Chapter 874: Heart and Mind

“Jiang Xiaohua?”

Hearing this name, Chen Ling and Sun Bumian’s expressions became subtle, while Jian Changsheng was momentarily stunned. He scratched his head: “Telling a joke? What joke are you going to tell?”

Jiang Xiaohua: …

Due to the helmet, Chen Ling and the other two couldn't see his expression, but from the slight tremor in his body, it seemed Jiang Xiaohua had silently crumbled.

Seeing this, Chen Ling exchanged a look with Sun Bumian and Jian Changsheng, then turned and walked out of the military tent.

After the three left the tent, taking advantage of Jiang Xiaohua's absence, Chen Ling pondered and spoke: “What do you two think?”

“No, what joke exactly is he going to tell? I’ve been waiting forever!”

“...I shouldn't have bothered calling you out.” Chen Ling silently rolled his eyes. “His name is Jiang Xiaohua, not ‘telling a joke’.”

Jian Changsheng suddenly understood.

“This person is a bit strange,” Sun Bumian said slowly, fingering his prayer beads. “The Imperial Dao Ancient Tomb hasn't opened for so many years, yet he was already inside before we arrived... This indicates he either came in with the candidates or has been in this ancient tomb for centuries.”

“I lean towards the latter,” Chen Ling said, glancing at the tent. “He doesn't breathe, like a corpse, and he didn't make a sound when we buried him in the dirt...”

“Sounds like a mummy buried in an imperial mausoleum.”

“Yes.”

“He’s an old-timer?” Jian Changsheng gasped in surprise. “Do old-timers these days all love to act so young?”

“Just a guess,” Chen Ling paused. “I'm just reminding you not to completely drop your guard simply because he helped us conceal our presence... His behavior is too peculiar; be careful that he might have a greater scheme.”

“But at this stage, we genuinely need him to help us conceal our presence.”

“So, use him, be wary of him, and if he makes any unusual moves... kill him.”

“Why do I feel like we’re the villains?”

“Don't forget, we are from the Twilight Society... If he's not an ancient relic from the Imperial Dao Ancient Tomb but instead comes from one of the Nine Great Realms, we need to be even more cautious. If he realizes our Twilight Society identity, he might turn against us, or even conspire to harm us in secret.”

“True...”

“By the way, Red Heart, why are you so determined to kill that young man?” Sun Bumian hesitated for a long time before finally asking the question that had been on his mind.

Chen Ling knew who he was referring to and recounted everything that had happened in the Era Archive.

“The Era Archive...”

“So you already knew that Ying Fu would eventually become the new emperor of this era?”

“Exactly.”

Jian Changsheng frowned, asking in confusion, “Wait a minute... If you kill Ying Fu now, then in the future he won't have the Era Archive, he won't pursue you in it, and you won't go to kill him... Wouldn't that mess everything up?”

“It wouldn't be chaotic, because everything is unchangeable. I simply cannot kill Ying Fu... or rather, this world won't allow me to kill him. Once I try to change the future, it automatically corrects itself,” Chen Ling said calmly.

“Didn't you see? I was about to slit his throat just now, and the Emperor's lingering spirit happened to arrive... If I continue to pursue him, such things will still happen.”

At these words, both Jian Changsheng and Sun Bumian were stunned.

“You know you can't kill him, so why go to all this trouble?”

“Ying Fu won't die, that's destined, but other things aren't,” Chen Ling's eyes narrowed slightly.

“The future cannot be changed, meaning no matter what I do, he will ultimately become my enemy... Since that's the case, even if I can't truly kill him, I can still make him pay a price. For example, leaving him with incurable wounds or deep psychological trauma. Any weakening inflicted upon him now, whether physical or psychological, will become my advantage in the future. And...”

“And what?”

“Besides, his last pursuit left me in a very sorry state,” Chen Ling said flatly. “I must exact revenge for that.”

After listening, Sun Bumian couldn't help but click his tongue.

“That emperor really had terrible luck going against you...”

“See, I told you,” Jian Changsheng began again, counting on his fingers, “Cunning, sly, cold-hearted, cruel, crazy, fond of deceiving people, fond of...”

Chen Ling glared fiercely at him, and Jian Changsheng promptly shut his mouth.

Chen Ling was about to say more when his peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of the military tent not far away, and his expression stiffened slightly.

Jian Changsheng and the other also looked, only to see that at some point, Jiang Xiaohua had silently poked half his head out from behind the curtain, wearing his helmet, cautiously watching the three of them...

“Am I... being excluded?”

The air suddenly fell silent.

After an unknown period, Chen Ling finally recovered, displaying a warm, sun-like smile: “Of course not... Jian Wubing was a bit rude to you just now, we just came out to lecture him and teach him some manners.”

“Ah, yes, yes, yes, yes!” Jian Changsheng nodded frantically.

“...Jian Wubing?”

Jiang Xiaohua stared intently at Jian Changsheng, seemingly puzzled... but still nodded.

Chen Ling and the other two quickly exchanged glances, seizing the opportunity:

—How much of what we just said did he hear?—No idea!—If he heard about the Twilight Society, that's bad. Will he strike first?—Indeed, we still need to be wary of this person...—For now, we still need to use him; we'll make a move to control him when the time is right.—Agreed.

Completely oblivious to their inner thoughts, Jiang Xiaohua blankly asked again: “Where do we go now? Can we leave?”

“Leave? You mean exit the Imperial Dao Ancient Tomb? Did you come from outside?” Chen Ling seized the chance, firing off three questions in a row.

After a moment of hesitation, Jiang Xiaohua nodded, effectively answering all three questions.

“Where are you from?”

“The Boundless Realm.”

As expected...

The vigilance in Chen Ling and the other two grew stronger.

“We probably shouldn't leave for now,” Chen Ling replied after a moment's thought. “The main gate of the Imperial Dao Ancient Tomb is on the first level, and it's likely occupied by dozens, if not scores, of the Emperor's troops...”

Jiang Xiaohua's expression clearly showed disappointment; wearing his helmet, he looked around, seemingly already searching for a suitable spot to bury himself.

“So we just have to wait for them to leave?” Jian Changsheng sounded annoyed.

“They tried to kill us; we can't just let that go... Putting aside the matter of Ying Fu for now, there seem to be many good things in the imperial palace on this second level,” Chen Ling said, using his Emperor's Fate to sense the layout of this level.

“And because they all personally led their forces to the first level, these imperial palaces are basically unguarded...”