Why? Why did it have to be like this? Leng Qingqing had always believed he would live happily with Leng Jing forever. He never expected that, in the end, they could not escape the fate of parting. Overwhelmed by shock and sorrow, he could only find a shred of security by eating incessantly, until his mouth was stuffed full of food.
"Can’t... Can’t the Young Master take us with him to the Chaos Sea to repair the boundary?" the White Mink asked, its voice filled with reluctant longing.
Leng Wuchen shook his head. "No. Beings like you cannot withstand the pressure of the Chaos Sea. Even a single moment there would cause your souls to scatter and vanish."
"Will you wait for my return, or forget me from this day forth? Or perhaps, choose to be frozen by my ice once more?" Leng Jing asked, his voice resolute, not even turning his head.
"I want to wait for you. But I won't wait for you inside the ice anymore," Leng Qingqing said. "Jing-er, give me some time. I cannot always lag behind you. Please, give me a little time. When you return, I will be someone who can truly protect you."
"It is rare for you to show such ambition. Very well, Qingqing. Listen closely: when I return, no matter what you have become, I will find you." Leng Jing turned around and finally pulled Leng Qingqing into his embrace.
Xuan Yuan Yue was deeply moved by the sight. He pulled Leng Yueshi into his own arms and declared firmly, "Feng-er, wait for my return. This Prince will surely bring you happiness!"
Leng Qingqing sniffled. The sudden realization that he might not see Leng Jing for hundreds or even millions of years caused his tears to burst forth like a breached dam. He wept bitterly; now, even the person he loved most in the world was leaving him. He collapsed against Leng Jing’s chest and wailed, venting a sorrow he had never released since the day he was born.
"My son!!" Leng Qingqing clutched the clothes at Leng Jing’s chest tightly. Every memory of Leng Jing flickered through his mind: when Leng Jing was still an egg; when he was a hatchling dragon who couldn't speak; when he grew into a man, a majestic divine dragon; the times they served as guards on the snowy mountains; their journey to the Dragon Palace; their adventures in the martial world; their visits to the royal palace and the Heavenly Realm... All of these would become his memories of his son, pearls of a past that felt unreal. The persistence of not wanting to let go clashed with the greater righteousness of having to do so, making him finally taste the true meaning of heartbreak. Yet he knew that the one who could ultimately stand by Leng Jing’s side could not be a fool like himself. Even if his heart ached, even if he was loath to part, he had to endure. He wanted Leng Jing to return to a brand-new Leng Qingqing—one who wouldn't cause trouble, one who was truly worthy of him!
On one side was a flood of intense emotion; on the other was reason. Leng Qingqing ultimately chose the latter. He swore that from this moment on, he would cultivate diligently—for Leng Jing, and for himself—so that he could become a true Snake King and a real pillar of support for his son!
For Leng Qingqing realized clearly that if the current Leng Jing went to repair the boundary, the one he eventually waited for might be a broken, incomplete dragon. When that time came, he had to be able to protect his son. His son’s happiness depended on him!
With a glimmer of earnest determination in his eyes, Leng Qingqing raised his head and gave Leng Jing a heavy nod. "Jing-er! For the sake of the world, for the sake of the realm we depend on to survive, go! Do not worry about me! I will cultivate well and live on! When you return, I will be magnificent beyond compare!"
"Magnificent beyond compare..." Leng Jing sighed, his expression flat.
"I will definitely be magnificent! Do you not believe me?! Is that a look of disdain?! Just you wait!" Leng Qingqing blustered, his previous sorrow transforming into a spirit of hot-blooded struggle.
It turned out that the hidden, unknown dark side of Leng Qingqing’s heart was the desire to become magnificent beyond compare.
The White Mink found itself completely ignored. No one even thought to say goodbye to it. It rolled around on the deck, crying hysterically, wailing at the injustice of it all!
Seeing this tragic scene, Leng Yueshi couldn't help but sigh. "Alas, what is love that it binds even unto death? Permit this humble one to play a piece for you both to express my admiration."
He actually produced a guqin he carried with him and began to pluck the strings on the boat.
"Heavens, are you sure you aren't just fluffing cotton?" the White Mink blurted out stupidly.
*Piu!* A bolt of internal energy struck with the force of a thunderbolt, knocking the White Mink into the underground river.
Xuan Yuan Yue then clapped his hands with treacherous flattery. "This music should only exist in the heavens; how often can it be heard in the mortal realm! Fine zither! Fine tune! Fine skill!!"
Only then did the other three realize that this white rat could actually speak. But when the soaking wet White Mink crawled back up, no one wanted to go near it. Leng Qingqing and Leng Jing stopped pouring their hearts out to each other; the only sound left on the boat was the White Mink’s loud wailing.
***
"What time do you think it is? You're still dawdling here." In the distance of the sewers, Han Yu stood holding a torch, waiting for the group.
"Han Yu, why are you here?" Leng Jing asked.
Wearing a mask and a cloak, Han Yu approached them and said, "Like you, I was trapped within Wanxiang. Leng Jing, you’ve realized it, haven't you? This entire Millennial City is an illusion manifested by Wanxiang. The sewers we are in now are actually at the base of the Wanxiang Tower—time and space are distorted both inside and outside the tower. These sewers are effectively Wanxiang’s basement. Follow me, I will lead you out of here."
The group jumped off the boat and followed the cloaked man through the intricate underground labyrinth.
They walked along the banks for an unknown amount of time until a thunderous roar echoed from the far side of the sewers. Everyone looked up to see a massive, hazy shadow gradually approaching from around a corner.
Han Yu said, "That is a monster abandoned in the lower levels. We must avoid it. This way." He ducked into a deep, narrow passage.
They walked through that passage for a full two hours before finally reaching the end. They had been wandering in these sunless sewers for several days; a normal person would have likely collapsed long ago.
Han Yu felt along the wall at the end until he found an iron ring. With a hard tug, he pulled open a dust-covered iron door. Inside was another dark corridor, but when Han Yu flipped a switch on the wall, a relatively clean living area was revealed.
"This is a separate room, a hidden corner that Qing Yue hasn't discovered. We can rest here for now." Han Yu signaled for everyone to take a break.
Leng Jing and the others found places to sit, while the White Mink scurried into the washroom to start cleaning itself.
"Old Man Leng, did you bring what I asked for?" Han Yu asked Leng Wuchen.
"I brought it. I didn't travel ten thousand miles to this godforsaken place for nothing." Leng Wuchen took a small cloth bundle from his robe. Han Yu opened it in front of everyone, revealing a large jar of white medicinal powder.
Han Yu took the powder and handed it to Leng Jing, whispering in his ear for a while. Leng Jing’s expression turned strange, while the White Mink, Leng Qingqing, and Xuan Yuan Yue were all left in a fog of confusion.
"Han Yu, who exactly are you? How do you know all this in such detail?" Leng Jing asked suspiciously.
"I’ve already told you who I am. I am merely a victim." Han Yu gave a dry cough and pointed to another iron door in the rest area. "This second door leads to two paths. One path leads back to your normal space-time, and the other is a staircase leading upward to the top floor. In a moment, everyone except Leng Jing will follow Old Man Leng and leave."
Thus, the six of them were divided into two groups.
After a short rest, everyone took their positions. The White Mink finally emerged from the washroom and stood beside the powerful Leng Jing, as this gave it a sense of security.
"Alright, let’s head out." As the leader of the first group, Han Yu led Leng Qingqing and the others toward the shortcut out, while the White Mink foolishly followed behind Leng Jing. It had no idea that the exit path would only open once.
By the time Leng Jing told it the truth, it was too late. The White Mink wailed in despair.
As the footsteps of Leng Qingqing’s group faded and the sound of the heavy door closing echoed, it meant the shortcut out was sealed. At this moment, Leng Jing had no choice but to go all the way up.
"Young Master, you must let me live!" The White Mink hugged his leg, rubbing against it with teary eyes.
"Let's rest first." Leng Jing, now in a world of his own, sat down on the sofa and began to enslave the White Mink to serve him.
***
This cramped living room was not a good place to rest. Although it was equipped with almost all the appliances of the industrial age, the air was exceptionally stifling, and there were no ventilation windows or gaps.
Leng Jing sat on the sofa flipping through outdated magazines from the bookshelf, his legs propped up on the coffee table. An old-fashioned fan across from him whirred and creaked as it blew air, but the heat didn't lessen in the slightest.
Because it was so afraid, the White Mink opened the refrigerator and ate continuously. But no matter how much it consumed, the half-bottle of milk never diminished, and the number of bacon strips in the fridge remained unchanged. Clearly, this space was also frozen by some mysterious power.
After an unknown amount of time, the White Mink finally slumped on the sofa and fell into a deep sleep. Suddenly, a short series of knocks came from the door.
"Jing-er! Open up, it's me!" Leng Qingqing called out anxiously from outside the iron door. "We were attacked by Qing Yue! Quick, open the door and let us in!"
The White Mink jerked awake, looking at Leng Jing in terror. Leng Jing made a shushing gesture and quietly pulled up a floorboard beneath the sofa, revealing a dark hole leading underground.
He crept into the dark hole, and the White Mink immediately jumped onto his shoulder.
*That person outside isn't Leng Qingqing, is it?* The White Mink clutched Leng Jing’s hair, trembling all over.
Leng Jing closed the secret hatch. The crawlspace was pitch black. The White Mink felt Leng Jing crawling forward bit by bit—the space was so low that he had to lie flat against the ground.
Above their heads, the sound of the iron door being smashed open finally arrived. A voice laced with metallic static said sinisterly, "As I thought! That traitor Han Yu dug an ant hole here! Han Yu, did you think you could escape?"
Then, violent noises erupted above, as if a storm had invaded the room.
Han Yu had told Leng Jing that this tunnel was the true shortcut to the top floor, so Leng Jing persisted in crawling slowly through the passage. The White Mink desperately held back its tears, simply gripping Leng Jing’s back. After an unknown amount of time, its claws went numb, and it slipped off Leng Jing’s back, falling behind him.
At that moment, it felt the back of its head hit a wall hard. It turned out there was a wall right behind Leng Jing!
How strange! Leng Jing had been crawling for so long; had he been running in place the whole time?
The White Mink let out a cry, and only then did Leng Jing turn back. He took out a flashlight and turned it on, letting the White Mink see their current situation.
They were surrounded on all sides by earthen walls! They were sealed inside a closed underground pit!
The White Mink felt its chest tighten and finally fainted.
Leng Jing had no choice but to put the unconscious mink in his pocket and continue forward. It turned out this tunnel was another peculiar independent space; it appeared sealed and pathless, but as long as one moved forward, a gap would always appear, while the space behind would vanish. This was why the White Mink had mistakenly thought they were trapped.
However, this space was enough to torture a person to death.
Hard work pays off, and Leng Jing finally found the exit. The wall in front of him no longer extended. He pushed hard, and the earthen wall began to loosen.
According to Han Yu, outside this wall was the shortcut of Wanxiang—the emergency passage to the top floor.
He pushed open the wall, and sure enough, outside was a brightly lit, quiet stairwell. As Leng Jing emerged from the tunnel, the exit naturally vanished behind him.
Western-style chandeliers hung directly above the stairwell. A long flight of stairs stretched upward, its end out of sight. This was the emergency passage of Wanxiang. It was said that this was the path Han Yu had used to escape years ago, and no one knew of this abandoned route.
By going up these stairs, one could directly reach the ultimate core—Qing Yue.
Leng Jing took a deep breath and stepped onto the first stair.
One step, two steps, three steps... Leng Jing proceeded cautiously, finally reaching the landing between the first and second floors where the stairs turned. On the wall of this corner, there was a window through which the night view outside could be seen. It was peaceful out there, with flickering lights, but Leng Jing knew it was merely an illusion. At this moment, only what was inside this building was the true nightmare.
Leng Jing paused for a moment, surveyed the terrain, and stepped onto the stairs again.
It took less than two minutes to reach the second floor. However, Han Yu had once said that to emerge from the torments of the first floor and enter the training of the second floor often took decades and the lives of thousands. Perhaps every floor of the tower had been distorted into a different space by Qing Yue’s power, and this emergency passage was the only secret path connecting all these spaces.
There were three doors on the three walls of the second-floor stairwell. The door on the left was for a tool room, the one on the right was a restroom, and the locked door in the center was the emergency exit leading into the second floor. A sign for the "2nd Floor" was posted on the wall. Opening that door would reveal the Shura Hell of the second floor. Yet, in the stairwell, Leng Jing felt only an immense silence; there was no sound in the entire passage except for his own breathing.
Leng Jing ultimately abandoned the thought of opening that door and walked straight toward the third floor.
In this manner, Leng Jing quickly climbed to the very top—the ninety-ninth floor.
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
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万象大厦 | Wanxiang Tower | Also referred to as the Wanxiang Building.
修罗地狱 | Shura Hell | A place of eternal slaughter and suffering.
风华绝代 | Magnificent beyond compare | A phrase describing peerless elegance or beauty.
千年都市 | Millennial City | The illusory city created by Wanxiang.
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