Chapter 8: Father and Son

Jinghong Sword, once a supreme master of the Monster Clan, has now become a fallen, obscure old man. Where he lived in seclusion all these years and what he experienced, no one knows. Despite having retired for so many years, Jinghong Sword still radiated an astonishing aura. When he arrived on the scene, all the murderous intent in the surroundings vanished in an instant. "Everyone, it is truly a disgrace to our sect. That our Monster Clan was sealed away was a result of our own making; we cannot blame others. Now, this young man, Bupo, actually wishes to act in defiance of the natural order. Naturally, I cannot sit idly by!"

"Young man, if you hold any grievances, direct them at me. Why make things difficult for these people of the Poison Sect?" The eyes of Jinghong Sword, once somewhat cloudy, became incredibly bright at this moment, as if piercing through everything.

"Spare me the nonsense. Even if you have come, you cannot change my decision. Everything the Monster Clan suffered at the hands of the Poison Sect, I will make them pay for today. As a senior elder of the Monster Clan, shouldn't you be standing with me?"

Having said this, Bupo waved his long sword again, sending out fierce sword blossoms like a dragon soaring to the heavens, threatening to swallow everything! Seeing this, Jinghong Sword shook his head slightly and extended a finger, tapping forward gently. Instantly, a thick and overbearing sword energy poured out, destroying Bupo's earth-shattering strike in an instant.

The astonishing sword energy grew larger and larger in Bupo's eyes. Even if he wanted to resist now, it was impossible. At this moment, the man's heart was filled with horror. Why, after all these years, could this man still possess such formidable power? Time seemed to stand perfectly still at this moment; Bupo watched helplessly as he was swallowed by the sword energy.

"This is my final move. After today, there will be no more Jinghong Sword in this world. Everyone, we shall not meet again!" Jinghong Sword lived up to his name—he came quickly and left just as quickly. The once arrogant Bupo now had his meridians shattered, lying paralyzed on the ground. He still retained a sliver of consciousness; looking up at the endless firmament, a smile of relief appeared on his lips. Only now could he truly say he had no regrets.

The Monster Clan had ultimately become a thing of the past. Even as he lay paralyzed on the ground, Bupo remained proud. "Now, all of you must be very pleased, right? Seeing me reduced to such a state, there is no longer a trace of regret in my heart. As for the future of the Poison Sect, I no longer wish to know. After I die, the superficial peace of the Poison Sect will be completely shattered. Whether it is trust or love, in the face of the throne, they have no value."

Such was the fate of the Monster Clan, and so it remained for the Poison Sect; no one was an exception.

Regrettably, Bupo would not live to see such a scene. His consciousness was gradually fading; having rushed about for so long, it was finally time to have a good rest.

Du Zhong had not expected the final outcome to be this way. At this moment, he no longer had any fighting spirit left. Or rather, he truly did not know what he had been struggling for all these years. Bupo had said that all emotions were fragile in the face of the throne. Hmph, perhaps that was the case in the former Monster Clan, but in the Poison Sect, he did not want such things to happen, nor would he allow it.

"Su Wen, I intend to hand the Poison Sect over to you. Do not refuse; this Poison Sect was originally yours. Just now, Bupo said that before the throne, all emotions are fragile. I do not believe it. To tell the truth, I have done my best for the Poison Sect, and now, it is time to return it to you. I have held on for so many years, yet in the end, I have gained nothing. In this process, I seem to have gradually lost myself. I want to find the person I used to be. Whether we meet again in the future depends on fate."

The Du Zhong of the past was a very carefree person, and now, that version of him seemed to have returned. Du Zhong left, departing from the place he had guarded for so many years. Was it a pity? Not at all. Su Wen would surely do a better job than him.

Hearty laughter echoed through the sky; now, Du Zhong had finally let go of everything.

Su Wen reached out just in time to stop Man Sheng, who was turning to leave. "Leaving just like that? Don't you have anything to say to me?" At this moment, Su Wen hoped Man Sheng would stay. They had already missed so many years; was it really necessary to waste any more time?

How could Man Sheng bear to leave? She gently held Su Wen's hand in return. "Don't be afraid, I won't leave. This time, I will not let go of your hand again. Every day in the future might be filled with unknowns, but from today on, you don't have to harbor any fear, because I will accompany you to see all the splendors of this world."

A beautiful person spoke the most heartwarming words; at this moment, Su Wen had no more wishes.

A single move of the Jinghong Sword had restored everyone to their original state. The battle just now seemed like a dream; everyone had thought they would surely die, but in the end, they were all alive and well.

"Leaving already?"

Zhuang Yunzhen and Li Moqing stood facing each other. They had faced life and death together and knew each other well; therefore, their brief words contained deep affection.

"Yes, the work is done, and it is time to go. Whenever you need me, I will be waiting!"

Li Moqing drifted away, and Zhuang Yunzhen felt a sense of melancholy. He wanted to follow her, but he knew better. His foster father had become the Sect Master of the Poison Sect, which did not mean things were over; on the contrary, this was only the beginning.

Su Wen had always been gentle in nature, unlike the cold and ruthless Du Zhong. Every disciple before him was his friend. Su Wen knew well that over the years, Du Zhong must have made these disciples consume many poisons to better control the sect—if they were obedient, all was well; if they disobeyed, the only path was death.

For three days without sleep or rest, Su Wen worked to neutralize these potent poisons. Fortunately, his efforts were not in vain. At the cost of consuming thirty percent of his internal energy, the poisons in these disciples were neutralized. With this, Su Wen gained the recognition of everyone. At the same time, he announced that Zhuang Yunzhen would henceforth be the Young Master of the Poison Sect, with the authority to command all medicinal sects. In an instant, the name of Zhuang Yunzhen became known throughout the world, and his prestige was unmatched.

However, Zhuang Yunzhen was introverted and disliked the people who came to visit him daily, so he declined whenever he could. He understood the situation clearly and did not wish to have too much entanglement with those who came for his fame. In recent days, the thing that made him happiest was receiving a letter from his junior brother, Liang Xi. The letter contained only one short sentence: "Senior Brother, I am at the Sword Sect in the Southern Territory; all is well, do not worry."

Just that one sentence was something Zhuang Yunzhen read every day. The once smooth letter paper was already wrinkled from constant handling, yet he cherished it dearly. It felt as if his junior brother were right beside him.

Those who met Zhuang Yunzhen naturally lavished him with praise, while those he turned away despised him, thinking the boy was merely lucky and that they could have done better in his position. Therefore, what was there to be proud of? Zhuang Yunzhen knew this, but he only smiled faintly and did not take it to heart. He always did what he believed was right; as for how others viewed him afterward, that was beyond his control.

"Now that Su Wen has become the new Sect Master of the Poison Sect, why are you still unwilling to act? Do you remember what you promised me before? Have you truly forgotten your mission?"

"Or is it that after all these years, you still cannot let go of your feelings for this man? Many years ago, I told you that for every day Su Wen lives, you are one step closer to death. I have tried every possible way to guard against this, but now, the thing I feared most has happened: you have fallen in love with this man!"

"Do you remember the suffering you endured from the poisonous body? If you want to live now, you must absorb Su Wen's life force. Only when his life force merges with your poisonous body can you recover. Hmph, if you cannot bear to do it, then I will do it myself."

Atop the mountain peak, a graceful black shadow stood with her back to Man Sheng. The shadow's voice was beautiful, but her words were heartless. So, this was the true reason Man Sheng had stayed: to get close to Su Wen and kill him so that she might live.

Man Sheng's voice seemed to be swallowed by the biting cold wind. At this moment, it was not just her words that were cold, but her heart. "No, this must be done by me. You just watch; do not interfere."

"Fine, I will not interfere, but this is your last chance. When you cannot bear to act, think of the dark and miserable days you have endured, and who it was that kept you going. Do not give up."

The black shadow left. The empty mountain peak was truly too cold, and Man Sheng only sought a shred of warmth. Was even such a humble request impossible to fulfill?

A warm embrace and warm hands made the woman's heart melt once more. "Isn't it cold on this mountain peak? It's pitch black all around, what is there to look at? Look at you, your face is frozen red."

What made Man Sheng feel warm now was not just the embrace, but the tender concern. Man Sheng felt she was truly a wicked woman; on one hand, hindered by her task, she had to kill this man, while on the other, she was deeply addicted to the warmth he gave. Hmph, a person like her would surely come to no good end. Yet, even if that were the case, she hoped time would stop at this moment. She truly could not bear to let go of this warm embrace.

How could she explain the turmoil in her heart to the man before her? Su Wen, do you know that the woman you love is truly wretched? If you discover the real me in the future, a person completely different from the one you see now, will you resent me? Love can give one infinite power, but it is also the most hurtful thing in the world.

Su Wen naturally saw the contradiction in Man Sheng's eyes; she was surely struggling intensely. This woman held resentment toward him, and it was not a small amount. Su Wen knew all this, but what did it matter? They already had a deep bond that nothing could sever. Aside from himself, who else could cause her such pain?

Man Sheng had no appetite today. It was only natural; with so many thoughts weighing on her, it would be strange if she did. "You two take your time; I'm a bit tired and want to rest. Whatever needs to be discussed, we can talk about tomorrow."

"Foster Father, Senior Man Sheng seems to have changed. I don't know exactly what is different, but I have a feeling that something is going to happen soon. Foster Father, I know you and Senior Man Sheng have always had a good relationship, but you should still be careful."

Human hearts are unpredictable; being careful is never wrong. Zhuang Yunzhen hoped his intuition was wrong; he hoped everyone would be fine. However, in many matters, what one thinks and what one sees are often two extremes.

Su Wen had no defenses against those close to him. It had been like this in the past, and even after all these years, it remained the same. He was willing to trust Man Sheng, but how could he not know that Feng Ming was reminding and protecting him? "If my death can end her suffering, then I am willing to give my life to her."

***

In the quiet room, Man Sheng was alone, sobbing. Why did Heaven treat her this way? Just a few days ago, she had reunited with her beloved Su Wen, and now she had to face a choice. A choice—hmph, Man Sheng truly loathed the word, yet she knew that now, she had to make it. She could only choose between love and survival.

*Thump.*

Man Sheng could no longer bear it. She knelt on the floor, begging the black shadow opposite to spare her. She could no longer endure this torment; if it continued, she would go mad.

The black shadow from the mountain peak appeared again. Her face was still engulfed in shadow, her voice cold. "Mad? Heh, what? Do you think you are normal now? From the moment you woke up, you had no room to turn back. Su Wen must die, and he must pay the price for his actions. Otherwise, after all the suffering you endured for so many years, is a single 'I'm sorry' enough?"

"Love? Hahaha, love is the most fragile thing in this world. Don't you think? If it weren't for your own desire for revenge, I would never have appeared. You haven't forgotten that we are one, have you? You live, I live; you die, I die. I am making you choose, not for myself, but for us."

The black shadow knew that to choose was to forsake, but everything in life was like that; one must give to receive. One could not have everything. She was willing to give Man Sheng countless chances, but if Man Sheng did not choose to live, she would take action even if Man Sheng resented her.

The night passed and the morning sun rose; a new day began. Man Sheng had struggled through the night and only fell asleep in the early hours. Because she had been an early riser since childhood, she was not in good spirits.

The disciples of the Poison Sect all knew of the relationship between Man Sheng and Master Su Wen, and naturally, they respected her. But Man Sheng did not care about the attitudes of others. She crossed the training grounds and found Su Wen. Perhaps because pleasant events bring a good mood, Su Wen was wearing a cotton robe today, and his eyes were full of smiles when he saw Man Sheng walking toward him.

"Alright, since the two seniors have many private words to share, I will take my leave." Although Zhuang Yunzhen walked away, his mind did not relax. Everything he wanted to say had been said to his foster father. He hoped his father would listen and not be so foolish. Was Man Sheng's life important, and his own not? At this moment, Zhuang Yunzhen was only a few meters away from his foster father; if any danger arose, he would have time to react.

The Black Forest was as dense as before. This was the place where she and Su Wen had pledged their love. Here, everything she could recall was the beauty of the past. The fallen leaves on the ground were thick. Su Wen walked in front, Man Sheng behind. Su Wen reached his hand back out of habit. Seeing this, Man Sheng naturally placed her palm into his broad hand. No matter when, Su Wen's hand was always warm. The surroundings were quiet, and the air was fresh. "What did you want to tell me?" It was always Su Wen who broke the silence.

Man Sheng did not know how to speak, remaining silent for a long time before shaking her head. "Nothing, just saw the weather was nice today and wanted to walk with you."

Since she was unwilling to speak, Su Wen would not force her.

Man Sheng leaned gently into Su Wen's embrace. She felt her heart softening, becoming unlike herself. The road was long, and she hoped they could just keep walking like this without stopping. Once they stopped, she would wake from the dream. After waking, what awaited her? It would surely be endless sorrow and pain.

"It's as beautiful here as it used to be, but I am now ugly beyond compare. Su Wen, I want to tell you..."

"Do you want to kill me?"

Su Wen did not wait for Man Sheng to finish, stating her purpose directly.

A smart woman and a smart man are truly fearsome existences.

"You don't speak, so that's your default. You don't speak, so you think I don't know your true thoughts? We have known each other for so many years; I know what kind of person you are. You have always been like this—once you have something on your mind, you lose your appetite. I die, you live; how simple it is. No need to struggle with how to say it. This life of mine was originally yours."

Turning his wrist, a sharp blade pierced through Su Wen. He had acted himself, but now it seemed there was no difference from Man Sheng doing it. The warmth of those large hands gradually cooled. The man he had once loved and hated so deeply had finally surrendered his life. There was not a shred of hesitation, but rather a hint of relief. Perhaps, without knowing when it began, he had been waiting for this moment. Now that the wish was fulfilled, he was naturally at peace, with no more regrets.

Cold—only a bone-chilling cold remained. Seeing this, Man Sheng wanted to cry, but no matter how hard she tried, she had no tears left. In her eyes, there was only emptiness and remorse.

"Black Shadow, are you satisfied now? The man you hated for so many years is finally dead, dead before both of us. Now, can you let me go?"

"Hahaha, finally dead! Su Wen, you are finally dead! Why did you die? Who allowed you to commit suicide? A man like you can only die by my hand!"

The Black Shadow no longer had her previous composure. Looking at the lifeless Su Wen, her heart was filled with rage. This man was dead; to whom should she vent the anger she had suppressed for so many years?

Fighting—frenzied fighting. When she was tired, a hint of pity appeared in the Black Shadow's eyes. It was a face identical to Man Sheng's, the only difference being the Black Shadow's expression, which was bewitching and insane. This Black Shadow was none other than Man Sheng's hidden personality, representing the kind of near-insane love from the past.

Frenzied hate, torrential hate—this was also a form of love, a scorching love. Perhaps, in this woman's heart, she never wanted Su Wen to die; all she wanted was a single "I'm sorry" from him. Unfortunately, until the very last moment, she did not wait for those three words. Although the Black Shadow was a hidden personality of Man Sheng, after all these years, they had long become independent.

"I will give you the power I promised. But for now, you go back. I want to stay with him quietly; no one is to disturb us. This man was always restless; now, he can lie quietly in my arms. I am very happy and very satisfied."

Her gentle hand brushed across a face that was once incredibly handsome but now overly ordinary. "How many years ago was it that we were together like this? But you were never willing to be quiet before. Now it's good; you will never leave again!" Toward Su Wen, the Black Shadow had an almost insane obsession.

Zhuang Yunzhen was ultimately one step too late. When he arrived, all he saw was a woman in black, with a look that was both insane and calm, holding his foster father and whispering something he could not hear.

"Little Yunzhen, you're here. Your foster father is dead, but at the same time, he truly belongs to me. None of you can take him away. In the past, he liked me very much, but I don't know when it started, he began to distance himself, and sometimes, even seeing me once was filled with disgust."

"Later, I understood—this is the feeling of being unloved. But since he didn't love me, why did he provoke me in the first place? I became like this because of this man; it's all his fault! Yet even so, I found in the end that the man I love most is still him. Hahaha, the most pathetic person in this world must be me, right?"

"Now, I have no meaning for existing. Boy, if you want to kill me, do it. To die with the man I love most is my greatest wish."

After the madness, only infinite tenderness remained. Why couldn't this man see it? In this world, she was the only one who had been best to him.

"Senior Black Shadow, let go. I will not make things difficult for you, and you are already severely injured; you cannot beat me." Zhuang Yunzhen's words finally caused a ripple in the insane and tender Black Shadow. "Aren't you his foster son? Now that your foster father has died by my hand, you don't feel a shred of anger? Hahaha, Su Wen, you should believe it now. I told you before—you always suffered because of your own people. You were sincere to others, but they only thought you were a fool, while I was truly sincere to you, yet you left me!"

Betrayal—endless betrayal. Su Wen had betrayed the Black Shadow, which made her feel angry and heartbroken, but what she could not tolerate was others betraying Su Wen. A person who was so good should not have met such an end.

"Sigh, Black Shadow. Even at this point, you still don't understand why I left you that day? Your heart changed. You craved eternal youth; you wanted everyone to be your prisoner. You wanted too much, which ultimately led to your features becoming distorted and aged. Even if you transformed into Man Sheng's image today, I would not look at you twice."

"I loved you, I admit that, but that was a very, very long time ago. That you and I have reached this point is not my fault, but your own choice to give up. Do you remember? I told you countless times to let go of your obsessions, that it would be good for you. And what did you do? You thought I was in the way, so you wanted to kill me. From the moment you drew your blade on me, all our feelings became a thing of the past. You are the source of Man Sheng's constant struggle and pain."

Su Wen, who should have been dead, had woken up. It turned out he had not died; the lack of breath earlier was merely a technique of suspending it. This insane woman had become like this because of him; it was time to end it all.

"The person you wanted to find was always me. Now I am here, why don't you dare to act? If I die, your rage will naturally disappear. That way, you will be happy."

"Happy? I was only happy when I was with you. You are gone, you betrayed me, and you took all my joy and sorrow with you. Now, I am like a walking corpse; I have only hate, no love!"

Her three thousand strands of hair turned red—blood red. Even though the Black Shadow now possessed supreme divine power, if she were to make a single move, everyone here would die. But she could not bear to; she would not do it. If a heartless woman changes, it must be because of a man she loves deeply.

"I am also a useless woman. You clearly betrayed me, yet even now, I cannot bear to hurt you. Love hurts both oneself and others; I believe it now. Just seeing you one last time, I am already very satisfied. I am leaving."

***

How could a woman who was so insane just a moment ago be so calm now? Zhuang Yunzhen did not understand. "Black Shadow, since you are here, don't go. After all, you became like this because of me. I keep wanting to do something for you."

"Good, can you be with me? This is all I have ever wanted. Can you give it?" Su Wen's complexion was pale, but the Black Shadow's eyes were equally dim. Since he could not promise, why say anything?

"Never again, my former love." The Black Shadow had always been a lonely person. Perhaps, even Su Wen could not understand what was in this woman's heart.

"Foster Father, just let her go like that? Isn't it too easy?" Zhuang Yunzhen was young, after all; he could not understand that if a man wants to make amends to a woman, there is truly nothing he wouldn't do.

"If you felt you had wronged Li Moqing, and she wanted to kill you, would you let her kill you, or would you choose to run?" Su Wen asked Zhuang Yunzhen, but he did not seem interested in the answer. It appeared Zhuang Yunzhen already had one in his heart.

On the straight road, the Black Shadow walked alone. At this moment, her expression had become somewhat distorted. "You just left like that? Is this what you always wanted? Didn't you tell me you wanted this man to die? In the end, you didn't do it? You lost your nerve?"

"Yes, I lost my nerve. Our plan failed. I had transformed into Man Sheng's likeness, trying to seduce Man Sheng into killing Su Wen, but no matter what we did, we failed in the end. This man is not easy to deal with; why don't we just let him go?"

"Too late. Everything you say now is too late. He is already in the labyrinth I specifically built for him. I know you are soft-hearted, so I will do it for you."

The Black Shadow was a complex composition; she had deep love and deep hate. The part that loved was willing to let Su Wen go, and she had passed this love on to Man Sheng. What she could not do herself, someone had to do in her stead.

The hateful side, however, was incredibly powerful. Those who betrayed her had to die—it had been so in the past, and it would be so in the future, with no exceptions. That was the rule.

"Hahaha, Su Wen, did you think it was over just now? No, it never ends. Now is just the beginning! Since you feel you have wronged the Black Shadow, then pay for it with your life!"

A giant black shadow enveloped the entire Poison Sect. "Now the life and death of all the disciples of the Poison Sect are in your hands. What will you do? You are now in darkness, and this labyrinth is one I specifically prepared for you. There are many monsters here, and many paths, but only one exit. If you cannot walk out, the Poison Sect will be destroyed!"

"Don't you find this interesting? When you face your former lover, can you really bear to act? Can you really watch the person you once loved, and the one you love now, die before your eyes? You, who have always had a heart of stone, what will you do?"

A massive black energy absorbed Su Wen. Zhuang Yunzhen tried to help, but had no chance.

"Feng Ming, do not worry about me. In the days I am absent, the Poison Sect will rely on you. You are the Young Master; you must promise me to guard the Poison Sect. I know you can do it."

Icy, endless cold and gloomy light made Su Wen's heart jump. Where was this place? Why did he feel a sense of familiarity?

"Because this is the Land of White Bones, and also your birthplace. How about that? How many years have passed, and you have actually forgotten? The white bones of the past have become the Divine Doctor of today. It is truly strange how people change and what they encounter."

"Returning to the old place, one naturally feels a sigh in the heart. Back then, you were the only one who escaped, and everyone else died. Your achievements today are all thanks to your former friends. But after so many years, you seem to have truly forgotten how much they miss you."

"Su Wen, you have finally returned to see me!"

A fierce, incomparable long sword slashed toward his face. Su Wen shifted his body back, grabbing an iron sword at random. *Clang!* A sharp echo rang out. Even though he blocked this strike, the white-boned creature did not give up. Its other hand drew a sharper short sword from its bosom and stabbed into its own abdomen.

The pain affected Su Wen's reaction time and mobility. Soon, a group of masters appeared from nowhere and surrounded Su Wen.

*Whoosh.*

A sharp hand-blade struck his shoulder heavily. *Crack!* One of Su Wen's arms was broken. These creatures had no rhythm to their fighting; he could only defend continuously!

*Swish, swish, swish.*

At this moment, three fireballs flew toward his back. Su Wen felt a burst of heat and rolled to the left, dodging the three fierce fireballs, but this caused him to fall into a mechanism, and his feet were trapped by an unknown device.

"These people were once heroes, but they gave their lives for you. Now, I have bestowed upon them more powerful strength, but the price is the loss of consciousness. Their fighting styles are varied; it is impossible for you to dodge them all, let alone now that you have a broken arm."

As the Divine Doctor, Su Wen always carried some medicine for breath and blood replenishment. But these pills were lost during his earlier tumble. "What? Is this all you can do? Watching as the white-boned monsters around you grow more numerous, if you don't break out now, you are truly going to die."

He had no choice but to evade for now. Su Wen raised the last of his Phantom Sand. Taking advantage of the fact that everyone's eyes were blinded, he temporarily escaped. The most important thing now was to set his arm and use the environment to assassinate these white bones one by one.

Zhuang Yunzhen was getting anxious. His foster father had no movement now; what was he supposed to do?

"Zhuang Yunzhen, don't think you have nothing to do. Can you really guard the Poison Sect? Look closely at your surroundings; these disciples of the Poison Sect have already been controlled by me. As the Young Master, what should you do now? Without these disciples, the Poison Sect is just a name. Relying only on yourself, how far can you go?"

Still, the choice remained: to guard the Poison Sect, one must kill its disciples; otherwise, everyone would perish together. Sometimes, when faced with this choice, even if you know you shouldn't choose that way, you still do!

Zhuang Yunzhen picked up the long blade from the ground. He did not know how long he could hold on, but he believed in his foster father. As long as his foster father was willing, he would surely return. Sometimes, one must be ruthless; too many concerns prevent things from getting done. Think, then act; only by acting is there a possibility, otherwise, there is nothing!

But at this moment, Zhuang Yunzhen stood alone, facing a sea of Poison Sect disciples. What else could he do? Must he become a sinner?

*Crack.*

His broken arm was finally set. This place was filled with white bones. Su Wen was in a corner; he must not be hasty, but assassinate them one by one. Three on the left, two in front, and those on the second level—those could be ignored for the moment. Right now, deal with the first level!

Stealth assassination was Su Wen's specialty, but he had not used it for many years, and he did not know how much of the skill remained. "Feng Ming, you must hold on. Foster father does not have the extra energy to protect you now. As long as you are here, the Poison Sect exists. Whatever you do, even if it is wrong, I will still support you."

*Puff.*

Su Wen sneaked behind a white bone and drove his sharp dagger into its body. He had taken one out, but he also had to hide the corpses; he must not let the others discover them. Only then could his stealth assassination be completed more effectively. The white, cold light would be his greatest obstacle; if he could shatter that light, he would be safe.