Unable to be seen, unable to be touched, the two remained in this space and time like ghosts, out of place.
At this time, the one leading Qionglong Silver City was that statue woman, but it was clear she was not a wise ruler.
"Don't take my child, don't take my child—!"
A mother was tightly hugging the infant in her arms, while the one snatching her away was a tall soldier.
The soldier, who should have protected the weak, had a blank expression and spoke coldly.
"He broke the law."
"He just didn't smile when the adults were inspecting, he's just a child, he knows nothing, ahhhh!"
The mother was knocked to the ground by a great force. She lunged hysterically to grab the soldier's leg, only to be kicked away again.
The child was eventually taken away, crying.
Zhang Qiling subconsciously wanted to step forward to stop it, but the hand he extended to hold the child passed through the child's tender face, unable to even wipe away the tears.
After this, time seemed to fast-forward, finally stopping a few days later.
When the statue woman patrolled the city again, she was wearing an outer garment made entirely from the skin of a young child.
Now, even Hei Yanjing couldn't maintain his usual smile. This era was too bloody and primitive; the goodness of human nature, established through long-term education, was constantly challenged here.
Stars shifted, sun and moon changed, the accelerated flow of time compressed the surrounding scenery into a bizarre silent film.
Finally, a turning point occurred.
With a deafening roar, as if the heavens and earth were splitting, as if a meteorite had fallen from the sky, the entire city trembled under this sound!
Zhang Qiling instantly looked towards the source of the sound, but with just one glance, he froze in place!
A colossal bronze gate, vast and boundless, without end, descending from the sky, appeared behind the city!
Its length was immeasurable, seeming to pierce through heaven and earth; its width was indiscernible, as if it led straight to the edge of the world!
...This world truly had bronze gates!
And at this very moment, under the shocked gaze of the two, the gate slowly opened!
In that instant, no words could describe the scene behind the gate. The indescribable, bizarre posture, the distorted colors that seemed to exist entirely in another dimension, almost drove one to madness!
An invisible force swept through the city with overwhelming power!
The ignorant and unaware residents instantly turned into withered bones, and the vibrant green plants immediately turned to dust!
In the blink of an eye, it was as if Qionglong Silver City had endured a hundred years of wind and frost!
Mountain ranges rose and fell, burying the city, and rivers surged back, submerging all life!
Space shattered, and the two felt a strong expulsion force from time and space. Before their vision faded, the last thing they saw was the statue woman, holding the Ghost Seal, kneeling and wailing towards the bronze gate.
"I want to live... no matter the cost!"
—
The perspective shifted, and when they came to their senses, the two were inexplicably back in that dark cave.
Zhang Qiling opened his eyes, only to be met with a dead, cold face!
He instantly jumped back a step, and with a clang, the Black Gold Ancient Blade was placed horizontally in front of him!
He saw that the statue woman had already appeared opposite them, having been pressed tightly against his eyes moments ago!
Seeing this, Hei Yanjing immediately moved to Zhang Qiling's side. As he moved, he felt that his clothes had inexplicably become old and tattered.
His originally smooth and shiny leather jacket was now dry and peeling. With a slight exertion, his sleeve actually tore open!
Zhang Qiling's black attire was not made of durable material to begin with. It was now faded and brittle, making him look like an antique just pulled from the earth.
...Could it be that they, too, had suffered that bizarre and strange hundred-year erosion along with the Qionglong Silver City of that year?
While they were wondering, they suddenly heard a piercing scream from within the statue woman!
"...Why, why are you unharmed?!!!"
With this scream, the golden shell on the outside of the statue instantly exploded!
After the beautiful exterior shattered, it revealed a completely black, wrinkled, and extremely shriveled corpse of a human!
Judging by its appearance, it was more like a lightning-struck old tree or a completely rotted potato than a human.
"I guess she forgot to wish for eternal youth when she made her wish there~"
Upon seeing this, Hei Yanjing actually let out a laugh.
He had no good feelings towards this woman who wore human skin. Now that she had withered away and was barely clinging to life, becoming this way, it was already a sign of great restraint that he didn't burst into laughter to celebrate.
But Zhang Qiling was lost in strange contemplation.
...He could understand that Brother Zhang had a special physique and was unaffected by a hundred years.
But what about this Hei Yanjing?!
Did people who could live forever truly exist in this world? Was that even reasonable?
Hei Yanjing: Oh ho! I knew you were one of us~
Zhang Qiling: I'm not, I didn't, what exactly is your situation?
While the two exchanged glances, communicating like chickens talking to ducks, the forgotten statue woman fell into a frenzy!
With a bang, she rushed out!
Her shriveled, condensed hands, like withered meat balls, protruded sharp claws, like steel blades, stabbing towards the two!
Zhang Qiling instantly slashed down with his blade, pinning her claws and smashing them to the ground!
The statue woman struggled several times to pull her hand out, but to no avail. Suddenly, her body twisted strangely, her joints making crackling sounds. In an instant, her head and lower body switched positions, and she opened her mouth full of sharp teeth to bite Zhang Qiling!
A kick landed!
Hei Yanjing's long, out-of-place leg heavily kicked the statue woman's skull!
The statue woman's body instantly recoiled, smashing back into the pile of gilded shell!
Her claws were still pinned by the Black Gold Ancient Blade. Now, they were directly pulled out by the root, the bone connected to them severed with a heavy chop!
Hei Yanjing wasn't done adding fuel to the fire.
"No way, no way, are you angry because we're still so young and beautiful?"
"People should accept their age. Look at what you've become, and you're still comparing yourself to us handsome guys?"
"Tsk tsk tsk, do you know what self-awareness is? Or should the kind Uncle Hei teach you?"
Seeing that the statue woman's attention was completely focused on Hei Yanjing, even if she didn't understand what "self-awareness" was, the hatred had clearly been transferred.
Zhang Qiling was momentarily speechless, which inevitably reminded him of Fatty, who was prying open coffins while saying the King of Li was coming out to dance for entertainment.
If he had the chance next time, he could introduce them. Perhaps these two, working in tandem, could directly anger those feudal remnants who had risen from the dead into their coffins.
Although there was only Hei Yanjing now, his effectiveness had already driven the statue woman into a state of madness.
She almost abandoned all defense, lunging at Hei Yanjing with near-insane ferocity, as if determined to take Hei Yanjing with her.
Hei Yanjing continued to provoke, dodging her attacks with bizarre footwork while shouting that the statue woman was coveting his beauty and had ulterior motives towards him.
"...Mute, look at this, is this right? Even if you like me that much, you have to follow the proper procedure and take it slow! I'm not the kind of man you can just date casually—"
Hei Yanjing's mouth wouldn't stop, and he even wanted to drag Zhang Qiling into it.
However, when he turned around, Zhang Qiling had already quietly settled down in a corner. Seeing him turn, he even looked a bit lost.
...Then he gave him a perfunctory, unenthusiastic clap.
Hei Yanjing: ...?
This pause caused him to be half a beat slower in dodging the attack. The wind blade from the statue woman grazed his shoulder-length black hair, directly cutting the frame of his sunglasses, which had become fragile after a hundred years!
The lenses fell to the ground and were then crushed under the statue woman's foot!
Hei Yanjing abruptly lowered his head, his falling hair obscuring his eyes, and instantly stomped the lunging statue woman deep into the ground!
Zhang Qiling was startled, understanding that the secret of Hei Yanjing's eyes was a corner he didn't want others to pry into. He picked up the Black Gold Ancient Blade and prepared to help.
Halfway there, he saw Hei Yanjing suddenly look up, and he was already wearing another pair of sunglasses!
Zhang Qiling: ...?
"Heh heh~" Hei Yanjing let out two sinister laughs and suddenly pulled open his leather jacket!
Inside his jacket, row after row of sunglasses were hanging!!!
"Didn't expect this, did you? I~ still~ have~ more~"
Zhang Qiling: ...
"Mute, do you want one? I can give you a discount~"
After a quiet glance at Hei Yanjing, Zhang Qiling chose to return to his comfortable corner and continue squatting like a mushroom.
...Otherwise, he feared he might lose control of his blade.