Chapter 1396 - 417: The Catcher’s Theory (Part 2)

Chapter 1396: Chapter 417: The Catcher’s Theory (Part 2)

Wu presented this item solemnly to Chen Yan — it was the Cultivation Technique and Spell left behind by Xie Jiuyan.

"I can’t give it to you, because I need to keep it. If Angie has descendants in the future, it should be passed down.

However, you can copy it yourself before you leave."

Chen Yan agreed to Wu’s request.

Actually... things didn’t have to be so complicated.

Whether it was killing the Mayor for him or escorting him and his daughter away from New York, if Chen Yan turned and refused to do these, Wu would have no alternative.

In fact, Chen Yan could directly take the Jade Book, and Wu would be powerless to resist.

However, back when Wu wanted to make a deal with Chen Yan, asking him to kill the Mayor while offering the Secret Manual left by Xie Jiuyan, he insisted that Chen Yan make an oath on the spot.

Swear! An oath again!

Chen Yan’s heart stirred.

Linking back to Wu’s experience shared, Xie Jiuyan also mentioned the concept of "oath."

As well as the secret of the Heavenly Dao he discovered, the contract effect brought by the oath, and the "return" for helping the Heavenly Dao settle accounts.

He had reason to suspect that the exceptional, self-taught Xie Jiuyan who uncovered the secrets of the Heavenly Dao, improved cultivation techniques, and reached the pinnacle of this world, perhaps also discovered the secret about "oath"?

In the evening, the car stopped at a motel by the roadside.

Chen Yan booked two rooms, one for Angie, while he and Wu squeezed into the adjacent one.

Wu paid for it with cash.

Obviously, the recent encounters had frightened Angie, making her appear exhausted and haggard, showing signs of being withdrawn and taciturn.

After entering the room, the girl quickly shut the door.

"Your daughter seems a bit off," Chen Yan glanced at the closed door and smiled at Wu.

Wu thought for a moment, "In a few days, when we reach a safer place, I’ll talk to her and help her gradually accept everything; if her emotions don’t recover, I’ll consider moving to a new location, taking on new identities, to start life anew — leaving behind familiar people and settings might ease her pressure."

"You Americans always talk about psychological impacts — people are essentially forced by circumstances," Chen Yan shook his head, "Let me advise you, Wu: you’ve spoiled your daughter, and her character is heading in a crooked direction."

"Don’t say ’you Americans,’ I’m from Dragon Country."

"Bullshit, you were adopted and left the homeland young. You’ve lived in America since childhood; you’re a typical ABC. We Dragon Country People aren’t as pretentious in educating children.

If they don’t eat properly, let them go hungry once. If they misbehave causing trouble, give them a beating. Discipline breeds filial sons."

Wu did not get angry, he just looked at Chen Yan and smiled, "You don’t understand... you might change your tune once you have a daughter."

At night in the room, Wu had slept a lot during the daytime in the car, while Chen Yan, being a cultivator, didn’t rely much on sleep, so they lay in their respective beds — Wu smoked, Chen Yan, who didn’t smoke much, drank beer bit by bit while fiddling with his phone.

"Do you know why I decided to stop being an assassin?"

"Because of Angie, or perhaps the money was sufficient?"

"...Not entirely," Wu suddenly sat up straight, looked at Chen Yan with a serious expression, "During those days with Xie Jiuyan, he shared something impactful with me."

Mentioning Xie Jiuyan, Chen Yan perked up, "What did he say?"

"Upon knowing I was an assassin, he fell silent for a while, then told me that if I didn’t want to die suddenly, I should stop doing such work.

An assassin, taking lives, would incite retaliation from the heavens."

Chen Yan’s heart stirred.

Xie Jiuyan, indeed had insights.

This idea was akin to Chen Yan aiding the Heavenly Dao in eliminating someone whose time was due, resulting in rewards from the Heavenly Dao.

But if it’s someone whose time wasn’t yet up, it’s like damaging heaven’s "ledger."

A ledger — having too much or too little, neither is acceptable.

Clearly, if someone’s life isn’t meant to end, yet you take it, the Heavenly Dao would certainly be displeased.

Throughout his presence in this world, Chen Yan had taken many lives.

In the Domain Realm, killing was also frequent.

Before having his cultivation ruined and retraining, he felt nothing when taking lives.

But after retraining, having uncovered the "Heavenly Dao Rules," he became ever more sensitive to these subtle truths.

Aiding the Heavenly Dao in taking lives would result in rewards from the Heavenly Dao.

But if it’s the opposite...

For example, recently, Chen Yan killed that Mayor.

Actually, the Mayor’s destined time hadn’t come yet.

But Chen Yan acted and ended this guy prematurely.

After slaying the Mayor, Chen Yan realized he received feedback from the Heavenly Dao — however, this time it was negative!

No changes occurred regarding cultivation, but Chen Yan keenly felt a very slight decrease in the affinity of Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi towards him.

The decrease was subtle, almost imperceptible — pre-retraining Chen Yan would have failed to notice it.

Post-retraining, he achieved cultivation through the most "natural" means, acquiring and blending with Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, sharpening his sensitivity to it significantly.