Chapter 144 Advance and retreat
The bowl broke and the person died.

In just a moment, Lei Yaoxing fell to the ground with his back to the sky and bled to death after his futile struggle.

In the dead silence, no one spoke.

Only Ji Jue stiffened his neck, looked up, and stared with wide eyes, wishing he could take out a telescope and get close to observe frame by frame - what the hell? What's going on? What happened?
A person of rebirth level cannot be burned to death even if thrown into a furnace. Even if someone with stronger defense is pointed at his face with an anti-material rifle, the bullet cannot penetrate his skin.

At this moment, his throat was cut by a rough piece of porcelain fragment that bounced up from the ground, and he died of blood loss?

I don't even have the strength to struggle...

What is the principle behind this? What is going on?
His hair was almost standing on end.

I can't understand it, I can't figure it out, and I can't figure it out.

At that moment, he only had time to feel a wisp of spiritual fluctuations that emerged when the porcelain bowl shattered, flowing quietly and silently, passing through the mourning hall in a flash.

It pierced through the flesh and soul, took away the life, and finally returned to the darkness.

There was no sword-drawing or life-and-death fight; the execution was simply carried out in a nonchalant manner.

Everything was taken for granted, to the point that it was completely disconnected from the reality that Ji Jue knew, and even subverted, which brought a creepy chill.

Enveloping everything.

"Is this the White Deer Hunter?" he murmured.

Tong Shan, who was standing next to him, turned around and asked, "Do you understand?"

Ji Jue shook his head decisively.

"That is the White Deer Hunter's excommunication, a skill that is several levels higher than the Flying Light Edge."

Tong Shan said softly: "Among the followers of the White Deer, only three have been granted the title of hunters, and have been given the claws and teeth of the Supreme Good. Their duties are to defend the wilderness, maintain the cycle, and eradicate evil. Just like hunters who hunt invasive species, they maintain ecological balance and the continuation of the wilderness.

Among them, the An family's duty is to eliminate the hidden dangers within. All their skills are based on hunting their own kind... Excommunication was born for this reason. Outsiders are destined to be unable to understand and have no way of prying into it. "

He paused for a moment, and looked at Ji Jue with a more subtle look: "Before, I thought that Director Wen was already an anomaly in being able to control a stray white deer, but I didn't expect that you could surpass him."

Ji Jue's expression twitched and he seemed to be hesitant to speak for several times.

He had a blank expression on his face, a serious temperament, and earnest eyes. How could he be so skilled at eating melons?
You guys in the Tong family all brought some, right?
Ji Jue suddenly realized in despair... How come among so many aristocratic families, the most normal one is actually the Lou family?
Oh no, it’s not possible that the Lou family actually has some tough jobs, but Young Master Lou was just thrown out to be a craftsman and didn’t learn any real skills, right?

From the stunned and dazed state, the blood on the ground gradually spread, the corpse became cold, and there was no sound anymore.

Even the blessings and spiritual essence disappeared, turning into empty mist and drifting away with the wind.

If the occasion had been right, Ji Juegao would have carried his toolbox up to save the materials. He watched helplessly as the materials lost their value, and he didn't even know whether he should feel sad or not.

Just like that, An Ning looked down silently until the last bit of light faded from Lei Yaoxing's eyes.

In the void, only dark darkness remained.

She withdrew her gaze, looked around one last time, nodded slightly as if saying goodbye, and turned and left.

It was not until the slender figure disappeared in the rain that the frozen atmosphere in the entire mourning hall finally improved a little, but it was still solemn.

Rather, I felt even more nervous and frightened than before.

Facing the excommunication of the White Deer Hunter, all you have to do is wait for death. But sometimes death is not the most terrifying thing. The terrifying thing is not knowing what you will face next.

Can my life continue to remain in my body?

Around Lei Yaoxing, the spreading blood flowed to the feet of his confidants, but in the dead silence, they didn't even dare to move.

Anxiously awaiting his own end.

Until Chen Xingzhou's voice was heard amid the choking cough.

"When a person is gone, all grudges are gone. For the sake of your past kindness, you can help him clean up. After the funeral, we can bury him together. This will also help Mr. Lei and his father-son relationship."

The man in the wheelchair said: "Since Lei Yaoxing is dead, there is no need to pursue other matters. After paying the bill, you can stay or go as you please. It is also okay for you to leave Yacheng.

I hope you won’t make mistakes.”

From that high and indifferent overlooking view, all those who received the gift had different expressions. Some had faces as gloomy as water, some had eyes full of hatred, and more of them lowered their heads in obedience.

Lei Yaoxing's decision was made. Next, as everyone waited with bated breath, Chen Xingzhou finally turned around and smiled warmly at everyone.

"It's rare for us all to get together. Yacheng has been in chaos for so long, it's time to elect someone to take charge." He suggested, "I'll be the boss, whoever agrees will be the boss."

"I agree."

Right behind him, the dwarf in leopard leather jacket with gold teeth raised his hand first without hesitation, looking around with fierce eyes, looking like a loyal man, ready to beat the head off anyone who dared to oppose his boss.

"I agree!"

"Me too!"

"And I!!"

Everyone present rushed to express their approval, fearing that if they were a step slower, they would die without a burial place. And some people just stood behind Lao Lin, watching everything quietly, smiling without saying a word.

Thus, we witnessed the end of this struggle, the reunion of Huangji, and even the birth of a new leader.

The secret fighting that lasted for half a month finally came to an end.

From the winding blood-red reflection.

No, maybe the fighting has never ended, it is just a temporary end.

And now, in front of the mourning hall, the person in charge, Chen Xingzhou, has raised his hand and paused for a moment. Suddenly, everything is silent and silence comes again.

Only the hoarse voice echoed in the mourning hall.

"Thank you for supporting me and letting me be the person in charge for the next ten years. I am not Lei Wuye, and the position of person in charge is not just for me, Chen Xingzhou.

Ten years from now, if there are still up-and-coming talents who want to take the lead, if there are still wealthy and powerful friends who want to compete for a position, if there are still powerful dragons crossing the river who want to unify the world, I will welcome them all, and then we can see the real result.

But in these ten years, Huangji in Yacheng is my Huangji! The business of Huangji is my business! The brand of Huangji is my brand!"

In the aftermath of the cold voice, Chen Xingzhou's face was no longer warm, but even colder and more cruel than Lei Yaoxing's. He asked, "Do you understand?"

Everything was quiet, without any other noise.

Amid the sound of distant rain, the wild beasts lowered their heads obediently like straw in the wind, and dared not show any resistance or rebuttal.

"Very good." Chen Xingzhou nodded slightly, and finally clapped his hands, "Today's matter is over, and Huangji is back on track. Finally, let's burn some incense for Mr. Lei."

And so, the funeral continued under the chairmanship of Chen Xingzhou.

Bundle after bundle of flickering incense sticks were inserted into the incense burner, gathering into fragmented light like an ocean in the shadows, like the eyes of a beast on the dark side of Yacheng.

Right next to the incense burner, the trembling master of ceremonies raised the copper pestle and struck it numbly.

Then, the sound of the chimes was distant and echoed in the rain.

Just like before.

The future may not be any different.
.
A month ago, in Yingtai Mountain, in the ancient palace, the same sound was echoing.

The afternoon light poured down from the sky, and was divided by the window panes into countless slanting rays of light, like a sharp blade, piercing through the darkness and illuminating Chen Xingzhou's face.

In the darkness, the old figure sitting cross-legged was playing with chess pieces nonchalantly, his voice cold.

"Indeed, Lei Wuye has become more and more decadent in recent years. Under the checks and balances of various parties, Huangji has become a stagnant place. Occasionally, a few mosquitoes will come and go. There is no fun at all."

The leader, known as the Hermit, asked, "What do you think?"

“If you ignore the essentials and pursue the trivial, you will lose the essence.”

Chen Xingzhou answered without hesitation: "The strong prey on the weak, which is the truth of Bailu. The survival of the fittest is the main theme of Huangji."

He paused for a moment and said bluntly: "The wilderness does not need Tianyuan, nor does it need Lei Wuye's increasingly rigid rules. I think that after experiencing this turmoil, even if there is some decline, after a period of elimination, many new seeds will emerge, right?"

The hermit laughed and mocked: "It does sound interesting. After all, the survival of the fittest is also a part of the wilderness. But what if one day... the prey surrounded by wolves becomes you?"

"What difference does it make?"

Chen Xingzhou asked doubtfully, "No matter if we win or lose... won't it be another me who will be sitting in that position again?"

He has at least ten years to build the deserted town of Yacheng into what he envisioned. The cruel cycle established by Chen Xingzhou will merge with the wilderness of Yacheng over a long period of time.

Even with his encouragement, challengers will continue to appear without end...but isn't this the truth of Huangji?

If everything goes well, after ten years, he can just call it a day and fade into the background.

The cruel cycle of Huang Ji will continue, from his perspective.

The hermit is silent.

The figure in the darkness seemed to finally raise his head, and for the first time, looked him in the eye: "With this kind of heart...if you work hard, in forty years, you may be able to become a leader."

"You're overly flattering."

Chen Xingzhou bowed his head, "I really don't dare to dream of the honorable position of the leader."

The leader seemed to laugh, "So what do you want?"

Chen Xingzhou was silent.

for a long time.

As if summoning up the courage, he whispered, "When I was fourteen, someone told me that my life would be like rowing against the current, and if I didn't move forward, I would move backward, so I changed my name to Chen Xingzhou.

All I want is the freedom to go in or not, to do something or not, that's all."

"hahahahahahahahahahaha--"

It was as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world. The hermit could no longer bear it and laughed so hard that he fell forward and backward. The chess pieces on the table rolled to the ground, and the crisp sound was endless.

A black chess piece fell in front of him.

As if a reward.

"Go away, Chen Xingzhou."

The hermit waved his hand and told him, "If you can really crawl back from hell, think about freedom again."

Chen Xingzhou turned and left.

In January, the wind rises and the clouds roll, the tide comes and the rain falls.

As the rain gradually thinned and dissipated, the same light from the sky fell, illuminating Chen Xingzhou's face and the black chess piece in his hand.

Everything became so solemn and dignified from the obedient bowing of the subordinates and wild beasts, the respectful greetings and farewells.

"Freedom."

Chen Xingzhou held the chess piece in his hand and stared at the gradually brightening sky. "Lao Lin, do you think I am free now?"

"who knows."

Lao Lin shook his head indifferently, "It depends on who you think is standing in your way."

Yeah, who else?
Perhaps during the temporary taming, no one dares to resist Chen Xingzhou's orders, but it is foreseeable that there will be countless obstacles on this road in the future.

Doubt, temptation, provocation, even challenge and struggle.

All those who bow their heads now may become his enemies in the future.

Even though Chen Xingzhou had defeated the strong with the weak, and in just half a month, he had leapt over the dragon gate and was no longer the same as before. This skill and planning were indeed terrifying, but the power had not been fully confirmed... and the other people who had invested a lot outside of Yacheng might not give up this piece of fat meat that was about to be in their mouths, right?

I'm afraid new challengers will appear soon, and they will be more numerous, more dangerous and more troublesome.

He had clearly climbed out of one quagmire, but fell into another bigger and deeper quagmire... He wanted to rise, but how long would it take him to struggle?
"Freedom."

He laughed at himself. How could the leader not laugh at such an unrealistic wish?
But at least now, the chess piece is in his hands.

He clenched his fists.

No more words were spoken.

While deep in thought, he looked at the crowd that was gradually leaving and the back of the young man in the distance.

Ji Jue.

　I stayed up all night yesterday and finished writing almost everything, so I updated it early today. This volume is almost finished, but I have no idea what to write for the next volume. I cried.

　　Can you give me a monthly ticket? Please.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)