Lin Qiye's blade pierced through the ghostly visage, yet it wasn't the cause of the Ghost-Faced King's agonized howls.
What truly elicited such heart-wrenching wails from the Ghost-Faced King was Lin Qiye's eyes. Beneath their scorching golden glow, the ghostly countenance seemed to melt like wax before a flame, rapidly dissolving.
Though this golden radiance appeared only fleetingly, it was enough to completely extinguish the already fading vitality of the Ghost-Faced King.
Finally, under Lin Qiye's gaze, the ghostly visage solidified into a wrinkled, semi-solid mass, no trace of its former self remaining.
Meanwhile, Lin Qiye felt a warm current flowing slowly into his body through the hand gripping the blade.
He furrowed his brows slightly, lifting his foot to step on the ghostly body beneath him and withdrew his straight blade.
After a moment's consideration, he bent down to pick up the pale, crumpled mass of the ghostly visage. His vision darkened momentarily, nearly causing him to stumble.
Despite the blessing of the Night Dancer, the intense and perilous battle had drained Lin Qiye's physical strength significantly. Most crucially, his two uses of the Seraph's Eye had completely depleted his already limited mental energy, making even walking a challenge now.
As Zhao Kongcheng had said, in his current state, facing the Ghost-Faced King meant certain death.
If it weren't for the Night Watchmen severely injuring the Ghost-Faced King beforehand, if it weren't for Zhao Kongcheng sacrificing himself to cripple the Ghost-Faced King, even with the Seraph's Eye and the Night Dancer, Lin Qiye would still not have stood a chance against the Ghost-Faced King.
This was the mythological creature that had descended upon this world.
This was the "Chuanjing."
Rain streaked down his cheeks as he stepped through puddles of blood, staggering towards Zhao Kongcheng's corpse.
He reached the body and slowly sat down.
"I've told you before, heroism isn't so easily attained," Lin Qiye murmured, looking at the now cold Zhao Kongcheng. "You gambled your life here, but how many people know?
Do you know? Even now, miles away in the city center, life goes on as usual.
They're singing in KTVs, indulging in delicacies at hotpot restaurants, frolicking in hotels, munching popcorn at cinemas...
And you, you!
Can only silently perish here.
They won't know that amidst this pouring rain, a man wielded a blade against a mythical creature! They won't know they can enjoy carefree merriment... because someone sacrificed their life for them.
Is it truly worth it?"
Lin Qiye gazed at Zhao Kongcheng's pale face, as if waiting for his answer.
Unfortunately, he was destined to remain silent.
Lin Qiye continued, "Do you think I fear death?
You're wrong, I fear death not at all.
Do you think a child who has seen angels since childhood, lost his sight, and was locked away in a mental hospital would fear death?
I've attempted to end my life countless times in the darkness, yet the light has rescued me time and time again.
The light that saved me isn't from those who chase desires in the city, complaining about the unfairness of the world!
...It's from my family."
Lin Qiye looked up, gazing at the pitch-black night sky, and spoke slowly:
"Since the sentient beings haven't saved me, why should I sacrifice my life to protect these 'sentient beings'?
So, I refuse to be a Night Watchman."
Lin Qiye turned his head, his gaze falling on the low buildings in the pouring rain, a hint of confusion in his eyes.
"But, I am someone who can never owe others.
You saved my whole world,
What can I do for you?"
Lin Qiye paused, then continued, "I know Night Watchmen have good benefits, even if you die, your wife and children will receive the best treatment. Let alone the arrangements for your funeral, the Night Watchmen will definitely ensure a dignified...
You don't lack money, and I don't have money either.
So, what can I do to repay this immense debt to you?"
Lin Qiye sat there blankly for a moment, then turned to look at the distant low buildings...
In the rain, his fists clenched slowly,
Then loosened weakly.
As if he had made up his mind, he propped himself up with the blade, struggled to stand, muttering to himself:
"In my life, I owe only three people: my aunt who raised me for ten years, my cousin who was burdened by me for ten years...
And you who saved the lives of our family of three.
You saved my whole world,
In exchange,
I'll guard your world for ten years.
After ten years, whatever the circumstances, I'll have no relation to the Night Watchmen, no relation to the 'sentient beings,'
I'll return to this home and continue my original life.
Is this transaction... fair?"
Lin Qiye looked down at Zhao Kongcheng's body in the pool of blood, lying there quietly as if asleep.
"Since you don't object, then it's settled."
Lin Qiye plunged the straight blade into the ground, facing in one direction... and knelt down.
There, in the rain, was an ordinary low building.
"Auntie, Little Seven is leaving, forgive me for leaving without saying goodbye,
Because I'm afraid that once I return... I won't want to leave again.
I heard that Night Watchmen have good benefits. In these ten years of my hard work, the subsidies provided will be enough for you and my cousin to live a good life. After ten years, Little Seven will ensure that you have the best days...
I'll repay your nurturing grace in fifty years."
Lin Qiye knelt in the rain, water droplets falling from his hair, moistening his eyes.
He bent down, knocking his head heavily a few times, his forehead against the ground for a long time before slowly lifting it.
He stood up slowly, glanced at the low building one last time, pulled out the straight blade from the ground...
And turned away.
...
"Xiangnan! I've reached the old residential area, where's Old Zhao?!"
In the heavy rain, a woman clad in a dark red cloak, drenched from head to toe, stood in the street, a black long box slung over her back, panting heavily.
"He's in the open space beyond the next two buildings in front of you," Wu Xiangnan's voice came through her earpiece, with a hint of suppressed emotion. "Hongying... you need to be prepared."
"Prepared for what?"
"We lost contact with him a few minutes ago, and Old Zhao's emblem hasn't moved for several minutes..."
Hongying's pupils suddenly contracted, her body trembling slightly, then she shot forward like an arrow, rushing ahead!
"Don't talk nonsense!! Maybe, maybe he's just tired..." Hongying gritted her teeth, her voice tinged with a sob.
"Hongying..."
"Don't say anything!!" Hongying roared.
"Hongying! Old Zhao's emblem just moved!"
As soon as these words were uttered
, a gleam appeared in Hongying's eyes!
"I knew it, I knew it... he's not so easily defeated! Where is he?"
"He's moving slowly, and... he's getting closer to you."
Hongying paused, subconsciously halting her steps, her gaze falling on the corner not far away.
Dull thunder rumbled in the distant clouds, rain poured like a curtain, obscuring her vision.
Vaguely, a figure emerged from the rain, walking slowly.
It was a young man,
A blade slung across his back,
Holding a man's body in his arms,
He stopped, exerting all his strength, roaring out!
As if proclaiming to the whole world!
"—Junior Lin Qiye, escorting General Zhao Kongcheng's triumphant return!!!"
Lin Qiye's blade pierced through the ghostly visage, yet it wasn't the cause of the Ghost-Faced King's agonized howls.
What truly elicited such heart-wrenching wails from the Ghost-Faced King was Lin Qiye's eyes. Beneath their scorching golden glow, the ghostly countenance seemed to melt like wax before a flame, rapidly dissolving.
Though this golden radiance appeared only fleetingly, it was enough to completely extinguish the already fading vitality of the Ghost-Faced King.
Finally, under Lin Qiye's gaze, the ghostly visage solidified into a wrinkled, semi-solid mass, no trace of its former self remaining.
Meanwhile, Lin Qiye felt a warm current flowing slowly into his body through the hand gripping the blade.
He furrowed his brows slightly, lifting his foot to step on the ghostly body beneath him and withdrew his straight blade.
After a moment's consideration, he bent down to pick up the pale, crumpled mass of the ghostly visage. His vision darkened momentarily, nearly causing him to stumble.
Despite the blessing of the Night Dancer, the intense and perilous battle had drained Lin Qiye's physical strength significantly. Most crucially, his two uses of the Seraph's Eye had completely depleted his already limited mental energy, making even walking a challenge now.
As Zhao Kongcheng had said, in his current state, facing the Ghost-Faced King meant certain death.
If it weren't for the Night Watchmen severely injuring the Ghost-Faced King beforehand, if it weren't for Zhao Kongcheng sacrificing himself to cripple the Ghost-Faced King, even with the Seraph's Eye and the Night Dancer, Lin Qiye would still not have stood a chance against the Ghost-Faced King.
This was the mythological creature that had descended upon this world.
This was the "Chuanjing."
Rain streaked down his cheeks as he stepped through puddles of blood, staggering towards Zhao Kongcheng's corpse.
He reached the body and slowly sat down.
"I've told you before, heroism isn't so easily attained," Lin Qiye murmured, looking at the now cold Zhao Kongcheng. "You gambled your life here, but how many people know?
Do you know? Even now, miles away in the city center, life goes on as usual.
They're singing in KTVs, indulging in delicacies at hotpot restaurants, frolicking in hotels, munching popcorn at cinemas...
And you, you!
Can only silently perish here.
They won't know that amidst this pouring rain, a man wielded a blade against a mythical creature! They won't know they can enjoy carefree merriment... because someone sacrificed their life for them.
Is it truly worth it?"
Lin Qiye gazed at Zhao Kongcheng's pale face, as if waiting for his answer.
Unfortunately, he was destined to remain silent.
Lin Qiye continued, "Do you think I fear death?
You're wrong, I fear death not at all.
Do you think a child who has seen angels since childhood, lost his sight, and was locked away in a mental hospital would fear death?
I've attempted to end my life countless times in the darkness, yet the light has rescued me time and time again.
The light that saved me isn't from those who chase desires in the city, complaining about the unfairness of the world!
...It's from my family."
Lin Qiye looked up, gazing at the pitch-black night sky, and spoke slowly:
"Since the sentient beings haven't saved me, why should I sacrifice my life to protect these 'sentient beings'?
So, I refuse to be a Night Watchman."
Lin Qiye turned his head, his gaze falling on the low buildings in the pouring rain, a hint of confusion in his eyes.
"But, I am someone who can never owe others.
You saved my whole world,
What can I do for you?"
Lin Qiye paused, then continued, "I know Night Watchmen have good benefits, even if you die, your wife and children will receive the best treatment. Let alone the arrangements for your funeral, the Night Watchmen will definitely ensure a dignified...
You don't lack money, and I don't have money either.
So, what can I do to repay this immense debt to you?"
Lin Qiye sat there blankly for a moment, then turned to look at the distant low buildings...
In the rain, his fists clenched slowly,
Then loosened weakly.
As if he had made up his mind, he propped himself up with the blade, struggled to stand, muttering to himself:
"In my life, I owe only three people: my aunt who raised me for ten years, my cousin who was burdened by me for ten years...
And you who saved the lives of our family of three.
You saved my whole world,
In exchange,
I'll guard your world for ten years.
After ten years, whatever the circumstances, I'll have no relation to the Night Watchmen, no relation to the 'sentient beings,'
I'll return to this home and continue my original life.
Is this transaction... fair?"
Lin Qiye looked down at Zhao Kongcheng's body in the pool of blood, lying there quietly as if asleep.
"Since you don't object, then it's settled."
Lin Qiye plunged the straight blade into the ground, facing in one direction... and knelt down.
There, in the rain, was an ordinary low building.
"Auntie, Little Seven is leaving, forgive me for leaving without saying goodbye,
Because I'm afraid that once I return... I won't want to leave again.
I heard that Night Watchmen have good benefits. In these ten years of my hard work, the subsidies provided will be enough for you and my cousin to live a good life. After ten years, Little Seven will ensure that you have the best days...
I'll repay your nurturing grace in fifty years."
Lin Qiye knelt in the rain, water droplets falling from his hair, moistening his eyes.
He bent down, knocking his head heavily a few times, his forehead against the ground for a long time before slowly lifting it.
He stood up slowly, glanced at the low building one last time, pulled out the straight blade from the ground...
And turned away.
...
"Xiangnan! I've reached the old residential area, where's Old Zhao?!"
In the heavy rain, a woman clad in a dark red cloak, drenched from head to toe, stood in the street, a black long box slung over her back, panting heavily.
"He's in the open space beyond the next two buildings in front of you," Wu Xiangnan's voice came through her earpiece, with a hint of suppressed emotion. "Hongying... you need to be prepared."
"Prepared for what?"
"We lost contact with him a few minutes ago, and Old Zhao's emblem hasn't moved for several minutes..."
Hongying's pupils suddenly contracted, her body trembling slightly, then she shot forward like an arrow, rushing ahead!
"Don't talk nonsense!! Maybe, maybe he's just tired..." Hongying gritted her teeth, her voice tinged with a sob.
"Hongying..."
"Don't say anything!!" Hongying roared.
"Hongying! Old Zhao's emblem just moved!"
As soon as these words were uttered
, a gleam appeared in Hongying's eyes!
"I knew it, I knew it... he's not so easily defeated! Where is he?"
"He's moving slowly, and... he's getting closer to you."
Hongying paused, subconsciously halting her steps, her gaze falling on the corner not far away.
Dull thunder rumbled in the distant clouds, rain poured like a curtain, obscuring her vision.
Vaguely, a figure emerged from the rain, walking slowly.
It was a young man,
A blade slung across his back,
Holding a man's body in his arms,
He stopped, exerting all his strength, roaring out!
As if proclaiming to the whole world!
"—Junior Lin Qiye, escorting General Zhao Kongcheng's triumphant return!!!"
