Yehun Temple, May 8, 2030 — 9:35 AM
The steaming water rippled under the flickering glow of lanterns. Two silhouettes emerged from the mist: Meilin, completely bare, behind Qin Tiang, whose back seemed to bend under an invisible weight. His gaze was distant, haunted by the souls he had failed to save.
"Meilin…"
His voice, barely a whisper, trembled with emotion. His pupils shimmered, heavy with silent grief.
Meilin, wordless, gently ran a damp towel over his wounded back. The shadows of the room seemed to sway to the rhythm of Tiang's breath, heavy with regret.
"Yes…?" she finally replied, her tone detached, slightly mocking. "Are you going to ask me again why I didn't save them?"
Her face bore a feigned nonchalance, a mask concealing more complicated emotions.
"Meilin, we could have… we could've saved them!"
Silence. Then, in a sudden burst, Meilin slapped him.
"You reckless idiot!"
Her rage burst like thunder. Without hesitation, she threw the bucket of water into his face.
"You still don't get it, huh?! You can't see that I care about you? Why do you want to die for strangers?!"
Her voice trembled with a mix of bitterness and pain. She stood abruptly, knocking Tiang into the water with a single motion. Without looking back, she headed toward the sliding door.
"Meilin, wait!"
Tiang rushed after her, grabbing her wrist. Water still dripped from his chest, but his gaze burned with unwavering resolve.
"That's not what I meant… With our power, we could have saved them. All of them."
Meilin froze. For a moment, her eyes met his. Something flickered in her gaze. Then, in a barely audible breath, she said:
"If you want to die for them… then do it."
Her voice was cold, devoid of warmth. But it wasn't sincere. She turned and slammed the door behind her.
A heavy silence fell—broken by a sharp crack.
Lin Na, who had been watching with Lijing, slapped Tiang so hard he staggered backward.
"You deserved that. Men… all the same. All damn fools."
With an exasperated sigh, she turned and followed Meilin.
Lijing lingered for a moment. Her eyes softened as a melancholic smile appeared on her lips.
"Thank you, Tiang…" she murmured. "I understand Meilin… but without you, Lin Na and I would be dead."
She gave him one last compassionate look before leaving as well.
Tiang, alone, clenched his fists. He knew he had failed. But now… what was he supposed to do?
In one of the temple's great wooden halls, Meilin sat with her arms crossed, her face closed off. Around her, sick and injured monks, lost souls in this creeping apocalypse.
Lin Na gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Meilin…" she tried softly. "I'm sure Tiang—"
"If he wants to die, let him."
The words fell like a blade.
Meilin knew what he wanted. To save everyone. Even when it was no longer possible. Even when the world was crumbling beneath their feet. Even as evil energy gnawed at the protective barrier, turning the dead into vengeful specters.
What was he hoping for, huh?!
Beside her, Lijing sat down in silence, then suddenly embraced her.
"Meilin…" Her voice was gentle, filled with fragile warmth. "Tiang is an idiot. A real one. Emotional, impulsive…"
She took a trembling breath.
"But I'd be dead if he hadn't been there."
Her voice cracked. Her fingers tightened against Meilin's clothes.
"I understand your anger. But don't fight with those you love." She gritted her teeth, holding back a sob. "You always end up regretting it."
Meilin stared at her, uncertain.
"Why are you saying this?"
Lijing looked away, as if unable to meet her gaze.
"I remember… the last time I saw my mother."
Silence. Then, with a trembling voice:
"We fought. I was angry, I insulted her… and I left."
A sob shook her.
"And now… now I know she's probably dead. Either eaten or burned alive."
A flood of tears rolled down her cheeks as she buried her face in Meilin's shoulder.
"Lijing…"
Meilin tightened her embrace around her. Her heart pounded harder.
"Promise me you'll make up with him… okay?"
Her smile trembled. Meilin opened her mouth to respond—
An apocalyptic crash shattered the air.
The temple exploded.
Beams collapsed, hurling Meilin, Lijing, and Lin Na outside.
"Shit!!"
Meilin rolled on the ground and sprang to her feet. Wooden sword in hand, she watched horror unfold before her.
Dark lightning struck the forest.
Hundreds of trees were sliced down, monks crushed alive beneath the falling trunks like meteors.
A man appeared in the valley.
With an inhuman leap, he crossed four kilometers in a second.
He landed in front of Meilin. A black trench coat. A long saber. A cigar between his lips.
He raised his weapon.
One strike.
Meilin, agile, deflected the blow with her heel.
The man instinctively stepped back. Meilin lunged, delivering a spinning kick that sent him flying ten meters away.
He stood slowly. His expressionless gaze pierced through her.
"Child… give me Tiang. Or die with them."
His voice echoed in every mind.
With each step he took, the ground quaked.
Meilin clenched her fists.
"Try me."
A predatory smile curled on the warrior's lips.
"Dark Qi Amplification: Dimensional Slash."
Air, space itself, cracked.
A second later, Meilin was cut in two.
Her body collapsed. Her entrails spilled onto the ground.
Beside her, Lin Na and Lijing were beheaded in a single motion.
A deafening silence fell.
From the shadows, Xuelan Mowang watched, horrified.
And Tiang…
Tiang screamed.
The planet itself screamed with him.
Gravity reversed.
The valley was torn from the earth.
The universe bent beneath his rage.
Xuelan had no choice but to clap her hands.
Time froze—then was shattered by Tiang.
Xuelan tore Tiang from the Earth, teleporting him to another galaxy.
But even there…
His power continued to resonate.
In the skies, the Nine Apostles lifted their heads.
Something was awakening.
Something horrifying.
What kind of monster had awakened the Great Ancient One?