The strange breathing, following the heat waves, wave by wave reverberating in this empty space. That fire dragon bared its fangs and brandished its claws, its expression savage but it did not continue to grow, almost as if this was already at its limits. Even though it was so, under that intense heat, even the sturdy floor also started to show cracks, instead that fire brazier which looked decrepit and primitive, looked fine.
The firelight raging, reflecting in the Beast Deity's eyes, as if his eyes were also burning.
The Beast Deity's gaze deepened, slowly watched that darkness behind that fire, the flames burning fiercely but it did not seemed to reach that place.
He stared at the darkness, a faint smile seemed to be at his lips, with some provocation, and also seemed to be enticing, slowly said.
That lady suddenly did not speak, in the entire mountain cave, only the sound of fire burning but for some reason, compared to previously where there was nothing, the silence seemed even more dead.
The fire in the brazier, suddenly rose, like a silent roar from the fire dragon, it then slowly descended, the surrounding eight mysterious drawings also darkened, gradually lost in the darkness. The fire dragon slowly merged into the fire, turned into an ordinary fire, the surroundings slowly turned dark, only light remained around the fire brazier.
"What have you done to yourself?" After a long time, that lady softly asked.
The Beast Deity did not reply, and did not speak, he looked to be getting more tired, slowly raised his hand. In the fire, on his right wrist, the skin seemed to have lost its lustre and seemed murky grey, indistinctly, a dark red vein was concealed within the wrist.
The Beast Deity looked at that vein for a moment, shook his head, gently used his hand to brush past his wrist, the next moment, a wound slowly appeared and then slowly spilled a drop of blood.
The Beast Deity did not speak, only smiled, that heavy smile, nobody knew, whether it was bitter or gratified.
That lady actually laughed out, not knowing whether because it was too ludicrous or unable to contain herself.
The Beast Deity's gaze, stared at that red blood on his own wrist, yet his eyes had an inexplicable complicated expression, like joy, like sorrow.
The Beast Deity slowly lifted his head, gazed at the fire, his voice, in this place where darkness and light flickered back and forth, seemed to return to the distant past.
TaoTie beside him, softly growled.
The Beast Deity patted it a few times on its head, the TaoTie quietened down. That lady did not make a single sound, she seemed to sense that a certain seal of an ancient secret, was about to be opened.
In the Beast Deity's eyes, tenderness slowly completely took over, his eyes, also looking at the distant darkness, far in the cave, there, maybe there was once a spirit, quietly listening.
He laughed, the past murderous and vicious demeanour, seemed never once existed on him, right now what he had, was only memories.
"She was really a remarkable…" that lady softly said.
"You can tell her, then she would know isn't it?" That lady couldn't help but said.
That lady was silent, did not speak for a long time, the Beast Deity was also silent, as if he was deep within his memories.
The fire, still burning, gently wavered, as if it was also breathing.
Time seemed to stop in this darkness, listening attentively!
The past was memories frozen in ice, drop by drop melted, and then slowly disappeared.
"I killed many, many, many people…" The Beast Deity lowered his head but he still continued.
The fire in the brazier, made crackling sounds, almost like responding to the Beast Deity.
In the ancient cave, in the distant, someone seemed to sigh in the darkness, for that scene ten thousand years ago, not knowing the tears that flowed at that time, was there still anyone who remembered?
His voice suddenly raised, abruptly lifted his head, towards the ceiling of the cave, loudly shouted.
[Rumble], the four walls trembled together, rocks tumbled down, the sound was like a drum, deafening.
In the dust, the Beast Deity slowly lowered his head.
"Then, what happened?" That lady asked from the darkness.
"What?" The lady in the darkness cried out.
Those words, I had never understood.
Until after I, ten thousand years later, resurrected, again stood at the cave entrance.
That human statue, weather-beaten by wind, storm and snow, sun-scorched daily and suffering months of coldness, yet still staring deep into the cave.