Chapter 1538: [The Letter-Bearer]

Chen Ling took the letter and glanced at the signature:

——[To Red King].

Chen Ling’s eyes narrowed slightly.

This letter was found under Jin Fugui’s stool. In other words, the person who delivered it not only knew he had been recuperating under the bridge, but was also able to stick the letter under the stool without anyone noticing?

But the hiding spot was far too obscure. How could they be sure Jin Fugui would definitely find it?

Or what if he had already left by the time Jin Fugui found it?

Unless...

Sun Bumian’s gaze suddenly shifted to Jin Fugui.

In this world, how many people could bypass both his and Chen Ling’s perception? Unless this letter had been stuck there by Jin Fugui himself.

"No, don't look at me!" Jin Fugui cried out in grievance. "I was stuck in a ghost-loop outside all night, how could I possibly... Besides, Lord Red King, I live right here, why would I write a letter? It’s not a love letter! Why would I be too embarrassed to say it to your face?"

"That is strange, then..." Sun Bumian rubbed his chin suspiciously. "Who else could have delivered this letter?"

"There is indeed someone who could," Chen Ling suddenly spoke up. "And more than one."

"Who?"

"One is my Fourth Senior Brother, Mo Jiao... the other is Diamond 8." Chen Ling paused for a moment.

"I’ve gone through the Dusk Agency’s files. Diamond 8’s path, [The Letter-Bearer], is very unique and possesses almost no offensive capabilities...

However, as long as the letter is written by his own hand and fueled by intense emotion, it becomes imbued with the aura of 'fate.' It can ignore spatial distance and deliver the letter to the area surrounding the recipient.

Moreover, these letters will be discovered by the recipient at the right time, driven by various coincidences.

Legend has it that the [Letter-Bearer] path also appeared in ancient times, and that particular Letter-Bearer reached a very high rank. The letters they wrote by hand could not only traverse space, but... could even traverse time."

Sun Bumian was somewhat surprised. Diamond 8 was already low-key and mysterious; very few people in the entire Dusk Agency knew about his path... Judging by Chen Ling’s description of that ancient Letter-Bearer, this path seemed quite formidable.

Especially a letter that could traverse time—in a sense, that was an ability capable of changing history.

"The Dusk Agency is truly full of hidden talents," Sun Bumian couldn't help but remark.

"But Diamond 8’s current rank isn't high. His letters can only traverse space at most; they cannot traverse time," Chen Ling said slowly. "And as I said, this path has almost no offensive power..."

"So, is the one in your hand a distress letter from him?"

Chen Ling tore open the envelope, and lines of elegant, neat handwriting came into view:

[Since parting at Lingxu, it has been a long time since I last sent my regards.]

[Though Mo Yao’s pen has been stagnant, my thoughts are always with you. I only wish for the Red King to be as peaceful and enduring as the pine and cypress.]

[Mo Yao is currently staying in the Eternal Realm, dwelling above the human world. Here, the towers are jagged, the roofs are covered in glaze, the clear light shines down, and the flowing colors are like stars... The objects here are inexhaustible. The residents here live in peace and contentment, without worry or concern.]

[Entrusted by Mr. Lou, Mo Yao writes to respectfully invite the Red King to visit the Eternal Realm alone.]

[On the night of the half-moon, above the abyss, be there or be square.]

Seeing the content of the letter, Chen Ling was slightly taken aback, and his expression became visibly grave.

"No way, did Diamond 8 defect?" Jin Fugui leaned over, his eyes widening after a quick glance. "Abandoning the Dusk Agency to join the Eternal Realm??"

"Sounds like a Hongmen Banquet."

Sun Bumian, with his wealth of experience, instantly found the key point amidst the flowery language. His gaze swept repeatedly over the words "Entrusted by Mr. Lou," and he looked at Chen Ling with a complex expression. "...What do you think?"

Chen Ling didn't answer. He stared at the letter in his hand, lost in thought.

Just then, he seemed to discover something.

Chen Ling rubbed his fingertips over the letter paper repeatedly. He didn't know if it was his imagination, but the thickness of the paper felt strange. It wasn't that it was too thin or too thick, but rather that the thickness was uneven... It would be impossible to tell with the naked eye; only by touching it could one detect a hint of something amiss.

Chen Ling applied a slight pressure with his fingertips.

*Rip—*

In the next second, the letter paper in his hand was torn into fine shreds, fluttering down to the ground...

At the same time, a thin slip of paper, which seemed to have been embedded within the original, was pinched between Chen Ling’s fingertips. The slip was as thin as a spiderweb; even though it had been nested inside the paper, it had shown no flaws.

And on this thin slip of paper, a line of tiny, faint characters caught Chen Ling’s eyes:

[Lord Red King, Mo Yao was forced to write this letter.]

[I have no regrets in death. The Eternal Realm is dangerous; do not step foot here.]

Seeing these two lines, Chen Ling’s slightly furrowed brows finally relaxed.

"It seems... he hasn't betrayed us."

"So it's a straight-up kidnapping, then?" Jin Fugui spat. "This Wuji Jun just wants to lure you over?"

"Come to think of it, has there ever been a traitor in the Dusk Agency?" Sun Bumian asked, looking at Chen Ling with curiosity as if something had just occurred to him.

"No," Chen Ling shook his head. "We only turn others against their own, but among those who have joined the Dusk Agency, there has never been a traitor."

Chen Ling had read some files on the Dusk Agency from the Grey King. Since the fifth-generation actor, Wuming, founded the Dusk Agency, they had suffered casualties, but never a traitor.

"Are we really that united?"

Sun Bumian was surprised. He had lived for so many years and seen so many betrayals and partings, but an organization like the Dusk Agency with no traitors was truly rare.

"Hmm, perhaps it's because..."

Chen Ling opened his mouth, then hesitated.

"...Never mind. Let's first find a way to rescue Diamond 8."

"But are you really going to go yourself?"

"Yes."

"Isn't that too dangerous?"

"The letter is very clear: Lou Yu wants to see me, and 'alone'," Chen Ling said slowly. "This might be a Hongmen Banquet, but... he may not necessarily have strong hostility toward me."

Sun Bumian raised an eyebrow, seemingly unable to understand Chen Ling’s train of thought: "Are you being too optimistic? How can you be sure he doesn't want to kill you?"

Chen Ling didn't answer. In his mind, he suddenly recalled the end of the last time he was in the era archive: Lou Yu killing his future self with his own hands, and then looking at him with those complex, bitter eyes...

His voice echoed in Chen Ling’s ears once more:

"Humanity does not need a Wuji Jun, nor should a Wuji Jun exist..."

"Chen Ling..."

"From here on, it's up to you."