Chapter 217: Try It and Die
While Luo Qiaoqiao and Chen Yin were entangled in the brothel, the Divine Son was fleeing across the East Sea under the cover of night.
“Chen Yin…” he muttered, his eyes filled with venomous hatred.
“You won’t get away with this. When the Triennial Day arrives, the Dao Venerable’s divine punishment will descend, and you, Yu Ling, and all who defy him will die! I’m protected by the Dao Venerable, I won’t risk my life fighting you here. I just have to wait a few more days, and then my brothers and I will ascend.”
He looked out at the vast expanse of the sea, a flicker of worry in his eyes.
…Although he had sensed danger and ordered the other Shen Li members to retreat, he wasn’t sure if they had made it to the designated rendezvous point.
He had chosen a secluded island in the East Sea, a place so hidden that it was almost impossible to find without knowing its exact location.
He would stay there until the Triennial Day, safe from Yu Ling and Chen Yin.
As the fog cleared, he finally saw the outline of the island.
Several masked figures were visible on the shore.
The Divine Son’s spirits lifted. It seemed his followers had made it.
But as he set foot on the island, his smile slowly froze.
Under the cold light of the moon, a slender figure in a deep blue robe stood there, a thin sword in her hand, its tip dripping blood as she withdrew it from the chest of a fallen Shen Li member.
Her face, pale and ethereal, was like that of a moon goddess.
As if sensing his presence, she slowly turned, her eyes narrowing slightly as she raised her sword.
“You’re finally here.”
“I’ve been waiting for you.”
The Divine Son stared at her, his voice a low growl.
“…Shen Shuanglian!”
Shen Shuanglian brushed a strand of hair from her face, her gaze calm and unwavering.
The Divine Son looked at the bodies scattered around her, his heart sinking.
They were all dead.
All the remaining members of Shen Li.
And because of Chen Yin, he was now alone, cornered, and on the verge of death.
He closed his eyes slowly.
“Yu Ling… sent you?”
“Yes.” Shen Shuanglian didn’t deny it, her clear eyes meeting his gaze. “Master Yu Ling asked me to see you off.”
“Are you sure she didn’t send you to your death?”
The Divine Son took a step forward.
Instantly, the atmosphere around them grew heavy and oppressive.
Domain expansion. Illusions. Sensory deprivation. Power amplification.
He had absorbed the abilities of over a dozen Heavenly Dao Fragments. As long as his opponent hadn’t comprehended the Dao, he was confident in his victory.
And his System had confirmed that Shen Shuanglian was no longer a Chosen One. She must have transferred her System to Chen Yin somehow.
In that case…
“You’re no match for me without your Protagonist System!”
The Divine Son’s face contorted in a snarl, a dark energy swirling around his hand.
If he couldn’t kill Yu Ling or Chen Yin…
…he would take out their loved ones.
He lunged, his palm striking towards Shen Shuanglian’s face with terrifying speed.
The attack was amplified by four System abilities, while Shen Shuanglian’s own strength was significantly weakened.
Her aura flickered, and her vision blurred, the desolate island replaced by a sunny mountaintop, Chen Yin walking towards her with a smile.
Even a moment of hesitation would be fatal.
But Shen Shuanglian’s gaze remained steady.
As his palm was about to strike her, she moved.
Her sword flashed, a clean, precise, and deadly strike.
Aimed directly at his throat.
The Divine Son’s snarl turned into a look of shock and disbelief, his hand clutching his bleeding throat, his eyes bulging.
“You… you…”
“You’re… Grand Clarity… comprehended the Dao…”
Shen Shuanglian calmly wiped the blood from her sword and sheathed it.
“What’s the big deal about not having a System?”
“I’ve always been strong, with or without it.”
…She wasn’t lying.
Shen Shuanglian’s cultivation was truly exceptional.
Even without a System, she was a prodigy, the most talented cultivator in a thousand years.
Within just six months, she had easily reached the Grand Clarity Realm.
And now, she was at its peak, having comprehended the Dao of Sun and Moon.
Just a step away from the Immortal Realm.
The Divine Son couldn’t comprehend or accept this.
He clutched his throat, his eyes filled with resentment and disbelief.
…Just a few more days…
So close to the Triennial Day…
So close to achieving everything…
“I… I…” He gurgled, blood bubbling from his throat.
“Save me… the Dao Venerable… will reward you…”
Shen Shuanglian looked at him coldly, her eyes devoid of emotion.
“I have no quarrel with you. There’s no need to beg.”
“I killed you because he wanted you dead.”
“That’s enough.” She murmured, a flicker of tenderness in her eyes.
The Divine Son knew who she was referring to.
He glared at the sky, his eyes bloodshot.
“…Chen…”
“…Yin…”
The waves crashed against the shore, the moonlight bathing the island in a silvery glow.
Shen Shuanglian counted the bodies, making sure she hadn’t missed anyone, then looked out at the sea, her gaze distant.
“I killed the Divine Son.” She murmured to herself.
“Will he praise me?”
She sheathed her sword, and the cold, aloof aura of the Frost Moon Sword Immortal faded, replaced by a quiet vulnerability.
She sat on a rock, her head tilted slightly, her eyes fixed on the moon.
“…He hasn’t visited me in a while.”
“What is he doing now?”
“Is he thinking about me?”
Shen Shuanglian didn’t know. But she imagined him pulling her close, his lips pressing against hers, his hand gently stroking her hair, whispering sweet nothings in her ear.
She realized that no matter how strong she became, she was still that little girl, her heart racing at the mere thought of him, a smile touching her lips.
“I have to see him soon. He must be lonely.” She thought to herself.
Meanwhile, Chen Yin was fast asleep, his arms wrapped around Luo Qiaoqiao, his hand resting on her waist.
They both slept soundly, their breathing slow and even.
Luo Qiaoqiao was the first to wake up.
She turned and looked at him.
…He was still there.
His arms still around her.
A sense of peace and contentment washed over her, and she snuggled closer, reluctant to leave the warmth of his embrace.
Even if these were her last few days, she wanted to spend them like this, in his arms.
It was enough.
She rested her head against his chest and whispered softly,
“System, how many more days like this do I have left?”
“…System?”
There was no response.
She called out again, but still no answer.
She frowned, puzzled, when a lazy voice came from beside her:
“Don’t bother.”
“I took your System.”
Luo Qiaoqiao looked up at him, her eyes wide with surprise. “What do you mean?”
“It means,”
Chen Yin pinched her cheek and gently bit her lip, then said with a smile, “you’re no longer a Chosen One.”
“You don’t have to worry about that Plot Record anymore.”
“You can live as long as you want.”
Luo Qiaoqiao stared at him. “How did you do that?”
“Want to know? Beg me.”
Luo Qiaoqiao immediately snuggled closer, her voice soft and seductive. “Oh, my dear brother~ Please tell me~”
Chen Yin’s body reacted to her closeness, and he coughed awkwardly. “Well… a man has to have his secrets~”
Luo Qiaoqiao saw through his act and rolled her eyes playfully. “You little rascal.”
Then, she leaned closer and whispered in his ear, her breath warm against his skin,
“Tell me, and I’ll reward you~”
“What kind of reward?”
Luo Qiaoqiao just smiled mischievously and burrowed under the blankets.
Chen Yin’s expression turned strange.
The crackling of the incense seemed to grow louder, the red silk curtains swaying gently in the breeze.
After a while, he let out a long sigh and coughed awkwardly.
“Uh… Sister Qiaoqiao, I was just joking.”
“I don’t care.”
Luo Qiaoqiao emerged from under the blankets, her chin raised defiantly. “Don’t try to play coy.”
“Fine. I have something that can absorb Heavenly Dao Fragments.”
“What is it?” she asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
“I don’t know. It’s a scroll I found in a secret realm. I haven’t figured out what it is yet.”
Luo Qiaoqiao pouted, dissatisfied with his vague answer.
“You’re just trying to brush me off.”
“I’m not.”
“Yes, you are! You just want to have your way with me without any effort!”
Chen Yin thought for a moment, then said seriously, “It’s not that I want to take advantage of you. It’s that I’m afraid you won’t be able to handle it.”
“How do you know if I don’t try?” Luo Qiaoqiao said confidently.
As it turned out, trying it meant dying.
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