Chapter 391: Ning Ruyu

Bai Suzhen at the foot of Mount Qingcheng,Cultivated this body for a thousand years in a cave;Attained enlightenment through diligent practice and hard work,Transformed and reborn into a human.

The youth's melodious song echoed in the sky, ethereal and pleasant to the ear, like unblemished jade.

The Third Senior Brother pulled the cart ahead, laden with towering piles of stage props. The youth, dressed in a theatrical robe, sat on top, casually crossing his legs, utterly at ease.

At this moment, the group had reached the edge of Willow Town. The boundary of the circle was constantly closing in, but as the Fourth Senior Brother gently waved his hand, an invisible curtain pulled open from the circle, creating a path wide enough for everyone to pass through.

Chen Ling walked alongside the cart, observing the curtain opening in the circle, feeling a hint of surprise.

They just passed through?

Chen Ling had considered that with their strength, the Floating Life Painting's methods would likely struggle to trap them. However, he hadn't expected the method of breaking free to be so casual. Was this the power of the Yellow Dusk Society's top combatants?

"Do you find it strange?" Mo Jue, standing nearby, smiled faintly. "In this world, most people try to enhance their presence—through power, money, others' recognition... But sometimes, being inconspicuous is also a skill. If used properly, you can achieve many things."

Chen Ling met his gaze, as if remembering something.

"Fourth Senior Brother, who did you play in that performance just now? Was it Yue Fei?"

"No, that was Master," Mo Jue shook his head. "I played the messenger boy, the astonished crowd, and the laborers who opened the gates to move the iron-wheeled carts... In short, besides Gao Chong, Wuzhu, and Yue Fei, every other character you saw was me."

Chen Ling exclaimed in surprise, "But they all appeared on stage at the same time..."

"Yes, they were all me."

Chen Ling had previously been puzzled. Logically, there were only four members in this troupe, yet the stage featured far more characters than that. Now it seemed those were all Mo Jue... or perhaps his clones?

"What an amazing Path," Chen Ling couldn't help but exclaim.

"Compared to your Path, Junior Brother, mine is still far behind."

"Fourth Senior Brother, I still don't know your name."

"Mo Jue."

"What?"

"Insignificant people don't have names, or if they do, they can't be remembered," Mo Jue smiled. "I am Mo Jue, and I am called Mo Jue."

Chen Ling froze in place.

"That's not strange, is it? Names are just designations for us. Look at Master, he doesn't have a name either."

This was true. Names held no meaning for Chen Ling. How long had it been since he embarked on the Path of the Drama God, and he already had a string of names and identities... He himself could barely keep track.

"Junior Brother, you weren't scared by what happened on stage just now, were you?" A figure in white robes walked over with a smile.

"No," Chen Ling shook his head, then spoke respectfully, "Thank you, Senior Brother, for saving my life."

Had it not been for the First Senior Brother's intervention, that old man might well have crashed into and killed himself at the last moment... And judging by the precision of his actions, his strength was quite reliable.

"It was nothing but a small favor," the First Senior Brother naturally extended his hand, his smile like a gentle spring breeze.

"My name is Ning Ruyu, and I am the First Senior Brother of the Ancient Treasury of Drama... Junior Brother, no matter what happens in the future, your Senior Brother will protect you."

Ning Ruyu...

Chen Ling noted the name in his mind, reaching out to grasp his hand. A warmth as gentle as afternoon sunlight emanated from the other's palm, making him feel very comfortable.

"The one pulling the cart is Third Brother Wenren You. Although he might seem difficult to get along with, he's actually a very interesting person... You'll see once you get to know him," Ning Ruyu added, introducing the Third Senior Brother.

Wenren You continued pulling the cart in silence, as if he hadn't heard anything.

As the group walked straight along the path, the dim yellow sunset gradually descended behind them. Under the deep purple sky, their shadows stretched endlessly across the desolate wilderness.

Chen Ling's gaze fell upon the youth leisurely singing on the cart. After a moment of hesitation, he quickened his pace and walked over to him.

"Master."

The youth raised an eyebrow, looking at Chen Ling with a half-smile. "Is it Little Sixth? What's up?"

"..." For some reason, hearing the title "Little Sixth" felt off to Chen Ling, but he still braced himself and said, "There's something I want to tell you... about the Era Archive."

"Oh?"

"In the archive, I met someone who seemed to be from the Path of the Imperial God... He appeared to know me and also possessed an Era Archive."

The youth narrowed his eyes, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"The Path of the Imperial God, huh..."

"Second Senior Sister said there are only three Era Archives in the world, and she suspects one of ours might be lost in the future. I originally intended to go to the Ancient Treasury with her to find you, but we encountered some unexpected events on the way..."

"Second Senior Sister's deduction isn't wrong, but things might not be as simple as she thinks."

Hearing Chen Ling's words, the youth didn't seem particularly surprised. Instead, he rubbed his smooth chin, appearing to be deep in thought.

Seeing this, Chen Ling didn't interrupt, simply following quietly beside the cart.

After an unknown period, the youth's voice sounded again:

"I understand the situation. Don't worry about the Era Archive. Just focus on what you're doing now."

"Understood."

As they spoke, Chen Ling once again saw the boundary of the Red Dust Realm and the towering prohibition sign.

However, no one present paid attention to it, passing by as if it were thin air. With a familiar dizzying sensation, the scene before Chen Ling's eyes shifted, and he landed steadily on a new, black land.

Under the gray sky, the world was silent and dim. Chen Ling looked back, but the path they had taken had vanished, leaving only a patch of white flowers swaying in the wind.

At this moment, Chen Ling seemed to recall something and suddenly turned to ask Ning Ruyu:

"First Senior Brother, was it you who brought me into the Red Dust Realm a few days ago?"

Ning Ruyu paused, exchanged glances with Mo Jue and Wenren You, then shook his head. "Junior Brother, today is the first time we've met you... What you mentioned about being brought into the Red Dust Realm should have nothing to do with us."

Chen Ling then turned his head to look at the youth on the cart. The youth, sensing Chen Ling's gaze, calmly waved his hand.

"Don't look at your Master; it wasn't me."

Chen Ling's brows furrowed involuntarily. He gazed at the mysterious patch of white flowers, his doubts growing stronger.

Chen Ling clearly remembered fainting in the flower patch and not finding a way into the Red Dust Realm himself... Yet, after he woke up, Li Qingshan said he had fainted in a mountain forest?

If that were the case, then who was the person who brought him into the Red Dust Realm after he fainted that day?