Xuan Ye, This Was the Name Cai'er Gave Me

What kind of ridiculous excuse was that!

The White-robed figure took a deep breath, his voice turning grave.

"Stop fooling around."

"This isn't the time to be stubborn!"

"Come with me. It's your only chance to survive!"

Before he had finished speaking, his figure blurred into a streak as he reached for Long Xuanye's shoulder with clawed fingers.

Long Xuanye didn't dodge. Just as the White-robed figure's hand was about to touch his clothes,

a flash of black light flickered in Long Xuanye's palm.

It was an utterly ordinary short blade, but now it was pressed against his own throat.

The White-robed figure froze.

His hand stopped in midair, his fingertips barely an inch from Long Xuanye's shoulder.

"What are you doing?!"

Long Xuanye finally looked up at him, his gaze utterly calm.

"Mr. Shadow Knight, don't force me."

"Who do you think is faster, your hand or my blade?"

The White-robed figure furrowed his brows.

"You think threatening me with suicide will make me let you go?"

"I can stop you before you do anything!"

The corner of Long Xuanye's mouth twitched.

"Go ahead and try."

"That special ability of mine, the one that stopped you once before, will buy me enough time to slit my own throat."

"You can't stop someone who's determined to die."

The White-robed figure fell silent.

He stared fixedly at Long Xuanye.

After a long while, the White-robed figure lowered his hand. His voice was full of weariness and confusion.

"...Why go this far?"

"Long Xuanye, why are you so determined to do this?"

Long Xuanye's gaze wavered slightly.

He shook his head.

"That isn't my name."

He spoke softly, as if declaring it to himself.

"My name is Xuan Ye."

"Ye, as in night."

"That's the name Cai'er gave me."

With that, he didn't look at the White-robed figure again. He put away the short blade, turned, and walked deeper into the forest.

The White-robed figure remained where he was and didn't pursue him.

He knew he couldn't stop him now.

Xuan Ye's figure receded into the distance.

He passed by a so-called "garden."

It was the place Cai'er had pointed out and called beautiful when they'd rested together before.

Under the moonlight, Xuan Ye stopped.

There was no garden here.

Only a patch of overgrown weeds, dotted here and there with a few small, nameless white flowers trembling in the night breeze.

There weren't enough flowers to weave a pretty wreath—not even enough to make a decent bouquet.

Xuan Ye thought of Cai'er's gray-white eyes.

She couldn't see clearly.

So she'd mistaken a field full of foxtail grass for flowers.

Last time, he'd only been able to play along.

"When my eyes get better, we can make a flower crown for me here..."

It was as if he could hear a girl speaking softly beside his ear.

Xuan Ye stood silently for a long time.

He didn't look back. His figure vanished completely into the thick darkness.

In front of the Thatched Hut.

The White-robed figure was still standing there, his expression complicated.

Suddenly, a suffocating pressure descended from the sky.

Golden light tore through the night, and a figure slowly came down.

The newcomer wore golden armor. His face was handsome, but his eyes held a vicious glint.

Seal Knight Long Xingyu.

"Where is he?"

Long Xingyu's voice held no emotion.

The White-robed figure bowed in greeting, neither humble nor arrogant.

"I'm not sure who you're referring to."

Long Xingyu's gaze fell on him, and the pressure instantly increased tenfold.

"Where is Long Xuanye?"

The White-robed figure felt every bone in his body groan, but he still stood tall.

"I don't know anyone named Long Xuanye."

"Boom—!"

A pillar of golden light erupted and blasted the White-robed figure away.

He slammed into a distant mountainside, spat out a mouthful of blood, and slumped to the ground.

Long Xingyu appeared before him like a ghost, looking down at him.

"I'll ask you one more time."

"Where is Long Xuanye?"

The White-robed figure coughed up blood, yet a bitter smile appeared on his face.

"I... don't know..."

"There's... never been anyone by that name."

An eighth-step Emperor Assassin was still nothing more than an ant before a Seal Knight.

The killing intent in Long Xingyu's eyes surged.

But in the end, he didn't kill him.

Killing an executive of the Assassin's Sanctuary would bring endless trouble.

Besides... humanity still needed his strength.

He snorted, and his golden figure shot into the sky.

Long Xingyu blurred into motion and landed beside a house near the Knight Temple.

The house was brightly lit.

In the courtyard, a small figure was sweating as he trained.

Long Haochen held a wooden sword, repeating the most basic strikes, chops, and thrusts over and over.

His movements were precise. Sweat had already soaked through his clothes, but his young face was full of determination.

Inside the house, Bai Yue watched her son through the window, her eyes reddening.

"Haochen, take a break. Dinner's ready."

Long Haochen stopped, wiped his sweat with his sleeve, and ran into the house.

He skillfully helped Bai Yue set out the bowls and chopsticks, his face carrying a maturity beyond his years.

"Mom, don't worry."

"Now that my brother's gone, I'll take care of you from now on."

Bai Yue stroked his head, about to say something.

Creak—

The front door opened.

Long Xingyu walked in.

"Dad!"

A delighted smile appeared on Long Haochen's face, and he hurried over.

Long Xingyu looked at his son. The lines of his taut expression softened slightly.

"Starting tomorrow, you'll train with me in the wilderness."

Long Haochen hesitated for a moment.

"Then... what about Mom?"

"I'll take good care of your mother," Long Xingyu said flatly.

He looked at Long Haochen, then changed the subject.

"Do you still want to see Long Xuanye?"

"Yes!"

Long Haochen answered without hesitation.

"Then come with me."

He didn't tell Long Haochen what he really had in mind.

Long Xingyu had prepared for both possibilities.

If he found that disobedient son and killed him with his own hands, that would be ideal.

If he didn't find him...

That was fine, too.

Haochen's talent was even greater than his own had been.

He would train Haochen into the sharpest sword imaginable, using the harshest and most brutal methods.

A sword... capable of killing his own brother.

At the thought, Long Xingyu felt a strange thrill.

The Demon God Emperor's bloodline...

They'd kill each other...

Good!

Excellent!

After they crossed an invisible boundary, the night grew darker still.

The air was thick with the smell of sulfur and decay, utterly unlike the freshness of human lands.

This was the Devil Race Territory.

[Beep—]

[A task has been completed: Travel to the Devil Race Territory and seek a sliver of hope amid slaughter and death.]

[Issuing rewards...]

[Innate Dark Inner Spiritual Power +10.]

[Reward issued: Growth-type equipment (Spirit Demon Grade).]

Boom!

A power unlike light surged through Xuan Ye's limbs and bones.

The ten-point increase this time let him truly feel a cold, demonic power roiling inside him. He could also sense the energy around him far more keenly.

Then came a second notification.

[Reward issued: Growth-type equipment (Spirit Demon Grade).]