Chapter 1663 Forgetting the Past
After finishing her words, her head fell weakly into the crook of Sun Hao’s arm.
Sun Hao loudly cried, "He’er, He’er…"
Barbarian Matriarch Jianghe, newly chosen by Jianghe, softly approached and grasped Sun Hao’s arm, whispering, "My lord, sister has passed…"
Sun Hao’s huge eyes stared blankly at the Barbarian Matriarch, asking, "He’er’s gone too? She left like Suyue? Who’s Suyue?"
The younger Barbarian Matriarch gently clasped Sun Hao’s thick arm and replied tenderly, "Sister Suyue was the first little barbarian…"
Sun Hao’s eyes only held confusion, no sorrow.
Gazing at the sky, he murmured, "Suddenly, I feel terrible…"
Red light flickering in his eyes, Sun Hao roared, "Border Collie, Border Collie, come here…"
Border Collie, who had been playing in the tribe, heard the call and leaped onto Sun Hao’s shoulder. Glancing down to see Jianghe lifeless, he blurted out subconsciously, "Dead… another one gone…"
Sun Hao droned, "What is death? What happened to He’er?"
Border Collie’s eyes rolled: "It’s a lot like sleeping."
Sun Hao said, "Oh. Then let her sleep a while longer."
Border Collie’s eyes darted shiftily: "Boss, let’s go clear our heads. When we return, she might be awake."
Sun Hao replied, "No. He’er said I’d forget her. Maybe she’s right. I’ll wait here for her to wake."
Border Collie froze, glancing helplessly at the two Barbarian Matriarchs.
The two Barbarian Matriarchs, carefully chosen by Jianghe, were far more reliable than the irresponsible Border Collie.
The Barbarian Matriarch spoke gently, "Sister is already asleep. My lord shouldn’t disturb her. Let us complete the Union Ceremony first; we can return to see sister later."
Sun Hao hesitated.
The younger Barbarian Matriarch whispered, "Indeed, my lord, you go ahead. I’ll stand watch here."
Sun Hao departed reluctantly.
Border Collie winked at the younger Barbarian Matriarch.
She asked with concern, "Will His Majesty my husband be alright?"
Border Collie shook his head: "He’s fine. He’s brainless and forgetful. In time, he’ll be fine…"
The younger Barbarian Matriarch murmured an "Oh," then asked, "In the future, will my husband remember me even a little? Or will I be as insignificant as now?"
Border Collie looked skyward: "Well, perhaps… maybe… or possibly… he might retain a shred of memory."
Inside the great palace, after unleashing his tempestuous rage, Sun Hao embraced the Barbarian Matriarch and whispered, "Who are you?"
The Barbarian Matriarch embraced strong Sun Hao tenderly, happiness sparkling on her face. At last, the former Barbarian Matriarch was dead. She alone would now be closest to the Saint King. Softly she replied, "Husband, I am Xiaomiao. Remember."
Sun Hao asked, "When will Xiaohe wake?"
…
An immeasurable time passed.
Sun Hao held his new Barbarian Matriarch, asking, "Who are you?"
Radiant joy graced the Barbarian Matriarch’s face: "Saint King, your concubine is Xiaoyue."
Sun Hao said, "Oh. Why hasn’t Xiaohe woken yet?"
…
An immeasurable time passed.
Sun Hao embraced his new Barbarian Matriarch, asking, "Who are you?"
The Barbarian Matriarch beamed with happiness: "Saint King, your concubine is Xiaoyu."
Sun Hao remarked, "Oh. Why hasn’t Xiaohe woken yet?"
…
An immeasurable time passed.
When Sun Hao asked once more, "Why hasn’t Xiaohe woken?", the Barbarian Matriarch responded with pure curiosity, "Saint King, who is Xiaohe?"
Sun Hao went deathly still.
After a long silence, Sun Hao murmured, "Indeed, who is Xiaohe? Who is she?"
He rose abruptly, exiting the stone hut onto the Sacred Mountain. He bellowed furiously, "Border Collie! Report now!"
Border Collie burst from hiding, vaulting onto Sun Hao’s shoulder and barking, "Boss! What now? Are we taking another kill-streak to de-stress?"
Sun Hao’s huge eyes flickered with profound confusion. He demanded hoarsely, "Who is Xiaohe? I cannot recall… Yet I know this matters deeply. Tell me! Who is Xiaohe?"
Border Collie rolled his eyes wildly several times, barking, "Xiaohe! Why, she was that little girl picking mushrooms! Come now, Boss, I’ll sing you the song! Like this: a little girl picking mushrooms, with a big bamboo basket on her back…"
Sun Hao mumbled, "Oh… Xiaohe was a little girl picking mushrooms…"
He slowly turned toward the stone hut. Border Collie’s face betrayed a trace of pity; he sighed, leaped down, only to stiffen mid-stride as Sun Hao’s massive hand closed around him.
Sun Hao lifted Border Collie level with his eyes and declared, "No. Border Collie. WHO is Xiaohe? You lie to me. Tell the truth. Or I’ll happily flick your little thing…"
Border Collie jolted, a bitter expression crossing his face. "Boss," he said, "Even if I told you, you wouldn’t remember. You’ll forget again soon enough. Why not think of her as that little girl picking mushrooms?"
Sun Hao drew himself fiercely erect: "WHY am I forgetful? I… I sense she must NOT be forgotten."
Border Collie barked furiously: "You are the Saint King! The peerless Saint King! Your life blazes with glory! The Barbarian Matriarchs? They’re mere passersby in your existence! They cannot match your stride! They cannot possess your longevity! Why dwell on it? Like me! Wonderful! Barely recall how many mates I’ve taken!"
Sun Hao crushed down his grip.
Border Collie gagged, tongue lolling: "BOSS! Negotiate! Let me speak! No violence!"
Sun Hao vibrated deeply: "I demand only this: WHO was Xiaohe? And HOW can I remember her?"
Border Collie sighed with resignation: "You truly demand the why? Telling you… may scar you, Boss."
Sun Hao released Border Collie. Shield and Iron Hammer held ready, he stated calmly, "Speak. I too feel… something is amiss within me."
Perched on Sun Hao’s shoulder, Border Collie pointed downward, barking frantically: "More than amiss, Boss! Look! Do you see? You stand APART from them!"
Sun Hao looked below. After long silence: "They… they have one more head. Yet, is this not my form? Am I not the Headless Saint King?"
Border Collie glanced furtively left and right, lowering his voice: "Boss… originally, you HAD a head. Then… chop! Someone severed it. Your forgetfulness? Simple. You lack a brain. YOU ARE brAINLESS. Understand? brAINLESS!"
Sun Hao stood transfixed upon the Sacred Mountain, mumbling emptily: "No brain… brainless… head chopped… the head… gone… But… where… WHERE is my head?"
Border Collie muttered: "Only heaven spies that mystery! Trampled to mush? Rolling somewhere underfoot? Serving as a toilet scoop?"
He stopped short. Sun Hao’s instincts surged: Border Collie lied. He glared. "IMPOSSIBLE!"
Border Collie shrugged: "Fine! Or… hidden in some godforsaken wilderness BEYOND even this nose! Distance… or ingenious concealment. Satisfied?"
Yet inwardly, Border Collie suspected — if even he scented no trace, that head was surely pulp.
But Sun Hao felt violently otherwise. At this moment, he knew with piercing certainty: his HEAD SURVIVED. Far, far away. Recovered it? He would reclaim sanity.
Standing atop the Sacred Mountain, instinctively Sun Hao raised his shield, raised his Iron Hammer, mouth upon his belly gaping in a world-shattering ROAR.
HEAD! I DEMAND MY HEAD!
I WILL NOT FORGET XIAOHE! GIVE ME BACK MY HEAD!
Consuming WILL erupted from Sun Hao’s core. Howls split the heavens.
Jianghe Tribe Warriors knelt devoutly, chanting prayers endlessly. Their Saint King mourned his First Matriarch. At intervals, anguish consumed him. Like a wounded beast: endless roaring.
This time… the roars lasted longer. They shook the world harder.
Upon distant Langeling Island, Sun Hao seemed trapped within a profound dream. Gentle strains of Xiao Qing’s lullaby graced his consciousness. White Duke’s Dream-Entering Art stirred within the Lower Void. Seven Killings Heart-Questioning Art cultivated steadily within his cranium.
Juice from the Origin Cask, nectar from the Immortal Pear Tree ceaselessly vitalized Sun Hao’s head. It remained startlingly lifelike; skin, increasingly crystalline.
An unmeasured eternity flowed.
This day, within the Immortal Pear blossoms, the HEAD heard a call traversing vast emptiness.
EYES snapped open. Twin beams blazed forth like divine flares.
Softly, the lips parted: "Xiao Qing… my gratitude for your care. Yet… I must journey. Xiao Qing… trust this: One day, vengeance served upon that Blood Sea foe… Brother Xiaoshan shall open the Sumero-Void Condensing Pagoda… thenceforth carrying you always at his side…"