Chapter 1525: Bonds

Bonds

Chu Muyun froze.

Although Chu Muyun hadn't stepped into the Temple of the Dead, the surging River Styx just now and the continuous rumbling inside the temple all reflected the cruelty of the melee inside... He immediately pressed for more information:

"What about Chen Ling?"

Jiang Xiaohua tilted his head and thought for a moment, ultimately summarizing it in two words:

"Alive."

"What about Six of Spades and Six of Diamonds?"

"Also alive."

Chu Muyun finally let out a long breath. No casualties—that was the best news...

"Should we go up?" Chu Muyun asked.

"Wait a bit longer, Spades wants to go see his mom."

Jiang Xiaohua answered earnestly.

Chu Muyun paused slightly, then nodded.

As if remembering something, he looked into Jiang Xiaohua's eyes and slowly spoke as if making up his mind:

"Six of Clubs, there's something I want to entrust to you..."

...

The whimpering cold wind brushed past Jian Changsheng's cheeks.

His blood-stained leather jacket fluttered slightly in the wind. He staggered forward, slowly leaving a long trail of bloody footprints on the ground. With every step he took, the pain of bone fragments piercing into flesh and blood made the corners of his mouth twitch.

Not far ahead of him, a desolate ancient well stood silently beneath the River Styx.

Jian Changsheng walked to the edge of the ancient well, just about to look down, but then seemingly thinking of something, he silently shifted his body to a water vat on the side.

Splash——Splash——Splash...

Cupping water in his hands, Jian Changsheng forcefully wiped it over his face, washing away all the bloodstains on his hands and face. Then, he patted his cheeks twice with both hands...

Looking at the fair and clean youth in the reflection on the water's surface, a hint of satisfaction finally appeared in his eyes.

He hobbled back to the front of the ancient well.

As Jian Changsheng carefully peeked his head into the well, profoundly deep well water entered his sight, appearing to have nothing magical about it... He closed his eyes, calling out his mother's name over and over again in his mind.

Longing spilled onto the surface of the well water, like a key connecting the worlds of the living and the dead. Shimmers of light swayed in the well water, reflecting the flowing River Styx directly above, as if it had become a tiny tributary belonging exclusively to Jian Changsheng.

Faintly, a silhouette seemed to be sketched out from the well water.

"...Little Jian?"

A female voice sounded from the bottom of the well.

Jian Changsheng's entire body trembled.

He opened his eyes, only to see that kind figure he missed day and night, who had accompanied him through his entire childhood, lying on her stomach by the well's edge on the other side of the water's reflection, looking at him in surprise just like him.

Jian Changsheng's lips quivered. After a long time, he gently called out:

"...Mom."

...

Sun Bumian slowly walked to the peaceful Chen Ling's side.

"...Who taught you to lie like this? Clubs?" Looking at Chen Ling lying flat neatly with his hands folded on his chest, Sun Bumian couldn't help but complain. "Do you know that you look like you're about to be buried right now."

"But this is very relaxing." Chen Ling replied with his eyes closed. "Stamina recovers a bit faster too."

Sun Bumian: ...

Sun Bumian silently lay down beside Chen Ling, also folding his hands over his chest. One in a theatrical robe and one in a Tang suit, the two lay side-by-side, neat and tidy.

"You're late," Chen Ling said.

"I actually planned to come find you guys right away, but then my Master, that old fogey, came looking for me right on time... and dragged me off for a chat." Sun Bumian shrugged. "Who knows what he was doing for so long before this..."

"..."

"Why aren't you saying anything?"

"...He came looking for me."

"???" Sun Bumian cursed and swore. "I knew it! Abandoning his own good disciple to sneakily look for an outsider like you... That old fogey, what a scumbag!"

"He reminded me of a lot of things, and also gave some... prophecies?"

"Good or bad?"

"Unclear... probably both."

"Although my Master is a scumbag, he does have the strength." Sun Bumian paused for a moment. "In terms of divination, he's almost never been wrong... He even calculated his own death in advance and left a backup plan, allowing himself to remain conscious in the Ancient Vault of the Ghost Path, and even retain a small portion of his power.

What did he tell you?"

"He said that what I want to do cannot be accomplished by one person..." Chen Ling slightly turned his head to look at Sun Bumian beside him. "I need your help."

Sun Bumian froze for a second. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, and he tried hard to suppress it:

"Mm... very normal. After all, I am indeed too capable."

Chen Ling: ...

"Hearts."

"Yeah?"

"My Master really thinks highly of you." Sun Bumian also turned his head to meet Chen Ling's gaze. "He said you will be the key to changing the world... The old man's words won't be wrong."

Sun Bumian paused for a moment and added, "My intuition won't be wrong either."

Chen Ling paused slightly.

"Out of filial piety and out of friendship, I will spare no effort to help you... My millennium of accumulation exists exactly for this reason." Sun Bumian said seriously,

"Rest assured... my power is your power."

Chen Ling stared blankly at him for a long time, silently withdrawing his gaze and closing his eyes again...

"...Corny."

Sun Bumian: ???

...

"Mom, I've been doing really well these past few years."

"..."

"...After you left, the Yan Family also treated me very well. They didn't bully me anymore, and the Young Master also treated me as a friend... Really, your son is someone who stepped onto the Path of the Soldier. They're all respectful to me, how could they dare to neglect me."

"..."

"How could that be, Mom? Your son is someone blessed with great destiny. It's been smooth sailing all the way, how could I suffer any hardships?"

"..."

"I really haven't lost weight, I'm just cutting fat lately!"

"..."

"Mom, I'm a great hero of the Human Domains now. They all call me General Jian! Amazing, right?! Your son hasn't brought shame to our family!"

"..."

"No... How old am I? I don't want to get married yet... Ah, let's not talk about this."

"..."

"I'm not all alone. I have a few very formidable good bros. This time they brought... I brought them here to the Ancient Vault of the Ghost Path. Our relationship is really good, the kind who would risk our lives for each other."

"..."

Jian Changsheng leaned over the ancient well, patiently telling the figure at the bottom of the well about his experiences over the years. He told the story of how, loved by everyone, he had a meteoric rise and grew step by step from the Aurora Domain to the present day.

Jian Changsheng glanced back in the direction of the Temple of the Dead and returned his gaze to the bottom of the well:

"Mom... your son can only chat with you for a bit longer this time."

"My bros still have very important things to do. He... he's not as capable as me, he can't do without me. So, I have to go back him up..."

"Mom..."

"Your son will definitely become a true great hero."