CHAPTER 736: 670

"You’re telling me now that you’re actually not a cold-blooded creature?"

"I am, I always have been. I always thought I was living for revenge, but after Gao Ping revealed everything, I realized I no longer have any purpose in life. What about you? Do you have a purpose in your life?" Xiao Yi’s face showed two abnormal flushes of red, and Ye Tian knew it was the final flicker of life, fearing that he was really going to die.

"Yes! Like you, it’s revenge!" Ye Tian’s face carried a gentle smile, completely mismatching the words he uttered.

"Really?" Xiao Yi coughed twice, "I really can’t tell, you seem to live more carefree than anyone else."

"Who told you that just because I seek revenge, I must live a life full of bitterness like you? You got your revenge, and as you said, ultimately you were left without a purpose. Is that an interesting life?"

"Indeed, it’s meaningless..." Xiao Yi mumbled, then Ye Tian watched as his gaze slowly dispersed.

Ye Tian stepped back, not even calling for a doctor, just silently watching Xiao Yi, a man who had lived his whole life only to end up in such a despairing state he didn’t even want to continue.

"Yanwu!" After closing Xiao Yi’s eyes, Ye Tian called out toward the door.

"Mm." Bai Yanwu entered.

"Your brother, he’s gone."

Bai Yanwu froze; she knew that sooner or later Xiao Yi would leave them, but she didn’t expect it to happen so soon.

"I’m going home first, I’ll come and find you tomorrow."

Bai Yanwu mechanically nodded.

Xiao Yi’s life was a classic tragedy. As a child, he was destined by Bai Shi to become a boss, thus he was abandoned by his birth father just so he would grow a heart tough enough to face the world.

Being a mercenary exposed him to the miseries of human life, accustomed to the agony of parting and death, and though he finally escaped, he thought he was successful, only to realize that he was constantly under the watchful eyes of others.

The saddest part was, Xiao Yi loved his half-sister; his father died by his own hands. Such a life, Xiao Yi truly found it meaningless.

All his sorrow and joy felt like they were being observed, like a monkey in a zoo watched and judged by visitors above, while he still believed he was somebody.

Therefore, it was right that Xiao Yi had no will to live; death, perhaps, was a release.

What about Ye Tian? Seeing how pitifully Xiao Yi left, he thought of himself—maybe he was just like Xiao Yi!

Looking up, he saw that dawn was approaching. Yet Ye Tian didn’t feel his world was bright; perhaps from a certain moment, he had felt he was falling into an endless darkness, much like a black hole where no light could shine.

Back home, Yu Xiao was sitting upright in the living room waiting for Ye Tian.

"Did you just wake up? Or haven’t you slept?" Ye Tian asked Yu Xiao.

"I woke up. Has Xiao Yi already passed away?" Yu Xiao asked.

"Yes. How did you know?"

"I saw it when I went with you today; his time was up." It had been a long time since Yu Xiao wore a Taoist robe, suddenly putting one on today, he looked more human than before.

"You always speak so cryptically." Ye Tian chuckled.

"Yes." Yu Xiao sat cross-legged on a cushion and then began to recite scriptures.

Ye Tian couldn’t understand, but it sounded like some kind of scripture for the deceased.

"Yu Xiao, do you believe in reincarnation?"

"I do, and I don’t."

"What does that mean?"

"When I’m confused, I’ll ponder on it, maybe then I’ll believe in reincarnation, thinking maybe I did something bad in a past life and this life is my punishment. Sometimes, the heavens aren’t fair to us, but they also ensure justice."

"That sounds like words a charlatan would use to cheat people."

"Even if it’s charlatans, we can’t compare to Grandfather Xu Kong. You don’t know about Yiqian, do you wonder why Xiaoqian can’t perform any Taoism spells? Their Zhao family is indeed a very authentic Taoist sect."

"I heard it’s because Xiaoqian is too lazy."

"Not really. Actually, people like us are doomed to suffer divine retribution; sometimes you know the heavens want them dead, but you’d do everything to save them. Moreover, sometimes we need to step in, but either we don’t, or it’s too late, and we are criticized."

"The so-called gods are just people without passions and desires. Some think gods are closer to heaven, but is it really so? Regardless of whom, everyone undergoes pain, it’s all about how you choose to perceive it."

"Yu Xiao, you definitely can’t become a god because you love Xiaoqian. Haven’t you told me, is Xiaoqian someone destined to be punished from birth?" Ye Tian asked.

"Yes. Xiaoqian can see through people’s hearts, but this ability depends on consuming her own life. Do you know about tomb raiders? Sometimes they bribe the Nether Department, then light a lamp; that lamp burns their life, but it ensures their safe return. However, upon returning, they lose part of their life."

"That’s Xiaoqian for you, she’s not unambitious in studying, she really can’t learn. Grandfather Xu Kong said this is fate. Ye Tian," Yu Xiao’s eyes were bright, very bright, dazzling even, as he looked into Ye Tian’s eyes, "the suffering you endured, perhaps it’s also a repayment of a debt."