Chapter 39

City C held a farewell party for the teams from various cities that successfully returned from exploring the Abyss Corridor. The party was held in a magnificent building in the city center that was converted from an old opera house.

The crystal chandelier reflected the fake starlight simulated by the dome, and soothing string music flowed among the clinking of glasses, covering up the undercurrent of fatigue and calculation.

The air was filled with a complex mixture of food, perfume, and energy potions.

Lin Yao sat quietly in the area where the D City team was located, with Lu Cheng always by his side.

He sipped the juice in the cup, his silver hair shining coldly in the soft light, and his delicate profile had a just right sense of alienation and fragility, as if out of tune with the hustle and bustle around him.

Lu Cheng was like the most loyal guard, scanning the surroundings vigilantly, especially the direction of City B.

Sure enough, the figure with a huge sense of oppression passed through the crowd and walked straight towards him.

Qin Feng's tall figure seemed somewhat out of place in the crowd. His handsome face was filled with fatigue that was difficult to conceal and a persistence that was almost stubborn.

He ignored Lu Cheng's instantly cold gaze and kept his eyes fixed on Lin Yao. There was pain of loss, a fire of unwillingness, and a determination to go all out in his eyes.

"Yaoyao." Qin Feng's voice was low and hoarse, with a sense of caution, as if he was afraid of disturbing something. "Can we... talk alone? Just for a moment?"

He glanced at Lu Cheng with undisguised hostility, "There are some things I must tell you in person."

Lu Cheng was about to stand up to stop him, but Lin Yao gently pressed the back of his hand, shook his head slightly, and gave him a soothing look.

Then, he raised his head and looked at Qin Feng, his blue eyes filled with a hint of helplessness and a touch of sadness, and nodded gently: "Okay."

The two walked to a relatively quiet terrace at the edge of the banquet hall. The night breeze blew, bringing a hint of coolness. In the distance, City C lay shrouded in a dome, its lights ablaze with a false sense of prosperity.

Qin Feng took a deep breath, as if he had exhausted all his strength, before he spoke with difficulty: "Yaoyao, come back to City B with me. I swear, I will protect you better than anyone else! I will never let anyone hurt you again!"

His eyes were filled with deep pain and pleading, "Lu Cheng... he's not worth your nostalgia at all. He can trade you away for resources. He..."

"Master Qin Feng," Lin Yao interrupted him, his voice soft but with an undeniable sense of distance.

He lowered his eyelashes slightly, and his long eyelashes cast a small shadow under his eyes. "Thank you for taking care of me all the time, really. You are very good, very good. You deserve someone who is better than me and loves you more wholeheartedly."

He raised his head, his blue eyes shimmering with immense sorrow and a heartbreaking honesty. "I know what Lu Cheng did... He told me the truth himself. He had no idea about the deception his father and Qin Mu were carrying out."

Qin Feng was stunned.

Lin Yao's voice was choked with sobs, but he tried to maintain his composure. "Master Qin Feng, matters of the heart... aren't determined by who's better. I still have him in my heart... even though I know he may have betrayed me, even though my heart is broken, even though I cry out the window at night, hating and resenting him... but that place is still occupied by him."

He gently covered his heart, as if there was a wound there that really couldn't be healed. "Seeing him injured, seeing him almost die, my heart still hurts. I rejected you not because you are good or bad, but... I can't forget him. I'm sorry, Master Qin Feng..."

This heartfelt confession, with great sadness and helplessness, perfectly portrays the deep affectionate character who is unable to let go of old love and is scarred but still unable to let go.

Every word was like a poisoned needle, precisely piercing Qin Feng's softest spot.

Qin Feng's tall body swayed, his face instantly pale. He looked at the genuine, unfaked tears of pain in Lin Yao's eyes, and listened to him personally admit that he couldn't forget Lu Cheng.

All his persistence and hope were completely shattered at this moment. He opened his mouth, but his throat seemed to be blocked and no sound came out.

Finally, he looked at Lin Yao deeply, his eyes filled with broken despair and endless sadness. Then he turned around abruptly, and as if escaping, he staggered back to the noisy banquet hall, and his figure quickly disappeared in the crowd.

Lin Yao was the only one left on the terrace. The night wind blew his silver hair, and his thin back looked particularly lonely and fragile under the light.

Just then, a warm and strong hand gently rested on his shoulder.

Lin Yao shuddered slightly, as if startled, and slowly turned around. Lu Cheng had quietly arrived on the terrace at some point, apparently having heard the conversation.

At this moment, Lu Cheng's eyes no longer had the usual sharpness and confidence, leaving only deep-seated heartache, guilt, and a tenderness that almost drowned people.

"Yaoyao..." Lu Cheng's voice was low and hoarse, filled with endless pity. He stretched out his hand and gently wiped away the lingering tears on Lin Yao's cheeks with his fingertips.

"I'm sorry for making you suffer so much. It's my fault for not being able to protect you and letting you get hurt by those lies."

He gently embraced Lin Yao in his arms, his movements cautious, as if he was hugging the most fragile treasure in the world.

"I swear, I swear on my life! The same thing will never happen again! I will become stronger, strong enough to crush all the conspiracies and tricks that dare to target you! I will not let anyone hurt you in the slightest!"

His embrace was warm and firm, and his oath was like a brand, engraved in the thick night.

Lin Yao leaned gently in his arms, listening to his strong heartbeat and feeling the heavy protection. The corners of his lips curled up in a cold arc at an angle that Lu Cheng could not see.

At this romantic moment, the sound of footsteps that was out of tune with the atmosphere of the party clearly broke the tranquility of the terrace.

Ta-da, ta-da, ta-da.

Neither fast nor slow, with a peculiar rhythm.

Lu Cheng became alert instantly, protecting Lin Yao behind him, and cast his sharp eyes towards the shadow of the terrace entrance.

A figure slowly walked out from the shadows.

The visitor was wearing a silver-gray dress with a perfect cut and extraordinary material. It blended perfectly with the surrounding environment, but revealed an invisible sense of alienation.

He was tall and slender, with a face as exquisite as a work of art. His skin had a cold white color that came from not seeing the sun for a long time, and his facial features were sharp and distinct, like the most perfect sculpture.

But what caught people's attention most was his eyes, which were as bright and beautiful as rubies, yet with a sense of distance that could only be admired from afar and not touched closely.

His temperament was very unique. He had the dignity of a superior, but also a kind of weariness that penetrated deep into his bones and... a hint of indescribable aura of destruction that made Lin Yao feel inexplicably familiar.

It was the person who had a brief collision with his mental fluctuations in the depths of the dungeon last night.

The man stopped a few steps away from them, his eyes calmly swept over Lu Cheng, who was facing a formidable enemy, and finally fell on Lin Yao, who was protected behind him.

Deep in his eyes, an extremely subtle ripple passed through his mind.

"Excuse me." The man's voice was low and pleasant, like the strings of a cello, but with a metallic coldness and no emotion at all. "Let me introduce myself, Jin! I'm from City A."

City A! Ember!

This name was like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring up huge waves in Lu Cheng's heart.

SS-rank! The only one recognized by the four cities, a legendary existence.

The one codenamed "Ashes" is a walking disaster that possesses pure destructive power but is extremely unstable!

Jin's gaze remained fixed on Lin Yao. He spoke calmly, as if stating a perfectly ordinary fact: "Lin Yao, your existence is very special to me."

"My power is too restless, like a wildfire that consumes everything, difficult to control. But last night in the dungeon, your aura, like a piece of ice thrown into the blazing fire, unexpectedly calmed it... for a moment."

He paused, his red eyes looking directly into Lin Yao's azure pupils. "If you are willing to come to City A and stay with me, I can guarantee that City D will no longer have to worry about any basic resources in the next ten years."

His voice was not loud, but it clearly penetrated the terrace and even reached the ears of several guests nearby who pricked up their ears.

Ten years! City D doesn't need to worry about resources anymore?!

The entire banquet hall, near the edge of the terrace, fell into a dead silence. Then, like a drop of cold water into boiling oil, it exploded.

"Oh my god! Ten years of resources!?"

"Did I hear correctly? A promise personally made by an SS-level expert?!"

"Just for that F-rank Lin Yao? What's so special about him?"

"That's crazy! This is pie in the sky."

"City D is going to be rich! This amount of resources is enough to make City D the most resource-rich city-state, right?!"

Countless gazes of shock, envy, jealousy, and disbelief were focused on Lin Yao.

The silver-haired boy who had always been treated as a vase, a lucky star, and an accessory of Lu Cheng, now had his value raised to a suffocating height.

Who on earth was he, the one who could make SS-level powerhouse Jin use such exorbitant resources as a bargaining chip?!

The huge temptation came like a tsunami. Even Lu Cheng was momentarily distracted, his mind shaken by the overwhelming number.

This resource... is enough to change the fate of countless people in City D!

However, the next second, Lu Cheng's eyes suddenly became extremely firm, even with an unquestionable determination.

He suddenly pulled Lin Yao a step behind him, completely blocking him in front of him, and faced Jin's calm red eyes, speaking in a firm and powerful voice.

"impossible!"

"Yaoyao is not a commodity! Not even a tool for trading!"

"No matter what price you offer, I will not hand him over. As long as I, Lu Cheng, am still alive, no one can take him away from me."

The resounding declaration, like thunder exploding amidst the boiling discussions, instantly drowned out all the noise.

Everyone was in an uproar again, looking at Lu Cheng with eyes full of shock and complexity.

Rejected? Faced with a massive resource capable of changing the fate of an entire city, he refused without hesitation? For an F-ranked piece of trash? How... arrogant and affectionate was this?!

Lin Yao was tightly protected by Lu Cheng behind him, feeling his body trembling slightly with excitement, and listening to his resolute declaration that was like a vow.

According to the best scenario, he should stand up at this moment.

He should have gently pushed Lu Cheng's hand away, and with a strong heart that was about to cry, he said to everyone: "For D City, I am willing... I can't let the entire city miss such an opportunity because of my own personal feelings..."

Then, amidst the gazes of the crowd, some of which were admiration, some of which were sympathy, and some of which were regret, he walked towards the ashes.

In this way, he could legitimately enter the core of City A, get close to this SS-level with destructive power, use his instability and dependence on his own breath to explore the core secrets of the Purifier Organization, and even get to know the truth about the Ark Project and the Eye of the Storm.

Jhin will undoubtedly become an extremely powerful and convenient tool in his plan.

This thought emerged with incredible clarity in the core of his cold mind.

However, just as he was about to take that step, about to begin his perfect performance of self-sacrifice and considering the overall situation...

His eyes accidentally swept across Lu Cheng's profile.

That handsome face was now filled with unquestionable determination and an almost tragic protection.

But Lin Yao's perception that could see through the essence of the soul clearly captured that beneath that determination, there was a subtle despair on the verge of breaking.

It seemed that as long as Lin Yao really said the word "yes", the person in front of him who had just vowed to protect him for the rest of his life would completely collapse and shatter in an instant.

This scene was like the sharpest ice cone, piercing into Lin Yao's cold core.

An unfamiliar, intense feeling of irritability and...resistance surged up without warning.

Why do you still want to play the weak one? Why do you still want to use this self-sacrificing drama to rely on others?!

He really needs to go to City A to find out the truth and look for higher-level materials that can restore his strength.

But he is no longer the weak man who just traveled through time, lost all his strength, and could only survive by relying on disguise and calculation.

The Void Star Essence, the roots of the Vine of Life, and other origins quietly absorbed in the copy... Although it is still far from his peak, his strength has quietly recovered to about 60%.

In this world, he was enough to crush 99% of the so-called strong. So what if he was SS-rank? As long as he didn't want to, no one could force him to do anything he didn't want to do.

He, Lin Yao, is at the top of the standings in the old world. He is someone who can survive the attacks of more than a dozen super S-level psychics and even self-destruct.

He has the dignity and pride of a strong man! To achieve his goal, why would he need to rely on others and act like a weakling, playing the victim?

Even without the help of Jhin, he still has countless ways to sneak into City A and find out the truth.

He could even... take advantage of Jin's dependence on his aura and control this unstable source of destruction.

In a flash, a cold self-analysis was completed. The heart of a strong man was restored.

However, his outward appearance still needs to maintain that fragile "F-level" personality.

Lin Yao leaned out slightly from behind Lu Cheng, but instead of pushing him away, he gently grabbed his fist that was clenched in excitement, offering silent comfort.

Then he raised his head and met Jhin's calm yet all-devouring red eyes.

His face still showed signs of fragility and a hint of having just cried. His voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard, carrying a weak yet extremely firm rejection.

"Mr. Jin, thank you for your kindness." He bowed slightly, his posture humble and polite, perfectly in line with his F-level identity.

"Your promise is an unimaginable gift to City D. However..."

He paused, as if gathering up his courage, then raised his head and looked directly at Jin with his clear blue eyes, which were filled with unquestionable sincerity.

"My heart... is here." He gently took Lu Cheng's hand, interlocking their fingers. "Wherever my heart desires, that's my destination. Whether the future is smooth or thorny, I'm willing to face it with him. So... I'm sorry, I can't accept your invitation."

His refusal was firm, but not at all domineering. Instead, it was full of the weakness and stubbornness of being "trapped in love and unable to let go."

It perfectly fits his usual affectionate and fragile personality.

Lu Cheng suddenly held Lin Yao's hand back. The huge ecstasy and relief of being chosen almost overwhelmed him. The look he gave Lin Yao was filled with incomparable cherishment and emotion.

Jin stood there quietly, his red eyes still calm, as if Lin Yao's rejection did not cause any waves in his heart.

He simply gave Lin Yao a deep look. That look was terrifyingly calm, yet seemed to contain an endless abyss.

Then he nodded very slightly, almost imperceptibly.

"I see."

Jhin's voice was still low and cold, without any emotion. "I respect your choice."

He paused slightly, his eyes sweeping over the clasped hands of Lin Yao and Lu Cheng. Something seemed to flash in the depths of his red eyes, so fast that it was impossible to catch.

"But..." The corners of Jin's mouth twitched upwards slightly, a rare occurrence, forming an almost invisible arc. His smile was cold and unpredictable. "We'll meet again, Lin Yao."

After saying this, he no longer looked at anyone, turned around, and with his unique, unhurried steps, like a ghost blending into the shadows, he quietly left the terrace and disappeared into the depths of the brightly lit banquet hall.

It wasn't until the suffocating smell completely disappeared that air flow seemed to resume in the terrace and the surrounding area.

Lin Yao felt the scorching heat from Lu Cheng's tightly clenched palm. Under his drooping eyelashes, a cold and sharp light flashed across the depths of his frozen blue eyes.

See you again?

certainly.

But next time we meet, it’s not certain who will have the initiative.