The sun sank completely below the horizon.
Only the last trace of afterglow remained at the edge of the sky, painting the clouds a brilliant orange-red.
Little Deer Assistant 9527's voice sounded in Yin Wuwang's mind: "Congratulations to World-Savers 9527 and 9528. Volume 1 mission complete. Rating: A-rank. Returning to the station. Countdown beginning."
Yin Wuwang took a deep breath. Finally over.
But...
He turned to look at Xie Qingyan: "The next world... with our cooperation, we'll repair it just as well."
Xie Qingyan looked at him.
"Naturally." His tone was mild. "With our coordination, it shouldn't be difficult."
Yin Wuwang's heart warmed at those words. "Our coordination." Fuguang said "our."
He made his tone sound casual. "Of course. We do make a good team."
Xie Qingyan glanced at him: "A team, not a one-man show. Remember that."
Yin Wuwang: "..."
This person's tongue is really sharp.
White light began spreading from beneath their feet.
The entire world began turning transparent, like a fading painting.
The city wall, the capital, the sunset, the clouds—everything was gradually dissolving.
Yin Wuwang watched all of this, suddenly feeling a twinge of reluctance.
Not reluctance to leave this world—he was sick of this garbage script.
What he was reluctant to leave was... these days of fighting alongside Fuguang.
The unspoken understanding during their secret meetings. The coordination at the black market. The trust during the feigned death. The alliance during the coup...
These thirty days had been the happiest of his entire life.
And it's all because of him.
He turned to look at Xie Qingyan.
Xie Qingyan was also looking at him.
White light enveloped that figure, making him look somewhat ethereal.
Xie Qingyan watched Yin Wuwang.
In the white light, that figure's outline was gradually blurring.
This past month...
He recalled Yin Wuwang's insight into human nature during the interrogation.
Recalled the "frame the Prime Minister" plan Yin Wuwang had proposed.
Recalled the six-hour vigil, those reddened eyes.
Recalled the moment he blocked the blade, that unfinished "Fu—"
This person... really has changed a lot compared to before.
And yet... it's as if nothing has changed at all.
Was he always this kind of person?
Or had I simply never truly looked at him before?
Xie Qingyan didn't know the answer.
But he knew one thing—
In the next world, he was willing to continue fighting alongside this person.
Not just because the mission required it.
But because...
He wanted to know the answer.
The white light blazed, swallowing everything.
[Mending Heaven Station · Above the Ink Sea]
The white light faded.
Yin Wuwang opened his eyes and found himself standing on an ink-black sea.
Nothing surrounded him but the faintly glowing ink sea beneath his feet. In the distance, an ancient pavilion floated in mid-air.
So this is the Mending Heaven Station? He looked around curiously. Completely different from the style of the cultivation world.
Elder Mo stood in the pavilion, holding a cup of tea, watching them.
Xie Qingyan stood right beside him, the purple-gold python robe gone, restored to the Sword Deity's white robes.
"You're back." Elder Mo set down his teacup. "Mission completed well. A-rank rating. Better than I expected."
Yin Wuwang frowned: "A-rank? What does that mean?"
"Ratings range from S, A, B, C, to D." Elder Mo explained. "S-rank is perfect completion. D-rank is failure. A-rank is... upper tier. Corresponding reward: 6,000,000 points."
Little Deer Assistant 9527's voice chimed in Yin Wuwang's mind: "Congratulations, Host! A-rank reward of 6,000,000 points has been credited to your account. Previous debt of 10,000 points has been automatically deducted. Current balance: 5,990,000 points!"
5,990,000 points. Yin Wuwang calculated silently. Not bad for the first world.
But then he glanced at Xie Qingyan standing beside him, and any lingering concerns faded.
Worth it.
"Upper tier?" Yin Wuwang snorted with obvious dissatisfaction. "I did this well, and it shouldn't be rated perfect?"
"The political intrigue plot was repaired, but there were still some small flaws." Elder Mo glanced at him. "For instance—you almost called out the wrong name during the coup."
Yin Wuwang's face stiffened slightly. He instinctively looked toward Xie Qingyan.
Xie Qingyan's expression didn't change at all.
"Alright, this is your first time at the station. You're not familiar with this place yet." Elder Mo waved his hand, and two Little Deer Assistants floated out from behind the pavilion. "9527, 9528, take them to rest. Come find me tomorrow. I have things to discuss."
Little Deer Assistant 9527 sounded in Yin Wuwang's mind: "Please follow me, World-Saver."
Yin Wuwang didn't move. He asked: "What's the next world?"
Elder Mo looked at the register in his hand: "Modern criminal investigation. A collapsed mystery-thriller world."
"Modern?" Yin Wuwang frowned deeply. "What dynasty is that?"
"It's not a dynasty." Elder Mo stroked his beard and smiled. "You'll understand when you get there. Your identities will be—" He looked down at the register. "One called Shen Xinglan, former investigation team leader, now the director of a private detective agency, hired as a special consultant for the authorities. The other called Jiang Wuye, former special operations squad leader, now the agency's combat consultant."
Yin Wuwang was completely confused: "What's an investigation team leader? A special operations squad leader? What do those even mean?"
"You'll receive detailed information tomorrow." Elder Mo waved his hand. "Go rest first."
Yin Wuwang nodded and followed the Little Deer to turn and leave.
"Yin Wuwang."
Xie Qingyan's voice came from behind.
Yin Wuwang stopped and turned back: "What is it?"
Xie Qingyan looked at him, his tone mild: "Next time you call out the wrong name, I won't cover for you."
Yin Wuwang paused. Then he smiled: "Don't worry. There won't be a next time."
Because next time, I'll call your name openly and honestly.
I've waited three thousand years. I can wait a little longer. But not forever.
Someday, Fuguang, you'll hear me call your name—not by accident, not in a moment of crisis, but because I want you to know.
Xie Qingyan watched his retreating figure, something flickering in his eyes.
This person... is really strange.
But perhaps... this kind of strangeness isn't unpleasant.
He followed his own Little Deer toward a different direction, the corner of his mouth unconsciously curving slightly upward.
[End of Chapter 74 · End of Volume 1]
[Volume 2 Preview]
I've lived for three thousand years. What haven't I seen?
A mere mortal world—how hard could it be?
...Fine. Phones shatter when you grip them. Elevators move on their own. Crossing the street requires watching colored lights.
But none of that matters.
What matters is—
Fuguang nearly died in my arms.
And I finally said those words.
Volume 2: Modern Criminal Investigation
Coming Soon.