Chapter 548

Fang Yue: …

No way, Lord Cloud, don't do this to me—give me a chance!

Fang Yue was stunned.

He thought one Black Cloud was the effect of the curse 【Night Rain】.

But now two more have drifted in—this looks like… could there be even more Black Clouds coming?

As if his own words had come true, when Fang Yue trained until dusk without mastering 【Shadow Stepping】, six Black Clouds drifted in from all directions, settling directly above him and merging with the previous three, forming a single massive, expansive cloud with far louder thunder.

Fang Yue fell silent, unwound the blood-soaked handkerchief, and looked down.

His right palm had been burned through, leaving a bloodied hole shaped exactly like a crimson crescent.

As his palm was burned through, the flesh around the hole began to rot, decaying into putrid meat, peeling away bit by bit, exposing more of the white bone beneath.

For the first time, Fang Yue truly realized that the curse 【Night Rain】 could kill him.

As the sun set, the flesh writhed and regenerated, reweaving itself until the palm's wound was fully healed, restored to normal.

Night Breath, forever divine!

He'd planned to toss the filthy handkerchief—now soaked in black and fresh blood—but at the last moment, You Sisi's face flashed in his mind; he hesitated, then silently re-tied the bloodstained cloth to the back of his right hand.

He slapped his cheeks to clear his head, his gaze turning grim.

Without doubt, tomorrow is the final deadline.

Tian Erjun hasn't returned, and I'm already trapped by this Black Cloud situation—so all I can do is grow stronger, and prepare for that moment.

"Dark Moon Blade Technique—I must master this move tonight!"

…

You Sisi was stunned.

Watching the Black Clouds converge again, she was completely dumbfounded.

She abandoned the villagers still being moved into the shelter zone and rushed toward Fang Yue's room.

When she arrived, she saw Fang Yue alone inside, practicing his Blade Technique.

Outside the room, within nearly a kilometer radius, not a single human or beast remained.

As the number of Black Clouds increased and their range expanded, more and more areas of Qingsi County were declared forbidden zones centered on Fang Yue.

Day one: one Black Cloud.

Day two: two plus six Black Clouds.

At this rate of increase, tomorrow will bring even more Black Clouds converging.

Then Fang Yue's overhead Black Cloud will keep growing, keep growing, until it covers all of Qingsi County—and beyond—becoming a mobile Black Cloud mass!

Add to that the constant 【Night Rain】, and he's essentially a walking disaster—everything he passes through, human or specter, is obliterated!

"This can't continue… he'll die—he'll die in 【Night Rain】's grasp!"

You Sisi was frantic, wanting to enter the Black Cloud zone, but Yu Baiyi blocked her.

"Madam You, you can't go in! Look at the sky—the Black Clouds are crackling with lightning, growing more and more like the precursor to 【Night Rain】!"

"... I need to check on his condition."

"Night Baiyi is fine! We can see him—he's practicing his Blade Technique, preparing to resist the specter army from the Underground Stronghold. I've thought about it—if Night Baiyi becomes the initiator of a mobile 【Night Rain】, then in a sense, his sacrifice could buy the deaths of vast numbers of specters!"

Yu Baiyi excitedly shared his idea, which he'd spent hours pondering, with You Sisi.

But he received only a murderous glare from You Sisi.

Yu Baiyi froze, his chest tightening with frustration.

He thought his idea made perfect sense—using Night Baiyi as a weapon to wipe out countless specters—wasn't there some flaw here?

Could it be that the Black Clouds only thunder but don't rain? Or is Madam You dissatisfied with the current range, waiting for Night Baiyi to attract even more Black Clouds to annihilate the enemy in one blow?

Slap!

Yu Baiyi smacked his thigh.

No wonder Madam You is so brilliant—she thought of something we never would've imagined!

That's right—this maximizes the damage!

Amazing, Madam You!

Yu Baiyi gazed at You Sisi with quiet admiration.

But You Sisi glared at him for a long moment, then stared deeply at the shadow wielding the blade in the dark, before gritting her teeth, stomping her foot, and turning away.

"Madam You?"

As Yu Baiyi stared in confusion, You Sisi's figure had already shrunk to a tiny black dot, racing toward the Qing Office.

"Weird."

Yu Baiyi scratched his head in frustration but didn't dwell on it, continuing to monitor Fang Yue's condition.

The Blade Technique Fang Yue wielded in the darkness seemed to grow sharper by the moment. Even from such a distance, the chill still sent a shiver down the neck.

What a terrifying slash!

Yu Baiyi noticed Fang Yue's blade strikes had become less frequent—each strike was followed by a pause.

But each strike was stronger than the last—each one surpassing the previous, as if he was gradually mastering some profound, unfathomable Blade Technique!

…

"Chen Qing! Chen Qing! Refugees, Chen Qing! Refugees, Chen… Wu Wu, have you seen Chen Qing and Lord Han?"

After returning to the Qing Office, You Sisi had been searching for people.

She didn't find who she was looking for, but she did find Tian Dan Zhi Yuan Wu feasting with Bai Daya.

"Chen Qing? I haven't seen him. And Lord Han either—I haven't seen either of them for a full day."

She also hadn't seen Jing Yan for two days.

If Fang Yue hadn't said Jing Yan had urgent real-world matters to attend to, Tian Dan Zhi Yuan Wu would have thought Jing Yan had quit the game entirely.

There were also Fang Yue and Xiao Xuedou.

But Fang Yue was somewhat different.

Like visiting animals in a zoo, whenever Tian Dan Zhi Yuan Wu went to places where dark clouds gathered, she could spot Fang Yue's figure and even chat with him remotely via friend messages.

But Fang Yue barely responded to her, saying women only slowed his swordswinging speed, then he went on to train obsessively.

Tian Dan Zhi Yuan Wu, bored and yawning, went back to hang out with Qing Si and Bai Daya.

"Where did you go! Where on earth did you go!"

You Sisi's face was grim; she gnawed her fingers, her expression anxious.

And just then, a voice sounded behind her.

"Lord You?"

She turned around—it was Captain Wu.

You Sisi hurriedly asked: "Captain Wu, do you know where Chen Qing and Lord Han are?"

"I know," Captain Wu paused, then said: "I came here specifically to tell you about this. I was going to send Wu Wu to fetch you, but now I've saved myself the trouble."

"Where are Lord Han and the others!" You Sisi asked, delighted.

"Don't rush. First, take this back, then I'll take you to meet Lord Han and the others."

Captain Wu returned the 【Qingyi Order】 to You Sisi.

These past two days, carrying this item helped Lord Han and the others a great deal, and he also made ample preparations for leaving Qingsi County for Chunuan City.

So Captain Wu had a decent impression of You Sisi—at least she made things easier for him.

(End of Chapter)