Chapter 74: Narrow Gap of Destiny

Heimu showed a bitter smile: "I… really have no face to see her. Perhaps it's not the time yet. When I'm ready, I'll make up for the debt of that year."

She looked at Xing hesitantly, adding, "Don't worry, that Black Tower child is actually very love‑starved, especially needing comfort from close ones, like a hug. When she was little, every time she was wronged outside and ran home crying, she'd be held in my arms for a long while before she could recover…"

(Heimu strained to tighten his facial muscles, preventing himself from laughing.)

The image of Little Black Tower crying and leaping into the sister's arms instantly flashed in Xing's mind, stirring a surge of emotion.

(What a pair of sisters deeply bonded yet tormented by fate!)

She suddenly felt the Task on her shoulders was immensely sacred.

"Alright! I agree!"

Heimu nodded with satisfaction and handed the Heimu Doll in his hand to Xing: "By the way, this Doll can serve as my greeting gift to her. She must… be nostalgic for this Doll."

The tone was full of meaning (laugh~).

Xing solemnly took the Doll, as if receiving a sacred mission: "I will deliver it to her myself!"

Heimu nodded with satisfaction again, and produced a Mystic Card with a special material and dark‑purple veins along the edge: "This counts as the sister's 'escape fee' for you; I can't let you help for free."

Xing quickly waved her hand: "No, no! How can you take money for doing a good deed!"

"Take it, a small token." Heimu insisted.

After several refusals, Xing finally, unable to decline the generous offer, accepted the Black Card, and her affection for the Black Tower's Sister surged:

(The Black Tower's Sister, what a nice person! So gentle and generous!)

"Um, sister, I have to go find my companions." Xing tucked away the Black Card and the Doll, and said.

Heimu nodded in understanding, turned gracefully, looked out the window again as if lost in thought: "Go."

Xing, moved, gave her a glance, walked to the doorway, and grasped the door handle.

At the moment she turned the handle, a neglected question flashed through her mind—(Wait! How did the Black Tower's Sister get in? I remember I locked the door!)

The thought just rose, before she could ponder, she felt the door handle in her hand… move on its own!

"Clack."

The door was pushed open a crack from the outside.

Xing widened her eyes in surprise, before she could see who was outside, a swift gust of wind whispered by her ear!

"Three…?" Xing could only utter a syllable—

"Bang!"

(Uh… why again… head…)

Darkness fell before her eyes, and she slipped down softly again.

That figure swiftly steadied her, preventing her from falling directly to the ground, then, still facing away from the doorway and gazing out the window, Heimu respectfully whispered a report:

"Madam, it's already taken care of."

And the Black Tower's Sister, standing by the window, merely stared at the gray‑hazy Beloberg sky, her lips finally unable to suppress a mischievous, delighted curve.

【Narrow Gap of Destiny】

A Xing stood in a chaotic yet dazzling strange space, with swirling starlight beneath her feet, and countless narrow paths leading to unknown directions surrounding her.

She looked around bewildered, her mind rapidly replaying the earlier scene—Kekeliya's spear, which had condensed Star Core power and was ice‑cold to the bone, pierced her body, and then… her consciousness was thrown here.

(Is this the 'Narrow Gap of Destiny' the lady mentioned?)

She understood in her heart.

Her gaze was quickly drawn to a weapon planted ahead—a Flame Gun burning with scorching Flame, standing silently at the center of the light, radiating the massive power of the Preservation destiny.

She knew she needed to take it.

As she stepped toward the Flame Gun, a corner of her eye suddenly caught a figure lying on the ground not far away.

She approached puzzled, and when she saw the person's face, she was stunned.

(Xing? How did she end up here?)

The gray‑haired girl before her had her eyes tightly shut, as if in deep sleep, breathing evenly.

A Xing felt a flicker of doubt, but the situation was urgent, leaving no time for contemplation.

(Never mind, finish the mission first.)

She bent down, carefully lifting Xing.

Xing's body was limp, entirely supported by A Xing.

A Xing half‑carried, half‑supported her, step by step toward the burning Flame Gun.

The closer she got, the more she felt the heat that seemed able to melt a soul.

A Xing clenched her teeth, feeling her skin protest with a burning pain.

She adjusted her posture, letting Xing's body rest against her front, and then—she made a decision that went against her ancestors.

She didn't grasp the scorching gunstock herself, but held Xing's dangling hand, guiding it toward the Flame Gun's grip.

(Sorry, Xing. But this temperature… is really beyond the limit.)

A Xing thought in her heart without any guilt.

When Xing's fingers touched the Flame‑blazing metal grip—

"Sss— Aaaah!! So hot, hot, hot!!!"

The previously "unconscious" Xing, like a cat whose tail was stepped on, suddenly flung open her eyes, letting out a series of harrowing screams, thrashing wildly to try to shake off the scorching source!

She hadn't figured out the situation at all, only feeling her palm as if pressed onto a red‑hot branding iron, the pain making her soul detach!

A Xing was prepared; her arm, like an iron band, firmly locked Xing's body, while she pressed with her hand, forcing Xing's escaping palm to grip the Flame Gun's handle tightly!

"Aaaahhh—!! Let go! Who are you?! Let me go!!"

Xing's pain made tears nearly spill, she twisted wildly, but A Xing's strength far exceeded her expectations.

"Hang on!"

A Xing whispered a low shout into her ear, no longer hesitating, borrowing the force of Xing (who was forced) gripping the Flame Gun's handle, her waist and abdomen suddenly surged with power, she let out a low growl and thrust sharply upward!

Snort—!

Accompanied by Xing's gut‑wrenching scream, the Flame Gun that had been deeply embedded in the halo was ripped out forcefully!

The raging Flame instantly enveloped the barrel, also scorching Xing Na's "first line of fire" palm.

At the instant the Flame Gun left the ground, A Xing's consciousness seemed infinitely heightened, a vast, boundless will—like countless brilliant yellow crystals—"Preservation" Kelipe's fleeting glance, etched into their perception.

It was a gaze as heavy as a mountain and as expansive as the starry sky.

The next second, heaven and earth spun.

The senses of the real world instantly returned.

A Xing found themselves standing on the ground, tightly gripping in their hand the Flame Gun that had already restrained part of its Flame, yet still emanated overwhelming heat and authority.

Below, San Yue Qi, Dan Heng, Bronya and others were anxiously running up.

Kekeliya, hovering in midair and deeply merged with Star Core Power, showed an expression of disbelief on their face for the first time.

A Xing did not hesitate; they raised the Flame Gun in hand, their cold golden eyes locking onto the airborne Kekeliya, the barrel tip pointing at a distance.

The ensuing battle was without doubt.

The Flame Gun, imbued with the fate power of "Preservation", became the final straw that crushed the camel.

Kekeliya, amid Despair and the backlash of Star Core, gradually turned into icy‑blue specks of light, dissipating in Beloberg's biting cold wind, leaving only Bronya kneeling on the ground, letting out an uncontrollable, sorrowful sob.

The price of victory was so heavy it left one breathless.