"…"
Waking up to an unfamiliar white ceiling, Jing Yuandong's eyes took a few moments to adjust to the brightness.
Gradually, he becomes aware of the sound of a heart-rate monitor, and to his right—
"Boss! You're awake!"
An employee of Dainsfield is beside him.
"Where…? Where is this?"
"The hospital."
"Hospital?"
Slowly recalling what had happened prior to passing out, Jing Yuandong's breathing turns erratic, while the heart-rate monitor that is situated to his left shows a rate—that is gradually climbing towards a hundred.
"Wh-What's the situation in the ruins?"
"Ah that's…"
Towards the question, an awkward expression appears on the employee's face, as he asks—
"You really want to hear it, boss?"
With his heart rate bouncing around the 100 to 110 range, Jing Yuandong sinks into thought. Eventually, he replies—
"Speak. I-I can take it."
With a bit of hesitation on his face, the employee reports—
"…Qiu Lin, Duanmu Chen, along with a few others—less than ten are the only ones still alive."
"…"
In a helpless manner, Jing Yuandong feels his body turning soft like a deflated balloon. With only these individuals left, they can't possibly hope to restore the company's damaged reputation.
"Why? Why did things turn out like this?"
As Jing Yuandong asks this, the employee says—
"…Boss, we're still receiving calls from various circles."
"…"
"Also, from your many wives and children."
"…"
"Also, from our investors as well. …To ensure their own survival, our employees had to strip a few individuals down to their undergarments—as a means to procure clothing that would let them blend in with the rest of the crowd. …Boss, are you listening?"
Waving a hand in front of Jing Yuandong, the employee frowns, as the former seems to have fainted with their eyes open.
"Ai, might be time to think about writing a resignation letter…"
...…
"…"
Resting his arms on the guardrail of the terrace, Long Hua stares out at the night-time cityscape.
Appearing to his right, and leaning her back against the guardrail, Wu Xiao asks—
"So, who is this nemesis of yours, my dearest?"
"If I say that they're an actual god, would you believe me?"
"…"
Narrowing her eyes, Wu Xiao contemplates the matter, and eventually, she replies—
"Ghost or god, does it matter? What matters is—you have a grudge against them."
Raising a smile, Long Hua answers—
"True."
"What sort of grudge is it exactly?"
Resting his chin on the back of his hand, Long Hua replies—
"You're being awfully nosy about this."
"Is it wrong for a wife to be nosy about the affairs of her husband?"
"Less than two and a half months left. Don't you think you should answer the big question already?"
Turning around, and facing out towards the cityscape, Wu Xiao gathers her thought, and momentarily replies—
"I've had plenty of time to think, yet I still can't say for certain. I just feel like, you will be my final destination—whether this destination's good or bad… It's just like you said, so long as I can get an ending, I'm satisfied."
"If we end it right here and now, would you be satisfied?"
"If that's what happens, so be it. But until you leave this world completely behind, things won't end."
"…"
Thinking for a bit, Long Hua says—
"…You mentioned how you wanted to go to some place remote together."
Raising an eye, Wu Xiao finds the act of Long Hua bringing this matter up odd, as she asks—
"Is this a request?"
"…"
Glancing at the smug look that Wu Xiao has on her face, Long Hua feels like calling it quits, but faster than he can say anything, the former adds—
"Well, let's hear it. Where do you have in mind?"
"A vast desert."
Having finally acquired mastery over the earth element, Long Hua figured that it should be time to finally deal with Sha Chen.
Naturally, if his cultivation base could reach the Life Manifestation realm as well, things would be a lot easier.
Directing a look of amazement at Long Hua, Wu Xiao says—
"…That's not exactly what I would consider to be a good dating locale, my dearest. Ai, so it's business as usual then? Prior to going our separate ways, you plan to use me for all that I'm worth, is that how it is?"
Despite how scandalous these words sound, Long Hua finds it difficult to deny them, as he heaves a sigh, and asks—
"You in or not?"
"When making a request to someone, shouldn't you show them some sincerity?"
"Surn-"
Pressing a finger to Long Hua's lips, Wu Xiao says—
"If you call me by my real name, I won't refuse any of your requests."
Leaning his head away from Wu Xiao's finger, Long Hua says—
"…Wu Xiao, come to the desert with me to kill something."
Raising a smile of satisfaction, Wu Xiao replies—
"Fine."
Coming up from behind, Tian Cheng asks—
"Will I be on standby this time then, master?"
"Depends on whether or not that combat body will hold up in that environment. Hmm, actually, even if the body does, will your Spirit Armaments be fine?"
Towards the question, Tian Cheng shakes her head with uncertainty, while Wu Xiao asks—
"What exactly are we trying to kill in that desert?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Long Hua replies—
"Who the hell knows? The last time that I was there, I only managed to see its puppets."
"…And where is this desert exactly? Just to let you know, I can't exit the Leng Bing Realm."
Raising an eye towards this news, Long Hua replies—
"Well, worth a try. If you really can't tag along, I should be able to manage on my own somehow—so long as my cultivation base reaches the Nascent Soul realm equivalent."