Crossing the Cultivation Realm: Two Souls Coexist

Hu Qing and Gu Yang pulled two simple stretchers carrying the bodies of Gu Yang's parents and slowly walked down the mountain.

The ground, which was originally flat due to the snow, is now left with deep drag marks.

On the ground, the footprints they had left before had been covered by the new snow, leaving only shallow traces.

The wind and snow in the mountains have stopped, but the cold air is even more biting, as if it can even freeze time.

Their footprints were particularly clear on the snow, like a road leading to the past, guiding them home.

Fortunately, they don’t have to worry about getting lost, as the remaining footprints will lead them home.

But the two men walked very carefully, trying to take every step lightly, for fear of attracting the attention of the wild animals around them.

The silence in the forest was broken by the occasional sound of branches breaking, reminding them that this was not a safe place.

Now that the snow has stopped, those hungry beasts might come out to look for food.

Given their current physical condition, it would be difficult for them to deal with any wild beast.

Hu Qing looked back at Gu Yang from time to time to make sure he could keep up.

Gu Yang's face was full of determination, even though his lips were cracked and the blood solidified into dark red ice beads in the cold wind.

But he was still working hard to lead his mother home, and his lips were bitten again.

Hu Qing felt his ear was a little itchy. He reached out to scratch it, but felt a sharp pain.

He looked down and found that his hands were covered with tissue fluid.

It turned out that his ears had been frostbitten and he had frostbite.

Hu Qing smiled bitterly. Such a minor injury seemed insignificant at the moment.

He turned to look at Gu Yang and found that his ears were also frostbitten and his lips were cracked and bleeding.

But there was no trace of pain on Gu Yang's face, only determination and resoluteness.

Seeing that those with worse physical fitness than himself could still persevere, Hu Qing had nothing to say and continued to pull the stretcher with all his strength.

The snowy road still going down the mountain was compacted, and the stretcher slid on it without any resistance.

The only worry is falling. If I roll down the mountain, the injury will be difficult to treat in the snow.

Although the snow around had stopped, the temperature was getting lower and lower, and Hu Qing could hardly feel the presence of his hands.

His fingers were so stiff that he could barely hold the stretcher handles.

Gu Yang's situation was not much better. He staggered and almost fell several times.

Hu Qing offered to help, but was rejected. He was so stubborn that he wanted to take them home himself.

The two relied entirely on their obsession, gritted their teeth, and staggered out of Qingtian Mountain.

Fortunately, there were no other accidents on the road, and we soon arrived at the entrance of the village.

As soon as they arrived at the village, they fell to the ground due to exhaustion.

Only they know the hardships along the way.

In the last moments before they lost consciousness, they saw the lights of the village.

The warm light was like the call of home, bringing them a sense of comfort.

……

Gu Yang's consciousness gradually awakened from the darkness, and he felt himself wrapped in warmth, as if in his mother's arms.

He slowly opened his eyes, and what came into view was a thick quilt, and the room was filled with the aroma of herbs.

He moved his body and found that the wounds on his body had been carefully coated with ointment and there was no longer any stinging sensation.

Gu Yang turned his stiff neck and found that Hu Qing, who was sleeping soundly next to him, also had his ears covered with thick herbal smears.

Both of them were only wearing thin inner lining, but they didn't feel cold in this warm house.

He sat up slowly and found a woman leaning against the bed.

She was sitting on a wooden chair, holding an unfinished sweater in her hands, her head slightly lowered, as if she was dozing off.

Gu Yang looked at her familiar face and recognized that this was the old village chief's wife, Li Hua.

When he was a child, Aunt Hua was the best to him. She always made delicious food for him and bandaged his wounds when he was injured.

Familiar memories emerged in his mind, and the corners of Gu Yang's mouth inadvertently rose.

Li Hua felt the movement. She opened her eyes and saw Gu Yang waking up. She quickly stood up with a surprised expression on her face.

"Xiaoyang, you finally woke up!" There was a hint of joy in her voice, and she was obviously very happy about Gu Yang's awakening.

She immediately went to the yard and called in all the people gathered outside.

Hu Qing was also woken up. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and sat up, not knowing what had happened.

Soon a group of people came into the room, filling it up and gathering around the bed.

Gu Yang looked at the mighty middle-aged man in the lead and his eyes became moist.

This is the old village chief, anniversary.

He was still the same as Gu Yang remembered, majestic and kind, but his face lacked some of the traces of time.

It’s better when you’re young, you’re so handsome. When you get old, you just beat yourself up.

Zhounian saw Gu Yang wake up and a relieved smile appeared on his face.

He walked to Gu Yang's bed and sat on the chair where Li Hua had just sat.

"Gu Yang, how do you feel? Are you still feeling uncomfortable?" His voice was low and gentle, full of concern.

Gu Yang shook his head, his voice still a little hoarse. "Uncle Zhou, I'm fine. Aunt Hua has already taken care of my wound."

He glanced at the crowd in the room and saw many familiar faces.

These were his fellow villagers. Their eyes were full of care and worry, which warmed Gu Yang's heart.

Zhounian nodded, and his eyes then became serious.

"Gu Yang, can you tell us where you went? Why did your parents die? What happened?"

There was a hint of heaviness in his voice, and it was obvious that he was very sad about the death of Gu Yang's parents.

Gu Yang, who was originally somewhat happy, suddenly lowered his head as if he was poured with a bucket of ice water.

He almost forgot about it, forgot that his parents' bodies were still outside.

He was anxious and wanted to get up, but was stopped by Zhounian.

He said, "Don't worry, your parents have been settled by us, just tell us what happened first!"

Gu Yang finally felt relieved and took a deep breath. He began to tell about their experience on the mountain.

From the moment they discovered their parents' bodies, to the moment they made a stretcher, to the moment they struggled down the mountain in the wind and snow.

There was a slight tremor in his voice, but he still insisted on finishing the whole story.

Hu Qing sat aside, his eyes also filled with grief.

He added some details, including how they discovered their parents' wounds and their suspicions about the leper.

"We suspect that Laizi is involved in this matter. His behavior is too suspicious." There was a hint of anger in Hu Qing's voice.

Hearing this, Zhounian's face suddenly became as gloomy as the dark clouds before a storm, and his eyes flashed with flames of indignation.

Killing compatriots in the village is an unforgivable act.

He immediately led the people around him and prepared to go to Laizi's house to pull him over for confrontation.

This matter was so terrible that all the villagers wanted to know the truth, so they all went to Laizi's house.

The village seemed especially quiet under the cover of night, and suddenly the continuous barking of dogs broke the silence.

The villagers held torches and lit the path leading to Laizi's house.

When they arrived at the door of the lecher's house, they unexpectedly met the lecher.

He was wearing a bear skin and carrying two large bags, and it seemed that he was preparing to run away.

The two groups met at the door, and a panic expression appeared on Laizi's face. He obviously did not expect the villagers to come to his door so soon.

Laizi tried to run away, but Zhounian and another big man quickly stepped forward and pinned him to the ground.

The leper struggled a few times but was soon subdued.

A sneer appeared on Zhounian's face. Laizi's escape had already exposed his guilty conscience.

He waved his hand, and the villagers around him handed him two ropes and tied him up tightly to prevent him from running away.

When they tied up his right hand, the beggar twisted on the ground in pain and wailed continuously.

Zhounian turned his right hand over and saw the deep wound that could be seen to the bone. He did not do anything about it and just tied it up with a piece of rag.

"Ballad! How did you do this?" Zhounian asked, suppressing his anger.

The beggar shook his head and refused to say anything. After waiting for a while, Zhounian tore off a piece of cloth and stuffed it into his mouth.

Afterwards, Zhounian brought the leper to the village ancestral hall to be judged by the entire village.

This is the foundation of the entire village, and disputes are usually resolved here.

The ancestral hall was brightly lit. The villagers had not rested yet and had gathered here, waiting for the confrontation to begin.

Laizi was brought into the ancestral hall. When he saw the bodies of Gu Yang's parents lying in the middle of the hall, his face turned pale.

He looked at the elders sitting on both sides, his legs so weak that he could hardly stand.

The elders of the clan usually don’t show up in public, but unexpectedly, they all came this time.

Gu Yang and Hu Qing were also invited over by Zhou Nian, and they were ready to confront each other in front of the clan elders.

Zhounian's voice echoed in the ancestral hall, and his eyes were fixed on Laizi.

"Baizi, do you admit everything you have done?" There was an unquestionable majesty in his voice.

A trace of panic appeared on the lecher's face and his voice trembled.

"I...I don't know what you're talking about. Is it a crime to go out late at night?"

He tried to deny it, but his eyes were full of guilt.

Gu Yang stood up, with a hint of sadness in his voice.

"Baizi, we found my parents' bodies on the mountain. They had knife wounds and dog bites on their bodies."

He stared at the beggar, as if he wanted to see through his soul.

The lecher's face became paler and his voice trembled more.

"I...I've never had a dog. Someone else must have done this."

He tried to argue, but his voice was filled with desperation.

However, the villagers soon found puppy skin and eaten dog bones in his home.

When these evidences were presented to him, Lai Zi's defenses were completely broken.