Chapter Eighty-Three: I Do Not Regret

Xu Zhe’s brow was deeply furrowed, his expression grave as he hurried along the road to Eastern Qianzhou.

The news brought by Zhang Wu Ma had made him realize that Zhu Chongli had been drawn into the fray. From his recent interactions and understanding of Zhu Chongli, Xu Zhe knew the man to be a complete deadbeat—without ambition, without greed. The only thing that lingered in his heart seemed to be a stubborn nostalgia for the life he once knew. Xu Zhe had no idea what Zhu Chongli had endured over the years, but every time danger was mentioned, the man would become visibly shaken, as if he had been deeply traumatized.

Yet, when Xu Zhe truly faced peril, Zhu Chongli had not hesitated to act, risking everything to save him. Even in the Stoneflame Secret Realm, Zhu Chongli had secretly helped Xu Zhe escape at great personal risk.

Old Zhu was truly a good man. Xu Zhe was certain of this. Yet, precisely because of this, Zhu Chongli had been targeted.

Xu Zhe could not believe Zhu Chongli had any part in Qi Ming and the others’ affairs—corruption, collusion, or the trafficking of condemned prisoners. If Old Zhu were capable of such things, would he still be stuck at the Nascent Soul stage after over a thousand years? Would he only be the Chief Inspector of the Supervision Division?

After all, Zhu Chongli’s bloodline and talents were a tragedy in the Celestial Domain, but here in the Azure Domain, they were exceptional.

“According to what Zhang Wu Ma said, Mo Xiaolian has been claiming on the Spirit Net that I killed her brother, and just recently posted another message, asking if I’m not planning to show myself. So, Old Zhu’s predicament must be the Mo family’s doing—they’re manipulating things behind the scenes, framing him, and using the hunt for Old Zhu to force me into the open.” Xu Zhe muttered to himself.

He couldn’t fathom how Mo Xiaolian knew he had killed Mo Shaowen. He was certain no one had discovered him, nor had he left any trace. Clearly, the Mo family had more resources than he had anticipated.

Xu Zhe’s eyes narrowed as he raced toward Eastern Qianzhou. According to Zhang Wu Ma’s information, Zhu Chongli was still hiding somewhere in the region. The Four Provinces Council had sent many people to capture him, but the real danger came from the assassins dispatched by the Mo family. If they found Zhu Chongli first, he would surely die.

Before dawn the next day, Xu Zhe reached the border of Eastern Qianzhou. He quickly took out the Myriad Phenomena Jade Talisman, and as soon as he connected to the Spirit Net, several messages popped up—one from Chu Xiaotong, one from Qu Hongxiu, and several from Zhu Chongli.

Xu Zhe opened Zhu Chongli’s messages first.

“Boss, you must keep hiding. Don’t show yourself under any circumstances. They’re framing me to force you out—don’t fall for it.”

“Boss, don’t worry. Someone is helping me escape, so I’ll be able to prove my innocence soon.”

“They think I found nothing after taking office. How naive. I’ve actually had evidence about the Northern Province’s condemned prisoner smuggling for a long time. I just didn’t want to provoke them. But now that they’ve pushed me this far, I’ll make sure they pay dearly.”

“Boss, after I send this, I’ll have to turn off my Jade Talisman for good. Otherwise, they’ll track me through the Spirit Net. Stay hidden. In no more than two days, I’ll hand over the evidence and clear my name.”

The last message had been sent four days ago.

Xu Zhe checked the Spirit Net, where a few people were still discussing the matter. To this day, Old Zhu was still being hunted, with no resolution.

Four days ago, Zhu Chongli had promised to clear his name in two days. Now, four days had passed…

Xu Zhe’s expression darkened. Clearly, things did not bode well for Zhu Chongli—especially after reading those messages. If he had found nothing, perhaps he’d have been safe; but he had real evidence about the condemned prisoner trafficking in the Northern Province. He thought it would prove his innocence, but it was actually his death sentence.

Xu Zhe tried to send a communication request to Zhu Chongli, but there was no response. After several failed attempts, he had no choice but to give up.

He opened the messages from Chu Xiaotong and Qu Hongxiu. Chu Xiaotong wrote that she had returned from the Demon Domain and was busy dealing with past troubles, negotiating with the Four Provinces Council, and urged Xu Zhe to go to Southern Tianzhou to find Qu Hongxiu as soon as possible.

Qu Hongxiu asked him to let her know when he came out of seclusion; she wanted to pick him up personally. Afterwards, there was another message from Chu Xiaotong, telling Xu Zhe not to get involved in Zhu Chongli’s business—she was already helping.

Xu Zhe immediately sent a communication request to Chu Xiaotong.

“Hey, Xiao Zhezi, you’re out so soon?” Chu Xiaotong answered quickly, sounding surprised.

“Yes, just got out. How’s Zhu Chongli?” Xu Zhe’s tone was calm—so calm it showed how serious he was.

Chu Xiaotong knew Xu Zhe’s character well. She hesitated, then said quietly, “I had people help him escape, but the Mo family hired an unlicensed underground assassin organization and sent a Deification-stage expert to hunt Zhu Chongli. All the people I sent were killed. Before dying, they managed to get Zhu Chongli onto a teleportation array. Since then, I haven’t been able to track his whereabouts.”

“Where did the teleportation array send him?” Xu Zhe asked.

“To the southern part of Eastern Qianzhou—the Land of Thunder Marshes,” Chu Xiaotong replied, then hastily added, “That’s one of the Seven Forbidden Lands. Zhu Chongli wouldn’t go in there. Don’t do anything stupid and go looking for him inside.”

“How can you be sure he wouldn’t?” Xu Zhe raised an eyebrow. If it were him, he’d rather risk the dangers of such a place than be caught and killed.

“Because only those above the Integration stage can enter Thunder Marshes. Anyone below that would be reduced to ashes by the lightning at the entrance. Zhu Chongli couldn’t get in even if he tried,” Chu Xiaotong said flatly.

“Where else could he go? Give me a few possible locations, I’ll search—”

“Search? Are you trying to get yourself killed? The assassin hunting him is Deification-stage! You can’t even handle a Spirit Severing-stage, and you expect to save Zhu Chongli from a Deification expert?” Chu Xiaotong snapped.

“When Old Zhu helped me, he didn’t consider whether he could handle a Deification-stage opponent either,” Xu Zhe replied quietly. Then, almost as an afterthought: “Besides, who told you I can’t handle Spirit Severing or Deification?”

“What?”

On the other end, Chu Xiaotong was at a loss for words.

“You can fight Spirit Severing and Deification? Don’t tell me you’ve already reached Nascent Soul?” Her voice rose in shock, her world clearly shaken.

“No, I just stepped into the Golden Core stage. Still too slow. But I think I should be able to take on Spirit Severing, though probably not Deification,” Xu Zhe evaluated calmly.

“Golden Core, and you think you’re slow? And you can fight Spirit Severing?”

Chu Xiaotong was both exasperated and amused. How had she never noticed before that this Xu Zhe was so infuriatingly smug?

She continued, “I’ve already sent nearly ten Deification-stage experts. You’d only be a burden if you went, throwing your life away. Hurry up and come to Southern Tianzhou—my master has been acting mysterious lately and wants to meet you.”

“We’ll see. How are your matters going? Any trouble with the Four Provinces Council?” Xu Zhe asked.

“No trouble. My master is the council president,” Chu Xiaotong replied breezily.

“Oh. Goodbye,” Xu Zhe said, ending the call immediately and heading south toward the Thunder Marshes.

…

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Thunder Marshes in Eastern Qianzhou—

With a muffled thud, a figure crashed down from the sky, landing heavily before the entrance to Thunder Marshes. Blood flowed freely from his mouth, his body a mangled mess of flesh and gore. With the last of his strength, he crushed the Jade Talisman in his hand and tried to crawl toward the entrance.

In the next moment, a streak of light descended, transforming into a black-clad elder who appeared before him, stomping down on his head.

“Zhu Chongli, I chased you for six days and nights. I finally have you cornered. You want to run into Thunder Marshes and die? Not so easy. If you want to die, you’ll let me carve you up first—maybe then I’ll let you go,” the old man said coldly, his rage and killing intent palpable.

The man on the ground, battered and broken, was indeed Zhu Chongli. His face was ashen, streaked with fresh blood that made his features seem even more ghastly. After days on the run, he had finally been found.

He couldn’t understand it. No matter how he fled, the assassin always tracked him down.

“Hehe, wondering how I found you? Maybe I’ll tell you after you’re dead,” the old man sneered, pulling out his Jade Talisman and activating its recording function. In his other hand, a gleaming, razor-sharp boning knife appeared.

“The employer wanted me to give you a message: Your biggest mistake was meddling in things that didn’t concern you. Consider this a lesson—next time, keep your eyes open and don’t help those who don’t deserve it,” the old man mocked, then brought the knife down.

…

Southern border of Eastern Qianzhou.

Xu Zhe stood atop a slightly tarnished bronze flying sword, racing toward the Thunder Marshes. Suddenly, his Jade Talisman vibrated in his chest pocket—he had received a message.

Xu Zhe had little mind to look, but a vague sense of dread told him something terrible had happened.

He continued forward, drawing out the Talisman. His face changed dramatically.

It was from Zhu Chongli.

He opened it immediately—it was a recording Zhu Chongli had made himself.

The image showed Zhu Chongli fleeing through the sky, the wind whipping his face into a grimace. Behind him, a shadowy figure was rapidly gaining ground, streams of sword energy flashing dangerously close.

“Boss, I’m done for. I… I dodged death for six days, but luck finally ran out. This assassin found me. Did someone put some hidden mark on me?”

“Anyway, I accept it. I’ve lived over a thousand years—more than enough, and I’ve long since lost the will to go on. I don’t regret helping you, but don’t you dare rush to avenge me. Not until you reach the Integration stage. Otherwise, I’ll never rest in peace.”

In the recording, Zhu Chongli seemed heroic, almost fearless in the face of death.

But in the next instant, tears streamed down his face.

“Boss, I’m sorry, I… I can’t hold it in.”

“I don’t want to die! I miss my wife, and my daughter—she’s only six. I promised to take her kite-flying when I got home. I haven’t seen her grow up, haven’t watched her get married, have kids. I…”

His cries grew wild, fear and terror overwhelming him, his body trembling uncontrollably: “I’m so scared, boss. I’m terrified. I don’t want to die… I’m sorry, boss. I don’t regret helping you, but I’m so scared. I don’t know what to do…”

Bang!

The image jolted violently, a dull thud resounding. A heavy sword crashed down on Zhu Chongli’s head, sending him plummeting to the ground.

He still clutched the Jade Talisman, blood gushing from his mouth and scalp as he hit the ground.

“Old Zhu!” Xu Zhe couldn’t help but cry out.

He knew it was only a recording—Zhu Chongli couldn’t hear him—but he couldn’t stop himself. The veins stood out on his hand as he gripped the Talisman.

On the screen, Zhu Chongli struggled to rise, managing a smile for the Jade Talisman: “Boss, I… I guess… I won’t make it for you to come rescue me. Please… please take care of my wife and child…”

With that, the message cut off abruptly, the screen plunging into darkness. It seemed Zhu Chongli, knowing he was doomed, didn’t want Xu Zhe to see what happened next.

…

Xu Zhe stood atop his flying sword, the wind whipping at his robes as he pressed on. His face was serene—the eerie calm before a violent storm, so oppressive it chilled the very spine.

…

[Second update delivered.]