Chapter 143: Advance and Retreat

The bowl shattered and the man died.

In just an instant, Lei Yaoxing fell backward, dying of blood loss amidst his futile struggle.

In the dead silence, no one spoke.

Only Ji Jue was stiffening his neck, looking up, eyes wide, wishing he could take out a telescope and lean in to observe frame by frame—what the hell? What's going on? What happened?

A Rebirth Rank couldn't be burned to death even if thrown into a furnace, and those with stronger defenses couldn't be pierced by anti-material rifles pointed at their faces.

At this moment, he was actually killed by a piece of coarse porcelain shard that sprang up from the ground, dying of blood loss?

He didn't even have the strength to struggle…

What is the principle behind this? What is going on?

His hair was almost standing on end.

Incomprehensible, unclear, and unable to figure it out.

In that instant, he only had time to feel a trace of spiritual quality fluctuation that emerged when the porcelain bowl shattered, quiet and flowing, silent, passing through the mourning hall in a flash.

Then it pierced through flesh and soul, took away life, and finally, returned to the darkness.

There was no drawing of swords, no life-and-death struggle, just a light and airy execution.

Everything was too natural, to the point of being completely disconnected from the reality Ji Jue knew, and even subverting it, bringing with it a hair-raising chill.

Enveloping everything.

"Is this a Bai Lu Hunter?" he whispered hoarsely.

Tong Shan beside him turned his head. "Can you understand it?"

Ji Jue shook his head decisively.

"That is the absolute punishment execution of the Bai Lu Hunter, a unique skill even higher than the Blade of Flying Light."

Tong Shan said softly: "Among the followers of the Bai Lu, only three families are granted the title of Hunter, endowed with the claws and teeth of supreme goodness. Their duty is to defend the wilderness, maintain the cycle, and eradicate disasters. They are like hunters killing invasive species, maintaining ecological balance and the continuation of the wilderness.

Among them, the An family's duty is to erase internal hidden dangers, and all their techniques are built on the foundation of hunting their own kind… Absolute punishment was born precisely because of this; outsiders are destined to be unable to understand or peek into it."

He paused for a brief moment, and his gaze toward Ji Jue became increasingly subtle: "Before, I thought Supervisor Wen being able to manage a stray Bai Lu was already a rarity, but I didn't expect you to be even more blue than the indigo."

Ji Jue's expression twitched, several times, wanting to speak but stopping.

Clearly, he had a poker face, his temperament was so serious, his eyes so earnest, how did he become so skilled at eating melons?

You Tong family members all have a bit of that, don't you!

Ji Jue suddenly discovered in despair… among so many noble families, by comparison, the most normal one was actually the Lou family?

Oh no, could it be that the Lou family actually has fierce skills too, but the Young Master of the Lou family was thrown out to be an artisan and didn't learn any proper skills?

Amidst the astonishment and sluggishness, the blood color on the ground gradually spread, the corpse was cold, and there was no sound at all.

Even the blessing and spiritual quality had dissipated completely, turning into a fog of nothingness, drifting away with the wind.

If the occasion weren't wrong, Ji Jue would have brought his toolbox up to save it, watching the material lose its value, and he didn't know whether he should feel heartbroken.

Just like that, An Ning looked down silently, until the final brilliance faded from Lei Yaoxing's eyes.

In the emptiness, only the dim black remained.

She withdrew her gaze, looked around at the surroundings one last time, nodded slightly as if saying goodbye, and turned to leave.

It wasn't until that slender figure disappeared into the rain curtain that the frozen atmosphere in the mourning hall finally improved slightly, but it remained solemn.

Or rather, the tension and fear were even greater than before.

Facing the absolute punishment of the Bai Lu Hunter, one just had to wait for death, but sometimes death wasn't the most terrifying thing; what was terrifying was not knowing what one would face next.

Whether one's own life could remain in one's own body?

Right around Lei Yaoxing, the spreading blood flowed to the feet of his confidants, but in the dead silence, they didn't even dare to move.

Waiting in fear for their own ending.

Until, amidst the coughing, Chen Xingzhou's voice came.

"When a person leaves, the lamp goes out, and grievances are settled. For the sake of past favors, you should clean up for him. After the funeral ends, bury him together; it can be considered fulfilling the father-son relationship between Old Man Lei and him."

The man in the wheelchair said: "Since Lei Yaoxing is already dead, there is no need to pursue other things. After settling the accounts, you are free to stay or leave, and it's no problem if you want to leave Yacheng.

I also hope you don't make mistakes."

From that high and indifferent gaze, all those who received the grace had different expressions; some were as calm as water, some had hateful eyes, and more lowered their heads tamely.

The disposal of Lei Yaoxing was thus settled. Next, amidst everyone's bated breath, Chen Xingzhou finally turned his head and smiled warmly at everyone.

"It's rare for everyone to gather in one place. Yacheng has been in chaos for so long, it's time to choose a Speaker." He proposed, "I will be the Speaker, who agrees, who opposes."

"I agree."

Right behind him, the dwarf in leopard-print leather with gold teeth raised his hand first, without hesitation, his eyes revealing ferocity as he looked around, looking like a loyal follower, as if he would blow the dog head of anyone who dared to oppose his boss.

"I agree too!"

"Me too!"

"And me!!"

Everyone present scrambled to express their approval, fearing that if they were a beat slow, they would die without a burial place. And others just stood behind Old Lin, watching all this quietly, smiling without speaking.

Thus, witnessing the end of this struggle, the re-aggregation of the Wilderness Gathering, and even the birth of a brand-new Speaker.

The Dark Side slaughter that had lasted for half a month finally ended.

Reflected in the winding blood color.

No, perhaps the slaughter had never ended, it was just temporarily coming to an end.

And now, before the mourning hall, Speaker Chen Xingzhou had raised his hand, paused slightly, and suddenly everything was silent, silence returned.

Only a hoarse voice echoed in the mourning hall.

"Thank you all for supporting me to be the Speaker for a ten-year term. I am not Lei Wuye, and the position of Speaker is not a toy for me, Chen Xingzhou.

Ten years later, if there are newcomers who want to be the capable ones, friends with wealth and power who want to compete for the position, or strong dragons crossing the river who want to unify the world, I welcome them all. At that time, we will see the truth in our hands.

But in these ten years, Yacheng's Wilderness Gathering is my, Chen Xingzhou's, Wilderness Gathering! The business of the Wilderness Gathering is my, Chen Xingzhou's, business! The brand of the Wilderness Gathering is my, Chen Xingzhou's, brand!"

From the solemn lingering sound, Chen Xingzhou's face no longer had warmth, only a coldness and cruelty surpassing Lei Yaoxing's, asking: "Do you understand?"

Everything was silent, no more noise.

From the sound of the fine rain in the distance, the beasts lowered their heads tamely like straw in a gale, no longer daring to show any resistance or rebuttal.

"Very good."

Chen Xingzhou nodded slightly, and finally, clapped his hands, "Today's matter is over, the Wilderness Gathering returns to the right track. Finally, let's offer incense to Old Man Lei again."

Just like that, under Chen Xingzhou's hosting, the funeral continued.

One after another, the burning incense sticks were inserted into the incense burner, gathering into the broken light like an ocean in the shadows, like the eyes of beasts on the Dark Side of Yacheng.

Right beside the incense burner, the trembling master of ceremonies raised the copper pestle and knocked it down numbly.

Thus, the sound of the chime was distant, echoing in the rain.

Just like before.

The future might not be any different.

A month ago, on Mount Yingtai, in the ancient hall, the same sound echoed.

The afternoon light spilled down from the dome, divided into thousands of strands of oblique light by the window lattice, like sharp blades, piercing the darkness and illuminating Chen Xingzhou's face.

In the darkness, the old figure sitting cross-legged played with the chess pieces indifferently, his voice cold.

"Indeed, in recent years, Lei Wuye's actions have become increasingly old-fashioned. Under the checks and balances of all parties, the Wilderness Gathering has also become a pool of stagnant water, with a few mosquitoes rising and falling occasionally, with no fun to speak of."

The Leader, known as the Recluse, asked: "What do you think?"

"Abandoning the root to pursue the end, losing the essence."

Chen Xingzhou answered without hesitation: "Survival of the fittest is the right principle of the Bai Lu, and the elimination of the weak is the main theme of the Wilderness Gathering."

He paused and said bluntly: "The wilderness does not need Tian Tian Yuan, nor does it need Lei Wuye's set of increasingly rigid rules. I think that after this turmoil, even if there is some decline, after a round of elimination, many new seeds will emerge, right?"

The Recluse laughed, mocking: "It sounds interesting indeed, after all, natural selection is also part of the wilderness. But if one day… the prey surrounded by wolves becomes you?"

"What's the difference?"

Chen Xingzhou asked back in confusion, "Regardless of victory or defeat… at that time, wouldn't the person sitting in that position again be another me?"

Ten years, he had at least ten years to build Yacheng's Wilderness Gathering into the shape he envisioned. The cruel cycle established by Chen Xingzhou would merge with Yacheng's wilderness over a long period of time.

Even under his promotion, there would be challengers appearing one after another, endless… but isn't this the right principle of the Wilderness Gathering?

If everything went smoothly, ten years later, he could let go and hide behind the scenes.

The cruel cycle of the Wilderness Gathering would continue, from his gaze.

The Recluse was silent.

The figure in the darkness finally seemed to raise his head, for the first time, looking him in the eye: "With this heart… work harder, forty years later, maybe you can also be a Leader."

"You flatter me."

Chen Xingzhou bowed his head, "The position of Leader, I really dare not covet."

The Leader seemed to laugh, "Then what do you want?"

Chen Xingzhou was silent.

For a long time.

As if plucking up courage, he said softly: "When I was fourteen, someone gave me a fortune, saying that my life was like sailing against the current, if I didn't advance, I would retreat, so I changed my name to Chen Xingzhou.

What I seek is nothing more than the freedom to advance or not, to sail or not, that is all."

"Haha, hahahaha, hahahahaha—"

As if hearing the biggest joke in the world, the Recluse could no longer endure, laughing, leaning forward and backward, the chess pieces on the table rolling to the ground, the crisp sound incessant.

A black chess piece fell before him.

As if a reward.

"Get out, Chen Xingzhou."

The Recluse waved his hand and finally told him, "If you can really crawl back from hell, then think about freedom."

Chen Xingzhou turned and left.

Thus a month passed, wind and clouds surged, tides came and rain fell.

When the rain gradually thinned and dissipated, the same sky light spilled down, illuminating Chen Xingzhou's face, and the black chess piece in his hand.

Amidst the tame bowing of many subordinates and beasts, respectful greetings and farewells, everything became so solemn and solemn.

"Freedom."

Chen Xingzhou pinched the chess piece, staring at the gradually clearing sky, "Old Lin, do you think I am free now?"

"Who knows."

Old Lin shook his head indifferently, "It depends on who you still think is blocking your way."

Yes, who else?

Perhaps in the temporary submission, no one dared to resist Chen Xingzhou's order, but it was foreseeable that the blockers on this road in the future would be countless.

Suspicion, probing, provocation, and even challenge and struggle.

Perhaps everyone who bowed now would become his enemy in the future.

Even though Chen Xingzhou had won against the strong with the weak and leaped over the Dragon Gate in just half a month, and was different from the past. This wrist and planning were indeed terrifying, but his power had not been fully verified… and the other Speakers who had invested so much outside Yacheng might not give up this piece of fat that was about to reach their mouths, right?

New challengers would probably appear soon, and they would be more, more dangerous, and more troublesome.

Clearly he had crawled out of a quagmire, but he had fallen into another larger and deeper quagmire… wanting to rise, but having to struggle for how many years?

"Freedom."

He laughed at himself, such an overreaching wish, how could the Leader not laugh?

But at least now, the chess piece was in his hand.

He clenched his fist.

He said nothing more.

From his contemplation, his gaze looked toward the gradually departing crowd, and the back of the young man in the distance.

Ji Jue.

I wrote most of it last night, and updated it early today. This volume is almost over, but as for what to write in the next volume, my brain is completely empty, crying.

Can I have a monthly ticket? Please. ===== CHAPTER 144 =====