Abyssal Chronicles

Chapter 715 - 716: The Shattered Beauty

-"Live in peace, girl, no one here will hurt you"-

-"Everyone in Swieport Town is good-hearted. If you have any problems, just ask them. Everyone will do their best to help you"-

-"Hahaha, don’t feel burdened. Your willingness to accompany us old folks is already more than enough repayment"-

-"If you could call me grandpa, that would be even better, haha. Anyway, looking at you always reminds me of my granddaughter who went to the battlefield"-

…

…

Mayor Mashilov’s kind words constantly echoed in Mengxi’s ears.

After arriving in this world, the girl’s heart was filled with confusion, anxiety, and a strong sense of helplessness.

She was unclear about her identity and what she should do next. Where should she go?

Therefore, Mengxi’s mind was always in a state of restlessness. Under Mayor Mashilov’s continuous reassurance, her restless heart gradually calmed down.

Although she couldn’t understand the old man’s words, she could feel the emotions in them. It was a sincere, pure, and friendly emotion.

Looking at Mayor Mashilov’s kind smile, Mengxi hesitated for a moment and then slowly raised her hand to hold Mashilov’s hand.

At this moment, Mengxi became a part of the town’s family.

Afterward, with the help of the townspeople, a room belonging to Mengxi was set up in the home of an elderly widow named Daisy. Mengxi then lived as an "adopted daughter" with Daisy and two other children, only seven or eight years old.

On regular days, the girl followed Daisy to learn the common language of the continent, as well as survival skills like weaving and spinning. When free, she went hunting in the forest with Mayor Mashilov, learning hunting and training skills.

It has to be said that the silver-haired girl learned very quickly. In less than a month, she had gained the ability to communicate smoothly with the townspeople.

As the girl began to speak, the townspeople grew even fonder of this sweet-voiced, polite, and elegant girl, occasionally bringing her water and dried meat as gifts.

Mrs. Daisy’s patient education and the townspeople’s enthusiasm also warmed the girl’s heart.

-----

Soon, the girl stopped dwelling on her past and began to live peacefully in the town.

-"This kind of life isn’t so bad"- the girl reflected sincerely from her heart.

In the following days,

The girl lived happily and harmoniously with the townspeople.

In Swieport Town, Mengxi’s face was almost always filled with a happy and contented smile.

Unfortunately,

Such days did not last long. After enjoying half a year of peaceful life, something unexpected happened…

--

That day was the New Year of the Snow Night Empire, a grand festival for ancestor worship.

On this night, the people of the town would hold a grand bonfire party. After completing the ritual ceremony, there would be dances and various celebratory activities, singing and dancing, drinking and revelry, thoroughly enjoying the evening.

Mengxi, already considered a family member of the town, was naturally invited by the townspeople to participate in the event.

Before sunset, while Mengxi was collecting herbs on the mountain, she heard a slightly hoarse but gentle and kind voice from behind her.

"Little girl, stop working."

Hearing this, the girl showed a genuinely sweet smile and excitedly turned to the white-haired old man behind her:

"Grandpa Mashilov!"

Putting away her small sickle, Mengxi lightly jumped and quickly came to Mayor Mashilov.

With deep respect in her light purple eyes for the man who had taken her in and taught her how to cultivate, the girl affectionately wrapped her arms around Mashilov’s wrist:

"Grandpa, why are you here today?"

The little girl asked curiously.

Facing Mengxi’s affectionate gesture, Mayor Mashilov’s eyes unwittingly revealed a sense of happiness. At that moment, he seemed to see his granddaughter who was no longer in this world. After a brief moment of emotion, Mayor Mashilov fondly patted the silver-haired girl’s head:

"Today is the day of ancestor worship, there’s no need to work so much. Go home early, have a good wash, and change into clean clothes. Your Aunt Daisy is already waiting at home to dress you up. Just enjoy the festival and forget about work for now."

"Okay~!"

Mengxi nodded excitedly, then happily followed behind Mayor Mashilov with her day’s harvest, chatting and heading towards home.

Along the way,

Mengxi’s beautiful face was adorned with a captivating, sweet smile. In fact, she had long heard about the town’s annual ancestor worship day and was eagerly looking forward to this special day with delicious food and new clothes. Thinking about the enjoyable night ahead, the girl couldn’t help but hum a tune in excitement.

Seeing the girl’s excitement, Mayor Mashilov, unusually, joined in humming the song with the young girl.

For a while, a warm atmosphere enveloped the hillside.

After a long while,

The enthusiastic ’grandfather and granddaughter’ finally arrived at the entrance of the town, where Aunt Daisy, who had been waiting for a long time, stood with her hands on her hips, feigning displeasure, and sternly shouted at Mengxi from a distance.

"You naughty girl, weren’t you supposed to come home early today?! Why are you so late?! And look how dirty you are! If the old man hadn’t reminded you, would you really have forgotten about tonight’s event?!"

Faced with Daisy’s roar, the silver-haired girl did not feel uneasy but instead felt a warm feeling inside.

Playfully sticking out her tongue,

the girl responded with a mischievous grin. Despite Daisy’s seemingly stern tone, Mengxi knew well that it was just her way of expressing care and concern. This understanding made her feel even more at home and loved in the town.

"Sorry, Aunt Daisy, I got a bit carried away with the herbs. But I promise I’ll be ready in no time for the festivities!" Mengxi replied cheerfully, her eyes sparkling with anticipation for the evening’s celebrations.

Daisy, trying to maintain her stern facade, couldn’t help but soften at Mengxi’s earnest expression. She let out a sigh, her features relaxing into a more affectionate expression.

"Alright, alright, just make sure you clean up well. We can’t have our little star of the town looking anything less than her best tonight," Daisy said with a hint of playfulness in her voice.

Mengxi’s presence had brought a new sense of joy and life to the town. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and even the usually reserved Daisy found herself looking forward to the evening’s celebration with a sense of excitement she hadn’t felt in years.

The night promised to be a memorable one, with the townspeople coming together to celebrate their traditions and the sense of community they all cherished. For Mengxi, it was another beautiful chapter in her new life in Swieport Town, a life she had grown to love deeply.

As they walked towards the town, ready to embrace the festivities, the setting sun cast a warm glow over the scene, symbolizing the hope and happiness that had come to define Mengxi’s life in this small, close-knit community.

Mengxi tilted her head playfully and said with a mischievous grin:

"Hehe, Aunty, see, I’ve arrived on time, haven’t I?"

After a brief smile,

Mengxi hopped and skipped towards Daisy, ready to take her hand and act coquettishly as usual. However, at that moment, Mayor Mashilov, who had always been smiling kindly, suddenly changed his expression, shouting in alarm;

"Don’t go!!! Come back!!!"

With these words, Mayor Mashilov quickly grabbed Mengxi’s hand and dragged her away!

"Huh? Grandpa? Grandpa?..."

The girl, being pulled back repeatedly, looked at the old man beside her in utter confusion.

She had never seen Grandpa Mashilov so panic-stricken before. Even when the bandits who were chasing her had come to the town, Mayor Mashilov had never shown such a look of unease. In an instant, Mengxi had a foreboding feeling.

However,

Before Mengxi could understand what was happening, a dark green thunderbolt tore through the clouds and struck down from the sky! It landed on the ancestral worship square of Swieport Town, near where Aunt Daisy stood,

Boommm!!!

With a thunderous roar, lightning surged, and flames shot into the sky! Everything around was engulfed in the lightning and fire in an instant. The venue carefully arranged by the townspeople was obliterated in seconds. Numerous people were torn apart by the lightning...

Among them was the woman standing at the village entrance. Daisy didn’t even have time to scream before she was obliterated in the aftermath of the thunderbolt...

Seeing this, the smile on the girl’s face froze,

"Aunt Daisy!!!!!!!!!"

A heart-wrenching cry burst from the girl’s mouth. Tears uncontrollably fell from her eyes like broken pearls.

Simultaneously,

The powerful shockwave from the explosion hit her squarely, dazing her. Mengxi’s brain buzzed, her vision blurred. If it hadn’t been for Mayor Mashilov supporting her, she might have collapsed on the ground.

However, even though she barely maintained consciousness, Mengxi had already lost the ability to move and had to be carried by Mayor Mashilov as they rushed towards the forest.

Watching the once harmonious and friendly town being devoured by fire and thunder, disbelief filled Mengxi’s eyes. She refused to believe what was happening before her, but the heart-wrenching screams and the smell of burning in the air constantly reminded her...

The Swieport Town she loved no longer existed.

"What happened?"

In extreme shock, the girl’s expression became vacant and dull.

And at that moment,

Another suffocatingly terrifying aura, like a torrential downpour, descended from the sky, instantly changing the expressions of Mayor Mashilov and Mengxi. The next instant, accompanied by a loud noise, a pitch-black figure descended rapidly from the sky and landed unexpectedly in front of the ’grandfather and granddaughter’.

"Good evening, lovely one. May I invite you to come with me? Our great Madam Lisa would like to invite you for tea in the Sky City."