Chapter Five: In This Life, I Swear to Kill You

A splendid morning. Wu Yue sat by the window, eyes half-closed, plotting his goals. First, he would follow the “golden finger” to grow stronger, then return to Earth.

As for Yue Ziqing, he now answered to the name Wu Yue. It wasn’t a matter of evasion; Wu Yue simply felt like a clay idol crossing a river—hardly able to save himself. If he did go to Central Continent, he’d speak kindly for Yue Ziqing, perhaps telling that relative that vengeance would be taken, so no one else need worry. That would be saving a life, after all.

He basked in the sunlight. The warmth of winter sun was always a rare treasure.

In his hand, he held a piece of gray crystal.

Yue Ziqing’s soul. It contained all of Yue Ziqing’s memories and spirit. Should he choose to merge with it?

Wu Yue ignored it.

He hadn’t expected to complete the first task so easily. It was clearly a flexible mission: Yue Ziqing’s wish? He must have many. The reward, it seemed, depended on how deeply Yue Ziqing’s wish was fulfilled. If he avenged Yue Ziqing, that would be the highest completion.

It seemed Yue Ziqing’s hatred for Gu Muli was considerable... Connecting the dots, Wu Yue guessed with near certainty.

Gu Muli must have tricked Yue Ziqing into blinding himself, then sent him to worship that idol. Why had Yue Ziqing believed it? Perhaps he’d been through too much lately, his mind unsettled. That was why he bore such hatred for Gu Muli.

Wu Yue refused the fusion. Adding another set of memories and merging souls—would he still be himself? He must preserve the purity of his body!

He flipped his hand, and another item appeared—a card.

Destiny. (Single-use consumable.)

When the Destiny card is activated, the host may use the skill again to teleport to any location within 5,500 kilometers.

Why did this item feel strangely familiar to Wu Yue?

This reward seemed impressive, but in truth, it was rather useless. With a thought, the card vanished from his hand. Wu Yue had discovered a new function: the ring possessed storage capabilities. Sadly—or rather, most regrettably—it could only store items produced by the ring itself... Such a knockoff ring!

Where the first task had been, a new task appeared, bringing pain to Chen Jishan. Rewards would vary according to the degree of suffering.

Pain, indeed. Wu Yue touched his nose. If he drew a circle and cursed him, would Chen Jishan feel pain?

His thoughts wandered freely. Wu Yue felt a sudden nostalgia for Kui Hu’er, the little girl. Unfortunately, she had bid him farewell yesterday, saying she was going off to find a master. That startled Wu Yue.

Kui Hu’er left, yearning for the world beyond and thirsting for power. She departed in the dead of night, slipping away quietly... As for the crowd seeing her off, Wu Yue pretended not to notice.

Wu Yue continued to wait—waiting for Gu Muli’s revenge. But several days passed, and all remained tranquil. Life was leisurely; meals arrived punctually, and when bored, he wandered aimlessly.

Just as he was considering how to acquire a cultivation technique, another visitor arrived.

Clad in a yellow robe, tall and broad-shouldered, with hair streaked with white.

“Young master, why do you look at me so? Don’t you recognize your old servant?” Wu Yue heard the voice, then realized who it was. In the past, hearing Yue Jiu’s voice, he’d always imagined someone sly, or perhaps short and shrewd. But the man before him was unexpectedly imposing, radiating authority even without anger.

“Indeed. It’s been a long time; I’ve missed you,” Wu Yue replied, smiling amiably.

A simple courtesy, but Yue Jiu’s eyes instantly reddened. He’d watched Yue Ziqing grow up, and in his eyes, Yue Ziqing was his young master—more like his own child. This was the first time Yue Ziqing had spoken to him so warmly. Though usually composed, he couldn’t help but tear up.

“Young master, you’ve suffered...” Yue Jiu assumed it was because Yue Ziqing had matured through hardship.

Wu Yue, seeing Yue Jiu’s strong reaction, felt somewhat at a loss. He hastily changed the subject, “Uncle Jiu, is there something you need from me?”

Hearing the familiar address, Yue Jiu was about to be moved again, but Wu Yue’s question reminded him of his purpose. He quickly took out two items from his robe: a brocade pouch and a box.

“Keep these safe, young master. This is the Yue family’s treasure, stored inside the Mustard Seed Brocade Pouch. The box couldn’t fit—must be something extraordinary.”

Wu Yue accepted them, asking casually, “Why take them out early? Wasn’t it supposed to be January twenty-first...?” He stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing the gravity of the situation.

He hadn’t expected things to reach such a point. Seeing Wu Yue’s dark expression, Yue Jiu nodded, not hiding anything.

“Go on ahead,” Wu Yue said, his voice low.

Yue Jiu bowed slightly—humble but not servile—and whispered, “I believe we should leave now. It’s urgent. Acting first will catch them off guard.”

Wu Yue considered, then nodded. The two left immediately, Wu Yue leading, Yue Jiu half a step behind, pretending to stroll leisurely. Alas, luck was never so kind; moments later, they were stopped.

Two men: one tall and broad, draped casually in a tiger pelt. Wu Yue recognized him as Chief Gu Lie, father to Gu Muli. The other wore a black robe, head bowed, face obscured.

“Mr. Jiu, where are you going?” Gu Lie spoke first.

“What, Chief Gu—are you trying to overstep your bounds?” Yue Jiu replied coldly.

“No, not overstepping. Just striving upwards. Master Chen has issued a warrant; you two won’t escape the Southern Path,” said the black-robed man, his voice so soft and sinister it inspired instant dislike.

“But, if you hand over the treasure and leave the boy behind, I, Gu Lie, will personally host a farewell banquet for you. The world is vast; you can go wherever you wish.”

“Mr. Jiu must have retrieved the treasure these days. If you say now that it can only be opened with the blood of a Yue family heir, it’s laughable.”

This black-robed man was deeply scheming. Wu Yue sighed. Clearly, today would not be easy.

Yue Jiu drew a deep breath and stepped forward. “I would never betray my master’s family, but...”

Boom! Before he finished, Yue Jiu struck. A palm shot forth, surging with powerful azure energy. Gu Lie and his companion, caught unawares, managed to dodge, but both sustained minor injuries.

“I will slay you traitors!” Yue Jiu roared, but instead of advancing, he retreated. Wu Yue felt a sudden lightness—Yue Jiu had seized him, soaring through the air.

In a heartbeat, the house they’d just left vanished from sight. The pace slowed, and Wu Yue was about to praise Yue Jiu’s remarkable cunning.

“Haha! Where do you think you’re going, Yue family remnant? I am Bai Yuzi!”

A thunderous voice rolled across the sky, shattering clouds in its wake.

“Not good!” Yue Jiu’s face turned grim. Bai Yuzi was Chen Jishan’s sworn brother, a master of speed, likely stronger than Yue Jiu.

“Young master, run east as far as you can. Take a ship to another continent—do not go to Central Continent! I’ll draw him away.”

“Young master, you must live well... Just live well...”

No sooner had he finished than Wu Yue felt his shoulder lighten; he plummeted toward the ground, wrapped in a layer of azure energy.

Without that energy, he would have died from the fall. Meanwhile, Yue Jiu’s speed surged. Wu Yue could only glimpse a streak of blue slicing through the sky.

Such a shrewd man! Wu Yue’s nose stung with emotion. Never in his past or present life had anyone protected him so fiercely.

Drawing him away—Wu Yue saw through it: this was a journey with no return.

If you die, I’ll avenge you.

I’ll break his bones and torment his soul till he suffers the utmost pain!

Bai Yuzi—whoever you are, you’re doomed.

Wu Yue’s expression was icy—not fierce, but frighteningly cold.

He landed safely, not unlucky enough to be caught in the branches. Yue Jiu was gone from the sky. Having resolved to seek vengeance, he knew his first duty was to survive.

He had thought that with the Destiny card, his life was assured. But seeing Yue Jiu’s speed—at least a hundred li per second—he realized Bai Yuzi must be formidable. Yue Jiu had chosen flight, a sign that his odds were grim.

Suddenly, a rustling sound emerged.

Wu Yue tensed, ready to strike.

Meow... Meow...

A cat sat on a branch, gazing at him with a blank, adorable expression. It seemed oddly familiar.

Wu Yue suddenly recalled—it was the cat that had escaped before. But what was once a small feline was now nearly half a meter long, resembling a young leopard.

Nothing in this world is useless...

Moments later, the cat vanished into the woods.

“What a crude conspiracy... But who’d have thought the chance for revenge would come so soon.” Wu Yue’s lips curled into a strange smile. At his feet, cards of every color appeared, forming a circle—

Destiny cards!