On Tuesday, June 9, 675—the sixth day of the festival—the number of visitors was lower than on previous days. The residents, either exhausted or eagerly awaiting the final day, had decided to conserve their energy for the grand finale.
Nevertheless, the sixth day held its own unique character. It was naturally oriented toward families, as there was very little mixing between men and women, which effectively prevented harassment and lewd gazes.
A stark reminder of why this was necessary was the incident that had occurred on the third day of the festival, when professors from the Versalkin Academy—driven by lust—had targeted the underage female students who were under Hinatako's care.
Meanwhile, Jian Yi wandered about, his expression etched with hesitation. Five days had passed since his grandfather, Hua Jianyu, had arrived, yet they had not crossed paths even once. As for his father—the "Plum Blossom Sword Saint," Yu Hanma—he had not appeared at all, reportedly remaining in seclusion to pursue a breakthrough or some similar endeavor.
Jian Yi felt a deep sense of trepidation regarding a potential encounter with his grandfather. They rarely met, and whenever they did, Hua Jianyu's gaze was sharp—laden with a profound hatred, as he held Jian Yi indirectly responsible for the death of his beloved daughter.
As Jian Yi wandered, lost in thought, through the city of Gasemburg, he collided with Hinatako. The items she had been carrying—fresh meat and traditional sweets representing the diverse customs and cultures of various kingdoms and races—spilled to the ground. He glanced toward her, feeling a sense of unease as he helped her gather her belongings—a gesture she reciprocated, though her smile carried a mischievous, even cunning, edge. As he looked at her, she spoke in a calm, measured tone:
"I am Hinatako, from Yoshinashi City. A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hua Jianyi."
Jianyi said nothing. He had already realized that the encounter was orchestrated; everything about her—her manner of speaking, her behavior, and the way she looked at him—felt highly suspicious.
He recalled seeing her on the fourth day, at one o'clock in the morning, accompanying five terrified girls toward Director Soliver's office. Yet, she had acted with an unnatural, almost excessive, sense of composure—a stark contrast to an atmosphere otherwise heavy with sorrow, fear, and tension.
Deciding to speak, he allowed a faint, subtle killing intent to emanate from his body. This only caused her smile to grow more cunning:
"What do you want, Hinatako—from the Elite Class, specializing in biological sciences? Is there something you wish to say?"
Jianyi asked this as he rose to his feet, having finished helping her collect her things.
Hinatako remained silent for several seconds before speaking again, her calm tone masking an underlying request:
"Do you know Seok, from the Elite Class—the one with the strange abilities?"
Upon hearing the name "Seok," Jianyi's gaze turned wary and suspicious. He had no friendship or academic association with the boy; they were merely combatants locked in a life-or-death struggle. At the same time, information about him was extremely scarce—save for the fact that he possessed strange abilities known as "Domes," and that he was a "half-curse"—as Tom had revealed while they were resting in the city of Yuspeakers. Beyond that, nothing was known.
"Yes, I know him, to an extent. He did most of the work in Jigwa, helped us treat the fighters, and fended off enemy attacks during two separate battles. He's also set to join the 'Masters' class next year."
Jian Yi spoke with a tone that betrayed his suspicion regarding Hinatako's intentions—intentions that were becoming increasingly apparent to him.
Hinatako narrowed her eyes, feigning deep thought—a gesture that drew a look of bewilderment from Jian Yi.
Then, opening her eyes and offering a faint, subtle smile, she said:
"Since you know him so well, I have a very simple request. I want you to take him with you to the Mount Hua Sect for his training. Besides, wouldn't Seok's 'Domes' prove quite useful for your own training?"
"Moreover, you were already planning to take Tom along because he asked you to—weren't you, Master Hua Jian Yi?"
Jian Yi remained silent, though he watched her with heightened caution. She had somehow learned something she shouldn't have—an event that had taken place while he and Tom were returning from the battle against the Goblin Lord, Kaflieur. It made him realize just how dangerous this girl truly was.
Yet, he said and did nothing; the setting was hardly appropriate. Furthermore, her words made it clear to him that she was not human—for everyone else had shunned Seok upon learning he was a "half-curse," fearing they might be afflicted by his curse. With the exception of Yureichi and Grey—whom he had assisted during the war, leading to a mutually beneficial relationship after he obtained the De Moliar family crest—and Beatrice, with whom he would occasionally converse, he realized that she, too, was a "curse." Her presence felt strange and distinctly non-human—much like the presence of Armin, Yuta, or Si-wook, all of whom were not human to begin with.
"While the idea of mutual benefit sounds fine, why should I even agree to it? Besides, he's untrustworthy; he belongs to an unknown race, meaning his behavior and the way he develops are both complete mysteries. He's far more of a danger than an asset."
Jian Yi's tone was a blend of calm and anticipation, waiting to see what she would do next.
Seeing that her initial plan had failed, she wore an expression of frustration as she stowed her belongings away into her personal dimensional storage space.
This made Jian Yi extremely cautious, bracing himself for a potential surprise attack—even though he sensed that she was a full level below him, at the "Expert Sovereign" stage.
Yet, he felt the exact same sensation he had experienced when he first met Si-wook—back when he was at the "Magister" rank and had assumed he could easily crush him. Breaking the silence, Hinataku spoke—catching Jian Yi off guard for a split second:
"Seok-qian is unpredictable; his voracity is the very source of his strength—the path he chose to become the strongest. Yet, I want him to go to the Mount Hua Sect. There, he might learn tranquility and harmony with nature, and perhaps gain control over his cursed half."
"Consider this a mutually beneficial arrangement: you grow stronger, while my dear Seok learns to master himself."
Jian Yi remained silent, though he could sense the sincerity in her desire to help Seok. In her eyes, they were kindred spirits—bound together as a pair, both in their human lives and in their existence as—or through—curses, even if each represented only one half of the whole.
"However, Jian Yi..."
Jian Yi's expression showed a hint of annoyance at the barrage of requests; it seemed her words had struck a chord. Yet, his expression shifted to one of surprise and shock as he listened to the rest of what she had to say.
"You should know one thing: whenever you have the chance to apologize or mend a relationship, take it. Death can arrive at any second—whether you are a child, an elder, or even a prophesied hero. Death treats everyone as equals."
Jian Yi pondered her words for a few moments before speaking in a calm tone, a faint smile playing on his lips:
"Very well. You two may come to the Mount Hua Sect; it should prove beneficial for someone driven by such desires."
With that, Jian Yi departed without waiting—their conversation having effectively reached its end—as each went their separate ways toward their respective destinations.
Jian Yi headed toward the location where his grandfather was staying—one of the Mount Hua Sect's branch headquarters, which possessed the same prestige and grandeur as the main headquarters on Mount Hua itself.
He recalled what Yuta had said earlier—about bringing a gift for his grandfather on the third day—which instilled a measure of confidence in him:
"Still, I believe he will be proud of you. At just fifteen years old, you have already reached the level of a Sacred Sovereign. On top of that, you wiped out several squads of the Scorpion Organization's followers on Jeju Island and faced the Goblin Sovereign, Kavlur, head-on—more than once." "Achievements like these would make even the calmest person lose their composure, and your grandfather is no exception; perhaps he will finally see that your mother's sacrifice was not in vain after all."
Taking a deep breath, he gazed at the Mount Hua Sect's branch headquarters before deciding to step inside. To his surprise, he encountered Yuta Casiral emerging alongside another man—a stranger to him—who was none other than the 'Last Ranker,' Ping Tao-shin.
He noted Yuta's expression—cold and terrifying—while Ping Tao-shin's face betrayed a clear sense of annoyance and frustration.
Jian Yi remained silent as he observed them, sensing a palpable tension within the sect's branch headquarters.
Venturing further inside, he discovered several members of the Muta organization lying dead—yet, remarkably, they bore no visible injuries, as if they had simply passed away from natural causes. This observation ruled out Yuta as the killer.
Yuta was known for his brutal, violent methods—as seen in his treatment of Edward on Jeju Island, the mercenary in the city of Yospeakers, and Aghid, who had attempted to assassinate Lucy.
Therefore, the culprit had to be the other man: the 'Last Ranker,' Ping Tao-shin—a figure who had gained notoriety across the Eastern Continent over the past few months.
Pressing onward, he stumbled upon the corpses of several Muta elders scattered on the ground. Stunned, he hurried toward the quarters of his grandfather.
With a single, powerful kick, he tore the door from its hinges, revealing the interior of the room belonging to his grandfather, Hua Jianyu. He found him staring at a chessboard with eyes full of terror, cold sweat pouring profusely from his body. It was then that he realized the identity of the person who had been accompanying Yuta Kasiral.
"The 'Slayer of Sects and Clans' from the Eastern Continent—the 'Last Board Venerable,' Bing Tao Xin—the man who, in a single night, annihilated the Heavenly Pavilion Palace, the second most powerful sect in the world."
Jian Yi's gaze was filled with horror as this realization struck him; yet, he still could not fathom why Yuta was with such a man at this hour.
He turned toward his grandfather, Hua Jianyu, who remained frozen in place, gripped by shock. As Hua Jianyu looked at Jian Yi, he was suddenly reminded of his own daughter—recalling how she would come running to him whenever she encountered difficulties in her cultivation.
Overcome by sorrow, humiliation, and a profound sense of helplessness, Hua Jianyu lowered his head once more.
Meanwhile, he pondered to himself, reflecting on what had just transpired:
"What in the name of the Creator of Hell actually happened?"
Hua Jianyu could find no words to describe the events; he simply could not comprehend any of it. How could a game of chess devolve into such a one-sided massacre?
The "Last Board Venerable," Bing Tao Xin—a figure whose name would be etched into his memory until the day he died. He was a demon—one who smiled and offered pleasantries in a calm, gentle, and humble tone, yet a demon who killed without hesitation.
"Grandfather Hua Jianyu, are you alright? Did something happen to you? You don't look well at all."
Jian Yi's voice was laced with concern as he looked at him, attempting to shake him back to his senses. Hua Jianyu fixed his gaze upon him for several seconds before shoving him away roughly. Jian Yi stumbled back a few paces, looking at his grandfather with a mixture of confusion and profound sorrow.
As he rose to his feet, Hua Jianyu spoke, his voice laced with anger:
"Jian Yi, I will not repeat myself. Never come near me again; regardless of your reasons for being here, there is no place for you in this life of mine."
Jian Yi said nothing, his eyes remaining cast toward the ground, filled with sadness. Yet, in that moment, he recalled the Buddha statue he had purchased on the third day.
A broken smile touched his lips as he thought of the day he bought it. He did not know why that particular memory surfaced, but it brought him a surge of genuine joy—it had been the first time he had ever bought something for his grandfather.
Flashback
"So, will you both be taking the final exam, now that attendance has been made optional?"
Jian Yi asked as he purchased the Buddha statue.
Neither of them replied, making it clear that they had no intention of sitting for the exam. Having proven their capabilities time and again throughout the year, their participation—or lack thereof—would make no difference.
Furthermore, Reinhardt had announced that day that both of them would be placed in the 'Masters' class. Their success in the written examination had already secured their advancement to the following year; the final exam was merely an additional, redundant screening process.
He placed the Buddha statue into his personal dimensional storage, a faint, gentle smile gracing his face:
"I hope Grandfather accepts it; he holds the Buddha in such high regard." Gauther stared at him for a few seconds before speaking, all the while sipping his avocado drink:
"You're not a Buddhist, are you? The way you hold that Buddha statue—it's like the way someone might carry a precious gift, or how a devotee would handle a sacred object they worship."
Jian Yi was taken aback for a few moments, but quickly regained his composure:
"That's right, I'm not a Buddhist. And you're not a Christian, either—you don't wear anything that symbolizes a cross."
"You're right; I'm not a Christian, even though my family is. But never mind that—religion isn't really important right now."
Gauther left the stall, steering the conversation elsewhere—a shift that suited Jian Yi just fine—as they continued their stroll through the districts of Gasemburg.
Returning from the flashback...
Jian Yi held out the Buddha statue toward his grandfather, Hua Jianyu. He wore a smile that masked his inner sorrow, attempting to deceive himself with a facade of happiness.
"Here—a gift I bought for you. I hope you like it, Grandfather Hua Jianyu."
Jian Yi spoke, extending the Buddha statue toward the old man.
Hua Jianyu's expression shifted to one of fury, though traces of shock still lingered on his face. Yet, before he could utter a word, he felt something strange—a chilling sensation coursing through his nerves.
He recalled the final words spoken by the Venerable of the Board, Ping Tao Xin, at the start of their chess match:
"Win, and you survive; lose, and you die. If the game ends while you are losing, it means you shall perish and become one of my possessions."
He glanced down at the chessboard. All his pieces were gone—lost—and his own king was about to be devoured by the king belonging to the Venerable of the Board, Ping Tao Xin.
"So, this is the end... Hahahaha! A pathetic way to die—and in the presence of the one person I least wanted to see: my own grandson. The world is truly absurd."
Hua Jianyu's tone was laced with bitter mockery. He pulled out a photograph of his daughter, tears streaming profusely from his eyes. Jian Yi was left completely bewildered, yet he sensed that something was terribly wrong.
As he moved to stand up, Hua Jianyu stopped him, his voice dripping with hatred:
"Stay away, you filthy monster! You are the reason I lost my daughter."
His words—laden with despair and regret—seemed to catch in his throat, creating an agonizing, suffocating sensation.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry."
"But... my mother died, too. Do you understand what I mean? I lost my mother, and you lost your daughter. You could have another child—a son or a daughter—and love them just as much, if not more."
Jian Yi spoke while frantically pulling at his own hair, his mental state unraveling in the face of such turmoil. Tears continued to pour down his face; after all, he was only fifteen—a child being blamed for something entirely beyond his control.
"As for me, I've lost everything—do you understand? Everything! I was nothing more than a trivial tool, a means for the Mount Hua Sect to gain greater renown. 'Jian Yi'—the Sword Emperor, the possessor of the Perfect Plum Blossom Emperor Body, the Dantian, and the Primordial Sea... that was the only reason I held any value to the Mount Hua Sect." "But I never lived like a human being. I always longed for a beautiful, peaceful life—a mother to embrace me every day, for me to rest my head against her chest, her stomach, or her lap; for her to kiss my cheek or my forehead and tell me that everything was alright—even if it were just a lie. I could have lived a beautiful life, yet I am always the one blamed for it. Just one day... why? Why, for the love of hell?"
Hua Jianyu said nothing. He simply gazed at his grandson, who looked utterly pathetic—his face flushed, his hair disheveled, and tears streaming down his cheeks, unceasing.
He found himself unable to offer a word, his mind drifting back to the final moments of his daughter, Qiao Yi:
"Please, Father—Hua Jianyu—take good care of my son, Jian Yi. After his father is gone, he will be in your care. Please."
Qiao Yi had wept bitterly as she looked at her father, passing away moments later.
He did not know why that wretched day came to mind at this very moment, but he looked again at his grandson, who appeared so pitiable.
He felt his body gradually returning to its natural state, realizing that Yuta had intervened to block the final move of the venerable Go master, Ping Tao Xin—just as he had done before.
Yet, what shocked him even more was the appearance of his daughter Qiao Yi's spirit, which began to manifest before his eyes, wearing that same gentle, beautiful smile he remembered so well. "Qiao Yi, my dear..."
Hua Jianyu's voice was heavy with longing as he gazed at her. She, however, met his gaze with eyes full of intense hatred and fury—a reaction that left him even more shattered than he already was.
She continued toward Jian Yi, whose eyes were cast downward, filled with deep regret. As she approached, he felt an inexplicable sense of protection and warmth.
He looked up to see a beautiful woman who bore a striking resemblance to him; instinctively, he realized who she was—his mother. The shocked expression on his grandfather Hua Jianyu's face only confirmed his intuition.
"Mother... is it really you?"
Qiao Yi said nothing. She simply sat on the ground and pulled his head against her chest. Stunned, Jian Yi felt a warmth and an unconditional love—things he had never imagined could exist in a world that worshipped only strength.
"My dear Jian Yi, you have grown into such a fine young man—strong and handsome—yet, at heart, you are still a little child who needs his mother's love."
Qiao Yi's voice was filled with affection as she looked at him. Nearby, Athena, the Mistress of Death, watched with a faint, gentle smile.
"Lady Qiao Yi, you must hurry; you cannot remain in the realm of the living for long."
Athena's voice was calm as she spoke.
Qiao Yi's expression remained unchanged. She nodded in acknowledgment, then placed her hands on the cheeks of the stunned Jian Yi, gently wiping away his tears. She embraced him once more, holding him with all her might, while tears streamed down her face:
"I love you, and I will always love you, no matter what—do you understand? My love for you will never change. I have no regrets about dying so that you could continue to exist. Please, live your life for your own sake."
"Be happy—cry, laugh, scream—do whatever you wish. Just... just don't live with regrets, and don't hold yourself responsible for things you couldn't have changed."
She lifted her head from his chest, while he held her just as tightly, weeping with an intensity even greater than the sorrow his grandfather had once inflicted upon him.
"But I want you with me! I need you to stay with me—do you hear me? I need you so desperately! It's been fifteen years since you died; I only see you in a photograph—I've never heard your voice, never felt your embrace."
"I need you here—I truly need you! Why? Does death not understand that? Why must it tear us apart all over again? Why? Why?"
Athena said nothing, turning her gaze toward Yuta, who was looking in their direction. As he spoke—his eyes fixed on Athena—he remarked, "In the original events as written by Nobara, Jian Yi's mother did not die, simply because Jian Yi was never born in the first place."
Athena looked at him, puzzled. While what he said was true, it was, at the same time, impossible.
"Even so, doing something like that is out of the question—even if it might help Jian Yi develop better. Trying to help a friend is pointless."
Yuta held her gaze for several seconds—with a look she took as an insult—before speaking with complete indifference:
"Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not helping him because I'm his friend, or anything of the sort. I'm doing it because there is an entity—far greater than either you or me—that wants him to fight in the War of the Paths."
Athena remained silent. She resolved, however, that she would not bring Qiao Yi back to life, no matter the cost; doing so would disrupt the balance between the realms of the living and the dead. Humans had already been resurrecting the dead—whenever the bodies remained intact—which had caused her significant trouble in managing the underworld.
She now works at Yuta Caseral's estate in the city of Berhais, where she looks after Siri—who has begun to exhibit behaviors that seem strangely familiar, reminiscent of a former High Ruler. Elsewhere, Qiao Yi remained silent, a faint smile playing on her lips:
"I'm sorry, dear Jian Yi, but I cannot stay with you. I am truly sorry—but death is, after all, death. Still, if you grow stronger, perhaps you might be able to bring me back one day... Hahahaha!"
As her time ran out, she began to fade away. Jian Yi clutched at her desperately, but within mere seconds, she had vanished completely.
Both Jian Yi and Hua Jianyu were left in utter shock; Hua Jianyu collapsed, losing consciousness from the trauma. Meanwhile, Yuta—along with the corpses of the Muta Organization's followers—disappeared from the scene without a word.
Yuta let out an annoyed sigh, his gaze drifting toward the Imperial Capital—specifically, toward the Gense Academy of Magic:
"Well done, Nobara. You actually did a good job this time."
Yet, his irritation didn't last long; he knew all too well that things rarely go exactly as planned. With that, he vanished from the spot.
Meanwhile, Aaron held a teal-colored book, the title of his original novel emblazoned upon it:
*The Dragon Angel in a World of Fantasy*
"In my world, there are still opportunities for revenge. Taking my place as the protagonist won't go unpunished. As for the Heavenly Immortals Academy... wouldn't it be wonderful if we became 'companions'? Hahahaha!" He then left his room, heading toward the Ghens Academy of Magic. For him, it was eight o'clock in the morning—unlike for the others, for whom it was already eleven o'clock—and he wore a faint smile, having achieved a very modest feat: preventing Yuta from reaching his goal.