Free Web NovelChapter 365: Chapter 169: The Death of Hong Yin
Both sides seemed to have entered a rest phase.
Yuan Ye and the others, realizing that the invading force’s presence on Black Gold Island was fading, were alarmed by the terror of that black misfortune.
Lin Rui, with the strongest perception, couldn’t help but admire Jiang Yimi, though Jiang Yimi always felt a bit guilty every time she used that ability.
It was unrelated to who the enemy was, she probably remembered some unpleasant memories each time.
Lin Rui didn’t hold back either and shared some stories with Jiang Yimi at the top of the building.
"So if you sleep... you enter another time and space? What a strange ability..."
"Yes, when I wake up from a sleep, I return to a certain time and space in the past. Hahaha, if senior can’t win this time, I’ll just take a sleeping escape and hide in the past."
Lin Rui was actually joking when he said this. He certainly wouldn’t flee from a battle.
Jiang Yimi, however, thought it sounded reliable:
"Can you fall asleep? If you can, then you should escape if necessary."
This left Lin Rui unsure of how to respond. He believed that in this battle, he was an extremely crucial player and must not retreat, even at the cost of his life, until the strongest reinforcements arrived. freёwebnoѵel.com
Jiang Yimi said:
"I’m a bit hungry."
"It’s a good time for a break now, I have some food with me."
Having survived outside the tower for seven hundred years, Lin Rui knew which plants had mutated yet were edible and which ones looked tempting but would definitely cause problems if consumed.
His resilient constitution had been tested on everything; the fact that he hadn’t been poisoned to death was simply due to his tough luck.
Jiang Yimi and Lin Rui ate the food together.
Below, the Hydra returned to the shadows, and Yuan Ye saw Gu Hailin’s strength for the first time and was very interested.
She hopped back onto one of Gu Hailin’s snake heads and started chatting with Gu Hailin.
Colt sat at the entrance of a mall in the corner of the city center square, touching his gun barrel—the one above—attentively wiping and maintaining it.
The great battle would resume and was sure to be even more brutal; the so-called Battle for Baichuan City had only just begun. Therefore, Colt did not slack off.
Lu Yan and Qian Yixin patrolled around the perimeter. The Hei Wu had dissipated, and sensing the annihilation of the hostile forces, Jiang Yimi absorbed the misfortune back into her body.
"What are you looking at?"
"I smell money."
"What the hell?" Lu Yan looked at Qian Yixin in amazement.
"Money is power to me, my sensing for money is very strong. I smelled the scent of money."
Qian Yixin’s perception was not wrong; there indeed was a capitalist in West City District who had nearly wiped out the invading forces, and had lost many workers because of Centipede not long ago.
Though money—had already lost its function, the currency recognized by the world seven hundred years ago equated to a power amplifier for Qian Yixin.
"I need to figure out a way to get some money."
Overcoming the enemy by sheer numbers might be feasible, but what if the enemy was too strong and could kill them dozens of times?
Qian Yixin knew very well that the next offensive would be fiercer.
...
...
Outside Baichuan City, in the western suburbs.
The strong vibrations from the West City District had just ceased, and the merchants and blacksmith could not believe that the forces they had sent out were completely annihilated.
All four generals’ presence had vanished, and the mighty army capable of flattening the city did not survive one.
"How is this possible? How can this be?" the merchant could not believe it.
The blacksmith was silent, looking towards Jing Wu:
"Lord, what do you think we should do?"
Although there was still a significant force capable of launching a powerful attack, Jing Wu was clearer than anyone about the nature of the recent battle because its perception ability was on a different level from the others.
However, even Jing Wu had not anticipated that the defenses blocking the advancement of the army were actually the same group of people, simply resurrecting after death, dying and resurrecting again, repeatedly making use of themselves.
The retreating troops that perished from misfortune was beyond the scope of perception, and in Jing Wu’s view, Baichuan City had plenty of troops.
If it wasn’t for Huangquan Island taking action, if it wasn’t that a distant presence of its brother was felt, Jing Wu would have decided to strike at this moment.
But now its thought was—wait.
"Rest, the night is still long. The forces of Huangquan Island will soon arrive. Once I understand their little tricks, ruling this city will just be an ordinary matter."
The blacksmith and the merchant believed completely.
After all, the strength of a Well Level Evil Fallen surpassed the understanding of most Evil Fallens by several levels.
A mutant like Zero, there had been only one in seven hundred years.
Both the blacksmith and the merchant were surprised, though, that two defeats had made the leader put away his contempt.
Up to this point, Lord Jing Wu had been acting very rationally.
In fact, on the one hand, Jing Wu believed Bai Wu was not simple, especially since the things Bai Wu had touched surpassed its understanding of humans.
On the other hand, its calm reasoning stemmed from a fear of Jing Er.
...
...
Baichuan City won two battles in a row. From start to finish, Bai Wu had never felt despair over the enemy’s forces, nor joy over their own victory.
He always maintained a smile, unperturbed.
Time and again, the battle situations he deduced turned into reality, all within Bai Wu’s expectations.
It was only when the Bai Cans capable of peeping into the world focused their vision on the distance and provided a piece of intelligence that Bai Wu’s expression changed.
"What did you say? Say that again? Are you sure you saw it right? A girl in a black dress, leading a strange balloon?"
Yan Jiu pricked up his little ears, sensitively catching the word "girl."
The Bai Can teacher with the Peeping Eye could see most places in the world, serving as a super spy satellite for the shelter.
They had been searching for another Well Level presence and the forces of Huangquan Island, both of which they found.
But the teachers who had been observing these two forces quickly noticed something was amiss.
"We didn’t see it wrong... It seems they are coming together. From their expressions... they seem to get along well."
Bai Wu was stunned.
What kind of development was this? Had Hong Yin encountered a Well Level being?
Bai Wu suddenly remembered that Hong Yin’s location, Zao Lake Village, was already on the periphery of the Well... The people guarding the Well might not be far from Hong Yin.
And if the area restriction was suddenly lifted, perhaps it was because the Well had been opened.
That being the case...
If Hong Yin had received some message, like the guidance of Jing Liu, then her encounter with another Well Level being on the way to Baichuan could be a real possibility.
Bai Wu felt an uncomfortable sensation inside. The existence of Well Level beings concerned the origin of the apocalypse; they were no ordinary characters.
If it were any other character, Bai Wu might have thought such a harmonious encounter between allies and enemies was a good thing.
But with Well Level existences, everything was complicated, and he worried about Hong Yin. He had no clue about the disposition of this Well Level monster.
...
...
Outside the tower, hundreds of miles from Baichuan City, a handsome monk with a gentle demeanor walked alongside a little girl leading a balloon.
Hong Yin, Jing Er.
Surrounded by reeds, the evening breeze stirred the plants, and the stars seemed particularly bright.
Under the starry sky, it seemed possible to discern the outlines of things in the night.
"Are you also going to Baichuan City?" Hong Yin asked.
"Yes, it looks like we are quite fated, little girl," he replied.
Nocturnal birds hunting for food landed on Jing Er’s conical hat. Wearing the hat, he looked even more like a monk.
"So, what are you off to do?"
"To meet an old acquaintance. It looks like you are too, aren’t you?"
"Yes."
Hong Yin thought about it; she was indeed going to meet an old acquaintance.
"It seems you’re very lucky. Indeed, a child with a kind heart will always be treated gently by this world."
Jing Er’s smile felt very gentle, and Hong Yin had a sense of familiarity.
She thought about it and soon remembered; it was that uncle named Bai Yuan, he too had that kind of gentle temperament.
However, unlike Bai Yuan, Bai Yuan was gentle and comfortable, while Jing Er carried a kind of compassion.
"How do you know I am kind-hearted?" Hong Yin was very curious.
Jing Er said:
"Ordinary people, upon encountering your true form, would instantly be devoured by intense resentment. I believe that a person who harbors such powerful resentment, if not for a supremely good heart, wouldn’t be able to stay conscious. You’re quite remarkable, little girl, you possess potential that surpasses other Evil Fallen."
Hong Yin found this explanation intriguing, yet she couldn’t quite pinpoint what was so interesting about it.
"What sort of potential surpasses that of other Evil Fallen?"
"It is a supreme honor, and maybe one day, you might come into contact with the most powerful force in this world. At the very least, I see a very interesting sight in you, massive evil, driven by a kind soul."
Hong Yin thought this monk was a bit off his rockers, but a good-looking person’s ramblings weren’t bothersome at all.
Especially since he exhibited a melancholic, compassionate demeanor, Hong Yin rather liked him—of course, he was no match for Bai Wu.
"These are people I have saved. They loathe this world, but they do not loathe me," Hong Yin said.
Jing Er had a sudden realization.
It was indeed a remarkable adventure; he envisioned the little girl absorbing the resentment of these people, releasing them from their pain.
Jing Er’s eyes became slightly moist:
"You have great love."
"And what’s that?" Hong Yin was puzzled. Why was this long-haired monk crying?
Jing Er said:
"There are many creatures in this world capable of love, but very few can embrace the resentment of many without being devoured by it. I’ve always believed that to live in this world, one must have love. No matter what you become, if you lose even the capacity for good thoughts, then you don’t deserve to live."
"I suppose so..." Hong Yin murmured in agreement.
Her thoughts were simple. This monk knows the way, right? If he knows the way, there’s no problem; I’ll put up with his chatter as long as he leads the way properly.
The black-dress girl’s thoughts were plain and unadorned.
Jing Er was moved by the special beauty emanating from Hong Yin, as if he were witnessing a brilliant and wonderful sight.
The Evil Fallen were widespread across the world, embracing and understanding each other, fostering love for all living things.
Jing Er said:
"Can I touch your true form?"
Hong Yin stopped and looked at the monk puzzledly.
"You’ll die... This is resentment, my true form, the moment you touch it, you will be swallowed—"
Hong Yin couldn’t finish her sentence; she froze because the "balloon" had already reached Jing Er’s hand.
But the eyes that should have instantly opened, revealing either angry or greedy gazes, only showed fear.
And then, the balloon unexpectedly doubled in size. A flood of dense resentment was poured into it...
The balloon was Hong Yin’s true form, but the girl in the black dress was Hong Yin’s brain and soul.
During this process, Hong Yin felt countless wails echoing in her mind.
It was as if tens of thousands of evil spirits were climbing out of hell, their resentment accumulated through torment in hell suddenly erupting.
The sudden surge of overwhelming power seemed like it was about to burst her true form and mind both!
With a thud... Hong Yin fell to the ground, blood flowing from her eyes, ears, mouth, and nose. She was enveloped by the resentment.
This was a resentful force many times more potent than that of the Lake God, casually unleashed by the monk in conversation.
Hong Yin wanted to reclaim her body... but she found herself completely immobilized, pressed down by the powerful resentment.
"Ah... Could it be my judgement was wrong? It seems I have given too much resentment all at once."
Jing Er liked Hong Yin very much, because he felt this little girl was somewhat similar to himself.
She was enveloped by an incredibly evil power, yet her heart held reverence and love for every flower and grass, the mountains and rivers, the sky and the sea, the sun, the moon, and the stars.
So perhaps Hong Yin could go even further.
"I also wanted to say... I am in need of a Guardian, but it seems... you might not withstand the gift I offer."
Hong Yin lay on the ground, unable to get up, her body beginning to corrode from the resentment.
Physical appearance reflects the heart, and her once kind eyes were now filled with blackness, as if possessed.
"I am deeply sorry, a single lapse in judgment has sent your beautiful life to the grave. This is truly a grave sin... a grave sin indeed..."
Hong Yin’s life force was very weak, and it was getting weaker. Jing Er realized he had done something wrong; this girl did not possess the kind of potential he had talked about.
Although she had managed to control those resentful spirits with love, she could not withstand the more intense resentment.
"I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you. I should have recited scriptures for you, to guide you to the Land of Ultimate Bliss, but the time has been delayed, and it is not suitable to recite scriptures at night."
Jing Er’s eyes reddened. He was truly upset that his good intentions had led to a bad outcome.
Jing Er "tied" the balloon to Hong Yin’s wrist, feeling her life force becoming increasingly weak. He clasped his hands together, his gaze full of pity.
Eventually, he stood up, nodded slightly to Hong Yin, then turned and left.
...
...
Hong Yin died.
In the command room far away, Bai Wu, upon learning of this scene, felt like he had been struck by a bolt from the blue. His heart was absent of negative emotions, and at this moment, he only felt emptiness inside.
"Impossible... impossible..." Bai Wu shook his head, his breathing hastening.
The first time he met this girl, admittedly, he regarded her as a pawn, but he was also won over by the girl’s kindness.
With each subsequent experience, to Bai Wu, Hong Yin had become a part of his family. Unlike all the Evil Fallen, this girl he met when he first came into the world held a special place.
He seemed to still remember what Hong Yin had shared in memories.
"I’ve never hated them; I just wanted to play with them..."
He also recalled his promise to take her to see the wider and greater world... but all that could no longer be fulfilled.
Yan Jiu looked at the stony-faced Bai Wu with concern.
She didn’t know who that girl was, only hearing from the Bai Can that when the girl died, she could clearly feel Bai Wu shudder.
This man, devoid of negative emotions, clenched his fists unconsciously.
"Bai Wu... What’s wrong with you?"
Bai Wu found himself speechless.
He thought that only if his captain were harmed would he feel such hollowness in his heart.
After a while, Bai Wu let out a deep breath, like a sigh:
"Sorry, I am a bit out of sorts; I’m okay. Everyone... please continue surveillance. Report any developments to me immediately."
Bai Wu’s hands were trembling. Despite his calm tone, Yan Jiu felt a sense of anger. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
It was as if his mind no longer knew anger, but his body still remembered how to react when angered.
It wasn’t just anger. Judging from his somewhat weary tone... perhaps there was also sadness?
Yan Jiu felt as if she could sense emotions that seemed unrelated to Bai Wu.
The Bai Can continued to monitor the movements of Huangquan Island, Black Gold Island, and Jing Er.
As for Hong Yin... even Jing Er thought she would die; the Bai Can certainly had no doubts.
...
...
Outside the reed field, the hem of the black dress on the girl no longer carried that mysterious and unknown black color but rather a sense of deadly stillness.
Many Condors were flying from afar, Level Seven Mutants; these creatures did not belong to this area originally but had been able to freely hunt as the area’s boundaries had recently been broken.
Seven hundred years of hunger had made these Condors extremely ferocious.
They had long had their eyes on the body that had been lying there for quite a while. Only because of the strong aura the body emitted did they dare not approach.
But in the end... the desire to consume flesh and blood overcame their fear.
The flock swooped down, beginning to target the body of the girl in the black dress. Perhaps, in a short while, only her broken bones would remain.
However, just when the Condors thought they were about to enjoy a tasty meal, the balloons drifting above the body... those eyes, dull and lightless, suddenly lit up.
In that moment, the air rippled like a deep pool disturbed by a pebble.
Feeling as if engulfed by a terrifying presence, in an instant, all the birds stopped mid-flight and then started flying in the opposite direction.
An endless fear drowned everything, and only then did they realize how foolish their actions had been!
Yet, the girl’s body, already devoid of life, remained on the ground, reeking of death...
But if one looked closely, one would see her fingertips—twitching slightly.
