Chapter 1399: Unexpected Visitor

The storm of thoughts gradually subsided around Chen Ling. As his opera robe was re-dyed crimson, he slowly opened his eyes.

He had already warned Jian Changsheng, who would likely soon notify the Xuan Yu realm and other realms to enter final battle readiness early. In fact, if he hadn't been worried about Jian Changsheng and his two companions being ambushed and injured by the Land of Annihilation, he wouldn't have done such an unnecessary thing at all.

He wondered how the members of the Twilight Society, dispersed across the other great realms, were faring. He hoped this war of annihilation wouldn't affect them.

And the Integration Faction in the Southern Sea realm... However, with two demigods stationed there, the Southern Sea realm should be the safest.

Chen Ling gradually reviewed all the people he cared about. In short, from "Chen Ling's" perspective, he had done everything he could; the rest was up to the human realms themselves.

Just then, a small centipede scurried in from outside.

"What is it?" Chen Ling asked in a deep voice from his throne.

"Your Majesty, a human has forced his way in from outside, claiming to be looking for you."

"A human?"

Chen Ling was somewhat surprised. He had already had Wu Yi alter the surrounding terrain, making it difficult even for Jian Changsheng and his group to find him. Furthermore, he had just connected with the three of them using the storm of thoughts; they should still be in the Xuan Yu realm.

Who else would come to Ghost Taunt Abyss to find him?

"Did he say who he was?" Chen Ling asked.

"He said his name is Ning Ruyu."

Chen Ling abruptly stood up from his throne!

"Senior Brother!"

His crimson opera robe flashed across the sky. Chen Ling's gaze fell upon a figure beneath the cliff of Ghost Taunt Abyss, his eyes filled with pleasant surprise.

At the base of the cliff, a man in white was curiously poking the belly of an unconscious small toad with his finger.

Surrounding him was a dense circle of venomous insects, all watching the man in white warily and fearfully. Toad Venom Head was among them, feeling the terrifying aura emanating from the man before him; even as an eighth-rank venomous chief, its gaze was filled with apprehension.

Hearing Chen Ling's voice, Ning Ruyu looked up, a smile immediately appearing on his face.

"Junior Brother, it's been a while... Hmm?"

Ning Ruyu looked at Chen Ling's dark face with a puzzled expression. "Junior Brother, what happened to your face?"

"There was a bit of an accident, but thanks to 'Painting Crimson,' it should be back to normal in a couple of days." Chen Ling landed in front of Ning Ruyu.

Although Chen Ling's face was still constantly flaking like dark paint on a wall, its thickness had significantly reduced compared to a few months ago. After Chen Ling's daily use of 'Painting Crimson' to cleanse it, only a thin, eggshell-like layer remained.

"Senior Brother, why are you here? Are your injuries alright?" Chen Ling didn't elaborate on his face, instead directly changing the subject.

"Haha, those injuries were nothing to me; I just needed some time to recover," Ning Ruyu said, waving his hand playfully.

"Everyone was quite worried about you, so they sent me as their representative to see how our junior brother is doing... What, am I not welcome?"

Everyone...

As those two words were uttered, numerous figures immediately appeared in Chen Ling's mind: Second Senior Sister Luan Mei, Third Senior Brother Wen Renyou, Fourth Senior Brother Mojiao, Fifth Senior Brother Choujiao... When the graceful young man, also draped in an opera robe, appeared, Chen Ling's heart trembled slightly.

"Everyone"... did that include him too?

"How could that be? Of course, you're warmly welcome." Chen Ling glanced back at the many venomous insects behind him. "What are you staring at? Disperse... A few of you, go prepare some Five Poisons Wine, and make sure there's plenty!"

Upon receiving Chen Ling's command, the surrounding venomous insects immediately dispersed. A few small centipedes hurried off to prepare the wine, and after croaking at Chen Ling, Toad Venom Head hopped and skipped away.

Ning Ruyu watched the retreating figure of Toad Venom Head, raising an eyebrow slightly.

"Junior Brother, your subordinates are quite strong."

"Did Senior Brother just fight it?"

"When I came down from the cliff, it happened to run into me, so I had a brief exchange with it... But I figured it was probably your subordinate, Junior Brother, so I didn't go all out and just let it go report."

"No wonder..."

"Junior Brother, how about showing me around Ghost Taunt Abyss?" Ning Ruyu looked around with some curiosity. "It's my first time here... It's quite different from what I imagined."

"No problem, Senior Brother, this way."

Chen Ling led Ning Ruyu directly deeper into Ghost Taunt Abyss.

From Centipede Grotto to Scorpion Cave, from Snake Pit to Gecko Wall, these sights, long boring to Chen Ling, fascinated Ning Ruyu. He would occasionally reach out to touch a gecko on the wall, but before he could, the gecko would dart away as if it had seen a ghost.

"These venomous insects are quite interesting," Ning Ruyu remarked with a sigh.

"Senior Brother, how did you know I was in Ghost Taunt Abyss?" Chen Ling asked, feigning casualness.

"Of course, Master told me," Ning Ruyu replied. "It's strange, but a few months ago, all of us brothers dreamt of you... with a face like this, though back then your opera robe was black.

At that time, we were planning to look for you, but Master said you weren't in any immediate danger in Ghost Taunt Abyss, so we stopped...

This time too, it was Fourth Senior Brother and the others who pestered Master for a long time before he finally allowed us to visit you. However, Master only permitted one person to come, so he sent me as the representative."

"Oh..."

The faint glimmer in Chen Ling's eyes quickly dimmed.

As expected... he knew everything.

He had left the Southern Sea realm and began "cutting away evil" soon after arriving in Ghost Taunt Abyss. How much time had passed since then? It was likely that other human realms hadn't even received news of his return to Ghost Taunt Abyss, yet the Red King, who had always remained secluded in the Ancient Opera Archives, already knew everything...

He even knew Chen Ling was "cutting away evil" and was certain he would succeed.

He clearly knew everything, yet he remained a cold bystander, or perhaps... his being manipulated by the Disaster of Thought was also part of the Red King's scheme? He had already fled to Ghost Taunt Abyss, yet he still couldn't escape the fate of being his "pawn"?

Ning Ruyu noticed the subtle shift in Chen Ling's expression and, after a moment of hesitation, spoke.

"Junior Brother, I think... Master isn't the kind of person you imagine him to be. There might be some misunderstanding here..."

At the time, during the confrontation between the Red King and Chen Ling in the Boundless Realm, Ning Ruyu and the others were already injured and unconscious, completely unaware of what had happened. However, over the past few months, they had probably guessed some things.

"Perhaps."

Chen Ling didn't want to discuss the topic further. "Senior Brother, care for a drink?"

"I can drink," Ning Ruyu nodded slightly.

"Let's go." Chen Ling pointed to the underground palace in the distance. "I have good wine here. Tonight, we won't return until we're drunk!"