# 579
**Chapter 580: The Message**
He raised his head, gazing at the dim light covering the entire city above—the Underworld Laws he had left behind.
He reached out and gently clenched his fist toward the sky.
The Underworld Laws that had sheltered the whole city from the fog and the gods rapidly condensed at the apex, forming a dark sphere that slowly descended into Li Deyang’s palm.
With a light squeeze, the glow merged into his body.
He drew a deep breath; an indescribable imperial majesty surged from within. The grease-stained army coat transformed into a black imperial robe, golden patterns interlacing, fluttering without wind. His stubbled face gained awe-inspiring authority, his entire aura shifting dramatically.
Watching this, Chen Han and Lu Yu’s jaws dropped.
The pressure radiating from Li Deyang—they had felt it several times in the fog. It belonged to a deity.
And the dim light flowing around him was identical to the Underworld Laws that had once shrouded the shattered city.
"C-Chen Han senior…" Lu Yu stammered. "Who is…"
Chen Han stared, speechless.
"Night Watch Team 332, Anta County, Captain Chen Han," Li Deyang intoned, cloaked in imperial grandeur.
Chen Han snapped to attention. "Present!"
"From now on, they’re in your care." He pointed at the sleeping citizens behind him, the corners of his mouth lifting. "And…
welcome home."
Between the Emperor of Fengdu’s palms, a deep gleam flashed; the Six Paths of Reincarnation appeared, a ring instantly enveloping the entire city.
The next moment, the ring contracted and the floating metropolis vanished.
When Chen Han and Lu Yu came back to their senses, the Emperor was gone.
The broken city that had hovered in the air now rested on the ground; the severed edge had disappeared. The half stolen by the Wind God had traversed space in an instant—from the eastern sea border to the northern frontier—reuniting with its other half.
Above them, the dim laws were replaced by azure sky.
The city had returned to where it belonged.
Scattered footsteps sounded behind them. Lu Yu turned to see several awakened residents walk out of the underground garage, looking around in bewilderment.
"Chen Han senior, they’re awake!" Lu Yu exclaimed.
Chen Han gazed at the spot where Li Deyang had stood, then gave a wry smile.
"Quite the surprise…"
---
"That half of the city is back?"
Outside the Night Watch special ward, Ye Fan shot to his feet at the voice on the phone.
"Where’s Zhou Ping?" he asked urgently.
"After the Sword Saint slew a god… he ascended in the Dao."
Ye Fan froze, phone in hand, as if struck by lightning.
"Team 332 Captain Chen Han brought back his heart. Fifth Special Team Captain Lin Qiye said that as long as the heart remains, the Sword Saint can be revived…"
Ye Fan’s eyes sharpened.
"Where’s the Fifth Special Team?"
"Missing."
"Missing?!"
"Chen Han said that just before reaching the Great Xia border they saw a figure rowing a small boat on the sea. They entered the fog and never returned."
"…"
"Ye Fan…" Zuo Qing’s voice on the line was worried.
Ye Fan’s knuckles whitened around the phone. After a long silence he rasped,
"I understand…
Zuo Qing, take those items and Zhou Ping’s heart… wait for me at Jiuhua Mountain."
"Ye Fan, are you really—"
"Do as I say."
He hung up before Zuo Qing could finish.
Jinian, sitting nearby, raised an eyebrow. "What happened?"
Ye Fan turned to her, expression graver than she had ever seen.
"…Just say it, stop staring," she said, unnerved.
Ye Fan inhaled.
"Jinian, I’ll ask one last time… can you stay?"
His tone was so solemn that Jinian forgot to quip. She hesitated half a second, then answered just as seriously,
"No."
"…" Ye Fan exhaled. "I see."
"So what’s going on?"
"Nothing." He glanced at Master Chen, now out of danger and being wheeled from the OR, shook his head, and walked alone toward the exit.
"If you really won’t stay… you can leave."
Creak—
He pushed open the corridor door and disappeared.
Jinian frowned at his back, puzzled.
After a moment she stood, hands in her tattered black cloak, and strode down the opposite corridor.
---
Bang—!!
A muffled explosion; faint arcs of electricity and sparks danced in Guan Zai’s palm as a smoking phone clattered to the floor.
Guan Zai’s eyes were bloodshot.
"Zhou Ping…" he whispered.
In the front of the electric bike, Lu Wuwei kept silent grip on the handlebars, then said slowly,
"I think you need to calm down…"
Guan Zai clenched his fists so hard nails drew blood. He shut his eyes and breathed deeply.
"Where’s Ye Fan?"
Though he fought to steady his voice, Lu Wuwei could hear the fury blazing in his chest.
Lu Wuwei paused. "I don’t know."
"Bullshit!" Guan Zai growled. "Who can hide from your Forbidden Ruins? You hunted Loki—can’t you find Ye Fan?"
Lu Wuwei pedaled on, saying nothing.
Guan Zai drew another ragged breath. "You think I’d be reckless enough to kill Ye Fan to avenge Zhou Ping? I’m furious… but not stupid!
I just want to find him… and ask him face-to-face!"
Lu Wuwei glanced sideways. "Only ask?"
Guan Zai hesitated. "And beat the hell out of him… but I won’t kill him."
Lu Wuwei nodded.
"All right. I’ll take you to him."