Gu Jianlin woke up from the chaos, his mind filled with fragmented flashes of a blade, a pain as if it were shattering his skull.
First, his consciousness was hazy; second, his mental state was disoriented to the extreme—even moving a finger felt impossible, like his entire body was falling apart. Likely, this was the aftermath brought by Jiuyin.
He hadn't expected to see the old monster again, and her terrifying power shocked him once more.
If Qilin rules over life and death, then the power Candle Dragon controls is time and space. And not just simple teleportation or destruction—it can even interfere with the past and the future.
The mysteries of the Extraordinary World defy explanation.
If one must use science to explain them, they could only be attributed to abilities in the quantum domain.
He was absolutely certain about one thing.
When he borrowed the Ancestor's memories and saw the old monster, she had already sensed him in that very instant.
Thus, the old monster used her past self to mercilessly strike him with a blade.
If not for his equivalent Supreme Level status, he would likely have been reduced to ashes and suffer complete mental obliteration in that single strike.
The memory he glimpsed carried an immense amount of information, yet he couldn't delve deeper into thought.
Because it hurt too much.
"Hsss."
He sucked in air sharply in pain, his eyelids twitching uncontrollably.
"Awake?"
Tang Ling's cool voice came through.
Gu Jianlin felt a soft, elastic touch at the back of his head, only to realize he was resting on her lap. Frost-white hair like snow fell across his cheeks, occasionally brushing against the tip of his nose.
Her snowy complexion carried a warm glow cast by the flickering firelight.
She wore only a loose knitted sweater and black fleece-lined thermal wear, while the firelight illuminated her porcelain-like face.
The fur coat, on the other hand, was draped over the boy's body.
"Well, at least we're still alive."
When trapped in the nightmare just now, one major reason he managed to hold on was the faint sensation of being embraced by someone—a warmth and softness constantly enveloping him, acting as his shield against the cold wind and rain.
Such moments where he was protected were rare.
The last time was with Youzhu.
As for Old Gu, he didn't count—what's touching about being shielded by a coarse old man?
"I don't know how you managed to switch onto the Ghost Slayer Path, or how you awakened Jiuyin to unleash such a terrifying strike. Since you won't tell me, I won't ask. Everyone has their secrets. But once this matter gets exposed, you'll find yourself in a very dangerous situation."
Tang Ling raised her hand and tied her long hair into a neat high ponytail: "Even if the King of Qing can protect you, at most, he can shield you for two years. Besides, he has his own agenda—he's not going to guard you all the time."
Gu Jianlin chuckled silently; it seemed he had indeed exposed far too much this time.
Tang Ling's gaze towards him was complicated because she had figured a lot of things out.
Whether in the Underwater Palace, the incidents in Returning Burial Forest, or the one-versus-five on the Bren Hill, and finally facing four Twilight Candidates alone in Balensa City—
This boy seemingly possessed both a main body and a clone, following different paths.
Whether he was truly human, that was hard to say.
"Aren't you curious?"
Gu Jianlin asked softly.
Tang Ling paused in silence: "Curious, but afraid to ask."
Gu Jianlin was taken aback: "You're afraid to ask?"
Tang Ling pressed her crimson lips together, saying nothing. She simply didn't want to hear an unsettling answer.
Because she didn't know what she would do then.
"This isn't the time to discuss this. Your injuries are severe this time. Lin Lan and his two wives gathered materials and fed you some medicine to wake you up. But the dosage wasn't enough, and you're probably still in pain. They're out looking for more medicine now." Tang Ling awkwardly changed the subject.
Her fingertip had recently been pricked, squeezing out a few drops of virgin blood.
However, she didn't mention a word about it.
"I see."
A bonfire burned warmly, making the space cozy.
This was a temporarily modified shelter.
But at that moment, he noticed he was still gripping the ghost knife named Jiuyin.
Jiuyin trembled faintly, its blade reflecting a pair of eerie vertical pupils.
"How is it?"
A proud and dignified voice echoed in his mind: "Isn't this Lord useful?"
Gu Jianlin's heart jolted with shock—the voice wasn't nearly as pleasant as the old monster's.
But the tone was terrifyingly similar.
"Your body is still too weak. Just one use of this Lord left you so frail. How do you plan to lead this Lord to dominate the battlefield in the future? But, considering your potential, this Lord reluctantly accepts you. Work hard in your cultivation—One Strike Ancestor is merely the beginning. This Lord's most glorious days were when I slew Primordials!"
Jiuyin yearned eagerly: "Owning this Lord—that's your blessing."
After obtaining Jiuyin, this was the first time Gu Jianlin heard it speak to him.
It turns out growth-type Mythical Weapons genuinely possess life.
With their own distinct personalities.
Strangely, this knife had quite the character.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Gu Jianlin."
Gu Jianlin replied with his consciousness: "Please guide me."
"Good. Having a descendant like you is the first step to my clan's revival!"
Jiuyin said arrogantly: "So, while no one is around, devour this Female Sacrifice first."
Gu Jianlin froze, turning his head to glance at the silver-haired girl beside him.
What nonsense!
Tang Ling looked at him suspiciously: "What's wrong?"
Gu Jianlin shook his head, signaling he was fine, and replied in his mind: "Female Sacrifice?"
"Isn't she the Female Sacrifice serving you? I must say, you're quite impressive. This woman, no matter the era, is an unparalleled masterpiece, with extraordinary talent! I've even sensed traces of the detestable Bai Ze Clan's aura! This is a top-notch cauldron; you should dual cultivate with her now!"
Jiuyin commanded loftily.
Gu Jianlin didn't know how to respond: "We don't share that kind of relationship, and I can't move right now."
"Oh, playing coy now?"
Jiuyin retorted unhappily: "What kind of era is this? Didn't anyone in the human world teach you? The Hehuan Skill is vast and profound; female dominance is common. You don't even understand this? Does the Ancient Joy Sect still exist? Based on your age, you should be about eighteen. How can you be so ignorant?"
Gu Jianlin exhaled deeply, suppressing his rising blood pressure.
Once upon a time, he was the one mocking others.
How had the roles reversed?
Not even a knife could get away with this.
"As the son of the Lord, you're truly bringing shame to her!"
Jiuyin chided.
Gu Jianlin froze, understanding something vaguely.
No wonder this knife recognized him.
Besides possessing a part of the old monster's power—
The main reason was his existence itself, too unique to ignore.
So unique that this seemingly not-so-bright weapon misunderstood.
"You've got it wrong."
Gu Jianlin responded coldly: "I'm not Candle Dragon Venerable's son."
Jiuyin was stunned: "How could that be?"
Gu Jianlin said icily: "I'm her husband!"
Boom!
A shockwave of immense fear exploded within Jiuyin's consciousness, the blade trembling violently.
The knife seemed utterly petrified.
Gu Jianlin said nothing further; he was simply toying with the knife for now, with zero sincere intent.
Suddenly, Tang Ling handed him a freshly written document: "Take a look; it might be important to you."
Gu Jianlin blinked in surprise: "What is it?"
"A cipher message your father left here. Lin Lan cracked it and passed it to you."
Tang Ling spoke softly: "The contents recorded here are terrifying."