Chapter 44

This time, the System didn’t give Xia Xifeng and Qin Lang a moment to collect their thoughts. The teleportation countdown began almost immediately.

The reason was simple…

Xia Xifeng gazed up at the sky.

The tiny, secondary silver crescent moon beside it was emanating a soft, tranquil glow. That glow spread outward like threads of silken netting, draping itself across the Blood Moon.

A thin, silvery ring of light now coated the edges of the Blood Moon.

The massive crimson moon trembled visibly, shaking so hard even the naked eye could see it. It seemed to be trying with all its might to shatter that restraining halo of light.

The silver crescent looked so delicate, so fragile, as though its glow might be devoured and swallowed back by the Blood Moon at any moment. Yet that ring of silver remained supremely stable, refusing to crack no matter how violently the crimson moon quaked.

Xia Xifeng murmured, “They’ve started fighting.”

Qin Lang said, “Mhm.”

Having reclaimed a sliver of the moon’s Authority, the Bloody Sun, through this tiny window, could now finally fight the Blood Moon head-on for dominion over the night.

With that small, silver crescent moon now shining in the Dream World’s night sky, perhaps people would finally be able to fall asleep outside the Sanctuary Zones.

【The Bloody Sun once again expresses Its gratitude to the Players.】

Xia Xifeng noted, “‘Once again,’ huh… The parallel quest we just completed… was that the same parallel world as last time? Or is it that the Bloody Sun across every timeline spiraling toward Apocalypse can now somehow sense what we did?”

Qin Lang dismissed it. “Doesn’t matter. Not important.”

Xia Xifeng said in exasperation, “Fine, it doesn’t matter. But chasing after secrets is basic human nature! How can you lack that fundamental instinct?! Are you even human?!”

Qin Lang shot back, “You really have time to argue with me, rather than saying goodbye to them?”

“Oh, right, right.” Xia Xifeng hastily scurried off toward Taylor and Eigg.

Sword still in his arms, Qin Lang followed behind at a leisurely pace.

Xia Xifeng was only halfway through his hurried farewell speech when a brilliant light began radiating from their bodies.

Frantically waving his hands, Xia Xifeng yelled, “No time for long goodbyes, so in short… Take care!”

Taylor and the others’ souls hadn’t yet faded. Who knew what awaited them next? But with that small silver crescent now hung back in the night sky, Xia Xifeng firmly believed their future was now illuminated by the Silver Moon. It couldn’t possibly be worse than before.

Taylor was still slightly dazed. Wait, why was this abruptly a farewell? Weren’t they originally from this world?

Qin Lang said, simply, “Take care.”

Taylor nodded. “You as well.” It seems our benefactors’ origins are very mysterious indeed. I wonder if we’ll ever get the chance to meet again.

Even Eigg, for once, stopped being so sparing with his words. Solemnly, he bid farewell to Xia Xifeng and Taylor. “May the Silver Moon illuminate your journey. I wish you both peace.”

Raising his head to look at the silver crescent, Eigg’s twin pupils shimmered with a joy he had thought long lost, long forgotten.

No matter how many times he had verbally declared that he had yielded to the Evil God—the moment he was bathed in the light of the true Silver Moon, his expression betrayed the undeniable truth.

True faith isn’t something merely spoken with the lips.

Xia Xifeng mused, 【Compared to the ever-consistent Taylor, maybe it was actually Eigg who made the Blood Moon rage-quit hardest.】

Qin Lang replied, 【Mhm.】

Xia Xifeng demanded, 【Aside from ‘Mhm,’ can you say ANYTHING else?!】

Qin Lang said, 【Time to go.】

Qin Lang reached out to take Xia Xifeng’s hand, but Xia Xifeng swatted him away.

Lifting his chin high, Xia Xifeng declared, “Why do I need to hold your hand on the way back? It’s not like we’ll get separated.”

After a brief, vertigo-inducing jolt, Xia Xifeng and Qin Lang were back in reality.

The Silver Moon Altar was blazing with light, illuminating every corner of the cavern—and every single “corpse” whose eyes were wide open.

Xia Xifeng’s entire body stiffened rigid. He frantically groped for Qin Lang’s hand.

Qin Lang smoothly stepped half a pace back, dodging the grab. “Why do you need to hold my hand now that we’re back in reality?”

Xia Xifeng’s teeth chattered. “I-I’m not scared at all.”

The corners of Qin Lang’s eyes and mouth twitched helplessly, barely suppressing a laugh.

He walked toward the still-waiting Blackstone Town Mayor to inform her that the matter had been resolved.

Two Cat Lizardmen carrying Magic Conduit Lamps had appeared beside the Town Mayor.

Cat One and Cat Two were the ones Xia Xifeng had summoned before entering the dungeon.

Putting himself in her shoes, he had figured the Town Mayor must be absolutely terrified. But even if she was, she likely wouldn’t dare call anyone else down here while the situation was still so unclear.

Cat One and Cat Two were trustworthy, and also experts at escaping danger. So Xia Xifeng had sent them to stay by her side.

With fluffy, adorable cat-people keeping her company, surely her fear would be somewhat soothed, right?

“Master, you’re back, nya!” Cat One bounced over energetically. “The altar suddenly started glowing! The light feels so nice and comfy when it shines on me, nya!”

Cat Two waved at Xia Xifeng and Qin Lang. “Welcome back, meow!”

Seeing the adorable Cat Lizardmen soothed the panicked twist on Xia Xifeng’s face somewhat. “Yeah, we’re back. The issue’s been resolved… HOLY SHIT!”

Just as Xia Xifeng began speaking, the “corpses” that were embedded into the stone floor and cavern walls—like grotesque ornaments—suddenly blinked in eerie unison.

A spark of sentient light flickered to life in their previously hollow, empty eyes. And slowly, they pressed their palms against the stone beside them… and began to sit up.

Sat. Up.

Except, of course, they weren’t actually corpses, nor were they physically present in the cavern.

They were merely lingering traces of a curse. Phantoms, no more solid than mirages.

Yet these mirages, with distinctly intelligent expressions, were now sitting straight up.

“GYAAAAAHHH!!” As if a spring-loaded mechanism had triggered beneath his feet, Xia Xifeng launched nearly a meter straight into the air—directly onto Qin Lang.

Qin Lang almost toppled over from the impact, staggering back hard before he managed to catch him.

Arms locked in a death grip around Qin Lang’s neck, face mashed against his shoulder, legs wrapped so tightly around his waist he was practically a human vice clamp—Xia Xifeng was now fully, completely attached.

Qin Lang braced his hands under Xia Xifeng’s soft, plush rear. He wasn’t startled by the sight in the cavern; he was startled by Xia Xifeng.

His very first thought was a confused: Wait, isn’t Xia Xifeng wearing heavy chainmail armor? Why does it feel so… soft? Like there’s nothing more than a layer of cloth between my hands?

He quickly realized the answer: after equipping a “Costume” layer over their gear, the tactile sensation during non-hostile physical contact probably defaulted to the costume’s material, with the combat gear only triggering its full effect during battle.

His second thought was pure, grim admiration: If this “game” hadn’t boosted our physical constitution and strength, I would never, ever be able to physically support a full-grown Xia Xifeng of this size.

“Get down.” Supporting Xia Xifeng with one arm, Qin Lang used the other to smack his rear.

Despite the swat, Xia Xifeng still refused to let go.

Eyes clenched tight, he wailed, “Don’t you dare try to screw me over!”

Nearby, a curious voice interjected. “What’s wrong with Feng?”

Qin Lang answered flatly, “He got scared when you suddenly sat up.”

Delighted, Taylor’s voice replied, “Feng’s courage is this small? He can slay gods, but he’s afraid of ghosts? Wasn’t I a ghost just earlier too?”

Voice trembling violently, Xia Xifeng whimpered, “Am I hallucinating? Why am I hearing Taylor’s voice?!”

Taylor circled around Qin Lang—and the large, waist-mounted accessory named Xia Xifeng currently clamped onto him—and laughed aloud. “Not an auditory hallucination. It’s me. Lift your head up.”

Xia Xifeng mashed his face even harder against Qin Lang’s shoulder. “I don’t believe you. I’m definitely hallucinating from sheer terror.”

“How long is he going to stay like this?” Eigg had also come over, arms folded, to spectate.

Others nearby were stretching their limbs, shaking out their legs, their gazes inevitably drawn toward Qin Lang and Xia Xifeng.

“Yo, isn’t that our great benefactor? What’s he doing?”

It wasn’t just Xia Xifeng; the Blackstone Town Mayor had also been scared completely limp.

The two Cat Lizardmen were propping her up, the only thing keeping her from collapsing onto the ground.

Qin Lang, who ordinarily wasn’t even fazed by the stares of others, was starting to feel the pressure under this level of collective scrutiny.

He placed a hand on the back of Xia Xifeng’s head, gently ruffling his hair in an attempt to soothe him. “Taylor, Eigg, and the others have come into the real world.”

Xia Xifeng’s voice was muffled. “Huh? Really?”

Qin Lang coaxed, “Lift your head. Just one glance.”

Hunching his shoulders, Xia Xifeng timidly raised his head.

And Taylor, right in front of his face, pulled an incredibly horrific, exaggerated monster-face.

“GYAAH!” Xia Xifeng slammed his face back down onto Qin Lang’s shoulder with a loud, painful-sounding thump.

Qin Lang seriously suspected that impact might have flattened Xia Xifeng’s nose completely.

Taylor erupted: “BWAHAHAHAHA!”

Now Xia Xifeng knew Qin Lang was telling the truth.

Fury overtaking terror, Xia Xifeng was so angry he bit Qin Lang’s shoulder.

Qin Lang: “…” Why are you biting ME?! I’m not the one who scared you!

Muffled and sulky, Xia Xifeng growled, “Put me down.”

Qin Lang released his hands, clearly intending to just let Xia Xifeng crash to the floor.

Unfortunately, Xia Xifeng still had his arms locked around Qin Lang’s neck, thwarting that plan instantly.

Though his feet were now planted firmly on the ground, Xia Xifeng still didn’t immediately raise his head.

Instead, he cautiously peeked out with just one eye.

This time, Taylor wasn’t scaring him. Though his expression was stretched into an excessively exaggerated, mocking laugh.

Finally letting go of Qin Lang’s neck, Xia Xifeng lifted his head, his face a mixture of lingering fright and embarrassment. “My courage is small. Don’t scare me.”

Taylor was nearly incapacitated with laughter.

Eigg just rolled his eyes.

What was supposed to be a deeply emotional, tear-jerking reunion had somehow devolved into… whatever this farce was.

Rubbing his nose, Xia Xifeng couldn’t help but laugh as well. “How are you able to be here? Do you still remember me?”

Taylor was still wheezing with laughter, so the task of explaining fell to the still-very-reluctant Eigg.

Eigg said, “We were in the middle of experiencing yet another cycle restart when, suddenly, the false moon overhead shattered. When we awoke from that cycle, we all had an additional set of memories… memories involving you.”

Perhaps they had never actually fought alongside Xia Xifeng and Qin Lang in reality. They had merely gained an extra set of memories.

But those memories—and the powerful, genuine emotions embedded within them—made them feel as though they had experienced every moment firsthand. It had filled them with deep gratitude toward Xia Xifeng and Qin Lang.

And, in any case, their ability to finally escape that endless cycle was clearly tied to whatever Xia Xifeng and Qin Lang had done.

Maybe every version of “them” across all worlds had now been saved.

Taylor finally reined in his laughter and continued Eigg’s explanation. “Our souls, having endured countless cycles of death and rebirth, have become exceptionally resilient. While we could choose to simply let go of our past and reincarnate… the Silver Moon has extended us an invitation to enter Its Divine Domain.”

Performing the ceremonial salute of a Holy Knight—a gesture of both gratitude and reverence toward his god—Taylor went on. “Whether or not we will choose to dwell eternally within the God of the Silver Moon’s Divine Domain in the future… right now, this world still needs us. We shall become the Silver Moon’s sword and shield. We will continue to fight the Evil God to the very end.”

Xia Xifeng asked, puzzled, “So then why didn’t you all awaken directly inside the God of the Silver Moon’s Divine Domain? Why here, in this cavern?”

Taylor’s smile widened. “The God of the Silver Moon has granted us a few days’ time to see this world. Only once the Silver Moon’s ceremonial rites have concluded will we depart. Until then, the Silver Moon has bestowed upon us temporary corporeal forms, allowing us to walk the surface lands for a little while, like ordinary mortals.”

Muttering, Xia Xifeng grumbled, “Is that really true? Or is it that He was ticked off at how many times I called Him stupid and deliberately tried to scare me?”

Taylor’s smile froze on his face.

He had already openly stated that he didn’t revere the personality of a god, only the god’s fundamental nature. But calling a god stupid right to its face still seemed a little…

Xia Xifeng’s courage really swung between extremes. Truly an enigma.

“Your time staying in the mortal world is so short, and you’re all still just standing around? Hurry up and hold a banquet!” The instant Xia Xifeng realized all these “ghosts” were familiar faces, his sunny disposition instantly returned. “Mayor! Stop trembling everywhere! They’re all your ancestors!”

The Blackstone Town Mayor’s expression was completely dazed and lost.

Her own elderly father—who had been dead for so many years—was now pointing at her, clutching his stomach and howling with uproarious laughter, mocking his daughter for being such a coward.

This is so… infuriating!!

“Father!!” The Blackstone Town Mayor stomped her foot in fury, sounding exactly like a wronged little girl.

The former Town Lord reached over and vigorously ruffled his daughter’s hair, still laughing. “HAHAHAHAHA!”

The rest of the gathered people watched this father-daughter reunion, and soon they, too, were unable to hold back their own laughter.

Xia Xifeng slumped bodily against Qin Lang.

Qin Lang asked, “What now?”

With utterly unrepentant shamelessness, Xia Xifeng declared, “Even though my mind knows I shouldn’t be scared anymore… my legs are still a bit weak. Carry me out.”

Qin Lang calmly retrieved a pair of crutches from his backpack and held them out. “Here.” As if I’d spoil you!