Black Myth: The Legend of Tianpeng Seeking Demons

The sky over Chang'an was overcast, as if heaven and earth themselves were mourning the impending disaster. "An Lushan has rebelled!" This news, like a thunderclap, reverberated throughout every corner of the city. The once bustling streets instantly descended into chaos.

The crowd scattered and fled, their cries of fear mingling with weeping and the rapid clatter of horses' hooves, echoing like a lament for the end of the world over Chang'an.

Zhu Rong stood to one side of the palace, silently observing the chaos before her. A hint of unease flickered across her beautiful brows. At this moment, the once magnificent palace had lost its majesty. Eunuchs and palace maids fled in all directions, their belongings scattered everywhere, and the once resplendent palace was shrouded in a shadow of despair.

"Your Majesty! There is no time to lose, we must leave Chang'an immediately!" Gao Lishi's voice was filled with anxiety. He was almost kneeling in front of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, his voice carrying an undeniable urgency.

Emperor Xuanzong's eyes were lifeless, and his face was ashen. As the emperor of the Tang Dynasty, he had never imagined that he would be in such a sorry state. Shock, fear, and guilt clashed fiercely within him, as if in an instant he was no longer the powerful emperor he once was, but merely a soulless shell.

"Sanlang..." Emperor Xuanzong's lips trembled, his gaze wandering before finally settling on Yang Guifei.

Yang Guifei's beautiful face remained completely calm, as if she were the only one who remained composed in this turbulent time.

She slowly stepped forward, gently took Emperor Xuanzong's hand, and lightly stroked the back of his hand with her fingers, her voice as gentle as water: "Sanlang, don't be afraid, we'll go together."

Emperor Xuanzong's body trembled slightly as he grasped Yang Guifei's hand, as if she were clutching her last straw. Zhu Rong watched them silently from the side, her heart filled with barely concealed unease.

"Xiaobai, can we really escape?" she asked in a low voice, a barely perceptible fear flickering in her eyes.

The voice coming from the jade pendant carried its usual calmness and confidence: "Fool, don't be afraid. With me here, what storms haven't I weathered? They can't do anything to you."

Xiao Bai's slightly teasing tone seemed to be trying to soothe her emotions, but Zhu Rong knew that the situation was far more complicated and dangerous than Xiao Bai had described.

The group hurriedly left the palace and, under the protection of the imperial guards, fled towards Sichuan. The fleeing procession stretched for miles, its banners fluttering, like a long black dragon winding its way across the loess land.

The hardships of the journey, including sleeping in the open and enduring constant displacement, were unbearable for the once pampered nobles.

Zhu Rong sat in the carriage, lifted the curtain, and looked at the fleeing people. They were ragged, their faces full of exhaustion and anxiety. Along the way, the old and weak kept collapsing by the roadside, only to be swallowed up by the iron hooves of the army and disappear into the dust.

"Is war really this cruel?" Zhu Rong murmured to herself, her eyes revealing an uncontrollable sorrow.

Xiao Bai's voice rang in her ears again, tinged with heaviness: "War has always been like this. It tears apart homes, destroys family ties, and takes away everything that was originally beautiful. You stupid pig, you should have understood long ago that war never brings the glory of the victors, but endless suffering."

Zhu Rong remained silent, as if a corner of her heart had been shattered. The images of those fallen figures by the roadside, those people who could no longer stand due to hunger and disease, lingered in her mind.

A few days later, Yang Guifei's face no longer had its former beauty. Her once snow-white skin had become rough from the wind and sun, and her once soft hands were now covered with small wounds.

Even so, she never showed the slightest sign of fatigue or complaint in front of Emperor Xuanzong. Whenever Emperor Xuanzong was tired, Consort Yang would always comfort him with gentle words, as if her very existence was the only motivation for him to keep going.

Watching all this, Zhu Rong couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration for Yang Guifei. This woman, who enjoyed all the riches and honors in the eyes of the world, possessed such a resilient heart. She not only deeply loved Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, but also deeply loved her country and this land. However, the cruelty of fate never wavered because of the kindness in people's hearts.

On that day at Mawei Slope, the sky was overcast, as if even the heavens were weeping for the fate of the Tang Dynasty. As soon as Emperor Xuanzong's carriage came to a stop, deafening shouts erupted all around: "Purge the court of corrupt officials! Slay the wicked concubines!" The imperial guards, their eyes filled with hatred and rage, vowed to seek justice for the people. Zhu Rong stood behind Emperor Xuanzong's carriage, her heart pounding like a drum, her hands involuntarily clenching her sleeves.

Yang Guifei had already witnessed everything, but her face remained calm. She gently walked to Emperor Xuanzong's side and tenderly stroked the back of his hand. Emperor Xuanzong's eyes were filled with helplessness and pain; he gripped Yang Guifei's hand tightly, as if letting go would cause her to disappear.

"Imperial Consort...I...cannot lose you." Emperor Xuanzong's voice was choked with sobs, as if something was blocking his throat, making it hard to breathe.

Yang Guifei gazed at him with deep affection, her eyes filled with boundless longing and reluctance. Her fingers gently traced Emperor Xuanzong's cheek as she whispered, "Sanlang, I have never regretted being with you, even at this moment, I still have no regrets." Her voice was soft, as if she were telling him her most precious secret.

Emperor Xuanzong closed his eyes, tears silently streaming down his face. Just then, the soldiers outside lost their patience, the clashing of swords and spears growing increasingly rapid. Gao Lishi whispered, "Your Majesty, the soldiers have reached their limit. If a decision is not made soon, the situation will be irreversible!"

Yang Guifei stood up, her eyes no longer showing any hesitation. She turned gently, walked to Zhu Rong, and smiled slightly. Zhu Rong stared at her blankly; in that moment, she seemed to understand the resolute determination in Yang Guifei's heart.

"Rong'er," Yang Guifei's voice was as gentle as ever, as if they were still spending those carefree days together in the palace, "You are my only sister in this palace. I have always known that you are kind-hearted and accompanied me through the most difficult days. I only hope that we can meet again in the next life and be good sisters again."

Zhu Rong's eyes instantly welled up with tears. She grabbed Yang Guifei's hand tightly, tears streaming down her face, her voice trembling with sobs: "Sister, don't go! Please, don't go!"

Yang Guifei smiled slightly, gently patted her hand, and said with a hint of affection in her eyes, "Silly girl, this is my fate, I can't escape it."

She paused, her gaze lingering on Emperor Xuanzong not far away, the tenderness in her eyes finally overflowing. "What I can't let go of is Sanlang... but this is for him, for the Tang Dynasty, and this is the only choice I can make."

After she finished speaking, she gently embraced Zhu Rong. Zhu Rong could feel a slight tremor emanating from her, a suppressed sorrow. She couldn't help but burst into tears, as if this moment was their final farewell.

Yang Guifei slowly released her, raised her head, and looked firmly at the furious soldiers around her. She took a deep breath, and her whole being seemed to instantly become incredibly strong.

“Come on.” Her voice was light and calm, without the slightest fear. “Let me make my final sacrifice for this country.”

Gao Lishi stepped forward and handed her a white silk ribbon. Zhu Rong felt as if her heart was being torn apart. She could no longer control herself and rushed forward to stop Yang Guifei. But Xiao Bai's voice rang in her ears, tinged with helplessness: "Foolish pig, this is her fate, you can't change it."

Yang Guifei smiled and turned back to look at Zhu Rong one last time, whispering, "Rong'er, take good care of Sanlang and live on in your sister's place." At that moment, Yang Guifei's tears finally fell, the glistening teardrops like her final farewell to Emperor Xuanzong of Tang.

With endless reluctance and longing, she slowly wrapped the white silk around her neck, her eyes filled with endless sorrow and relief.

"Sister!" Zhu Rong cried out in anguish, tears blurring her vision.

Just as the white silk ribbon took Yang Guifei's life, her body trembled slightly, like a fallen flower drifting in the wind, and finally fell silently to the ground.

Emperor Xuanzong could no longer suppress his emotions and suddenly knelt down, letting out a heart-wrenching cry: "Consort Gui!"

With trembling hands, Zhu Rong gently collected the tears from Yang Guifei's face into the teardrop necklace. Looking at the single, shimmering teardrop within the necklace, she felt a tearing pain in her heart.

She completed the task given to her by Guanyin Bodhisattva, but that teardrop carried Yang Guifei's endless longing and reluctance to part with Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. This tear was not only Yang Guifei's sacrifice, but also her eternal remembrance of this deep affection.

Zhu Rong knelt on the ground, cupping the teardrop in her hands, overwhelmed by a torrent of pain and sorrow. Yang Guifei's smile seemed to still linger before her eyes, but she could never again touch those hands that had once warmed her.

"Sister..." she choked, tears streaming down her face, rolling gently in her palms, carrying her deepest longing for this friendship.

This was the task given to her by Guanyin Bodhisattva, and she completed it. However, her heart felt as if a heavy stone was pressing down on her, and emptiness, confusion, and pain surged up all at once, making it hard for her to breathe.

In this desolate and bloody world, Zhu Rong could no longer discern the path ahead.