Chapter 33: Drunken Millenium
The night was as black as ink, and silence reigned in the City Lord's mansion's death row.
After bidding farewell to the White Wolf King, Chen Chang'an's figure drifted in through the air vent like a ghost, landing silently back in his cell.
With a flick of his finger, the broken Spirit-Sealing Chain re-wrapped itself around his wrist. The lock clicked shut, and the runes on its surface flowed, making it look as good as new.
Right now, the entire City Lord's mansion was searching for him. The most dangerous place was, conversely, the safest place.
"Phew..."
Just as he breathed a sigh of relief, his ear twitched—
Footsteps!
Steady and powerful, each step carried the unique spiritual energy fluctuation of a Profound-Connecting Realm cultivator, and they were approaching his cell.
Chen Chang'an's eyes sharpened. He instantly lay back down on the damp pile of straw, closed his eyes to regulate his breathing, and made it long and even, as if he had never woken up.
The cell door creaked open.
A tall figure stood in the doorway, silhouetted against the light of the corridor's torches, casting a long shadow.
—It was the Profound-Connecting Realm commander he had seen before!
Chen Chang'an's divine sense quietly perceived the other's every move. The commander's gaze was like a knife, slowly sweeping across the cell before finally settling on the Spirit-Sealing Chain on his wrist.
He took two steps closer and bent down to inspect the chain. His fingertips brushed over the runes, and after confirming there was no damage, his brow furrowed slightly.
"Was I just being paranoid?"
Chen Chang'an's breathing remained steady; he even controlled his heartbeat to be extremely slow, as if truly in a deep sleep.
The commander stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly sneered, "Count yourself lucky..."
He straightened up, turned, and walked back towards the cell door, his boots making a dull thud on the stone slabs.
"Bang!"
The cell door was shut again, and the sound of footsteps faded into the distance.
"Phew..."
In the darkness, Chen Chang'an slowly opened his eyes, a glint of coldness flashing within them.
He let out a light breath, sat up cross-legged, and closed his eyes to meditate.
Although it was just an avatar, sneaking into the core area of the City Lord's mansion twice in a row had consumed a significant amount of spiritual power. Moreover, he had to ensure his actions were not detected by the mansion's inhabitants.
"The Blood-Refined Demon Crystal... will be completed in ten days..."
The image of the White Wolf King's murky yet still majestic golden pupils flashed through Chen Chang'an's mind.
"The backlash from the Five Signs of Decay can kill the City Lord, but that old wolf's soul will also be scattered..."
He opened his eyes, a look of determination flashing across them.
"I need to find a way to get into the secret chamber one more time without alerting the City Lord's mansion."
...
The next morning, in the study of the City Lord's mansion.
A guard rushed in frantically, holding a letter, his voice trembling. "My Lord! This... this was found at the entrance of the secret chamber!"
The middle-aged man sitting in the purple sandalwood chair—Fu'an City's Lord, Zhao Tianheng—frowned and took the letter.
There were only a few words on it:
"I've missed you greatly since we parted last night. Tonight, outside the north gate, I seek only a battle. If you do not come... the matter of the Blood-Refined Demon Crystal will be known to all!"
In place of a signature, there was a simple drawing of a small wolf.
Zhao Tianheng's face instantly turned as dark as water. With a clench of his five fingers, the letter turned to dust.
"How was this letter delivered! Investigate!" His voice was icy. "Do not let a single suspicious person in the mansion go!"
The guard took his orders and left, while Zhao Tianheng's gaze shifted to the window, a sinister look in his eyes.
"A full moon... outside the north gate?"
He sneered, "I let you escape last night. I'd like to see if you're so lucky this time!"
As evening approached, the sun began to set.
Chen Chang'an sat cross-legged in the death row cell, but his divine sense quietly spread out, perceiving the movements within the City Lord's mansion.
"As expected..."
The corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
Within the mansion, a large number of elite guards had been dispatched, and even the two Profound-Connecting Realm commanders were nowhere to be seen.
What caught his attention the most was that near the secret chamber of the blood pool, the originally tight security had been reduced by more than half!
"The plan worked."
With a flick of his finger, the Spirit-Sealing Chain broke once more, and his figure drifted out of the air vent like smoke.
This time, he didn't hesitate, heading straight for the remote pavilion where the secret chamber was located.
Inside the pavilion, it was dead silent.
Chen Chang'an, familiar with the route, easily broke the seal on the hidden door and stepped into the secret passage. Unlike yesterday, the passage was empty today, and even the smell of blood had faded significantly.
"It seems that fellow from the blood pool really went to the north gate to wait for me..."
He chuckled softly and pulled a wine flask from his robes—it was a strong liquor called "Drunken Millenium," which he had "swiped" from the best tavern in the city when he had slipped out to 'deliver the letter' during the day. It was sharp as a knife on entry and had a powerful kick.
"This should suit the old wolf's taste."
At the end of the passage, the great bronze door was still shut tight, but the guards were long gone. Chen Chang'an easily broke the seal and pushed the door open.
The blood pool was still churning, but the blood-red crystal had dimmed considerably, as if lacking its master's control. And the White Wolf King on the altar was even weaker than yesterday, struggling to even lift its head.
"You..."
The White Wolf King forced its eyes open, its golden vertical pupils filled with shock.
"You really... came back?"
Chen Chang'an swaggered up to the altar, shook the wine flask in his hand, and smiled. "A man of his word doesn't go back on it!"
With that, he tossed the flask. It flew in an arc and landed steadily in front of the White Wolf King.
The Wolf King stared blankly at the flask before it, as if it couldn't believe this was real.
After a long moment, it reached out a forepaw and painstakingly uncorked the flask. Instantly, a strong aroma of wine filled the air, even diluting the stench of the blood pool.
"What kind of wine is this?"
The White Wolf King's voice trembled slightly. It lowered its head and sniffed, and a glint of moisture actually appeared in its murky eyes.
"Drunken Millenium!"
"Good wine..."
It tilted its head back, raised the flask high, and the strong liquor poured down like a waterfall into its mouth.
"Gulp— Gulp—"
Wine flowed down the corners of its mouth, soaking its dry fur.
After finishing the flask, the White Wolf King let out a long breath, and some of its spirit seemed to return to its eyes.
"Satisfying!"
It burst out laughing, the sound hoarse yet hearty, as if it had returned to its glory days.
Chen Chang'an stood with his arms crossed, a smile on his face. "Well? I didn't lie to you, did I?"
The White Wolf King's laughter gradually subsided. Its golden vertical pupils stared at Chen Chang'an, suddenly becoming incredibly serious.
"Human... who exactly are you?"
"A mere Profound-Connecting Realm, yet you were able to sneak in here twice..."
"You are no ordinary cultivator!"
Chen Chang'an shrugged noncommittally. "A name is just a label. What's important is—"
He pointed at the wine flask. "The wine wasn't bad, right?"
The White Wolf King gave him a deep look, then suddenly grinned, revealing its broken fangs.
"Good! An excellent 'the wine wasn't bad'!"
"If I were a few thousand years younger, I would definitely want to become sworn brothers with you!"
Chen Chang'an smiled and was about to speak when his expression suddenly froze—
His divine sense detected a rush of hurried footsteps coming from outside the secret passage!
"Someone's coming!"
The White Wolf King's ears also pricked up. It said in a low voice, "It's that fellow from the blood pool... He's back!"
Chen Chang'an quickly concealed his aura and retreated into the shadows.
"I have to go," he said in a low voice. "In ten days, I will come again."
The White Wolf King shook its head. "There's no need... In ten days, everything will be over."
Its gaze became incredibly calm. "To have had a flask of good wine in these final moments, I have no regrets."
Chen Chang'an wanted to say more, but the footsteps were getting closer.
He gave the White Wolf King one last deep look, then turned and disappeared into the shadows of the passage.
The White Wolf King watched him leave, a complex light flickering in its golden vertical pupils.
It licked the remaining drops of wine from the flask and murmured to itself:
"Humans... they really are interesting..."
...
At that very moment—
A cold, clear voice suddenly echoed by its ear—
"Heh, it's been many years. To think the great White Wolf King would actually take an interest in a human."
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