Goodbye

Lyle bent down, crouching beside Ye Chen, and gently placed his hand on Ye Chen's shoulder. Scenes of the past and bygone days flickered continuously through his golden eyes, and a bitter smile unconsciously appeared at the corners of his mouth.

"Ye Chen, ever since you were three years old, I forced you to undergo all sorts of harsh training and read all kinds of obscure books."

"The parents of a Frost White Person would buy their children all sorts of toys, but I only ever gave you blades, guns, and fire. The parents of a Frost White Person would spend time playing with their children, but I only ever ravaged your body and mind through endless, cruel training. The parents of a Frost White Person always encourage their children to make friends, but I only ever made you learn rhetoric and deception, constantly guarding against the betrayal of others."

"Because of my existence, your childhood was not only devoid of the happiness and fulfillment that others your age enjoyed, but was instead constantly filled with dullness and bitterness, overflowing with blood and violence. For this, I am truly deeply sorry. As your teacher, I truly feel that I have failed to fulfill my duties."

Upon hearing this, Ye Chen's emotional breakdown intensified, and he immediately roared out in unbearable agony:

"But I'm not a Frost White Person at all! Everything you're saying, I don't care about it in the slightest! I never took any of it to heart from beginning to end! Every time Teacher taught me new knowledge and memories, I felt happy from the bottom of my heart! The reason Teacher's requirements for me were so strict—I understood your good intentions long ago!"

"The days I spent with Teacher, I always felt so happy—!"

"I'm already satisfied, I was already satisfied a long time ago!"

"The reason I've always trained so desperately and studied so hard is because I wanted to become a hunter who can stand on his own, to respond to Teacher's expectations, and to make Teacher feel proud of me!"

"But... if Teacher dies, then wouldn't all of this be meaningless? I don't want this, I really don't want this."

Ye Chen covered his face tightly with both hands, his fingertips clawing bloody marks into his cheeks as he screamed uncontrollably.

Inside the spacious Prayer Hall, his sorrowful cries and moans echoed everywhere.

"You have already made me feel proud enough."

Lyle's gentle yet resonant words reached Ye Chen's ears, causing him to lift his tear-reddened eyes. He looked tearfully at Lyle's calm, water-like gaze—a gaze that had accepted death—and for a moment, he could not say another word.

"If possible, I would prefer this to be the last time in your career as a hunter that you show such weakness. Just this once. I only allow you to be weak this one time."

After saying this in a grave and earnest tone, Lyle revealed a journal with a brand-new cover and fine texture before Ye Chen's eyes.

"I have recorded various pieces of intelligence and information in the first half of this journal that will benefit your future path. Remember to read it immediately after leaving this place."

"The second half of the journal contains secrets regarding your life and safety. My identity, as well as your own origins, are all written inside. However, you will only be able to read them once your connection to the Labyrinth reaches a certain level."

"Remember, this journal is of vital importance. Do not let anyone else see its contents. You will understand the reason why I am doing this in the future, so do not ask anything now; just firmly remember everything I have said."

After finishing, Lyle helped Ye Chen up from the ground, took out a handkerchief printed with strange runes, used "Space Storage" to store the journal inside it, and then handed it over to Ye Chen.

"Now, besides the journal, this handkerchief contains various combat tools and daily necessities that will help you sustain yourself for a period of time in the outside world—the Holy Light Pure Land. However, if you want to survive for a long time, you must join a hunter group and officially become an Auling Hunter."

Lyle instructed him with a solemn expression.

"Auling... Hunter?"

Ye Chen wiped away his tears and subconsciously repeated the strange title.

"That's right. I was once a member of the Auling Hunters. After arriving at the Holy Light Pure Land, head to the main headquarters of the Auling Hunters and join them. Only there can you find a place to belong in the outside world."

Lyle finished speaking calmly, when suddenly the floor of the Prayer Hall began to shake. A soul-stirring sonic wave descended without warning, simultaneously shattering every stained-glass window in the Prayer Hall.

Hiss------!

The sonic wave swept violently through every corner of the Prayer Hall, then surged crazily toward the Broken Stone Statue in the center.

However, Lyle's expression remained unsurprised. He reached out and opened his palm, releasing a dense amount of Auling Power that enveloped Ye Chen, Heiqi, and the Broken Stone Statue all at once.

The sonic wave slammed fiercely against the barrier, but it could never break through its sturdy defense, ultimately failing and dissipating into the void under the burning of the Auling Power.

"The main body of the Abyss is about to appear. It is time to send you away."

Lyle's gaze passed through the doors of the Prayer Hall, looking toward the distant, hazy chaos and the pitch-black singularity emerging from thin air, and he immediately issued his final declaration.

He walked quickly to Heiqi's side and reached out to stroke the sturdy neck of Heiqi firmly.

"Heiqi, I cannot guarantee whether the Abyss will send pursuers, so I leave Ye Chen to you."

"This is my final order as your master. Please protect him well and send him safely out of the Labyrinth."

"After this, you are free. Go wherever you want to go..."

Lyle entrusted him with a low voice. The way he looked at Heiqi was just like looking at a comrade-in-arms who had fought alongside him for many years—full of reluctance, yet at the same time, full of trust.

"Wuh-heng!"

Heiqi let out a loud, long neigh, then rubbed its massive head forcefully against Lyle's cheek. At this final moment, this old horse displayed an incredibly reliable posture, bidding a life-and-death farewell to its master so that he could leave in peace.

Having received the answer, Lyle smiled with a sense of relief. He then reached his palm toward the Broken Stone Statue, activating the connection between them.

Ding!

Accompanied by a crisp sound, the surface of the Broken Stone Statue cracked open, and countless light-dust particles poured out from the fragments and powder.

They quickly gathered together, eventually merging into a massive entrance to a space tunnel. Inside the tunnel, it was as colorful as stardust, flickering and shifting.

Ignoring Ye Chen's resistance, Lyle reached out and threw him onto Heiqi's back. His fingertips immediately emitted two strands of strange Auling Power, forcibly sticking Ye Chen to the horse so he could not break free.

"Ye Chen, from now on, I will no longer be here, and there will be no one to watch over you or protect you in the shadows. Therefore, on the path ahead, you can only rely on yourself and trust yourself. As your teacher, this is all I can do for you."

Ye Chen listened to Lyle's words, unable to say a single word, and could only let the powerlessness and grief flood his heart like an ocean.

"If you still don't understand the meaning of living right now, then start by setting a goal. Any goal will do, as long as it gives your life direction and motivation."

"Alright, enough idle talk. It is time to part."

"Ye Chen, do your best. I believe you won't let me down. After all, you are the apprentice I am most proud of."

After saying this, Lyle revealed a faint smile, then turned and walked away, stepping with calm and firm strides toward the door of the Prayer Hall.

"I... I..."

Heiqi and Lyle stood back-to-back, about to step into the spatial tunnel created by the Broken Stone Statue. At this moment, Ye Chen, mounted on the horse, gazed at Lyle's increasingly blurred silhouette. Biting his lower lip, he finally voiced his farewell.

"Teacher, to me, you have always been like a father—!"

Hearing this, Lyle's silhouette froze abruptly. His fingers, which had been clenched tight, suddenly began to tremble violently. The resolve he had long since steeled himself with was shaken by this single form of address from Ye Chen.

"I am also so fortunate that for all these years, it was someone like you who stayed by my side—!"

"I will become a powerful hunter. I will never let you down, and I will never betray your painstaking efforts!"

"So... so."

Ye Chen's voice choked up, a complete mess, yet he finally managed to utter the last sentence.

"Teacher, goodbye."

The youth bid farewell in this manner, ultimately unable to bring himself to say the word "farewell" in the sense of never meeting again.

Then, he followed Old Ma into the spatial tunnel, disappearing amidst the myriad stars within.

With the departure of the man and the horse, the spatial tunnel vanished into the void. The Broken Stone Statue, seemingly worn down by the passage of time, collapsed under its own weight, crashing heavily onto the cold floor and crumbling into countless specks of dust, its radiance extinguished forever.

In the blink of an eye, only Lyle remained inside the dilapidated Old Church.

"Hahahahaha------!"

Left alone, Lyle suddenly burst into laughter, his expression one of extreme satisfaction.

After laughing, he took a deep breath and began to mutter to himself.

"Just a single form of address, and it makes me feel that a hundred years of time were all worth it. Human emotion is truly a terrifying thing!"

"With this, all the butterfly effects have been perfectly 'locked' into place. From this point on, all cause and effect shall become 'reality' as seen by my eyes!"

"I have paved the entire road ahead for you, paved it all with these eyes. So, go, child, and soar with all your might!"

Lyle whispered, and the smile on his face began to shift, step by step, into excitement, exhilaration, and eventually, madness.

It was the expression of an old hunter who, after a hundred years, was impatient to return to his old trade, to slaughter prey and taste blood. It was the true nature Lyle had always hidden beneath his mask.

Then, he reached out and plunged his hand into his own chest, condensing the soul within his body into a golden cross on the spot.

It was a cross the same size as Lyle himself, its four ends wrapped and entangled in countless thorny blades.

Even though the Prayer Hall was dim to the extreme, the surface of the cross shone with a brilliant, golden luster, radiating an intangible, noble divinity. As soon as it was placed on the ground, it instantly shattered the floor of the Prayer Hall, leaving behind countless cracks from which a faint golden light emanated.

This cross was Lyle's "Life Relic."

He lifted the handle at the top of the cross with one hand as if it weighed nothing, hoisted it onto his shoulder, and strode out of the gates of the Old Church, his fighting spirit soaring.

Outside the door, there was no longer any earth or sky.

The entire world, the entire space, was left with nothing but endless, pitch-black darkness.

That darkness was cold to the extreme, greedy to the extreme.

The abyss was about to swallow everything.

And Lyle was its next target.

"Long time no see."

Lyle, carrying the cross, greeted it without a shred of fear.

Following his greeting, a massive outline slowly emerged from the center of the darkness that shrouded the world. It revealed countless gullies and countless textures; from afar, it looked just like the cheeks of an infant.

"You-- you-- liar--"

The outline spat out garbled words, shaking the entire space until it cracked.

"Heh, it is you who are too inexperienced with the world."

Lyle gave a disdainful laugh. Immediately, the chaotic space behind him began to shift, instantly condensing into hundreds of giant golden eyes. They were of the same scale as the golden eyes in the sky that had previously obliterated the dark ocean, resembling a golden galaxy.

The next moment, the abyss roared, and golden light flared.

Darkness and gold tore the entire space apart in an exaggerated display.

Amidst the chaos and tremors, Lyle smiled faintly. As his own form began to change, he softly recited the hunting declaration that belonged solely to an Auling Hunter.

"Golden Eye Hunter Yelun, beginning the hunt for the Abyssal Deformed God Havijordan now."