So There Was a Fourth Thread

"Wen Zhong is still alive."

"He is still in the mortal world."

"He has not yet entered the tribulation."

"Who dares record his death for duty before it happens?"

The mortal realm's fortunes on the Clear Gate Register trembled.

Zhao Xuan glanced at Holy Mother Jinling.

"This is the cruelest part of Wen Zhong's case."

"They aren't using only what he has already done."

"They're using what he might do in the future."

"He is loyal."

"So he can die for duty."

"He commands troops."

"So he can enter the tribulation."

"He serves the dynasty."

"So the dynasty's fortunes can bind him."

Zhao Xuan raised his brush.

The vermilion brush came down hard.

[The death of a living man must not be recorded in advance.]

The Clear Gate Register shook violently.

The four lines of gray-white writing twisted.

The words [loyal minister dies for duty] shook hardest of all.

It was as if that stroke had landed on the very point those words could not bear to have questioned.

Zhao Xuan did not stop.

[Before a tribulation begins, no name may be fixed on the List.]

The second line appeared.

The mortal realm's fortunes began to surge.

Far away in the mortal world.

Within Chaoge City.

Inside the Grand Preceptor's residence.

A white-haired elder suddenly looked up.

The third eye on his forehead twitched.

The military text in his hands turned its pages without a breeze.

The lamp before his desk flickered.

Wen Zhong frowned.

"My sect?"

He could not see Golden Turtle Island.

Nor could he see the Clear Gate Register.

Yet for some reason, a chill swept through his chest.

It was not hostility.

It felt more like someone far away had turned to the page bearing his name.

He looked down at the