Amidst a vast expanse of fertile land, an abandoned building entwined with countless vines stood sentinel. For centuries, it had been uninhabited, a desolate and dilapidated scene. Beasts mutated by radiation roamed within its confines. Inside one of these structures, several defiant youths brandished iron pipes. One lay on the ground, clinging tightly to a crate of alloy.
This was a derelict factory. Its sole value lay in the alloy hidden within its storerooms. The one clinging to the alloy box was Lin Zhao. This crate, sold in Sucheng, was worth at least five thousand universal coins, enough for him to live for several months.
"Is money more important than life?"
A youth brought an iron pipe down heavily on Lin Zhao's back. Lin Zhao let out a pained whimper and collapsed onto the ground.
"Big brother."
The youth holding the iron pipe turned, smiling at a red-haired young man. "There are countless vermin like him in the abandoned zones every day. Should we kill him, or how should we deal with him?"
The red-haired youth sneered, walked forward, and delivered a vicious kick to Lin Zhao's side. "Dare to snatch supplies from me, you must be tired of living, don't you know how to write the word 'death'? However, I'm in a good mood today, no need to dirty my hands by killing you. Brothers, let him bleed a little. We don't need to kill him; those wolves that smell blood will tear him to shreds."
"Alright!"
A youth stepped forward, drew a dagger from his waist, and plunged it into Lin Zhao's thigh. Blood gushed out, and Lin Zhao writhed in pain, clutching his leg like a pathetic shrimp.
The group descended from the building, boarded an off-road truck, and sped away amidst the roar of the engine.
...
"Hiss..."
Lin Zhao's eyes snapped open. Enduring the intense pain in his leg, he looked around. He tore a sleeve off his shirt and used it to bandage his injured leg. Hobbling downstairs, he hadn't gone far when he heard a distant whimpering. Pairs of scarlet eyes gleamed in the sparse woodland.
"Can't be this unlucky, can I?"
Lin Zhao gritted his teeth and forced himself to walk step by step towards the opposite street.
"Wuu wuu wuu~~~"
The roars of beasts echoed from the jungle. Figures emerged onto the desolate street—a pack of two-headed wolves. In earlier times, these beasts mutated by nuclear radiation were called "Two-headed Ghosts." They had attacked countless refugee camps and killed innumerable humans. Now, humanity was rebuilding, erecting "fortress cities" amidst the ruins. Sucheng was one of them. These two-headed wolves still roamed the abandoned areas, coexisting with humans.
The two-headed wolves were bloodthirsty, especially towards humans, and harbored a fierce killing intent.
At this moment, Lin Zhao was being followed by at least twenty to thirty two-headed wolves. Furthermore, a few wolves had flanked him, sensing his weakness and intending to attack from both sides simultaneously.
"Dream on!"
Lin Zhao hobbled forward as fast as he could, fresh blood seeping from his injured leg. As he ran, he observed the wolves' speed. Just as a few wolves lunged towards a derelict factory ahead, intending to intercept him, he suddenly pulled a sonic bomb from his pocket and threw it. With a "bang," the wolves were startled and retreated dozens of meters, but they were still unwilling to give up, following at a distance.
The alpha wolf bared its teeth, its dripping saliva looking particularly ferocious. Urged on by it, the rest of the pack closed in again, surrounding Lin Zhao from all sides.
"Bastards!"
Lin Zhao had used his only sonic bomb and had no choice but to accelerate. In a disheveled state, he scrambled onto a derelict house, then stumbled and rolled down. Beneath a patch of broad-leaved plants ahead, his hoverbike was parked.
Behind him, a wolf lunged, its gaping maw wide open.
Lin Zhao seized a steel bar about a meter long. As his body dipped, he swung it horizontally, sending the two-headed wolf flying. However, the pant leg behind him was snagged and bitten by another wolf. He quickly turned and struck again, then shouted, "Engine, start!"
Instantly, the voice-activated system of the hoverbike engaged with a low "hum," startling the wolves and causing them to retreat slightly.
"Wuu..."
Lin Zhao panted heavily, struggling to climb onto the bike. The moment he gripped the handlebars, two wolves leaped at him from behind. But the bike surged forward, knocking into the alpha wolf. Lin Zhao swung the steel bar again, hitting one of the alpha wolf's eyes.
He lay prone on the speeding motorcycle, enduring the pain, and silently vowed.
From this day forward, I, Lin Zhao, will never be bullied again!
...
Tianchi Town, back street, the Lin family ancestral home.
"Ah!"
On a simple bed, Lin Zhao exhaled sharply and opened his eyes. Was that… just a dream? It was a strange dream. The towering buildings, the flying and earth-shattering machines, all seemed so bizarre. And who was he in that world? He wanted to understand, but his head soon throbbed with pain, preventing him from thinking further.
"You're awake?"
A soft voice came from the side.
It was Chen Yu. She sat on a stool by the bed, looking at him with concern. Beside her, Xiao Shit, Su Qingjiu, and Zhang Liucheng stared at him with wide eyes.
"Mm."
Lin Zhao remembered. He had been struck down by Huang Yueran into Baiyuxi, and then he had fainted. While unconscious, he seemed to have seen an old woman ghost at the bottom of the water with faint golden eyes. She had grabbed him and walked away, laughing and saying, "Finally, I can have a fresh meal. After eating, I'll confer him the title of temple guardian of the Baiyuxi River God Temple." After that, he remembered nothing more.
"Brother Lin Zhao!"
Xiao Shit stepped forward.
Su Qingjiu also squeezed in. "Brother Lin Zhao, are you okay?"
Zhang Liucheng frowned. "Lin Zhao, are you alright? You absolutely cannot be harmed. You still have to become my first disciple in the future!"
"Stop fooling around..."
Chen Yu pushed Zhang Liucheng aside and looked at Lin Zhao with her beautiful eyes, smiling. "How are you feeling now?"
"It hurts..."
Lin Zhao's senses gradually returned, and his sword wounds naturally began to flare up.
"It will hurt a little."
Chen Yu smiled faintly. "But I've applied the best military-grade healing medicine for you. You should feel a little better soon. This time, you were incredibly lucky. If Mr. Qin hadn't fished you out of the water in time, even the gods would have been unable to save you."
"Boss Qin saved me?"
"Mm."
Chen Yu nodded and smiled. "Strictly speaking, many people saved you. After Huang Yueran assassinated you, he was intercepted by Deputy Commander Huang Tingyu. Then Commander Chu personally punished him with a fist. Afterward, five hundred brothers from the Tianchi Army's Death-defying Camp dived into the water to search for you, but they didn't find you. Finally, Mr. Qin saved you."
"Is that so..."
Lin Zhao nodded. "Thank you, Your Highness..."
Chen Yu blinked, then smiled. "Don't call me Your Highness, it's too awkward. Just call me Sister Chen Yu."
"Mm, okay."
Lin Zhao nodded willingly. "Thank you, Sister Chen Yu."
"Are you hungry?"
Chen Yu looked outside. "Spoon, is the chicken soup ready? Lin Zhao is awake, bring it in."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
A Tianchi Army soldier named "Spoon" entered with chicken soup, smiling. "It's just ready, eat it while it's hot."
"Mm, thank you..."
Lin Zhao felt a little uneasy, but he sat up. Chen Yu personally fed him. Lin Zhao wanted to feed himself, but his arms ached intensely. Huang Yueran's sword energy was too dense and numerous. He was covered in wounds and wouldn't be able to get up for several days.
...
Late at night, Tianchi Town, front street, the Huang family ancestral courtyard.
The Huang family was a prominent clan, one of the renowned families of Hedong during the Great Chen Dynasty. Even though the Great Chen Dynasty had fallen, the Huang family remained deeply rooted. At this moment, the elderly patriarch Huang Chen, leaning on a walking stick, presided over the ancestral courtyard of the noble clan. Below him sat dozens of branch family patriarchs, all indignant. Some branch patriarchs were from Tianchi Town, while others still resided in the former territories of the Great Chen Dynasty and were now subjects of the Great Shang Dynasty. However, upon the old patriarch's command, they had all rushed over.
"Chu Huaixi has gone too far!"
A branch patriarch frowned. "With just one punch, he killed Huang Yueran, who had the greatest hope of our Huang family becoming a sword immortal of the Upper Five Realms. Did he consider how much merit our Huang family had accumulated for the Great Chen Dynasty over generations when he threw that punch?"
Another lean middle-aged patriarch sneered. "Perhaps in Chu Huaixi's mind, the Great Chen Dynasty has long since become his alone."
"Hmph, we absolutely cannot let this go!"
A patriarch wearing a python robe, holding a high position in the Great Shang Dynasty's court, frowned. "To protect a mere Lin Zhao, he disregarded the dignity of our Huang family. This debt cannot be left unsettled. Old Ancestor, please say a word. As long as you speak, we will all wholeheartedly support you, even if it means turning Snow Domain Tianchi upside down. We must have Chu Huaixi give our Huang family an explanation!"
"That's right!"
A sword-wielding patriarch frowned. "Can Chu Huaixi really cover the sky with one hand?"
"Cough cough..."
Old Patriarch Huang Chen narrowed his eyes, a hint of killing intent gleaming within them. "Tomorrow morning, I will personally go to Chu Huaixi and demand a clear explanation. Huang Yueran and Lin Zhao's duel was a private matter. Since Huang Yueran is dead, Lin Zhao must also die. Otherwise, my Huang family will never give up!"
"Exactly!"
Someone echoed. "The Old Patriarch is a cultivator of the Tenth Realm, Star River Realm. With this cultivation, coupled with the foundation of our Huang family, I don't believe Chu Huaixi can truly refuse to yield!"
...
At this very moment, the Lin family ancestral home.
Lin Zhao was sound asleep. Chen Yu also dozed by the bedside. The ancient sword placed nearby silently emanated a soft glow. The light flashed and flew out the window.
The next second, this white light transformed into the appearance of a celestial maiden descending from heaven, clad in a white dress, graceful and ethereal. She slowly stepped into the royal ancestral courtyard, a slight smile playing on her lips, and said, "Who is it? Again and again, you press your advantage, and now you still want Lin Zhao's life?"