Chapter 892: Domain Reappearance

Jian Changsheng felt incredibly pleased.

Ever since Chen Ling killed him with a single shot in the Ancient Treasury of Military Arts, Jian Changsheng had harbored a grudge. While many subsequent events had gradually improved his relationship with Chen Ling, he could never forget that particular shot. To Jian Changsheng, saving Chen Ling was one thing, but revenge was entirely another; he always kept his favors and grudges distinct.

As Chen Ling's head gradually reformed, his gaze, a complex mix of emotion, exasperation, surprise, and anger, settled upon Jian Changsheng. The bad news: he had been shot in the head by Jian Changsheng. The good news: this was merely a past memory, and death within it would not truly affect his physical body outside. Moreover, in this specific memory, Chen Ling genuinely possessed two lives, meaning he wouldn't accidentally unleash the 'Mocking Disaster' by dying here.

*Bang!*

With a slight exertion of force from Chen Ling, the bone cages shattered. A figure in red robes descended back onto the snow, silently drifting towards Jian Changsheng. A moment ago, Jian Changsheng had been roaring with laughter, reveling in the satisfaction of his revenge. But as his laughter continued, it slowly died on his lips. He watched the red-robed demon slowly approach and silently swallowed. Sun Bumian and Jiang Xiaohua instinctively took a few steps back, subtly distancing themselves from Jian Changsheng, as if to say the situation had nothing to do with them.

"Uh... Red Heart, I honestly didn't mean that just now..."

"My shot was actually intended to help you break those bones..."

"Really, truly!"

As the crimson opera robe drew nearer, Jian Changsheng's panic grew. With every step he took backward, scattered drops of blood splattered onto the snow, as he braced himself for an inevitable beating. Chen Ling glanced at the scarlet blooming on the snow and then at the blood-stained pendant in Jian Changsheng's hand, his eyes flickering slightly. After a long silence, the hand he raised didn't strike Jian Changsheng. Instead, it rested lightly on his shoulder as Chen Ling calmly walked past him.

"Thank you for this time."

Jian Changsheng stood rooted to the spot. Six simple words, yet they seemed to carry profound meaning. Chen Ling's gaze swept past Sun Bumian and Jiang Xiaohua, finally settling on the corpse-strewn courtyard. Jiang Xiaohua's curse was remarkably unique; it seemed capable of forging new possibilities within a memory. Originally, the courtyard in Chen Ling's memory had been a place of utter despair and pain, a period he had only survived thanks to Chen Yan. Now, however, a new memory had been added to Chen Ling's mind. It felt so real, like a carriage running parallel to the original timeline, opening up a new potential narrative path here. This new memory had been brought to him by Jian Changsheng and the other two.

"Uh... you're welcome?" Jian Changsheng, surprised that Chen Ling had let him off so easily, felt a little awkward and replied hesitantly.

Chen Ling didn't dwell on the matter. Instead, he turned his attention to Jiang Xiaohua, who was the key connecting everything.

"Jiang Xiaohua, what's the situation outside?"

"My curse is fading... it's time for you to return," Jiang Xiaohua said flatly. "The situation outside isn't good."

"The Thief Saint, then..."

Sun Bumian sighed helplessly. "I really don't want to go out and face him... What if the memories we just managed to retrieve get stolen again?"

"From his perspective, we should have completely forgotten everything and pose no threat," Chen Ling mused. "This is our chance... our only chance."

Before Chen Ling could finish speaking, the surrounding world began to fragment. They had all recovered their memories and were beginning to drift back towards reality. They were like a three-shot revolver, its cylinder spinning, poised and ready.

"What if we don't seize it?" Jian Changsheng, thoroughly jaded by misfortune, couldn't help but ask.

"I can't save you a second time," Jiang Xiaohua said, shaking his head. "If you don't seize it, it's all over..."

"Either you die, or you become the Thief Saint's toy. Choose."

"...I choose neither."

Amidst the blurring light and shadow, the four figures gradually drifted away in different directions, on the verge of returning to their respective bodies. They exchanged glances.

"Everyone, wish us luck."

The voice of the crimson opera robe faded from the world.

The Ancient Treasury of the Emperor's Path.

Amidst the vast wind and snow, a red line slowly traced itself across Jiang Xiaohua's body. Then, he was severed clean in half, warm blood gushing out and splattering onto the three figures lying in the snow. There was no pain or sorrow on Jiang Xiaohua's face; he was like a numb zombie, slowly collapsing. His eyes scanned the three figures below him as he murmured in a voice audible only to himself:

"It's in your hands now..."

A figure in a bowler hat stood spectrally behind him.

"Scattering rats cannot escape my grasp."

Mo Lian gazed indifferently down at the scarlet bloodstains before him. The two halves of Jiang Xiaohua were utterly lifeless, and the gushing blood formed a pool that connected the three figures lying side by side in the snow. Mo Lian had no interest in this path of the Witch God; his sole target was Chen Ling. Just as he was about to step forward, the eyelashes of the three figures, now covered in Jiang Xiaohua's blood, fluttered slightly. Simultaneously, their eyes snapped open!

The moment Chen Ling awoke, he felt something pressing down on him. All three looked up together, only to see Jiang Xiaohua, severed in two, utterly lifeless. Their pupils abruptly constricted.

"Jiang Xiaohua!" Jian Changsheng's eyes widened in horror.

At the same time, Mo Lian was momentarily stunned, having not expected them to awaken simultaneously. Before Mo Lian could make a move, Chen Ling spoke without hesitation, unleashing a thunderous roar that echoed through the wind and snow:

"CUT—!!!"

In that instant, the world froze! The swirling snow and wind froze in mid-air. Mo Lian's expression of surprise remained fixed on his face, and the world's hues subtly muted with Chen Ling's command, like an old film suddenly paused.

The crimson opera robe slowly rose from the pool of blood...

"Hoo..."

Hot breath escaped Chen Ling's lips, condensing into mist in the frigid air. Although controlling this domain was still incredibly difficult for Chen Ling in his current state, he understood the gravity of the situation. Thus, the moment he awoke, he didn't even pause to assess his surroundings before unhesitatingly activating his domain. As it turned out, Chen Ling's decision was correct. His domain activated faster than anyone else's; Mo Lian hadn't even reacted before he became an unwitting participant in the 'performance.'

Now, Chen Ling finally had the chance to survey his surroundings. Beside Chen Ling, Jian Changsheng was the quickest to react, already coiled on the snow like a taut spring, ready to lunge before Mo Lian at any moment. Sun Bumian, however, didn't choose to get up immediately; he was frozen mid-action, arm raised, seemingly about to activate his own domain. In the pool of blood beside the two, the two halves of Jiang Xiaohua lay silently, his numb eyes staring blankly at the sky.