Scourge Messenger

Chapter 367 Welcome back
Ying Su is dead.

He wasn't killed by Night Four's mechanical puppets, but died during the battle.

Although his strength has decreased to below the Foundation Establishment stage, he still has a great advantage over the mechanical puppets, which cannot touch him at all.

However, Night Four had a mechanical puppet that was a perfect counter to him:

"Second-Tier Puppet Master: Steam Thunder Magic Master"

"Attack Power: 11200" (Value after enhancement)
Health: 11400

"Special Feature: Lightning Magic Splash: This puppet's attacks will deal 300 points of lightning magic splash damage, and will deal double damage to traps, ghouls, and monsters."

This was originally a mid-stage puppet, effective against specific races, but it was surprisingly effective against messengers. Its attack method was to slam the ground to create a large network of lightning; if Ying Su was hit by it, he would be temporarily paralyzed, greatly limiting his attack frequency and movement range. He tried several times to rush over to deal with Yan Qing and Ying Rushi, but there were simply too many of the seven puppets, like an unshakeable city wall.

On his final charge, he collapsed to the ground like a wound-up toy. Aside from Ying Rushi's initial counterattack, he hadn't suffered any other injuries throughout the battle, but lying on the ground in a pool of his own blood, blood seeping from every crevice of his armor.

While Ye Si was searching for his keepsakes, he also turned him over. Only then did Yan Qing realize that he wasn't much older than them, and even looked a bit childish. Ye Si touched him and found that his body was as soft as a sack, and all his bones were shattered. This wasn't an injury that could be caused in an instant; the power of the Foundation Establishment Divine Ability had been slowly crushing his life during the fierce battle.

But there was no trace of pain or resentment on his face, only a faint smile, as if he were relieved of a burden, or as if he were happy that his wish had been fulfilled. A gold key hung around his neck, but it was not a token, and Yan Qing did not take it. Instead, he lit a fire to send him off to his funeral.

Faced with an enemy who could drive him to the brink of despair and even break through to the level of a master, Yan Qing was willing to give him the respect due to a dead man.

Yan Qing and Ying Ru returned to the center of the Demon Gathering Land and found Murong Hui still inside the Epitaph. She lay on the ground like a phantom ghost, seemingly neither there nor there. As they approached, Yan Qing felt the Epitaph pulsate. He knew he could deactivate the Epitaph in advance. In the game, it was just a matter of pressing a button, but the feeling was completely different: he truly and completely controlled the power of the Epitaph, releasing and withdrawing it as easily as using his own arm. He could even slightly reduce the duration of the Epitaph.

Given enough time, he believes he can discover even more uses for "epitaphs" that have never appeared in the game.

He recalled the Foundation Establishment masters like Dong Shou Zhenren, Suo Long Zhenren, Ying Le, and Jie Huang Chao. No wonder their strength and power were nothing like the Foundation Establishment messengers Yan Qing remembered. Below Foundation Establishment, the performance of game characters far surpasses that of real-world messengers, but above Foundation Establishment, the research on supernatural powers by real-world Foundation Establishment masters is probably unmatched by game characters within the system framework!
As the "epitaph" became ineffective, Murong Hui returned to physical form from the illusion. However, they waited for a while but she did not wake up, so they panicked. Ying Rushi picked her up and called her softly. Then everyone was speechless—Murong Hui smacked her lips and made a humming sound from her nose. She had fallen asleep.

Yan Qing slapped her on the head, and Murong Hui shrank back in grievance, hugging Ying Rushi and burying her face in her arms, muttering, "Let me sleep a little longer."

……

...

The near-death experience did not dampen Murong Hui's spirits; on the contrary, she regretted fainting earlier and not being able to properly experience the feeling of "epitaph."

The moment they stepped out of the south gate of the Guiding Lands, everyone's heart skipped a beat, as if to make up for the missed beat when they first entered the Guiding Lands, overwhelmed by the strange and magnificent city. But nothing dramatic happened. They stepped outside the gate, waded through the lotus stream, and after walking for almost a minute, finally emerged from the Guiding Lands.

Outside, it was night, just like in the Demon Gathering Land. However, the white jade plate of the sky, the chirping of insects and birds in the forest, and the cool breeze blowing in their faces made all their senses clearly realize that this was no longer the Demon Gathering Land, but their present mortal world.

Suddenly a world away.

"I'll go back with Murong Hui first," Ying said.

"Alright," Yan Qing said, "See you at the thieves' house."

Murong Hui's gaze swept back and forth between them, focusing on the wound on Yan Qing's lips. Her blank expression gradually turned suspicious: "Did something happen while I was unconscious?"

I hate such a perceptive brat… Yan Qing reached out and pinched her cheek, then pulled her into his arms: “Goodbye, you little rascal. If I’m ever bored, I’ll come to Yanzi Army Town to play with you.”

When do you get bored?

"When no one else wants to play with me."

"Oh? I knew it. You only remember me when everyone else ignores you."

"You don't want to? Then I won't contact you anymore."

"Since I'm your good older sister, and you're so shameless and pathetic, I'll reluctantly keep you company." Murong Hui opened her arms and hugged him.

“Cultivate diligently, Ying Ru and I will soon reach the Foundation Establishment stage.” Yan Qing whispered in her ear, “At that time, you will only be able to suppress your joy and sorrow and respectfully call us Foundation Establishment Masters.”

"I don't care, even if you cultivate to the heavens, you'll still be my beloved concubine and little fox," Murong Hui said, completely unfazed by his manipulation. "Anyway, besides having fun, I don't expect to get anything from you—of course, if you insist on offering it to your sister, I'll gladly accept it." As she spoke, she chuckled again: "Hehe, I'm going to have a Foundation Establishment friend."

Yan Qing felt as if he had gained not just a friend, but a daughter. He waved to them, watching them disappear into the jungle. He touched the wound on his lip, silently recited a prayer, and connected his consciousness with the ethereal Thieves' House.

When he opened his eyes again, he was back in his room at the Thieves' House. Although this doghouse had no hot springs, no beautiful girls, and no ice cream freezer, it wasn't until he breathed in the slightly stuffy air of the room and sat in the familiar wooden chair that Yan Qing truly relaxed and let out a long sigh.

Finally home.

He didn't want to do anything, and he was too lazy to think about anything. He just lay on his desk for a while before remembering something very important.

He was supposed to return yesterday, but he stayed an extra day because of Ying Rushi and Hua Zizai Tianzhenmo. Although it's normal for messengers to be delayed while training outside, Yaoshi Yuan and Shang Xinlei both know that he's a true practitioner of the art of survival. If he could return earlier, he certainly wouldn't have stayed out for an extra meal. Besides, returning to the Thieves' House is just a matter of a moment. What must have happened to prevent him from even returning? They must be worried.

He had to check the sign in the lobby to tell them he was back... But when Yan Qing pushed open the door and went out, he froze the next second.

The Thieves' Hall was quiet, except for the bright light that perpetually streamed through the stained-glass windows in the ceiling. Shang Xinlei lay on the stone table, her head resting on her arm, her breathing long and her sleeping face adorable. Even when Yan Qing approached, she was not awakened, indicating that she had not been slacking off these past few days.

Yan Qing sat carefully beside her, watching her drool drip down her lips and wet her sleeves. His mood was like a clear blue sky, watching the clouds lazily change shape.

"Ok?"

Shang Xinlei rubbed her eyes, glancing at him sleepily, seemingly still not fully awake. After a full three seconds of eye contact, she suddenly opened her eyes wide, turned away to tidy herself, and said angrily, "Why didn't you wake me?!"

"It's been six days since we last met, and your first greeting is quite unique."

"You know it's been six days? Didn't we agree on five? I thought you wouldn't make it to tomorrow's Thieves' House meeting." Shang Xinlei looked at him with dissatisfaction. "And not long ago, you triggered the [Heart Lock]—you were so sure that the Demon Gathering Land was safe!"

"Some unexpected situations arose, but overall it was a good day."

"Your credit with me is bankrupt," Shang Xinlei snorted. "Next time, I'll go with you."

"Then you'll probably have to wait a long time. This trip used up all my travel quota, and I won't be going out again anytime soon," Yan Qing said lazily. "I just want to stay in the Thieves' House and watch you... drooling in your sleep."

Hearing the first half of the sentence, Shang Xinlei's heart was still fluttering, but upon hearing the second half, she immediately exploded: "How dare you say that? If it weren't for waiting for you—"

"Have you been waiting since yesterday?" Yan Qing's expression softened. "I'm sorry to have worried you."

Shang Xinlei blinked, brushed a strand of hair from her temple, and said casually, "I didn't wait that long. How could I spend the whole day here... But resting at home is resting, and sitting here is also resting. I'll come here to read when I have free time."

Yan Qing didn't ask where her book was, but said softly, "Shang Xinlei."

"Ok?"

"I am back."

Shang Xinlei looked at him, her eyes sparkling with tears, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

"Are you hungry?" She stood up. "There's probably still some dog poop left in the kitchen for you this late."

"If you eat with me, then dog poop is fine," Yan Qing said lazily.

On the other side, the pharmacist, who was preparing to go to bed, dismissed her maids, changed into a normal set of clothes, and went to the thief's house on a whim.

As soon as she pushed open the door, she saw Shang Xinlei shush her and put her index finger to her lips to signal her to be quiet.

Yan Qing was fast asleep, lying on the stone table in the hall. Even when the pharmacist and Shang Xinlei approached, he did not wake up. He was covered in dust and exhausted, but his sleeping face was so peaceful, like a stray dog ​​that had finally returned to its den. No matter how turbulent the outside world was, he could always find peace here.

"Welcome back," someone whispered.

(End of this chapter)