[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-national-guardian-s-gone-and-we-re-done":3,"chapter-national-guardian-s-gone-and-we-re-done-national-guardian-s-gone-and-we-re-done-chapter-218":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","National Guardian's Gone and We're Done",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1743898,2228,"Chapter 218: The Paperman Haunting Incident in the Great Xia Empire","national-guardian-s-gone-and-we-re-done-chapter-218",218,"\u003Cp>\"Besides that strange old man, who else was there?\" Chu He asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Most of my time was spent with that strange old man.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He taught me many combat methods every day.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But he never taught me any of the truly supreme Secret Techniques.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’I suspect he was holding back, probably worried that I’d become more powerful than him one day and get rid of him.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Of course, I’m the type to repay any grievance, but even though the old man kept me imprisoned there, it wasn’t enough to make me want to kill him.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’In a way, the old man could be considered my master.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But there should be quite a few others like that old man.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For example, Chen Jia and Chen Yi, the ones you all killed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They were trained by the old man, but they weren’t his disciples.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I once heard him mention a term: Ancient Martial Inheritance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Chengli crouched to the side, poking the ground with a small twig.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why are you so hostile toward this old man?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Logically speaking, he trained you since you were a child and taught you so much.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"With your strength, talent, and current age, you’re one of the few at your level in the entire world.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s not just because you have immense potential; it also requires a truly skilled and capable teacher to guide you carefully.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu He felt that Xia Chengli’s attitude was quite strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah, why is that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Chengli tossed the twig aside and stood up. \"I didn’t even notice until you mentioned it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This hostility seems to exist deep in my soul, like it’s something I was born with.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Could it be that I’m not an orphan, but that the old man killed my family?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’All because he coveted my talent.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’And maybe I happened to witness the whole thing when I was just old enough to form memories. The old man didn’t know, and I myself forgot much of it due to the extreme shock.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’That would explain this hostility I feel for no apparent reason.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu He’s mouth twitched. \"You should probably stop overthinking things. Otherwise, you might end up falsely accusing your benefactor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Chu has a point,\" Xu Ping’an added with a nod from the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterward, they listened as Xia Chengli recounted a few other things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu He couldn’t shake the feeling that this old man Xia Chengli spoke of was hiding a huge secret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps there was another small group of people in this world who commanded knowledge and power beyond ordinary comprehension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they were plotting various schemes in the shadows, which Chu He found hard to understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because according to Xia Chengli, that old man was even stronger than he was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why would such a powerful individual—or a group of them—remain hidden in the shadows and never show themselves?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Three days passed in a flash.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through sleepless, non-stop battles, Xiao Yu, Nanting Snow, Lin Zuoguang, and Ye Lingyun quickly grew proficient in wielding the immense power that had swelled within their bodies in such a short time, as well as their control over the Supreme Divinity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire Demon Cave was completely cleared out by the four of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep exhaustion was etched on the faces of Xiao Yu, Nanting Snow, Lin Zuoguang, and Ye Lingyun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, looking at the area now that the gloom had dissipated, the four of them still felt a great sense of accomplishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their actions had completely eradicated the source of the Evil Spirits in the Great Xia Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, the group set off to return to the Royal City of the Great Xia Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they returned to the manor, only Liu Yuzhu was sitting on the lawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Xiao Yu, Nanting Snow, Lin Zuoguang, and Ye Lingyun, they had all returned to their respective homes or residences to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were utterly exhausted from the ordeal, a weariness that was not just physical, but mental as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Demon Cave had been fraught with danger, and although they had Xia Chengli’s protection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, they hadn’t dared to entrust their lives entirely to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There had been several times when they had genuinely come close to death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The constant, high-intensity vigilance of their surroundings had left their nerves completely frayed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Chu, you’re back?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yuzhu quickly stood up, her gaze falling upon Yumizakura, Xia Chengli, and Xu Ping’an behind Chu He.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was, of course, familiar with Xia Chengli, but it was her first time seeing Yumizakura and Xu Ping’an.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu He briefly introduced the two, and a flash of surprise appeared in Liu Yuzhu’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had certainly heard of Yumizakura’s renowned name, and seeing her in person for the first time inevitably stirred her heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Xu Ping’an, Liu Yuzhu felt a sense of apprehension and fear. This apprehension and fear weren’t intentional but stemmed from an uncontrollable psychological reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was mainly because Xu Ping’an’s appearance was so ferocious that even just standing near him made one feel as if the surrounding temperature had dropped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The current Xu Ping’an didn’t yet have enough strength to control his own aura, making it difficult to avoid affecting his surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you doing here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu He slowly sat down in a chair, then beckoned for Yumizakura and Xu Ping’an to join him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Xia Chengli, no words were needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already moved faster than Chu He, sitting down, grabbing some fruit from the table, and starting to eat on his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My main task now is to act as the liaison between you, Mr. Chu, and Her Majesty the Queen. So I wait at this manor every day for your return.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yuzhu said with a slight smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Great Xia Empire must be much more stable lately, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu He casually picked up a grape and popped it into his mouth, savoring the sweet and sour juice that burst on his tongue. It was a long-lost taste of ordinary life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course. The last time you displayed your divine might, Mr. Chu, it shocked every Empire and faction on Blue Star.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now, no Empire dares to provoke the Great Xia Empire in any way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yuzhu said with a smile, \"Her Majesty the Queen specifically tasked me with waiting here. If Mr. Chu returns, you must go to the Royal Palace.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Her Majesty has already instructed the Royal Palace’s chefs to prepare a grand feast to thank you, Mr. Chu.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After all, for a personage like yourself, Mr. Chu, the entire Great Xia Empire cannot find a gift worthy enough to express its gratitude.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There’s no need for such pleasantries with me.\" Chu He waved his hand dismissively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However, Mr. Chu, there is a matter I need to consult you about.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A strange incident has occurred recently in the Great Xia Empire. Many people have been turned into Papermen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yuzhu’s tone shifted as she took a stack of photos from a file folder on the table and placed them down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yumizakura walked behind Chu He and began to gently massage his shoulders with her slender, delicate hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She thoughtfully took some of the photos and placed them in Chu He’s hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The recently taken photographs were shrouded in an indescribably eerie atmosphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The images showed numerous people, all of whom had been transformed into pale, bloodless Papermen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They came from all walks of life, with various identities: students, waiters, teachers, Defense Team members...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every one of them had lost the warmth of life, turned into paper effigies like those used in funeral rites.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On both cheeks of these Papermen, two glaring circles of blush had been deliberately applied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The color was so vibrant it was almost demonic, creating a stark contrast with their pallid complexions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their clothing, though its material had turned to nothing, retained its exquisite detail in a bizarre fashion, remaining lifelike and showcasing the former status and style of each person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was even more chilling upon closer inspection was that the Papermen’s faces not only retained their living contours but had also frozen their final emotions for eternity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some had their eyes wide open, their terror-filled gaze so vivid you could almost hear an unfinished scream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others had peaceful expressions, with a faint smile on their lips, but hidden behind that smile was perhaps a deeper despair and helplessness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still others had complex emotions interwoven on their faces—both guilt for the past and acceptance of the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if, in that single moment, all their grievances and passions had found some form of resolution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was particularly striking was that when one looked deep into the eyes of these Papermen,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>you would discover an indescribable smile, a smile forcibly twisted into place by some power, carrying a sense of transcendence and release.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was unlike any expression they had in life, more like a soul that, after a long and painful struggle,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>had finally found its destination, obtaining a moment of peace and contentment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This smile, interwoven with the overt expressions of terror, despair, or peace on their faces, formed an ineffable harmony that nonetheless sent a chill down one’s spine and made one’s scalp tingle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire photograph was like a meticulously arranged tapestry of horror,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>every detail exuded a supernatural eeriness and sorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>",1550,"2026-06-06T16:46:32.086Z",1,"novelbin.me","c0f725d48ec1f1f6fa11336a7bd262c858ca59a577823e1e76af507de420f3ac","national-guardian-s-gone-and-we-re-done-chapter-165","national-guardian-s-gone-and-we-re-done-chapter-217",274,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fnational-guardian-s-gone-and-we-re-done-cover.jpg"]