Unusual Fate Records

Chapter 297, 027. Source

"Since that's the case, I'll show you how to sever your so-called subconscious."

Jin Ziyue remained unmoved, his eyes flashing with coldness, and the blade in his sleeve was drawn out with a whoosh.

"Did I hear that right? Someone's trying to get back at me?" The other person grinned dramatically. "In that case, come on. Let me make it clear beforehand: the one who provides me with this endless source of power is yourself. You've never heard the cries of your heart, never accepted your inner desires, never forgiven your inner transgressions, and never paid attention to the distortions within yourself."

"It's really cold-blooded to separate or even oppose the actions of your fingers from your inner thoughts. Many people can't do it in their entire lives, but it's so easy for you."

【Tracing back to the source】Jin Ziyue, in his transformed state, opens his arms.

Like Jin Ziyue, he had a small knife in his hand. He tossed it up and played with it for a while, and at the same time as Jin Ziyue, he took a step forward and sprinted!

The two men's eyes were cold, and their movements were synchronized, as if they were looking in a mirror.

As the opponent thrust forward with a slash to the left, he countered with a slash to the right.

Jin Ziyue raised his palm and twisted his wrist, but his opponent also seized his wrist and twisted it, breaking his sword stance.

They locked eyes and suddenly kicked each other.

"boom!"

They kicked each other in the stomach, clutching their bellies as they staggered away. Jin Ziyue, refusing to believe it, reversed his grip on the knife and lunged forward as if to slit someone's throat.

The other person also lowered their body, growled, and raised their wrist to hold the knife.

The two sides clashed with their weapons, each exerting their full strength in an attempt to crush the other.

Their eyes met, filled with anger, and up close, you could see their masseter muscles bulging as they exerted force.

Suddenly, Jin Ziyue changed his move, and before his opponent could react, he turned his hand to the side, catching the opponent's weapon in, while simultaneously freeing his own short sword and slashing downwards at the opponent's abdomen.

This time, the opponent didn't change tactics and cut straight down, leaving a deep bloodstain on the shoulder bone.

Jin Ziyue winced in pain, and his opponent also bared his teeth. They each punched the center of the chest and retreated.

"call--"

Jin Ziyue rubbed his lower abdomen, his face turning ugly.

Even though he was the one who cut the other person's abdomen, he was also in excruciating pain. At the same time, blood was gushing from the gash on his shoulder. Fortunately, it didn't cut through any tendons or bones, otherwise his right hand would have been useless.

[Tracing back to the source] Panting, clutching the blood in his lower abdomen, he said:

"Feel your own pain closely! Every time you're cruel to yourself, who is suffering? Whose flesh is being cut by a dull knife into a numb heart? Do you think that if you seal away all the pain and ignore it, it won't exist?"

"Another you, the one who begs you, asking you to grant her wish. Humans use reason to imprison wild beasts, but you seal away your own emotions as well."

"When you were with Fu Qin, you were clearly happy, weren't you? When you were protecting the girl, you were clearly proud, weren't you? When you were cultivating with your father, you were filled with excitement, weren't you? When you were talking with your relatives and friends, you were relaxed and at ease, weren't you? That was your most authentic self, but it was all covered up by your so-called rationality!"

He roared and charged again, as if wielding a military knife, ready to slash and sweep.

Jin Ziyue also drew his knife and raised his wrist to sweep.

Ding--

The two blades of light intersected like a diagonal cross—

Jin Ziyue's wrist trembled slightly, and blood slowly trickled down the knife.

The other party only suffered minor injuries.

The process of "tracing back to the source" is faster and more powerful.

Jin Ziyue's fingers trembled slightly; he hadn't fully processed the force he'd just felt.

Taking advantage of Jin Ziyue's setback, he didn't let the opportunity pass and charged forward.

Jin Ziyue opened his eyes wide, using the power of fate to see the other party's trajectory more clearly.

Fate does not originate from the written decree, but from oneself. Jin Ziyue vaguely understood this difference; the other party should not be able to replicate the ability of fate.

The opponent's blade path became clear; taking a step back was enough to avoid the silver arc in front of him. Then, he raised his knee and kicked out with a powerful kick!
[Tracing back to the source] He was hit squarely by Jin Ziyue's kick, his body swayed and he fell back.

In the blink of an eye, he sprang to his feet and, relying on his strength and speed, relentlessly attacked Jin Ziyue.

Jin Ziyue stared in disbelief as the two locked in combat, their blows landing squarely on each other, exchanging injuries and blood. In an instant, each of them was covered in bruises and wounds.

“You are no match for yourself.” [Tracing the Origins] stared at him and said coldly.

“Suppressing the ‘id’ and imprisoning the ‘superego’—that is your ‘ego.’ Binding both the beast and the human nature, what remains is nothing but an empty shell. How can it support true power?”

Jin Ziyue's eyes widened, and with a thought, the surrounding scenery instantly changed.

The Realm of Soul Tracing.

A smug smile appeared on the lips of [Tracing the Roots], seemingly unconcerned about the fate field activated by Jin Ziyue:

"You've been tricked. Open your eyes and see your situation clearly."

Jin Ziyue discovered that his body was semi-transparent, and there was a faint cracking sound as it shattered. As he moved, crystalline shards of glass fell off.

"The 'Realm of Soul Tracing' best reflects a person's soul state. Your soul is already riddled with holes, and the conflict with your 'true self' has accelerated this collapse process. Now, you can hardly use your soul, let alone maintain your consciousness. When you open the 'Realm of Soul Tracing,' it will be the moment when your soul completely breaks apart."

【Tracing back to the source】is a ball of light that extends into a torso and limbs, barely maintaining a human form.

This is the true form of the Destiny Word. Once the Destiny Word possesses self-awareness, the 'Realm of Soul Tracing' can contain it, and of course, it can also destroy it.

"Make peace with yourself, face yourself honestly. Conflict with yourself will ultimately lead you to failure. Only through compromise can you start anew. Let me end your conflict and liberate your soul."

The other person's body emitted a soft light as they slowly approached.

"From now on, you will no longer have to suppress your sadness, no longer have to hate your weakness, no longer have to close your heart. You can cry in the face of pain, you can accept your vulnerability, and you can open your heart to others again. All the emotions you have suppressed will return, and you will regain the right to laugh, cry, and be a real person."

Jin Ziyue had calmed down from his initial hostility. He raised his hand, his palm covered with cracks, as if another version of himself was driving his body to split apart.

but……

Jin Ziyue composed himself, ignoring the cracks on his body.

"You're right."

He spoke slowly.

[Tracing back to the source] Stop and wait quietly for him to continue. Although his soul was withering and collapsing piece by piece, the expression on his face was like a gentle autumn breeze, making people feel peaceful.

“I did feel a long-lost warmth in my dream.” Jin Ziyue said calmly, looking at [Tracing the Source]. “I’ve even secretly thought that this kind of life could continue, and that it wouldn’t be so bad if I lingered in it.”

As he spoke, Jin Ziyue's legs gave way.

"But your words are full of traps, and you have been using the name of 'subconscious' to suggest and deceive my will, trying to make me sink into this dream."

Slowly, the lower body disappeared.

“You’re using them to hold me hostage, but you’re ignoring the fact that every single one of them genuinely wants me to fly higher and farther.”

As Jin Ziyue spoke, he lowered his eyes, as if he were seeing familiar faces, and even his gaze softened.

[Tracing back to the source] To everyone's surprise, the soul, which had withered to the point of being nothing but a head, was now emitting new light, like fireflies, gradually enveloping Jin Ziyue's body. Each burst of light seemed to contain a scene.

A disheveled child stammered, tears welling in his eyes; a girl with burgundy hair looked on earnestly; an old man with blood trickling from the corner of his mouth smiled broadly; a taciturn woman knitted a towel, and...

The girl stood far away under the streetlight, gazing intently into the distance, her eyes reflecting the starry sky.

All his thoughts and blessings wove together to form Jin Ziyue's new body. More and more orbs of light appeared, and soon his body was completely restored.

The man stopped, his voice gentle, and said:
"Warmth and gentleness have never made people indulge in them, but rather have given people the strength to fight against despair and fear."

(End of this chapter)