Located in Luanning District in the south of Daxia, October is mostly cloudy and rainy. Inside the cemetery, the morning mist lingers, and the damp and cold air adds to the already somewhat gloomy atmosphere of the cemetery.
Behind a tombstone, an ordinary coffin lay quietly on the ground, its lid unsealed, and inside lay a figure.
The last smile he had shown before his death remained on Chen Sheng's face. His unkempt beard had also disappeared, revealing his somewhat weathered but still resolute and handsome face.
On the ground, nine figures dressed in black stood silently under the drizzle. On Chi Chen and Lin Bai's faces, it was impossible to tell whether the water was rain or tears, as they dripped onto the ground one by one. But Chi Chen, like Chen Sheng, always managed to force a smile.
Zhang Rong, Xiang Qing, Qing Sheng, Li Yun, Zhou Yan, Xiao Feng, and Ye Bo all looked at Chen Sheng, who was now sleeping in the coffin, with sorrow in their eyes. Memories of the past kept surfacing in their minds, as if the quiet Chen Sheng was still smiling and telling them something.
"Alright, let him get a good night's sleep!"
After a long silence, Zhang Rong's somewhat hoarse voice, mixed with the sound of raindrops, gently drifted out, as if he were afraid that he would wake Chen Sheng if he was too loud.
Chen Sheng was the only surviving member of the previous Chaotic Ning District's Secret Slayer Squad. The previous Secret Slayer Squad of Chaotic Ning District was not very strong. The captain at the time was only a power user at the Ascension Realm. In a mysterious incident, the whole team encountered a mysterious being at the Star Radiance Realm. In that battle, out of the nine people, only Chen Sheng, who was only a teenager at the time, survived.
That was also the first time Zhang Rong and Chen Sheng met. At that time, Chen Sheng stood in front of eight dead team members. Even though he was crying in fear and his whole body was trembling like a leaf, he still raised the long knife in his hand and faced the mysterious thing that exuded a bloody aura.
It was Zhang Rong who witnessed that scene. After wandering around for more than ten years, still unsure of where to go, he decided to stay in Luan Ning District, giving up the high position in the Zhanmi Bureau that was within his grasp in Shangjing District, and choosing to become a squad leader in Luan Ning District.
And now, Chen Sheng is finally buried next to his former teammates.
Zhang Rong took a step forward, about to close the coffin lid for Chen Sheng.
"Captain, wait!"
Suddenly, Chi Chen called out to Zhang Rong.
Then, under everyone's gaze, Chi Chen took out the Starshine Medal from his pocket and gently placed it on Chen Sheng's chest.
Then, Zhang Rong moved the coffin lid, and Chen Sheng's body gradually disappeared from the sight of Chi Chen and the others.
Qingsheng lowered the brim of his hat and finally couldn't hold back, letting two streams of hot tears flow down his face where no one could see.
The others also turned their heads away, gently wiping their faces. They didn't want Chen Sheng to see their current appearance, because he always had a smile on his face.
The coffin was closed and the earth was laid on it. From then on, another cold tombstone facing Luanning City was added to the cemetery located high in the Luanning District.
This is a long-standing habit of the secret squad in Luan Ning District; even in death, they will keep an eye on the place they once protected.
There are many other members of the Secret Service buried here, just like Chen Sheng. They risked their lives to protect the city and its residents, but after death, they are just like ordinary people, leaving behind only a tombstone with their names engraved on it.
What they did is destined to remain unknown to most people, but they have no complaints about it. Even if they could do it all over again, they would still make the same choice.
This is the true meaning of the existence of the Secret Slayer Bureau, and it is also the original intention of the being who once possessed 'hope' who rose from the darkness to create the Secret Slayer Bureau.
This is also the spiritual pillar that motivates more young people to join the Secret Bureau without hesitation at their ignorant age. If our predecessors did this, how can we not follow suit?
Zhang Rong watched Chi Chen and Lin Bai's figures without saying anything more, because he knew that these two boys were growing up in darkness, struggling to rise from the cold and damp soil. When they broke through the soil, they would surely bloom with their own brilliant colors.
"Captain, we want to get outside the city walls!"
Suddenly, Chi Chen and Lin Bai turned around and spoke at the same time, their tone and eyes filled with determination.
"Chi Chen, Lin Bai, your cultivation levels are still low. Even if your combat strength is outstanding, the area outside the city walls is not as simple as you think!"
Upon hearing this, Xiang Qing and the others looked at Chi Chen and Lin Bai in surprise. It was far too early for them to go outside the city walls.
"Yes, Chi Chen, Lin Bai, we know you are in great pain right now, but even if Uncle Chen were still here, he wouldn't allow you to go!"
Zhou Yan also spoke up to stop them. Having just returned from that place not long ago, he naturally knew what the situation was like outside the city walls. That place was the real Asura Hell, an invisible meat grinder!
Qing Sheng and the others also wanted to speak up and persuade Chi Chen and the other two.
"Have you thought this through? You are no longer the same people you used to be. You must take responsibility for the decisions you make!"
However, Zhang Rong raised his hand to stop them from speaking. He looked at Chi Chen and Lin Bai with a serious expression, his eyes full of scrutiny, and asked.
"We've made up our minds. Although killing mysterious figures in the Chaotic Ning District will also improve our strength, but..."
Chi Chen didn't finish speaking, but everyone understood what he meant.
As Chi Chen said, although mysterious things keep appearing in the Luan Ning District, and they are almost always fighting in mysterious ways, the danger level here is far less than outside the city walls.
The fastest way to improve one's realm is through repeated life-or-death crises and by constantly pushing one's own limits. However, this also means that death could come at any time.
"Alright! Since you've made up your minds, then I'll accompany you on this journey!"
Zhang Rong's words surprised Xiang Qing and the others. Zhang Rong also wanted to accompany Chi Chen and Lin Bai on the trip.
Zhang Rong's eyes flashed with a cold light. Even though it wasn't directed at Chi Chen and Lin Bai, Chi Chen and Lin Bai couldn't help but tremble violently when they saw Zhang Rong's gaze.
"The Heretical Forbidden Site, the Mysterious Lair!"
Zhang Rong looked into the distance, the rain gradually falling and sliding down his forehead. During this period, Zhang Rong had also been living under a heavy burden of oppression. First, there was the tragic scene in Shangjing District and the death of his teacher Cheng Hu, and now there was the death of Chen Sheng. All of these things made Zhang Rong's heart, which had not been beating fiercely for a long time, start to burn. He had a lot of anger that he needed to vent properly.
"Captain, I'll go too. I'm a little worried about these two lads!"
Qingsheng stepped forward, flicked the raindrops off the brim of his hat, and a bright gold glint flashed in his eyes, which were hidden beneath the brim.
Qingsheng felt a lot of pressure, because they had learned last night that Chi Chen and Lin Bai had worked together to kill a mysterious being in the Ascension Realm. If he were to be surpassed by these two kids so quickly, he would feel sorry for Chen Sheng, who was lying on the ground.
"team leader..."
"Alright... what about Luan Ning District if you all leave? Let's do this: Qing Sheng, Chi Chen, and Lin Bai, the three of you, will go together. Once my application is approved, we'll set off!"
Zhang Rong interrupted Xiang Qing and Chen Yun, who were also about to speak, and made a decision on the matter.
Ten minutes later, only Chi Chen and Lin Bai remained in the cemetery.
At his mother's grave, Lin Bai pressed his face against the cold, rain-soaked tombstone, as if the tombstone possessed a strange warmth.
"Mom, I'll be leaving for a while soon, but don't worry, when I come back I'll make you proud. Just wait for me, wait for your son to come back, okay?"
Lin Bai closed his eyes, as if waiting for an answer.
"Splash!"
The rain was heavy, and countless raindrops pelted Lin Bai's head. Although tears welled up in Lin Bai's eyes, a smile appeared on his face.
"Mom, I'm all grown up now, you can't flick my forehead anymore, or I'll get angry!"
Lin Bai murmured to himself, then stood up.
On the other side, Chi Chen stood silently in front of a tombstone. This tombstone had stood here for five years, but Chi Chen had rarely come here.
Because he used to appear strong, but he never dared to face all of this.
"Mom, Dad, I'm sorry. I was too cowardly before, and I was always too afraid to come see you. You won't blame me, will you? I'm going to be away for a while, I don't know exactly how long. I just want... I want to become stronger quickly. I don't want anyone else to die because of me. If I'm strong enough, if I'm strong enough..."
Chi Chen's voice grew softer and softer until it was barely audible. At this moment, he was no longer the arrogant and domineering genius who had awakened his Battle Saint Intent. He was just an ordinary boy, weeping bitterly in front of his parents' gravestones, lost and helpless.
"Uncle, Aunt, don't worry, I will take good care of Chi Chen!"
Unbeknownst to them, Lin Bai appeared behind Chi Chen, squatted down, gently patted his back, and spoke to the two black and white faces on the tombstone.
"I already told you, you can lean on my pecs!"
Lin Bai looked at Chi Chen, who was sobbing incessantly, and felt a pang of pain in his heart. He realized how strong Chi Chen had been in his memories, and how helpless he was at this moment.
He's been through so much all by himself all these years!
As Zhang Rong said, even though this boy had always lived in darkness, he still had a heart that yearned for the light.
This time, Chi Chen didn't roll his eyes at Lin Bai. He really just leaned quietly on Lin Bai's shoulder and sobbed silently.
The torrential rain obscured the figures of the two boys.
But these two boys will always be each other's salvation, both in the past and in the future!
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