Chapter 614 612: She Left

The Fire Sparrow Kingdom was now, for all intents and purposes, completely under Jiang Chen's control.

The Third Prince, Wen Shiren, served as its Sovereign.

Jiang Chen had asked Wen Shiren to help him find some necessary Alchemy Materials.

For the time being, he had the Flame Dragon and the others assist Wen Shiren.

Even Wen Liang had already gone into seclusion.

He walked alone toward the Lin Family Manor.

"Jiang Chen, you're here."

It was Zhan Yang, Niu Tuo, and Lu Beifeng.

Seeing Jiang Chen arrive, they hurried out to greet him.

Jiang Chen nodded. He looked at the three of them and noticed their faces were etched with sorrow.

"What's wrong?"

Zhan Yang gave a bitter smile.

"My sister... she left a letter and is gone."

As he spoke, he handed the letter to Jiang Chen.

Brother, I'm leaving. Don't look for me.

Maybe I'll come back, or maybe I never will.

I'm sorry.

But I still wish you success in restoring our kingdom.

Also, if you see Jiang Chen, please don't tell him I've left.

JinLing was gone, leaving only this letter behind.

After reading it, Jiang Chen felt a sense of helplessness.

"I was never angry with her."

From the very beginning, Jiang Chen had never blamed JinLing.

Yet, he had a feeling that her departure had something to do with him.

'JinLing must feel incredibly guilty.'

"Jiang Chen, we know."

"You've been too good to us, and we have no way to repay you."

As he said this, Zhan Yang glanced at Niu Tuo and Lu Beifeng.

Then, he cupped his fists toward Jiang Chen. "Even if you hadn't come to see us, we were planning to find you."

"We'll be leaving soon for the Wind Sea Kingdom."

"After this parting, who knows when we'll meet again."

JinLing had left, and now Zhan Yang and the others were leaving too.

Jiang Chen knew that Zhan Yang was the Prince of the Warring States. Although the Warring States had long been annihilated by the Wind Sea Kingdom, Zhan Yang was still trying to restore his nation.

He walked over and patted Zhan Yang on the shoulder.

"Good luck. I believe you can restore your kingdom."

He didn't try to stop them or ask them to stay. Everyone has their own path to walk.

Even Jiang Chen himself didn't know how long he would be able to stay.

"I hope your words prove true."

Zhan Yang and the others had already packed their belongings.

After saying their farewells to Jiang Chen, they prepared to leave.

"Thank you for your guidance."

Lu Beifeng bowed deeply to Jiang Chen.

His Sword Dao had improved tremendously, all thanks to Jiang Chen's help.

His heart was filled with gratitude, and as he was about to depart, he thanked Jiang Chen once more.

Then, Zhan Yang, Niu Tuo, and Lu Beifeng departed.

Jiang Chen left the manor to Zhan Yang and the others, though he didn't know when, or if, they would ever return.

Perhaps they never would.

He felt a wave of emotion.

Jiang Chen gazed at his surroundings within the manor.

He was lost in thought.

Having lived a second life, he had a much deeper understanding of a fundamental rule of the world: the inevitability of parting, both in life and in death.

You never know when the people around you might leave.

And yet, you cannot make them stay.

'Where has JinLing gone?'

He didn't know where JinLing had gone, nor did he intend to find out.

「In a desert far from the Fire Sparrow Kingdom.」

A figure came to a halt.

Her face was weathered and travel-worn.

Even her long hair was covered in dust.

Upon a closer look, it was none other than JinLing.

JinLing stood in the desert and suddenly turned to look back. The land behind her was no longer the territory of the Fire Sparrow Kingdom.

Turning back around, she silently bowed toward the east.

"Brother, farewell."

"May you succeed in restoring our kingdom. Though I won't be by your side, my blessings will always be with you."

She shed no tears; they had long since run dry.

"Jiang Chen, I'm sorry."

"With this journey, I will atone for the mistakes I've made. I hope that, in this lifetime, I can make up for my wrongs."

"But I love you. I'll always love you."

She stared dazedly toward the east for a long time before abruptly turning and pressing forward into the desert.

She did not fly.

She traveled on foot.

She didn't know her destination, but she knew the object of her atonement: that detestable Mr. Gu, Witch Bone.

Her journey would end only when Witch Bone was dead.

Although she didn't know where Witch Bone had gone, she had memorized his aura.

As long as she followed his aura, she was certain she could find him.

'He passed through this desert.'

JinLing began to advance.

「Ten days later.」

JinLing walked out of the desert.

An oasis appeared before her, and soon, villages came into view.

Standing at the entrance to a village, JinLing suddenly grew excited.

'He's here.'

'I will find you.'

With that, JinLing walked into the village.

At a humble farmer's house, a figure cloaked in a black robe abruptly walked in.

The man of the house looked at the strange, unfamiliar person in the black robe, his guard rising.

"Who are you?"

The person in the black robe didn't speak at first, instead producing a large gold ingot.

"Young man, I'd like to impose on you for a few days."

"This is for my stay. If it's not enough, I can add more."

The farmer stared at the generous, black-robed figure, whose face he couldn't make out.

The man waved his hands. "Sir, we have a spare room. You can stay for a few days, and we don't need your money."

The robed figure thanked him.

The man arranged for a quiet room.

The robed figure sat cross-legged on the bed and slowly pulled back his hood, revealing a somewhat demonic face.

The face was now extremely pale.

It was none other than Mr. Gu, Witch Bone.

After inspecting his own condition, Witch Bone sighed.

'My Cultivation has fallen to the Martial Master Fifth Heaven, and I can no longer fly.'

'This place is still a great distance from the passage to our Witch Race's Witch Realm.'

'I don't know if I can make it back to the lands of the Witch Race.'

He touched his pale face, a dazed look in his eyes.

A few hours after the man had settled the robed figure in, a beautiful woman walked into the courtyard.

"Sir, could I possibly stay for the night?"

JinLing stood at the entrance, not presuming to enter the courtyard uninvited.

She knew that the person she was looking for was in this very house.

The man was shocked. Two strangers had come to his house in a single day.

He smiled wryly. "I'm afraid we're out of room, miss."

"A gentleman arrived just before you. Perhaps you could try another house?"

JinLing shook her head.

She seemed set on this particular house.

"It's alright. I'm sure the gentleman won't mind me sharing a room with him."

"Why don't you go ahead and arrange it, sir?"

The man was dumbfounded.

This seemed highly inappropriate.

"Sir, why don't you take me to the gentleman's room? I'll discuss it with him."

The man hesitated for a moment, but still led JinLing toward Mr. Gu's room.

Upon entering the room, the man pointed at JinLing and was just about to speak to Mr. Gu.

But Mr. Gu's expression changed dramatically.

He pointed at JinLing as if he had just seen a ghost.

He gasped, "You! How did you find me?"

"You..."

He was utterly horrified. JinLing had found him.

This was simply unbelievable.

JinLing looked at the familiar black-robed figure, the man who had called himself Elder Yue.

He had brought her so much misery.

"You've made me suffer so much."

"Witch Bone. I've finally found you."

"Now, die."