# 902
Chapter 903: Wu Xiangnan's Obsession
Is becoming a god really that easy?
Currently, among all humans, only Great Xia's Sword Immortal Zhou Ping had left behind his sword principle to ascend to godhood. If Wang Mian wanted to become a god, he would also need a principle of his own. However, unlike Zhou Ping, his God's Ruins came from the God of Time rather than from himself, so he couldn't leave behind his own principle like Zhou Ping did. And all the principles of time in the world had already been divided among the time gods of various divine kingdoms.
If he couldn't leave behind his own principle, and couldn't obtain the principle of time... was a god's proxy destined to be unable to ascend to godhood?
Wang Mian fell into silence.
Beside him, Amemiya Haruki sensed Wang Mian's emotional fluctuation and gently raised an eyebrow.
"...Let's go. I'll take you to find that person."
Seeing Amemiya Haruki turn to leave, Wang Mian hesitated for a moment before following his steps.
"Who exactly are you taking me to see?" Wang Mian couldn't help but ask.
"He's also from Great Xia, and he knows Qiya as well. You two might actually be acquaintances."
Wang Mian frowned in thought.
Besides the [Nightfall] squad, was there anyone else from Great Xia who had come to the "Human Enclosure" in Japan? And someone who knew Lin Qiye?
Wang Mian thought long and hard but couldn't come up with anyone. His curiosity was piqued.
The two walked out of the territory of the Kazamatsuri family and into the remote alleyways. After turning a few corners, they arrived before a small, humble house.
Amemiya Haruki reached out and knocked on the door.
A moment later, the door opened, and a figure Wang Mian would never have expected stood quietly behind it.
"Wu Xiangnan?"
Wang Mian exclaimed in surprise, calling out his name.
Wu Xiangnan's gaze swept past Amemiya Haruki and fell upon Wang Mian. He carefully examined this silver-haired old man for a long while, confusion appearing in his eyes.
"Who are you?"
Wang Mian said nothing, only quietly pulling from his怀中 the cracked mask bearing the character "王"...
Wu Xiangnan froze. He stared at Wang Mian's aged face for a long time, his mouth falling open in shock.
...
"Sit down. My place is quite simple—I don't have anything as luxurious as the Kazamatsuri family."
Wu Xiangnan carried a cup of hot tea out from the kitchen, setting it before Wang Mian, a somewhat helpless smile on his face.
After bringing Wang Mian here, Amemiya Haruki had returned to the Kazamatsuri family first. After all, this was a reunion between two people from Great Xia, and if he stayed, he wouldn't understand Mandarin. Rather than endure the awkwardness, he might as well simply excuse himself.
Wang Mian took the teacup and slowly took a sip. "But this place feels more reassuring."
"Actually, those siblings from the Kazamatsuri family and the young man who just brought you here are all pretty good people."
"But in a foreign land, it's still more comfortable to hear Mandarin."
Wu Xiangnan smiled. His gaze fell on Wang Mian's wrinkled hand wrapped around the cup. After a moment of hesitation, he asked, "What happened to you? Where are the others from [Mask]? Did they come to Japan too?"
Wang Mian slowly closed his eyes, a bitter smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.
He recounted everything that [Mask] had experienced in the fishing village.
After listening, Wu Xiangnan fell into silence.
He didn't know how to comfort Wang Mian either. He simply reached out and gently patted Wang Mian's shoulder. "Don't blame yourself. This wasn't your fault."
Wang Mian gazed at Wu Xiangnan for a moment, then sighed. "I know... I can denounce fate in front of anyone, but in front of you, I have no right to do so..."
Wu Xiangnan gave a bitter smile.
Wu Xiangnan was also the sole survivor of the [Blue Rain] squad.
Their fates were quite similar, but the difference was—Wang Mian still had a sliver of chance to change history. He still had hope... whereas Wu Xiangnan had nothing left but hatred.
Wang Mian lowered his head to look at the teacup in his palms. A flash of sorrow crossed his eyes as he murmured in confusion:
"First [Medium], then [Blue Rain], and now [Mask]... Tell me, is this the destiny of special squads?"
Wu Xiangnan was silent for a moment, then shook his head. "This isn't destiny... this is the inevitable ending of special squads.
From the moment all special squads are established, they carry an incomparably heavy duty. We never have the concept of retirement. Our mission is to fulfill our duties until the moment we sacrifice our lives.
Special squads are established, they fight and battle, they sacrifice, and then their designation is preserved, until the next special squad takes up their mission... that is our legacy.
In the hundred years of the Night Watch, many special squads have existed. Compared to most of them, we've actually been quite fortunate.
When a special squad is wiped out, it's always because they've encountered a perilous situation far beyond their capabilities. In those circumstances, there generally aren't any survivors left. And the operations of special squads are top secret—outside of the squad members themselves, others actually don't know much about them.
As time passes, besides the cold top-secret archives and merit records within the Night Watch, no one else can remember their former glory. Their legends will eventually fade into a vague and hidden history."
Wu Xiangnan stretched out his hand and pointed at himself.
"But we're different.
We're survivors. Even if that legendary history has been forgotten by everyone, we can still remember the former brilliance, remember the personalities and preferences of the others, whether they snored when they slept, what embarrassing things they did...
As long as we are still alive, our squad, will always exist."
Looking into Wu Xiangnan's eyes, Wang Mian was stunned. After a long while, he took a deep breath and slowly exhaled...
"I see. Thank you for the lesson."
Wu Xiangnan smiled. "It took me a long time to think it through too."
"Then have you... let go of it now?"
Wu Xiangnan's hand holding the cup trembled slightly. He shook his head. "Being able to think it through doesn't mean I've let it go... Glory and legends can become history, but hatred cannot."
"So you're staying in Japan to..."
"Yeah." Wu Xiangnan slowly sipped his tea and said in an absolutely calm tone, "Revenge."
Wang Mian was stunned. "If I remember correctly, the enemy that caused the annihilation of the [Blue Rain] squad was..."
"Yamato Takeru." Wu Xiangnan completed the latter half of the sentence. "The sea god of Takamagahara, Yamato Takeru."
"You're going to Takamagahara to seek revenge on Yamato Takeru?"
"Yeah."
"That's a god."
"I know."
"But right now, you're still just a human of the 'Sea' realm." Wang Mian looked earnestly into his eyes. "You're going to your death."
"You think I'm the kind of brainless fool who would just run headlong into death? Besides, I still carry the glory of the [Blue Rain] squad on my shoulders."
Wu Xiangnan smiled faintly. He stood up from his seat and walked to the window, gazing up at the sky, speaking calmly:
"I've... already found a way to kill Yamato Takeru."