Chapter 1052: Something Heavy

No one knew what Han Meng had seen in Chen Ling using the [Verdict of Sin].

And no one knew what he had been struggling with during those long minutes before he declared Chen Ling innocent...

The Scarlet Overlord of the Abyss of Ghostly Derision, the Faceless King who mocks fate. When Han Meng uttered those words, Chen Ling knew he had seen through his true form.

And the final verdict was beyond Chen Ling's expectations...

"Chen Ling is innocent."

Chen Ling’s eyes narrowed slightly.

There was no relief in his eyes, nor the satisfaction of having his name cleared. He stared at Han Meng and spoke again:

"Innocent? Are you sure?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Jian Changsheng and the other two, who had just let out a sigh of relief, were completely dumbfounded.

Jian Changsheng’s sealed mouth made muffled noises. He glared at Chen Ling with an expression that screamed, "Are you asking for a beating, you brat?" The head of the Tribunal had just declared you innocent and was planning to let you go, yet you jumped out yourself to question the verdict?!

Are you only happy if you get dismembered like Huang He just did?!!

Chen Ling never considered himself a "good person."

Since stepping onto the stage, he had committed many acts that would be judged as "evil" by the law... He had killed members of the Floating Life Painting who were hunting him down, and killed ordinary people who had framed and insulted him... For the sake of audience expectations and completing those damn performances, he had deceived and instigated... In the heart of Chen Ling, who possessed memories from before his "transmigration," the guilt brought by morality had long since accumulated.

Perhaps because of the "audience," his empathy had been dulled, and his guilt suppressed along with it, but deep down, Chen Ling did not think of himself as a flawless, good person...

He was just already numb.

Han Meng hadn't expected Chen Ling to refute his verdict of innocence either, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper...

"'Chen Ling' is innocent." Han Meng repeated the verdict,

"This is not my personal opinion, but the final conclusion of 'Justice'... Furthermore, I hope you understand that 'Justice' is not 'Law.' In different eras and in the hands of different people, 'Justice' is not always the same."

Chen Ling fell silent.

Han Meng had no intention of explaining further. The [Tribunal] retracted around him, and everything in the surroundings faded into nothingness. The entire courtroom was stripped away from the independent space, returning once again to the unfinished building...

The reporters, who had long since been scared out of their wits, had no desire to stay a moment longer. They scrambled to their feet and rushed out of the unfinished building, looking as if they had been reborn. Only a few of the bolder ones gritted their teeth, turned back to organize everything that had just happened into drafts, and then ran for their lives.

Jian Changsheng felt a weight lift from his body, and the force sealing his mouth vanished. He glanced at the black-clad figure not far away, muttered a few curses under his breath, and ran toward Chen Ling with the other two.

"Heart, how are you feeling?" Sun Bumian carefully examined Chen Ling, who was covered in blood.

"Just a few injuries."

Chen Ling looked down at his shattered body indifferently. "This is nothing... but having my limbs controlled is always a nuisance. If I don't resolve it quickly, I'm worried I'll start running around again in a moment."

"You just need to die once, right?"

Jian Changsheng’s eyes lit up again, and he excitedly began rolling up his sleeves, seemingly unable to wait.

"...Wait." Chen Ling held him back with a strange expression. "You guys can't kill me in one hit. If you just beat me into a critical state, it'll be even harder to die..."

"Uh... that's true?"

"Then what do you plan to do?"

Chen Ling’s gaze passed over Jian Changsheng and the others, locking onto the black trench coat standing silently not far away.

Han Meng seemed not to understand what the three were talking about, his brow slightly furrowed. Seeing Chen Ling suddenly look at him, his eyes revealed a sense of bewilderment...

He pondered for a moment,

"Is there something you need me to do?"

"It's simple." Chen Ling pointed to his own head. "Put a bullet in here. Don't use ordinary rounds—give me something heavy."

Han Meng: ???

After so long, an old friend reunites, and the first request Chen Ling makes is to have his head blown off.

Han Meng didn't understand...

During the time he was buried in the Aurora Base, had the outside world gone this crazy?

Han Meng stared at him for a long while, confirming that Chen Ling wasn't joking, and his expression gradually became serious and solemn:

"...Are you sure?"

"Sure." Chen Ling nodded heavily. "Hurry up, or it'll be troublesome in a moment."

Han Meng: ...

Han Meng hesitated for half a second, but chose to trust Chen Ling. He drew his gun and aimed it directly at Chen Ling’s head, the aura of the [Tribunal] head beginning to spread to the surroundings... Jian Changsheng and the others immediately retreated a dozen steps, worried about being splattered by Chen Ling’s remains.

But it turned out they had overthought it.

When Han Meng pulled the trigger, the power of deconstruction pierced through half of Chen Ling’s body. There was no explosion, no splashing; his flesh and blood simply melted away, vanishing into nothingness.

The pressure of the Seventh Rank, accompanied by a wailing cold wind, dissipated within the unfinished building. Jian Changsheng and the others’ fluttering clothes finally settled. They watched, unblinking, as Chen Ling, now only half a body, fell straight backward...

Bang—

Chen Ling’s corpse hit the ground with a thud.

Han Meng lowered his muzzle, staring blankly at the remains of Chen Ling, his eyes still full of confusion.

Jian Changsheng blinked, then suddenly shouted as a prank:

"Good job! You actually killed Chen Ling!!"

Han Meng: ?????????

Han Meng’s expression changed instantly. He stared fixedly at the half-corpse, as if his very thoughts had stalled... Veins bulged from his neck, and his entire body went rigid.

"He's lying to you, Officer Han Meng." Sun Bumian rolled his eyes. "Don't worry... Heart isn't that easy to kill."

Han Meng’s expression finally softened. He glared at Jian Changsheng and looked back at Chen Ling.

Time ticked by, second by second...

Finally, Chen Ling’s remaining half-body suddenly twitched, and the flesh that had been melted away began to regenerate at an incredible speed!

……

Ding-ding-ding—

The familiar spotlights lit up one after another from above, and Chen Ling opened his eyes hazily.

He stood up slowly from the stage in his bright red theatrical robes, scanning the dense sea of scarlet eyes in the "audience" below, his expression perfectly calm...

Chen Ling now knew that he was originally one of them. Looking at the full house of spectators, his state of mind had changed... It was no longer the initial terror, nor the later wariness, nor pure hostility.

Draped in his red robes, he stood under the spotlight with his head held high, like a calm and composed victor looking down upon a group of malicious prisoners.

"I know you all want to replace me."

Chen Ling said faintly, "But one day, I will completely control you. In this world, there can only be one 'Chen Ling'... and that is me."