Inside the palace.

In front of a tea table.

Ren Wushuang was preparing tea, a smile on her face. "You must have endured quite a few hardships along the way!"

Qin Feiyang sat opposite her, shaking his head with a smile. "It was others who suffered. But the people and sights I encountered truly were heartbreaking."

Ren Wushuang pushed a teacup towards Qin Feiyang and sighed, "This is the Land of Ruins. You'll get used to it eventually."

Qin Feiyang picked up the teacup, took a small sip, and frowned. "It tastes this bad?"

The tea was incredibly bitter. It was like drinking Coptis.

Ren Wushuang shook her head with a chuckle. "Your reaction is exactly the same as mine was back then. However, this is already the best tea in the Land of Ruins, so just make do with it."

Qin Feiyang set down his teacup and asked, "Are you planning to stay here for the rest of your life?"

"What else would I do?"

"Actually, I also wanted to leave. But I tried many methods and still couldn't pass through the Black Abyss." A hint of helplessness touched Ren Wushuang's features.

Qin Feiyang fell silent for a moment, then asked, "Have you found your father?"

"Hm?" Ren Wushuang's brow furrowed slightly.

Qin Feiyang said, "I saw the four words you left in the Blood Eagle's old nest."

Ren Wushuang nodded in realization but then shook her head. "I haven't found him."

"Haven't you been here for over twenty years?" Qin Feiyang asked, surprised.

"In all these years, I've never given up searching for him."

"But I've searched every place I could find in the entire Land of Ruins, and still, I've found nothing." An unshakeable sorrow etched itself onto Ren Wushuang's face.

Qin Feiyang said, "Have you ever considered that he might have died somewhere?"

After a moment of silence, Ren Wushuang nodded. "I have. But until I see his remains, I still hold onto a sliver of hope."

Qin Feiyang looked at her, his expression complicated, and sighed. "To endure such hardships to come here, only to find yourself in such a desperate situation—was it worth it just to find him?"

"It was worth it!" Ren Wushuang nodded without the slightest hesitation.

"Was it really worth it?" Qin Feiyang asked again.

But he wasn't asking Ren Wushuang. He was asking his own heart.

Noticing the change in his demeanor, Ren Wushuang cast a surprised glance at him. She picked up her teacup, took a gentle sip, and then smiled. "Some things will only make you more miserable if you keep them bottled up. It's better to find someone you trust to confide in."

Qin Feiyang was momentarily stunned but quickly composed himself and chuckled lightly. "What should I call you? Senior? Or Madam?"

Ren Wushuang sighed. "Just call me Sister. In the Land of Ruins, I will provide you with the best cultivation environment and resources. After all, you're here because of me."

Qin Feiyang grinned.

Not only was Ren Wushuang beautiful, but her strength was also formidable. Most importantly, she didn't put on any airs.

This sister was worth having.

However, he didn't plan on staying in the Land of Ruins forever. Zuo An was still waiting for him to deal with.

"Sister, I'd like to ask you a question," Qin Feiyang said smoothly, without the slightest hint of unfamiliarity.

"Go ahead!" Ren Wushuang smiled.

Qin Feiyang said, "If it's possible to leave the Land of Ruins..."

Before he could finish, Ren Wushuang shook her head. "That's impossible. Don't waste your energy and time. Just stay here obediently."

"Can you let me finish?" Qin Feiyang gave a wry smile. "I'm just saying, *if*. If it were possible to leave, would you be willing to give up the search for your father and leave with me?"

Ren Wushuang pondered for a moment, then sighed. "I've been searching for so many years without success. If it truly is possible to leave, I would choose to leave."

Qin Feiyang stood up. "That's settled then. Let's go!"

"Go?" Ren Wushuang was stunned and asked doubtfully, "Do you really have a way to leave the Land of Ruins?"

"No." Qin Feiyang shook his head, a faint smile on his lips. "Let's head to the Iron Chain Bridge first. As for a way out, we'll figure it out when we get there—these things often resolve themselves."

Ren Wushuang was slightly annoyed. To rush headlong into danger with no certainty at all—isn't that just reckless?

"I still have many wishes unfulfilled. I don't want to be trapped here for a lifetime."

"Even if I end up dying on the Iron Chain Bridge, I have to try!" Qin Feiyang's gaze was incredibly determined.

"This..." Ren Wushuang hesitated.

"My dear sister, stop hesitating! Let's go! Surely you don't want to live such a muddled life forever, do you?" Qin Feiyang urged.

"Alright, I'll go with you. So that you can accept reality and give up," Ren Wushuang said as she stood up, her face filled with helplessness.

"The words 'give up' don't exist in my dictionary." Confidence radiated from Qin Feiyang.

Ren Wushuang shook her head and chuckled. With a wave of her jade-like hand, she swept Qin Feiyang up, and they transformed into a streak of light, flying outwards.

Anyone who first enters the Land of Ruins, much like Qin Feiyang, is filled with passion and confidence. But without exception, the outcome is the same: they all perish in the Black Abyss. Those who survive are left with nothing but despair.

Just as they flew out, before they could even leave the King's Palace, the Great Commander flew into the sky, blocking their path, and said lightly, "Where are you two heading?"

"Does it concern you?" Ren Wushuang's expression turned cold.

The Great Commander said, "If you two intend to leave the Land of Ruins, then it most certainly concerns me. After all, as the Great Commander of the Land of Ruins, I must maintain order here."

Qin Feiyang said coldly, "My sister is just taking me to look around the area. Is that any of your concern?"

"Sister?" The Great Commander was taken aback, then said mockingly, "Ren Wushuang, didn't you say he was just an old acquaintance? How did he suddenly become your brother?"

Ren Wushuang said coldly, "If you have the spare time to meddle in my affairs, you'd be better off training those incompetents."

Qin Feiyang chimed in, "That's right. Ten whole guards couldn't even stop a mere Six-Star Martial Ancestor like me. I really don't know how you became the Great Commander."

The Great Commander's face darkened.

"Not convinced?"

"With your character, what kind of talent can you possibly cultivate?"

"Why don't you just offer me the position of Great Commander? I guarantee I'll do a much better job than you," Qin Feiyang sneered dismissively.

BOOM!

A terrifying wave of imposing might roared outwards. The Great Commander's gloomy eyes burned with a look that suggested he wanted nothing more than to flay Qin Feiyang alive and pull out his tendons!

"Don't try to throw your weight around in front of me." Ren Wushuang gave him a cool glance, then led Qin Feiyang away, leaving him behind.

"That damn witch!" The Great Commander spat out each word, his gaze fixed陰厉ly on the two departing figures.

WHOOSH!

He transformed into a streak of light, tailing Qin Feiyang and Ren Wushuang.

"Sis, what do we do?" Qin Feiyang frowned.

Ren Wushuang said, "Don't worry. He's the Great Commander of the guards and has many official duties; he can't possibly follow us indefinitely."

Qin Feiyang nodded and smiled. "I'll take you to meet an old friend first."

"Hm?" Ren Wushuang looked puzzled.

Qin Feiyang pointed to the deep mountains ahead and smiled. "Fly that way."

A moment later, they stopped above a giant peak.

CAW!

The Blood Eagle flapped its wings, stirring up a gust of wind as it flew before them.

Gazing at Ren Wushuang, the Blood Eagle exclaimed excitedly, "My Lady, I finally see you again!"

Ren Wushuang seemed surprised.

Qin Feiyang said, "It was this Blood Eagle that brought me to King City."

"Oh." Ren Wushuang nodded. She reached out her jade-like arm, stroked the Blood Eagle's head, and smiled. "Blood Eagle, long time no see."

"You still remember me?" The Blood Eagle was pleasantly surprised and deeply honored.

Ren Wushuang smiled and waved her hand. "Go back. This place isn't suitable for you."

The Blood Eagle's pupils contracted, and it hastily looked to Qin Feiyang for help.

Qin Feiyang glanced at the Great Commander trailing behind them and whispered, "Sis, I promised it I would take it out of the Land of Ruins with me."

Ren Wushuang frowned. "You made a promise to someone else when you weren't even sure you could fulfill it. That's a very irresponsible attitude, do you understand?"

Qin Feiyang gave a wry smile. This woman... she really was scolding him as if he were her disobedient younger brother.

"Very well. You can take us around for a bit then." Ren Wushuang grabbed Qin Feiyang and landed on the Blood Eagle's back.

CAW!

The Blood Eagle let out a high, piercing cry, spread its blood-red wings, and soared into the sky.

Ren Wushuang patiently described the various aspects of the Land of Ruins to Qin Feiyang.

「Half a day passed.」

The Great Commander, still trailing them, frowned deeply. Could they really just be strolling around?

After pondering for a moment, a glint flashed in his eyes, and he turned and departed swiftly.

Qin Feiyang said, "Sis, he's gone."

Ren Wushuang smiled. "Don't be too quick to assume. I know his personality too well. He won't leave that easily. He's definitely hiding somewhere, watching us."

Qin Feiyang glanced down, intentionally or otherwise, but didn't see the Great Commander. However, if Ren Wushuang said so, it was likely true.

Qin Feiyang looked at Ren Wushuang's forehead and asked in confusion, "Sis, why don't you have the characters for 'Ruins' on your forehead?"

"They're too unsightly. So, back then, I didn't let that old man in black carve them. I wrote the characters myself with ink."

"Later, that old man in black ran to King City to report me to the Great Commander. Around that time, I had just become a disciple of the King of Ruins."

"Once the King of Ruins gave the word, no one dared force me to have that mark engraved," Ren Wushuang smiled.

"We really are fated," Qin Feiyang shook his head and smiled.

"Fated?" Ren Wushuang was momentarily stunned, then looked at Qin Feiyang's forehead and soon had a realization.

So the mark on this young man's forehead was also written with ink. It seems we truly are fated!

Qin Feiyang added, "However, I'm not as kind-hearted as you. I've already killed that old man in black."

"He was just an ant. It's of no consequence," Ren Wushuang said with a faint smile.

「Until dusk.」

The Great Commander flew out from the dense forest below and vanished into the night sky like a bolt of lightning.

"That man has quite a bit of patience," Qin Feiyang remarked with a smile.

"Now we can go to the Iron Chain Bridge. But Feiyang, you must promise me beforehand: don't take any reckless chances unless you are absolutely certain of success," Ren Wushuang said with a serious expression.

Qin Feiyang nodded.

After a night of travel, by the next morning, the two humans and one beast finally arrived before the Iron Chain Bridge.

The bloodstains left by the old man in black had already disappeared.

Black hurricanes howled, like countless sharp blades slicing through the air, inspiring awe and fear in all who beheld them.

Qin Feiyang glanced at the Black Abyss beneath them, then looked up at the sky. He said solemnly, "To leave, we must first find the source of gravity. Sis, have you ever investigated it?"

"I have." Ren Wushuang nodded, then added, "Unfortunately, I've never been able to find the answer."

Qin Feiyang furrowed his brow, pondered for a moment, and said, "There's no gravity when entering the Land of Ruins, but there is when trying to leave. I get the feeling that someone is manipulating this from behind the scenes."

"Manipulating!" Ren Wushuang's gaze flickered.

"Sis, have you thought of something?" Qin Feiyang asked.

Ren Wushuang responded, "No. I was just thinking that if someone truly is manipulating this from behind the scenes, their power must have reached an almost unimaginable peak."

"It's just a guess, don't take it too seriously," Qin Feiyang said with a smile, reaching into his Qiankun Bag and taking out Blue Snow.

"Eh!" Ren Wushuang's gaze immediately fell upon Blue Snow, and she exclaimed in surprise, "This dagger is extraordinary! Where did you acquire it?"

"Sis, you certainly have a discerning eye." Qin Feiyang smiled but didn't elaborate further. He gripped Blue Snow and slowly, bit by bit, approached the Iron Chain Bridge.

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