The Death of a Famous Blade: The Crime of Chang'an

Lin Xiangliu led Chen Chang'an to the secluded courtyard where he usually resided.

After everyone had taken their seats, Lin Xiangliu let out a long sigh. It was clear that Wu Mingdao's death had deeply affected him as well.

"Wu Mingdao had exceptional talent and strength, and the Wu Family's influence was formidable too."

"To put it bluntly, the likelihood of you meeting an untimely end was higher than his, given the Lin Family's lack of deep-rooted power."

"Why did Wu Mingdao meet such a fate? Didn't the Wu Family protect him?" Chen Chang'an asked with a frown.

Lin Xiangliu glanced at Chen Chang'an and gave a bitter smile. "Brother Chen, though the Wu Family is strong, there's always someone stronger."

"Have you heard of the Fengtian Imperial Dynasty?"

The Fengtian Imperial Dynasty?

Chen Chang'an had never been there, but he had certainly heard of it.

In the Central Heaven Domain, and indeed throughout the entire Tai Xuan Realm, most factions existed in the form of aristocratic families or sects.

However, there were other power structures as well—imperial dynasties. Within the Central Heaven Domain, three such dynasties stood tall.

These three imperial dynasties were forces to be reckoned with. Though they lacked the presence of a Great Emperor, each had cultivators at the peak of the Undying Realm.

The Fengtian Imperial Dynasty was one of them.

Logically speaking, the Fengtian Imperial Dynasty's territory was far removed from the Wu Family's domain—so distant that they shouldn’t have had any dealings. Could Wu Mingdao have ventured into Fengtian territory for training and met with misfortune?

"Was it someone from the Fengtian Imperial Dynasty who acted?"

"Wu Mingdao was stubborn, but he wasn’t the type to provoke the Fengtian Imperial Dynasty recklessly."

"What exactly happened here?" Chen Chang'an pressed, his brows furrowed.

Lin Xiangliu hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.

"Brother Chen, have you heard of Yin Tianzi from the Fengtian Imperial Dynasty?"

Yin Tianzi?

Chen Chang'an had no recollection of this person. His knowledge of the Fengtian Imperial Dynasty was limited to its name and little else.

"I haven’t. Was he the one who struck?" Chen Chang'an asked.

"Indeed, it was him."

"This Yin Tianzi is a top-tier expert of the Fengtian Imperial Dynasty, known for his arrogance and unbridled nature."

"Rumors say his cultivation has reached the peak of the ninth level of the Undying Realm—truly terrifying."

"Brother Chen, are you sure you don’t know him?"

Lin Xiangliu’s question caught Chen Chang'an off guard. Why would he ask such a thing?

Could it be that this matter was somehow connected to him?

If that were the case, then Wu Mingdao had suffered because of him.

But try as he might, Chen Chang'an couldn’t recall any encounter with Yin Tianzi. Though he had traveled often, his excursions were always brief and limited in scope.

His friendships with Lin Xiangliu and Wu Mingdao had only come about because the two were also out training when they happened to cross paths.

"Da Huang, do you remember this Yin Tianzi?" Chen Chang'an asked, turning to Da Huang.

"How would I know if you don’t? But I’d bet this has something to do with you."

Da Huang studied Chen Chang'an. Knowing him as it did, if this truly was connected to Chen Chang'an, he wouldn’t take it lightly.

Outwardly, Chen Chang'an seemed indifferent to most things—even his own family. His ties to the Chen Family were tenuous at best, rooted more in bloodline than affection.

He had barely interacted with his family before Mu Yunyao took him away.

After spending a thousand years under Mu Yunyao’s tutelage, Chen Chang'an had only occasionally ventured out for amusement. By then, his memories of the Chen Family had all but faded.

But that didn’t mean he was truly indifferent to everything.

"Brother Chen, from what I’ve heard, Yin Tianzi is infatuated with Changsun Xixue of the Changsun Family—obsessively so."

"And Changsun Xixue has been searching for you all this time, which has made Yin Tianzi despise you intensely."

"At some point, Yin Tianzi learned that Wu Mingdao might know you, so he sought him out."

"You know Wu Mingdao’s temperament. Even if he had known your whereabouts, he would never betray a friend."

"The opponent was simply too powerful. The Wu Family couldn’t afford to provoke him and tried to force Wu Mingdao to reveal your secrets."

"But Wu Mingdao refused. He severed ties with the Wu Family and faced Yin Tianzi—and the entire Fengtian Imperial Dynasty—alone."

"In that battle, Yin Tianzi didn’t personally intervene. Proud as he was, he looked down on Wu Mingdao’s level of cultivation."

"At the time, Wu Mingdao had reached the peak of the ninth level of the Supreme Realm. Yin Tianzi sent ten Supreme Realm experts after him."

"Wu Mingdao fought alone, slaying all ten and breaking through to the Undying Realm in the process."

"Using the power of the heavenly tribulation and the recovery from his breakthrough, he narrowly escaped death. But the Fengtian Imperial Dynasty didn’t stop hunting him."

"By the time I received word and rushed to his aid, it was already too late."

"Before his death, Wu Mingdao entrusted me with his Divine Dragon Armor and left a message for you, Brother Chen."

As Lin Xiangliu finished speaking, Chen Chang'an’s expression remained eerily calm—but that very calmness betrayed the storm raging within him.

"What was his message?" Chen Chang'an asked quietly.

"See for yourself. This jade pendant contains a trace of his soul imprint."

"It’s… the last chance to see him."

Lin Xiangliu handed Chen Chang'an a jade pendant, his gaze lingering on it with reluctance. He knew that once the pendant was used, Wu Mingdao would vanish completely from this world, leaving no trace behind.

Chen Chang'an took the pendant, studying it deeply for a moment before crushing it in his hand.

As the jade shattered, a faint soul appeared before them.

Wu Mingdao’s soul stood there, just as he had been in life—a young man brimming with vigor, his face wearing the same confident smile.

"Brother Chen, it’s been too long. Finally, we meet again—though now we’re separated by life and death, and can no longer share a drink."

"Our friendship was brief, but it was genuine. In this life, I had few friends, but you and Brother Lin were the closest. With you two, I have no regrets."

"I know that if you’re seeing me now, Brother Lin must have told you everything."

"Brother Chen, don’t blame yourself. This was my choice, not your fault."

"The enemy was strong, but I, Wu Mingdao, was never one to cower in fear. Betraying a friend would have been worse than death—I could never do it."

"Fighting for a brother was my wish. You need not seek vengeance for me."

"If there’s a next life…"

"If we meet again…"

"I’ll drink three hundred cups with you!"

"Brother Chen… I’m glad you’re still alive."

With those final words, Wu Mingdao’s soul gradually dissipated, his smile lingering until the very end.

As that familiar face faded away, Chen Chang'an’s calm was terrifying—especially to Da Huang, who could sense the tempest of emotions beneath his composed exterior.

Gu Xian'er stood to the side, watching Chen Chang'an with a trace of worry in her eyes, yet she dared not utter a word.

"Brother Chen, this is..."

Before Lin Xiangliu could finish his sentence, Chen Chang'an suddenly smiled and asked, "In this world, do you truly believe in reincarnation?"