Chapter 1348: Background

Chapter 1349: The Figure

At the edge of a dim cliff, Jian Changsheng quietly emerged, adjusting his pants.

He was already some distance from the underground palace. It wasn't that he didn't want to find a closer spot; the main reason was that as soon as he stepped outside, the two little centipedes kept staring at him. He couldn't explain he needed to use the restroom, so he had no choice but to activate the Blood-Drop Sutra and teleport away.

If the Human Realm knew that a dignified Asura used the Blood-Drop Sutra just to go to the toilet, he would probably become the disgrace of the Military God Dao.

"Phew... that dinner was truly potent," he muttered.

Jian Changsheng mumbled to himself as he turned and walked back towards the underground palace.

Just then, he suddenly sensed something and turned his head to look at a nearby cliff.

Faint, ghostly blue mayfly-like glows drifted silently in the dark abyss. At the end of the tall, solitary cliff sat a figure draped in a large red theatrical robe.

Below him was the abyss,behind him, the palace.In his hands, he held an old radio.

"...Red Heart?" A flicker of confusion crossed Jian Changsheng's eyes as he recognized the figure.

Hadn't he gone to inspect the Ghost Mockery Abyss and chat with the Eighth-Tier Poison Head? Why was he sitting here alone?

Jian Changsheng hesitated for a moment, then silently suppressed his aura to its absolute minimum, approaching the cliff without a sound.

As he drew closer, the sound from the radio reached his ears:

"Static..."

"This is Chen Yu, frontline reporter for the Hanging Jade Realm!"

"Since early this morning, the long-dormant Mirage Mountains have launched a fierce assault on the border once again. Currently, all defense lines of the Hanging Jade Realm have been activated. If you hear booming thunder and feel slight tremors at home, please do not be alarmed..."

"The battle to defend the Hanging Jade Realm is a protracted war and an ultimate test of individual will and physical endurance. We hope every citizen will follow the broadcast's instructions, proceed in an orderly fashion, and not cause unrest within the city. Let us all pray and cheer for our frontline soldiers."

"Next, we will interview a few citizens to hear what they wish to say to our frontline soldiers."

(Footsteps)

"Hello, do you have anything you'd like to say to our frontline soldiers?"

"Victory to the Hanging Jade Realm!! Victory to the Esoteric Sect!! Down with those damned calamities, drive them out of our homeland!!"

"You might not be able to see this, but this citizen is currently wearing clothing emblazoned with 'Victory to the Hanging Jade Realm' and has a red 'Battle' headband tied around his head. He's very enthusiastic... Here's a young child, let's hear what he has to say?"

"Big sister, will what I say reach the front lines?"

"Yes, little one. The soldiers on the front lines will also hear your voices through the radio."

"Daddy, you must do your best on the front lines and defeat more of those calamities! Mommy and I are waiting for you to come home..."

"It seems this child's father is one of our frontline soldiers... Let's all pray for his swift and victorious return! Now, let's pass the microphone to our next citizen."

"Mmm... I believe our frontline soldiers will protect the Hanging Jade Realm with all their might. Here, I want to say 'thank you' to Lord Tianhuai, General Jian, and all the soldiers fighting valiantly on the front lines."

"This citizen is very sincere... However, General Jian hasn't appeared in the last two days. Perhaps he was injured in a previous battle and is now recuperating... We don't know if General Jian is listening to our program right now, but if he is, we hope he finds encouragement from it and recovers his spirit soon! Let us all look forward to his return to the battlefield, where he will once again display the might of a general!"

"General Jian!! Kill them all!" (The 'Victory Bro's' voice echoed from a distance once more).

Jian Changsheng froze in place.

A mournful cold wind swept across the dim Ghost Mockery Abyss...

At the end of the tall cliff, the figure in the large red theatrical robe held the radio, listening intently. The hem of his robe fluttered in the wind, like a solitary flower swaying in the darkness.

He sat there with his head bowed, silent like a lone statue.

"Spades, what took you so long to get back?"

Lying on the bed, Jiang Xiaohua saw Jian Changsheng walk in, looking dazed, and asked with confusion.

"Oh... nothing. I just got a little lost."

Jian Changsheng saw the situation inside the room and couldn't help but ask:

"What is Clubs doing?"

At that moment, Sun Bumian sat cross-legged on his bed, his hands forming mysterious seals, eyes tightly closed. Invisible rings emerged from the void around him like ripples, slowly spreading in all directions.

"Clubs said he wants to help Red Heart suppress the ominous energy here, to make it a bit more comfortable to live in," Jiang Xiaohua answered truthfully.

"Oh..."

Jian Changsheng looked at the absorbed Sun Bumian and nodded slightly.

As expected of a Divine Omen, even in such a malevolent place, he could have a suppressive effect... In contrast, Jian Changsheng felt there was nothing he could do to help.

The lone red-robed figure he had just seen reappeared in Jian Changsheng's mind.

Jian Changsheng hadn't approached him then; instead, he had silently chosen to leave. On his way back, he had been pondering everything that had happened since their arrival at the Ghost Mockery Abyss...

"Diamonds," Jian Changsheng suddenly asked.

"What is it?"

"Don't you think Red Heart is acting strange?"

Jiang Xiaohua tilted her head and thought carefully. "No, I don't think so."

"...Never mind, it's pointless asking you." Jian Changsheng paused. "Is it my imagination... He's clearly hosting us with great care, but I can't shake the feeling that... he's deliberately trying to prompt us to leave."

The 'toxic' dinner, the 'mad' tableware, the undrinkable 'poison wine', the crude beds, and... Chen Ling's calamity-like demeanor and actions.

Jian Changsheng knew that Chen Ling, having merged with Mockery Calamity, was no longer the same as before, so he hadn't found anything strange at the dinner table... But when he saw that figure sitting alone on the mountaintop, clutching the radio, he suddenly realized that Chen Ling might be doing it on purpose.

He was 'showing' them the life of a calamity; he was trying to make them realize...

...that calamities and humans are different.

"...What do you mean?"

Confusion filled Jiang Xiaohua's eyes. "I think Red Heart treats us very well. He cooked the food himself, and the wine was delicious... Why would he want us to leave?"

"You... Oh, you idiot."

After muttering to himself, Jian Changsheng seemed to make a decision and turned to walk out of the room again.

"Spades, where are you going?"

"This palace is too dark, too cold... I'm going to find some lamps and light it up."