Apocalypse Forecast

PS: I originally wanted to call this chapter "Old Town Road."

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In the silence, Guo Nu silently watched as Lin Yu's figure gradually disappeared, leaving them without looking back... Although this was exactly what I had hoped for, when it actually happened, I still felt particularly powerless.

"She's gone?" he murmured softly.

"Yes," Huai Shi replied with a sigh, nodding with emotion, "but I will soon catch up with her and kill her. I hope she doesn't run too far..."

That tone was like he was playing some kind of hide-and-seek game, as if he would go find her after she hid.

But isn't this all a game?

It had been from the beginning.

It's just that some people were never meant to enjoy it.

Guo Nu stared at Huai Shi's indifferent expression and slowly shook his head, "The Lin family won't let you off the hook."

Curious, Huai Shi scratched his head, "The Lin family you speak of... Are they very powerful?"

"..."

Guo Nu was stunned. After a long while, as if understanding something, he started to laugh mockingly, "Yeah, compared to a behemoth like the Astronomical Society, even The Great Genealogy can't be considered powerful, right? I should've realized; with your skills, how could your background be ordinary?"

"What exactly is your background?" he asked. "Can't you let me die with a clear mind?"

"I'm a student from the Art Class, Senior Grade, at the Second High School in Dongxia Xinhai City's Eastern District, specializing in cello. Do you want to learn?" Huai Shi looked at him calmly, "I'll teach you, um, if I have time later."

"..."

Guo Nu fell silent, lost for words.

A student specializing in cello? A high school senior who almost wiped out an entire Border hunting team? What is this, some kind of cruel joke popular in the Current Circumstances?

"Are we all done with the idle talk to buy time?" Huai Shi looked at his face and asked leisurely, "Shall we begin?"

Guo Nu's expression changed for a moment; he clenched his teeth and suddenly said, "Lin Yu has been used by someone who told her your identity..."

"Oh? And then?"

Huai Shi suddenly asked, "Is your condition that I stay here with you for half an hour, and then you tell me that the person who used her has the surname Yin?"

"You..."

Guo Nu's pupils constricted for a moment.

"Wow, is it really? You're not lying to me, are you?" Huai Shi also raised his eyebrows in disbelief.

He scrutinized Guo Nu's face carefully, trying to detect any lie.

But soon, he shook his head with indifference, "Never mind. It doesn't matter whether you're trying to negotiate terms or simply lying to find a scapegoat to deceive me. Everyone has a final score to settle eventually. Too many lice, and I stop itching... But how much did the Lin family pay you for you to risk your life like this?"

"I just wanted to retire."

Guo Nu shook his head slightly, laughing at himself, "Now it seems like a write-off, doesn't it? After working hard for so many years, I can't even rest when I want to. It's ridiculous."

"Why bother sleeping so much while alive?" Huai Shi's eyes fell, shielding the explosive Ghost light within. After death—one will inevitably sleep for a long, long time!

In that instant, the ruthless light of the Mountain Ghost burst forth from the crack in his chest, Source Substance erupting.

The ground beneath Guo Nu's feet cracked abruptly, and the Lock Chain, which had been lurking before the Nine Lands, shot out like a snake, entwining up his ankles, growing forcefully, binding him within it in an instant.

The gloomy Source Substance condensed into substantial Sorrow, which invaded his consciousness like a flood, drowning all rebellious emotions, while the contracting chains suppressed Guo Nu's Stigma, even if just for a moment.

Huai Shi stepped forward. Yu Step!

And then, the Evil Ghost rushed towards him.

"Mu En!!!"

All Guo Nu could remember was roaring with all his might, and in the heavy confinement of the chains, flinging his arm to throw the bomb in his hand towards his teammates in the final moment.

From the start, he had never planned to follow the contract.

Just as Huai Shi had never trusted him.

The contract said he had to get rid of the bomb, but it didn't say others couldn't pick it up, just like Huai Shi said to let Lin Yu go but never said she had to leave in one piece.

After cooperating with each other for so many years, by the time Guo Nu swore, his two teammates had already grasped his plans and intentions, quietly getting ready during their brief exchange, fully focused on waiting for the signal.

Even if they all perished here, it didn't matter; it was only a game.

Their goal from the beginning wasn't to win the championship—so long as they could delay Huai Shi here, kill him, even at the cost of perishing together, they could turn the tide.

As Mu En fearlessly dove for the bomb to activate it, another burly Sublimator was already engulfed in raging flames, opening his arms wide with a terrifying heat, lunging towards Huai Shi.

A passionate embrace.

Just a moment's delay was needed, just a slight slowing of his movements, and their goal would be achieved. Thus, the flames burned even hotter, willing to consume his own flesh. The Sublimator expanded again, the Whirlwind of Fire sweeping through. Roaring, he transmuted into a wall of fire, pressing down towards Huai Shi.

Following that, he finally saw Huai Shi lift his face.

And his eyes.

Calm as the Abyss, quietly reflecting the raging inferno before him, yet the light of the fire could not pierce that darkness, as if it had been utterly devoured.

Leaving nothing but the void.

Within this void, a thunderous rumble that tore through everything burst forth.

The ground beneath Huai Shi's feet suddenly shook. Clouds of dust rose with his advance, caught in the hurricane. They converged, swirling with the twist of his wrist, echoing with the thunder triggered by his clasped fingers, then scattering in all directions in a panic.

In that fleeting moment, the Source Substance in Huai Shi's palm, through intense friction, almost burst forth with a blinding light.

The heavens and the earth served as drums, with thunderous roars spreading far and wide.

Pure destruction converged within the tremors, and as a punch was thrown, the wall of fire was torn apart effortlessly.

The silhouette blocking Huai Shi's way flew backward, disintegrating in mid-air. Its blood evaporated within its own cinders. The black ashes were then torn apart by the hurricane, revealing the figure that had leapt forward and the heavy axe blade flung towards him in a spin.

A sharp and piercing cry resounded.

Just as Mu En's fingers finally touched the bomb falling from the air, he heard the sound of his skull shattering amidst his own ecstasy.

He collapsed facing the heavens.

Guo Nu roared with all his might and struggled with both arms. The Stigma of Fang Liang frantically extracted Source Substance from Huai Shi's Lock Chain, causing cracks to appear on it. In his desperate struggle, a sliver of an opening was revealed, allowing him to raise his hand...

In that instant, Huai Shi had already crossed paths with him, stumbling to a stop behind him. The unsheathed Sword of Virtue in his hand now showed a faint trace of crimson.

Beheading the Ghost Owl.

Guo Nu stood there stunned. Soon, he managed a forced smile. As the red mark spread above his neck, he made his silent exit.

The Golden Coin fell to the ground.

The battle was decided.

That was close...

Huai Shi looked around at the chaotic scene, along with the scattered Border Relics and items, and sat down on a relatively flat stone, panting heavily.

It was only now that sweat began to drip from his face.

After killing the last opponent, exhaustion swept over him like a tsunami, slowly engulfing him, making him want to collapse on his back and sleep eternally.

But there are still things undone, so I can't rest yet.

Therefore, he once again mustered the strength to stand up, looked into the distance from the street, and scratched his head with some annoyance—Where had Lin Yu gone?

I accidentally talked too much, letting her get quite far away... This is somewhat unreasonable of her.

Isn't this the part where you run thirty-nine meters first, and I chase you with a forty-meter-long broadsword? Why run so fast? Why not let me kill you?

Huai Shi sighed with regret, raising the Sword of Virtue and slashing through the air before him.

Immediately, the White Horse burst forth from the air, still splendid.

But upon seeing Huai Shi, it coldly took a step back, cocking its head warily at him—What do you need me for?

"Dear brother, could you give me a lift?"

Huai Shi approached, rubbing his hands, looking to strike a deal, "It's urgent, I'm not kidding. How about I treat you to grass at my place later? Purely natural, no pollution, unlimited supply!"

The White Horse shook its head in refusal.

"Wow, isn't it said the righteous shall ride the White Horse?" Huai Shi was taken aback, brandishing the Sword of Virtue and trying to reason, "Dude, your standards are kinda high, eh? Doesn't avenging a teammate count as righteous?"

But the White Horse remained unmoved.

It just glanced at him with disdain, clearly not believing a word.

Go on, keep bluffing. As if I'd believe a single word.

Under the gaze that seemed to see through everything, Huai Shi gradually became helpless and after a long time, sighed with disappointment.

"Alright, I admit it—it's not for vengeance; at best, I just wanted retribution," he confessed, raising his hands. "It's all my fault for being too arrogant and hypocritical, only realizing my regret after a teammate died saving me, when I never had the chance to repay sincerity with sincerity... So, big brother, please help me. I'm afraid I might not get another chance like this."

The White Horse was silent, calmly observing him.

After a while, its stern gaze softened.

It nudged Huai Shi's chest with its head, then lifted its face and nudged his head comfortingly.

When Huai Shi looked up, he heard it neigh softly, tossing its head forward, its flowing mane seemingly beckoning.

Alright, little brother, let's go.

Huai Shi couldn't help but smile wryly.

So, 'the righteous shall ride the White Horse'—is this what it means? It's not about kindness or justice, but integrity. At least, I shouldn't deceive myself...

Be true to my own heart, right?

Huai Shi reached out, grabbed the reins, and mounted the horse.

The White Horse snorted. Its wildness and ferocity subsided as it obediently lowered its head, complied with his guidance, and stepped nimbly forward.

Sharp cries filled the sky.

A Raven circling in the sky flew down and perched on Huai Shi's shoulder, hopping twice and calling loudly.

"You want to come along too?"

Huai Shi raised an eyebrow, turned back, and saw among the many withered branches and charred trees, countless pairs of blood-red eyes opening. They flapped their wings, eagerly crying out.

"Very well."

Huai Shi nodded and whispered softly, "Let's go!"

He burst into laughter, pulling the reins, charging out amidst the White Horse's loud neigh.

Behind him, countless black Flying Birds echoed the horse's cries with sharp calls. They spread their wings, took flight, and converged into a massive flock that surged like a tide, forming a dark cloud across the Sky Dome.

The ominous black cloud followed the White Horse, sweeping across the Xiematai sky.

Not for some holy retribution, nor the expected chastisement of injustice, but an honest reprisal. The path of tooth for tooth, blood vendetta, thus began!