Chapter 162 Collapsing Wall

The fire sea on the long street subsided.

Today was the day when the big shots of Nagano gathered. In the past year, almost no day had attracted so many titled powerhouses as today.

Old Master Zhou Wei frowned.

Today’s incident was indeed a bit too much.

The images of Gu Shen violently beating Xu Yan had already been uploaded to the Deep Sea Zone… Unsurprisingly, Gu Shen would gain many “followers.”

But the current thorny issue was Zhu Wang of the Tribunal’s pursuit.

An acting Grand Arbiter was still a Grand Arbiter.

In Nagano, protecting one’s own was something every teacher would inevitably do.

Zhu Wang unconditionally protected his disciple.

And he, Zhou Wei… had made his stance clear a year ago, he would definitely protect Gu Shen as well.

But Nagano was a place that valued rules, and any protection needed to follow the rules… If today’s duel was a battle agreed upon in advance by both parties, then even if Xu Yan was beaten to a pulp, Zhou Wei would have the ability to help Gu Shen get rid of the trouble.

However.

The image in [Wind Eye] showed that Xu Yan didn't even fight back.

This wasn’t a “duel” at all.

But… a one-sided “beating.”

"According to Nagano law, I will detain Gu Shen for forty-eight hours. As for whether this incident is related to 'loss of control,' your word doesn't count." Old Master Zhou Wei said slowly after a few seconds of silence, "I will let [Deep Sea] conduct an evaluation and issue a report."

Old Zhou slowly raised his hand.

Immediately, a young man walked out from beside him, taking out a pair of strong logic material handcuffs.

"Brother Gu… please cooperate."

The man said in a low voice that only the two of them could hear, his attitude not forceful.

Gu Shen remembered having met this guy once.

That was at the Fourth Judge’s dojo, this young man had taken away Shen Li in the "Gluttony" loss of control state.

"Mr. Du Wei."

Gu Shen smiled, he stretched out his hands, not resisting the Safety Committee’s “arrest.”

After the handcuffs were put on, Du Wei glanced at Xu Yan lying on the ground and said softly, “It’s a real pity not to have witnessed that fight just now. By the way… we are all your supporters.”

Gu Shen was slightly stunned to hear this.

He noticed that outside the long street, a layer of sealed object barrier was enveloping the area, and within the barrier, many young transcendents from the Safety Committee were gathered.

They all gave him approving looks.

The Safety Committee’s transcendents arrived at the scene but did not directly stop the fight… One reason was because they lacked the ability to stop it.

But there was another reason, which was that they didn’t like “Xu Yan” either.

Gu Shen recalled that when he was at the Spring Rain Temple, Luo Yu had said that he had entrusted his friend to investigate Xu Yan.

That friend should be Du Wei.

The Safety Committee never let go of people like Xu Yan. When Du Wei first heard the news, he patted his chest and guaranteed to Luo Yu that he would definitely find some problems with this “S-class” whose file was as blank as snow.

Unfortunately… nothing was found.

A file as white as snow meant not only blankness but also cleanliness.

Du Wei, who always considered himself a “hawk eye,” failed for the first time. The Safety Committee’s special team stared at yesterday’s Enlightenment Ceremony without any slackening, but there were still no gains.

Du Wei knew very well in his heart that there must be something wrong with Xu Yan.

Either, this guy had some serious illness.

What kind of normal person would be beaten bloody all over, lying on the ground unable to control themselves, yet still smiling?

He looked like he was the one who had won!

Before leaving, Gu Shen looked at Xu Yan, who was lying on the ground.

Xu Yan squeezed out a “sincere” smile for him.

They brushed past each other.

Both of them were sent away.

One was carried to the medical clinic.

The other was escorted to the Safety Committee’s vehicle.

After getting into the car, Du Wei immediately unlocked the handcuffs for Gu Shen.

"Brother Gu… next, you may face a 48-hour detention."

Du Wei started the car, sincerely explaining the current situation, "Under normal circumstances, we have the right to lift the detention early, as long as we complete the [Deep Sea] mental link report and the loss of control assessment, we can release you. But this time Zhu Wang is watching very closely, I’m afraid you will have to stay for the full 48 hours."

"Just follow the rules."

Gu Shen had considered the worst consequences before taking action.

Beating Xu Yan would definitely cause a great uproar in Snow Forbidden City.

And in the end… it should attract the Safety Committee.

Not to mention the relationship between that Old Zhou and himself.

Taking a step back, acting impartially, the Safety Committee’s mental link detection reports… were all generated by [Deep Sea].

Chu Ling’s voice sounded at the right time, “Congratulations, you’re back in jail again.”

She wasn’t nervous at all.

Because the East Continent Safety Committee’s link reports all needed to go through [Source Code]’s feedback.

"Yeah… again."

Gu Shen smiled helplessly, but the smile sounded obviously arrogant, "I guess I’m acting rashly for a beauty, right?"

"Sounds like I’m a femme fatale."

Chu Ling shook her head.

"Don't worry, I will write a very good-looking report." She smiled, "To prove that you are healthy… well, and mentally healthy. By the way, the way you beat Xu Yan was indeed quite handsome."

…

…

The long street gradually became desolate.

The sealed object that set up the barrier was removed… and the two parties that everyone cared about the most had already been sent away. The crowd naturally dispersed, and in the end, only the broken courtyard wall remained.

And the empty old street.

The Mu Clan’s centuries-old ancestral hall, when viewed from outside the street, looked like a ruined ruin.

The Mu Clan Head stood silently in front of the collapsed courtyard wall.

Behind him, a group of elders stood silently with their heads bowed, no one daring to speak, the scene eerily quiet.

This ancestral hall had experienced six hundred years of wind and rain, safe and sound.

And its collapse happened overnight.

Many people were apprehensive, worried about the Family Head’s anger.

However… after waiting for a long time.

The Mu Clan Head finally spoke, but without much anger.

"If the wall falls, it can be rebuilt."

He said this lightly.

Not angry.

But mournful.

To put it bluntly, the wall in front of them, no matter how long it had existed, no matter how deep its cultural heritage and accumulation, was just an ordinary wall. For transcendents, it could be pushed down with a mere reach of the hand.

The elders who came and went inside this wall.

Would only need a few tens of minutes to tear down the entire street.

This wall could be rebuilt if it fell.

"But… some things, once they collapse, cannot be rebuilt."

The Mu Clan Head looked at the elders behind him, and he asked painfully, "How long have I been in seclusion, how could you do such a stupid thing?"

Because of Xu Yan and Gu Shen.

The "ugly things" that had originally happened on this long street were instead covered up.

Most people wouldn't know why Gu Shen took action, why he took action on this long street.

But he knew.

All of this… was because of an absurd “marriage contract.”

Mu Ya had already been taken away.

The Mu Family Head did not try to keep her, he had no face to keep her… Such a thing happened within his own ancestral hall, chilling not only Mu Ya’s heart alone.

Most of the elders were silent.

And this silence did not last long.

One of the elders said, "The Mu Clan… needs a bright way out."

Another elder also said, "If everything goes well, we will have a powerful enough ally."

The Family Head calmly asked in return, "Do you think Zhou Jiren will never return from the Piyue Fortress in his lifetime? Or… do you think Xu Yan will be stronger than Gu Shen in the future?"

These two questions.

Left the elder who spoke earlier speechless.

Who would have thought.

That Xu Yan who had been touted to the sky… was actually so… vulnerable?

Judging from the battle just now.

He was completely suppressed by Gu Shen.

However… it didn’t seem that simple, this guy seemed to be doing it on purpose.

"If I were Gong Qing, I would be very disappointed in the Mu Clan."

The Mu Clan Head spoke slowly.

This farce evolved to the end, and so many big shots came.

But Gong Qing did not show up.

Obviously… he knew all of this.

Not showing up was already an attitude.

The close-knit "Gong Mu" families would have a rift because of such a decision. The walls in this world could be rebuilt after being pushed down, but the cracks in trust could not be repaired.

"Family Head… we cannot always rely on the Gong Family…"

Another elder spoke.

He gritted his teeth and said, "Even if there wasn't this opportunity, would the Mu Clan just maintain such a relationship with the Gong Family?"

Nagano was now turbulent.

The five great families were not at peace.

In such a situation, who would be willing to live under someone else for long?

"…"

The Mu Clan Head looked around, he saw the faces that were bowed because they were afraid of him, and he also saw the desires that could not be hidden under these faces.

He felt a little powerless.

This sense of powerlessness… came from the human heart.

Or rather, human nature.

The Li Clan Head was his friend, and after his death, the Li Clan’s hearts gradually became scattered. It was obvious that those people in the Li Clan’s elders’ association began to seek personal gain… As an old friend from the past, seeing this scene, he felt very helpless.

Because he knew that the Mu Clan was the same.

During times of peace, when things were too comfortable, this was how it would be.

These people were not satisfied with what they had now, they wanted to get more.

"All… disperse."

The Mu Clan Head’s voice was somewhat desolate.

He shook his head and dismissed the elders’ association.

And in the end, he reached out a hand and kept one of the elders behind.

He said softly, “Fourth Brother, tell Mu Ya… the Mu Family is ashamed of her for this matter. If she has any requests, feel free to make them.”

…

…

Xu Yan was carried away.

But he was not sent to the so-called “treatment center.”

The vehicle stopped halfway, and according to Zhu Wang’s instructions, Xu Yan was transferred… and the new vehicle sent Xu Yan to the most remote residence in Snow Forbidden City.

The courtyard was filled with the fragrance of wine.

Han Dang watched expressionlessly at the miserable fellow beside him who was covered in blood.

When Xu Yan was rubbed on the ground by Gu Shen, he was watching in the ancestral hall. The reason he didn’t take action… was of course not because of Lu Nanjin’s knife.

It was because he was happy to see Xu Yan being beaten.

The more miserable he was beaten.

The more comfortable he felt in his heart.

This reversal in the Mu Clan’s ancestral hall… had dragged him in. Next, the Mu Clan would definitely cause trouble for him!

Han Dang supported Xu Yan and came to the wooden house.

Those treatment methods in the medical clinic were of course not comparable to the Divine Seat.

He had already imagined the scene half an hour later. This guy covered in blood would be completely refreshed by then, change into a clean set of clothes, as if nothing had happened, and call him Senior Brother with a smile.

This was really disgusting.

So before sending Xu Yan out, Han Dang stopped.

"Mr. Jin," who was reaching out his hands in the darkness to welcome him, frowned and looked at this effeminate man in confusion.

"I have something to ask."

Han Dang took a deep breath.

Even though he was prepared, he still felt fear when he looked into the depths of the wooden house.

The darkness inside seemed to hide a black hole that could devour the mind.

He looked at the darkness forcefully and asked seriously, "We agreed… that I would propose marriage to the Mu Clan, why did you go back on your word in the end? If you never intended to propose marriage, why did you have me come to the door?"

Of course, the most important question was—

"Why weren't these plans notified to me in advance?"

Han Dang knew very well.

Everything Xu Yan did was likely at the behest of the God of Wine, so everything that happened in the Mu Clan today… was basically arranged by the God of Wine. It wasn’t that he couldn’t take the blame.

But such a thing was really annoying.

However, a gentle voice came from the darkness.

The answers to these questions were simple.

"Because…"

"There's no need to notify you."

The youth who said this was completely hidden behind the black tide of the wooden house, his entire silhouette gone.

It was clearly pitch black.

Nothing could be seen.

But Han Dang’s heart suddenly tightened as if someone was holding it with five fingers… He realized at this moment who he was talking to. The thousands of anger that had been accumulating in his chest were extinguished in an instant. The anger and suffocation swelled to the end, and finally slowly dissipated.

Han Dang gritted his teeth and forced himself to hand Xu Yan over, unable to resist the fear in his heart.

"Next time, it's best to be more sensible and not say such nonsense."

Mr. Jin said coldly, reminding Han Dang.

Hearing this, Han Dang felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head.

In the eyes of the God of Wine, he, the teacher, and Bai Zesheng were actually the same…

They were all pawns.

Just pawns with different responsibilities.

Whatever position the pawn was placed in, the pawn would do that thing.

Other than that, don't ask, don't think, just do it.

He didn't have the right to ask questions at all.

…

…

In the darkness.

Xu Yan lay on the cold wooden floor.

"Lord…"

He smiled, his throat churning with blood, and said softly, "As you expected… Gu Shen attacked me…"

The God of Wine nodded slowly.

He stretched out a hand, hovering in front of Xu Yan’s face.

Xu Yan closed his eyes.

The cold wooden planks gradually became warm, and the wine fragrance in the darkness gradually became richer, entering his nostrils. It was an aura that could relax the spirit.

The power of the Divine Seat was unleashed in the small wooden house.

The injuries on Xu Yan’s body healed at an extremely fast speed.

His withering aura also recovered little by little.

After dozens of breaths.

Xu Yan reopened his eyes, he clenched his fist, and a warm current surged through his body. Under the blessing of the God of Wine’s spiritual power, he regained his vitality.

Although his injuries were not completely healed.

But… this was already a tremendous change.

Mr. Jin in the darkness knelt on one knee, staring solemnly, observing this incredible miracle.

It was this power that had saved him in the tundra snowfield.

Under the shroud of divine power.

Xu Yan healed quietly, enjoying the nourishment of this warm divine power.

After a while, his body recovered to eighty percent.

This fight only looked tragic.

Because the hypnosis that Gu Shen used was bounced back by Xu Yan’s spiritual sealed object.

And after entering the melee stage, because both sides possessed [Perfect Flash], most of the moves could be dodged or blocked… so Xu Yan did not suffer truly huge blows, such as severed limbs or broken legs.

Of course, even with such injuries.

The God of Wine could still grant “health”… but the amount of fire seed power needed in that situation would be completely different from now.

The youth in the darkness withdrew the shroud of divine light.

He said softly, "Let me see… what you have gained from this trip."

"Yes."

Xu Yan sat respectfully on the ground, he took a deep breath, slowly raised his head, spread his arms, and looked solemnly at the top.

"Chichi chichi~~~"

In the next moment, wisps of flames permeated his body.

If someone saw this scene… they would definitely be shocked.

These flames.

Looked extremely similar to Gu Shen’s “Blazing Fire.”

Mr. Jin narrowed his eyes.

He had heard of "Gu Shen’s" name when he assassinated Bai Xiu. The audit standards of the Three Great Institutes were extremely strict. If someone wanted to pass the most difficult test by their own strength and get the strongest S-class rating, then it was basically certain that this person was a genius among geniuses.

In the [Deep Sea] file, even the God of Wine could not find out what Gu Shen’s true abilities were.

Only the simple two words, “Blazing Fire.”

Blazing Fire?

A natural element? A mental element? Or… did he have other special abilities?

This was a question that countless people in Nagano were curious about.

And today, the answer was about to be revealed.

Because Xu Yan’s ability was called [Fire Thief].

This was a "treasure" that the God of Wine had found in Central Continent. Xu Yan’s ability itself was "nothingness," but if used properly, it meant "infinity”… Through physical contact containing transcendent source matter, he could choose to actively or passively steal the “transcendent power” from the target. It was a pity that before the God of Wine took action to take him away, the ability characteristics of [Fire Thief] had already been captured and uploaded by [Deep Sea].

All the high-level officials of the five continents knew about the existence of such a transcendent.

But… it didn’t matter.

The God of Wine personally took action and erased Xu Yan’s file.

And the most terrifying thing about Xu Yan’s [Fire Thief] was… that he not only stole the power containing transcendent source matter, but he could also steal part of the mental memories.

The reason was that when he simulated the transcendent source matter ability, he could simulate the mental fluctuations of the host.

And that “portrait of a woman” in the small courtyard…

Was what Xu Yan saw mentally.

After coming to Nagano with the God of Wine, the first thing he did was to investigate all the noteworthy people in this ancient city… Xu Yan would not risk contacting those who were too powerful, but he basically tried to take action and complete the "stealing" from the young geniuses.

And it was worth mentioning that.

Bai Lu, the woman from the Bai family, rarely went out. Xu Yan found an opportunity through the information provided by Bai Zesheng and completed the stealing of Bai Lu’s abilities.

So… he also saw the scene of the “bottom of the Ning River Bridge” in a blur.

In fact, the complete picture he saw was not just Chu Ling alone.

There was also Gu Shen who fell off the bridge.

However… in order to anger Gu Shen, he only drew out Chu Ling separately.

In fact, Xu Yan was also very curious, what was the identity of that stunning girl who only existed in Bai Lu’s spiritual picture?

Why had he never heard of her in Nagano?

What he was even more curious about was…

Why could that guy named Gu be even more closed off than Bai Lu?

For a full half a year, there was no opportunity to come into contact, let alone meet!

However.

Now he had successfully “come into contact.”

In order not to attract the attention of this high-risk person Gu Shen, Xu Yan, under the arrangement of the God of Wine, planned this game… He was willing to be beaten while stealing and engraving the transcendent source matter flow patterns of "Blazing Fire."

At this moment, a faint glow rose slowly from the dark room.

Xu Yan began to simulate the birth of “Blazing Fire.”

…

…

(ps: 1. I updated more than 300,000 words last month, which was really tiring. I want to rest this month, so I probably won’t write so many words. I’m telling everyone in advance, I hope everyone can understand. 2. The second chapter tonight will most likely be after 12 o’clock. Those who can’t wait can go to sleep~ 3. I’m asking for monthly tickets at the beginning of the month~~)