Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales

Translated by XephiZ

Edited by Aelryinth

“I want to be with you, whether I’m alive, dead, turned into ashes, or end up as a vengeful spirit! I want to stay with you no matter what happens!” Qin Yu’er declared to him.

Zhan Kong remained still, lost for words.

Qin Yu’er had always been stronger than him when they were on the national team. Zhan Kong was ashamed of himself back then, so he always forced himself beyond his limits and acted like a fool.

Qin Yu’er had rebuked him in the same tone at that time.

He should be stronger than her now, yet she was still rebuking and criticizing him!

Zhan Kong grinned.

Facing everything together regardless of the circumstances. If only there was a second chance at life…

He promised Qin Yu’er they would face everything together. They would work hard, train, go on adventures, face hardships, fend off enemies, and even die together…

“Don’t come any closer,” Zhan Kong yelled when he saw Qin Yu’er heading toward him. “This Mantle, it will absorb any living flesh that touches it,” Zhan Kong told Qin Yu’er.

Qin Yu’er did not stop. She continued to walk toward Zhan Kong.

Zhan Kong quickly backed away. None of the experts of the Sacred City had forced him to back away, but he began to panic when he was facing Qin Yu’er.

“Let us go, together!” Qin Yu’er stated calmly.

“My kingdom of undead has no room for the living,” Zhan Kong protested.

“And you think the human world has room for all of the living?”

1

Absolutely not, especially those who were judged to be heretics by the Holy Judgment Court and Heresy Judgment Court. They would not find peace in any corner of the world. Even the deserted Tianshan Mountain was no longer a safe place for her!

What about the Kingdom of Undead?

Was Zhan Kong willing to live as a living dead while his consciousness was gradually being devoured?

He despised himself. The truth was, he had come to the Sacred City seeking a way out!

“If there is no longer room for us in this world, why are we still struggling so desperately?” Qin Yu’er had already reached Zhan Kong. Her eyes were tearing up like a melted glacier.

Zhan Kong remained still.

Qin Yu’er spread her arms. Zhan Kong did not react to her.

“If I let the Mantle take my life, my soul will be closer to yours. It’s just a greedy evil Mantle. If the Sacred City didn’t stop you, why would I let the Mantle stop me?” Qin Yu’er declared.

She reached forward and hugged Zhan Kong.

His undead body was bulky. Qin Yu’er only managed to fall into his chest when she tried to embrace him.

Zhan Kong’s hands were hanging in the air. The expression on his face was changing rapidly.

The Mantle had taken countless lives, and the soul of every life it had devoured was still within it. Those souls were fighting fiercely over Zhan Kong’s memories and consciousness.

However, when Qin Yu’er fell into his arms, Zhan Kong’s face had appeared under the initially empty helmet. He had reclaimed his flesh. He was no longer half-human and half-demon, with the presence of an undead.

“I want you to live!” Zhan Kong lowered his head and kissed Qin Yu’er’s hair softly. His face was full of tears now.

“The life I want is free and full of happiness. A life without mistreatment and hostility, a life where I can go on adventures with you across the world…” Qin Yu’er looked up. She kissed Zhan Kong on the lips after finishing her sentence.

The black Mantle began to show its greedy nature. An evil force was devouring Qin Yu’er’s body, dragging her deeper into it, like quicksand.

“Don’t you want it too?” Qin Yu’er asked while touching Zhan Kong’s face.

“I just think it’s unfair for you. You didn’t do anything wrong. Why do you have to compromise with the world?” Zhan Kong protested to her.

Why did she always have to be the one compromising? If he wanted to, he could wake up a stronger existence. If he wanted, he could overthrow the Sacred City that was condemning Qin Yu’er’s right to live!

“Did you do anything wrong? You saved the world, but the world won’t accept you. They have always been so greedy! The ancient gods, the Totem Beasts, and the people they claimed to be heretics… your Mantle is nothing compared to them. I would rather become one with you in the Mantle than stay with them,” Qin Yu’er swore to him.

Why would she say such words if she wasn’t overwhelmed by disappointment? Qin Yu’er was tired of everything!

She now understood why the ancient gods had abandoned the humans, why the Totem Beasts stopped protecting them. Humans only believed in themselves. They believed it was necessary to purge everything that was a threat to their existence.

Should they keep fighting? Should they keep fighting just to teach the people they were wrong? To condemn their misdeeds?

Qin Yu’er was no Nüwa. She had no obligation to patch up the sky for humanity. Zhan Kong was no Pangu, either; he did not have to sacrifice his flesh to create the world!

If they believed eliminating her and Zhan Kong was going to guarantee the peace of their world a thousand years from now, let them be!

“Yu’er, are you sure you want to go with me? I’m already with the dead!” Zhan Kong was still unwilling to let Qin Yu’er die.

Zhan Kong wanted her to stay alive. It was enough for him for his weary soul to embark on the rotting path of darkness alone.

“Mm, I’m willing!” Even Qin Yu’er was startled when she uttered the words.

She had imagined spilling out those same words from her deepest heart to Xingyi on different occasions. It would be a wedding she had long hoped for, where she would receive the blessings of her family and friends.

She never thought she would say the words to Zhan Kong in the Sacred City. The sky full of blue feathers was dazzling, while the Sacred City was bustling with noise…

Yet they were surrounded by murderous intentions and disdain!

“Let’s go, Xingyi.” Qin Yu’er was discontent with the outcome too. She even had the urge to turn her tears into a hail that would destroy the world!

However, she would not do it. She believed leaving was the better choice.

Zhan Kong nodded.

He looked into the sky. The blue feathers were shining upon the ground like a sacred thing. He looked at the people in the city, and the anticipation in their eyes… as if they believed the Forbidden Curse was enough to kill him!

The strength of the Forbidden Curse was not even a tenth of the God of Darkness’s strength. How were they supposed to protect their peace for a thousand years?

The God of Darkness had never had any wild ambitions toward their plane. The real threat to mankind’s existence was never darkness, but the suffocating cold from the ocean…

“Michael, do you seriously not hear the whispers of that Emperor?” Zhan Kong hugged Qin Yu’er as the Mantle slowly devoured her. He burst out laughing frantically.

“What nonsense are you uttering!?” Michael snapped. “I will erase you from the world today!”

“You heard it, but you are afraid, right?” Zhan Kong smiled.

Michael was enraged.

“You chose to pick on me because I’m weaker just to boost mankind’s morale…” Zhan Kong said.

“Such nonsense, I’m fighting for the peace of a thousand years from now!”

“You obviously know who the God of Darkness of this era is.”

1