Chapter 99: Flying into the Chu Estate

In a certain void, space and time were thick with turbulence and black holes.

Suddenly, three points of light flickered out from the infinitely dark plane. Visible yet intangible, three disc-like flying objects continuously folded space, advancing toward the deeper, vast, and boundless darkness, appearing now near and now far.

A keen observer would notice that the area surrounding one of the flickering lights was blurred, as if it possessed the power to distort space-time and reverse the future. There was an absence of space, time, or matter—it was, for all intents and purposes, nothingness.

Inside the chamber of the flying craft, as a rift in time slowly sealed, a figure suddenly manifested out of thin air. The figure looked around with curiosity, muttering to himself, and upon noticing someone else nearby, he approached with great delight.

"Hey! Old man, where is this?"

Seeing a disheveled old man with a mane of white hair, the figure was instantly disgusted, yet he asked the question anyway, desperate for information.

...

As the voice in the chamber faded, silence returned.

"...Are you deaf? I am talking to you!" the figure roared in fury.

One could hardly blame him for his anger; he had been on the verge of completing his final objective, only to find himself in this hellhole in the blink of an eye.

"Young man, do not be so hot-headed. Come, sit down."

Seeming to know what the figure was thinking, the white-haired elder did not get angry. Instead, he slowly brushed the white hair from his face, turned his gaze toward the one speaking to him, and gestured to the side with a peaceful smile.

"So you can speak! Tell me, who are you, and why did you bring me here?" The figure was surprised that the old man had finally spoken, but he quickly regained his composure and demanded an answer.

He did not sit as the elder had suggested; instead, he paced back and forth in agitation, as if there were some great task waiting for him to complete.

"...From this day forward, you are no longer Chu Yun, but Tian Ming. This shall be your new identity!"

Seeing the figure's demeanor, the white-haired elder shook his head with a smile, and then spoke with a gravity that seemed to echo the laws of the universe—each word like the beginning of chaos, every sentence imbued with the profound truths of all living things, so majestic that no one would dare to question it.

"Yes... Yes!"

The figure fell to his knees, trembling, his eyes darting about, not daring to lift his head or even steal a glance at the majestic white-haired elder.

***

*Clang!*

At that moment, the sound of a door opening echoed softly, and a figure clad in purple armor walked in.

"...Mortal, you have quite the discerning eye, though it is useless! Here is your food... Mortals are such a nuisance, actually needing to consume matter. Unlike us higher beings, who can survive for tens of thousands of years without relying on external sustenance."

Seeing Tian Ming kneeling before the elder, the armored figure laughed mockingly and shot the old man a glare. He then dropped a square box onto the floor and turned to leave with an expression of disdain.

The white-haired elder remained unmoved, but Chu Yun looked at the armored figure with a blank expression of envy. When he saw the box on the ground, his eyes lit up, and he crawled toward it as if he had discovered something extraordinary.

*Hmph!*

Basking in Chu Yun’s envious gaze, the armored figure held his head high and swaggered away.

"Eat, eat! This might be the best meal you ever have in this life..."

Watching the armored figure depart, the elder sighed with a hint of pity as he saw Chu Yun devouring the food greedily. However, his expression soon returned to normal as he lay back in a dark corner and began picking at his toes.

***

Using a sword of lightning to fly, Tian Ming exited the strange room and soon landed in another courtyard.

Sword flight!

In truth, it was a result of reaching the Emptiness Realm, where one’s perception of the universe reached a high level, allowing one to utilize an understanding of all things to soar through the heavens and earth by manipulating matter.

"...I never expected that even my body would be changed. I wonder if that thing..."

Feeling his body, which had shrunk by a third, Tian Ming shook himself, feeling slightly unaccustomed, before pulling down his pants to take a look.

*Phew!* Thankfully, that thing was much the same as before.

*Snap!*

Just as Tian Ming was preparing to leave, the crisp sound of a water cup shattering rang out.

"Young Master Chu, why are you..." A young girl in a pale green tunic dropped the tray in her hand and rushed out from behind the wall. Her brows were slightly furrowed, her face as fair as white jade, and her hair was tied into two buns, making her look as fresh as the morning dew. Her attire was not particularly luxurious, yet a jade pendant hung from a cord around her neck, emitting a faint glow that made her appear even more exquisite.

"Who are you..."

Before Tian Ming could finish his sentence, he felt himself enveloped in a warm embrace.

*Cough, cough!*

"Little sister, are you sure you haven't mistaken me for someone else? I don't know who you are." Flushed with embarrassment, Tian Ming coughed a few times and pulled away from the embrace.

"Wuwu... how can you not recognize me? I am your maid!"

The girl, having been pushed away, stood frozen for a moment. Then, her eyes blinked, and she looked at Tian Ming with a tearful, innocent expression.

"A maid? This kid Chu Yun actually has a maid!" Tian Ming’s eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected the original owner of this body to have such a comfortable life, served by such a delicate and lovely girl. Seeing this, he couldn't help but look forward to what would happen next.

"Young Master, what are you muttering to yourself? Are you... are you ill? Let me see!"

Seeing Tian Ming looking at his own crotch and failing to recognize her, the girl looked on with concern, hurriedly standing on tiptoe and reaching out her scarred arms.

"No need, I'm fine..." Tian Ming shook his head and dodged slightly.

However, when he saw the girl's tear-streaked face and the scars on her arms, a sudden sense of pity washed over him. He stepped forward and wiped the tears from her cheeks. "It must have been hard for you. You should learn to cherish yourself, you know?"

Although Tian Ming did not know what had happened to this girl, nor what her name was, he knew that since he had accepted this identity, he should do his best to make amends—if for no other reason than for the sake of heaven's justice.

"...Are you truly Chu Yun, Young Master Chu?" the girl asked in a low voice, her cheeks flushing as she found it hard to believe.

Though she did not look him directly in the eye, she could feel the profound compassion and care emanating from him—a sensation she had not felt from this young master in a very long time. Overjoyed, she threw her arms around Tian Ming, and hot tears began to flow uncontrollably.