Chapter 21
“…That’s it? It’s dead?”
Looking at the scene with disbelief, Qing Yue asks this question as Long Hua retracts his Relic.
“That’s a clean hit to the neck that instantly broke its bones.”
Crouching down by the side of the dead beast, Ye Chen looks to the wound with an intrigued expression before directing a stare at Long Hua.
“My physical strength and senses tend to be stronger than most Sinners. With my Relic released, they get raised by another level. Supposedly, my doctor says it’s because my Relic is merged with my body.”
“These parts of its flesh are darkening.”
Pointing out four black spots on the fallen beast’s flesh, Ye Chen recalls seeing the white-scaled serpents sinking their fangs into these exact locations.
“It’s because of the poison.”
“And the effects of that poison?”
“Corrosion of the internal organs.”
“You able to inject it into drinks?”
“You hiring me for a hit, captain? Who do you want dead?”
“…”
An expression of wariness forms on Qing Yue’s face hearing the two’s exchange.
Although the two aren’t fighting one another, there is seemingly a strong sense of tension between them that can be ignited with a single spark.
“Nah. I just… Li Xue, might hire you instead if she finds out about this.”
(She did say that this guy got her father killed, and that she plans to kill him at some point.)
Recalling this detail, Long Hua shrugs his shoulders.
“Is that why you told her to stay back to guard the truck?”
“They say, to keep your friends close and your enemies closer, but… I think she might be an exception to that.”
Disinterestedly, Long Hua turns away from Ye Chen and continues to move in the direction of the way back.
Hurriedly, Qing Yue opens the drawstring pouch and sucks the white tiger back into it.
“2nd Lieutenant Qing Yue, you panicked a bit when that thing charged at you, didn’t you?”
“Well…”
“That’s something you gotta work on in the future.”
Nothing else happened on the way back, while Ye Chen gives Qing Yue a few suggestions to maintain a composed mindset amidst the heat of battle.
………
“That took a bit longer than expected.”
Seeing the three’s return, Li Xue remarks on the time it took for them to complete their task.
“Ran into some minor trouble. And you?”
“Nothing happened on our end.”
“Hmm. Maybe my luck is just off today?”
Pulling out his phone and opening a game with relatively high rates in its drawing pool, Ye Chen does a single pull and draws an R rarity unit.
(Now I’m starting to feel like… Something bad is just waiting to happen.)
Storing the phone away, Ye Chen climbs into the driver’s seat and with everyone now loaded back into the truck again, they resume their patrol route.
Upon reaching their next stop, Li Xue, Yu Ji, and Qing Yue are sent out for the task of retrieving the recording chip of this area’s computer terminal.
As the three lieutenants have yet to acquire the proper knowledge on what precautions to take during these walks, Ye Chen and Li Xue took turns guiding them through on what to avoid and how to notice signs of danger in the vicinity.
However—
(It’s so peaceful that it’s kind of eerie. Not a single sign of danger anywhere… Makes it hard to teach them the ropes without proper examples to use.)
Lamenting about this issue, Ye Chen sighs.
Other than the incident that involved the one-horned lion in the first patrol session, the trip continues peacefully.
“Might be time to stop for the day.”
Looking at the sun that is starting to set while sitting on top of the truck’s front nose, Ye Chen makes the decision to setup camp.
“Right then, 2nd Lieut. Yu Ji get the tents out.”
“Got it.”
In terms of progress, Ye Chen would consider themselves clearing through the patrol route at a decent pace, for they have already covered half of it.
Attempting to go any faster isn’t exactly much of a necessity, since regardless of how quick one is able to cover these routes, they’d still be made to finish it in two days due to the number of miles that they are forced to cover.
………
With a large pot placed over a fire and held up by a metal stand, the group waits for the MREs to finish cooking.
“I should be used to this by now, but…”
“It’s nothing expired right?”
“It’s actually edible right?”
Knowing that they would be having MREs instead of an ordinary meal, the three lieutenants voiced these concerns aloud.
“…?”
“You three… Just what sort of hellhole has those schools become after I graduated?”
“A place where you eat canned fruits for lunch.”
“A place where you eat stuff that’s already expired.”
“A place where they feed you stuff that not even a dog would want.”
The three answer Ye Chen’s question simultaneously, while Li Xue stirs the pot.
“I’ve checked the packages and it says it doesn’t expire until next year, and I’d consider rice with some curry seasonings edible. Unless you’re allergic to anything in it.”
Attempting to bring fresh ingredients would take up far too much space and weight when they must also bring four sleeping bags, two tents, five folding stools, the pot, the fire-starting kit, a first-aid kit, along with three large containers of water.
“Right, it’s done.”
Holding the meal contained within a plastic package, Long Hua gives it a brief sniff.
(Smells good at least.)
Having checked that, he digs his spoon in for a taste.
(What is this? I feel like crying—knowing that a meal like this is tastier than the crap they served back in S09.)
Eating their meal in silence, Ye Chen is the first to finish as he looks to the group and brings up the topic of—
“Right then, who’s up to do first watch with me?”
The reason why they didn’t bring a sleeping bag for everyone was because there must be two individuals on guard duty during the night.
“Why did we bring four bags then?”
“That fourth one is just in case.”
“I recommend 2nd Lieut. Long Hua and 2nd Lieut. Yu Ji to make a decision, it’s the gentlemanly thing to do for the ladies that need beauty sleep.”
Turning to each other, Long Hua and Yu Ji decided it over a game of rock, paper, and scissors.
“Well, g’night then.”
(Karma’s a real bitch I guess.)
Having lost the game, the two on guard duty are Ye Chen and Long Hua.
Chapter 22
As Li Xue, Qing Yue, and Yu Ji sleep in their tents, Ye Chen and Long Hua sit around the fire. Held in the two’s hands is a canteen containing drinking water.
“…”
“…”
As neither of them is willing to start a conversation with one another, Long Hua looks up at the night skies, and counts the stars out of boredom.
“Don’t those gears just make the scenery feel surreal?”
Unwilling to let this awkward silence continue, Ye Chen asks this question.
“…Wouldn’t others feel like they’re normal?”
With how much time has passed since the start of the Great Immortal Wars, the general populace should have accepted the Gears of Descension that are embedded into the planet’s exosphere to be a normal part of their lives by now.
That means to say, that the thought of seeing these gears in the skies shouldn’t be considered surreal at this point.
“I heard that there was a time in which those things didn’t exist in the skies.”
“Heard, but not seen.”
Thinking of an answer to Ye Chen’s question, Long Hua eventually answers—
“The true skies and the true stars that decorates it, are a lot brighter than this.”
A look of surprise appears on Ye Chen’s face, as he remarks—
“I was told the same thing.”
“Who?”
“Li Xue’s father.”
“Has he seen a sky without those gears?”
“He was also just told.”
“…”
“I’d ask if you’ve seen it as well, but I doubt it.”
With how many years Long Hua has lived for, it goes without saying that he wasn’t around when the skies were but an ordinary sky.
(Some part of me wants to mock this cheap looking ceiling for trying to mimic an impossible to recreate masterpiece, and yet…)
Inwardly shaking his head, Long Hua laughed at himself in ridicule.
(I don’t recall when it was that I had actually seen this supposed masterpiece.)
Turning to Ye Chen, Long Hua raises a snort, and answers—
“Should I have seen it then… I am perhaps some 10,000-year-old fiend, a creature unbefitting of this realm, a creature that should just scurry back to the hell it had emerged from.”
Towards Long Hua’s archaic manner of speech, Ye Chen raises an eye.
“Is that just something that you try to suppress, or is it actually a habit?”
“A habit that surfaces every now and then. Who would speak like that all the time?”
Almost as soon as he had answered as such, Long Hua couldn’t help but doubt himself.
“Hey, captain.”
“What’s wrong, second lieutenant?”
“You seem awfully on guard against something throughout the day and even now.”
“…Call it a soldier’s instincts, but I feel like this trip might get more interesting starting tomorrow.”
Towards these words, Long Hua raises a sigh while grasping at the air with his right hand.
“Would be nice to have something to drink if that were indeed the case.”
“Oh? I must agree. Even something cheap would be nice right now.”
“The price of the liquor matters not; what matters is who you’re drinking with—for to drink, is to drink the mood.”
“Sounds like a fancy excuse to just get wasted.”
“Perhaps that’s one way to interpret it. Feel free to use it whenever. Captain, about what you said day one.”
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
“I said a lot of crap day one. Which one are you referring to?”
“About looking forward to seeing us make it through our first year of service.”
“Oh that. I’m being serious about that.”
“And if we don’t?”
Towards this question, Ye Chen takes a drink from his canteen, and answers back with an unusual air of confidence—
“I’ll make sure you three do.”
“Would you have just said those words and been serious about them, regardless of who showed up in that office?”
“I would. I told myself—that I’ll take care of whoever is put under my wing for the next five years.”
“Whoever… Does the vice-captain count too?”
“Li Xue… Ai, let’s just say, I’m making amends to her for… You know.”
“Sounds like a lot of baggage, a sob story that I don’t feel like hearing.”
In place of alcohol, Long Hua takes a gulp of the water in his canteen.
“Hahaha talk about harsh. That actually stings a bit. At least show some interest.”
“Didn’t you say that the topic is a bit more private? Regardless… Looking forward to seeing how you entertain me for the next five years, captain.”
“Look forward to it as much as you want then second lieutenant, I see quite a lot of fun to be had with this squad.”
Continuing to talk about trivial matters, Long Hua and Ye Chen pass their hours of guard duty peacefully—prior to having the task taken over by Li Xue and Yu Ji, granting them five hours of rest before having to continue their trip through the patrol route.
“You two talked quite a bit last night.”
“What about it?”
Upon shutting the doors of the truck, Li Xue raises an eye towards Ye Chen.
“Just curious about what you two had to say to one another.”
“We talked about going out for a drink together and… The various ways vice-captain has tried to kill the captain in the past.”
“Oh?”
Towards Li Xue, Long Hua can’t help but give her an odd eye. According to those stories this woman is quite serious about what she said.
Chapter 23
“…”
“What happened here?”
As the entire group gets off the truck, Ye Chen and Li Xue take the lead, while Long Hua is positioned at the back with Yu Ji and Qing Yue.
“This should be the supposed village that guard told me about. But…”
Crouching down, Ye Chen scoops up a bit of the soil.
“Dark and rough to the touch.”
Dusting off his hands, Ye Chen continues to look around.
“Scatter and search the area a bit. Don’t go too far though.”
This place clearly had a fire outbreak recently, but enough time had passed for the scent of smoke to settle.
“Claw marks…?”
Approaching a rundown building, Li Xue notices a total of four diagonal cuts on the surface of its walls with each cut being an inch deep.
“I smell blood here.”
Standing in front of a large hole that was originally the walls of a two-floored building, Qing Yue frowns. Beneath her feet are slabs of rubble, arranged together in the form of stairs.
“Anyone in there? Hello?”
With these rubbles placed in such a way, people should have lived here before, but regardless of how loud Qing Yue calls, not a single voice of life replies to her.
Approaching from behind Qing Yue, Yu Ji holds a disk-shaped device in his right hand, and upon activation, the device emits four blinding beams of light outwards.
Tossing the device into the darkness, Qing Yue and Yu Ji see it fly a few meters forward before it drops, and bounces five times, to reveal—
“…Uh.”
“…”
A room filled with blood and gore.
With limbs scattered here and there, there is seemingly not a single body that is whole in this area that was the scene of a massacre.
“…”
“…How repulsive.”
Compared to Qing Yue and Yu Ji—whose complexions have been completely drained of color, and seem to want to vomit at the sight, Ye Chen and Li Xue merely raised a frown.
“D-Do we need to go in?”
“Hold down your urge to vomit. C’mon, don’t give me that look. Sights like this should be things you get accustomed to quickly. Besides, the terminal is in the building.”
“Why don’t you go in alone?”
“If I get cursed by some resentful ghost, I’d at least want someone to accompany me in my misfortune. Alright, quit complaining. Where’s 2nd Lieut. Long Hua?”
“I saw him heading off in the opposite direction following after some blood tracks.”
Reporting this, Yu Ji turns the other way, but before he can take a step forward, Ye Chen grabs him by the back of his cropped black jacket.
“And I said not to go too far. Whatever, he should be fine. Let’s go.”
“That guy must have run off. Captain, it’s not too late, how about I chase after him and bring him back?”
Seeing a chance to bail from this, Qing Yue speaks up immediately.
“No need 2nd Lieut. Qing Yue. Come, come, come, no need to be afraid.”
Practically dragging them at this point, Ye Chen pulls the two lieutenants into the bloodstained building.
………
“…”
Following a track of blood, Long Hua walks down a damaged road that is covered by moss and grass.
And as he continues down this path, an additional track appears from the sidelines.
(This track…)
Looking at the new set of tracks closely, Long Hua is able to tell that whatever this track belongs to, it must have possessed some weight and with the amount of distance that it managed to cover, it also appears to be rather agile.
(Instead of running on the ground chasing after the blood tracks’ owner, it seems to have been leaping with every step.)
The further along that Long Hua goes, the greater the number of violent signs there are—whether that be on the grounds or on the trees that are nearby.
These signs of violence take on the form of bloodstains or fierce looking claw marks.
Eventually—
“…”
The blood tracks end, and with it, the owner’s corpse lies face flat on the ground with their back slashed open by four cuts.
“…”
Waving away the insects that are surrounding the rotting corpse, Long Hua crouches down and examines the wound with narrowed eyes.
(There’s quite a bit of distance from where these tracks started till here. A beast this aggressive isn’t unheard of. It would probably head for the city soon if it’s not dealt with.)
Standing up from crouching, Long Hua turns his head to the side upon detecting the sound of footsteps.
“…”
A deer with crystal horns is walking towards his direction, but upon it taking three more steps forward, it abruptly falls onto its side, revealing four hideous gashes.
“…Uh?”
*…!!!* upon Long Hua taking a step towards the fallen deer’s direction, a bone chilling wave of hostile intent washes over him, causing him to immediately leap backwards!
“…Apotheosis.”
Blinking his eyes, Long Hua sees an animalistic figure of steel landing by the dead deer’s side.
“…”
As the steel beast casts Long Hua a side glance, it begins to dine, filling the air with the sound of the deer’s flesh being torn and chewed upon.
Measuring at over two meters in height, is a four-legged beast that resembles a hound with five sharp claws on each foot.
(Those claws are basically daggers in length. I see, so that’s why it must leap around. With claws that long, running around would be a hassle.)
Looking into the red eyes of the steel beast, Long Hua can’t help but feel a sense of nervousness. Up until this point in his life, he has only ever fought wild beasts and other Sinners.
The chances of being able to fight an Immortal, or an Apotheosized Sinner—
(Well, this is a first…)
Sinners that have reached a Hazard Level that is over 2,000 are kept under strict observation by the government.
Should they show any signs of undergoing Apotheosis, they would be put down immediately, so the odds of them appearing within cities is extremely low.
However, here in the wastelands, that is a completely different story.
This is a place that isn’t under the direct control of GC012, hence whatever happens here will not be seen, which in turn had allowed this Sinner to undergo Apotheosis.
Chapter 24
“…”
While facing the steel hound, Long Hua takes a few steps back, but-
*Graawr!!* seemingly unwilling to just let another prey leave with such ease, the steel hound tears out another part of the dead deer’s flesh with its fangs—prior to leaping five meters into the air and descending towards the spot that Long Hua stands.
“Tch.”
Avoiding the descending steel hound by sidestepping to the right, Long Hua immediately turns around and breaks into a run.
Dealing with an opponent that he isn’t used to fighting can result in irreparable consequences, so it would be best to get a better understanding of the enemy first, and the best way to do that is to have others take the brunt of the enemy’s assaults—while observing from a safe distance.
*Boom! Kakaka! Boom!* with this decision in mind, Long Hua runs towards the direction where the rest of his squad is located—while the steel hound that is giving chase bounces about and tears up the ground in a rampant manner!
………
“Ugh…”
“…”
As Qing Yue and Yu Ji pressed a hand against the side of a building, they held their mouths with the other, while attempting to suppress the urge to throw up from what they had seen.
(Dammit, I thought I’d gotten used to seeing gore at this point, but I guess… Seeing things from afar and up close are two completely different experiences…)
As Yu Ji thought of this, Ye Chen and Li Xue stood to the side with solemn expressions on their faces.
“Well, what do you think?”
“The terminal’s readings aren’t high enough to indicate an Immortal. In that case, we got two possibilities. The first is a pack of wild beasts of some sort coming by for dinner. The second, a Sinner underwent Apotheosis.”
The detection system is not built to pick up wild animals or Sinners.
The bodies of Immortals contain a special force of energy that is unique to them, and scanning for this energy specifically is how the detection system is able to pick up on their presences.
Wild beasts that are sent into this world through the Gears of Descension may also possess this energy within their bodies, but it is usually a lot less than the amount that can be detected from an Immortal.
“If it were a beast pack, then they’d at least clean the place up better. Why leave perfectly good food left uneaten?”
“Then, it can only be an Apotheosized Sinner. Thing is, are they sti-”
Pausing in his words, Ye Chen looks towards another direction where dust clouds are being kicked up, along with the sound of something moving about in a violent manner.
“That’s…”
Emerging from a bush, Long Hua raises his running speed and continues to sprint towards the rest of the squad, while trailing right behind him in hot pursuit is a black steel hound.
“All yours captain, show me some entertainment.”
Saying these words, Long Hua rushes pass Ye Chen and slides to a stop.
“You know, this really ain’t quite what I had in mind…”
Taking three steps forward, Ye Chen swings his right hand and in the same instance, a two-meter black greatsword manifests in his grip.
Inscribed onto the greatsword’s blade are odd runes written in red ink.
(A flat headed blade and a blunt edge…)
Noticing these details, Long Hua concludes that this weapon isn’t meant to be used for piercing attacks or precision focused cutting.
*Grawr!* with less than a dozen meters left to cover, the steel hound leaps high into the air and descends with its dagger-length claws held back in preparation to swipe.
“…”
In the same instance, Ye Chen readies his sword by grasping its handle with both hands and upon his next step—
“Hah!”
*…!* performing a full rotation with his body, the air trembles as Ye Chen swings the colossal slab of iron upwards!
*Klang!!!* as the dull edge of the greatsword clashes with the sharp claws of the steel hound, sparks fly, but the weight of Ye Chen’s swing manages to win out in the end—causing five of the steel hound’s claws to shatter, while also throwing the beast back!
As Ye Chen readjusts his stance, the steel hound lands and as it glares at its enemies, its shattered claws begin to regenerate.
(So, it can regrow them?)
Noticing this, Long Hua narrows his eyes, while Qing Yue and Yu Ji summon their Relics as well.
As for Li Xue—
*Klang…!* sensing the approach of a projectile, the steel hound leaps backwards causing the projectile to stab into the ground.
The aforementioned projectile is a spear measuring at two meters in length.
Wrapping around the spearhead is a decorative red tassel, while the shaft of the weapon is carved up with taotie patterns.
Almost as soon as the spear had missed its target, Li Xue appears beside it by means of teleportation and pulls the weapon out of the ground, prior to performing a series of sweeps and lunging attacks with the weapon at the steel hound.
Taking this chance, Ye Chen approaches the steel hound from the side, while cleaving his blade down.
“…”
“…”
Watching the two deal with the steel hound in union, Qing Yue and Yu Ji can’t help but feel a bit out of place.
As a long-distance specialized assassin, Yu Ji hasn’t had many chances to fight a single enemy with a group, whereas Qing Yue couldn’t see any opportunities to send the white tiger by her side into battle—in fear of disrupting Ye Chen and Li Xue’s combination.
*Klang!* as Ye Chen fends off against the steel hound’s maw, Li Xue descends from above with her spear, but having sensed this, the latter immediately releases its bite on Ye Chen’s weapon and evades.
(Those two definitely have experience working with each other.)
Paying close attention to the way those two are moving, Long Hua begins to analyze their patterns along with the enemy’s.
(The captain’s attacks consist mainly of wide ranged swings. The rotation of his body that is being performed—is meant to give each blow more force. Vice-captain, she tends to move in after three swings from the captain, since the enemy would have already been out of his reach by then. Her attacks are a lot faster, and consist of stabs with a few sweeps here and there. Hmm, this enemy can’t seem to run on the ground without tripping over itself due to its claws…)
Turning to Yu Ji, Long Hua says—
“Get your most destructive arrows out and notch them. Fire when it’s in the air. Would be ideal if you can knock it down.”
Despite being a bit displeased by Long Hua’s demanding tone, Yu Ji does as he is told.
“Qing Yue, you able to summon anything else? Something that can deal heavy damage in a single hit would be nice.”
“The calabash gourd.”
“Get it out then.”
Taking four steps forward, Long Hua summons out his Relic as well, as twin serpents slithers out of his jacket.
Chapter 25
“…Now.”
As the steel hound escapes from the reach of Li Xue’s spear while Ye Chen is still a dozen meters away, Long Hua sees his chance and rushes forth.
With swift steps that made no sound against the ground, Long Hua shrinks the gap between the steel hound and himself within the blink of an eye.
“…”
As less than two meters of distance separates him from the steel hound, Long Hua rotates his body lashing the twin serpents outward.
Amidst Long Hua’s rotation, the twin serpents flatten their bodies and sharpen themselves to become as deadly as cold blades.
As if it is evading a jumping rope, the steel hound dodges the attack by backflipping into the air, and the moment its hindlegs manage to land, it bounces off the ground and charges towards Long Hua.
As the steel hound’s claws approach him, Long Hua lets his body fall towards the ground by bending his knees and amidst this maneuver, he throws out a punch that lands onto the former’s flat abdomen.
(Damn, it’s hard.)
Sensing a bit of pain in his fingers, Long Hua can’t help but end up regretting his decision to throw out a punch.
(The enemy’s body is harder than a diamond, hell am I thinking trying to hit it with my fist?)
As the saying goes, old habits die hard and being far too used to dealing with enemies of flesh and blood, Long Hua sighs on the inside, as he reaches his left hand out and grabs the steel hound by its tail.
Supporting his entire body weight on his feet, Long Hua recovers his stance.
Upon straightening his posture fully—with his continued hold over the steel hound’s tail, Long Hua applies strength in the rotation of his left arm to smash the beast onto the ground in front of him!
*Scrrrrrr…!* tightening his grip over the steel hound’s tail, Long Hua balances himself on one heel, as he spins his body in place, while dragging the steel hound against the ground—kicking up a shower of sparks!
Upon the third rotation, the steel hound begins to apply its strength in struggling to break free, however—
(This guy…)
Aiming the steel hound towards Ye Chen, Long Hua tosses it in their direction.
*…!* taking a firm step forward, Ye Chen holds the greatsword like a baseball bat and as it approaches him—
*Boom!* smashing the dull edge of the greatsword onto the steel hound’s back, he propels it into the air, where Yu Ji immediately releases a volley of arrows that explodes on impact!
Dashing forth, Li Xue leaps into the air and prior to the dust clouds settling, she cleaves with her spear sending the steel hound towards the ground!
Perfectly timed, Qing Yue raises her finger and points to the steel hound that is now lying on the ground.
Looming a few meters above her head is a calabash gourd—measuring at two meters in length with a white tassel tied around its body.
“Fire!”
*BANG!!!* with a thunderous roar, a sphere of energy is fired from the lips of the gourd, and upon it landing a clean hit onto the steel hound, a deadly blast goes off!
“Urk…”
Defending himself against the scalding wind that came about as a result of this blast, Ye Chen is just about to raise a sigh of relief, but—
“Not happening.”
Shifting himself to the right, Li Xue’s spear lands exactly where his head had been positioned—prior to her landing on top of the weapon.
“Tch. Don’t dodge next time.”
“Piss off.”
As Ye Chen begins to relax his stance—
*GRAWR!!!* a beastly roar that is double the blast’s volume goes off, ripping the settling dust clouds apart!
“Seriously?”
As the body of the steel hound releases tendrils of ominous red mist from its joints, Ye Chen can’t help but sweat, as he sees the beast’s badly mangled body regenerating at an astonishing rate.
This red mist is a sign of this Apotheosized Sinner advancing to the next stage of its evolution—as a mindless weapon hellbent on killing and devouring whatever it is that it can find.
“Ah screw this! Retreat! Retreat! We’re leaving this shit to someone else!”
Calling it quits quickly, Ye Chen gives the order to retreat.
If it were just Li Xue and him alone, he might consider trying to finish the steel hound off while its undergoing its evolution, but with three inexperienced lieutenants accompanying them, the risks are far too great to undertake.
During this process of evolution, the Apotheosized Sinner is constantly in an agitated state—making its aggression filled movement far more destructive.
“…Tch.”
*Grawr!!* almost instantly, the steel hound turns to Long Hua—who is closest to it.
As the steel hound pounces about in a rampant manner, Long Hua runs in the opposite direction of the squad.
“Meet you all in the next patrol area!”
“Dammit.”
Looking back towards the direction, where Long Hua and the steel hound are headed off to, Ye Chen thought of chasing after them as well, but—
“Hurry up, at this point, you’ve already lost your chance to catch up to them.”
Inevitably, someone needed to be a decoy, if they wished to get away from the rampaging steel hound.
………
*Boom! Kakaka! Boom!* accompanied by the sound of whatever it is that is being torn up—whether that be the road or the nearby pieces of rubble, Long Hua continues to run.
He had no plan in mind as to where to take this thing, or how he could even hope to lose it.
However, since it had decided to chase after him, he could only do his best to make an escape.
(Tch, getting chased and eaten by a dog. Didn’t think this would be how I’d die… I guess, if there is a next life, I’d better try my best to… I don’t know, make my body as durable as a Relic?)
Lamenting his fate, Long Hua grinds his teeth together in dissatisfaction.
This isn’t the first time that he has felt such a powerful sense of dissatisfaction, but accompanying this dissatisfaction is also a sense of thrill, the type that one would feel when they are truly alive.
(My dearest disciple, in front of fate, just how much is the strength of a mortal worth? Beneath the Heavens, there are a number of issues that cannot be resolved by the strength of mortals. But… So long as you have pushed your hardest, you shouldn’t have any regrets—even if, all the effort that you’ve expended was in vain. Do you recall what I have told you about in the past? About the two paths available to you in living out your life?)
In that instance, a figure dressed in white robes appeared in Long Hua’s mind, and towards the question that the former had asked of him—
(Either you live out your life in tranquility, or die in tranquility ahead of time.)