjoyed, and couldn't help but reveal a simple, silly smile on his face. He quickly bowed to Qiao Tian, ​​Wu Yazi, and Wu Xingyun, saying, "I beg you, Master! Grandmaster! Grandmaster Uncle! Please grant my request!"

Wu Yazi had been gently stroking his long beard, watching this scene with a smile. Only now did he slowly speak, his tone gentle: "A disciple's grand-disciple has his own blessings. Yaoyao is a child of the highest caliber in both character and talent." His words already implied his approval.

Wu Xingyun still snorted and glared at Huang Shang: "No way! I think you're unreliable! All you do is read books all day, how can you take care of Yaoyao?" She was tough, but her eyes were no longer as sharp as before.

Huang Shang dared not refute, and could only look at Qiao Tian with pleading eyes.

Qiao Tian couldn't help but chuckle and said to Huang Shang, "Alright, this matter can't be rushed. As for Yao Yao, you'll have to win her over yourself. As for your grandmaster..." He looked at Wu Xingyun, "Where there's a will, there's a way. Shang'er, it depends on your sincerity."

Huang Shang felt as if he had been granted a pardon and hurriedly and solemnly promised, "Disciple understands! I will certainly live up to the expectations of Master and Grandmaster, and I will also let Grandmaster Uncle see my sincerity!"

Under the moonlight, the music of Feiyunjian has ceased, but another movement belonging to youth and emotions seems to have just begun its prelude.

Chapter 140 Young friend, you'd better... pray for your own good fortune.

Within the ruins of the town's inn

Upon hearing Xuan Cheng's earth-shattering "marriage proposal," the woman in white was first taken aback. Then her gaze fell on Kumārajīva's bald head, which even seemed to reflect light in the dim light, combined with Xuan Cheng's mad yet earnest expression...

"Pfft—hahaha!" Jinzha was the first to lose his temper, pointing at Kumārajīva's forehead and laughing so hard he was doubled over. This aggravated his chest injury, and he coughed up blood while laughing, looking quite comical.

At this moment, Kumārajīva was truly on the verge of tears. Feeling the woman's icy gaze sweep over his head, he felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. He forced a smile that was even more painful than crying, waving his hands repeatedly at the woman, his eyes filled with innocence and pleading, as if to say, "Senior is talking nonsense, it has nothing to do with me."

The woman initially thought the mad monk was talking nonsense, but after seeing Jinzha's smile, Kumārajīva's cowardly appearance, and Xuancheng's earnest madness as he thought "this idea is excellent," an inexplicable anger suddenly flared up! In her travels (although she had just entered the martial world), she had never suffered such... such absurd humiliation.

Enraged, her voice was icy and chilling, devoid of any of her previous playfulness. Before she finished speaking, she transformed into a white blur, lunging straight at Xuan Cheng! Even before she arrived, two red ribbons, like venomous dragons emerging from their lair, whistled through the air, attacking Xuan Cheng from both above and below!

Although Xuan Cheng was mad, his fighting instincts were ingrained in his bones. Seeing the woman attack, he was not alarmed but delighted, laughing heartily: "Good timing! This girl has a temper; she needs to be taught a lesson!"

Facing the sharp red ribbon, he neither dodged nor avoided it, but instead loudly recited the Diamond Sutra: "All phenomena are illusory..." As the sutra resounded, dark golden light flowed around his body, a manifestation of the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill at its peak! The red ribbon struck him, making muffled "bang" sounds, but it could not budge him in the slightest!

At the same time, his ten fingers moved at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, forming all sorts of intricate and profound hand seals. In an instant, it seemed as if hundreds of arms had sprung up, layer upon layer, palm shadows as thick as mountains, carrying a majestic artistic conception that encompassed all things and suppressed evil, enveloping the woman! It was none other than the Thousand-Hand Tathagata Palm, one of the most profound and exquisite of the Seventy-Two Ultimate Techniques, specifically designed to counter all kinds of agile movements and strange weapons!

With the aid of scriptures, the protection of Vajra, and the magnificence of his palm techniques, Xuan Cheng at this moment truly possessed the solemn appearance and supreme power of an Arhat who subdues demons!

The woman snorted coldly, her movements reaching their peak as she weaved between the white shadows and red silk, like a ghost. Although the Thousand Hands Tathagata Palm was powerful and its shadows were dense, it always managed to dodge her by the slightest margin just before it touched her, or be deflected by the tip of the red silk that shot from an odd angle.

Xuan Cheng, unable to gain the upper hand, kept talking, shouting as he fought: "Girl, not bad skills! You'd be a perfect match for my Xiao Zhi! Look at him, although he's a bit bald, his Buddhist knowledge is profound! Follow him, and I guarantee you'll... ouch!"

However, a red ribbon from the woman, like a nimble snake, bypassed the palm shadow and struck him lightly on the back of his bald head. Although it didn't break through his defenses, it still stung painfully.

"You stinking monk! Do you really think I can't do anything to you, you bastard?" The woman was clearly enraged by his incessant chatter, and the chill in her voice could almost freeze the air.

Before she finished speaking, she suddenly lowered her body, as if shrinking the distance between them, and instantly closed in on Xuan Cheng! Xuan Cheng swung his palm down to strike, but she seemed to have no bones, twisting at an incredible angle, her slender jade leg rising from below like a white lightning bolt, kicking Xuan Cheng hard in the chin!

This kick was incredibly powerful! Even with his indestructible body, Xuan Cheng was still sent flying into the sky, his feet leaving the ground and his head spinning, by the immense force concentrated in one point!

Having landed a successful blow, the woman didn't hesitate. In a flash, she appeared above Xuan Cheng, having struck first. With a flick of her wrists, the two red ribbons instantly expanded, as if they possessed a life of their own, wrapping Xuan Cheng tightly from head to toe, forming a giant red "cocoon"!

"Get down here!"

With a sharp cry, the woman tightened her grip on the red silk, and, carrying Xuan Cheng who was wrapped up like a dumpling, flew like a shooting star, drawing a red arc in the air at a speed too fast for the naked eye to follow, crashing down hard onto the ruins in the center of the inn!

Rumble——! ! !

The earth shook violently! Smoke and dust billowed into the sky! The entire ruins of the inn trembled violently under the impact, as if they were about to collapse completely at any moment.

As the dust settled, a shallow crater was seen in the ground. Xuan Cheng lay at the bottom of the crater, the red silk covering his body loosened. He shook his dizzy head, seeing stars. Although his indestructible body was not broken, the huge shock made it impossible for him to get up for a while.

The woman landed gracefully, her posture still elegant. Her gaze shifted, landing on Kumārajīva, who was hiding behind the dilapidated counter, his face pale with fright. With a flick of her sleeve, a red silk ribbon rolled out, and she lifted Kumārajīva from behind the counter like a chick, tossing him precisely onto Xuancheng's stomach.

The two were piled on top of each other, and Kumārajīva groaned as he was hit.

The woman stepped forward, bent down, and extended her slender fingers to tap the two men's bulging foreheads, making a "thump, thump, thump" sound, like striking a wooden fish.

He pounded on the door while coldly cursing:

"You old bald monk! Disrespectful to your elders! Playing matchmaker!"

"You little bald monk! You're all talk and no action! You dare to try and stick your neck out?"

"One is spouting nonsense! The other is just bluffing! You've both disgraced Buddhism!"

With each tap, the two men shrank back, but were intimidated by the woman's imposing aura. Coupled with his injuries and dizziness, Xuan Cheng dared not resist at all.

Jinzha was terrified when the woman went berserk. He clung to the wall and slowly moved toward the dilapidated entrance of the inn, wanting nothing more than to escape this female demon as quickly as possible.

The woman's cold voice rang out, and Jinzha's body instantly froze, cold sweat pouring down his back.

I won't hit you today.

Upon hearing this, Jinzha felt as if he had been granted a pardon and breathed a long sigh of relief, as if he had just escaped from the gates of hell.

However, the woman's next words made his heart leap into his throat again:

"However, if you can find someone as 'punchable' as today tomorrow, someone who makes my hands itch to fight... I still won't hit you."

This...this is a death omen?! Jinzha was instantly overwhelmed with a sense of crisis! This female demon has her eye on him! With his limited abilities, he would never escape her grasp! His gaze shifted rapidly, and he suddenly saw Kumārajīva, who had just climbed off Xuancheng's stomach and was equally shaken.

Jinzha rushed forward, his face plastered with the most sincere and pitiful expression, and grabbed Kumārajīva's sleeve:

"Master! Imperial Preceptor! King Ming! You see... we've become friends through thick and thin, sharing both hardships and setbacks! From now on, could I travel with you and Senior Xuancheng? That way we can look out for each other on the road!"

Kumārajīva looked at Jinzha's bruised and swollen face, still trying to fawn over him, and then secretly glanced at the woman in white. A chill ran down his spine. Go with this troublemaker? Wouldn't he be getting beaten up by that female demon every day? He quickly and subtly pulled back his sleeve, forcing himself to remain calm, clasped his hands together, and adopted the air of a royal advisor:

“Amitabha! Young friend Jinzha, I appreciate your kindness. However, my journey with Senior Xuancheng is... uh... to seek the true meaning of Buddhism. The road is fraught with peril, and... and our direction is uncertain, so it is truly inconvenient to travel with others. Young friend, you should... pray for your own good fortune!”

Having said that, fearing that Jinzha would cause further trouble, he disregarded his own pain and hurriedly helped the still dazed Xuancheng up. Almost without touching the ground, he quickly disappeared into the crowd outside the inn at a speed that resembled a hasty escape, leaving Jinzha alone, bewildered in the wind, feeling the tangible, cold gaze behind him.

Chapter 141 Duan Zhengchun! You deserve to die!

Taihu Lake · Mantuo Mountain Villa

A small boat slowly docked at the Mantuo Manor's pier. Wang Yuyan stepped ashore, her mind heavy with worry, followed closely by Duan Yu, his eyes fixed solely on her. Duan Zhengchun, meanwhile, straightened his clothes, a confident, composed smile playing on his lips, surveying the tranquil and elegant manor, its walls adorned with camellias. He thought to himself, with his abilities, appeasing a long-lost lover would be a piece of cake.

Wang Yuyan was filled with unease. Her original intention was to stay at Yanziwu to care for her cousin, Murong Fu, who was devastated by the defeat and spent his days drowning his sorrows in alcohol. However, messengers from Mantuo Manor kept coming to urge her to return home, their voices urgent, leaving her no choice but to return first. What troubled her even more was that Duan Yu insisted on coming along, and this Prince Zhennan of Dali, Duan Zhengchun, was also acting out of character, ignoring her repeated warnings that "my mother despises people with the surname Duan," and determined to come as well.

“Prince Duan, Young Master Duan,” Wang Yuyan reminded again in a low voice, her brows furrowed with worry, “My mother has a temper… If anything goes wrong later, please bear with her for the time being, or… leave first.”

Duan Yu immediately declared, "Miss Wang, rest assured, Duan Yu has absolutely no disrespectful intentions towards Madam!" He only wanted to stay with Wang Yuyan.

Duan Zhengchun laughed heartily, unconcerned, and patted his son's shoulder: "Yu'er, calm down. How can parents really argue with their children? Besides... hehe." His laughter carried a hint of confidence that only men could understand.

The three walked through layers of flower-covered corridors and arrived at an exquisite courtyard. The courtyard was filled with exotic flowers and plants, their fragrance filling the air, and renowned camellia varieties were in full bloom. However, the atmosphere in the courtyard was somewhat stagnant.

Two women stood before a tree adorned with the inscription "Eighteen Scholars". The one with her back to the crowd was dressed in a magnificent brocade robe, her figure graceful and elegant, even from behind she exuded grace. She was none other than Madam Li Qingluo, the owner of Mantuo Villa.

The profile of one of them struck Duan Yu like a thunderbolt, leaving him frozen in place!

It was a woman in white, with an exquisitely graceful figure. Though her face was veiled, only a pair of deep, cold, star-like eyes, tinged with a hazy, alluring charm, and a smooth forehead were visible. But this half-face, this unparalleled beauty, instantly and perfectly overlapped with the jade statue of the "Fairy Sister" Duan Yu had seen in the Langhuan Paradise of Wuliang Mountain, and the fairy from his dreams with whom he had shared intimate moments and who had taught him the Lingbo Weibu (a martial arts technique)!

"God... Fairy Sister?!" Duan Yu exclaimed in disbelief, his voice trembling with disbelief and fascination. He was completely stunned, his mind blank, as if everything around him had disappeared, leaving only the white figure in front of him.

At the same time, Madam Wang, Li Qingluo, turned around upon hearing the commotion. Her gaze passed over her daughter and landed directly on the man she had been longing for and both loving and hating for over ten years—Duan Zhengchun!

Her delicate body trembled violently, and the round fan in her hand fell to the ground with a "clatter." Her face, which bore a striking resemblance to Wang Yuyan but possessed a more mature charm, instantly flushed with color. Her beautiful eyes widened, filled with extreme shock, ecstasy, grievance, and disbelief. She blurted out the name that had lingered in her heart for so many years:

"Duan...Duan Lang?! Is it really you?!"

That cry of "Duan Lang" was filled with tender affection, tinged with sobs, as if it contained more than a decade of longing and resentment.