Chapter 142 - Ruins
Sand Girl and the others still did not abandon hope, and they desperately fumbled through the bodies, their faces covered with extreme agony.
The adverse circumstances in the wasteland had raised in her a toughness that deemed tears as a disgrace. But at this moment, every one of them were crying soundlessly, and their faces were already streaked with tears. This was too much for them, and thus their hearts cried out relentlessly.
Shi Mu walked up to Sand Girl in a feeble attempt to offer his condolences. But he opened his mouth, only to find no appropriate words coming out. At this very moment, words were only a jumble of meaningless syllables.
“Father...Father...!” A quivering, crying voice called out, tinged with the joy of surprise.
Shi Mu’s eyes glittered excitedly, and his body had already shot up in the direction of the voice. It was at the center of the square, where the altar for the Raven God was set up. The remnants of last night’s embers were still lying scattered on the land. But the altar was hardly able to be recognized now that it had been smashed to pieces along with the statue of the Raven God. In front of the shattered altar a cross was erected. This cross was taller than an average barbarian’s height, and on the cross was nailed a burly man, whose body was terribly slashed.
This was Shaman Sand Sun.
Sand Girl was holding her father’s legs and crying for help, and, despite his serious injuries, there was still some color left on his cheeks. He was still alive.
Sand Star rushed to the cross upon hearing his sister’s voice, tears streaming down his face. He had got a half-broken hacking knife from nowhere, ready to unfasten his father from the wooden cross. But Sand Sun’s hands and feet had been nailed fast into the wood, his bones pierced. The flesh near the wounds had been exposed, and blood had congealed there.
Sand Star was struck dumbfounded, for, at this time, he did not know how to unfasten his father without hurting him even more. He paced the ground near his father anxiously. Just then, Shi Mu had flashed to his side. Jumping up to the cross, he took hold of Sand Girl’s hand forcibly.
“Your father is seriously injured. Don’t sway his body,” Shi Mu commanded, with a stern face.
Sand Girl was jolted out of her grieved state, her eyes drooping, yet quickly staring into Shi Mu’s eyes with a pleading look.
Shi Mu quickly drew Sand Girl aside, and, at the same time, bid Sand Star to remain still. He then drew his black blade, examined Sand Sun’s wounds, and circled around the cross. Then he screwed up his eyes, and with full concentration, slashed the black blade around the cross. The metal glinted and glittered, then, with a few cracks, Sand Sun’s body fell straight down from the cross, and the steel nails that had penetrated his hands and feet were cut cleanly against his skin.
[ED: in case anyone is wondering, this is an ‘x’ shaped cross, not a ‘t’ shaped one.]
Shi Mu withdrew the black blade with a flip of his wrists, then held Sand Sun’s body gently with both arms, placing him face-up on the ground with the utmost care.
“Father!” Sand Girl immediately threw herself on Sand Sun’s body, and Sand Star tossed the broken knife aside, kneeling heavily on the ground.
With a gloomy face, Shi Mu put one finger softly on Sand Sun’s neck. Immediately, a wisp of Shi Mu’s real qi entered the latter’s veins, checking out his internal conditions.
The brother and the sister held their breaths at their side, not daring to make a sound, though their hearts were being torn apart with anxiety.
After a few breaths, Shi Mu’s face fell, and his eyes dimmed. He took his finger back, distressed.
“Brother Mu, how is my father?” Sand Girl trembled.
“His organs have been shattered, and his injuries are beyond repair. It’s a miracle that he has stayed alive this long. I’m terribly sorry, but I cannot save him.” Shi Mu answered, with a dismal face.
Sand Girl felt limp and weak for a moment, almost passing out.
“Sister!” Sand Sun strode up and supported her.
“Shaman Sand’s mind is still together, and I can try to stimulate that. But, once awakened, his injuries - inside and outside - will break out… and he won’t have long to live...” Shi Mu looked at the hapless sister and the brother, saying so after a few painful moments. He sighed bitterly, then went on to say, “But even if we let shaman Sand sleep like this, he probably won’t make it longer than a quarter of an hour...So...you’ll have to make a choice.”
Sand Girl’s slim body wavered, and the brother and the sister exchanged a deep look. They held their father’s hands for a moment, with bent heads. Then, with determined eyes, they looked up at almost the same time. Shi Mu was, momentarily, taken by surprise, for he saw the tearful eyes of Sand Girl’s glinting with hatred.
“Brother Mu, please awaken our father, and I shall ask who on earth has destroyed our tribe and slaughtered our kinsmen!” Sand Girl uttered every single word strenuously. Sand Star also cast Shi Mu beseeching looks, his face still bathed in tears, but his eyes had gained a firm light, akin to his sister’s.
Shi Mu looked at them for a moment, then nodded his head and took out a white bottle from his shirt, from which he poured out a small white pill. Then he flicked his hand, producing a green charm, which was none other than the Rejuvenation Charm.
Shi Mu chanted the spell, and waved his hand, sticking the charm to Sand Sun’s forehead. The charm instantaneously shone with green light, quickly wrapping around Sand Sun’s body. The wounds on his skin began to heal miraculously, and color quickly returned to his face. Sand Girl and Sand Star marveled with tears.
Next, Shi Mu’s eyes glittered gold, and his fingers moved deftly on Sand Sun’s chest and lower abdomen, where he quickly pressed certain acupuncture points. The overpowering real qi of heavenly elephant was divided into several streams under Shi Mu’s spiritual control, flowing slowly into Sand Sun’s body and stimulating his blood by force.
After some time, Sand Sun’s body jerked without warning, and his breaths became more quick and vigorous. He coughed, and spat out some blood. Eventually, he opened his eyes.
An unnatural ruddiness appeared on his cheeks, like the glow of the sun as it sets. They were all aware that this should be Sand Sun’s last few moments of life.
“Father!” Sand Girl and Sand Star threw themselves on their father.
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