Ten minutes later.
The three appeared in the bustling Zhongzhou City.
Shen Ye pushed the wheelchair, with Song Qingyun by his side, strolling through the night market together.
"Shen Ye."
"What?"
"I'm letting you know in advance, there will be a large-scale teleportation event at tonight's welcome party."
"Eh? Won't you be breaking the rules by telling me in advance?"
"No," Song Qingyun said with a smile. "I'm one of the organizers. I can block others from spying; no one will know I've given you a hint."
She continued, "Under Zhongzhou City, there is a network of underground tunnels, prepared with all sorts of dangers, treasures, legacies, and weapons."
"In a few minutes, all the new students will be teleported into the tunnels."
"Then the instructors from the three schools will begin watching—"
"It's the time when instructors pick their students."
"Remember to perform well."
"Got it," Shen Ye said.
So that's how the map from the Master of Weeping Demon Prison is supposed to be used.
It seems that this Demon Master is quite unwilling to give up.
Shen Ye pushed the wheelchair into a busy shop.
Song Yinchen curiously picked up various items, looked them over, and seemed reluctant to put them down.
"I'll buy you one."
Shen Ye directly took out his money and bought her a candied haw.
He also bought one for Song Qingyun.
Then he bought a phone lanyard for himself and after threading it, hung the phone around his neck.
"Sister, we've almost finished strolling. How about we go back and complete the contract?" Song Qingyun asked, holding her candied haw.
"We've only been walking for a few minutes. I want to see those tunnels you spoke of," Song Yinchen said, nibbling on her candied haw.
The two sisters looked at each other.
Determination filled Song Yinchen's eyes, while Song Qingyun's gaze became more indifferent and colder.
"Then, you can only look for five minutes."
Shen Ye spoke up.
Both sisters turned to look at him.
He smiled and said, "If it's just for five minutes, it shouldn't be a problem."
He winked at Song Qingyun.
"No," she said. While speaking, she handed her candied haw to Shen Ye and freed up her hands to press on the empty air.
A book shimmering with starlight appeared in her hands, and she held it firmly while staring sternly at Song Yinchen: "You've already seen Zhongzhou City, now go back with me immediately, or I will discipline you according to our family's laws!"
She sensed that something was amiss.
A jump went through Shen Ye's heart.
Something was wrong!
They could not start over again.
If he let her modify the memory again, then he would no longer be able to recall what's happening now!
Shen Ye swiftly changed his tune, "Yinchen, don't be stubborn with your sister. Let's go back and complete the ritual, alright?"
"Fine then," Song Yinchen said reluctantly.
Song Qingyun was slightly startled, glancing subconsciously at Shen Ye and then at Song Yinchen—
She was so responsive to him.
It seemed that it had been right to allow someone to cause problems for Shen Ye before.
This boy was Song Yinchen's weakness.
—She had found the right person.
"Let's go, get out first. I'll call for someone to pick us up right away," Song Qingyun said.
"Let's go." Shen Ye pushed the wheelchair.
The three headed for the shop's door.
The crowd was dense.
Song Qingyun led the way, with Shen Ye following behind.
Stepping over the threshold.
Song Qingyun instinctively looked back.
Shen Ye was lifting the wheelchair and heading out the door.
Song Yinchen sat in the wheelchair, her expression gloomy, just like every time she faced setbacks in the past.
Had she overthought it?
Song Qingyun withdrew her gaze.
The next second.
Song Yinchen suddenly extended her hand and slapped Shen Ye's hand. Read latest stories on m_v-l'e-NovelFire
Both of them vanished simultaneously.
...
The sky and earth seemed to spin.
Shen Ye's feet touched down.
Song Yinchen had already stood up from the wheelchair.
"Your memory wasn't tampered with?" she asked.
"Thanks to that greeting card, you're that little girl?" Shen Ye said.
"How did you know!"
"Guessed it."
"Well, deserving of Brother Shen Ye, we need to hurry now."
"What place is this?"
"Hongyin Temple."
Shen Ye surveyed his surroundings.
This appeared to be the summit of a mountain peak.
Taking two steps back would mean facing a cliff that plunged into the abyss!
And several meters in front of him, an ancient and silent temple stood amidst green pines.
Shen Ye looked beyond the edge of the cliff.
In the dark void, vague colossal figures floated in mid-air.
They were like hanging ghosts, bobbing in the wind.
Strands of light burst forth from those figures, flying towards Hongyin Temple, but as they got close, they vanished into nothingness.
—It seemed as if an invisible barrier was blocking those forces.
What's going on?
Shen Ye was somewhat puzzled, turning to look back at Song Yinchen.
"Hongyin Temple is a 'cleansed land,' with a special 'field.' Any power higher than the First Layer of the Law Realm, including the Law Eye Pupil Technique and Fourfold Spirit Techniques of the Law Realm, can't function near it," Song Yinchen explained.
Shen Ye subconsciously looked up and indeed, he noticed that the entry above his head had disappeared.
The Law Eye cannot be used here!
"What are those things outside?" he asked.
"My Song Family is indeed the home of the Divine Artifact that stabilizes the world. Those things outside are the remains of Ancient Divine Spirits, sealed here with the Song Family's strength by thirty-six noble families."
Song Yinchen patiently explained:
"Zhongzhou City is our Song Family's territory. Its underground is crisscrossed with passages that allow travel to the thirty-six noble families through the Law Realm."
"We are now right at the bottom of Zhongzhou City, at the end of the tunnels."
"—Hongyin Temple."
Song Yinchen sped up her speech: "This is the place of heritage for our Song Family's Divine Artifact, where only those recognized by the Divine Artifact can come."
"But there's a rule here—"
"One has only a single chance in their life to come here, and must find a protector to prevent any interruptions during the transmission of the heritage."
"I never dared to come."
"Brother Shen Ye, would you be my protector?"
"How should I protect?" Shen Ye asked.
"By staying alive," Song Yinchen said. "While I take on the challenge of the heritage, my life will depend on you. As long as you're alive, I stay alive."
"You haven't found a protector for over a decade?" Shen Ye mused.
Song Yinchen nodded and said:
"After the Scions of the Noble Family in our Song Family awaken their talents, they must accept a Divine Curse according to family rules."
"That Divine Curse forbids members of the same generation in the Song Family from killing each other."
"My sister has always been provoking me, trying to make me attack her, or even drive me to suicide."
"As soon as I make the first move, she'll be free of the Divine Curse's constraints."
"I see," Shen Ye said.
"So she's been crazily targeting everyone around me to provoke me into action."
"Brother Shen Ye, it's my fault that you're involved."
Shen Ye kept silent for a moment, then asked, "What happens if she kills you?"
"The Song Family's Divine Artifact selects its master, and among this generation's rightful descendants, there is only her and me," Song Yinchen said.
"If you die, then she'll be the only option left, and she would have to become the master of the Divine Artifact?" Shen Ye asked.
"Right," Song Yinchen said.
Shen Ye sighed.
A lifetime. Sёarᴄh the NôvelFire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
Full of humiliation.
No one trustworthy.
Even kin are untrustworthy and even wish her harm.
—All for a mere external object.
How tragic.
"Has she not looked for someone else to kill you?" Shen Ye inquired further.
"At birth, I was surrounded by twelve personal guards sworn by a blood curse, who ordinary people wouldn't dare to confront, and even those who had the courage couldn't breach my guards' defense," the girl sighed.
"Until recently, when my last guard had his memory altered by her, leading him to commit suicide."
Protectors...
Even with modified memories, they tried their utmost to protect her.
But now she's without any protectors.
This is the last opportunity.
The opportunity for a comeback!
"If I become your protector, you can fully concentrate on the trial of the heritage?" Shen Ye asked.
"Yes."
"And if I fail?"
"For my sake, for the sake of revenge, you must not fail, Brother Shen Ye," Song Yinchen looked at him and said softly.
A flicker in the void.
A figure quietly appeared in the space beyond the cliff.
Song Qingyun.
She glanced at Song Yinchen then turned her gaze to Shen Ye.
"Brother, help me block her," said Song Yinchen.
"I have just one question," said Shen Ye.
"Go ahead," Song Yinchen responded.
"How do you plan to deal with those scions from noble families who sent assassins to kill me?"
"I will help you kill them all."
"Good, it's a promise—go now, I'll be your protector," said Shen Ye.
"Thank you, Brother Shen Ye."
Song Yinchen walked up to him, presenting him with a white jade lock inlaid with gold on a silver chain.
A soft glow emerged, coalescing into words:
"Song Yinchen's Longevity Lock."
"Special object, a manifestation of the soul of life."
"Description: This lock is the embodiment of her life, about to be linked with yours. Do you agree?"
"I agree," Shen Ye said.
In the next instant.
The long silver chain, as if alive, coiled up Shen Ye's left arm, and the jade lock pressed directly against the inside of his arm.
Song Yinchen looked up at Shen Ye, seemingly hoping for him to say more.
"Go on, I'll try not to die," Shen Ye said.
"If Brother Shen Ye says so, then I'm reassured," said Song Yinchen with a radiant smile as she turned and headed towards the temple.
Behind her.
Shen Ye withdrew his gaze and looked towards Song Qingyun beyond the cliff.
Song Qingyun hovered in mid-air, continuously unleashing various techniques, trying to break through the void.
But it was futile.
All her attacks disappeared without a trace, like drops of water into the sea.
She finally realized—
She would never be able to break through this barrier.
"It's truly heartbreaking, Brother Shen Ye, why would you help her?"
Song Qingyun stopped her efforts and asked in a puzzled tone.
"She's prettier than you," Shen Ye said.
"Brother Shen Ye, you only care about looks? I'm sorry to hear that. Let me tell you something in secret," Song Qingyun said.
"What is it?"
"Do you know how Zhongli Fengluo died?"
"Please, do tell."
"He accepted my embrace—it's a very powerful Evil God's Mystic Art that can kill a person instantly."
"Brother Shen Ye, you also accepted my embrace," Song Qingyun said.