Chapter 374: Those Were Done by the Later Me

Yo—.

Yu Lin, who had been lying on the bed with his eyes closed to rest, suddenly opened his eyes.

He did not get up, merely tilting his head slightly, his gaze seeming to pierce through layers of walls, precisely targeting a specific direction far away.

A silent curl formed at the corner of his mouth, revealing a hint of knowing, playful smile:

"Coming to my door on purpose,"

He murmured to himself, then, at an unhurried pace, sat up, lazily yawning as if merely getting up for the night.

Yet, the moment his feet touched the ground and he straightened his body, he casually stepped forward.

His form, as if merging with the night, vanished from the room in an instant, causing no ripple, as if he had never existed.

……..................

An ancient forest a few li outside Enoch City.

Atop the canopy of an exceptionally tall tree, Gai Yin's figure was perfectly concealed within the dense foliage and the shadow cast by the clouds, leaking not a single breath.

He carefully prevented any moonlight from touching him, as if that cold radiance also carried a scrutiny he did not wish to face.

He gazed from afar at the vague outline of Enoch City, emotions roiling in his crimson eyes.

He wanted to release his perception, like invisible tendrils probing for the breath that made his heart race, yet he forcibly suppressed the impulse—he was afraid.

Afraid that his probing would be like a stone thrown into a still lake, revealing his position.

Now he was far from the later progenitor of evil who had amassed countless epochs of sin and overwhelming power.

Although sin has now spread in the Human World, the population is far less than in later flourishing eras; the "evil" power he draws, whether its ceiling or floor, remains at a relatively "feeble" stage.

If he were caught by Yu Lin at this moment…

Even though he bears that contradictory "Protection" mark originating from God, who can guarantee that this mysterious, unpredictable fellow has no other way to make him "look good"?

"Damn…" he muttered low, his voice suppressing irritation, even tinged with a bit of grievance:

"The later me, why did you go and provoke him?! You just left me a mess!"

Immediately, as if clutching a lifeline, his tone became resolute, trying to convince himself: "Right! It was the later me's actions, what does that have to do with the present me?"

"Karma can't be calculated that way!"

"If he bothers me now, that's him being unreasonable! Then, when the later me bothers him, he deserves it! Because the present me hasn't caused him any trouble at all!"

"He has to go after the later me, not the present me! I haven't offended him now!"

The more he spoke, the more he felt justified, even gaining an inexplicable confidence, scanning the surrounding dark forest; after all, this was near the city founded by his bloodline descendants, and in a sense, it was his turf.

"Moreover, this is my turf now! If he faces me, he should fear me! When I clash with him, I should defeat him…"

"Really? How wonderful."

A voice laced with obvious mockery suddenly rang beside him, easily interrupting his unfinished self‑encouragement.

Gai Yin's subsequent words instantly clogged in his throat, his whole body freezing as if struck by a binding spell.

A faint "click" sounded from his neck as he, extremely stiff, turned his head inch by inch toward the source.

Below, not far away under another massive tree, Yu Lin lounged against the rough trunk, arms folded, leisurely looking up at him.

Moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting mottled shadows on his face, making the faint smile on his lips especially clear, yet that smile did not reach the depths of his eyes.

"Come down," Yu Lin's voice was low but clear:

"Let's settle the previous accounts properly."

Gai Yin's panic receded like a tide, and within a heartbeat he wore a smile that could be called "warm," the speed of his change leaving one gaping.

"Of course!" he replied cheerfully, even with a hint of eagerness, as if the frantic inner self that had been seeking reassurance earlier were not him:

"Let's talk properly; we're both people of reason, right?"

Saying that, his figure flickered, like a weightless leaf, drifting down from the high canopy and landing steadily a short distance before Yu Lin.

He even casually smoothed the non‑existent folds of his robe, striving to adopt a posture of willing "open communication."

Gai Yin steadied his mind, making his voice sound calm and reasoned: "As I just said—perhaps you heard it too—those were deeds of the later me, unrelated to the present me."

"Strictly speaking, there is no direct enmity between us at this moment."

"If you thus pick a fight with me, it is unreasonable."

He paused, adding a hint of accusation, trying to seize the moral high ground: "If you insist on striking, then you are the one who first broke the rules; the fault lies with you, not me!"

Yu Lin straightened from the leaning trunk, gave a slight nod, his tone flat: "If we extrapolate according to the timeline logic, it does sound… as if that were indeed the case."

Seeing him seemingly accept his words, a barely concealed delight flashed across Gai Yin's face, as if he saw a dawn free of conflict.

However, Yu Lin's next words instantly shattered that sliver of hopeful thinking.

"But unfortunately," Yu Lin's tone remained flat:

"Here, I don't care about the logic of chronological order."

He stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Gai Yin.

"I only need to confirm that the 'you' who kept causing me trouble, past or future, is essentially the same 'you'; that suffices."

Gai Yin instinctively took a step back, his complexion turning sour, gritting his teeth: "You cannot harm me! If you harm me, you will face retribution, enduring a punishment seven times more severe than mine!"

That is the strongest talisman on his body, and also his greatest reliance!

Seeing Yu Lin unmoved, he hurriedly added, his tone softening: "There... there's something we can discuss! I can compensate you! With everything I have!"

Yu Lin, hearing this, paused his steps, a half‑smile playing on his face.

He raised his hand, took a seemingly ordinary Silver Coin from around his neck, pinching it between his fingers.

"I cannot harm you?" he repeated Gai Yin's words, retorting: "Then, tell me… can the Holy Son's power be used?"

He deftly toyed with the Silver Coin, which brimmed with a distinctly different holy aura, his gaze fixed on Gai Yin.

"Shall we… give it a try?"

Before the words finished, he gestured to fling the Silver Coin.

"No—!" Gai Yin's pupils suddenly contracted as he sensed on the Silver Coin a terrifying power far purer than the curse, further restraining his very nature!

He almost instinctively shut his eyes tight, letting out a near‑desperate shout: "What do you want from me?! No!"

"I beg you!"

The anticipated shock and pain never came.

Gai Yin trembled, cautiously opening a single eye slit.

He saw that Silver Coin, which had shattered his spirit, silently hanging again beneath Yu Lin's throat, as if it had never been removed.

Yu Lin stood in place, calmly watching his still‑shaken appearance, and only then, unhurriedly, said:

"Tell me, where is Eden Garden?"