Chapter 4, Sorrow, Valley of the Giants

The hammer did not look at me, but merely used its own body to shield me, gazing at Long Feiyang.

I stood there in a daze, neither angry nor in pain, just staring blankly.

"Lei, I already know everything," said Long gently, unusually soft. It bent its neck and caressed my cheek, its blue eyes looking at me. "Is Master..."

I could no longer hold back, and I cried out loud, embracing the neck of the dragon-like creature

"Let me help you once more," said Long Feiyang as he raised his bow and aimed at the hammer on the ground. "This time, I will not be so merciful..."

You are the pitiful and insignificant creature, relying solely on the strength of others to fill your empty soul. You are a parasite, a soulless parasite

Never before has my heart been so troubled and so fearful as it is now. Regardless of the magnitude of danger I face or how terrifying the environment may be, as long as I have a bow in hand, my heart remains at peace. However, now, I find myself afraid to pick up the bow; it has become so unfamiliar to me, even somewhat frightening.

"Why seek revenge?" the little giant crouching to the side quietly asked. The dragon-like creature, who had remained silent, merely shook its head gloomily, unsure of how to explain.

Because of the soul

As long as you remember the master, the master has not died. The master will live on in your memories

"Hello, are you really a giant?" asked Long, stretching his neck.

He let out a soft hiss, as if mocking: "What else could there be? Those are all deceptive lies. Is it justice? The bow is held in human hands; it does not grow stronger because of justice, nor does it weaken because of darkness. A bow is simply a bow, no matter how much it is beautified, in essence... it remains an ominous weapon.

"The Valley of Giants?" I asked in unison with the dragon-like creature.

The way of the bow, the strongest bow, is the bow of oblivion

"A sorrowful arrow," Long Feiyang pondered, "Why must there be sorrow? Why must there be pain? Why must sorrow be the source of the bow's strength? Come, child, come to me. With the Dragon Bow, you will be able to forget your pain"

In the subsequent murals, an increasing number of dragons joined the battlefield. It gradually transformed into a battle between dragons and giants, with more and more giants falling. Those giants, even in death, still clutched their weapons tightly, their faces displaying an unwavering expression, their eyes wide open, refusing to close, as if they were silently shouting to the heavens.

Master, what is the strongest divine bow

Before long, we arrived at the entrance of the cave. Following the little giant inside, I soon discovered that the interior of the cave was intricate and complex, revealing a hidden world within. Upon reaching the deepest part, the little giant stopped and pointed at two tall stone piles, saying: "Those are my parents; they are the last giants, and I..."

Who are you

Long Feiyang was stunned by this sudden turn of events, unsure of what to do

No, no! I jumped up and desperately grabbed the hammer, "Run away, Hammer, run away! You will die!"

The little giant pointed at the bow that had fallen to the ground and continued, "Uncle has something just like yours, and your posture is exactly the same as his"

Breaking rocks with a bow

When he died, he still did not fall, but tightly grasped that half of the bow, kneeling there, the tail of the bow propped against the ground, deeply embedded in the soil, as if unwilling to let go of the devil's tail. His eyes remained open, and in those eyes, it seemed as if there were countless words to be spoken.

I could not help but let out a long howl towards the sky, the sound of which soared like a dragon's chant, piercing through the clouds. The bow and arrow were aimed at the soaring dragon

In the darkness, a beautiful woman gradually approached. Holding a water bucket, she was drawing water by the well. Dressed in ordinary peasant attire, the coarse fabric could not conceal her slender figure. Her long, thick black hair was elegantly pinned up on top of her head, with a few strands occasionally falling to her cheek, adding to her allure

What happened again

I want revenge, I want revenge! I said with hatred

Stop, stop! Damn it, if you don't stop, I'm going to spit!

I burst into laughter

Master

I gave a wry smile, neither affirming nor denying, and continued to walk forward; the giant had vanished in that direction

Why

Is that you, Lei?

What are you talking about

I nodded vigorously. "Spare him, Long Feiyang, spare him! I want to duel with you, divine bow against dragon bow! Just the two of us, a fair duel!"

Master ... ... I cannot allow you to die, I cannot ... ...

Why can't I hear anything at all

You will get used to it soon... After fear comes the joy that arises from strength

... ...

Indeed, the human heart cannot be separated

Why ... ...

Giants, like humans, possess a soul. The soul is the source of magic, the source of power. I begin to faintly understand what kind of magic this is; perhaps it is the ultimate path of the bow that I seek... However, such power can destroy the soul. From the sons left behind by the giants, I know that these two giants are still alive after the war, but they have completely lost their memories. In order to regain their memories, they carve and carve on the rock walls, capturing the vague fragments that appear in their dreams.

Who? Who are you? How do you know...

Who is that person

Why are people afraid of forgetting

I took a step back and slowly drew the bow from behind me

The strongest? There is nothing in this world that is the strongest. Perhaps it is strong today, but it may be weak tomorrow

Suddenly, my body could not move, as if an invisible force had bound me. Not only that, but my consciousness also began to blur, as if I were no longer myself

The wind has ceased

That is neither my bow, nor my arrow, nor the strength emanating from my heart

A sudden stir arose in my heart as I slowly placed the torch in the very center of the ashes, the flames illuminating the entire cave

The third mural is filled with corpses, with a variety of faces permeating the entire mural. The human faces are contorted, screaming, and expressions of agony spread across every muscle of their faces. Countless faces are open-mouthed, emitting silent screams, their shapes terrifying, as if it were the end of the world

Indeed, it is a dragon-like creature

The dragon, fearing that I might be upset, changed the subject

The dragon stood silently, perhaps this question was too profound even for a wise dragon. It allowed my tears to roll down from its neck.

I have never seen a dragon, so I really want to catch one to take a look

Be silent! I trembled as I raised my bow and arrow, and the fierce energy spread in all directions, forming a massive tornado. The thunder in the sky grew denser, sounding like the urgent beating of war drums

"Did Uncle say anything while he was alive?" I asked

With a deafening explosion, two forces collided, then spiraled upward, from the colorful radiance emerged a gigantic black dragon. It struggled to ascend, but could not escape the beautiful light. The dragon let out a roar that shook the heavens and the earth, and then, shattered in the brilliance, it vanished

The wings behind Long Feiyang are stirring, and the earth is resonating with a chilling dragon roar. Amidst the most intense sound, his arrow also flies out, merging into the colorful radiance

Do not worry, I am one with you; let my blood save the master. My soul is with you, guarding your spirit, so that you will not lose your way

The dragon laughed even more joyfully, even clapping its claws. The hammer stood up with bared teeth, one hand rubbing its backside, a face full of anger, charging towards the little giant. The little giant remained completely unmoved, with a look of disdain. With another thud, the hammer was sent flying again, this time landing face down, covered in dust from head to toe, instantly losing its vigor. "Indeed, it is a giant..." It stood up, nodding seriously to disguise its embarrassment. With another thud, the hammer was sent flying again, this time landing face down, covered in dust from head to toe, instantly losing its vigor. "Indeed, it is a giant..." It stood up, nodding seriously to disguise its embarrassment.

Long Feiyang remained silent, gazing at the bow in my hand. It could hardly be considered a bow; it was merely a rough assembly of a branch tied with a string.

Why

What do you want to do, Lei

I suddenly looked up! Indeed, at some unknown moment, there stood a person atop the high, steep cliff in the valley. The intense aura emanated from him. He stood there firmly, arms crossed over his chest, his black cloak hanging down, solemn and dignified. Most terrifying was his gaze; he was scrutinizing me, cold yet piercingly bright, as if his eyes could shoot out lightning. His lofty demeanor made it seem as though he considered himself a deity.

I feel lonely

Long Feiyang let out a couple of hums, raised his head to look at the sky, and suddenly erupted into a wild laughter. The black wings behind him were flapping, and at that moment, Long Feiyang extended his hands once more, and in his grasp appeared a bow and arrow.

It is all your fault, the hammer said indignantly, "Who told you to shout: 'Giant!' It scared me out of my wits"

On the head, there is only one eye standing upright on the forehead

I told the villagers about your legend, and about your search for a solution... Ouch, why did you step on me?" Iron Hammer complained while hopping on one foot.

For example, a bow

... ...

The dragon's eyes are still so blue, so beautiful, filled with peace and wisdom

At that moment, a faint sound emerged from behind a pile of rocks. None of us had anticipated the presence of others here, and the shadow of the story recounted by the hammer still lingered in our minds, causing us to jump in surprise and turn around, staring at the source of the sound

Thus, I walked ahead alone, while those two cowards stealthily followed behind me, occasionally glancing back, ready to flee at any moment

O giants! The hammer and the dragon-like creature simultaneously shouted, turning around in unison and fleeing desperately. At that moment, their speed was quite comparable, and in an instant, they vanished without a trace, leaving only a trail of dust behind. I was left in a state of both laughter and tears, still unable to react when that head disappeared behind the rocks

However, weak humans cannot contend with giants, whether in strength or in will..." The mysterious man continued, "The battlefield has turned into hell...

Stop it! My anger has finally broken through the last line of reason. Suddenly, I felt a pain in my back, as if something was surging out from my back, stretching upward with all its might, opening up.

Wait a moment, why am I asking this...

I will not stop my steps; even if hellish demons appear ahead, I will continue to move forward. Master, I will not concede so easily.

At night, I could not sleep. Alone, I took a torch and wandered around the cave. The longer I walked, the darker it became, and the more desolate it felt, as if I had reached the depths of my lonely heart. Here, there once was a divine bow searching and exploring, seeking to find the true essence of the bow. Could it be that he was as lost as I am now?

Master

"But what about the soul?" I slowly drew back the bowstring. "What would happen if there were no soul? Would a person still be themselves? No, certainly not. A person can lose many things, but they cannot lose their soul!"

It is I ... ... Oh no !

One day, the uncle appeared very happy, yet seemed to have many worries on his mind. He did not sleep all night, muttering something incomprehensible. However, by the next day, he was dead, having taken his own life

The wind remains the wind, the earth remains the earth, yet the path beneath my feet has vanished. The way of the bow that guided me comes to an end in the valley of giants, all the mysteries have been unveiled, yet this diagram-book does not bring me joy; rather, it evokes only a slight sadness. I have taken the bow and arrows from my back

If I grow up, will I have to part ways with my master

A barely discernible path winds its way down to the foot of the mountain

"Then why are you running so fast?" Long asked dissatisfiedly

You will understand when you grow up

The next day, the rain stopped

Is there a big tree? And are there elves?

People will always die, the little giant hugged his knees and looked at the grave mound, giants will die too, people will die, it's just a matter of time...

"Do you know each other?" Long Yi, still clutching the iron hammer, turned around to ask.

The mural behind depicts a scene where, amidst the crowd engaged in battle with giants, there are additional creatures. These beings are intermingled within the throng, some soaring high in the sky, possessing broad wings, long necks, pointed horns, and sharp teeth, spewing forth intense flames that sweep across the land

Lost my memory? I pondered quietly, why is this the case

With his words, another thunderclap echoed in the sky, the lightning striking as fiercely as if it had fallen at my feet, causing me to sway involuntarily

It is a dragon! I exclaimed.

Slowly, the giant's jumps began to slow down, seemingly becoming somewhat laborious. After suffering a few setbacks, the python gradually mastered the giant's movements. When the giant dodged to one side, the python suddenly intercepted from the middle. Fortunately, the giant's movements were quite agile; he crouched down and lay on the ground, allowing the python's massive body to brush past his head with a whoosh. However, the giant gradually found himself at a disadvantage. The python's massive body brushed past his head with a whoosh. However, the giant gradually found himself at a disadvantage.

What is this

Lei, come back quickly, this is not fun at all

"Human beings are not as you imagine; we are equally kind and capable of coexisting with other races." A voice came from behind me, and then a slender figure slowly walked over and stood in front of me

The moonlight outside is beautiful. There are almost no stars in the sky, and the round moon is slowly climbing to the top of the sky, casting a blanket of white moonlight that appears tranquil and serene. At this moment, however, I am not in the mood for such peace, wandering aimlessly, gradually unable to hear the snores of the dragon and the hammer.

I am the Dragon Bow! The very bow that injured your master. The strongest bow in the world, Dragon Soars!

Are we good friends, Long?

Humanity has lost all hope, struggling on the brink of death and despair. However, another species has joined the fight; perhaps they cannot bear to see humanity perish. We call them dragons

The hammer is somewhat foolish, indeed, the one-eyed person standing before us is truly small. He is dressed in tattered clothes, with disheveled hair. The eye on his forehead moves around, sometimes looking at me, sometimes at Leilong, filled with curious glances. It turns out he is just a child

The elders once spoke of a legend. In ancient times, there lived a race on this land that was different from us; they were as tall as mountains, as strong as lions, and possessed only one eye, located on their foreheads

"What are you looking for, Lei?" Long said to me, looking intently.

What is going on? I asked, wondering how the villagers of the melancholic plains and the elves could possibly chase a dragon

After tossing and turning for a long time, I was disturbed by the shouts of the two of them, which left me feeling quite agitated. I simply got up and kicked Iron Hammer right on his backside. Iron Hammer turned over, smacked his lips, and continued to sleep soundly. I shook my head helplessly and walked out of the cave

Blue eyes

How beautiful... Dragon Feiyang narrowed his eyes in a bit of intoxication, "The wings of the dragon..."

I raised my head and looked at him in confusion, feeling weak and powerless deep within my soul

"So impressive..." the hammer said quietly

I stared blankly for a while, then began to dig into the pile of stones. The little giant grabbed my hand. "Don't disturb the uncle; the person sleeping on the ground will be very unhappy."

Suddenly, a heavy sound of footsteps approached from behind, startling the leisurely gopher basking in the sun, which hurriedly burrowed into its hole

"It is you, Hammer!"

It seems I have gone to the wrong place. "Let us hurry back," said Long with a murmur.

These two hotheads completely disregarded my opportunity to speak, arguing back and forth with each other. The more I listened, the more confused I became, and the more my head started to ache.

"Of course not," said Long. "I just feel a bit aggrieved and don't understand where I offended those people. I simply wanted to ask for clarification. But that person just wouldn't speak, so I decided to take him along and run away."

"Come on, I am not afraid of you." The hammer raised the large stick in its hand

You are talking nonsense, you are talking nonsense! I shouted in vain, feeling somewhat frantic, clutching my head, "I don't want to hear it anymore, I don't want to hear it anymore!"

What is the mind? Why is it the mind?

At last, humanity recognized the power of dragons and successfully integrated this power into the human heart. Thus, humans no longer needed dragons, and all dragons were killed by humans through despicable means. Consequently, humanity obtained the most terrifying and powerful force: the power of dragons

The strongest? There is nothing in this world that is the strongest. Perhaps it is strong today, but it may be weak tomorrow

He looked at me with a hint of pity, momentarily at a loss for words. After a while, he let out a sigh

"I know where this is," Hammer said eagerly. "Our ancestors have always warned us not to enter this place, for it is the valley of the giants"

No, I looked at the towering cliffs on all sides and slowly said, "This is it, this is the place."

How strange..." Long Feiyang said lightly, "Do you care about his life even more than your own?"

Isn't it? Long Feiyang does not seem surprised, "Then you will have to pay the price. Perhaps, because of your connections, your master is already dead"

He slowly and intermittently said, "Do not... do not lose... yourself... never... do not..."

But... Master, what should I do if you die? I don't want Master to die

What?

"Put me down first," the hammer shouted after struggling a bit. Under my fierce gaze, the dragon obediently set the hammer down.

"Who? Who is speaking?" I suddenly turned around, searching everywhere. In the darkness, there was not a single shadow.

Do not ... ...

Never to be separated ... ... '' A tall, slender figure appeared in my mind, smiling as it spoke

A glimmer of tears appeared in the dragon's eyes, but it quickly vanished

Why is it that when I see you, I feel a strange sensation in my heart? Why is my heart filled with melancholy?

This is not the way of the bow

The wind began to blow fiercely, with sand and stones swirling about, roaring as if it were crying softly. In the distance, the sound of a dragon's roar could be faintly heard. Gradually, behind the soaring dragon, a pair of black wings appeared.

Master ... ... what exactly have I done

"Dragon, let me see you again, after that... I will remember nothing..."

What is that

"Never to be separated..." said the young magician

Stop! A sudden shout jolted me awake from my unconscious state

The master once said, when you are happy, shoot arrows; when you are sad, shoot arrows. For the archer, the bow is the only thing that can soothe the soul

"Never to be separated..." said the tall archer

"Of course it is evil," a chilling smile once again appeared on the lips of the mysterious figure. "All bows are evil; humanity itself is evil. What humanity holds is not a bow, but the wings of a demon."

What about the dragon?

The wind that had been blowing has stopped

The dragon finally came to a halt, stretching its head to look back for a long time, still appearing somewhat apprehensive. I struggled free from the dragon's armpit and jumped to the ground. The hammer was pinched by the dragon, with its rear facing forward and its head turned back, its long neck drooping down awkwardly as it looked at me.

The Way of the Bow

The master once said that a good archer, when he holds the bow and draws the string, will feel confidence, courage, and strength. As for me, when I nock the arrow onto the string, I experience another sensation, one that is particularly warm, as if a delicate and pure white arm is reaching out from behind me, helping me to draw the bow.

Draw the bow, nock the arrow

My attention was drawn to another pile of stones; beside two massive stone heaps was a small pile, as if something were buried within it

I understand. In the darkness, I clenched my fists

"I ran early," I said

I looked up. At that moment, a miracle occurred. As the moon rose to its zenith, the moonlight cast regular shadows on the steep cliffs. The seemingly chaotic moss now formed murals, enormous murals! These murals extended from the base of the cliff all the way to the top, surrounding the entire valley as if one had entered a vast art studio. The murals were so magnificent that only towering giants could have created them! These murals extended from the base of the cliff all the way to the top, surrounding the entire valley as if one had entered a vast art studio. The murals were so magnificent that only towering giants could have created them

No! My chest feels as if something is blocking it, and it is so uncomfortable that I feel like it might burst. Before my eyes is a sea of golden stars, my whole body is trembling, and an unnamed force is surging violently within me. Holding the hammer, I suddenly turned my head to stare at Long Feiyang, my lips trembling.

I thought that was dew

No, no, I don't want it! Master, Master! Where are you? Save me, save me!

In the final moments of my consciousness, I felt my entire body floating in mid-air, while that dragon was muttering incantations...

"What happened next?" I asked softly

I sighed, raised my head, and looked ahead. There stood a figure, quietly and steadfastly, as if waiting for a long time. His arms were crossed over his chest, clad entirely in black, with a cloak billowing in the wind, exuding an air of great majesty and gracefulness

"Foolish person..." Long Feiyang muttered, appearing furious yet somewhat dejected. "You've ruined my good plans... Well... in three days, your master will die. By that time, we will..." As he spoke, he vanished into the darkness, disappearing from sight

The rain drenched my entire body, yet I felt nothing. I stood there in a daze, wanting to call out, but unable to make a sound; wanting to cry, yet without any tears

Who am I

I have always been puzzled about the outcome of that war of giants. It is written in neat handwriting, "The legend ends here, and humanity has triumphed. However, when I arrived at the valley of the giants, I found that the giants still lived here. Were not all the giants exterminated in the war? Later, I diligently studied the murals left by the giants and discovered that, in this tragic war, there were no winners; all those who participated in the battle perished, including those who possessed the power of dragons. The final mural hidden deep within the cave reveals this secret: the last two giants cast the ultimate magic and defeated humanity. Yet... why did they only use this magic in their moment of despair? From the expressions on their faces, it was so sorrowful; what kind of magic was it?

Master, Master... save me... save me...

Several hundred years ago, humanity waged war against the giants. The mysterious figure spoke slowly, his voice deep and resonant, as if reciting an epic, "The brutal war made the earth tremble and the sky darken. And this war, once begun, lasted for one hundred years..."

"You are talking nonsense," I retorted. "The hammer said that it is the giants who want to occupy human territory and plunder human resources, which is why the war against the giants began. The hammer does not lie, it does not..." Suddenly, I felt so powerless. What if the hammer was wrong? I dared not think further.

I do not know how long it has been. Above my head, the rain has ceased, and something is shielding me. I numbly raised my eyes and discovered that it was a dragon-like creature, standing in the rain, extending its wings to shield me from the downpour

I couldn't be bothered with these two cowards and continued walking forward, searching for traces on the ground. Long, the dragon, chased up from behind.

A sudden gust of wind swept through, causing the earth to tremble slightly. He continued to laugh heartily, spreading his arms wide to form a large cross. The wind violently billowed his cloak, resembling a frenzied demon. A thunderous roar echoed, and a brilliant flash of lightning streaked across the sky, twisting and turning like a fork in the hand of a devil. In the illumination of the lightning, a pair of enormous wings appeared behind him. A thunderous roar echoed, and a brilliant flash of lightning streaked across the sky, twisting and turning like a fork in the hand of a devil. In the illumination of the lightning, a pair of enormous wings appeared behind him. The black wings spread wide, extending outward with slightly curved tips, resembling full sails.

A head slowly emerged from behind the rock

The dragon looked very aggrieved. "I didn't steal this time, I really didn't steal," it said. "I was just passing by a village and wanted to ask for directions. At that moment, an old man with a white beard, before I could say anything, excitedly pointed at me and shouted: 'A dragon!"

The dragon was frightened and no longer moved

If I have a hammer in hand, why would I need to run anywhere