Chapter 121: Parting Ways

"The only organizations in this world that can tolerate Fusionists are the Fusionist Faction and the Twilight Society.

The Fusionist Faction is composed entirely of Fusionists, but its members generally have a fanatical admiration for 'fusion' and 'evolution,' believing that the Divine Path is a shortcut that doesn't belong to the human evolutionary direction... If you were from the Fusionist Faction, you wouldn't have argued with me about good and evil just now; instead, you would have persuaded me to abandon the Divine Path and embrace true evolution."

Han Meng’s voice was very calm, as if he were about to strike at the deepest secret in Chen Ling’s heart.

"So, you are from the Twilight Society."

Hearing this, Chen Ling’s brows beneath the mask furrowed slightly. He hadn't expected Han Meng to be waiting for him to speak first, relaxing his vigilance, while pretending to be silent...

The reason he had only mentioned the "Jiangtian Sect" and the "Twilight Society" just now, without mentioning the "Fusionist Faction," was likely a hook he had set for himself to distinguish which faction he belonged to.

"Can’t I just not belong to any faction?" Chen Ling countered.

"Of course you can." Han Meng paused for a moment. "I admit I was gambling, but now it seems... I must have guessed right."

Chen Ling: ...

Trying to trick people again, are we?

Chen Ling recalled the first time he was tricked by Han Meng. He had dodged it the first time, but he hadn't expected to fall for it the second time... Han Meng, that old schemer. He should have just left directly; the longer he stayed with him, the more flaws he would reveal.

However, even though his identity as a Twilight Society member was exposed, Chen Ling wasn't too panicked. After all, even if Han Meng hadn't probed him, he would have found an opportunity to expose his identity as a Twilight Society member.

The pitch-black mask stared at Han Meng for a long time, then chuckled, as if he had discovered something interesting.

"You’re very smart. Have you considered joining the Twilight Society?"

"No," Han Meng refused decisively.

"Why?"

"Because I am an Enforcer, and you are criminals who want to destroy the world."

"We just want to restart the world." On the pitch-black mask, those crimson eyes stared at Han Meng. "You said it yourself, Enforcers don't represent good... So why do you think we are criminals?"

"Restarting the world—isn't that destroying it? If the world isn't destroyed, how can it be restarted?"

Chen Ling was stunned.

"Even if the Aurora Domain is rotten to the core, it still protects millions of people... and Enforcers exist to protect the domain." Han Meng looked at the mask and replied calmly, "I don't care about other Enforcers, but I, Han Meng, will fulfill my duty to the end."

A cold wind swept across the gray sky. On the barren earth, the black trench coat and the crimson theatrical robe stood facing each other, fluttering in the wind.

"In that case... you may go." The cold voice came from behind the mask.

The reason Chen Ling exposed his identity as a Twilight Society member was to see if it was possible to pull Han Meng into the Twilight Society, because he felt that Han Meng was completely out of place with the entire Enforcer system of the Aurora Domain... A super genius who was oppressed, ignored, and demoted outside Aurora City should be the perfect target for poaching.

But Han Meng’s answer made him feel a bit regretful... yet it was within his expectations.

Han Meng also knew that the other party saving him was likely to see if it was possible to pull him into the Twilight Society. But with his clear refusal, the other party had completely lost interest in him.

That he didn't kill him on the spot but let him leave was already beyond Han Meng’s expectations.

Having probed the information he needed, Han Meng didn't say anything more. He took one last look at the crimson theatrical robe dancing in the wind, turned, and walked toward the Ash World convergence point he had come from.

In this gray world, the black and red figures parted ways.

As the black figure gradually disappeared at the edge of his vision, at the end of the horizon, giant shadows moved toward the direction Han Meng had left. The earth trembled slightly, as if signaling the arrival of some disaster.

On the lonely earth, the crimson theatrical robe fluttered silently. The pitch-black mask stared in that direction, and after a long while, shook his head helplessly...

……

Hearing the hissing coming from the distance, Han Meng’s heart sank.

Sure enough, he had been able to walk safely in the Ash World for so long because he was staying by the side of that mysterious red-clad man. Now that he had left the other party’s vicinity, Calamities had targeted him...

Having rested for so long, Han Meng’s body had recovered quite a bit. He took a deep breath, and his figure soared into the air like a black arrow!

He wasn't far from the Ash World convergence point he had come from. By going all out, he should be able to return before those Calamities caught up.

As Han Meng’s figure rose, he could already see the gray vortex hanging in the sky. But at this moment, around the vortex, numerous shadow tides were frantically pouring into it—it was the shadow centipedes that had fought Han Meng earlier.

Seeing this, Han Meng’s heart sank!

They went back?

These shadow centipedes had suddenly gone mad, running from District 3 back to the Ash World, and halfway through, they seemed to have lost their target, wandering for a long time before choosing to return the way they came... And judging by their numbers, at least a hundred had already crawled back.

A flash of urgency crossed Han Meng’s eyes. He rushed toward the Ash World convergence point at full speed, but he was still too far away. By the time he had flown halfway, all the shadow centipedes had already transferred and left.

"Damn it..." Han Meng endured the intense pain of his wounds, increased his speed again, and plunged into the gray vortex.

The familiar dizziness came, and Han Meng stumbled, his figure returning to the steel mill.

At this moment, the devastated steel mill was dead silent. Through the dense holes, not a single shadow centipede could be seen; it seemed they had all left.

Han Meng rushed out of the factory and barely managed to see a few wisps of black shadows disappearing into the thick fog... That direction was exactly where the street district was located.

These shadow centipedes must have known that Han Meng was trapped in the canyon and that no one in District 3 could stop them, so they had launched a counterattack. And the facts were indeed so... With Han Meng gone, it was impossible for anyone in District 3 to stop a fifth-order Calamity.

Han Meng’s heart sank to the bottom. He knew that even if he rushed to District 3 now, it would be too late. Those sub-bodies had already scattered to every street in the district. Even if Han Meng were stronger, he couldn't be in two places at once. By the time he eliminated all the sub-bodies one by one, they would have already slaughtered most of District 3.

Han Meng clenched his fists. He tried to calm his emotions, and just as he was about to rush out to break them one by one, light footsteps came from behind.

Han Meng turned around abruptly and saw that familiar theatrical robe already standing on the roof of the factory, fluttering gently.

"Why are you here?" Han Meng frowned and asked in a deep voice.

"The Ash World is too boring, I came out for some air." On the pitch-black mask, the exaggerated smiling face was slightly obscured by the thick fog. He looked down at Han Meng beneath his feet and said lightly, "By the way, a reminder."

"A reminder?"

"Light the torch; they will come because of it."

Chen Ling slowly opened his arms, his bright red sleeves spreading like butterfly wings in the wind, and he fell forward as if embracing the sky... The next moment, his figure turned into countless dancing paper butterflies, flying toward the distance in an overwhelming swarm.

Amidst the paper butterflies filling the sky, a playing card drifted gently onto the ground in front of Han Meng.

It was a [6 of Hearts].