Chapter 429: Like Light and Shadow, Always Together

In the silent stillness, beam after beam of blazing light pierced down, tearing everything apart.

The mountain where the Fusang divine tree stood, now nothing but an empty shell, suddenly collapsed under the violent impact of psychic energy beams, as if crushed by an invisible giant hand. Rocks were flung out, scattering in all directions.

The torrent of psychic energy fluctuation seemed to take on substance, sweeping through the mountains and forests with scorching winds. Ancient boulders that had stood for countless years tumbled, all the trees were ripped from the soil and rolled about wildly, showing signs of charring before they even had a chance to ignite.

Above the blazing forest, countless Fire Crows born from the decayed trunk of the Fusang divine tree scattered in all directions, with Taoyuan as their center.

Yet, just as their silhouettes approached the edge of Taoyuan’s core area, Grandpa Turtle and the army led by Gou Meng’s familiars began to move.

The war had begun.

No words of encouragement or guidance were needed; all psychics and hauntings threw themselves into the slaughter of their own accord.

Flocks of magpies, wrapped in emerald light, soared into the sky, shrieking as they swooped toward the oncoming Fire Crows.

Streams of light formed from spell formations and innate skills trailed dazzling tails as they rose, bursting among the Fire Crow flock like celebratory fireworks for the New Year, exploding again and again.

Little sparks fell from the sky, flames blooming like flowers.

Wails, screams, and the roar of explosions overlapped, merging into a majestic and brutal war song.

Just as Grandpa Turtle had told Gou Meng, they would not let a single Fire Crow escape from Taoyuan!

–

Deep within Taoyuan.

Amid earth-shattering thunder, the Fusang divine tree broke apart, yet its ruined body still stood tall, its crown lush, peach blossoms blooming in the flames and then falling.

The drifting petals instantly transformed into majestic magpies, swiftly diving toward the Fire Crows rising from below.

Black feathers fell in sheets from midair, and in an instant, sparks crackled as they burned in the intense heat.

At the top of the tree crown, Gou Meng’s body was already battered beyond recognition.

Under the bombardment of the city barrier, much of the flesh on her chest, abdomen, and left leg had vanished. At the crumbling edges of her body, tissue continuously broke off into tiny fragments and flew away, yet not a drop of blood fell.

Like a shattered plaster cast, in the pitch-black hollow of her abdomen, the core entity of the haunting, now tainted with the aura of corruption, shone with an emerald glow, wrapped in tumor-like malignant flesh.

Highly concentrated psychic energy, under the emerald radiance, streamed out from the core entity, unraveling like silk, slowly merging into a festive vermilion ball of light. As the threadlike rays joined, the light gradually grew stronger.

The old power was dying; the new power was stirring restlessly.

Below Gou Meng, on the massive and damaged root system of the Fusang divine tree, a mass of dark red flesh clung. At the lowest tip of the roots, a colossal creature, as huge as a building, finally revealed its form.

It halted its transformation amid the roaring flames, slowly spreading its not-yet-fully-developed wings, bursting with golden light as it tried to break free from Gou Meng’s restraint.

With violent tremors, the thick trunk erupted with tumor-like lumps resembling scales, which burst open one after another, releasing swarms of deformed, mutated Fire Crows.

“You bastard, with me here, you think you can run?!”

A delicate shout came from above. Gou Meng, enduring immense pain, swung her arms with all her might.

In an instant, countless phantom trees formed from Ley Line Energy and power, mixed with the ongoing bombardment of the city barrier, crashed down like a destructive “rainstorm,” leaving savage, gruesome wounds on its body.

Amid the deafening roar, the massive body fell into a crimson “lake” formed from molten rock, struggling to lift its head.

The moment their eyes met, Gou Meng was suddenly stunned.

In those clear golden eyes, she saw a complex emotion.

Like a newborn opening its eyes to the world for the first time, its pupils were filled with confusion and curiosity, and a trace of questioning.

It questioned Gou Meng-having just been born, why must it face destruction immediately?

In the instant Gou Meng was dazed, countless sharp crystal pillars emerged from its body, shooting skyward like god-slaying spears.

They pierced toward Gou Meng’s shattered body…

–

When the brilliance of Tang City’s barrier spilled over the depths of Taoyuan, it was as if tens of thousands of tons of high explosives had detonated simultaneously. Even from several kilometers away, the dazzling, scorching light was clearly visible, and the hot wind slapped against faces, burning like standing near a furnace.

The earth trembled, and the massive psychic energy in the air clashed and rubbed violently, producing faint sounds in the ears-like the crackle of faulty electrical currents, or the harsh friction right beside one’s ear.

Just gazing at the intense light deep within Taoyuan gave a faint sense of dizziness, as if the brain were starved of oxygen, with bizarre phantoms flickering before the eyes.

Finally, the belated howl erupted, stabbing everyone’s eardrums, like steel needles boring into the brain and stirring violently, bringing immense pain.

The bombardment from Tang City’s city barrier lasted about three minutes.

In those brief three minutes-not even enough time to cook a bowl of instant noodles-it was enough to deal a devastating blow to the core area of Taoyuan.

Lu Yibei stared blankly in the direction of Taoyuan, her eyes illuminated by the firelight, her gaze complicated.

For The Midnight Watchers Society, an organization established to combat hauntings, possessing such a “weapon” was only natural. Yet seeing such a scene for the first time, she couldn’t help but feel shaken, and faintly worried that one day, a similar “weapon” might be used against her.

Under such an intense attack, can that pesky little sister really survive?

She shouldn’t have lied to me, right?

Lu Yibei thought, and just then, Bai Kai walked up and gently patted her on the shoulder.

“Lu Yibei, don’t be afraid. Special weapons like the Tang City barrier-even The Midnight Watchers Society would need a lot of time to set one up. If Gou Meng hadn’t tacitly approved it, it would have been impossible to build.”

There’s no way I could be wrong about what Lu Yibei is thinking this time, right?

At critical moments, offering comfort to the heart-isn’t that the true meaning of being a godfather? Bai Kai thought.

That’s right, this time he really did guess part of Lu Yibei’s thoughts, but…

Lu Yibei glanced at Bai Kai out of the corner of her eye and said seriously, “Shui-Ge, with such a big commotion, it’s probably impossible to keep it hidden, right? How is The Midnight Watchers Society going to explain this later?”

“…”

You’ve been silent all this time just to ponder this question?

Bai Kai’s mouth twitched, and after a moment he finally caught his breath and patiently began to explain to Lu Yibei.

After all, Xiao Bei wanted to know.

“You don’t need to worry about that. Back when the Tang City barrier started construction, The Midnight Watchers Society was already prepared.”

“If you search for Taoyuan scenic area online right now, you’ll see articles from a geological expedition years ago about a large dormant volcano inside Taoyuan. And the many hot springs around Tang City also help make this claim more believable.”

“A dormant volcano suddenly erupts, causing disaster and a series of strange phenomena-it’s all very reasonable, isn’t it?”

A volcanic eruption? The Midnight Watchers Society really knows how to make things up… Lu Yibei nodded thoughtfully.

There really are dormant volcanoes and many hot springs around Tang City. In fact, Tang City’s famous spot Kan Quan is even nicknamed “Hot Spring.”

It’s just that the dormant volcano shouldn’t actually be deep inside Taoyuan.

Lu Yibei thought, then turned to Bai Kai and said, “Shui-Ge, things are finished here. I have other things to do, so I won’t keep you company.”

“Why don’t you go find your old flame first?”

“Old flame…” Hearing Lu Yibei mention Xing Yuan, Bai Kai was momentarily speechless. He turned to look in the direction where Xing Yuan was, and his body shivered slightly.

He vaguely felt that in that direction, an eye was casting a cold gaze at him.

You’re the king of gigolos in Hua City-when did you become so weak? Lu Yibei looked at Bai Kai, shaking her head in disdain.

Family ranking, Shui-Ge!

Forget it, grown-ups’ business isn’t for us kids to bother with.

Right now… I have to kill someone.

Lu Yibei thought, her gaze growing deeper, and in her crimson eyes, a bloodthirsty light seemed to flicker.

–

On the other side.

Xing Yuan watched Bai Kai, her gaze sharp as a blade.

Just as she was planning to have a good talk with Bai Kai after the operation to round up the illegal psychic organization members-about why he disobeyed orders and came to Tang City-the Death Owl Emblem on her chest suddenly began to tremble.

After lightly touching the emblem with her fingertip, Jin Jiao’s voice sounded in her ear.

“Madam Inspector-General, things aren’t looking good. After the Tang City barrier entered cooldown, too many psychics and hauntings have rushed into Tang City. We can’t hold them back!”

Hearing this, Xing Yuan frowned and looked toward the depths of the canyon littered with corpses, her voice low, “Hold on even if you can’t. We’ll be there to support you in thirty minutes.”

“But, Madam Inspector-General…”

“Roar-!”

Before Jin Jiao could finish, a piercing roar rang out, cutting his words short.

“Hiss-!”

The roar stung her eardrums, and Xing Yuan instinctively covered her ears, drawing a sharp breath.

“…”

Though it sounded like things were bad…

Jin Jiao and the others should be fine, right? Xing Yuan thought.

–

At the summit of Magpie Bridge Mountain in the Taoyuan scenic area.

Ms. Rabbit watched from afar as Lu Yibei led a group of illegal psychic organization members into The Midnight Watchers Society’s ambush, her lips curling as she muttered, “Heh, truly worthy of a witch type haunting.”

Shu E, who had just returned after scanning the situation inside Taoyuan, heard her talking to herself and asked in confusion, “What’s so special about witch types?”

Ms. Rabbit glanced at Shu E out of the corner of her eye and said coolly, “They show beauty to this world, but also…”

“And what does that have to do with you?” Shu E interrupted.

Ms. Rabbit, “…”

Damn! I wasn’t finished talking! Besides, am I not beautiful?

“You’d better not talk to me for the next week,” Ms. Rabbit said coldly.

Otherwise, I might not be able to resist beating you up! she added in her heart.

“A week?” Shu E pondered for a moment, looked at Ms. Rabbit, and said seriously, “Can it be five days?”

“…”

Ms. Rabbit softened for a split second, then composed herself and said, “No.”

After a pause, she couldn’t help her curiosity and pressed, “But why five days?”

Is a week too long for you to handle?

Hmph, even if you can’t handle it, I won’t go soft. It’s punishment!

“Oh.” Shu E replied, dead serious, “When I was scanning deep inside Taoyuan just now, I found something unusual. I have to report to the Council of Elders, and the round trip will take five days.”

“Absolutely!” Ms. Rabbit said through gritted teeth, then turned to look at Shu E, only to realize that Berses, who had gone to scan with him, hadn’t returned. She froze for a moment and asked in confusion, “Where’s that guy?”

Shu E, “…”

“Didn’t Berses go with you? Why hasn’t he come back?” Ms. Rabbit pressed again.

Shu E, “…”

“I’m asking you a question!”

“On the way back, he said he found some kind of experimental subject and chased after it all excited,” Shu E replied expressionlessly.

“And also, you just said not to talk to you for the next five days, but you’ve been starting conversations with me nonstop. It’s really bothering me.”

Ms. Rabbit, “…”

She fell silent, taking several deep breaths in a row before barely managing to suppress the murderous urge surging inside her.

–

Misfortune lurks within fortune, fortune hides within misfortune.

Suolang Baima thought he had keenly sensed the deeper meaning in “Gu Qianqian’s” companion’s words, dodged the Midnight Watchers Society’s siege, and escaped danger, secretly rejoicing.

However, when he was withdrawing from Taoyuan, he realized it wasn’t his cleverness or good luck at all, but rather someone’s deliberate arrangement.

It wasn’t until Suolang Baima had retreated several kilometers from Jin Chan Rock that he discovered he was being followed.

His pursuer was a young woman clad in silver armor, wielding a long blade. Her face was obscured by her visor, but through the slits he could see her eyes, brimming with murderous intent.

The girl wanted to kill him.

Having survived countless life-and-death battles, Suolang Baima could sense from her the overwhelming hatred, the resolve to kill him even if it meant mutual destruction.

Enemies like this were always the most terrifying-they sought neither wealth nor fame, only his death.

But plenty of people want me dead. What makes you any different? Suolang Baima thought, shouting at the girl.

“Come on! Do it, little lady, let me see what you’ve got!”

The girl stared at Suolang Baima, as if she hadn’t heard him at all, silently following at a distance of about twenty meters. Her long blade dragged along the ground, making a chilling sound that sent shivers down his spine.

Whenever Suolang Baima tried to attack her, she would use her superior speed to widen the gap.

If Suolang Baima activated his Spirit Pattern and sprinted at full force to shake her off, she would quickly catch up.

Unable to bear it any longer, Suolang Baima glared at the girl and growled, “Come on, kill me! Take revenge for your father, mother, siblings, or lover!”

Suolang Baima had no idea why the girl harbored such intense hatred for him, but he figured it was nothing more than him having harmed someone important to her.

In his life, countless souls had perished under his blade; most of their faces had long faded from his memory-how could he possibly match them all up?

Yet…

Faced with Suolang Baima’s taunts, the girl still followed in silence.

She was like a silent, silver-white ghost, shrouded in the shadow of death, drifting around Suolang Baima.

He didn’t know what kind of hatred she carried, nor when she would swing her long blade. It felt as if he could never escape her for the rest of his life.

Suolang Baima’s nerves were relentlessly strained by the girl’s bizarre behavior, leaving him anxious and uneasy.

–

During the time she was tailing Suolang Baima, Jiang Li wanted to rush up and kill him every single second.

To her, Lu Ming was the only ray of light that had pierced the years of darkness that once enveloped her.

Now that light had gone out, and the man before her was one of the chief culprits.

However…

Though her heart was filled with a strong urge to kill, her rational mind kept reminding her not to act.

Aside from being slightly faster than the man, her psychic energy fluctuation and combat experience were both inferior to his. Acting on impulse wouldn’t just fail to kill him-it might cost her life for nothing.

Besides, compared to her, this man deserved to die at Lu Yibei’s hands even more.

So she simply followed Suolang Baima, playing the role of a “Sword of Damocles,” waiting for Lu Yibei to arrive.

Yet before Lu Yibei showed up, the black solar totem on her back seemed to sense something, stirring restlessly.

The next moment, a man’s raspy voice echoed in her mind like an illusion, a devil’s whisper.

“Heh heh, Jiang Li, my most perfect test subject, I’ve finally found you.”

It was that man!

As if suddenly plunged into a nightmare, Jiang Li’s pupils shrank to a pinprick, trembling violently.

Berses had undergone countless experiments, and after reviving from the brink of death, his voice had changed considerably.

But Jiang Li instantly recognized the voice in her mind as his.

Just as she could never forget Lu Ming, she could never forget Berses.

Like light and shadow, inseparable.

The news of Lu Ming’s death had already dealt Jiang Li a heavy blow, and now, discovering that Berses-who should have been dead-was suddenly alive, struck her with a fatal blow.

In an instant, her will faltered. Her right leg, temporarily formed by Spirit Pattern power, throbbed with phantom pain. The Eclipse Society totem on her back unleashed venomous energy, like countless tiny steel needles piercing her spine through her skin.

In a daze, she felt as if she were back in that dark, blood-soaked, moldy secret laboratory.

At that moment, Suolang Baima noticed Jiang Li’s abnormality, stopped, observed her for a moment, and his face darkened as he slowly drew the curved blade from his waist…