"Tsk, finally done."
Leaving the Martial Arts Building, Gu Yan rubbed his shoulders, which had been tense until now.
He had been holding back earlier in the building.
Was it just his imagination, or had there been a faint but persistent gaze fixed on him the entire time?
He was absolutely certain—it was Leng Bingning, Qingqiu’s elder sister, keeping tabs on him!
Seriously, since when were the sisters this close? Now she’s even watching over her sister’s husband?
Why not just have the three of us meet face to face, then?
Unless... there’s something unspeakable going on?
He glanced up at the sky, then checked the time.
Gu Yan sighed inwardly. How was it already past nine or ten again?
Since when was he this diligent?
Old Gao chuckled. "Being a martial artist is exhausting work. Any regrets yet, young master?"
"Regrets? Not a chance."
Gu Yan scoffed. He just didn’t like being watched in secret—that was all.
Well... it wasn’t exactly discomfort, more like a creeping sense of dread.
Like the feeling of Qingqiu staring at him with a gentle smile.
"Um... You look really tired. Do you need me to heal you?"
At that moment, You Xingxue’s characteristically timid voice reached Gu Yan’s ears.
He turned his head, his expression shifting subtly.
Oh? The whole Night Organization squad’s here, huh?
Aside from You Xingxue, there was Mei Xue, Shangguan Miaoyin, Bai Lian, Murong Ci...
Half the Night Organization had infiltrated.
Gu Yan shook his head. "No need. More importantly, where are you all headed?"
The moment he asked, You Xingxue’s face twisted with hesitation. "We... uh..."
Mei Xue remained expressionless but sent Gu Yan a mental message.
Meanwhile, Bai Lian grinned. "Brother Gu Yan, we’re going for a late-night snack. Wanna join?"
You Xingxue lowered her head, stammering incoherently.
The atmosphere grew slightly awkward.
Gu Yan had already learned the truth from Mei Xue, so he simply shook his head. "Ah, youth. So full of energy."
"Count me out. Nightlife isn’t my thing."
"Alright, let’s go, Old Gao."
"Yes, young master."
As Gu Yan left, Bai Lian’s smirk turned sharp. She glared at You Xingxue. "Hey, newbie! Why’d you have to butt in?"
"Don’t you know we’re going to meet our master?"
You Xingxue shrank back. "S-sorry..."
"Tch. Do it again, and I’ll shove your head up your ass, you pathetic rookie!"
"Sniff..."
You Xingxue fought back tears. Master, where are you? How much longer must I stay undercover...?
These people are impossible to deal with...
---
After leaving the martial arts division, Gu Yan gazed thoughtfully out the window. Thanks to Mei Xue, he now knew why the Night Organization squad was out so late.
So they were going to meet Qingqiu.
Meeting at this hour... Was there some other plan?
Something involving Leng Bingning?
Old Gao glanced at the rearview mirror. "Young master, heading home now?"
"No... That’d be a waste of free time."
Gu Yan snapped out of his thoughts, a faint smirk forming.
Gloop!
Black liquid coiled around him in an instant.
Gu Yan—Night King Edition—had returned!
Simultaneously, the viscous darkness spread outward, enveloping the car.
In moments, the vehicle seemed to merge with a living liquid entity, speeding through the night.
Its speed and form had completely transformed.
"To the Fifth Forbidden Zone, Old Gao."
"Take the straight path."
Straight path...
Old Gao gripped the wheel of the now-altered car and stared ahead at the skyscrapers.
Instead of swerving, he stepped on the gas and accelerated.
The moment the car touched the building—
Whoosh! Splash!
Like passing through a watery barrier, the car phased effortlessly through the structure.
This was the power of the "Claw Cells" when fused with inorganic matter!
Still, it wasn’t as convenient as Mei Xue’s spatial traversal.
I should really teach the Claw Cells how to do that too. What kind of Night King can’t freely move through the night?
Well... Gu Yan wasn’t the real Night King anyway.
---
Meanwhile...
Fifth Forbidden Zone.
Crimson light bathed the land, while dark shadows drifted across the sky.
Countless demonic creatures prostrated themselves in worship before a black tower.
Atop the tower stood a figure clad in a gown woven from starlight. Her ink-black hair fluttered in the breeze, shimmering faintly.
"Ten thousand years..."
Though her face remained obscured by shadow, the brilliance in her deep eyes betrayed her extraordinary presence.
"An entire ten thousand years..."
"Sealed away in the Nether Prison..."
"Yet now, the seal is broken—I am free!"
Her voice trembled with emotion—excitement, exhilaration, even tears.
Thank the heavens I never gave up.
In the great war of the past, the traitorous Four Sacred Beasts had led the human armies to crush the Nether Clan. Ninety-nine percent of their kin had been imprisoned in the Nether Prison.
The few Netherlings who escaped had scattered across the world, hiding in obscurity.
She could sense it—her descendants were struggling in this modern era, far from their former glory.
Humanity still ruled, while the Nether Clan had dwindled to near-extinction.
But she understood.
If even she had been trapped in the abyssal darkness of the Nether Prison, how could the others have fared better?
Yet...
One thing puzzled her beyond reason.
The seal on the Nether Prison had weakened...
That was the only reason she had broken free.
What could have caused it?
As she pondered—
Thud. Thud.
Heavy footsteps approached.
A deep, fervent voice echoed in her ears:
"Madame Lin! It is you!"