National Guardian's Gone and We're Done

”Besides that strange old man, who else was there?” Chu He asked.

”Most of my time was spent with that strange old man.”

”He taught me many combat methods every day.”

”But he never taught me any of the truly supreme Secret Techniques.”

’I suspect he was holding back, probably worried that I’d become more powerful than him one day and get rid of him.’

’Of course, I’m the type to repay any grievance, but even though the old man kept me imprisoned there, it wasn’t enough to make me want to kill him.’

’In a way, the old man could be considered my master.’

”But there should be quite a few others like that old man.”

”For example, Chen Jia and Chen Yi, the ones you all killed.”

”They were trained by the old man, but they weren’t his disciples.”

”I once heard him mention a term: Ancient Martial Inheritance.”

Xia Chengli crouched to the side, poking the ground with a small twig.

”Why are you so hostile toward this old man?”

”Logically speaking, he trained you since you were a child and taught you so much.”

”With your strength, talent, and current age, you’re one of the few at your level in the entire world.”

”That’s not just because you have immense potential; it also requires a truly skilled and capable teacher to guide you carefully.”

Chu He felt that Xia Chengli’s attitude was quite strange.

”Yeah, why is that?”

Xia Chengli tossed the twig aside and stood up. ”I didn’t even notice until you mentioned it.”

”This hostility seems to exist deep in my soul, like it’s something I was born with.”

’Could it be that I’m not an orphan, but that the old man killed my family?’

’All because he coveted my talent.’

’And maybe I happened to witness the whole thing when I was just old enough to form memories. The old man didn’t know, and I myself forgot much of it due to the extreme shock.’

’That would explain this hostility I feel for no apparent reason.’

Chu He’s mouth twitched. ”You should probably stop overthinking things. Otherwise, you might end up falsely accusing your benefactor.”

”Mr. Chu has a point,” Xu Ping’an added with a nod from the side.

Afterward, they listened as Xia Chengli recounted a few other things.

Chu He couldn’t shake the feeling that this old man Xia Chengli spoke of was hiding a huge secret.

Perhaps there was another small group of people in this world who commanded knowledge and power beyond ordinary comprehension.

But they were plotting various schemes in the shadows, which Chu He found hard to understand.

Because according to Xia Chengli, that old man was even stronger than he was.

Why would such a powerful individual—or a group of them—remain hidden in the shadows and never show themselves?

「Three days passed in a flash.」

Through sleepless, non-stop battles, Xiao Yu, Nanting Snow, Lin Zuoguang, and Ye Lingyun quickly grew proficient in wielding the immense power that had swelled within their bodies in such a short time, as well as their control over the Supreme Divinity.

The entire Demon Cave was completely cleared out by the four of them.

Deep exhaustion was etched on the faces of Xiao Yu, Nanting Snow, Lin Zuoguang, and Ye Lingyun.

However, looking at the area now that the gloom had dissipated, the four of them still felt a great sense of accomplishment.

Their actions had completely eradicated the source of the Evil Spirits in the Great Xia Empire.

And so, the group set off to return to the Royal City of the Great Xia Empire.

When they returned to the manor, only Liu Yuzhu was sitting on the lawn.

As for Xiao Yu, Nanting Snow, Lin Zuoguang, and Ye Lingyun, they had all returned to their respective homes or residences to rest.

They were utterly exhausted from the ordeal, a weariness that was not just physical, but mental as well.

The Demon Cave had been fraught with danger, and although they had Xia Chengli’s protection.

However, they hadn’t dared to entrust their lives entirely to him.

There had been several times when they had genuinely come close to death.

The constant, high-intensity vigilance of their surroundings had left their nerves completely frayed.

”Mr. Chu, you’re back?”

Liu Yuzhu quickly stood up, her gaze falling upon Yumizakura, Xia Chengli, and Xu Ping’an behind Chu He.

She was, of course, familiar with Xia Chengli, but it was her first time seeing Yumizakura and Xu Ping’an.

Chu He briefly introduced the two, and a flash of surprise appeared in Liu Yuzhu’s eyes.

She had certainly heard of Yumizakura’s renowned name, and seeing her in person for the first time inevitably stirred her heart.

As for Xu Ping’an, Liu Yuzhu felt a sense of apprehension and fear. This apprehension and fear weren’t intentional but stemmed from an uncontrollable psychological reaction.

It was mainly because Xu Ping’an’s appearance was so ferocious that even just standing near him made one feel as if the surrounding temperature had dropped.

The current Xu Ping’an didn’t yet have enough strength to control his own aura, making it difficult to avoid affecting his surroundings.

”What are you doing here?”

Chu He slowly sat down in a chair, then beckoned for Yumizakura and Xu Ping’an to join him.

As for Xia Chengli, no words were needed.

He had already moved faster than Chu He, sitting down, grabbing some fruit from the table, and starting to eat on his own.

”My main task now is to act as the liaison between you, Mr. Chu, and Her Majesty the Queen. So I wait at this manor every day for your return.”

Liu Yuzhu said with a slight smile.

”The Great Xia Empire must be much more stable lately, right?”

Chu He casually picked up a grape and popped it into his mouth, savoring the sweet and sour juice that burst on his tongue. It was a long-lost taste of ordinary life.

”Of course. The last time you displayed your divine might, Mr. Chu, it shocked every Empire and faction on Blue Star.”

”Now, no Empire dares to provoke the Great Xia Empire in any way.”

Liu Yuzhu said with a smile, ”Her Majesty the Queen specifically tasked me with waiting here. If Mr. Chu returns, you must go to the Royal Palace.”

”Her Majesty has already instructed the Royal Palace’s chefs to prepare a grand feast to thank you, Mr. Chu.”

”After all, for a personage like yourself, Mr. Chu, the entire Great Xia Empire cannot find a gift worthy enough to express its gratitude.”

”There’s no need for such pleasantries with me.” Chu He waved his hand dismissively.

”However, Mr. Chu, there is a matter I need to consult you about.”

”A strange incident has occurred recently in the Great Xia Empire. Many people have been turned into Papermen.”

Liu Yuzhu’s tone shifted as she took a stack of photos from a file folder on the table and placed them down.

Yumizakura walked behind Chu He and began to gently massage his shoulders with her slender, delicate hands.

She thoughtfully took some of the photos and placed them in Chu He’s hands.

The recently taken photographs were shrouded in an indescribably eerie atmosphere.

The images showed numerous people, all of whom had been transformed into pale, bloodless Papermen.

They came from all walks of life, with various identities: students, waiters, teachers, Defense Team members...

Every one of them had lost the warmth of life, turned into paper effigies like those used in funeral rites.

On both cheeks of these Papermen, two glaring circles of blush had been deliberately applied.

The color was so vibrant it was almost demonic, creating a stark contrast with their pallid complexions.

Their clothing, though its material had turned to nothing, retained its exquisite detail in a bizarre fashion, remaining lifelike and showcasing the former status and style of each person.

What was even more chilling upon closer inspection was that the Papermen’s faces not only retained their living contours but had also frozen their final emotions for eternity.

Some had their eyes wide open, their terror-filled gaze so vivid you could almost hear an unfinished scream.

Others had peaceful expressions, with a faint smile on their lips, but hidden behind that smile was perhaps a deeper despair and helplessness.

Still others had complex emotions interwoven on their faces—both guilt for the past and acceptance of the future.

It was as if, in that single moment, all their grievances and passions had found some form of resolution.

What was particularly striking was that when one looked deep into the eyes of these Papermen,

you would discover an indescribable smile, a smile forcibly twisted into place by some power, carrying a sense of transcendence and release.

It was unlike any expression they had in life, more like a soul that, after a long and painful struggle,

had finally found its destination, obtaining a moment of peace and contentment.

This smile, interwoven with the overt expressions of terror, despair, or peace on their faces, formed an ineffable harmony that nonetheless sent a chill down one’s spine and made one’s scalp tingle.

The entire photograph was like a meticulously arranged tapestry of horror,

every detail exuded a supernatural eeriness and sorrow.