I'm Already the Richest Man, Why Did My System Just Arrive?

Chapter 403: Chapter 216: Prisoner? Prisoner

As he spoke, the memories of what happened before they entered the painting grew clear once more. Finally, the Monk cautiously brought up the "National Preceptor."

National Preceptor, Sun Chaser, Zhu, Night Lord.

A phantom who had wandered the mortal realm for a thousand years.

Undisguised killing intent flared in Feng Bei’s eyes, but a moment later, it vanished completely. The corners of her lips curled up, and she cast a soft glance at Zheng Xiu before quickly looking away. Her emotions were a tangled mess. ’My feelings for the Night Lord are mostly hatred, but when I really think about it... if he hadn’t set this trap, if I hadn’t been pulled into the Cannibal Painting, I never would have been trapped with Zheng Xiu in that illusory past. And I certainly wouldn’t have had those ten unforgettable years of a simple, warm married life.’

Those ten years were like a brand, seared deep into Feng Bei’s heart.

Whether they admitted it or ever spoke of it, neither of them could let go of those ten years.

Zheng Xiu didn’t notice the thoughts swirling in Feng Bei’s mind. He said in a low voice, "Inside the painting, during that final century, I fell into a half-mad state and pretended to be bewitched by Zhu... Heh. I say ’pretended,’ but in truth, I had no other choice back then. In any case, during those hundred years, I was beneath the Imperial Palace, painting Cannibal Paintings day and night, absorbing countless Human Souls, and opening an entrance to the Darkness."

Feng Bei hadn’t known about this. Although Zheng Xiu spoke of that lonely century in a light, casual tone as if it were nothing, her heart clenched as she listened. She frowned and asked, "Are you saying..."

"I’m saying that, historically, Gongsun Mo was the one who completed the Cannibal Painting there, opened the way to the Darkness, and became the Human Pillar a hundred years ago."

Zheng Xiu began ticking off points on his fingers. "Now I finally understand what the mural was saying."

"The Sun Chaser pursued the ’Scorching Sun.’ I don’t know what he saw, but it was undoubtedly related to the Darkness. He’s deeply wary of the ’Scorching Sun,’ so much so that every hundred years, he orchestrates a new scheme. He selects three Mystics from the masses to become Human Pillars. He uses countless lives to create a... borderland, of sorts. Then he forces the Human Pillars to unleash their Innate Mystic Skills, causing the Darkness to take them away. In return, the Common World gets another hundred years of peace."

"No wonder," Zheng Xiu mused. "Mystics are born with the ability to master Miracle Techniques. But if he succeeds in his plan, there will be no Miracle Masters left in the world, because the Human Pillars will have already been taken. Do you remember? As the hundred-year deadline approached, a lot of ominous legends started spreading. That must be what Zhu was worried about."

The Monk’s brow twitched as he listened. "So you’re saying... that guy’s actually one of the good guys?"

Zheng Xiu shook his head. "That’s not what I’m saying. But regardless, he came after us, which makes him a mortal enemy. I’ll get my revenge, or my name isn’t Zheng. But let’s set that aside for a moment. What I’m getting at is this: Gongsun Mo really did open a path to the Darkness within the Imperial City back in the day. That means there’s a perfectly logical reason why Zhu had to use a roundabout method to lure Feng Bei away from the Imperial City before making his move."

As the other two stared at him, deep in thought, Zheng Xiu smiled and revealed his theory. "Beneath the Imperial City... that entrance to the Darkness is very likely still there. Or, to put it another way, there’s a place hidden under the Imperial City that is... incredibly close to the Darkness."

The Monk frowned and scratched his bald head, not quite following.

"I get it," Feng Bei said, her eyes wide with shock. "You’re saying Zhu doesn’t dare go anywhere near the Imperial City?"

"Exactly! Madam is brilliant." Zheng Xiu called her "Madam" as if by a slip of the tongue. When she didn’t correct him, he grinned. "The hundred-year deadline has long passed. The Darkness and the Common World are converging. As the very first Mystic, if Zhu were to appear in the Imperial City and start a fight with us..."

"The first one to be taken away,"

"would be him!"

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