Durin's Diary

Chapter 998 Gazing at Each Other from Afar

From within the flames, a small hand rose up, and Dulin bent down, letting the small hand stroke his aged face.

"Mr. Dulin... really is as gentle as everyone says."

Dulin looked around in silence. He saw countless spirits, all of them in the shape of children. Dulin had forgotten when he had saved them and why they had died in places he did not know.

No matter how skilled the assassins in the tower are, they can't possibly kill all the sinners in the world. Some children may be saved today, but what about tomorrow, or the day after?

Although the land of East Thailand is vast, what about the children on the lands beyond East Thailand? They are saved by Dulin today and will return to their homeland tomorrow, but they die for various reasons. Why is that?

It's just that human beings are not capable of doing it.

Dulin saved people his whole life and cleaned up messes his whole life. He didn't even ask for a clear conscience, he only hoped that those who came after him wouldn't be trapped in the same quagmire as he was. Fate doesn't pity anyone, and Dulin, as an elder, should have compassion for those young people who follow in his footsteps.

So that their naivety and kindness will not lead to their families being destroyed and their lives ruined someday.

"I'm not actually a good person." With that thought, Dulin reached out and gently took Bailey's hand, watching the girl turn to ashes.

If it weren't for the invasion of the evil god, Bailey Salis might not have become what she is today; if it weren't for the manipulation of the evil god, Lady Valentine would not have become so twisted, and presumably, neither Sinrie nor Akar would have become what they are today.

Unfortunately, there are no "what ifs." For them, the slightest wavering would mean the end of their souls once they were corrupted by the power of chaos.

Thinking of this, Du Lin remembered Director Sun again.

And her?

Is there any hope for her?

Dulin didn't know, nor did he want to know; he was certain that when the time came, there would be a result.

Then Dulin thought of these eight sufferings, the greatest suffering in life, which some find bitter, while others find sweet.

Another way to say that all beings have desires is simply what Dulin always believed: that desires are inexhaustible. It is precisely because of this that there is endless struggle; beings, controlled by desires, live for each other's ideals and die for each other's beliefs.

Dulin revealed his hand, letting the ashes fall from it.

The children, following the soul of a girl, vanished without a trace.

This was the first time Dulin had seen these spirits. He instinctively sensed their goodwill and also instinctively felt that he had a responsibility to them.

They were the children he saved, and they didn't die because they found a home. So they kept following Dulin, instinctively wanting to rely on him to find a home for them again.

After thinking it over, Dulin finally decided to go find the nameless man.

He returned to the previous room and looked at the nameless man before him: "The embodiment of rationality."

“I sent him away. The conditions here are no longer suitable for living beings. I’m not an example, and neither are you, but he really couldn’t take it anymore.”

“There was a group of children who followed me. After I purified Bailey, her soul joined them.”

"Didn't you say you wanted to make sure the children had enough to eat? This is the grand vow you made. It's different from what you actually wanted. It's the most ordinary yet greatest ideal. You saved them once. After they died, they instinctively found you. Some of them came from your past life, and some came from your present life. They are all just poor children who couldn't find their way home. So what are you going to do?"

"...Can I reincarnate them?" "Sure, but you must first purify the obsessions in the children's hearts. Many of these children will purify themselves, eventually becoming pure souls and departing on their own. But ultimately, some children, with their purest intentions, want to help you. If you become a god, then they will be your angels. If you want to become the nameless one you aspire to be, then they can also become your allies, but they will be trapped in eternal battles. I don't know if they are truly willing to go to such lengths for you, so you should ask them." As the nameless one spoke, he tossed the end of his cigarette into the fire.

“I understand now.” Dulin nodded. “And now?”

“Let’s go. But before you go, what do you think you’d look best in next? I personally quite like an older version of you, since we’re both human after all. But I think it would be best if you used your current appearance to become Nameless. However, the choice is yours, and I won’t make the choice for you.” Nameless said as he opened a portal: “Are you going to stay here and think it over, or come with me?”

Dulin thought for a moment, then transformed into his appearance as the Candle Dragon: "The reason why the past is the past is because my previous life ended when I ripped off my oxygen tube. I am Dulin, surname Du and given name Lin; but I am also Dulin Ersh."

"Say 'Guard me,'" Dulin followed the nameless man into the portal.

As Dulin stepped outside, he felt a chill.

The nameless man had disappeared, and Dulin's body was growing weaker and weaker—he was already feeling the cold.

He looked at his hand; on the back of his hand, an ulcer was closing up as Dulin wished.

But such wounds will gradually appear all over Dulin's body - this land can no longer welcome a non-living being to continue walking on this land as before.

Give me a little more time.

Dulin sighed, then finally stood up. He lifted the tent flap, walked up the city wall, and looked at the distant horizon where the light of dawn had already illuminated the land.

Finally, the sun rose above the horizon.

Dulin looked at the camp. It had fallen out of her control, and the demon army was collapsing on its own—those inhuman creatures would soon die, or after a painful struggle, become native mutants.

Now, of the four evil gods, only the God of War remains.

The person who should have been the first to appear before Dulin instead hid behind the scenes like a coward.

It's alright, it's just a matter of time.

With this thought in mind, Dulin did not disturb anyone. He simply walked down the city wall in silence—the patrol and sentries had not noticed him despite Dulin's hints, and they had now discovered the commotion taking place in the distant demon army camp.

Back in his tent, Dulin wanted to take a nap. The weakness was all-encompassing; Dulin just felt incredibly tired.

But Anta, sitting inside the tent, surprised him: "How did you get here?"

“Just now, I lost all thoughts of you. For a fleeting moment, I didn’t tell anyone. I came here just to see if you were still alive.” As she said this, Anta pouted and reached out to hug Dulin: “How did you get that cut on your forehead?”

Dulin instinctively reached out, but couldn't touch the wound.

He didn't realize what was happening until the girl in his arms started crying.

"How much effort did you expend to restrain yourself?" she asked.

He remained silent, not because he didn't want to speak, but because he didn't know how much effort he had actually put in.

(End of this chapter)