When Ning Li and her group arrived at Zone 200, it happened to be Prayer to the Gods Week.
This was a festival unique to Zone 200, a time when believers prayed for the descent of the gods’ light.
It was held every year during the first week of November.
The tradition had continued for many years, with many records now lost to time, but without a doubt, this was always the liveliest period of the year in Zone 200.
As soon as they entered Zone 200, Ning Li felt the feverish festival atmosphere.
Everyone walking the streets wore eccentric costumes, each person decked out in their own style, muttering frantically under their breath as they prayed for the gods to descend.
Everyone who appeared in Zone 200 harbored the same delusion—to be favored by the gods.
Ting Rui, rarely showing such cheer, smiled, “Tomorrow night is Prayer to the Gods Night. It’s just in time for Yujiu to be laid to rest.”
“Let’s bury him next to Yu Jie. After so many years, the two of them can finally meet again.”
The Yu Jie Ting Rui mentioned was Pei Yujiu’s wife, a gentle and soft-hearted woman whose life was cut short.
She was Pei Yujiu’s one true love.
Ting Rui enthusiastically began making arrangements, “Tomorrow night, everyone will gather near Shenguang Tower. We should go see the fireworks there too, Commander. It’s been so many years since I’ve seen such spectacular fireworks.”
Every year, the fireworks at Zone 200’s Prayer to the Gods Festival were the most brilliant in the world—bar none.
Each year, the hosts put forth their best skills, treating the event with utmost sincerity.
Yin Que had already corrected Ting Rui many times—he was no longer the Commander.
Yet Ting Rui still addressed him that way out of habit, even joking, “Maybe you’re still the 1,338th Commander, after all?”
Every time this topic came up, Yin Que would fall silent.
Ting Rui, puzzled, asked, “What’s wrong, Commander?”
Yin Que lifted his eyes to the distant horizon, his tone flat.
“In everyone else’s mind, I’ve already been ‘dead’ for a long time.”
Ting Rui said, “But aren’t you alive again?”
Yes.
That was the biggest problem.
The moment he reappeared, everyone’s first question would surely be how he came back to life.
The eyes of the entire Sentinel World would be drawn to him.
He was long accustomed to such attention, yet things would never be quite the same as before.
After meeting Ning Li, every detail, every cause and effect, might be—exposed for all to see.
Such an ability was tantamount to a gift from the gods.
Perhaps, it was even greater than the gods’ gifts.
After all, the gods’ gifts mostly existed only in legends—ordinary people would rarely see them in a lifetime.
But resurrection was close at hand, and his revival was living proof.
How could he stop people’s curiosity?
He couldn’t.
Almost no one could resist the allure of resurrection.
He wasn’t obsessed with certain things.
If the cost of reappearing in public was bringing endless trouble to Ning Li, then he would choose to give up power.
But if only power could better protect her, then he would fight to win it back.
The weather on Prayer to the Gods Night was perfect.
Looking up, one could see a sky full of stars.
The atmosphere at the scene was so passionate it was almost combustible.
Once again, Ning Li experienced firsthand the Zone 200 people’s fanaticism for the gods.
It was an ardent pursuit that words could not describe.
They were willing to give their all—body and soul—for just a glimpse of the gods’ favor.
Many people held torches in their hands, lighting up the night in gentle orange.
From above, the whole area would appear dotted with warm points of light.
Everyone’s face wore a radiant smile.
No one chose to be sad on this day.
Ting Rui carried Pei Yujiu on his back all the way, covering him so well that no one realized he was carrying a corpse.
Even if they had, no one would have cared.
Zone 200’s people had hearts so small that only the gods could fit inside.
The fireworks on Prayer to the Gods Night would begin promptly at eight in the evening, continuing until six the next morning.
It was a long fireworks show—a sleepless night for Zone 200.
Ting Rui chattered endlessly to Pei Yujiu, “Yujiu, we’ve reached your hometown. Do you see it? This is Zone 200. Aren’t we lucky, catching Prayer to the Gods Night? I haven’t been here for years. If only you were still…”
that would be even better.
“Yujiu, let your brother take you to see one last fireworks show. Once it’s over, it’ll finally be time for you to rest in peace.”
Time seemed to flow faster here.
Almost in the blink of an eye, it was eight o’clock.
All around came the cheers, screams, and whistles of the crowd.
Ning Li, Yin Que, Ting Rui, and Pei Yujiu pressed close together amid the throng, utterly inconspicuous.
No one knew why they were here, nor that they were being hunted.
No one cared who they were.
Here, they could enjoy a long-lost sense of peace and excitement.
Once again, they melted into the crowd, coming face to face with the warmth and bustle of mortal life.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
The dazzling light of fireworks illuminated the entire sky.
Ning Li looked up as well.
There were simply too many people near Shenguang Tower.
After joining the festivities for a while, the three—plus a corpse—found a quieter spot.
As everyone admired the fireworks, a gentle blue light suddenly blanketed all of Zone 200.
Before most people could react, four distinct beams of blue light shot in three different directions.
One shot to the east.
One shot to the south.
One shot to the west.
The last one landed squarely on Pei Yujiu.
Ting Rui gaped, bewildered, “Commander, what… what is this?”
Had this ever happened at Prayer to the Gods Night before?
The blue light looked so sacred that he didn’t even dare to speak loudly.
Yin Que suddenly realized something.
“Ning Li, don’t—”
But Ning Li didn’t give him a chance to refuse.
The glow of resurrection slowly seeped into Pei Yujiu’s body.
Borrowing the dazzling blue light emitted by the gods’ gift—the Samsara Sphere—the glow of resurrection was perfectly concealed.
It was as if spring had arrived: tender shoots broke through the earth, branches and leaves unfurled, and life was being revived.
On this night of nationwide revelry, when countless people were exhilarated by the sudden blue light, on a night when even fireworks were outshone by the gods’ radiance, Ning Li turned and gave Yin Que a small smile.
“Brother, look—there really is gods’ light tonight.”
Ning Li didn’t care about Pei Yujiu.
She didn’t care what might happen after saving him, either.
What did it matter?
Perhaps, at their core, she and Xiao Hei were the same kind of beings—mad, bold, and in love with the thrill of the extreme.
She’d only ever disguised herself with excuses, pretending to be someone unremarkable, just trying to quietly adapt to this Sentinel World.
But she didn’t want to go on like that.
She possessed this ability, didn’t she?
She wasn’t a Fume, doomed to never awaken a spirit body.
She was Ning Li, utterly unique.
If her abilities couldn’t bring her joy, then what was the point of working so hard to grow stronger?
To become stronger was to protect herself—and to live more freely.
She did what she wanted, just that simple.
But she remembered, remembered the regrets of her last dream.
So she would be more careful, more cautious.
Thus, borrowing the name of Prayer to the Gods Night, the name of the gods’ light, the fervor of the believers, and this nearly perfect night as an excuse, she chose to resurrect Pei Yujiu.
She didn’t revive him for Pei Yujiu’s sake.
It was for Yin Que.
She understood his sorrow and suppression better than anyone.
If Pei Yujiu had simply died on the battlefield, perhaps Yin Que would have accepted his death more calmly.
That would have been the best ending for Pei Yujiu.
But Pei Yujiu died on the road searching for him.
Up to his last breath, Pei Yujiu was looking for Yin Que’s corpse, trying to gather his remains, to do one last thing for him.
In the end, he fell at Qi Si Gui’s hand.
If not for the five years of [Asura Prison] experience, perhaps Yin Que wouldn’t feel so guilty and pained.
A high-level sentinel who shed so much blood on the battlefield didn’t deserve such an end.
But what could be done?
So many things, all coincidentally converged.
In other words, Pei Yujiu was burdened with all the guilt Yin Que carried.
How long would it take for him to walk out from it?
No one could say.
He was always so sentimental.
Every time he tried to move on, he would probably end up hurting all over again.
But—
It was fine.
She could help him.
She could make sure Pei Yujiu would no longer be Yin Que’s regret.
If Pei Yujiu betrayed them in the future, then she would simply kill him.
Human nature could be good or bad.
She didn’t care what kind of person Pei Yujiu was, nor did she care to resurrect his beloved.
As long as Yin Que no longer suffered, that was enough.
After all, she was a mad gambler, willing to accept any outcome.
Pei Yujiu’s blurred face gradually became clear.
His wounds began to heal.
His heart, still for five years, began to beat again.
The cold corpse slowly warmed.
He was coming back to life.
Ting Rui was so scared he didn’t dare move.
He could accept carrying a corpse, but not one that was reviving on his back—especially since he couldn’t even see Pei Yujiu’s condition, only sensing changes through the weight and feel on his back.
Terrifying, absolutely terrifying.
Yin Que scooped up Ning Li and shouted “Run!” to Ting Rui, then dashed with all his might toward the edge of Zone 200.
Ting Rui froze, then quickly followed.
The others finally started to react.
“Gods’ light! The gods’ light really has descended!”
“Heavens! Please hear my prayers!”
“Who has received the gods’ favor? Who was it?”
“Who did those four beams fall on just now?”
“I just heard—a family in the west just had their dead hunting dog come back to life!”
“What? Really?”
“As true as can be!”
Ning Li felt herself being held tight, the wind from their swift flight blocked outside.
Once again, Yin Que used the Storm Lord’s power, shielding Ning Li from all wind and cold.
If the Storm Lord saw this, he would probably get angry again.
But who cared?
The gods’ light had descended, Pei Yujiu was favored, and he was revived.
A perfect excuse.
At least it was enough to fool Pei Yujiu and Ting Rui.
Whether they believed it or not—
It didn’t matter.
This was the only reason.
“Brother, why aren’t you saying anything?”
Was he too happy?
Maybe so.
After all, Pei Yujiu had come back to life; he no longer had to bear so much guilt and pressure.
She gently pressed her face to Yin Que’s.
The moment her cheek touched his, she felt a distinct dampness.
Tears.
On this night that should have been joyous, a night for reunion, the liveliest Prayer to the Gods Night in all of Zone 200, he was, instead, overwhelmed with sorrow.
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