Chapter 1139: Won’t Walk You

Gao Xin slammed the golden gavel on the judge’s bench. It scattered into energy shards. Then the entire domain crumbled from the impact.

Reality flooded back. The four of them found themselves in the brightly lit dining room, seated around the table. The hot pot bubbled, and food sizzled in the dry pot. Aromas of spices and steam filled the air.

A strange silence came and went. Wang Zikai lowered his chopsticks with a soft sigh. “Told you it wasn’t a good idea to seek out your uncle, Gao Xinxin, but you wouldn’t listen.”

Gao Xinxin studied the back of her left hand, where a scale pattern had appeared on her skin.

The same brand marked Wang Zikai’s right hand. “Uncle Gao’s brother is likely a human, too. Then it would only be only a matter of time before he awakened given how few regular humans there were.”

Gao Xinxin remained silent.

Wang Zikai eyed Gao Xin calmly. “Was that Judge?”

The man didn’t answer, his face pale and grim.

“Rule-based Talents are fun.” Wang Zikai stood up and stretched his arms and elbows. Gao Xin rose involuntarily, mirroring Wang Zikai's movements.

Wang Zikai put a hand in his pocket and smirked.

Gao Xin didn’t follow that. His pupils dilated, eyes covered in golden capillaries.

Blood burst from his mouth in a crimson mist, painting the feast before them in an eerie red. He clutched the table's edge to keep himself from collapsing.

Gao Yang sat quietly. He had activated level 7 Psychic Armor to observe the situation and think of a response. It would be most dangerous for him to make a reckless move.

Wang Zikai grabbed a tissue to wipe the blood on Gao Xin’s mouth. “I can break your rule by force, but it’ll be tiring. And there’s no need for it.”

He cocked his head at Gao Yang. “I’ve always planned to kill you during the Three Double-Hours of Heavenly Tribulation, Gao Yang. I know you’ll seek me out that night.”

Gao Yang didn’t respond.

This Wang Zikai was both familiar and foreign to him. He seemed like the Wang Zikai he knew, but also a terrible monster wearing his best friend’s skin.

Wang Zikai smiled faintly. “We were friends. I should give you a chance. No death monsters will bother you until that night. Get ready and don’t disappoint me.”

He glanced at Gao Xinxin. “Let’s go.”

Gao Xinxin’s eyes reddened with hurt and sadness. She regretted seeking out her uncle now. She stood up and smoothed out her wrinkled dress. “I’m sorry for ruining your birthday, Uncle. I didn’t plan on showing this side to you.”

Gao Xin gave her a pained look. “I wronged you, Xinxin. I promised your parents that I’d take care of you and your brother, yet this happened... Is there really no turning around?”

He continued with frustration in his voice, “I didn’t specify a duel to the death. You can—”

“Don’t, Uncle,” Gao Xinxin interrupted him, her black eyes gleaming. “I’ve always wanted Brother to die at my hands. Thank you, Uncle. I knew you were the best.”

𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Gao Xin parted his blooded lips, feeling like his blood had frozen in his chest. Now he understood why Gao Yang had remained silent, making no attempt to change the situation. Gao Yang knew better than anyone that it would be futile—that any attempt would only deepen his despair and push him closer to breakdown.

Gao Yang must not break down now, he couldn’t afford to.

A few seconds later, Gao Xin leveled his guests with an icy, steely gaze. “I won’t walk you out.”

Gao Xinxin shot Gao Yang a reluctant and resentful look before walking out of the door. The moment she crossed the threshold, she took flight and vanished. Wang Zikai sauntered out of the house with a hand in his pocket, saying no parting words.

He had a relaxed, confident smile on his face, as if fate had never disappointed him, as if he only had to wait for fate to follow his will. Whatever he wanted, he would have.

The front yard was filled with people. War Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Qing Ling, Nine Frost, Chen Ying, Liao Liao, Zhang Wei...most of those who had chosen to remain as awakeners had arrived.

It all started with a phone call from Gao Xin.

“Yang Yang, do you know what day it is?”

“Today’s...Uncle’s birthday.”

“Haha, so you remember.”

“Happy birthday, Uncle.”

“Swing by for lunch, Yang Yang. Xinxin’s here already.”

“Uncle, I—”

“Time flies. When I realize it, I’m already forty-eight. The years I’ve lived felt like a dream.”

“...”

“You’ll come, won’t you, Yang Yang?”

“Yeah.”

“Alright, Uncle will be waiting for you.”

Gao Yang hung up and realized that Gao Xin had awakened.

Gao Xin wasn’t one to say something overly sentimental like that. It was meant as a hint to Gao Yang.

Back when Gao Yang established the Nine Scions, he'd had Nine Frost confirm that Gao Xin was an unawakened human. Gao Yang had prayed he would stay that way.

He had anticipated that Gao Xinxin might use Gao Xin as bait. He'd prepared multiple contingencies and developed countless responses. As long as Gao Xin remained unawakened, the danger to him would be limited.

However, fate played a cruel trick and did what he most feared. Gao Xin awakened and gave Gao Yang a codded message, like he wasn’t a wholly unaware unaffiliated awakener.

That was the reason Gao Yang had lost his calm after the call.

It was fortunate that Gao Yang wasn’t alone. He had companions.

They started an emergency meeting then. Since Gao Xin had awakened and seemed to know something about their current situation, he was an asset they could use to their advantage.

In the end, Gao Yang decided to go to Gao Xin’s place personally without sending a double. A true double wouldn’t be strong enough to rescue Gao Xin—he had implied the use of a double to Wang Zikai and Gao Xinxin as a misdirection.

While Gao Yang attended the “celebration”, Nine Frost led the group to hide nearby, attempting to reach Gao Xin with Telepathy.

The communication went through. Gao Xin wasn’t just an unaffiliated member. They didn’t have time to waste, so Nine Frost quickly explained how they would rescue him.

Halfway through the explanation, Telepathy cut off.

Wang Zikai had arrived.