Forge a path to success.

Chapter 66: The Legend Begins with You and Me

Fragments of light danced in the turbulent currents, while pale corpses sank into the sea.

The skies above Dragon City were no longer a battlefield, for all beings with the will to fight had perished. This was a truly earth-shattering battle, one that killed the calamities of the heavens and vanquished the demons of the sea.

The defeat of the ambitious demon was the initial turning point; the death of the contractor weakened this strongest enemy. Before his death, Rainbow Demon triggered a collapse of the void, shattering a once-closed spacetime. This was the most dangerous moment, as the angels within the Spiral Tower were about to descend. But Huilong personally patched the breach, stopping the leak at the cost of severe injury.

Thus, no one disturbed the deathmatch; the battlefield belonged to the two who would ultimately prevail. Skeletons and warriors clashed high in the sky, their blades meeting in a final confrontation of duty and hatred—

The gray sword rested on Ji Qiufeng's shoulder, while the halberd cleaved the knight's head in two.

The priest who had given the death sentence lowered his sword-wielding hand and gazed for a long time at the final victor through his shattered vision.

"You have changed, Peerless General."

“Humans are different from those of other paths; they change and grow.” Ji Qiufeng sheathed his halberd. “They will not stay in one place for long.”

The solemn bells tolled once more, and a rift in spacetime appeared amidst the tolling. The Apocalypse Sword plunged into the rift, returning to the hands of a god from beyond the ancient past. Ji Qiufeng had no strength left to stop it, nor did he fear a sword he had once defeated. So he discarded his armor and weapons, facing his dying enemy with final respect.

"You must remember that all things must die." The skeleton's words were both a preaching and a warning. "Time has etched your names into your names, and the Holy Sword of Revelation will return."

“That’s a fine sword, but unfortunately your swordsmanship isn’t quite up to par.” Ji Qiufeng turned around. “Next time, bring a better swordsman.”

"Ji Qiufeng, shut up! What if an even stronger version of you comes?!" Youyou shouted from the sea.

Ji Qiufeng shrank back, and stammered, "There were naturally ways back then..."

The dragon leaped up: "Don't jinx yourself if you're not sure!"

"Okay, listen to you."

Before he could even enjoy his moment of triumph, he reverted to his usual cunning and scheming self, chuckling as he climbed onto the dragon's back and flew towards their city.

As the Dragon God set off, he brought a refreshing breeze, and the skeletal knights disintegrated in the wind, scattering into gray dust.

·
Chu Hengkong had a painful and long dream.

In his dream, he became a green squid, falling from a great height and breaking into eighteen tentacles. The moment he hit the ground, it became an oven, roasting him until he was crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside, making Ji Huaisu's mouth water. But suddenly, the squid tentacles turned black! Jie'an exclaimed, "Oh no! The fire's too high, it's going to burn!" Upon hearing this, Ji Huaisu cried out in alarm, hugging him and saying, "Ah Kong, if you burn, what will we eat! Don't burn!"
Everyone wailed in utter grief, so much so that even the sky seemed to turn gray with sorrow. But suddenly, a golden light cleaved through the gloomy sky, and a dragon god, pure white as jade, soared forth. A peerless warrior stood atop the dragon's head, clad in heavy armor and wielding a halberd, his aura overwhelming with unparalleled might. He shattered the rainbow-colored demon, slew the serpent-bodied monster, and even death was severed by his halberd.

"The war is over," said Wushuang. "We have won!"

"—We won!"

Chu Hengkong sat bolt upright in bed, then curled up stiffly into a ball. Every muscle in his body was throbbing with intense pain, so severe that he couldn't move and could only howl, "Ah... I won...?"

"If you don't win, you'll become a squid or air." A blue tomato was handed over by a hand with distinct knuckles. "Have some fruit to wake you up."

Chu Hengkong swallowed a whole tomato in two gulps, nearly choking on his unruly throat. The tomato was juicy but also sour and astringent, and it was indeed refreshing. He slowly looked up; Ji Qiufeng was sitting by the bed, flipping through a large, silver-eyed book.

"I flipped through it out of boredom, and you've memorized quite a bit." Ji Qiufeng handed him the book. "It took everyone a long time to find it, so be careful not to lose it."

The book naturally fell when he jumped from the sky island; after all, he had no coat left and nowhere to put it. Chu Hengkong caught the large book and then saw his sword, light armor, and pendant gloves. He immediately felt at ease and tried to move his tentacles: "How long have I been lying here?"

“You’ve been unconscious for ten years,” Ji Qiufeng said with a pained expression.

"What a terrible joke."

“There have been cases like this before, where injuries were so severe that we had to freeze them for ten or eight years before we could treat them,” Ji Qiufeng said, shaking his fan. “But you’re doing alright this time. You were only unconscious for a little over a week. At least Youyou managed to get you back to health in time.”

Chu Hengkong remained expressionless: "You said 'fight'... what was I really like at the time...?"

"It's about 100% cooked, but it's not broken into pieces very evenly." Youyou poked her head out of Ji Qiufeng's pocket.

Chu Heng pressed his temples: "You all have to give me a raise this time."

"No problem, no problem, full-time holiday benefits are all included!" Ji Qiufeng said with a smile.

His body ached terribly, especially his back, which felt like it had been broken into pieces. Chu Hengkong realized how serious his injuries were. He ate another tomato, feeling a strange sense of unreality.

"Is it really... over?"

"It's over. We've all done right by our battlefields," Ji Qiufeng said. "The workshop master is dead, don't worry."

Chu Hengkong remained silent for a moment, recalling the blond man's last crazed smile.

"I don't quite understand his motives... What good would it do even if he won?"

"First of all, of course, it's me and Youyou who will die," Ji Qiufeng said casually. "Secondly... have you heard of the changes in mythology?"

“The victors in war suppress the beliefs of the defeated. They rewrite myths, demoting the gods of the defeated north to demons or subordinate gods, so that their own gods can take over the power of their opponents. This is common in the ‘cultural victory’ after war, and sometimes it is accompanied by the process of ethnic integration.” Chu Hengkong answered without hesitation. He had been exposed to these concepts in detail in his family’s cultural classes.

"You actually knew that!" Ji Qiufeng exclaimed in admiration. "Then you understand now."

Chu Hengkong was stunned for a moment: "Can Kaning make the demon replace Youyou?"

"The breaching of the temple has significant symbolic meaning. At that time, the ambitious demon might have a chance to replace me and become the new 'totem' of Dragon City," Youyou said with a look of disdain. "But that's just a possibility! It's more likely that they'll end up with nothing and have wasted their time. To gamble such a low probability on a death battle, that's why demons and contractors are both insane!"

Chu Hengkong felt increasingly uneasy as he thought about it. Leaning against the headboard, he said helplessly, "You give us this kind of task, and you still have the nerve to call us demons..."

"The devil is a gambler, I am not. I believe you can do it." Ji Qiufeng laughed. "Take your spoils and recover well."

He placed a piece of blue crystal on the bedside table and left with the little snake. The crystal felt warm to the touch, its bottom layer smooth as a mirror, while the top layer was full of sharp protrusions, like a solidified fire.

Chu Hengkong's hands were still too weak, so he used his tentacles to place it on the book.

The Embers of Ambition

[Rating: 2 (5)]

【Origin: Mysterious Realm of Senluo - Huilong City】

【Effect: 1. Clears heart fire】

Draw upon the power of lingering flames, binding them to the limbs. This allows the use of the Flame of Ambition for a short period.

2. Braised

Use no more than once a day. Activate the power of the remaining flames to create a towering pillar of fire.

3. Indestructible

Fueled by desire, it burns fiercely.

The relic's level increases with the holder's points; each level increase awakens new power.

[Curse:]
1. This relic is a product of the Void and Heretical Path, and cannot be used by pure humans.

2. This relic is corrupted by heretics, and its offensive capabilities will be enhanced when possessed. When the relic is upgraded to level 3, it will be possessed by the ambitious demon Besen; when upgraded to level 4, it will automatically become Besen's contractor; when upgraded to level 5, the holder will merge with Besen, becoming the ambitious demon's new "face".

Since the ambitious demon Bessen has been killed, the Curse 2 effect will be disabled until the new "Ambition" ascends to Particle 5.

[Longing: A young man pursues an illusory dream.]

The virtual image gives back real power.

Humans and demons, being essentially the same, will always be drawn to each other and sign a pact.

Together we become fleeting illusions of the end, or kings of the deep sea.

Chu Hengkong was overjoyed, his face beaming with happiness, and for a moment he even forgot the pain.

A level 2 relic that can be upgraded, and it's still a usable off-path product! With this, he can use fire too!
Few rewards made him feel so worthwhile, and this was one of them. Curse 2 was resolved, so there was no need to worry about it for now. As for Curse 1…

He tried rubbing the embers on the tentacle, and a blue flame immediately ignited. With a thought, Chu Hengkong extinguished the flame. He excitedly raised his left arm: "I have a flame tentacle!"

"Wow, amazing!" The girl at the door clapped.

Chu Hengkong's expression froze on his face. He turned his head inch by inch, looking desperately at the doorway.

A wheelchair was stuck in front of the door, and a blonde girl leaned on the doorknob, grinning mischievously.

"Please, Flame Touch Hero~?" Ji Huaisu's eyes crinkled into a smile.

·
Creak, creak. The wheelchair glided across the gravel road. Ji Huaisu whistled merrily, while Chu Hengkong sat upright with a dark expression, his murderous eyes conveying to everyone, "What are you looking at? Get the hell out of here! If you look again, you won't get your monthly performance bonus."

But the chief detective's murderous glare had little effect today; all the familiar team members were secretly laughing. Jie An, who was sweeping, saw this and came over, loudly exclaiming, "Yo! Yo yo yo! Yo!"

Chu Heng laughed out loud: "You're out of ideas, aren't you?"

“Words cannot express the feelings in my heart right now~” Jie An waved the broom. “I was just thinking of making you some soup when you woke up. You’re one of the toughest people I can do.”

“In our line of work, you can’t survive if you’re not tough.” Ji Huaisu rubbed his partner’s head. “He’s going out for a walk. Leave me a bowl of soup, okay?”

She pushed Chu Hengkong away briskly, passing familiar broken stones, piles of rubble, and abandoned buildings. The former headquarters building was completely destroyed in the battle, with less than a tenth of its usable facilities remaining. Therefore, the entire resurrection unit was actively cleaning and rebuilding; if they weren't quick enough, they really wouldn't have anywhere to sleep…

Fortunately, they weren't the only ones working this time. Strong laborers from the swamp were a vital force in the post-disaster reconstruction. The young men were thrilled to hear they could contribute to the Dragon God, and the salvage crew also joined the reconstruction effort, using steampunk-style equipment to rebuild the building like stacking building blocks. Chu Hengkong estimated that the new headquarters building would be ready for use in less than half a month, and in another month or two, a new complex of buildings would rise from the ground, completely replacing the old one.

“Actually, if Lord Youyou were to step in, building a building would be a very simple matter,” Ji Huaisu said. “But…” “We have to create job opportunities for the citizens,” Chu Hengkong commented. “Moreover, rebuilding their homes by their own hands helps to boost morale.”

Ji Huaisu blinked: "Hmm. Ah, yes, that's it."

"What were you originally going to say?"

Ji Huaisu leaned close to his ear and said, "I meant to say that she's a bit lazy."

Chu Hengkong couldn't help but chuckle. They circled around the headquarters to reach the surrounding healing temples. Most of the residential buildings were unharmed, but many people came out and waited around the healing temples. Ji Huaisu told him that this was because there was a rumor that the water curtain was going to open today, and everyone wanted to see the sky they hadn't seen for 20 years.

"How about we go up to the sky and wait for the weather to clear up?" she suggested excitedly, her tone as if she were suggesting climbing a mountain to watch the sunrise.

Chu Hengkong couldn't find a reason to object, and besides, he was very concerned about his image and didn't want to be seen in a wheelchair in front of his neighbors. So they took a detour back to the headquarters ruins and used the elevator in the ancient tree to travel all the way to the Sky Island.

The workshop area was in even worse shape than the central courtyard; the fierce winds from the storm had shattered most of the buildings. Anza Workshop desperately needed rebuilding, and even the area that had once belonged to the Black Workshop fared no better. Only a fraction of the crows' nests remained, and shattered metal was scattered everywhere, with steam billowing from the remains of large machines. Chu Hengkong climbed several floating islands to investigate, feeling as if he had stumbled upon some kind of steampunk-themed ruin.

“The technical team is working hard to dig deeper, and many craftsmen are trying to get a piece of the pie,” Ji Huaisu told him. “There are many interesting things in the Black Workshop’s heritage… of course, they are all low-quality gadgets, but they are very practical. I think the team members will like them.”

"Are we going to have to wear black trench coats from now on?"

"Well..." Ji Huaisu rolled his eyes.

She turned and left furtively, returning shortly afterward with a large cloth bag. Inside the bag was a long green overcoat, which, although lengthened, still bore the resemblance to Chu Hengkong's previous one, with the double-snake staff insignia on the back exactly the same as before.

"Since you seemed to like it, I made you a new one." She shook the garment. "I couldn't completely recreate the old one, so I simply altered the style... What do you think?"

Chu Hengkong took the trench coat. The craftsman who made it had put a lot of effort into it; the feel of it was exactly the same as before. He touched the double-snake staff on the back of the trench coat and suddenly smiled.

“I’m very happy.” He smiled slightly. “Thank you.”

Ji Huaisu's eyes widened: "A piece of clothing makes you this happy? Aren't you a little too easily satisfied?"

Chu Hengkong put on his trench coat and laughed, "Being easily satisfied is the key to a happy life."

They then attempted to locate the former "headquarters" of the black workshop, but to no avail. After the natural disaster, all buildings looked the same. Finally, Chu Hengkong randomly chose a spot that looked pleasing to the eye, situated on a tooth-like protruding rock. He laboriously got out of his wheelchair, found a large, bluish stone, and used his hands to grind it into a simple stone tablet.

He pondered for a moment, then carved a graceful bird on the tombstone. Chu Hengkong placed the stone on top of the rock, facing the sky, creating a small tomb.

“You still have this habit.” Ji Huaisu bent down to straighten the tombstone.

“I made one for Du Muyan before,” Chu Hengkong said. “Someone once told me that this habit is hypocritical and a double standard. Because you don’t really understand your enemies, and those you kill don’t deserve a funeral. But I still do it when the mood strikes…”

"You want to remember the battles of the past, don't you?" Ji Huaisu said casually, "to remember those worthy adversaries."

Chu Hengkong was taken aback and said helplessly, "You understand me."

"Nonsense, you understand that perfectly well," Ji Huaisu said, making a face. "Besides, I'm your partner!"

Seeing that Chu Hengkong could move again, she took his arm and walked down the hillside. After walking for a while, Chu Hengkong realized that this action could easily be misunderstood, and then he realized that he had gotten used to it too.

Almost four months have passed since he arrived in Huilong City, and he still knows nothing about time travel, nor does he have any interest in returning to Earth. There are just too many things to do in the new world: catching thieves, practicing martial arts, making money, and saving the city.

In these incredibly fulfilling days, he grew accustomed to this chaotic city, and also to the boisterous blonde girl beside him. He grew accustomed to eating cheap cafeteria meals together every morning, to occasionally covering her night shift, to touching her fair skin while practicing martial arts, and to the slight tickling sensation of her blonde hair brushing against his ear.

The saying "habit becomes second nature" is absolutely true; you get used to each other and eventually become partners.

They walked back to the top of the giant tree and sat at the highest point in Huilong City, waiting for the sun to appear, though it was uncertain when. The curtain of water in the sky was flowing slowly, unlike its usual rapids. The color of the water had also faded, like a hazy cloud enveloping the city.

Looking down from his vantage point, Chu Hengkong suddenly realized that the colossal city had shrunk considerably. He could name every path in the central courtyard and recount the resources of every region within the swamp. He had traversed all those places before; when a city becomes as familiar as the palm of one's hand, it no longer feels vast and unfamiliar.

Ji Huaisu turned her head and looked at him quietly.

“I saw you here four months ago and thought this demon-possessed person would be a tough nut to crack. I guessed you were a spy sent by the Black Workshop, or a demon in human skin.” She blinked. “Until I saw you fumbling around in the sky, I knew I was overthinking things. I thought I was mentoring a promising newcomer, but I never imagined he would be so capable… capable enough to save my city all by himself.”

"It's my job," Chu Hengkong shrugged. "Once I take on a job, I'll do my best."

"Tch, he's putting on an act again," Ji Huaisu said, scoffing.

Chu Hengkong was a little embarrassed: "What do you mean by 'pretending'? What are you pretending for?"

“Do you know that sometimes you really like to put on a cocky expression, as if you want to write ‘I’m a cold-blooded killer’ on your face?” Ji Huaisu said seriously. “But every time you do something reckless and impulsive, like risking your job to save a little girl, or fighting a swordsman to the death in a raging fire… What does that have to do with being cold-blooded? You’re just a cool, hot-blooded young man!”

Ji Huaisu poked his face repeatedly, leaving Chu Hengkong speechless for a moment. He wanted to refute but couldn't find a reason. He tried to slap Ji Huaisu's hand away, but his right hand, which had just finished carving the stone tablet, was still weak. His limp swipe was as light as flirting.

Ji Huaisu burst out laughing on the spot. Chu Heng was so angry that he grabbed her wrist with his tentacles: "Miss Ji, you can joke with me, but you can't question my professional competence!"

"Then why did you come to save me?"

Ji Huaisu didn't move, silently returning his gaze. She was always very serious when she spoke of important matters, but this time her gaze was so earnest that Chu Hengkong didn't know how to respond. Her wrist trembled slightly, and her amethyst eyes shone with a crystalline light.

Chu Heng thought to himself that this girl was too sentimental; that's how it is in the underworld. If you owe someone something, you have to pay it back quickly, because once the other person dies, you can never repay it. He owed her a life, and he had to save that life so that they would be even and even.

But the words wouldn't come out; Ji Huaisu's eyes were filled with worry and guilt. She was truly terrified, afraid that Chu Hengkong would die like that. He instinctively felt that mentioning the rules of the martial world wasn't appropriate, so in a moment of inspiration, he patted the girl's shoulder.

“Because we’re partners,” Chu Hengkong said. “Partners are meant to live and die together, right? As long as I’m alive, you should live. So I won’t let you die alone… As long as I’m alive, I will definitely come to save you!”

He felt his words were perfectly apt, lacking a strong sense of江湖 (jianghu, the world of martial arts and chivalry) and brimming with loyalty and righteousness. Ji Huaisu stared at him, gazing at his slightly flushed face.

She suddenly opened her arms and hugged Chu Hengkong tightly.

"Then I'll come to save you!" she shouted, "No matter when, no matter where!"

Chu Hengkong was a little helpless. He was being held tightly and didn't know where to put his hands: "You even refuse to admit defeat in this..."

"That's what partners are for," the girl giggled. "We'll be partners for life!"

"What the hell?! How can it be a lifetime?!"

"You spoke first."

"When did I say that? Why are you blushing? What are you blushing for, Miss Kusahime!?"

Chu Hengkong lost his balance and was knocked to the ground. They screamed and rolled around several times, their clothes covered in wild grass. At that moment, golden light descended from the sky, landing on the two adults who looked like little children. They saw the silent curtain of water slowly disperse, pushing aside relics that had circulated for countless years. The brilliant sunlight, like a long staircase, fell on the ancient tree in the center of the city.

The two helped each other to their feet and saw the azure sky beyond the curtain of water, and the boundless sea under the sunlight. Countless illusory images floated in the sea, and there were also impenetrable voids hanging there, with the cherry-colored coastline standing on the other side of the void.

An unnamed bird swept across the sky, leaving behind gray feathers, and carried the gazes of the young people away, flying towards an unknown world beyond the water curtain—a world both incredibly beautiful and incredibly dangerous.

After being isolated from the world for twenty years, Huilong City has seen the light of day again.

·
Central headquarters, central control room.

The water curtain enveloping the room lit up again, the waters outside the city were clear, and the divine protection had driven back the demons, leaving no reefs or filth in sight. Youyou sat leisurely on an exquisite blue porcelain plate, sipping wine from a small cup.

“I’m still a little dizzy,” she said. “Three heretical sects, a siege that lasted for twenty years, and it’s broken just like that… It feels like a dream. The two of us took down three high-level heretical sects. That’s legendary in the entire Chendong world.”

Ji Qiufeng poured himself a glass: "It's alright, the little guys are under much more pressure. They are contractors who are called demons. Give them enough time, and taking over Dust Island won't be a problem."

"I doubt anyone would believe it if I told them," Youyou said, sticking out her tongue.

"Isn't that how all legendary stories are?" Ji Qiufeng said leisurely. "Everyone says it's too outrageous, hopeless, and that you're bound to die and lose. But once you risk your life to try, you'll find that even in the darkest places there's still a path. If you grit your teeth and keep going, when you come to your senses, you've become a legend. Even if you perish halfway through, it's still the end of a legend."

They exchanged a glance and laughed, recalling the days when the city was first built. Just then, the swirling water curtain opened, and sunlight streamed into the city and into the small room.

The water curtain surrounding the room had partially fallen, forming a square, colorless screen. Within this screen, tiny points of light appeared, connecting to form a vast sea map centered on Huilong City.

After the water curtain opened, much more than just sunlight arrived. Several larger stars began to twinkle on the nautical chart, making Youyou a little nervous.

“Connect,” she said.

The point of light became clearer, and an inorganic voice, formed by the changing water flow, spoke: "This is the Dustless Land - C.E.W. Research Institute, our seventh regular contact of the year with the Mysterious Realm of Senluo - Huilong City. The Magic Scholars wish your city peace and protection from the clutches of heretics..."

“Received from Huilongcheng,” Ji Qiufeng said. “Wishing all the scholars at the institute peace and safety.”

A moment later, a flurry of busy signals rang out. The light representing the research institute contracted, then vibrated violently, and a distinctly mature voice chimed in: "May the Primal Spirits protect you! You're still alive?!"

One by one, points of light lit up on the nautical chart, each representing a faction within a dusty island. Numerous voices echoed from beyond the water's edge, merging into a cacophony of greetings:
"Hmm, here you go, the Divine Tree Council pays its respects to the descendants of our distant friend... Received? Huh??"

"A call from the Pure Land of Delight!"

"May the Thousand-Day City of Shura Island prosper in martial arts..."

"May the land of dragons be at peace, and may those who have wandered far from home return."

The once-silent stars on the nautical chart suddenly shone, and the silent islands merged into one, almost illuminating the entire room. Ji Qiufeng, facing the water curtain, announced loudly.

"It is now June 3rd, 3000 of the Candlelight Calendar. I am Ji Qiufeng, the Lord of Huilong City. I hereby announce to all friendly nations that Huilong City is reopened today, and trade will resume."

"We're still alive!"

(Volume 1, end)
　(I'll be taking a four-day break to review the outline and play with the black monkey. Updates will resume this Saturday night!)

　　Finally, we can take a break! I'm so happy, hahaha!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)