# 1730
Chapter 1723: Moon, Burning
Zuo Qing's face turned visibly pale. He stared at [Chaos] before him, speechless.
Having completely crushed Zuo Qing's Forbidden Ruins, [Chaos]'s voice sounded cheerful once more. "But I am quite curious. Even though I've analyzed the most fatal weakness in your heart, why couldn't I provoke you? Among humans who can remain clear-headed under my provocation, there aren't even ten across all four universes."
"You're…… right……"
Zuo Qing's hoarse voice sounded. "As commander-in-chief…… I really am as mediocre as one can be…… no talent…… no strength…… so from the very beginning…… I never thought I would be an outstanding commander……
But Commander Ye…… planted these seeds of hope…… and then left…… so someone has to tend this garden…… nurture them as they grow…… right?
A gardener…… doesn't need talent or strength…… as long as they can guide them onto the right path…… that's enough."
Zuo Qing's voice grew increasingly faint, crimson blood soaking his cloak, yet concealed within its dark red hue, nearly impossible to distinguish.
The body beneath the cloak was covered with wounds, yet no one would perceive his suffering—since dark red was simply its natural color.
[Chaos]'s smile gradually faded. He coldly regarded the dying man before him, displeasure flickering in his eyes.
Zuo Qing's response had caught him by surprise… but [Chaos], who delighted in toying with human hearts, had no patience for things that slipped beyond his control.
"Is that so?"
[Chaos] spoke coolly.
The arm that had pierced through Zuo Qing's heart suddenly withdrew, leaving a gaping wound exposed to the void.
Zuo Qing groaned, blood pouring from his mouth as a battered iron box tumbled from his chest. Its damaged edges struck the gray-white earth, spilling gleaming medals across the ground. With the weak gravity, they drifted slowly around Zuo Qing, floating outward in all directions.
At the sight of these medals, Zuo Qing froze. These weren't his.
After nearly a decade working for the Night Watch, he had only ever earned two medals, the highest being "Star Sea"… just as [Chaos] had said—he was as mediocre as one could be.
These medals… belonged to [Nightfall].
In his mind, the scene of Lin Qiye using these medals as a path through the Heavenly Court flashed back—the moment when he, Zuo Qing, had bent down to pick each one up from the ground.
He had forgotten to return them to Lin Qiye.
A sense of helplessness crept into Zuo Qing's eyes. With his heart hollowed out, he reached weakly for the nearest medal, cradling it carefully before placing it into his blood-soaked pocket.
He stumbled forward, desperate to grasp another, but his body was failing—his legs buckled and he collapsed onto the ground.
He watched the medals drift further away, stretching out trembling hands, trying to pull them back.
Those medals represented [Nightfall]'s glory—the very same [Nightfall] he had witnessed grow from nothing to what it was now. He could accept being a mediocre Night Watch officer, an unremarkable commander no one celebrated—but the seeds he had nurtured were different. The medals weren't his to keep, yet each one bore his influence.
"Pathetic gardener… then guard your seeds and perish silently on the Moon."
[Chaos]'s eyes narrowed as he observed this scene. Zuo Qing's Forbidden Ruins had been sealed, and death was imminent—there was no point wasting further time on this human.
As he turned to leave, Zuo Qing's voice emerged once more.
"I won't die silently… because the seeds I've cultivated have already matured."
Zuo Qing knelt half-collapsed in the blood, lifting his head faintly. He gazed toward the blue planet, a serene smile breaking across his pale lips.
"Did you think… you were the only one buying time… [Chaos]?"
BOOM!!!!
Vigorous azure flames erupted from the Straight Blade embedded in the Moon's surface, surging furiously into the depths below!
Immediately after, the gray-white ground fractured rapidly, and azure infernos gushed forth from the cracks like burning tendrils, racing outward in every direction!
[Chaos]'s pupils contracted sharply!
The flames had spread with terrifying speed, as if concealed beneath the surface all along—from the moment Zuo Qing drew the Straight Blade and planted it into the lunar ground, the immense [Vermillion Bird] flames had already begun brewing beneath the earth. When he had gripped the blade so tightly, it had seemed like rage against [Chaos]'s provocation, but in truth, he had been preparing everything from that instant!
He had approached [Chaos] deliberately, drawing the entity's attention while the azure flames gathered their strength. From the very beginning, he had never intended to leave the Moon alive.
"Damn it!!"
[Chaos] realized the situation had spiraled beyond control. Instantly transforming into a streak of light, he hurtled toward the crater's center, channeling vast Cthulhu Faction divine power to dismantle the Moon's seal!
Zuo Qing knelt in the blood, the azure inferno licking at his form. He gazed toward Earth, something like laughter in his expression.
Gradually, his life force dwindled away. His cold body, consumed by the azure flames, burned to scattered embers.
In the haze of fading consciousness, voices from the past echoed in his mind.
"I am Zuo Qing, Director of the Night Watch Special Operations Department… your superior."
"……"
"Lin Qiye, have you decided on your squad's name yet?"
"……"
"[Nightfall]?… That's a good name. I'll register it for you here—come to headquarters when you have time to complete the paperwork."
"……"
"What is this weird图案? A scorched pancake with two slashes?"
"……"
"Director Zuo, this is the emblem we designed for [Nightfall]. The black circle represents [Nightfall], and the two crossed blade marks are our Straight Blades… Pretty good, right? Other special squads probably don't have something like this designed, do they?"
"……"
"Lin Qiye, the custom insignia badge you applied for wasn't approved by Commander Ye… He said they were too troublesome to make, and if your squad got them, other squads would follow suit, causing unnecessary waste… How about this—when I get the chance, I'll secretly have a set made for you to collect… Don't forget to treat me to a meal."
"……"
The azure flames consumed Zuo Qing's form entirely. Viewed from the depths of space, the blazing inferno spread into an enormous ring, two clean lines of fire bisecting it—the emblem of [Nightfall] burning bright against the Moon's surface!
Even from hundreds of thousands of kilometers away, this immense pattern remained clearly visible, glowing like a beacon in the darkness of space!
At this moment,
The Moon was burning!!!