Chapter 101: Return to Base

Beyond the wilderness, a fire burned. I held a cigarette between my lips, watching the flickering flames in silence. Guli Jinsha had changed out of her Moon Tribe attire and now wore a tight black sports outfit, tending the fire.

“Do you... really have no regrets?” I couldn’t help but ask.

“No regrets,” Guli Jinsha replied.

“Well... the moon you painted on my forehead, does it mean...” I began.

She looked up, cutting me off. “Don’t overthink it. I only pulled you in as a shield.”

“That stings. So I’m just a shield,” I said, clutching my chest with a pained expression.

“Otherwise? I can’t be like other Moon Tribe women, picking a man to breed with and then waiting years to inherit my mother’s position. That’s way too low-level, you know?” Guli Jinsha said.

“Maybe one day you’ll fall for some Moon Tribe man?” I suggested.

“Impossible. The man I like would never wear that uniform for me to choose from,” she said.

I looked at Guli Jinsha, wondering if she really wasn’t talking about me.

She rolled her eyes but said nothing.

“Are you sad then?” I asked.

She sat beside me, snatched the cigarette from my mouth, took a deep drag, and exhaled a cloud of smoke. “Not regretting doesn’t mean I’m not sad. After all, it’s where I grew up. Don’t ask such dumb questions, okay?”

“Alright, my arms are here if you want to lean on me,” I offered.

Guli Jinsha didn’t hesitate and sat on my lap, burying her face in my chest.

“Just ten minutes. Ten minutes of weakness, no more,” she muttered, her voice muffled.

I wrapped my arms around her, resting my chin on her head. “I think you can extend that a bit—say, eleven minutes.”

In truth, that embrace lasted the entire night.

When Guli Jinsha woke in my arms, a faint smile curved her lips. She took a deep breath; the scent of the embrace was comforting.

Suddenly, she felt something pressing uncomfortably beneath her. At first, she thought it was a dagger or something sharp.

But then she realized, and her cheeks flushed crimson. That bastard!

She looked up and saw me half-closing my eyes, savoring the moment.

She immediately stood, smacked my head, and scolded, “Pervert!”

I rubbed my head, protesting, “Unfair! Didn’t you learn about physiology? This is a normal reaction. If it didn’t happen in the morning, that would be a disaster.”

“Scoundrel!” Guli Jinsha glared at me.

I shrugged. “Old Guli, that doesn’t sound like something you’d say.”

Guli Jinsha paused, seemingly considering it.

We arrived at a small town where she stopped and asked, “Where are you headed?”

“To where I need to go,” I replied. It was time to head to the Nether Rift.

“Alright. I’m going where I need to go as well,” Guli Jinsha said.

I waved goodbye and turned to leave.

“Qin Feng,” she called out from behind.

I turned, seeing a complex look in her eyes.

“If, I mean if...” she began.

“I will. I will!” I cut her off before she finished, then turned and walked away again.

Guli Jinsha stood there, stunned. She hadn’t even spoken the question, yet I had answered. Why didn’t I wait for her to say it?

The answer was simple. I already knew what she was going to ask. No need for certainty; I spoke what was in my heart.

Because in this world, there is no ‘if.’

...

I called Huo Sirui to arrange a meeting place.

At a rest area in the desert, I waited for her.

We drove a dune buggy deeper into the desert.

“Where are we going?” Huo Sirui asked.

“To risk everything,” I answered.

She felt a chill. Those three words carried an ominous, tragic resolve.

“You’re always talking about sacrifice and bloodshed. Let me show you what sacrifice, blood, and—hell—really mean!” I said calmly.

We reached a military base deep in the desert. After thorough inspections, we were allowed entry.

Huo Sirui looked around curiously. She could tell this base was among the most heavily guarded in China.

Recalling my words, she wondered why such a desolate place would involve sacrifice and bloodshed.

“I’m hungry. Let’s eat first,” I said, heading toward the base cafeteria.

This area was not for ordinary soldiers.

Just as I sat down, Nangong Haoran appeared with a dozen others.

“Finally back. I thought you chickened out and wouldn’t return,” Nangong Haoran joked.

“Afraid? Well, yes, a little. But that doesn’t mean I’m not brave. I want to kill more to build up my ‘wife fund,’” I shrugged.

The others joked with me, ignoring Huo Sirui completely.

“Alright, eat up. Come find me afterward. The orders have come down,” Nangong Haoran said, then left.

Huo Sirui knew Nangong Haoran, a rising star in the Ninth Bureau. If he ignored her, it was one thing, but why did everyone else treat her like air?

“It’s normal to be ignored. First, you’re not strong enough. Any of the Yin-Yang Masters here could take you down single-handedly. Second, you haven’t fought Nether Servants or Nether Cultivators. To them, you’re trash,” I said plainly.

“What are Nether Servants and Nether Cultivators?” Huo Sirui asked.

“You’ll find out. Just remember to kill a few more as back-up,” I said, patting her head before walking away.

Huo Sirui touched her head and suddenly realized that telling her to kill extra as back-up was basically telling her she’d die.

I entered Nangong Haoran’s room—it was quite comfortable. Building such a place in the desert required enormous expense.

In fact, every Yin-Yang Master who descended into the Nether Rift had a luxurious room. I was no exception.

“I know you smoke. Got this special supply just for you,” Nangong Haoran tossed me a box.

I opened it to find the finest premium cigarettes.

I eagerly tore one open, lit it, inhaled deeply, and smiled. “No wonder it’s premium. The ones outside, even a few hundred a pack, can’t compare.”

After I took a few puffs, Nangong Haoran spoke.

“There’s been quite a stir in the Stone Valley inside the Nether Rift this past month. We suspect a high-level Nether Cultivator has appeared.”

“Hmm. And our side?” I asked.

“Reinforcements have arrived, but most have no experience fighting Nether Servants or Nether Cultivators. Also, the Yin-Yang Master talent gap has worsened. The command says anyone at level three or above must join the battle,” Nangong Haoran said gravely.

I felt a chill. Initially, only level six Yin-Yang Masters were informed. Later, level four and five were included. Now, it’s level three. If casualties rise, level one and two might be drafted to fill the ranks.

Earlier, the reason beginners were kept in the dark about the Nether Rift was to let them recover and grow stronger.

The current situation was dire.

“The Ninth Bureau alone probably can’t handle this,” I said.

“Correct. It’s not just the Ninth Bureau fighting. Many brothers and sisters from other Yin-Yang sects and clans are here, but they all operate under the Ninth Bureau’s name—like Longhu Mountain, Sanqing Mountain, Qingyun Temple, Dayan Monastery, and so forth,” Nangong Haoran explained.

“What about Master Mo’s dojo from Xiliang?” I asked.

“The dojo has many participants. Some reinforcements are from there, including Qian Shu, one of Master Mo’s direct disciples, who will arrive in a few days,” Nangong Haoran said.

“Qian Shu? That’s a great name,” I laughed.

“Master Mo has twelve direct disciples. Qian Shu ranks third and is an eighth-level Yin-Yang Master,” Nangong Haoran said.

My mouth dropped open. I thought Qian Shu was on par with Nangong Haoran, but he was an eighth-level Yin-Yang Master. Then what realm was Mo Wuji himself at? Probably beyond the ninth level, into the Grandmaster realm.