The illusion suddenly shattered, and Gu’s figure fell into this pure white space.
Seeing the two people before him—more precisely, Director Wu’s complicated expression—he immediately realized that they had seen him reliving the memory repeatedly.
Gu still held the spirit sword that had just pierced his friend’s chest, and when he faced Director Wu’s eyes, his whole body seemed to freeze.
His gaze dropped low, as if by not looking at Director Wu, Director Wu wouldn’t see him either.
“Director…” Gu called out to Director Wu, his voice trembling slightly.
Director Wu wasn’t originally the head of the Special Management Bureau.
Back when Gu was still studying in Jin City, Director Wu was still at Foundation Establishment stage and served as the head instructor for all the special classes.
“Luo Heng, how did you become like this?” Director Wu’s voice was filled with uncontrollable disappointment and sorrow.
The long-unheard name was awakened, and tears glistened in Gu’s eyes.
“I know I was wrong.”
“Director, I already know I was wrong.”
“He said he would tell you, teacher… I lost my head for a moment. I’ve changed.”
Gu’s voice was hoarse. “At that time, I had no other choice. Demonic cultivation was just a last resort… Director, you know, in this city all these years, I have never harmed anyone inside.”
“I’ve only ever targeted the alien tribes.”
“All these years, I’ve been weakening the alien tribes outside Jin City.”
“I truly repent.”
Director Wu looked at Luo Heng’s face just as it was back then, unsure of what to say.
Because what he said was indeed the truth.
Gu was an exception among the alien tribes outside the city; he truly did not participate in anything detrimental to Jin City.
Director Wu’s grip on his weapon loosened slightly.
Luo Heng’s words aligned with what Director Wu hoped to believe.
He couldn’t help but want to trust him, but the final scene in the illusion—when Luo Heng struck his companion with no trace of joy—had frozen him with doubt.
***
Finally, Director Wu turned his gaze toward Li Yunxian.
This action stunned Gu.
Because there was no doubt this was a directive for the other party to take charge.
Director Wu was a Golden Core Great Perfection, while Ginkgo was only at Foundation Establishment stage.
Gu’s expression darkened as he recalled this secret realm, so unlike Director Wu’s usual style.
What exactly was Ginkgo’s identity?
After noticing Director Wu’s gaze, Li Yunxian looked back and said, “Done talking?”
“If you still want to talk, go ahead. Once someone’s dead, there’s no more talking.” Li Yunxian’s words were perfectly reasonable.
From Director Wu’s tone when speaking of Gu, Li Yunxian knew that if she didn’t give Director Wu and Gu the chance to talk, this matter would become a mental block for Director Wu.
She was considerate enough not to attack the moment Gu appeared.
Director Wu, who had been treated considerately by Li Yunxian:
Seeing Director Wu at a loss for words, Li Yunxian clearly pointed out one thing to him.
“He never once loosened his grip on the sword in his hand. Whether he was crying and expressing regret or claiming it was out of necessity, he never let go.”
“When he spoke about the illusion just now, his words blamed his companion; he said he had no choice.”
“Director, he is no longer Luo Heng, but just Gu.”
Li Yunxian calmly exposed what Director Wu clearly understood but was unwilling to accept.
Hearing Li Yunxian’s words, Gu’s face twitched as if insulted, and he shouted angrily at her, “I am Luo Heng!”
“I am still Luo Heng!!”
“I have always been protecting Qin City!”
“I am Luo Heng!”
Li Yunxian’s tone to Director Wu was somewhat gentle, but toward Gu, it was only scornful.
“The Luo Heng in your heart—is he a person, or that image praised by everyone as the light of tomorrow, the hope?”
How much of the ‘only targeting aliens for Qin City’s sake’ was because Luo Heng had been in the Four Great factions, knew how terrifying the righteous forces were, and knew that attacking familiar alien tribes was safer than attacking Jin City? No one knows.
Not attacking the righteous means naturally attacking aliens for cultivation resources.
And in the process, it comforts himself.
‘I haven’t lost my humanity yet. I’ve done right by the people of Qin City. I’m the hidden hero Luo Heng.’
Satisfied with all his desires.
He only repeated the illusion three times before breaking out of the killing formation…
In a certain sense, Gu really was a genius at demonic cultivation.
But Li Yunxian had no intention of speaking such words to him.
Her purpose was only to prevent Director Wu from being deceived by Gu’s words.
“Director, do you think that when he came out of the illusion crying to you, was he truly remorseful, or was it because he knew he couldn’t beat you?” Li Yunxian asked.
Director Wu was speechless.
Without a doubt, it was the latter.
The two of them traveled together, so their relationship must have been very close; at least close enough that the companion didn’t have the heart to kill Luo Heng in the end.
It is well known that under the Ordinance, attacking one’s own faction among the righteous doesn’t lead to death but results in cultivation being revoked and strict supervision.
It is a relatively mild Ordinance.
Yet Luo Heng still ruthlessly wanted to kill the other.
He, Director Wu, had been Luo Heng’s head instructor long ago, when Luo Heng was in middle and high school.
How could there be so much genuine remorse and reflection in Luo Heng’s heart?
If Luo Heng—no, if Gu, who just broke out of the illusion—had seen only Li Yunxian alone, he might have directly attacked her.
He didn’t really care whether Li Yunxian was righteous or alien.
Director Wu sighed and raised the blade in his hand.
Yunxian.
Gu knew there was no chance of persuading Director Wu to let him go.
He also assumed a battle stance, but at this moment, his eyes were fixed on Li Yunxian.
“Who are you?” Gu asked.
Li Yunxian’s every word struck at Gu’s most fatal weakness.
Her words were like knives, cutting deep.
Her gaze looked through him entirely.
Judging him, mocking him.
Gu didn’t think this person could be a nobody.
Especially seeing how even Director Wu listened to her words…
Nascent Soul? Dividing Spirit?
To send such a figure just to capture a few Golden Core practitioners…
If he died now, it would not be in vain.
Li Yunxian shrugged and dispelled her cultivation disguise.
Her aura dropped by increments until it finally settled at Qi Refinement stage, level seven.
—After consolidating her realm, Li Yunxian rose another level.
Gu was stunned.
Before he could fully understand the situation, he heard Li Yunxian’s calm voice.
“I am Li Yunxian.”
“I’ve come to avenge my mother!”
Gu felt he understood every word, yet somehow none of it made sense.
But he also understood why Director Wu had disguised himself as Qi Refinement stage when they captured them.
So that’s how it was.
So that’s how it was!!
Looking at this person he had heard about long ago, the current number one on the Qing Teng List, Li Yunxian’s confident expression made Gu burst into laughter.
He recalled how he felt so long ago, when he first entered Tiantong Academy.
Why wasn’t he the first?
Why!!
Talents are as common as fish crossing the river.
Why was he just one of the fish…