Unfortunately, these are the last three chapters of the novel. I can't believe I've read all ninety-seven chapters, and now only three remain until the story is complete. I feel upset and sad because the novel was amazing at the beginning, but now it has become incredibly tragic. Ah, so many important and impactful characters have met their end.
Here's chapter ninety-eight, and the battle is still ongoing. Hai Lin, his family, and the trainees are fighting with all their might to defeat Mushin and the Muhuan beasts. I finished the chapter—on to the next, chapter ninety-nine.
Now, here it is—the final chapter! Let's finish this heartbreaking story, and then I'll cry silently in my bed so I don't wake my family.
Wait a second… what is this?! They're falling one after another! No, this can't be happening! They're losing!
Hai Lin is still fighting, but his grandfather has been killed! Wait! His mother, father, and little sister have also been killed! Razan, hold yourself together, don't cry! A group of beasts has left the battlefield and headed toward the village… They must have started slaughtering all the villagers since, in the end, they are weak, and killing them would be easy.
Hai Lin rushes to his family… He falls to his knees, begging them to open their eyes and wake up… but they don't respond. They're dead.
Hai Lin is crying. My dear Hai Lin is crying! Nooo!
The battle continues, and now even Hai Lin's closest friend has met his end.
Hai Lin stands alone amidst countless corpses, gripping his sword with trembling hands. A deep wound marks his cheek, another severe injury near his waist, and two arrows dangle from his left shoulder. Blood drips down his back, cheek, and waist.
This is too painful! How is he even standing after sustaining such grave injuries?!
His eyes are blazing with fury! He dashes toward Mushin, who is fleeing from him!
Hai Lin stops Mushin! He punches him! Mushin falls to the ground!
Hai Lin raises his sword… and plunges it straight into Mushin's heart!
It's over. Mushin is dead.
Now, Hai Lin looks around at the lifeless bodies surrounding him. Corpses stretch across the valley.
Hai Lin stands there, his eyes filled with tears. He has lost everyone he loved.
Exhausted, Hai Lin collapses. He wakes up hours later—morning has arrived.
Days pass, and Hai Lin remains in the valley, staring from a distance at the decaying bodies.
His eyes have darkened from overwhelming grief. A deep sorrow lingers in them.
That serene, radiant smile of his… is gone. He no longer smiles.
After that, Hai Lin decides to leave the village and venture into the unknown, simply to try and forget all of this… but I don't think he ever will.
And so, the final chapter of the novel has ended.
Hai Lin… my surviving candle… How much my heart aches for you.
The author of Blade Under the Moon has referred to Hai Lin as "the surviving candle" ever since the novel reached its midpoint.
I had a bad feeling about this title. My fellow readers and I feared it, as it hinted that Hai Lin would be the sole survivor of some catastrophe while everyone else perished.
Hai Lin is like a shining candle, bringing warmth with his bright smile and spreading joy with his presence, yet he carries a solemn grace that grants him a unique aura. He always strives to help others, like a candle that lights the way for those around it.
But behind this light lies another side—just as a candle can illuminate, it can also burn everything down if necessary.
That is Hai Lin… my surviving candle…
I've grown so attached to Hai Lin… Perhaps because we share certain similarities. I don't know how I'm supposed to sleep now, knowing that Hai Lin is drowning in sorrow.
Anyway, I'm really sleepy now. It's one in the morning. Why not sleep and protest to the author with the other readers tomorrow to demand a different ending?
Ah, I'm so sleepy. Good thing I'm on my school break.
Alright, time for bed…
---
And then… this happened.
Before I even woke up, I found myself on the side of a road in a village that looked like something straight out of ancient China!
I can clearly see the small houses with tiled roofs, the red lanterns, and the people surrounding me, all dressed in traditional clothing…
What am I supposed to do now?!
This has to be a dream! There's no way I've actually entered Blade Under the Moon!
Yeah, impossible!
Besides, my head hurts so much! Ah, a terrible headache, as if someone smacked me multiple times!
I raise my hands in front of me… What is this?! My skin is dark!
That means I haven't reincarnated into any character from the novel… Great!
That means I'm inside this dream as myself, with my real appearance!
But I need to be sure… I need a mirror!
A woman approaches me and asks, "Young lady, are you alright?"
Wait! What is this language?!
I'll try to respond… "Yes, I'm…"
(Hold on, what is this?! I'm speaking like them! Good, I'll continue.)
"…fine, but… (Ah, I'm so exhausted) do you have a mirror?"
What's this?! Did I say something wrong?! Why are they looking at me so strangely?!
Could it be that they're shocked because I look like a foreigner but can speak their language?
The woman nods and hands me a mirror.
I take the mirror and examine my face… What?! It's me!
I exclaim, "It's my real face! Good! That means this is just a dream… Amazing!"
Wait, why are they looking at me like that?
Ah, right! I spoke in Arabic—and loudly too. Not to mention, I got way too excited! Haha!
The woman turns to another and says, "It seems she hit her head too hard and lost her mind."
Well, at least I can understand and communicate with them…
But what now?
If this is a dream, I might as well enjoy it for a few minutes!
Alright, let's just have fun with this dream!
I raise my hand toward the woman in front of me, and she helps me stand up.
My legs are shaking… I feel like I might collapse… but it's fine. I'll try to stay steady.
So, let's ask this woman some questions…
I ask her, "Where exactly am I? I mean, the name of this village or town or whatever?"
She replies, "We are in Yuehua Village."
I grab the woman's shoulders and exclaim, "Whaaaat?! Yuehua?!"
I think to myself: Hai Lin's village! His family's village! I can't believe it! That means the famous Baihu Training Center must be nearby!
But… the village looks fine! It doesn't seem like they've been massacred or had their homes burned down!
Could it be… that this is before the war with the Muhuan beasts?!
That's impossible!
I need to ask her about the training center!
"Is the Baihu Training Center really located here in this village?"
She responds, "Yes, it's here in this village."
I can't believe it! It's here!
But… why does this woman look so scared?!
Wait, she and the other villagers are running away!
"Wait! I still have more questions! Where exactly is the training center?!"
Ah, they ran off so fast! Looks like I scared them with my reaction. Haha, embarrassing.
But… what now?!