Previous Chapter ◊ Table of Content ◊ Next Chapter

Chapter 142: Spring Comes Upon A Withered Tree (IX)

---

    “怎么了？”塔默见亚奥神色有异，忍不住问道。

“What’s wrong?” Tomo saw Yao’s strange expression and asked.

    “没，没什么。”亚奥不着痕迹地将颤抖的手指藏到身后。刚才的接触让他感到无比惊惧，这个人类体内拥有一股可怕的力量，如同壁垒一般难以穿透，他只是稍作试探便差点被反噬。

“No-nothing.” Yao seamlessly hid his trembling fingers behind him. His contact with him just now greatly alarmed him. There was a frightening power within this human’s body like a barrier that was hard to see through. He had only probed it a bit and was almost devoured in return.

    伊维目光幽暗地看向亚奥，对他刚才的举动心生疑虑。

Ivan’s eyes dimmed as he looked toward Yao. He has some misgivings about Yao’s action just now.

    亚奥被他看得有些心寒，留下几句不痛不痒的话便离开了帐篷。塔默见状，告罪一声，也跟着走了出去。

Yao felt a bit apprehensive being stared by him and left after stammering out some superficial words. Tomo also announced his leave following him out.

    “怎么回事？”伊维蹙起眉头，一脸狐疑。

“What happened?” Ivan frowned, suspicion filling him.

    尚可没有回答，在生命之泉的气息泄漏之后，他就料想会有人来试探，只是没想到会这么快。

Shang Ke did not answer. After the aura of the Spring of Life was leaked, he had expected people to come check it out. He just had not expected it to be so fast.

    鬼玉的所在恐怕隐藏不住了。

Seems like the location of the phantom jade can’t be hidden for much longer.

    接下来几天，伊维的帐篷附近，时不时有混血精灵游走。塔默也来得很勤，主要是为了询问氧灵刻印的事情。这种可以瞬间封印器鬼族的物品，早已在小范围内引起了轰动。

The following days, there would be half-elves wandering nearby Ivan’s tent. Tomo was also very diligent, but it was mainly to ask about the oxygen spirit seal. Something like that that can immediately seal a specter had long caused a small scale sensation.

    伊维也不藏私，直接将最后一块氧灵刻印和炼制方法都交给了他。他如获至宝，接连几天没再出现，不用想也知道是找炼金师试验去了。可惜他低估了氧灵刻印的炼制难度，消耗了大量珍稀材料，也没有成功一次。

Ivan also did not hide it, he directly gave the last seal along with the way to make them. Tomo took as if it was a precious treasure and did not appear again for days. Even a brainless person can tell he went to find alchemists to try to make it. But unfortunately he had underestimated the difficulty in creating the seal and used up a lot of rare material without being able to make a single one.

    不过这并非尚可关注的问题，五六天过去，伊维的解药一直没有配置出来。

But that was not something Shang Ke was worried about. Rather, as five days, then six days passed, Ivan’s antidote was never sent over.

    尚可来到药房，找到当初给伊维检查的医生，说明来意。

Shang Ke arrived at the pharmacy and found the doctor that had checked Ivan at the time and explained his purpose for coming.

    “呃，抱歉，还没配好。”

“Uh, I’m sorry, it still hasn’t been completed.”

    尚可皱眉：“这么久了，为什么还没配好？”

Shang Ke frowned, “It’s been so long, why hasn’t it been made yet?”

    “缺少了几种药草。”医生的眼神有些闪躲。

“We are missing a couple herbs.” The doctor’s eyes were a bit shifty.

    “缺少哪几种药草，我去找。”尚可眼中寒芒一闪，心中隐隐猜到了什么。

“What are you missing? I’ll go find them.” Shang Ke’s eyes turned cold, he had already faintly guessed what was going on.

    医生转过脸，讷讷地报了几个药草名。

The doctor turned away and mumbled out a couple names.

    尚可盯着他看了许久，然后一语不发地离开了药房。

Shang Ke stared at him for a long time then left without a word.

    还没靠近帐篷，尚可便感觉一股强大的元素气息扑面而来。他脸上一变，身形如风，快速向那边冲去。

He was still a distance away from the tent when Shang Ke felt a great deal of elements hitting him. His face immediately changed as he ran quickly to where the originated from.

    伊维的帐篷外，五名混血精灵正在释放魔法，一道道绿色光芒在空气中形成如同水镜般的结界。

Outside of Ivan’s tent, five half-elves were releasing magic. Rays of green light were forming a mirror like boundary.

    随着元素力量的提升，帐篷内传来一阵痛苦的低吟。尚可双目含怒，正准备冲进帐篷，却被一只大手拉住。

With the strengthening of the elements, a cry of pain came from within the tent. Anger welled up in Shang Ke and he attempted to rush into the tent but was stopped by a large hand.

    “你不能过去。”塔默的声音传入他的耳中。

“You can’t go over there.” Tomo’s voice sounded by his ear.

    “放开。”尚可冷声喝道。

“Let me go.” Shang Ke coldly spoke.

    “鬼玉就在伊维身上。”塔默劝说道，“你身为精灵一族，应该比我们更希望解开封印。”

The phantom jade is within his body.” Tomo tried to persuade him, “As an elf yourself, you should desire the unsealing of the spring more than us.”

    “你们有没有问过伊维的意思？”

“Have you ever asked about what Ivan wanted?”

    “我相信他愿意为大陆做出牺牲。”塔默回得大义凌然。

“I believe that he is willing to sacrifice his life for the greater good of the country.” Tomo righteously replied.

    “所以，你们问都不问便直接动手了？”尚可很清楚鬼玉被发现后，伊维将面临艰难的抉择，但他万万没想到这些人竟然连抉择的机会都不给他。

“So you guys didn’t even ask and just decided to do it?” Shang Ke knew what was going to happen after the discovery of the phantom jade. Ivan would be facing a difficult choice, but he didn’t expect that these people didn’t even give him the opportunity to choose.

    塔默沉默片刻，解释道：“我们根据伊维的身份，追查到一百多年前，发现器鬼族当年控制的傀儡中，有一位人类强者与伊维的家族有些渊源，他也是当年摧毁精灵族的罪魁祸首之一。之后不久，这名强者死在了器鬼族手上，而那一年正是伊维出生的时候。我们猜测鬼玉原本是封印在此人体内，后来不知什么原因，被他秘密转移到伊维身上，器鬼族从此失去了鬼玉的下落。这些年，不仅是我们，连器鬼族也在寻找鬼玉。为免他们从中阻挠，我们必须尽快解开封印。”

Tomo fell silent, then explained, “We tracked down Ivan’s identity and traced him back to a hundred years ago and discovered that within the puppets the specters controlled, there was a warrior that had a connection with Ivan’s family. He was part of the main culprits that destroyed the elves all those years ago. Not long after that, that warrior died by the spectre’s hands which is also the year Ivan was born. We estimate that the phantom jade was originally sealed within that human’s body, but due to unknown reasons, it was secretly transferred onto Ivan’s body which caused the specteres to lose its whereabouts. All these years, not only us, but even the specters were looking for its location. To prevent them from thwarting us, we have to undo the seal as fast as possible.”

    尚可目视前方，语气淡漠道：“你们这么做是无法解开封印的。”

Shang Ke continued to stare ahead and indifferently spoke, “You guys can’t undo the seal by doing this.”

    “什么？”不待塔默追问，只听不远处出来几声惊呼，原本凝结的元素结界突然破碎，紊乱的气流，将五名混血精灵冲倒在地。

“What?” Tomo’s question didn’t need to be answered by him as cries of alarm immediately followed. The condensed element boundary suddenly shattered, causing an outflow of air and sending all five half-elves to the ground.

    尚可甩开塔默的手，快步走进乱流之中。原本暴动的元素，在他靠近后，如同孩子一般，相继安静下来，待他的身影消失在帐篷里，四周已经恢复如常，只有地上残破的痕迹和呻吟不止的精灵见证刚才所发生的一切。

Shang Ke shook off Tomo’s hand and quickly entered the chaotic flow. The originally violent elements immediately quieted down in succession as he went closer like children follow their parents. By the time his figure disappeared into the tent, everything had already returned to normal. Only the ground still contained the traces of the broken boundary as well as the groaning half-elves that witnessed everything.

    周围众人见到这一幕，无不露出惊诧之色，完全没想到这个看起来温和无害的精灵，竟然拥有如此强大的实力。

The surrounding people all showed shocked expressions. They didn’t expect that this seemingly harmless elf was actually so strong.

    “怎么回事？”塔默走到亚奥身边，不解地问道。

“What happened?” Tomo walked to Yao and asked in confusion.

    亚奥脸色惨白：“鬼玉的封印太强大了，恐怕集合所有精灵的力量也很难解开。”

Yao’s face was deathly pale. “The seal on the phantom jade is too strong. I’m afraid even if we gathered all the elves it would still be very difficult to break.”

    塔默脸色微变：“那该怎么办？鬼玉的消息一旦传到器鬼族耳中，联盟必然会遭到他们不计代价的猛攻。”

Tomo’s face paled as well. “Then what should we do? Once information that the phantom jade has been found is transmitted to the specters, then the alliance will suffer an all out attack from them.”

    亚奥沉默片刻，说道：“目前只有一个办法。”

Yao fell silent, then spoke up. “There is only one way at the moment.”

    “什么？”

“What?”

    “杀死伊维。”

“Killing Ivan.”

    帐篷中，伊维无力地靠在床头，脸上布满血丝，左眼中渗出鲜红的血液，身上的衣服全部被汗水浸湿。

Within the tent, Ivan leaned against the bed weakly. Blood flowed over his face as it seeped out of his left eye. His clothes were soaked in sweat.

    听到脚步声，伊维猛地转过头，眼神如野兽一般骇人。见到尚可，才缓缓收敛眼中的防备。

Hearing the footsteps, Ivan immediately turned around, his eyes terrifying like beasts. But once he saw who it was, he gradually relaxed.

    尚可大步走到床边，伸手扶住他的身体。

Shang Ke strided quickly to him and supported him.

    伊维倚在他的肩头，低声问：“鬼玉在我身上？”

Ivan leaned against his shoulders and asked quietly, “The phantom jade is in my body?”

    “嗯。”尚可抬起手，轻轻盖住他的左眼，“就在这里。”

“Mhm.” Shang Ke raised his hand and gently placed it over his left eye, “Right here.”

    “你什么时候发现的？”

“When did you notice?”

    “我们第一次做爱的时候。”

“The first time we made love.”

    伊维听到这个回答，原本紧绷的脸出现几丝裂缝，既想表现得凶狠一点，又忍不住回想那个旖旎的夜晚。

Ivan’s face immediately broke down at the reply. He wanted to show a fierce side, but he couldn’t help but think back to that gentle night.

    他紧紧抱住尚可的腰，将头埋在他的颈窝，闷声不语。如果是以前，他会毫不犹豫地做出选择。但他现在有了尚可，有了羁绊，死亡便成为了他最不愿意面对的事情。

He tightly held Shang Ke’s waist, burying his head into his neck. If it were him from before, he would have made a choice without hesitation. But now that he has Shang Ke, learned of companionship, death because something he was unwilling to face.

    他不怪联盟的人做事决绝，他只是不想离开这个精灵。

He did not blame the alliance for being so decisive, he just didn’t want to leave this elf.

    尚可察觉到他低落的心情，轻声安慰道：“没关系，我会找到一个两全其美的方法的。”

Shang Ke sensed his downcast mood and quietly comforted him, “It doesn’t matter, I will find a way that will make us all happy.”

    鬼玉能够封印生命之泉，可见它拥有何等强大的力量。而伊维作为它的载体，其体质和潜力，必然也是得天独厚。外面那些混血精灵想要解除封印，除非将伊维杀死，否则只要伊维还活着，他本身的力量就能源源不断为封印提供养分。

For the phantom jade to be able to seal the Spring of Life, it showed just how strong it was. And with Ivan as it’s medium, his own constitution was very strong making him an exceptional man among men. If those half-elves outside want to remove the seal they can only kill Ivan. otherwise, as long as Ivan is alive, then his own power will continue to fuel the seal.

    伊维供养了鬼玉三十几年，换做一般人，估计早就因为力量枯竭而死了。如果没有鬼玉，伊维绝对有能力成为大陆第一强者，而不是像如今这般，只是一名随时可以被牺牲的炼金师。

Ivan supplied it for over thirty years. If it were some other average person, their power would have long been used up and ended up dead. If he didn’t have the phantom jade within him, Ivan would become the strongest man on the continent, no questions ask instead of the current him, an alchemist that could be killed at any moment.

    “恐怕没时间了。”伊维沉声道，“联盟中肯定有器鬼族的奸细，用不了两三天，他们就会收到消息。”

“There might not be time left.” Ivan’s muffle voice came from his neck, “There are definitely spies in the alliance that belong to the specters. In two or three days, they will immediately know about it.”

    尚可沉默了一会，突然问道：“伊维，你相信我吗？”

Shang Ke remained silent, then suddenly asked, him. “Ivan, do you trust me?”

    “当然。”即使这个精灵要他去死，他也不会有丝毫犹豫。

“Of course.” He will not hesitate even if this elf wanted him to die.

    “那好。”尚可笑道，“我们一起逃吧？”

“Okay then.” Shang Ke smiled bright, “Let’s run away together?”

    不知是因为愧疚，还是因为顾虑，塔默等人并没有来找伊维，只是派人在帐篷附近监视着。

He didn’t know if it was because they felt guilt or have misgivings, but Tomo and the others did not try to talk to Ivan. Instead, they kept people around the tent to monitor him.

    当晚，尚可在幻境魔法的掩护下，带着伊维悄无声息地离开了营地。

That night, Shang Ke and Ivan quietly left the camp with the help of illusion magic.

    走到半路，不巧碰上了巡夜的卡西娅几人。

Halfway there, they unexpectedly ran into the patrolling Cassia and the others.

    卡西娅指着伊维，不敢置信地质问：“尚可，鬼玉就在他身上，你怎能枉顾精灵族的未来，带着他一走了之？”

Cassia pointed her finger at Ivan and said with disbelief, “Shang Ke, the phantom jade is within him. How can you neglect the future of the elves and run away with him?”

    尚可平静道：“这是我的事。”

Shang Ke calmly replied, “It’s my business.”

    “这不只是你的事，这是关乎所有种族的大事！”卡西娅又冲伊维愤恨地喊道，“伊维，我还以为你是个有担当的男人，没想到竟然如此贪生怕死。”

“It’s not just your business, it’s something that has to do with the entire race!” Cassia resentfully yelled at Ivan, “Ivan, I had thought you were an upstanding man, I never expected you to be such a coward!”

    伊维面无表情，眼中毫无波澜。

Ivan stared back at her expressionlessly without any emotion within his eyes.

    尚可拉住他的手，微笑道：“我们走吧。”

Shang Ke pulled on his hand and gently smiled, “Let’s go.”

    伊维点头。

Ivan nodded.

    卡西娅看到他们交握的双手，颤抖地问：“尚可，你，你们……？”

Cassia looked at their intertwined hands, trembling as she asked, “Shang Ke, you-you guys are…?

    “就是你想的那样。”尚可不想继续与他们纠缠，身上魔法闪动，瞬间消失在他们面前。

“It is as you think.” Shang Ke did not want to continue this pointless conversation. The magic on his body flickers and they immediately disappeared from their sight.

    消失前，还听到卡西娅大喊：“尚可，你是精灵，为什么要和这样一个丑陋的男人在一起？！”

Before they disappeared, they heard Cassia shout, “Shang Ke, you’re an elf. Why do you want to be together with such an ugly man?!”

    “怎么了？”尚可牵着伊维的手，在森林中漫步，幽暗的树影随风摇曳，远处点点荧光闪烁，为黑夜增添了几分活泼的色彩。

“What’s wrong?” Shang Ke held Ivan’s hand as they walked through the forest. The dark figures of the trees swayed gently in the wind. Flashes of light blinked in the distance, giving the night a more lively air.

    伊维低沉的声音在寂静的林中响起：“可可，你为什么会和我在一起？是不是因为，我是你的……第一个男人？”

Ivan’s depressed voice echoed in the quiet night, “Keke, why are you together with me? Is it because… I was your first man?”

    尚可无语：“你怎么会这么想？”

Shang Ke was speechless, “Why would you think that?”

    “除非之外，”伊维闷闷道，“我实在想不出其他原因。”

“Aside from that,” Ivan murmured out, “I couldn’t think of any other reason.”

    “其实答案很简单。”

“There is actually a really simple answer.”

    伊维连忙竖起耳朵。

Ivan immediately waited expectantly.

    “因为你天赋异禀，和你做爱非常愉快。”

“Because you are very talented, making love with you is very pleasurable.”

    伊维：“……”虽然觉得这个回答有哪里不对，但心里莫名有点小得意……

Ivan: “……” Although he felt that there was something wrong about this answer, he felt a bit proud of himself… 

    两人不知不觉中，来到了精灵族的腹地，也是自然神木和生命之泉的所在地。

The two of them unconsciously arrived at the hinterland of the elves, which is also where Teldrassil and the Spring of Life used to be.

    “伊维，我们来做爱吧？”尚可转身面对伊维，一双清澈的绿眸，如夜色中的湖泊，波光粼粼。

“Ivan, let’s make love?” Shang Ke turned around to Ivan. his green eyes were like a lake in the night, clear and bright.

    伊维愣神间，尚可的手臂已经环上他的脖子，仰头送上自己的唇。

While Ivan was shocked at the sudden proposal, Shang Ke had already had his arms around his neck and raised his lips up to meet his.

    伊维又怎么能拒绝如此诱人的邀请，紧紧抱住怀里的精灵，给予他热情的回应……

How could Ivan reject such an attractive invitation? He pulled him close and also responded passionately… 

    此时，营地因为两人的离开而乱作一团，几队人马根据卡西娅提供的线索，迅速展开追击。

At the moment, the camp was in chaos due to their departure. A couple squads of people on horses also started to pursue them with the trail Cassia offered.

    “居然逃走了，可真够没种的！”

“He actually ran away, what a damn coward!”

    “实在太自私了，完全不知顾全大局。”

“He is really too selfish, he doesn’t think about the big picture at all.”

    “也不用抓活的，找到就直接杀死吧。”

“You don’t even need to take him alive, just kill him once you find him.”

    “同意！”

“Agreed!”

    一群实力强悍的战士法师，带着满腔愤慨和热血，杀气腾腾地朝森林深处进发。

A group of strong soldiers and mages ferociously set out into the forest with resentment and anger in their hearts.

    森林光线昏暗，草木繁密，除了拥有夜视能力的混血精灵之外，其他人都只能在魔法光球的照明下缓慢行进。

The light was dusky in the forest and the plants were dense. Besides the half-elves who had night vision, all the other people could only advance with the help of magic light.

    正在众人四处搜索之际，忽见森林中心骤然出现了一个淡绿色的光圈，瞬间将黑夜照亮。与此同时，所有混血精灵都感觉一阵心悸，仿佛被召唤一般，体内的元素兴奋地涌动起来。

As everyone was searching all over the place, a faint green glow suddenly came from the center of the forest and illuminated the night. At the same time, all the half-elves all felt a burst of excitement, as if they were being summoned, the elements within their bodies all began to bubble forward excitedly.

    “发生什么事了？”一名人类战士惊问。

“What is going on?” A human soldier asked.

    “就在那边。”亚奥率先朝光圈所在的位置冲去。

“It’s over there.” Yao immediately rushed toward the source of the light.

    其他人也快速向那边聚集。

The others also assembled over there quickly.

    拨开凌乱的树杈，出现在眼前的一幕，让亚奥不禁屏住了呼吸。

Once they brushed away the plants, the scene that appeared before their eyes was something that couldn’t help but take Yao’s breath away.

    “太好了，他们就在……”身后追踪者的声音也戛然而止。

“This is great, they’re right behind…” The voices following behind him also immediately cut short.

    原本噪杂的人声，逐渐消音，四周陷入一片寂静。

The chaotic sounds brought by them all gradually faded into silence.

    光圈中，两个身影叠坐在地上，黑发精灵在上，人类男子在下，两人衣衫松散，垂落的衣摆，盖在腰部以下的位置。

Within the light were two men sitting on the ground. The black haired elf was on top with the human on the bottom, their clothing were loose and hanging low, covering the waist.

    伊维两手撑在身侧，深情地凝视着眼前的精灵。

Ivan’s hands held the elf by the sides, his eyes full of love as he stared at him.

    尚可坐在他的腰上，长长的黑发遮住了大半肌肤，精致的侧脸上，带着几分柔情。他一手轻拽着伊维的衣襟，一手高高举起，掌心对着伊维的左眼，闪烁着淡绿色的光芒，活跃的元素，在两人之间流转。

Shang Ke sat on his waist, his long black hair covered half of his skin, showing his delicate side profile that held his gentle love for the other. While he pulled on Ivan’s jacket with one hand, his other hand was raised up, his palk right over Ivan’s left eye, flickering pale green lights. The lively elements moved between the two.

    看到这一幕，所有人都明白了，尚可正在试图解除鬼玉的封印。他们并没有逃跑，只是用这种方式在回应其他人的猜疑和自以为是。

Everyone finally understood what was going on seeing this scene. Shang Ke was trying to remove the seal. They were not running away, they were just using this way to respond to other people’s suspicions. 

    伊维的面部，因为剧痛而扭曲，左脸的斑痕在元素的刺激下，再次分裂蔓延，如一条条血线虫，在皮下穿梭缠绕，很快便爬满整张脸。左眼渗出大量鲜血，将半张脸染得通红，金色瞳孔逐渐化为一片血色，闪烁着妖异的光芒。尽管痛得难以忍受，但伊维坚定的目光，始终注视着身前的尚可，眼中充满义无反顾的信任和情意。

Ivan’s face twisted because of the face. The scar on his left eye once again extended from the stimulation of the elements, spreading out and twisting like worms. It quickly spread all over his face. Large amounts of blood started to seep from his left eye while half of his face was thoroughly red. His golden eye gradually turned into a bloody red, flickering with a bewitching light. Despite the unbearable pain, Ivan’s gaze remained firm, staring at Shang Ke in front of him from beginning to end. His eyes were full of determined trust and affection.

    在剧痛之下，欲望却因为力量的躁动，而变得更加汹涌，下身坚硬如柱，直直竖立在尚可体内。

Under the acute pain, his desire stirred restlessly due to the power and surged even more violently. His lower body was hard as a pillar and remained erect within Shang Ke’s body.

    内壁因为灼热而紧缩，直没顶点的深度，让尚可呼吸一窒，白皙的脸上晕染出两抹红晕，眼中浮起一层雾色，半张半合的凤眼，细长妖娆，透出无限风情。

The walls within tightened due to the heat and hit the deepest parts within him. Shang Ke’s breath hitched as a blush appeared on his face. A layer of fog overtook his half lidded eyes. Beautiful and enchanting, he was seduced all who looked at him.

---

Previous Chapter ◊ Table of Content ◊ Next Chapter