The Ancient Gods' Whisper

Chen Qing rolled her eyes flirtatiously.

It was obvious that these two were genuinely happy for that young man.

"Alright, let's get moving."

Chen Bojun said calmly, "Although we still can't be sure who this Primordial is, it's currently very weak. It won't be able to harm me in the short term. Keep an eye out when you head up, don't let Mu Feng and the others get caught."

Lu Zicheng's expression grew serious. "Understood," he said.

Chen Qing bowed slightly in salute. "Thank you for the reminder."

·

·

Time spent together always feels brief, and soon enough, it was time to part ways.

Uncle Mu and the last two remaining youths were packing up their final supplies. They took one last look at the place they had lived in for so many years, their gazes tinged with faint attachment and reluctance.

Due to the tight schedule, Gu Jianlin was also helping them pack.

"I'll take care of this."

After getting dressed, Tang Ling took a wooden box from his hands and placed it onto an old, battered cart.

Gu Jianlin froze for a moment but said nothing, continuing to sort through the items.

At this moment, Cheng Youyu sneaked over with an excited grin. "Not bad, Brother Lin! I just heard from my dad that you ranked first in the assessment this time! The Omega Sequence slot is all yours now!"

Gu Jianlin didn't feel much about it.

After all, with the power of the Ancient God, in the world of Ascenders, he was practically a cheat level above them.

"The moment I saw you, I knew you weren't an ordinary person! Thanks for everything during the missions! If you ever need anything in the future, just come find me, Cheng Youyu. If it's something I can do, it's yours!"

Cheng Youyu was bragging but then abruptly said, "Brother Lin, how did you get close to her?"

He darted a sneaky glance at the white-haired girl nearby out of the corner of his eye.

Gu Jianlin frowned. "What do you mean by 'get close'?"

Cheng Youyu smirked. "Don't play dumb. She's the most beautiful girl in the entire Peak City District. That face, that figure—who wouldn't be smitten? But she's got a big background. They say she's the Sword Tomb's secret weapon. Arrogant as hell too, doesn't care about anyone. You know she doesn't have a team, nor a captain or deputy captain, right?"

Gu Jianlin nodded slightly.

"That's because everyone who's tried to team up with her got beaten by her. Even Captain Levels are too scared to mess with her when they see that giant sword in her hand. She's been in the Peak City District for a year and hasn't interacted with anyone."

Cheng Youyu grumbled, "But she actually talks to you."

Gu Jianlin had no idea why. "Don't think too much. We're just friends, that's all."

Cheng Youyu didn't believe him. He put on a wide smile and walked up. "Senior Sister Tang?"

The blade of the great sword whistled through the air.

Tang Ling lifted her giant sword and pointed it at his head from a distance, speaking coldly, "Back off. I don't know you."

Cheng Youyu was immediately embarrassed and turned around with a helpless expression.

As if to say, "See? What did I tell you?"

The contrast in treatment was painfully clear.

Gu Jianlin had noticed something: this white-haired girl had her own peculiar behavioral patterns.

Ever since arriving at this shelter, she had chosen a spot near the corner and stayed close to her sword the entire time.

That indicated her heightened vigilance. Even though she didn't show overt hostility, she trusted no one.

Except for one person.

And that person was Gu Jianlin.

Tang Ling had chosen a spot very close to him.

And this girl, no matter the situation, only ever showed her back to him.

But why?

Gu Jianlin pondered briefly and came to a conclusion.

Because Gu Jianlin had saved her.

She was a girl with no sense of security, a lone wolf.

In some ways, she was the same kind of person as him.

"Alright, thank you, kids."

Uncle Mu came over with the two young people and said warmly, "It's time for us to go."

In his hands was a neatly cleaned pink sweatshirt, clearly something he had prepared for his daughter.

Though there was reluctance in his eyes, there was also a faint trace of hope and joy.

It was like saying goodbye to an old home and preparing to move into a better one.

Uncle Mu noticed the boy's gaze and smiled. "We're moving to a new place, so I prepared some new clothes for Wanwan. Found this in a garbage pile last month, washed it, and it still looks pretty new. Hoping to surprise her."

Gu Jianlin's fingers trembled slightly.

Uncle Mu and the others were dressed in tattered clothes, covered in dust.

Their luggage was packed in worn-out boxes.

The supplies they carried wouldn't be considered valuable in society at large.

Yet to them, those items were like treasures.

Even though they lived in perpetual shadow, their eyes gleamed with light.

Some people are born in paradise but lead muddled lives.

Others struggle in hell yet hold hope in their hearts.

Gu Jianlin couldn't help but feel a pang of discomfort. Ever since entering this Transcendent world, most of his interactions with the Ether Association had left him feeling uneasy, as if something didn't sit right with him.

While he had met good people and companions who treated him as one of their own, the sense of dissonance lingered.

Gu Jianlin knew in his heart that he didn't belong to the Ether Association.

Sooner or later, he would leave.

If not for needing to investigate matters related to his father and being unable to abandon his family,

he might have left with the people from the shelter already.

"I'm sorry, Uncle Mu."

Gu Jianlin was quiet for a moment. "I just don't know what else I can do for you."

The thought of returning to the light after this mission, to be embraced once again by modern society,

while these people continued to survive in the shadows, struggling to carry on,

filled his heart with an ache.

Uncle Mu patted him on the shoulder and said warmly, "Don't overthink it. Old Gu once said something: In this world, life and death are the only true matters of importance. As long as we're alive, there's always hope, always a chance to meet again."

Gu Jianlin was taken aback.

"You don't have to think about helping us. I know you're kind, but you don't owe us anything."

Uncle Mu smiled. "If anything, I feel like we've let you down. If I weren't one of the Unclean, I could've taken you with me, replaced Old Gu in guiding and protecting you. But now, I'm of no use to you. You're talented and destined for greatness. With your place in the Omega Sequence, you'll surely find a great mentor. That lets me rest easy so I can focus on taking care of Wanwan and watching her grow up."

He paused. "I was worried that we'd drag you down, but with Chen Bojun around, you'll be fine. I understand his character well—he's a student of Light. Upright, honest, with a righteous heart. He's someone you can trust. Remember that."

Gu Jianlin said nothing, only lowered his head.

"Child, this world is perilous, but since you've made up your mind, go forward boldly."

Uncle Mu stared into his eyes. "Compared to Old Gu, you have more of a wild streak. People like you can't be restrained by the rules or treachery of the world. Even if we're separated by thousands of miles, I believe I'll hear about you again someday."

He placed his hand on the young man's shoulder.

Gu Jianlin felt a strange warmth radiating from his palm.

"When that day comes, I hope you'll have surpassed your father."

Uncle Mu said, "May you rise as the clouds and journey beyond; infinite horizons await."