Chapter 118: Loss Is Eternal

“Ah? Impossible! How could Master vanish at a time like this? Oh no, this is a disaster—Master is a crucial part of my plan!” Huang Sheng’s mouth dropped open in utter disbelief.

Hu Mobai shot him a glare, irritated. “When did Master ever accept you as her disciple? Stop pretending you’re one of us. She said she was heading to the Black Demon Forest but didn’t explain why. I think she did it on purpose—if she were here, our plan would be far too easy. She doesn’t want us to be too comfortable. But don’t worry, even without her, we have a way. It’s just that our chances of success are much slimmer. Huang Sheng, you better work hard this time. If you do well, Master might actually take you in.”

At those words, Huang Sheng’s eyes lit up immediately, and he grinned brightly. “Of course! I’m clever and resourceful—I can handle anything. Hehe, if you think joining Master’s discipleship means getting her careful guidance, that’s just... tsk tsk, really... Hey, senior brother, why did you kick me?”

Huang Sheng yelped as he was sent flying several yards, clutching his sore backside pitifully as he looked at Hu Mobai.

“Die on the spot, and you still call me senior brother? I’ll slap you to death! Just stick to your own tasks. You only need to deal with the Huang family; I’m facing the entire continent of War, not something you can compare to. If you have nothing else, go back. I still need to consult the elders in the Divine Mechanism Hall. Some things you’re just too inexperienced for.” Hu Mobai glanced at Huang Sheng, then strode off briskly.

Before disappearing from Huang Sheng’s sight, he suddenly heard Huang Sheng’s voice, serious in tone.

“Boss, what about Princess New Moon? Are you really going to watch her marry that so-called Great Prince? Can you bear it?”

Hu Mobai’s body trembled, his mind suddenly clouded. Could he really bear it? He whispered to himself, feeling a sharp pang of pain at those words.

“There’s no question of bearing or not bearing—just do your job,” Hu Mobai said coldly, stepping forward. Behind him, Huang Sheng sighed deeply and walked away dejectedly.

“Some things, once lost, are lost forever. Think carefully, Boss.”

Hu Mobai vanished around the corner, but those words rang in his heart like a mighty bell, deafening and profound.

Outside Flame City, two girls’ figures slowly receded into the distance, their shadows lengthening in the setting sun.

These two were the Cangling master and apprentice, walking calmly one behind the other. Cangling swung a foxtail grass as she walked. Lin Nan’s face was stern as she scanned the passersby. Men who ogled them were shivering under Lin Nan’s gaze—after all, as a water-element warrior, she radiated a battle aura not easily resisted.

“Xiao Nan, don’t be so grim! We finally have a chance to go out; we should relax and have fun. If you keep scowling like that, it’ll be no fun!” Cangling’s childlike innocence remained intact despite the leering glances. Sometimes she even flirted back, causing many onlookers to turn red-faced and stunned.

Cangling chuckled softly, covering her mouth. Lin Nan rubbed her temples, frowning. “Master, are you sure it’s right to leave now? Flame City is so dangerous. What if something happens to that guy?”

Her voice was low and tinged with anxiety. Cangling clamped the foxtail grass between her teeth, turned back, and smiled brightly. “Xiao Nan, admit it! I knew you liked your junior brother; no more excuses.”

Lin Nan’s cheeks flushed slightly and she retorted immediately, “Master, stop joking. I never said that. I’ve said before I won’t like anyone, especially that scoundrel!”

Her tone carried a hint of anger, her expression sharp but without real rage. Cangling nodded thoughtfully, then burst into a trembling laugh.

Lin Nan struggled to stay composed, about to explode, when Cangling said calmly, “That guy’s path has been too smooth since I appeared. If it continues, he won’t truly improve. This time, with you and me leaving, he will have to face many things alone. Only then can he truly grow. And the reason I’m taking you to the Black Demon Forest isn’t for fun—it’s for something far more important.”

Cangling’s tone turned serious. Lin Nan’s face tightened. “What is it? Does it have anything to do with me?”

A gleam flashed in Cangling’s eyes as she smiled mysteriously. “You’re still my clever senior apprentice, much smarter than that kid. Yes, this trip to the Black Demon Forest involves you, but there are many other things to accomplish!”

Her eyes narrowed slightly, shrouded in mystery. Turning back again, she smiled radiantly, causing a wave of awe so intense that some onlookers felt dizzy and fainted.

Lin Nan furrowed her brows deeply, only relaxing after a long moment. She glanced back at Flame City and sighed silently before following Cangling, slowly disappearing into the distance.

In Flame City’s heart, the headquarters of the Giant Tiger Gang, a man wrapped entirely in a black robe stood in the main hall, calmly flipping through a ledger. The aura he emitted was chillingly formidable.

A one-eyed man trembled nervously beside him, barely daring to breathe.

“Excellent, Chief Tiger. Your intelligence gathering is impressive—I’m very satisfied,” the black-robed man’s hoarse voice said. The one-eyed man visibly relaxed, smiling broadly.

“Thank you for your praise, my lord. These are just my duties. If you have further orders, I will go through fire and water without hesitation!” The one-eyed man’s eyes blazed with eagerness but mixed with anxiety, as if hoping for something.

The black-robed man nodded slightly, chuckling oddly. “Rest assured, Chief Tiger. I won’t break my promises. The antidotes will all be delivered in the next two days. If you all behave well, your lives will improve far beyond before. I await more good news from you.”

Turning, the black-robed man strode toward the door and soon disappeared from the hall.

The one-eyed man sighed deeply, his face briefly clouded with resentment before melting into a bitter smile. He shook his head silently.

The black-robed figure flickered several times, then stopped atop a large tree. He sneered coldly. “Friends who’ve followed me this far must be tired. How about finding some wine to drink?”

No sooner had the words fallen than a dozen figures surrounded the tree. An overwhelming, ruthless aura instantly reduced the tree to splinters, which vanished into the air.

The black-robed man’s battle aura was restrained yet radiated a piercing chill. Despite the warm night of Flame City, this aura froze the surrounding ground, coating it in thick frost. The biting cold forced those dozen figures to lean back slightly.

“From the Ice Wave Sect? I didn’t expect you to have already established a foothold in Flame City. Impressive!” The leader of the black-clad group sneered, voice dripping with hostility.

The black-robed man chuckled hoarsely. “Your Golden Soul Hall is not bad either. The Xu family’s pawn is even more cunning than ours. Compared to you, the Ice Wave Sect is just a minor player. Ha! What business do you have blocking my way? Does the Golden Soul Hall want to pick a fight with us?”

Water battle energy thickened around him, his cold presence sinking deep into everyone’s hearts. Instantly, a terrifying icy mist enveloped the black-clad men, forcing them to summon brilliant golden battle auras to hold back the chill.

“Amazing water battle power. The Ice Wave Sect has really gone all out this time. Well, since you’re friends of the Ice Wave Sect, we’ll leave each other be. Farewell!” The black-clad leader bowed slightly as his men prepared to disperse.

Just as they turned to leave, the black-robed man’s hands flashed through swift seals. A wave of biting cold ice energy erupted, freezing several warriors at the Furious Battle Master level. Before the attack finished, he struck swiftly at the stronger enemies. Within a few breaths, nearly half of the dozen black-clad men were down or severely injured.

“Despicable! An ambush! What does the Ice Wave Sect want?” the black-clad leader roared, golden light blazing fiercely. His aura was sharp and metallic.

“Want what? To kill you, nothing more. Any complaints? I am Ice Wave Sect’s own!” With that, dozens of warriors wrapped in water battle energy appeared nearby. The temperature dropped rapidly to a chilling minus forty or fifty degrees.