Scalegorge Waterscape, Dragonvista Rain Hall.
The first to arrive here was Dan Heng. With the "inexplicable memories of a past life" lingering in his mind, he knew the path to this place like the back of his hand. He gazed at the statue representing the successive Dragon Sovereigns in the distance, lost in thought.
That was the past he had always wanted to escape. After centuries of wandering, he never imagined he'd return here, to the starting point of his fate.
But… it seemed Stelle and March 7th were nowhere to be seen.
Tap.
At that moment, a low thud of someone landing came from behind. The black-clad swordsman who had haunted Dan Heng's nightmares countless times—Blade—had arrived.
Their eyes met, and the atmosphere instantly grew silent.
Dan Heng: …So it's a trap, after all? Did Blade go to all this effort to lure me here just to find me? Isn't that a bit excessive?
But now wasn't the time to dwell on that. Dan Heng subtly stepped back, his gaze locked on Blade, ready to unleash his Cloudhymn Art at the slightest sign of hostility. If Blade made a move, he'd counter immediately.
Dan Heng had once watched a movie where a turtle said, "The more you try to escape fate, the more likely you are to run headlong into it."
This time, he wasn't going to run.
"…Imbibitor Lunae," Blade suddenly spoke, his tone eerie.
Here it comes? Dan Heng's spirit surged, ready to cast his Cloudhymn Art—
"When did he have a kid?"
The abrupt question left Dan Heng stunned.
Half a second later, Dan Heng realized he was in a special state, his body shrunken, so it wasn't surprising Blade didn't recognize him.
"…No, that's not right. I recall the Vidyadhara are infertile, aren't they? Something about… lacking the right organs?" Blade muttered to himself, rubbing his chin.
"No, that doesn't add up either. I've seen it when we went to the bathroom together back then. The equipment's still there."
Dan Heng's face darkened. Can't you just keep those thoughts to yourself? What's the point of saying them out loud?
"Hm… maybe just low DNA activity? No… I'm getting off track. This little thing looks so unique, practically carved from the same mold as Imbibitor Lunae. Hm… whatever, until I'm sure, I'll just use Silver Wolf's method for dealing with kids."
Blade stepped forward expressionlessly, squatting in front of Dan Heng and pinching his cheeks. "Hey, little cutie, tell me quick, who's your adorable daddy?"
Dan Heng: "…"
"Hm? Why aren't you talking?" Blade frowned, puzzled. He thought for a moment, deciding his approach wasn't friendly enough, and pulled out a cup of soda bean juice. "Be good, little cutie. Tell me who your precious daddy is, and I'll give you this drink."
Dan Heng slapped the soda bean juice to the ground, his face blank. "Even a dog wouldn't drink that stuff."
Blade rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "…So you're a dog? You're not Vidyadhara?"
Dan Heng: "…"
The sense of powerlessness was indescribable.
Blade pulled out a lollipop next. "How about this?"
"I'm not eating it. I'll tell you straight—I—"
Blade shoved the lollipop into Dan Heng's mouth and took out a chocolate bar, continuing nonchalantly, "Silver Wolf said kids like you are all talk, saying you don't want it but secretly wanting more. Hmph… eat up, eat up. Just tell me who your dad is after."
Dan Heng's inner thoughts: What are you dawdling for? I was ready to fight you to the death five minutes ago! I never would've guessed you're so decisive in battle but such a nagging mom in normal mode.
Dan Heng shoved Blade's chest hard. "…I'm telling you, Vidyadhara don't have parents."
"…"
Blade frowned. "That sounds like an insult. Not learning good things at such a young age—how did your parents… Oh, I get it, I get it. So you just look like Imbibitor Lunae, right? Got it. Looks like he hasn't shown up yet. No problem, I'll wait for him."
"Little cutie, you should leave the area. The scene later won't be suitable for you to watch."
Dan Heng: "…I am Dan Heng, but I'm not the Imbibitor Lunae you're talking about."
After saying this, Dan Heng braced himself for an imminent battle, but to his surprise yet again, Blade remained calm, standing there as steady as ever.
Blade: "…"
"You say you're Imbibitor Lunae. Where's the proof?" Blade asked, arms crossed.
Dan Heng's lips twitched, his fists clenching. "What kind of proof do you want?"
"When Imbibitor Lunae's Cloudhymn Art is pushed to its limit, it can overturn rivers and seas, manipulating the waters of Scalegorge Waterscape with a mere gesture," Blade said. "Can you do that?"
Dan Heng was speechless. Most of his past life's combat powers had been stripped away. All he had left were healing abilities. As for what Blade described, he genuinely couldn't do it.
"Imbibitor Lunae's Cloud Piercer never leaves his side. Do you have it?" Blade pressed, landing another blow.
Dan Heng: "…"
Ever since boarding the Express, his Cloud Piercer had been in March 7th's hands the whole time. He really didn't have it on him.
Seeing Dan Heng stay silent, Blade continued, "Imbibitor Lunae prioritizes beauty over loyalty, forsakes honor for profit, always shields others in front, doesn't pay for meals, doesn't wash his hands after using the bathroom, bullies women, oppresses men, and commits all sorts of evils… Do you have any of that?"
Dan Heng: "You totally made all that up, didn't you?!"
Blade snorted coldly. "Made it up? Did Imbibitor Lunae himself say anything to deny it? Ever heard the phrase 'silence is consent'?"
He'd learned that one from Silver Wolf and, after using it multiple times, was thoroughly convinced of its truth.
Dan Heng's forehead veins throbbed. He took a deep breath and said calmly, "Blade, I remember you used to be called Yingxing."
Blade: "…Old names—someone's bound to remember them. That doesn't prove anything."
Dan Heng: "I remember you once had a crush on a foxian girl."
Blade: "Old stories—there'll always be a few people who recall them."
Dan Heng: "I remember the first thing you did every morning was sneak a peek at her social media."
Blade drew his Fractured Sword, a faint blood-red aura emanating from him, yet he remained composed. "Who hasn't been young?"
Dan Heng: "Jing Yuan and I saw you disguise yourself as a secondhand clothing merchant, buying her clothes at a higher price than retail to take home…"
"Hahahahahaha, hahahahahaha—"
Before Dan Heng could finish, his words were cut off by a burst of maniacal laughter. Blade covered his face, his smile twisted and cruel. "Of five people, three must pay a price, Imbibitor Lunae—you're one of them!"
"Hahahahaha, atone for your past!"
"Don't resist. I only want you to die, hahahaha, hahahahahaha—"