Close on the Heels

The night was deep and the sky vast. A war chariot streaked across the horizon, its nine bronze dragon heads so lifelike that, in the blur of motion, one could almost see nine true dragons roaring, snarling, and soaring as they hauled the chariot, tearing through the sky and covering ten thousand miles in a single instant.

This was the renowned Nine-Dragon War Chariot of the Zhongnan Dojo. Though it appeared ancient and weathered, it was far superior to the notorious Great Might Inter-World Shuttle of the Law Enforcement Department.

Four people sat cross-legged on the chariot: the Ice-Sealed Sword Saint, Hong Ying, and two Supreme Elders of the Zhongnan Dojo. The one with red hair and white brows was Lie Huo, while the one with white hair and red brows was Huo Lie. Both were legendary figures who had attained sainthood hundreds of years ago and were highly esteemed.

"Look, regretful now, aren't you? Disappointed, aren't you? Know you were wrong now? I told you to listen to me, to listen to me. You wouldn't believe me, and now you know. Hmph, it's too late. But I am a magnanimous person; if you sincerely apologize to me, I might just mercifully forgive you."

Hong Ying chattered incessantly, causing the brows of the Ice-Sealed Sword Saint and the others to twitch.

"Shut up!"

"So noisy!"

Lie Huo and Huo Lie scolded in unison, their palms twitching as they fought the urge to strangle Hong Ying.

"Enough." The Ice-Sealed Sword Saint spoke in a low voice, his gaze flickering as he looked at Hong Ying. "You guessed right this time. But we are two days late; do you think that Lin Huang is still in Daqian Prefecture?"

Hong Ying bit on a lollipop. "Don't worry, I just cast a hex. Tomorrow is a good day for a wedding and a good day for seeking revenge. It's an auspicious date."

The Ice-Sealed Sword Saint was stunned for a moment before he understood Hong Ying's meaning, nodding slowly. "The divination arts of the Hong Clan are naturally infallible."

"Increase speed. We must reach Daqian Prefecture before noon tomorrow."

The chariot fell into silence. After a long while, Hong Ying's voice drifted out, sounding somewhat hollow: "But Daqian Prefecture... that is not a good place."

"I know." The Ice-Sealed Sword Saint's tone was flat, his killing intent restrained. "But if Lin Huang does not die, my heart will never be at peace."

"I'll state this first: if you intend to make a move in Daqian Prefecture, I am not participating." Hong Ying bit his lollipop in half, his tone firm.

"We don't need you to act. A mere junior is enough for us."

"I could crush him with one hand."

Huo Lie and Lie Huo snorted in disdain.

"Lin Huang must die." The Ice-Sealed Sword Saint's words were absolute, brooking no argument.

Daqian Prefecture, South City.

Lin Huang walked out of the cemetery, following the memories of his childhood through the streets and alleys of South City. The Spring-Autumn King did not dare to flee, following obediently behind him. "You aren't actually planning to attend the wedding, are you?"

The Spring-Autumn King found a topic to break the silence. Seeing that Lin Huang did not answer, he let out a strange laugh. "You might even get to sit at the 'ex-boyfriend' table, you know."

"Chen Ruo said that all my former classmates will be attending. If I am to sever ties, I must do it cleanly."

Lin Huang spoke with great composure. His state of mind had become increasingly detached, and he felt he was vaguely grasping the key to overcoming his Human Tribulation.

The Human Tribulation is the Tribulation of the Mortal World. Once the past is severed, I should be able to overcome it.

Lin Huang murmured to himself. He felt that the reason he had yet to overcome the Human Tribulation was that these mortal ties had not been truly cut. Beyond Chen Ruo and his parents, the others who existed in his memories—those past events—also needed to be severed.

Acquaintance is fate; if there is fate, it must be severed. Otherwise, how can one overcome the Human Tribulation and cut through the mortal world?

The Spring-Autumn King didn't quite understand but felt it sounded profound. Just as he was about to make another snide remark, he saw Lin Huang's eyes—bright and seemingly devoid of any human emotion—turn toward him. "Have you thought of the answer I wanted?"

The Spring-Autumn King felt a chill in his heart and answered honestly, "I've said everything I could. I even told you about the time I lifted someone's skirt when I was a kid. I really don't know."

"Is it my fault that you can't kill me?"

"Big Brother, you have to be reasonable."

Lin Huang's gaze was like lightning, as if it could pierce through the human heart. After a moment of silence, he nodded. "You are not lying."

"How could I lie? Besides, with your wisdom, could I possibly deceive you?"

The Spring-Autumn King was overjoyed and spoke repeatedly.

"Since you know nothing, so be it. Do one thing for me, and I will spare your life."

Lin Huang did not dwell on it further. There was definitely something suspicious about the Spring-Autumn King, but Lin Huang felt he had touched upon the key to godhood and had no interest in pursuing the matter further. He spoke calmly, giving the Spring-Autumn King his instructions.

"What is it?" the Spring-Autumn King asked, feeling wary.

"You will know tomorrow." Lin Huang waved his hand, his expression indifferent, his voice sounding somewhat ethereal. "Since when did this long street have so many murals?"

"How would I know? You haven't even told me what you want me to do..." The Spring-Autumn King covered his mouth, only then realizing that Lin Huang wasn't talking to him.

He scanned the walls of the long street and realized that, at some point, countless murals had appeared on both sides. The art style was dark, resembling a procession of ghosts, depicting countless twisted human figures. They were filled with pain, despair, and all manner of sinister emotions, as if they had fallen into the netherworld forever. It made the Spring-Autumn King's scalp tingle.

At the end of the street, a hunched figure held a piece of charcoal, moving slowly. With every step, a new, pained, and twisted figure appeared in the mural.

"Though the mortal world is bitter, it is not as desperate as this." Lin Huang spoke softly, looking at the person.

The figure paused, then continued to draw. With a few strokes, a desperate, dark, pained, and twisted figure appeared on the wall. The voice was low and gloomy. "But there are a hundred thousand souls constantly telling me of their despair and pain. What else can I do? I can only draw them out for you to see."

Lin Huang's expression remained indifferent. He scrutinized the person carefully, his face blank. "It is a tribulation, and it is also fate. It is a bitter sea of the netherworld, and it is also a paradise of ultimate bliss. They are simply missing a lamp."

As he spoke, Lin Huang flicked his finger. In an instant, every figure in the murals along the long street held a lamp.

"Holding a bright lamp to illuminate the netherworld. So, this bitterness is also a blessing, and this tribulation is also fate."

The person stopped drawing and looked up at Lin Huang for the first time.

The seemingly hunched, withered figure was actually a woman with delicate, picturesque features. She nodded at Lin Huang. "You are not bad."

After she finished speaking, the woman's figure, along with the murals on the long street, vanished like a bubble. The bustling, lively sounds of the world outside the street returned once more.

"We've encountered a master," the Spring-Autumn King said, frowning as he walked up to Lin Huang.

"How high?" Lin Huang pondered the identity of this abruptly appearing woman in his heart, asking casually.

"Very high, at least higher than me, perhaps even higher than you," the Spring-Autumn King said with a serious expression.

Lin Huang mused for a moment and nodded, already having an answer in his heart regarding the newcomer's identity.

"Also, you didn't hide your tracks, and I'm worried that those enemies of yours will show up on our doorstep soon. Besides, you have so many enemies; perhaps that person just now was here to scout us out. We had better leave quickly. If we're late, I'm truly afraid we won't be able to get away."

Having suddenly encountered such a situation, the Spring-Autumn King was inevitably filled with worry.