Chapter 89: Kunlun Reopens, Human Realm Receives Souls

Kunlun Mountain peak.

Xie Tingxue guarded the Green Bamboo Sword for the nineteenth day.

Wind and snow dyed her shoulders white.

She ate and slept not, only sensing daily that faint connection within the Green Bamboo Sword through Sword Intent.

Chen Shanhe finally arrived at Kunlun Mountain.

The old general, covered in wind and frost, saw Xie Tingxue like this, his voice hoarse beyond measure.

"Miss Xie, rest a while."

Xie Tingxue shook her head.

"He is still alive."

Chen Shanhe looked at the True Gate Ruins, his eyes full of bloodshot veins.

"This old man knows."

"The Young Master has a hard fate."

Shen Wanjin came too.

He said he was not worried about Jiang Che, only feared no one would repay the debt.

Yet what he brought was three hundred full carts of medicinal herbs, spirit stones, grain, and cold-weather clothing.

Gu Chongming did not come.

Capital City could not spare him.

But he sent a letter.

The letter read:

"Human Realm continues as normal."

"But Human Realm awaits you."

Night of the twentieth day.

Kunlun Ruins suddenly trembled.

The Green Bamboo Sword emitted a Sword Cry unlike any before.

Xie Tingxue rose abruptly.

"He's here!"

In the sky, a fine crack appeared.

Not a Gate.

Just a wound forcibly split open by a sword.

From behind the crack came Jiang Che's hoarse voice:

"Receive the people!"

Xie Tingxue's eyes turned red instantly.

She drew the Green Bamboo Sword and thrust it out.

Every Sword Cultivator on Kunlun Mountain peak drew their swords simultaneously.

Chen Shanhe roared:

"Northern Garrison Army, form the formation!"

Shen Wanjin shouted:

"Medicine! Hot water! Stretchers! All prepare!"

The crack widened.

The first figure fell out.

It was a half-demon giant covered in chain marks.

Immediately after, a scholar in old Confucian robes supported a fainting woman.

An armless Sword Cultivator.

A white-haired Witch.

A broken Martial Artist.

One after another.

They fell from the Upper Realm Prison back into Human Realm.

For many, the first thing after landing was not to cry out in pain.

But to reach out and grab snow.

"Snow..."

"This is Human Realm snow..."

Some wailed in tears.

Some kissed the ground.

Some looked at the mountains full of Zhenbei Flags and Sword Cultivators, asking blankly:

"Is Human Realm truly still here?"

Chen Shanhe, eyes red, said:

"It is!"

"Standing right here!"

The crack grew increasingly unstable.

Finally, Jiang Che fell from within.

He was covered in blood, still clutching half a chain from the Upper Realm.

Xie Tingxue leaped forward to catch him.

Jiang Che opened his eyes, saw her, and smiled.

"I'm back."

Xie Tingxue said nothing.

She only held him tighter.

Very tightly.

As if afraid he would vanish again.

Jiang Che gasped in pain.

"Gently, my bones are nearly scattered."

Xie Tingxue's tears fell, yet her voice remained cold:

"You deserve it."

Jiang Che laughed.

Chen Shanhe rushed over, saw Jiang Che was still alive, and wept with tears streaming down his face, yet could not help but scold:

"Young Master! If you do such a thing again, I will truly bind you!"

Shen Wanjin wiped his tears nearby: "Before binding him, make him sign the accounts first."

Jiang Che said weakly, "Shopkeeper Shen, you really spoil the mood."

Lin Xiaoman arrived too.

He held the History Book, crying until his eyes were red.

"Young Master, I knew you weren't dead!"

Jiang Che looked at him.

"Record it."

Lin Xiaoman paused in surprise.

Jiang Che said softly:

"Those who came out of the Heavenly Prison in the Upper Realm."

"Record the names of all those whose names can be asked."

"For those whose names cannot be asked, erect Nameless Steles."

Lin Xiaoman nodded vigorously.

The summit of Kunlun Mountain was busy all night.

This time, the returning prisoners totaled four hundred and seventy-three.

Of these, one hundred and ninety-six were critically injured and near death.

More, however, remained forever in the Upper Realm.

After Jiang Che woke, the first thing he asked was:

"Where is Lao Chai?"

No one answered.

He actually knew the answer.

Xie Tingxue said softly, "He did not return."

Jiang Che closed his eyes.

After a long while, he said:

"Erect a stele."

"The inscription shall read..."

His voice was slightly hoarse.

"From the Upper Realm Sky-Patrolling Prison, the old fire of the Human Realm shall not be extinguished."

"Lao Chai and other nameless elders did not kneel."

Amid the wind and snow of Kunlun Mountain, a new stele was erected.

The prisoners returning from the Upper Realm stood before the stele, kneeling not.

They only clasped their hands.

As if bidding farewell to comrades.

Three days later, the news spread throughout the world.

Jiang Che had returned.

And brought back four hundred and seventy-three old prisoners of the Human Realm from the Upper Realm.

This time, no one treated him as a god.

For he too could be severely injured, could be chained, and needed the Human Realm to receive him.

Yet people respected him even more.

Not as a god.

But as a man who truly fought his way back from the heavens.