Memorial Service

The empty room was filled with the rusty scent of cold wind.

"I killed him. It was that simple." Chu Wen sat on the interrogation room bench, leaning slightly forward. "If you want to pass judgment, suit yourselves."

In the light screen opposite him, everyone in the meeting room frowned slightly.

"Chu Wen, although the evidence is conclusive, we still have to follow procedure. And you allowed this matter to spread across no small area..."

Liu Shouren was responsible for recounting the course of the incident.

Earlier, he had already submitted a written report to the martial hall's higher-ups. They attached immense importance to the betrayal by a squad member.

Liu Shouren had first acted to stop Chu Wen, then, after understanding Chu Wen's strength, had not tried to obstruct him again. It all made sense—neither merit nor fault.

From the report, although Chu Wen was a martial artist with the strength of a beginner warrior, he could already turn his hand into a blade with fire.

The Burning Blade Technique had reached the perfected realm. He was a top-tier genius!

One had to know that in an ordinary base city, those who could cultivate the Burning Blade Technique to perfection were few enough to count on one's fingers. With a base city population of three billion, one might not even produce one in several years!

The martial hall's middle management naturally placed enormous importance on such talent.

"The current evidence is in your favor, but you should still be punished."

"For acting so impulsively without regard for the consequences, you can no longer receive any commendation."

Chu Wen neither agreed nor disagreed. He merely listened calmly, too lazy to open his mouth.

Even if Zhang Yong had dealt with the bloodstains on the saber, tracing their source should not have been difficult with the Alliance's technology.

If the Alliance was full of such pedantic fools, then dying once more would not matter. Maybe he would transmigrate somewhere else again.

The atmosphere fell into an eerie silence.

"The compensation for the Cloudflight Squad this time will all be given to the family of fallen comrade Lu Yun. Chen Dai will be rewarded with three Blood Qi Source Energy Supplements."

"As for you, all current gains will be confiscated, and your assets will be reduced to zero. You are to suspend your studies and reflect at home."

The pronouncement echoed by Chu Wen's ears.

The digitally simulated interrogation room gradually deconstructed, leaving behind an empty room once more.

This was Chu Wen's new home, devoid of everything.

A martial artist's fortune was basically all in the equipment they carried. Besides, whenever he accepted missions, he had already converted nearly all his wealth into strength.

To be precise, he had been a poor student to begin with.

The sentence seemed severe, but to him, it did not hurt in the slightest.

Lying back down on the hard plank bed that came with the resettlement housing, his consciousness sank fully into his mind.

The surging Blood Qi from the Primordial Source Pearl continuously spread out, nourishing his flesh and blood.

[Current Blood Qi absorbed: 10/10]

[Burning Blade Technique Perfected (cannot be improved)]

[Shadow Follows Form Mastery (99%)]

On the way back, he had encountered six waves of scattered beast soldiers launching ambushes. By the time he reached Xinhang Base City, he was a full eight hours late.

But the gains had been considerable as well. His Blood Qi absorption had reached its limit nine times, bringing about a new change.

This time, upon reaching the limit, a new sensation had emerged in Chu Wen's mind—

Blood Qi limit-breaking!

Simply put, it increased the holder's own Blood Qi capacity and nourished the physical body!

Without hesitation, he followed the guidance of the Blood Qi within his body.

He first gathered the Lesser Yang of the Hand and Greater Yin of the Foot, nurturing his own Blood Qi. Then he activated the Blood Qi on the [Primordial Source Pearl], drawing forth the Ren and Du Meridians.

Chu Wen carried out this process with extreme care. He could feel the cells in his body cheering, greedily devouring the Blood Qi within the Primordial Source Pearl and undergoing frenzied transformation.

Layer after layer of bloody grime formed over his skin. When the Ren and Du Meridians truly emerged, his Blood Qi changed direction once more, charging respectively toward the Qi Sea and Baihui acupoints.

This sudden change caught Chu Wen, who had been preparing to relax, somewhat off guard. He hurriedly guided the Blood Qi again.

Without realizing it, his own strength was transforming as well.

It was not until the following morning, when sunlight slipping through the window crack woke him, that he stretched lazily and went to the shower room to wash away the bloody grime covering his body.

A night of transformation!

He now felt as though he possessed inexhaustible strength!

[Blood Qi: 0/100 (Blood Qi limit broken once)]

[Burning Blade Technique Perfected (1%)]

[Potential Points: 0]

['Blood Demon State' can increase combat power by 400%.]

[Current strength classification: Beginner warrior. After Blood Qi eruption: Advanced warrior]

"If I want to improve myself, it seems I still need Blood Qi... Kill more beasts...?"

Shaving his stubble in the reflection of a cheap desk lamp, Chu Wen finally took a look at his appearance.

He was rather handsome, with healthy skin and firm muscles like a sculpture from ancient Rome.

When his optical brain reconnected to the network, he saw the day's trending topics.

[Chaos Martial Arts Hall and Galloping Martial Hall reiterate the nine fundamental principles for martial artists; all acts of betrayal will be severely punished...]

[Jiangnan Base City has fallen. Refugees flood into Xinhang Base City. Give us back our "mother-born" Xinhang Base City...]

[The Beast Nation's third all-out offensive has ended. According to incomplete optical brain statistics, more than 100 million beasts were killed, over 100 million civilians perished, more than 200 million soldiers died for their country, and an estimated 21 million martial artists fell. Among them were 16 million martial masters, 4 million warriors, 9,000 war generals, 7 war kings, and 1 war god. The memorial service will be held tonight...]

This was the Blue Star Alliance's heaviest day.

The Beast Nation was growing ever stronger, continuously gnawing away at humanity's territory.

Yet it was precisely these heroes who had protected everyone's homes!

By evening, rain was falling in a fine, drizzling veil. This place had long ceased to be the Suhang of Jiangnan; even the ancient Jiangnan of legend lay south of Jiangnan.

"Umbrellas, ten yuan each."

"Selling umbrellas, selling umbrellas! Ten yuan!"

The roadside vendor called out, handing an umbrella to any passerby he spotted. As he weaved through the streets and alleys, the water stains on his body did not lessen at all.

A little girl followed beside him. With great difficulty, she held up a pink Minnie umbrella in her left hand, swaying unsteadily, while her right hand dragged a small cart. The basket atop it was piled with black umbrellas, along with a Minnie doll missing both ears.

"Sir, don't let the rain ruin you. There's a memorial service today, and I've got black umbrellas here... Just ten yuan."

Chu Wen waved his hand and let the rain fall over him. Then he casually turned his head.

His gaze met the little girl's.

Flustered. At a loss.

It was a childhood veiled by the shadow of blood.

At the memorial service venue, patches of white chrysanthemums had been arranged neatly across the ground.

Some wept, while others prayed.

Chu Wen silently closed his eyes. Although he did not feel much attachment to this era, the harrowing scenes of life and death, parting and loss he had witnessed along the way had made him understand—

Unless every beast was slaughtered, there was no other way.

Chu Wen also saw two familiar figures: Lu Yun's wife, Yuan Lan, and Chen Dai.

Yuan Lan stood with her belly swollen, holding an umbrella in one hand and a little boy in the other. Her face bore a trace of numbness.

The Lu Family had always been a family of martial artists. Teacher Lu Yun had also been a somewhat renowned "rising star instructor" at Jiangnan Martial University. Now, the pillar holding up their little family would never return.

Chen Dai gestured toward Chu Wen, and Yuan Lan's gaze followed.

"Uncle Chu~" The little boy was the first to speak, breaking the silence.

"Sister Yuan, I'm sorry. Brother Yun, he..."

Chu Wen spoke softly, stroking the boy's little hand.

Yuan Lan lowered her eyes. Her tears had dried up yesterday. Raising her head, she forced out a smile. Amid the slanting wind and fine rain, strands of black hair drifted about, yet half her head had already been stained with frost.

"When I married him, I had already prepared myself for a day like this."

"Lu Ge, when you grow up, you must be like your uncles too and kill those beasts. Once all the beasts are killed, Daddy will come back."

"Mm." The boy, Lu Ge, swallowed hard and nodded bravely.

The martial hall had not told the family the truth behind Lu Yun's death, and neither would Chu Wen.

Though they had only been a temporarily assembled martial artist squad, they had worked together for nearly a month. It was Lu Yun who had personally taught him the Burning Blade Technique bit by bit when the new students first entered school.

The bells of mourning rang through the night, and many people's eyes reddened once more.

As he was leaving, Chen Dai called out to Chu Wen, scratching his ears and cheeks as he said,

"Brother Wen, I... I don't need much money. The squad's reward this time was a lot, and you were just fined. I'll transfer some to you... Five million?"

He glanced at the wet stains on Chu Wen's clothes, looking somewhat embarrassed.

His own umbrella had been bought by the roadside too. Who among those fleeing here would bring an umbrella?

Brother Wen definitely had no money to buy an umbrella. He himself had forgotten yesterday—he had not even handed Brother Wen an umbrella, letting him get drenched all night...

"Brother Wen, I'll wait for you to return to school."

Chen Dai opened his mouth, feeling that Chu Wen had become somewhat unfamiliar.

It had rained all night, but it was gradually stopping now. On the wet concrete road, hurried young people constantly passed by. They wore plaid shirts, and the optical brains in their hands refreshed information again and again.

Though the great war continued, those struggling to make a living had no time to stop walking.

When he reached a subway entrance, the familiar yet unfamiliar subway sign sent Chu Wen into a daze.

Whether by coincidence or intent, the father and daughter from last night appeared here again.

It seemed they had found the opportunity and sold umbrellas all night.

The girl was asleep on her father's back, a faint smile on her face. The broken Minnie doll on the cart had gained a new companion, though it was old as well.

"You're that young man from yesterday. How did you get drenched like this...? Your clothes are completely soaked. Even if you're in a bad mood, you can't just let the rain pour over you all night..."

The vendor seemed to recognize Chu Wen and rummaged out an old jacket from the cart.

"I won't charge you for it. The world is like this. Look at all this traffic flowing by—we still have to look forward." As he spoke, he cast an envious glance at the young people entering the subway station.

Perhaps a few months ago, he had lived that kind of life too.

Chu Wen accepted the jacket, glanced at the vendor's payment code, and casually picked up an umbrella.

"I'll buy an umbrella."

The vendor received the transfer and looked at the sky. But the rain had already stopped?

Chu Wen opened the black umbrella, reeking of cheap plastic, and blocked out the first round of morning sunlight that had just spilled down.

He lifted his head to look at the sky, yet no one could see the look in his eyes.

"An umbrella? Pointless."