Forget About Him

Dead silence. Complete stillness. Elder Zhen's lowered eyes finally lifted, turning slowly toward Tianlu. Tianlu did not move, but Elder Zhen could no longer hold still. It was beyond belief. Yet Tianlu appeared almost embarrassed. He offered a bashful smile. "After all, figuring from the start that Beigong would be a tough nut to crack, I thought to myself: shouldn't I invest a little real capital? You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing a kid, so I slipped an extra child into the expedition—one belonging to my student. Sure, that student isn't close with me, but rounding things up, he practically counts as my own, doesn't he?" He scratched his chin, his smile growing increasingly cheerful. "And while I was at it, I tucked a neat little gadget onto him." Elder Zhen's face twitched for an instant. His cloudy pupils dilated, glaring fixedly at Tianlu. It was as though he had vaguely deduced what Tianlu meant. And for that very reason, he could not restrain himself. *You beast!* *What the fuck did you plant on him?!* In response, Tianlu merely raised his hand, lifting the walking stick that he had been bouncing on his knee all this time, and gave it a slight wave before Elder Zhen's eyes. Immediately after, inch by inch, the walking stick dissolved, dripping down between his fingers. How could that possibly be the Masterwork that Tianlu never let leave his side? It was clearly quicksilver that had been granted form! Just like the trick Ji Jue had pulled in the past, the very same stunt was being used a second time to fool the artisan of Stagnant Rot. Surprised? Shocked? "My, Elder Zhen, your craft is so truly magnificent that a junior like me can't help his hands from itching..." Tianlu bared his teeth and laughed with utter malice. Looking at the phantom right before him, he pleaded, "Come now, let me have a hand in this too!" Without waiting for Elder Zhen's answer, and without needing anyone's permission, he reached straight out! He needed neither understanding nor justification. Manifesting randomly in the Embers was like taking a stroll for him; what was wrong with sticking a hand into your Stagnant Rot creation? Did you really fucking think I didn't know how?! At that instant, Elder Zhen was not the only one whose eyes went wide. Down in the depths beneath the vortex, Ji Jue, who had been standing dazed, was struck as if by lightning. He staggered, swaying wildly on his feet, barely able to stand. He nearly collapsed right into Jiang Tongguang's arms. "Director, I... I feel..." He panted, "Not so..." Before he could finish, before Jiang Tongguang's bewildered eyes, Ji Jue's body violently shuddered. Yet he did not crumble to ash. Instead— *Bleargh! Rungh!* Amid spasms of retching, Ji Jue's eyes bulged, and his mouth flew open. With those sickening heaves, a radiant, shimmering walking stick slowly emerged from his throat like a swallowed broadsword, rising up until it hovered in midair. From beginning to end, Ji Jue had not even noticed when on earth such a thing had been planted inside him! Yet anyone with half a brain could guess who was responsible! Wait, had he already been targeted back when he passed out and received medical treatment at the Association?! "You old dog, you fucking—" Before he could finish sending his regards, high in the air, the suspended walking stick suddenly shattered inch by inch, unraveling layer upon layer. Like a pure burst of radiance, shifting unpredictably, it swelled and spread with terrifying speed, asserting natural dominion over everything! Amid the shifting light, Ji Jue froze again. He felt as though an invisible giant hand had pressed down upon his head, petting him playfully, offering greetings along with an apology that was anything but sincere. *Young man, the time has come when the Embers need you.* *Are you ready?* *Doesn't matter if you aren't. Off you go, and keep a smile on your face!* *Boom!!!* That invisible hand gave a gentle push forward. Instantly, Ji Jue's vision went black. The world spun wildly around him, sending him tumbling toward who knew where. He managed only to lift his right hand, desperately trying to flash one final gesture toward that walking stick. Even more tragically, he realized at the very last moment that somewhere along the line, the middle finger on his right hand had gone missing... *Tianlu!!!* A blazing light erupted, devouring everything! As the creation Tianlu never parted with—one of the few Embers Masterworks in the entire mortal realm, an entity known as Natural Enemy—it was by no means a mere weapon. The capabilities it possessed were more comprehensive and versatile than those of most workshops. Furthermore, Tianlu had invested a portion of his own cultivation and essence within it. At this moment, Natural Enemy transformed once more! A vast torrent swept across the chamber like a cascading waterfall, sweeping up everyone present and surging into the final husk left behind by Beigong. Even if that husk was utterly hollow. Yet if Beigong's creation was Beigong, then Beigong's corpse was also fucking Beigong! The remains Elder Zhen had discarded here to conceal Beigong's death instead became the perfect access point and incision for Tianlu to meddle in this creation of a Saintly Fool! Taking this as the source, he naturally drove his wedge into the metamorphosis of Beigong's creation. Thus, between sea and sky, within the projection of apocalyptic ruin cast by Eschatology, a sudden figure plunged headfirst from above, legs twitching straight up into the air. A hand missing its middle finger still reached stubbornly toward the sky, conveying feelings too intense for words. Immediately after came a second, a third, a fourth! Since this instrument of a Saintly Fool was founded upon the duel between Embers and Stagnant Rot, every artisan who had taken part in the contest was naturally part of it as well! And just like that, Tianlu threw every single one of them in without leaving a soul behind! In this manner, the "impurities" that should have been isolated and cast aside returned openly and brazenly into the crucible—a whole pot of rat shit served up for your single drop of soup! Let's see if your bullshit creation of a Saintly Fool can still succeed! At that moment, jade-green flames erupted like a volcano. Right before Tianlu, Elder Zhen's withered visage was scorched away by the fire, the bizarre shadow shifting erratically, barely able to maintain its shape. Beneath the vortex, in the Profound, the mountain-like furnace let out a thunderous roar. Countless plumes of flame shot skyward, surging along the Pillar of Perdition to seize upon the mortal realm, desperate to sever Tianlu's interference. Unfortunately, it was already too late. "What's the matter, Elder Zhen? Can't afford to play anymore?" Tianlu leaned forward, warmly extending an invitation: "If you can't stand it, come up here in person. Let's have a proper brawl, just the two of us, and settle who's superior once and for all." He paused, his smile turning increasingly mocking. "Or are you still counting on my junior brother to come back you up?" Elder Zhen remained silent, saying nothing as he stared straight at Tianlu. "He just texted me to let you know that he's tied up today and can't make it. As for team-building in the Profound, let's take a rain check." Behind Tianlu, stars fell like kindling as the Embers manifested. Like countless hands reaching toward the great sin of Beigong currently nearing completion, they gripped it tight, bit by bit, refusing to let go. "Forget about him, Elder Zhen. You and I perfecting this instrument of a Saintly Fool together beats anything else!" *** A thunderous crash erupted like someone violently kicking at a door. Inside the deathly silent workshop, waves of disturbance echoed repeatedly, accompanied by relentless urging from afar, sounding like frantic, exasperated bellows: *Kanemoto, open the fucking door! I know you're in there, stop playing dead and say something!* Yet Kanemoto uttered not a word, paying no heed to the shouting. At this moment, in the central furnace zone of the dead-silent workshop, he turned his head and looked at the slowly widening rift behind him—and at the familiar figure standing beyond it. He let out a quiet sigh. "To wait this long and hold out until now... it really couldn't have been easy for you." Kanemoto asked curiously, "Last time, I recall someone telling me that Tianlu had nothing to do with her. How is it that you've turned around and become his workhorse today?" "It couldn't be helped. One wrong step leads to another." Ye Xian sighed helplessly. "When the master has business, the disciple must labor—and by that same token, when the disciple gets dragged into such a troublesome mess, how could the teacher possibly stay out of it?" Holding a brand-new thermos in hand, she poured out the dregs of her tea and shook away the clinging leaves, as though trying to shake off a stubborn wad of sticky candy. With disgust and regret, she said, "My only regret is that my strength fell short back then. When I broke through the sect's gates, I didn't break that old dog along with them, leaving me reduced to this." "Challenging me now is too early for you. Overestimating your strength. Go back." Kanemoto unhurriedly tied up the loose ends of his work. "Or do you truly believe I'll show mercy?" "Even if I'm overestimating myself, stalling for time will be enough." Ye Xian did not yield a single step. "Besides, Grandmaster was never interested in these matters to begin with, were you? Since that is the case, why not simply stand by and watch? It would be convenient for both of us." "Indeed, you are right. I truly have no interest in Elder Zhen's chaotic nonsense." The back of the figure paused for an instant before slowly turning around. Looking at his old enemy's student and successor, he asked word by word, "But the question is... why should I do what he wants?" Just like how Nirvana would jump out at any moment for no reason or gain just to spin around and deliver two stinging backhands to the Federation and the Empire, why should he let that old dog Tianlu have the last laugh? Even if there wasn't a shred of benefit, as long as someone was fighting that old dog, he would gladly step in to help out! This had nothing to do with justice; it was purely personal spite! Out of the way! He wanted nothing more than to go kick that damned tumor's good leg right now! Ye Xian fell silent. Her expression grew complicated, then more complicated, and then more complicated still, until it broke down entirely, melting into an oddly bizarre numbness. Several times, she opened her mouth only to stop herself. "Before I came, he told me to give you something. Do you want to see it?" Kanemoto said nothing, nor did Ye Xian wait for his consent. She pulled out her phone, tapped the screen, and played a greeting video. A thoroughly detestable face abruptly popped onto the screen, smiling shamelessly, singing and dancing before pressing his palms together in earnest plea: "A-Yuan, for the sake of our brotherhood over all these years, give me some face and lend your brother a hand, won't you? Your senior brother bows in gratitude to you! Just lift your noble hand this once. My junior brother Kanemoto is loyal, righteous, and invincible beneath the heavens—I'm far beneath you, can't even hold a candle! Consider it a favor I owe you, all right? You're the greatest! If..." *Crack—* Before it could even finish playing, the phone was "accidentally" crushed by Ye Xian. Before the fragments could even hit the floor, Kanemoto completely obliterated them like a piece of filthy trash. Not a trace remained. All that was left was silence—a long, agonizing silence. In that silence, Kanemoto's expression slowly shifted into something indescribable: numb, conflicted, twisted, flushed, livid, darkened... until finally, it became as hollow as Ye Xian's. He wanted a fresh pair of eyes that had never witnessed such a thing. He wanted to pierce his own eardrums. Now, there were two victims. In the excessively awkward quiet, Ye Xian took a deep breath and offered a heartfelt suggestion: "...How about we just fight instead?" "...That works too." Kanemoto nodded, unable to say another word. The silent workshop completely shut out the thunderous crashes from outside. The futile calls and shouts could no longer be heard.