NOVEL NEXT Chapter 20: Flower of Hope
"Bro, open the door, I'm here to pick something up!"
Lin Wei shouted like an idiot at the cross, and then, with a whoosh sound, the cross actually opened, revealing rows of shining golden spears. They were incredibly sharp.
"Wowzers!"
Lin Wei clicked his tongue in wonder. This was an eye-opener, and he felt that he would have to brag about this to Theresa later.
"Everyone says that Judah's pledge is unmatched. To me, it seems like it isn't all that impressive. Back in the day, I punched it three times, and told it to open, and it obediently opened its doors, letting me take whatever I wanted?"
Lin Wei stroked his chin, letting his thoughts wander. He felt that it was very exciting.
If this little dwarf were to jump up and hit his knee with her fist, would he be able to handle it with his tiny body?
No, he couldn't get too full of himself, he had to be humble, he had to be careful, he had to be low-key. He had to remember that all evils begin with recklessness, and all good begins with prudence, so he mustn't be careless...
The oblivious Lin Wei was constantly putting on a mental show. Then he reached out and pulled on one of the spears. It didn't budge…
So it had a temper!
Lin Wei grinned and pulled the spear out with both hands.
He tested its weight, it was truly not light.
Lin Wei estimated the weight of the spear, then looked at the huge iron stake in front of him, and at the twelve other spears that were stuck in it. He couldn't help but complain:
"How can Mihoyo fudge the data so badly? 150kg? Are they kidding me? This chunk of iron, even 510 kg would be an underestimate!"
He rolled his eyes, and pulled out the second spear in the same way. He held a spear in each hand, and played around with them. He felt like he wasn't cut out for this, and reluctantly inserted one of the spears back into the rack. Then, he waved his hand,
"Alright, close the door."
With another whoosh sound, all of the spears were pulled back into the body.
Lin Wei carried the spear, glanced at the sleeping cherry-haired girl under the protection of the faint golden light, and took out a soft feather from his pocket.
He gently placed it in her hand, and carefully closed her hands, placing them on her chest, making her tightly hold the feather. Then he gazed at her sleeping face. She was finally no longer panicking, no longer afraid, and had begun to sleep peacefully.
Lin Wei gave her an apologetic smile, then turned around without a word and walked towards the ruined shrine, or to be more accurate, towards the black fog.
"Kibou no hana tsunaida kizuna ga" (Flower of hope, the bonds we share)
"Ima bokura no mune no naka ni aru kara" (Now reside within our hearts)
"Keshite chiru koto wa nai" (They will never scatter)
"Ikiru chikara" (The strength to live)
Lin Wei didn't know why, but he started humming a tune in his heart. Was this perhaps just pre-battle jitters, trying to de-stress?
After all, this song, "Flower of Hope," was usually played in situations that were not so serious, wasn't it?
Don't stop, Commander!
But for some reason, Lin Wei's heart was incredibly calm at the moment, and he wasn't really thinking of making fun of himself.
He remembered that he had heard a live version of this song on a video site before, and it had been a rare experience, to be moved to tears by just seeing the lyrics.
Lin Wei now remembered it again, and felt that this song, which had always been seen as something lighthearted, was incredibly appropriate for his current mood.
The strange, subtle feeling that couldn't be put into words made Lin Wei inexplicably feel like laughing, so he actually laughed.
"It's probably because I'm also not a very serious person…"
The verses before and after the catchy chorus that everyone knew and loved popped into his mind.
"Hatase nakatta yakusoku ya" (Those promises that could not be kept)
"Gisei ni natta kouketsu no hikari" (And the light of virtue, sacrificed)
"Nokoru mono nado nani mo nai to shite mo" (Even if nothing remains)
"Ima wa shinjita michi o tada susume" (We can only believe in the path beneath our feet)
Lin Wei earnestly listened to the song that came from the depths of his heart, his footsteps firm.
The music continued to play in his heart.
"Kibou no hana tsunaida kizuna ga" (Flower of hope, the bonds we share)
"Chikara ni shite ashita o tsuyoku sakihoko" (This strength will powerfully bloom in the future)
"Modoru basho nante nai, tadori tsuku beki basho e to" (With nowhere to return, we can only press forward towards the place where we belong)
"Mayoi no nai hata o takaku kakagete" (Raising high the banner without hesitation)
"Ima o ikite iku" (So we continue to live)
Lin Wei slowly walked out of the small area protected by the golden light, calmly stepping into the black fog. His heart was incredibly sad, but his face was calm.
The singing that seemed to come from the depths of his soul continued to softly play.
"Mienai mono ni obie teita" (Afraid of unseen things)
"Yurumu koto nai kono sekai no naka" (Within this relentless world)
"Sore demo, hitotsu kokoro no nami ma ni" (Still, amidst the waves of our hearts)
"Kawaranai mono ukabe nagara" (There is one thing that floats unchanged)
Lin Wei slowly walked deeper into the dense fog, the soft ash beneath his feet making no sound as he stepped on it. It was like the silence of the end of the world. But he was unmoved, and he continued to move forward, always listening to the song in his heart.
This world, it was really terrible, wasn't it?
Whether in the past or the present, whether in that world or this world.
It was all equally terrible.
Therefore, living was a really painful thing, wasn't it?
Then, why was he still struggling so hard to live?
Lin Wei asked himself. His footsteps continued to move forward without stopping. The song continued to slowly echo in his heart.
"Kibou no hana tsunaida kizuna ga" (Flower of hope, the bonds we share)
"Ima bokura no mune no naka ni aru kara" (Now reside within our hearts)
"Hokorobi o nui ai" (We will sew up all our tears)
"Tsuyoku nareru" (And grow stronger)
Yes, this world was terrible, and being alive was truly painful.
Sadness, discouragement, frustration, resentment...
Deception, hurt, death, separation...
Every day seemed like this. It seemed like it would be like this forever...
But ultimately, the world had its beautiful aspects to it, didn't it?
Look, that cup of water, it tasted so sweet…
Although he had not actually tasted sweetness, it was there, that plain warm water. There was honey added to it!
Then, why could he not taste it? It was because he had tasted bitterness for so long, that he had forgotten what "sweetness" was like.
That was all…
He just needed to know that it was there, waiting for him to taste its beautiful flavor again.
Therefore, he couldn't be tied down by the pain of yesterday. He had to keep living,
Because he had tasted enough bitterness, he should cherish the preciousness of sweetness even more, and he shouldn't forget what sweetness was like.
If he forgot, he would find a way to get it back.
He couldn't stop. He just had to keep going and keep searching. There would always be a way to escape the shadows and walk back into the sunlight!
Because that cup of tasteless warm water was truly so sweet!
It was there, waiting for him to pick it up…
Lin Wei's footsteps didn't stop. He walked steadily forward on the steps in front of the shrine, completely ignoring the thick black fog around him that was almost tangible. He softly hummed along with the song in his heart.
"Kibou no hana tsunaida kizuna ga" (Flower of hope, the bonds we share)
"Chikara ni shite ashita o tsuyoku sakihoko" (This strength will powerfully bloom in the future)
"Nan no tame mukau no ka miushinai sou na toki ni" (Why do we keep moving forward? When you feel lost)
"Mamorinukitai mono ga aru koto" (At that moment you'll realize)
"Kidzuitan da" (There's something you must protect)
"Kizu o kakushi, hitori naita yoru ni" (Hiding your wounds, on a night where you cried alone)
"Kureta yasashisa afure dashita no wa" (The kindness you were given overflows)
"Mirai o chikatta "ketsui no namida"" (Becoming tears of resolve, for the future we promised)
The pitch-black fog swirled madly around him, as if roaring at him. But Lin Wei didn't feel any fear.
In this hysterical madness, he only heard sorrowful cries.
He didn't stop walking. The shrine was already right in front of him.
No one could change the past. The only thing they could change was the future,
It was because the memories of the past were so painful, that they shouldn't drown themselves in their past sadness and anger and lose the courage and strength to walk toward the future.
Therefore, he had to keep living. By being alive, he could see the morning sunlight, and the setting sun at dusk. He could eat fresh breakfasts, and drink tasty milk tea,
Although it sounded ridiculously simple, that was what life was supposed to be like.
Those little by little moments, all those beautiful wishes for the future, that was happiness, that was hope!
Therefore, he couldn't stop!
"Kibou no hana tsunaida kizuna ga" (Flower of hope, the bonds we share)
"Ima bokura no mune no naka ni aru kara" (Now reside within our hearts)
"Keshite chiru koto wa nai" (They will never scatter)
"Ikiru chikara" (The strength to live)
Lin Wei softly hummed. His footsteps slow, but firm, as he ascended the final step.
He stepped across the collapsed temple gate, and finally stopped. He dropped the golden spear that he had been carrying on his shoulder, and used a hand to support it.
Lin Wei looked at the deep, dense darkness in front of him where he couldn't see any light at all. The tiny bit of light from the spear he was holding was so dazzling and beautiful in the midst of such darkness.
He admired it for a moment. Then, he softly said in a tone that sounded like he was calling out to wake up a child,
"Rin, I'm here."
"I'm here to bring you home!"