The Forbidden Zone Incident Concludes, Leaving Leng Qingqiu Feeling Ashamed and Desolate

The flow of time within the forbidden zone was different from the outside world.

By the time Bai Jun and the others emerged, night had already fallen.

Inside the department hospital,

Bai Jun lay weakly on the hospital bed,

his eyes vacant as he stared at the ceiling.

The weight of their failed operation pressed heavily on his heart.

A crushing defeat.

This expedition had been a devastating loss for the martial faction.

All their previous experience exploring forbidden zones had been shattered in the fifth forbidden zone.

The ancient energy had been fused by the self-proclaimed Nether Clan into a monstrous abomination.

In the end, the Nether Monarch had left—had it stayed, none of them would have escaped alive.

And then there was...

That final, overwhelming black sword energy.

Who had unleashed it?

With a single strike, it had annihilated every demonic beast and even the Nether Clan woman present.

Incredible. Unfathomably strong.

Could it have been his master?

Bai Jun shook his head at the thought. No, his master didn’t wield a sword.

Then who? Were there other martial artists in the forbidden zone besides them?

But those with such power could be counted on one hand in this world.

Sighing, Bai Jun closed his eyes, overwhelmed by the pressure.

Too many had died in this battle.

Not just from the sects—even the department’s martial artists had suffered heavy losses.

"It’s all because I was too weak..."

Bai Jun muttered to himself, tears silently rolling down his cheeks.

Outside the door.

"We’ve reviewed the situation."

"Director Lin, where were you during the expedition?"

A man in black, a sun emblem pinned to his chest, spoke calmly as he observed Lin Yinyin, who stood with her head bowed like a child caught misbehaving.

"I... I... Bai Jun told me to stay in the vehicle to protect the logistics team."

"But for some reason, I kept getting drowsier and drowsier, until..."

Lin Yinyin’s voice trembled with fear, her eyes darting up occasionally to gauge the man’s expression.

"Until you fell asleep, is that it?"

The man in black finished her sentence, taking a deep breath before snapping his notebook shut.

"As the highest-ranking officer in charge of this operation, Lin Yinyin, you will bear full responsibility."

He handed her a document, his tone icy. "This is the Peace Faction’s official disciplinary notice for your negligence."

"Further actions will be announced by the department."

Adjusting his glasses, the man strode away without another word.

Lin Yinyin clutched the paper in her hands.

Then, with a sudden burst of tears, she crumpled the notice—marked with the words [Lin Yinyin is deemed unfit to continue as director of the Peace Faction]—and stormed into Bai Jun’s hospital room.

"The inspection team is bullying me!!"

......

The fifth forbidden zone.

After the devastation of the battle, most of the miasma and demonic creatures had been obliterated by [Night].

Truly, the weapon Night was absurdly powerful—no wonder everyone coveted the title of Night King.

"Young master, what’s the purpose of collecting these souls?"

Old Gao watched as Gu Yan used Zhua Zhua to devour the souls of all the fallen department martial artists in the forbidden zone, his curiosity piqued.

Gu Yan smirked. "What else? Just making use of the scraps."

"If Zhua Zhua absorbs them, their strength becomes mine, doesn’t it?"

"By the way, where’s Wang Yulan?"

Xiao Leng had already left—likely because Qingqiu was waking up again.

Old Gao glanced toward the distant black tower. "She returned to the tower."

Gu Yan, now in his monarch form, nodded.

Honestly, he hadn’t expected Wang Yulan to break through to mid-stage Grandmaster, let alone peak Grandmaster.

Was this the effect of fully merging with the ancient energy?

And she’d retained her sanity, too.

Though... he hadn’t anticipated her suddenly clinging to the puppet version of himself that Zhua Zhua had created.

Luckily, nothing unexpected happened—Xiao Leng’s methods were straightforward and brutal.

Once Zhua Zhua had finished absorbing all the souls, Gu Yan clapped his hands. "Done!"

"Chirp chirp!"

Zhua Zhua emerged cheerfully, its power noticeably strengthened by the feast.

As for the sect martial artists’ souls?

They had been completely annihilated by the dagger.

After all, they were the same sects that had once hunted down the Leng Family—good riddance.

With everything settled, Gu Yan exhaled.

And so, the forbidden zone incident had come to an end.

Now...

Time for a well-deserved rest!

Black Tower.

Wang Yulan sat on the tower’s edge, her gaze distant as she stared at the horizon.

From here, she could see the deep trench carved into the earth—a scar left by that single, devastating sword strike.

Countless lives had been reduced to black dust in its wake.

She didn’t know who had delivered that final blow.

But she knew one thing: if the sword energy had intended to kill her, she wouldn’t have survived.

Was Xiao Lin really that powerful?

Did that mean... she was still weak after all?

And then there was Gu Yan.

Not taking him with her—was that actually a blessing in disguise?

If he saw her like this... would he be disappointed?

A sudden sound snapped her out of her thoughts, her expression turning cold.

"Newcomer... Lin is dead. Many of our kin have fallen."

The silver giant wolf, Yinyue, lay down beside her, sorrow heavy in its eyes.

Lin was truly gone—not even a trace of his soul remained.

That sword energy had been terrifying; Yinyue surviving at all was a miracle.

Lin?

The Nether Clan member who looked almost human?

Wang Yulan mused silently.

But soon, a pang of sadness struck her.

After all... wasn’t she one of the Nether Clan now?

The Nether Monarch... she could feel an inexplicable power planted within her, as if her life was no longer her own.

Sighing, she reached out and gently stroked Yinyue’s head.

"Once we grow stronger... we’ll find our enemies."

Her voice hardened. "And kill them all."

Turning to Yinyue, she declared firmly, "From now on, my name is Lan."

Yinyue shuddered, its eyes reddening.

"...Understood."

......

Leng Family.

Study room.

Buzz... buzz...

The incessant vibration of a phone echoed through the room.

"Gu—Gu Yan, stop!"

Leng Qingqiu jolted awake.

But as soon as she opened her eyes, she sensed something strange.

Huh?

Why was there no trace of danger?

And where was Gu Yan? Why did this place feel so familiar?

It was almost like... her own study.

Just then—

"Sis... are you okay?"

"Brother-in-law is calling."

Leng Ling'er’s voice reached her ears.

"Ling'er?"

Leng Qingqiu blinked, taking a deep breath as confusion settled in.

Wait a minute... hold on...

Wasn't I just in the forbidden zone? Wasn’t I right beside Gu Yan? Wasn’t I just kissed by that skilled technique of his until...

Yes, until I passed out?

The moment Leng Qingqiu thought of this, she felt an overwhelming sense of shame. Damn it!

How could I, Leng Qingqiu, have been kissed into unconsciousness by mere Gu Yan? This is an absolute disgrace!