Dark Moon Era

Chapter 324: Throbbing

Tang Ling’s first reaction was, ‘What are they doing? Why are they looking at me?’

He was rather slow when it came to moments like this. His brain was somewhat numb. Despite always being a smart person, he failed to realize the problems of the situation at the very first moment.

For example, he and this Young Master Long had met before! Back in the grasslands, they had been less than 10 meters away from each other, looking at each other face-to-face under the Purple Moon.

Another example was since Young Master Long was someone important to the Stardust Council and Higan was beside him, who could Higan be?

More examples like…like what?

Tang Ling clenched his fists tightly as he failed to come up with more examples.

His world was vast, so he never thought that he should label a relationship for the sake of someone. For instance, he and Yu were as close as brothers, but it did not affect him and Orston being just as close, did it?

However, was this a similar situation?

A niggling sourness rumbled in Tang Ling’s heart. It was a sourness that he had never felt before. It thundered in his heart, gushing up to his brain instantly, and flowing to every inch of his body through his blood.

This strange painful feeling made his mind go blank. Even the tip of his fingers started to sting.

What’s going on?

Curling his fists, he lowered his head down. Since he was also a proud person, he did not want the others to notice his unusual reaction.

“Tang Ling…” Ro Xin wanted to say something.

Before this, she had warned Ro Li and Han Xing with a fierce glare because judging from the looks of the two of them, they must have had something to say, but on second thought, what good could come out from their mouths?

Tang Ling did not answer her. Instead, he looked up and looked at the screen again.

On the screen, Tang Long was walking into the Desperado Ring and the camera coincidentally closed up on Higan. Be it intentional or not, she suddenly looked into the camera. Her gaze was depressed and sad, as if she had something afflicted to say…

…

“Tang Ling, are you watching? If you have questions, can you feel me?

“Tang Ling, can you wait for me? Wait for me while I pay my debts. It is what I want.

“Tang Ling, wait for me, will you? I can only be by your side without any burden.

“Tang Ling, wait for me. This is my only hope for me to do this.”

Higan was beautiful, and her eyes were lively, so lively that they looked like they could speak. She looked into the camera, yearning for her gaze at this moment to deliver the message in her heart to that particular someone.

Therefore, at that moment in front of the camera, the icy chill in her eyes was warmed up by a feeling of heavy sorrow, as though she had endless words to say but was unable to voice them. In between the lines were strong emotions for the person that she was gazing at.

However, there was no one in front of her, but it did not stop the crowd from seeing Higan at that particular moment. Their hearts cracked when they saw and sensed the tremendous sorrow within her.

Higan’s face no longer resembled a painting before the subject of the painting was dead. On the contrary, everything about her felt real, as if she was someone among you and I, hence the strong and infectious sentiment.

In her heart, she called out to Tang Ling repeatedly.

If she did not have to face Tang Long’s persuasive manner, if she had not made that stubborn and lonely decision, she might not have felt the authentic feelings she had for Tang Ling.

She wanted to be by Tang Ling’s side, simply doing anything with him. Even if he was just sitting there plainly, she would want to sit beside him.

The comfort, the reliance, the intimacy, and the heart-throbbing feeling…Yes, her heart throbbed. The pain still came in the end, given her strong feelings for him as she missed him from the bottom of her heart.

Did she like him? She had no idea herself. She just knew that time could not measure all relationships. It might be a second or a minute, a moment or a glance, but everything had been determined!

…

Higan’s intense gaze landed straight on Tang Ling’s heart.

At that very instant, Tang Ling felt like he heard his own heart throb. Everything got clearer in his mind, but not clear enough just yet. The only thing he could see through was Higan’s gaze.

Despite having only spent a little time with her, Higan had shown him many different gazes: her curious gaze, her questioning gaze, her joyful gaze, her naughty gaze…

No matter which it was, he could feel a tinge of intimacy deep in her eyes that no one could understand. It was just a vague feeling in his heart when he saw it, but it somehow resonated with the intimacy that he had deep in his heart.

There were always things that were too subtle to be spoken about with people or to be put into words. It was a tacit feeling between the two of them.

The moment when he saw her gaze, Tang Ling felt the trace of intimacy in her eyes through the screen again. When she looked at Tang Long, her gaze did not have that same intensity, not even when she looked at everything else in the world.

Therefore, at that very moment, Tang Ling was certain that she was talking to him through the camera. Maybe she was not talking to him because she was not sure whether he could see her or not, but she must have problems that she wanted to vent.

Tang Ling felt sad and sour while he had a lot of questions. He even felt helpless for not having a stand to question her by himself.

Higan’s gaze shattered everything in him, branding his heart with the tacit feeling that only the two of them could understand. When Tang Ling sensed the tacit feeling, he merged the feeling into something which was trust.

His clenched fists opened up. The complicated feelings, which he wished to hide but failed to, faded as he returned to his calm self. Then, he stood up and looked at Han Xing to say softly, “Let’s go back,”

He also told Ro Xin and Ro Li, “Come find me at Dvesha Moha sometime. I still have work to be done today, so maybe next time I’ll invite you over.”

On the other hand, Han Xing looked at him with a bitter look. “Tang Ling, are you…losing yourself? Actually, you don’t have to hold it back.”

Ro Li gulped nervously as he observed Tang Ling carefully and said, “My brother, cry out loud if you want to! I have to follow you in the future. What should I do if you lose your mind?”

Tang Ling looked at the two of them, his gaze deep and profound and his thoughts unpredictable. He asked, “Why should I be losing myself? Did something happen?”

His question petrified the three of them and silenced them completely. Even Gu Dao, who was anticipating a show, was stunned.

Yeah, what made them think this way? The relationship between Tang Ling and Higan was nothing but part of their imaginations, and be it the over intimacy or the muddled relationship, the two of them had not confirmed their relationship with them.

Fine, since they did not confirm anything, they were nothing but mere friends.

If they were just friends, should Higan be responsible for Tang Ling’s feelings or whatsoever? No, she did not even have to explain herself to him.

Whoever set the rule that if she was Tang Ling’s friend, she could not be…someone close to his nemesis?

People had the freedom to make their choices.

“But…” Ro Li still tried to say something, but Tang Ling tapped his shoulder and said, “No buts. I’m going now,”

After that, Tang Ling nodded at Gu Dao, smiled at Ro Xin, and turned around before walking out. Han Xing looked around helplessly for a moment before he stood up and followed Tang Ling.

“Tang Ling.” Ro Xin could not help but call him back when she saw his conflicted figure. Her heart also simmered in sadness as she felt sad for him. No matter how Tang Ling tended to be calm and fine, could his heart really be at peace?

Maybe because he could not have a stand in this, he suppressed everything in his heart. With that in mind, Ro Xin felt even sourer, and she could not help but shift the blame on Higan.

“Hmm?” Tang Ling turned around.

“I know I don’t have the right to question or blame anyone for this, but I want to hear your thoughts. Otherwise, I won’t find peace.” Ro Xin stepped closer to him. “If you have the need, I…we will be with you.”

“You don’t have to. I guess if I don’t explain myself, you won’t let me go, will you?” Tang Ling smiled, his gaze at Ro Xin full of gratitude. “But before I say anything, all of you must understand something.”

As he spoke, Tang Ling turned around to Han Xing and the siblings with a solemn expression.

“First of all, we are friends and I thank you for being concerned about me, but you must know that sometimes, you don’t need to persuade me about some particular things. It’s just my personal stand and beliefs.

“Ro Xin, I only have one thing in my mind, which is waiting while believing.”

“Will it be fruitful?” The smart Ro Xin, of course, knew what Tang Ling was talking about. He was trying to imply that no matter what happened, he would always believe Higan.

He believed that one day in the future, Higan would surely tell him about something or even explain her decision. All he had to do was wait for that day to come. Until that day, perhaps no matter what she said to him, he would simply accept it whole-heartedly.

However, Tang Ling also understood that even if she did not explain anything to him or if they never saw each other again from that day onwards, not even a word or a letter, it made sense for her position.

Then, why would he wait for her while believing in her? Maybe it was his way of telling his friends that they could not help him with everything.

What an idiot! Upset, Ro Xin could not hold back her impulsive words and blurted out, “Why don’t you go to her directly? Why do you even bother to conceal the fact that you care?” She really cared about Tang Ling.

“Bro, why don’t I come along with you?” Han Xing uttered softly. No matter what, even if he felt like Tang Ling’s attitude towards the queen was a little stupid, deep inside his heart, he still thought that Tang Ling was the man.

“I don’t think so. I might trouble her…” Tang Ling simply said. He turned around and looked at the sky outside the door. The drizzle continued ceaselessly and the atmosphere was a little depressing.

Yesterday, she had said it would trouble her, but today, trouble had presented itself to him.

Tang Ling did not keep on guessing. Since he had decided to trust her, what was there to speculate?

Was she with the Stardust Council? Was she close to his nemesis, Young Master Long? Fine, but none of them were important.

Everything had happened before he met Higan. Would he be so stubborn to be concerned about her past which she could not change?

Back in the Hope Barrier, those days had not taught him a lot except for one thing: sometimes, relationships transcended position and status.

Like how he and Yu, and Orston and Christina were close…

Back then, he was stupid for trying to resist the relationship with them just because he had known he would go against the entire Safety Sector No. 17.

As a matter of fact, if the relationship was real…Hmm, it was real to every one of them and him.

Tang Ling’s heart opened up a little. He strode out of the room, leaving Ro Xin staring at his back with worries that she could not erase.

“Sis, this…” Ro Li did not know what to say as he went over to his sister and put his hand over her shoulder, consoling her.

On the other hand, the old Gu Dao stared at Tang Ling’s back for a while before he mumbled softly, “At least, be a man.”