Chapter 68

Outside Nanjiang City.

Chen Yi He, Dongfang Xing, and Wu Rong took advantage of the laxity of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Southern Heaven Gate soldiers, sneaking out of the city.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard now has no time to bother these three youths; the aftermath of Thousandfold Gate needs them to handle.

The Southern Heaven Gate people, taking Nan Zhongyi, left Nanjiang City at the fastest speed.

Now the citizens of Nanjiang City are all panicked, locking themselves indoors, not daring to show their faces, fearing implication by Thousandfold Gate.

Many who previously stood with Thousandfold Gate now regret it deeply, not stepping out their gates, hiding in concealed places, trembling, fearing settlement by the Great Zhou Dynasty.

The Great Zhou Dynasty now has no leisure to settle these boring rumors.

The legendary Thousandfold Gate, the Thousandfold Gate of thousands of years, the Thousandfold Gate longed for by all in the martial world, today collapsed in history's gears, submerged in history's long river.

Once a godlike existence, it vanished in an instant.

For a time, rumors ran rampant in the martial world and the imperial court.

"What a Thousandfold Gate! To be blocked like this, fortunately my son wasn't selected!" said the sect leader of Sect A.

"You can only think that way luckily; consider your ancestors—didn't many enter Thousandfold Gate and never come out?" said the sect leader of Sect B.

"Damn it, thinking now, my father, my grandfather—actually died in Thousandfold Gate's conspiracy!" Sect A's leader shouted angrily.

"Fortunately, this malignant tumor has been removed." Sect B's leader comforted.

But in the end, as for what kind of organization Thousandfold Gate is, there is still no clear definition; the martial world can't define it, nor can the court. It is merely dust in long history, no one will heartache for it, and likewise, people's hatred for it is fleeting.

Pain is always temporary.

Martial world folks were all played by Thousandfold Gate—a move lasting thousands of years. Thousandfold Gate is like a sage, firmly controlling the martial world's lifeline; if this time it weren't due to internal problems, no one would know what conspiracies it might achieve afterward, or whether it could stand for a thousand years.

……

Amidst headlines everywhere of Thousandfold Gate's destruction, there are still several shocking pieces of news, even this one faintly shows signs of surpassing the headlines.

"Survivors, four disciples escaped calamity." This is the headline of the Martial World Weekly.

"The future of Five Absolutes Palace: the young Palace Master scores a kill and an assist, drawing first blood against Thousandfold Gate." This is the second headline of the Bei Du Daily.

"The graceful young Palace Master, phoenix nirvana, reborn from fire!" This is the recommended article of the Five Peaks New Literature.

For a time, the young Palace Master and Five Absolutes Palace dominated the martial world's spotlight, attracting countless fans; if not for the Palace Master's might, the threshold of Five Absolutes Palace would likely have been trampled by pursuers.

……

However, the above are all official major news.

Below also exist unofficial minor news.

"Mysterious identity? Prize guessing contest. (Below hangs a silhouette portrait of Chen Yi He)" This is the cover of Minor News Jianghu.

"A third-level heaven master defeats two fourth-level heaven masters? OMG!" This is the headline of the Black Path.

"A certain fourth-level heaven master beaten into disability? A certain general frightened to lose bladder control……" This is the main article of Gossip.

"Let's dig into this young man named Chen Yi He." This is the discussion area of the Martial World Forum.

"Chen Yi He's origins and fate." … and so on.

Wu Rong ate noodles while reading the paper; suddenly, as if seeing something stimulating, he pointed with his chopsticks and read, "Also this: 'Xiao family offers a bounty of one million taels, specifically demanding Chen Yi He's head'…… Chen Yi He, you've blown up!"

Chen Yi He's mindset collapsed; over the past three days, these hot news items grew more intense, showing no sign of fading.

"I'm really nervous……"

Chen Yi He and the three of them all did simple disguises; although they left Nanjing City, they are still within Nanjiang's region. At a roadside stall, they are eating steaming hot noodles.

The money for these noodles is the silver note Chen Yi He hid in his sleeve, stored for half a year, now moldy.

Nanjiang's news is blocked, yet they can see this much—just imagine how crazy Bei Du must be now!

Chen Yi He wants to thank Dongfang Xing and Wu Rong, who continuously supplied him with true qi to heal his wounds, spending three full days, consuming no less than a life-and-death battle.

Chen Yi He's injuries are only seventy to eighty percent healed, but that's enough; the remaining twenty to thirty percent he must slowly nurture himself.

"We need to lay low." Wu Rong always eats noodles slowly and carefully; the last time he ate noodles, he burned to ash a burly man who disturbed his meal with a single palm.

Chen Yi He is the type who wolfs down food; he finished a bowl in two or three bites, "Boss, another bowl!"

Chen Yi He knows that here he can still eat noodles, but after walking a stretch to Shanggu City, he'll have to rely on game and fruit to fill his stomach……

After finishing the noodles, the three walked side by side on the road, not rushed, since there was nothing urgent.

People fear fame, pigs fear getting fat; Chen Yi He knows he is not like a TV star whom everyone chases and loves; in the martial world, fame makes you a thorn in others' eyes—kill you, and you can rise to high position.

"Everything feels unreal." Dongfang Xing sighed rarely.

"Yeah, I haven't learned anything." Chen Yi He shrugged.

"At least you received the Seventh Elder's true transmission; we others truly made the trip for nothing," Wu Rong said with a bitter smile, "Heh, at least we didn't lose our lives."

When Wu Rong said that, Chen Yi He stopped walking, "Ah, yes, we're fortunate not to have lost our lives." He lamented those comrades who lost their lives: "Zhang Beihei, Tie Yi, Ouyang Lie…… Dragon King……"

During these three days, Chen Yi He never thought of Dragon King; he was restraining himself, forcing himself not to think.

But some people, some things, always drift into one's mind unintentionally.

Dongfang Xing lightly patted Chen Yi He's back.

Chen Yi He knows that if not for Dragon King, he could not now be safely eating noodles and strolling; such a good brother would have left him just like that.

"Don't grieve, the martial world is like this……" Wu Rong comforted Chen Yi He, then added, "We've reached the point of parting; the Purgatory Gate heads west, if we get a chance, let's meet again!"

Chen Yi He didn't even have time to say "goodbye" before Wu Rong vanished into the woods. Chen Yi He always found Wu Rong frightening, yet after interacting with him for so long, his demeanor seemed not so scary.

Chen Yi He and Dongfang Xing walked on and off for half a month, Dongfang Xing healing Chen Yi He's wounds while also attending to his washing up.

Chen Yi He never asked Dongfang Xing to do this, yet Dongfang Xing did it voluntarily.

Whenever Chen Yi He's gaze fell on Dongfang Xing, Dongfang Xing would shyly avoid.

Because of Dongfang Xing's behavior, Chen Yi He is no longer as unrestrained as before; that layer of window paper has been pierced, yet they have become reserved.

"This isn't like being friends, nor like being in love…… sigh……" Chen Yi He admired the sleeping Dongfang Xing.

The small, fair face is so delicate, with a gentle, introverted personality, quick and capable hands and feet—truly the perfect dream lover. Chen Yi He could never have imagined that the wild boy who once flung him seventy or eighty meters away was her, Dongfang Xing.

Seeing Bei Du right before his eyes, Dongfang Xing proposed to part ways with Chen Yi He.