# 892
Chapter 893: Merlin Steps In
He wasn't as selfless as Zhou Ping, nor did he have the world in his heart like Wang Mian. In the end, he was still that boy from Cangnan City who had knelt beside the dying Zhao Kongcheng, pointing at the neon-lit city in the rainy distance, and asked, "For them, is it worth it?"
He knew his choice might disgrace the title of "Night Watch," but so what?
He had joined the Night Watch not to protect all living beings, but to fulfill a ten-year promise.
Along the way, Lin Qiye had experienced much and encountered all kinds of Night Watch members—Ye Fan, Zuo Qing, Li Deyang, Wang Mian, Lu Qiu... He admired the radiant spirit they embodied and did his best to fulfill his duties, to be a qualified Night Watch.
But deep in his soul, he was first and foremost Lin Qiye, and only secondarily Night Watch.
As it was said when Night Watch was established: "The world is too vast, the living beings too numerous. We cannot manage them all, nor do we wish to... I only ask that beneath this night sky, those I cherish live in eternal peace..."
Within the reach of that night sky, Lin Qiye could protect all living beings.
But he was still too weak. His night sky could only protect the people he cherished, the ones close to him.
Though doing so might betray Wang Mian, might make him unfit to be a Night Watch... If he could stand here now, with Jialan's [Immortality], watching the people he cherished die before his eyes while he survived alone, then he would no longer be Lin Qiye.
So,
Lin Qiye passed through the turbid seawater
and came before the blade deeply embedded in his stomach wall.
His eyes were filled with determination.
Just as he reached out, his fingertips about to touch the handle of [Mandarin Arrow], a helpless sigh came from behind him.
"Sigh..."
Lin Qiye's body tensed. As he was about to turn his head, a hand gently grabbed his wrist and lowered it.
At some point, Merlin had appeared behind him, draped in a deep blue magical robe, wearing a great hood, and holding a scepter that emanated a faint glow.
"Lord Merlin?!"
At the sight of this figure, Lin Qiye froze.
After several seconds, he finally reacted, and shock appeared on his face.
After all, this wasn't the Asylum of the Gods. For Merlin to appear here without his permission meant...
"You've been discharged?" Lin Qiye asked in surprise.
Merlin smiled faintly. Those deep eyes stared into Lin Qiye's, as if seeing straight into the deepest parts of his heart.
"If I don't come out now, you'll develop a heart demon..."
Lin Qiye stood frozen.
Merlin was right.
He had chosen to pull out this blade, following the deepest choice of his heart, and would never regret it... But equally, once he pulled out this blade, it would mean a stain on his identity as Night Watch that could never be washed away.
By then, how could he face his identity as Night Watch? How could he face the new recruits at the training camp, or face Wang Mian?
The instant he pulled out that blade, Night Watch Lin Qiye would cease to exist.
After a moment of silence, Lin Qiye still said: "I don't regret it."
"I know you won't regret it, but there are some things it's still better not to do." Merlin patted his shoulder, his gaze falling on that long blade. He spoke calmly in a tone that was utterly reassuring:
"Don't worry. I'll take care of everything for you."
Lord Merlin extended his hand, pulling Lin Qiye behind him. He looked up at the approaching silver ring, his eyes narrowing slightly. Star-like traces flickered in his pupils, as if he could peer into the threads of fate.
Lin Qiye watched that majestic back, and his anxious, panicked emotions vanished instantly. His mind completely relaxed.
Merlin gave him the feeling of being an extremely reliable patriarch. Since he had arrived, then all the difficulties plaguing Lin Qiye would be resolved.
Could this temporal loop trap them? Could it trap the great God of Magic?
Glory to the God of Magic!!
"Lord Merlin, is there a way to get us out without destroying the temporal loop?" Lin Qiye couldn't help but ask.
"Of course there is." Merlin nodded, then added, "But there's no need..."
"Why?"
"This loop has already been destroyed. Even if I used magic to send all of you out, after the law of time erases everything, it would collapse on its own...
Moreover, its mission has been essentially completed."
Its mission has been essentially completed?
When Lin Qiye heard those last words, confusion rose in his heart. "What was its mission?"
"I'll tell you later." Merlin looked at the rotating ring of flowing light at the tail of that long blade before him and said calmly, "For now, I must end all of this first."
As the silver ring above gradually drew closer, Merlin extended his palm in the deep sea, gently gripping the handle of [Mandarin Arrow], and slowly pulled outward...
The blade withdrew from the stomach wall bit by bit. The ring of flowing light at the tail flickered intensely. Time around Merlin began to chaoticly fluctuate—sometimes accelerating, sometimes slowing, sometimes approaching stillness... Like a TV with a frozen signal, mysterious and eerie.
Merlin's eyes narrowed slightly. A white magic array spread beneath his feet, synchronizing the flow of time with his surroundings. His palm suddenly用力, directly yanking the blade lightning-fast from the stomach wall.
At the same time, the silver ring above that had been continuously expanding suddenly stalled, then automatically shattered piece by piece, vanishing into nothingness.
The law of time here was completely dispelled.
...
Outside the fishing village.
Late at night on the shore, bright searchlights had already been set up, illuminating the entire coastline as bright as day. Figures busied about on the beach, seemingly recording data.
Lu Ruici stood beside the carriage, looking at Master Chen sitting cross-legged on a giant rock at the shore in the distance. She helplessly sighed.
"Still haven't found that fishing village?" Zhou Dao walked over from a distance and asked.
Lu Ruici shook her head. "Master has been sitting there for a whole day, but we still haven't found a way into the fishing village... I don't know how the [Mask] and [Night Watch] inside are doing."
Zhou Dao opened his mouth, about to say something, when suddenly a shattering roar came from the sky.
Below the dark sky, a silver ring flashed and vanished. Then a semi-transparent domain spread open from the void. Black malevolent qi flames burned ragingly, and an extremely terrifying fluctuation descended.
At the beginning, it didn't think it needed to draw a weapon against such an opponent. But at this moment, it had no choice but to take out its weapon. Otherwise, it was already somewhat struggling to hold on. Rebirth through Fire was powerful, but it still required constant consumption. Once its own bloodline power was over-consumed, it would also damage its origin.
"I have to say, you have exceeded my expectations. But now, I will use my full strength." With Cao Yuwei's words, Phoenix True Fire gathered like the sea converging a hundred rivers, actually retracting the Phoenix True Flame Domain.
The blazing Phoenix True Fire condensed around its body into a magnificent golden-red armor covering its entire form. Holding a battle blade, it gazed at Meigongzi like a demon god.
Meigongzi did not pursue. Standing in the distance, she slightly calmed her somewhat turbulent mood. Although this battle hadn't lasted long, her emotions were becoming increasingly exhilarated.
Before truly facing a Great Demon King-level Undying Phoenix, she didn't know if she could really withstand it. Her confidence came from what Tang San had given her before. As the battle continued, when she actually began to suppress her opponent, protecting herself from the Phoenix True Fire with the help of Seven-Colored Heavenly Fire Liquid, she knew she truly could do it.
Over these hundred years, Tang San had guided her through many combat techniques, all most suitable for her use. Like the previous Netherworld Thrust and Netherworld Hundred Claws. And the Sword Star Cold that had just broken Cao Yuwei's finger for the first time. According to Tang San, these were all true divine techniques. After he slightly modified them and taught them to Meigongzi, they were the most suitable for her to perform.
The more she used these abilities, the more Meigongzi couldn't help but become genuinely convinced by Tang San. When Tang San first told her these were divine technique-level, she had some doubts in her heart. But now, she could continuously wound and pressure an opponent while transcending levels. If these weren't divine techniques, how could such a thing be possible given the difference in cultivation?
At this moment, all the emperors standing above the Imperial Heavenly Pillars looked at this young girl with entirely new eyes. When the Phoenix True Flame Domain appeared, they had been considering how long Meigongzi could last under that domain. White Tiger Great Demon Emperor and Crystal Phoenix Great Demon Emperor had even prepared to make a move to rescue her. But as the battle continued, they watched in stunned amazement as Meigongzi actually suppressed a Great Demon King of the Undying Phoenix clan, truly suppressed him, even forcing out Rebirth through Fire. How could this be possible?