Chapter 236 - Ephemeral Requiem

This was the second time Ah San had come to the Liangzhou Prefecture. The last time he was here, his master was leading his senior brothers and sister and himself as they ran for their lives.

It had been eight years since.

Back then, he was sixteen, and his junior sister was only fourteen.

Ah San still remembered the small noodle shop in Shiniu Alley, in the southern part of the city. He was standing there now. The alley was pitch dark, and the houses were dead silent. Apparently, most of the residents had fled.

The reason he remembered the noodle shop in particular wasn’t because their plain noodles were delicious, but because his senior brother had died there.

Ah San reached out and brushed the doorpost in front of the shop. Then, with his thumb and forefinger, he pinched off a small clump of dust. It seemed the owner had left some time ago, as a layer of dust had already accumulated at the door.

Ah San took a step forward and gently tried to push the shop door. The wooden door creaked but didn’t budge. As expected, the door was locked. Sighing, Ah San reached for the right doorpost and felt around. Before long, his hand found a deep groove, a mark left by an arrow.

Eight years ago, that arrow had almost taken his life. If his senior brother hadn't pulled him back at a critical moment, he wouldn’t have lived to return to this place.

The arrow mark was still there, but the fresh splinters from that day were gone. Time had worn the mark smooth. Ah San suddenly shook his head and chuckled. Not only were the splinters gone, but even the pungent smell of grease was no longer present.

Lost in thought, Ah San paused. He stepped back a few paces and looked up, only to see the signboard overhead that read: "Shiniu Cloth Shop."

Ah San let out a self-deprecating laugh. So, the noodle shop had long since ceased to exist. At some point, it had become a tailor's shop.

Things had changed.

A light drizzle began to fall from the sky. The spring rain was silent, with mist-like droplets so delicate on his skin that they were almost imperceptible.

Ah San finally realized that it was raining when his clothes grew noticeably damp. His face felt as damp as his clothing, and it felt like the rain had also doused his heart.

Ah San had never truly seen himself as a cold-blooded killer who revelled in terrifying others. He thought he was different from those who simply worked for money. To him, such people were like vicious dogs.

Should someone throw them a bone and command them to attack, the dog would charge forward and kill without a second thought.

Ah San considered himself a real human being; someone who experienced joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. He had things he wanted to accomplish, people he wanted to protect, and secrets he wished to keep.

Every action he took had a reason and served a purpose, not like those dogs who acted solely for their masters' coin.

For instance, at this moment, confronted with the changes around him, Ah San knew he was feeling sentimental. He didn’t resist the shift in his emotions, because he understood that this was only natural. A real human being should feel this way.

Ah San opened his umbrella and slowly walked out of the alley. Wherever his gaze landed, scenes from his memories surfaced one by one.

Hmm... That restaurant is still standing.

He remembered his master personally killing three Eastern Depot agents right in front of its entrance.

Hmm... And that rouge shop.

His junior sister had once whispered to him about wanting to buy some rouge there.

It was in front of this very shop that, when Eastern Depot agents attacked, she could only hide behind him, crying in terror. In the end, it was he who drove a blade into the heart of one of the agents, splattering burning blood across his face.

Looking back, he regretted not snatching a box of rouge for his junior sister amidst the chaos.

Before he knew it, Ah San had reached the mouth of the alley. He stopped and turned back to look. In the night, the shop that had once been a noodle house and later became a tailor's was barely visible.

This familiar scene brought a sense of déjà vu to Ah San. Eight years ago, he had also stood here and looked back, but all he saw then was his senior brother’s back, his clothes stained with blood.

Alone, his senior brother had blocked the shop’s entrance, trapping five high-ranking Eastern Depot officers inside the noodle house.

Their second senior brother had wanted to go back and save him, but their master had stopped him and led them away without looking back.

Sometimes, Ah San felt that his master was too cold and unfeeling, and he harbored resentment toward him for a long time because of it. Later, he accidentally overheard an argument between his second senior brother and their master about this matter.

His master had said, "This has always been the way of the martial world. Your senior brother only died where he was destined to die."

Ah San didn’t understand but didn’t bring it up with his master again. Later, his second senior brother died on the grasslands of Northern Qiang. By then his master’s health had already deteriorated significantly.

He had died protecting their master. That time, their master said to Ah San, "Your second senior brother only died where he was destined to die." Ah San felt even more confused.

And then, it was a year ago. In a small village in Northern Qiang, surrounded by several top-tier assassins from the Ghostbane Association, Ah San personally cut off his master’s head.

He knew that his junior sister was hiding under the bed at the time, but he chose to pretend not to know. Maybe it was to protect her, or perhaps it was because he was afraid... afraid to face her.

His emotions at that moment were far from as clean-cut as his actions. He was only able to do what he did because of what his master had told him the night before.

"It's fine," his master said, "I will die where I am destined to die."

Ah San didn’t know if he truly understood, so he could only nod, half-understanding his master's wisdom.

Afterward, he joined the Ghostbane Association and met the arrogant man who shut himself away in the shrine.

That man had told him, "In some ways, you and I are quite alike."

Ah San had replied, "I am a warrior. You are a scholar. Killing comes as easily to me as turning my hand, yet you wouldn't be able to harm a chicken."

The man smiled and said, "With a word, I can topple an army of millions. Even with your best, how many can you kill?"

Ah San had no rebuttal.

The man continued, "My name is Sikong Yan... From today onward, you are one of the Ghostbane Association's assassins."

Ah San looked the withered man in the eyes. "A Heaven Ranker?"

Sikong Yan squinted and smiled. "No... Four characters."

Ah San remained silent, watching him coldly and waiting for him to continue.

Sikong Yan lowered his head and stayed silent for a moment before softly saying, "Regret for parting is like spring grass, the farther you go, the greater it grows anew... Your life has been one of constant farewells. You always have and always will be..."

Ah San raised his head and looked at the man.

"Ephemeral Requiem."

In the dim light of night, Ah San lowered his gaze, turned around, and stepped into the rain with his umbrella. His figure gradually disappeared into the downpour, leaving his memories behind.

Late into the night, from an unknown house, the faint voice of a woman’s song drifted through the air. The sorrowful melody sounded like a downcast dirge.

"Time slips away, no way to hold on, today we part once more..."