Chapter 54: Fight, Then Pack Up
Han Yu and Li Hanzhou widened their eyes, their gazes darting between the two "Chen Chang'an" before them.
One stood in front of them, clad in flowing azure robes with a calm expression. The other stood not far away, hands clasped behind his back, smiling faintly.
"This…" Han Yu's throat went dry, unable to form words.
The next moment, the Chen Chang'an before them winked, and his figure dissolved into the air like a bubble.
…
On the other side, Wang Songzhou's face darkened as he stared fixedly at the remaining Chen Chang'an. "Who are you? Why meddle in this affair?"
His heart wavered with uncertainty. Just moments ago, this man had effortlessly stopped Ling Zhanxue from self-destructing. Yet there was not a trace of spiritual fluctuation about him—like a mortal. The more it seemed so, the more he dared not underestimate him.
"Me?" Chen Chang'an patted his sleeve and smiled. "Merely a wandering cultivator living nearby."
"No matter who you are," Wang Songzhou barked harshly, though weakness underlay his tone, "do you know the consequences of offending the Wang clan? You cannot bear them!"
"Offend the Wang clan?" Chen Chang'an's smile deepened. "You die here—what does that have to do with me? Even if I did it, who would know?"
He gestured toward the astrolabe in Xinghe Venerate's hand. "Didn't you already seal off the heavenly secrets? Surely it isn't a lie?"
Wang Songzhou and Xinghe Venerate exchanged a glance, cold cruelty flashing in their eyes.
"Courting death!"
With a roar, Wang Songzhou's figure blurred like a ghost, his withered palm transforming into pitch-black claws, striking for Chen Chang'an's throat.
Yet—
"Pa!"
A light sound cut the air. Wang Songzhou froze, lowering his gaze slowly. Somehow, Chen Chang'an's finger was already pressed against his brow.
"You—"
Before the word finished, Wang Songzhou's body crumbled like sand, scattering into ashes upon the wind.
Chen Chang'an stood unmoving, silently savoring the sensation of his first kill.
It felt… no different than slaughtering a chicken.
Perhaps because there was no blood?
Or perhaps because these people were not even worthy of being called beasts?
Xinghe Venerate's face twisted, his starlight attack not yet released when his ally had already been sent to "GG." Panic flared in his mind, and he rushed to shut down the astrolabe.
But in the next instant, his hand felt suddenly light.
"Huh? My astrolabe?"
"Here it is~" Chen Chang'an twirled the exquisite astrolabe in his hand, eyes filled with admiration. With a pleased tone he said, "So this is the treasure that conceals the heavenly secrets? What a fine artifact!"
Yet the bronze compass shuddered restlessly in his palm. The twenty-eight constellations flared in succession, the floating star paths twisting like living creatures, struggling to break free of his grip.
"The astrolabe is one of my Heavenly Secret Pavilion's guardian artifacts. How could it submit to you so easily!" Xinghe Venerate, seeing this, finally exhaled, sneering in schadenfreude.
"Is that so?"
Chen Chang'an's fingers closed slightly, a wisp of chaotic aura leaking between them. The astrolabe let out a piercing hum, its star patterns flashing madly, like a terrified beast in its last resistance.
"Be still."
Chen Chang'an spoke lightly and clenched his hand.
A crisp metallic hum rang through the valley.
The astrolabe, which had just been restless and violent, froze at once. The chaotic star paths on its surface gently rearranged themselves, and the once cold bronze surface now glowed with a lustrous sheen, like a dusty pearl finally finding a master who truly knew its worth.
Most astonishing of all, the etched Big Dipper in the center extended tiny rays of starlight, lightly winding around Chen Chang'an's fingertip, trembling softly as though in flattery.
He flicked the rim of the astrolabe with a finger, and it immediately responded with a joyous hum. The disk spun on its own, twenty-eight constellations lighting up one after another, projecting a miniature starry sky into his palm.
"This… this is impossible!" Xinghe Venerate felt his true essence, sent to remotely command the astrolabe, brushed aside disdainfully by the artifact itself. It even severed all connection to the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's imprint without hesitation.
It was like a gold-digging ex-girlfriend cutting off every tie the moment she found someone richer. Cold dread swept through Xinghe Venerate's body.
The next instant, without a word, he tried to flee. Yet he discovered his body could no longer move.
"You… who exactly… are you…"
"I told you, I'm just a wandering cultivator passing by." Chen Chang'an smiled, raised his hand, and lightly clenched his fist.
"Puh!"
Xinghe Venerate's figure dispersed into nothingness.
The valley once again fell into silence.
…
Fight over, pack up. Chen Chang'an did not rush to explain to the two dumbfounded youths nearby.
Instead, he walked over to Ling Zhanxue.
Her injuries were grave. Though he had temporarily stabilized her condition earlier, if not treated quickly, they would leave lasting harm.
He knelt beside her, lowering his gaze to examine the star-chain wound piercing her chest.
Ling Zhanxue had already regained consciousness. Her face was pale, brows tightly knit, clearly still enduring severe pain.
"Bear with it." Chen Chang'an's tone was calm as he grasped the fragment of star chain embedded in her flesh.
"Mm…" Ling Zhanxue groaned lowly, cold sweat beading on her forehead, yet she stubbornly refused to cry out.
With a flick of his wrist, Chen Chang'an drew out the star chain, dark red blood trailing after it. He immediately raised his hand, spiritual power condensing in his palm, ready to cast a healing spell. Yet the moment his hand pressed to her chest—
Wait… something was wrong with the touch.
Instead of the firm muscle he expected, his palm met soft, delicate curves.
Chen Chang'an froze, pupils contracting, as though struck by lightning.
"…???"
Slowly, he lowered his gaze to the point where his hand touched her chest, then raised his head again, meeting Ling Zhanxue's eyes. They were misted from pain, yet carried a flicker of panic.
In that instant, the air seemed to freeze.
…
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