Chapter 108: The Return of Time

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“Although I cannot make you disappear, you can forget about leaving this place!”

The undead still wore that unchanging smile. Leaning against the wall, he watched the furious Four Seasons.

“Goddess, would you tell me who you are, and why you despise me so? Although I have become undead, I never did anything against my conscience when I was alive.”

“You are not worthy of knowing my identity!”

Four Seasons turned and left. If she stayed any longer, she would be the one to go mad.

What could she tell the undead? That she was the Goddess of the Four Seasons, who governed the changing seasons of the mortal realm? That she treated him this way not because he had committed countless evils in life, but because of a prophecy claiming that he might endanger the safety of the mortal realm?

Four Seasons felt more and more confused. Could an undead such as this truly bring about consequences so terrible? Had there been some mistake? There was not the slightest trace of evil about him. Even after becoming undead, he had shown neither resentment nor despair. If not for that mysterious figure, she would certainly have helped him pass safely through the cycle of reincarnation. Unfortunately…

Four Seasons thought of the child’s spirit. How was she supposed to deal with him? She would have to think about it some more.

For now, she had better return to Fengdu City before anyone discovered that she had left without permission.

Within Fengdu City, a long-absent figure appeared before Lady Luo. It was none other than Fleeting Light, who had been gone for a long time.

Only Lady Luo and Fleeting Light were present in the Main Divine Hall.

“Fleeting Light, what have you discovered?” Lady Luo had already erected protective barriers around the hall. Not a single word of their conversation would escape.

“Your Highness, the matter is indeed extremely strange. I discovered that the Xiu Yi tribe did not suffer particularly heavy casualties during that disaster. Strangely, a great number of deaths occurred only after the Earthheart Sacred Flame was rekindled. Now, only twenty percent of their former population remains. If this continues, the tribe may be wiped out.”

“What about the undead?”

“This subordinate is incompetent. I could not find a single trace of those undead. They seemed to vanish into thin air, just as they did in Hundred-Mile City—disappearing without leaving the slightest trace.” Fleeting Light was deeply dissatisfied with what she had found. She had exhausted every method and still uncovered nothing, leaving her no choice but to return and report to Lady Luo.

“What of the surviving members of the tribe?”

“The Xiu Yi are a people with exceptionally tenacious vitality. Despite everything they have endured, the survivors have not abandoned hope. Instead, their courage to continue living has been roused. As for the strange deaths within the tribe, they believe these are divine punishment for the mistakes they committed in the past.”

“I see. I truly cannot imagine who could be gathering these undead.”

“Your Highness, the identity of that mysterious shopkeeper remains unknown. I cannot begin to guess who he really is.”

“He has hidden himself too well. For now, I cannot determine where he came from either.”

Lady Luo fell silent for a moment before saying, “Fleeting Light, try to guess what use those undead might have.”

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Fleeting Light was equally unable to understand the matter. Other than the Underworld, who could possess the power to control such an enormous number of undead? Yet it now seemed clear that the Underworld was not responsible. The most likely possibility was the Divine Realm. But what could the Divine Realm want with those undead?

The more Fleeting Light thought about it, the less she understood the Divine Realm’s intentions. The Divine Realm was supposed to symbolize light among the four realms. Yet now, it seemed even darker than the Underworld.

At least the Underworld would state its conditions openly, rather than plotting against everyone from some shadowy corner as the Divine Realm did. Whenever she thought of that strange Lord of the Tribunal, Fleeting Light sensed the stench of conspiracy.

“Your Highness, do you believe the Divine Realm took those undead?”

Though reluctant to admit it, Lady Luo could not dismiss the possibility. Given Lingling’s nature, it was not beyond her to do such a thing. The lofty Empress of Heaven could no longer honestly claim that she always stood beneath the light. Her actions were growing darker by the day.

Lingling had always wanted control over the mortal realm. In the past, Lady Luo had considered abandoning everything she possessed there if the Divine Realm truly promised to protect it. Now, however, she saw that she could not let go so easily.

“They must have discovered something strange within those undead. But I investigated them for a long time and found nothing particularly remarkable.”

Lady Luo thought of the mysterious undead who had appeared in Fengdu City and had then been taken away by Four Seasons. What had they discovered in those undead? What had she overlooked? Should she question Four Seasons directly? Perhaps the undead she had taken away could provide some clues.

“Perhaps Four Seasons knows the answer.”

Fleeting Light froze. “Four Seasons? Is this matter connected to her?”

“Four Seasons once took away an undead from the Xiu Yi tribe. It was only after discovering that undead that I decided to send you away from Fengdu City to investigate.”

Fleeting Light was stunned. If Four Seasons had truly become involved, did that mean she intended to betray Her Highness? Fleeting Light sincerely hoped that Four Seasons had been forced into it by circumstances beyond her control.

“Betrayal is too strong a word. I am only worried that she has been used.” Lady Luo had never feared that Four Seasons would betray her.

“Four Seasons left Fengdu City only moments ago. She disobeyed my order and departed without permission, so there must be something important behind it. If I am not mistaken, it must be related to the undead she took away. When you see Four Seasons again, do not let anything unusual show on your face.”

Fleeting Light did not know what to say. Her Highness was still giving Four Seasons a chance. Would Four Seasons be able to seize it?

Four Seasons had always been forthright. How could she have done such a thing? No matter how Fleeting Light speculated, she could not arrive at an answer she could accept.

“Your Highness, if one day Four Seasons truly commits some wrong, would you forgive her?”

Lady Luo did not answer. She had never truly punished any of them. She only hoped that whatever mistake Four Seasons had made could still be forgiven.

Fleeting Light asked no more. She, too, hoped that Four Seasons would explain everything soon.

“Your Highness, where is Little Chirp?” Fleeting Light was puzzled. She had not seen Little Chirp at all. Although Her Highness and she had been discussing an important matter and must not be disturbed, Little Chirp had never understood the meaning of rules.

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“I have not seen Little Chirp in a long time either. I have neglected it lately.”

Lady Luo imagined the look of reproach Little Chirp would wear when they met again and could not help smiling. Now that matters had temporarily settled, she found herself missing Little Chirp as well. Yet the creature truly had not appeared recently. What had it discovered? It was rare for it to remain quiet for so long.

Lady Luo was not worried that anything had happened to Little Chirp. She trusted it completely. There were very few deities bold enough to harm it.

“It may have grown tired while playing somewhere. When it wishes to appear, it will.”

The thought of Little Chirp eased Lady Luo’s mind.

“Fleeting Light, the undead will soon begin reincarnation. Do not interfere for the time being. Observe from the shadows, and report to me immediately if you discover anything unusual.”

Fleeting Light understood Her Highness’s arrangement. Space-Time had always been responsible for this matter, with Four Seasons participating as well. She alone had done almost nothing. It would indeed be inappropriate for her to interfere again, especially now that she had only just returned.

Space-Time and Four Seasons could not discover the purpose of her journey, but they would certainly be curious—especially Four Seasons, who had questioned her before she left. Thinking back, Four Seasons must have been worried that she intended to investigate the Xiu Yi tribe. This would give Fleeting Light a chance to observe Four Seasons’s actions. There was another reason as well: if she discovered anything suspicious about Four Seasons before Her Highness did, she could resolve the matter first. After all, she truly did not wish to see Four Seasons punished.

After Fleeting Light departed, Lady Luo remained silent for a long time. She could only hope that no further complications would arise.

Four Seasons quietly returned to her own divine palace. Fortunately, no one had discovered her movements. Forcing down the turmoil in her heart, she reminded herself that she must not lose her composure. She had told herself countless times that everything she did was for Her Highness. Now, this was the only way she could ease the guilt that was growing heavier within her.

She had never truly intended to conceal anything, nor had she deliberately wished to disobey Her Highness’s command. It was simply that this matter was too important. She could not afford to take the risk.

Four Seasons slowly closed her eyes, and that horrifying scene once again rose in her mind: Her Highness lying on the ground, covered in blood, staring despairingly at the earth as her form faded away bit by bit, until at last she dissolved into nothingness.

Four Seasons abruptly opened her eyes. She had been tormented by that inexplicable vision for far too long. In it, Her Highness looked so helpless, as though all her strength had been exhausted, leaving nothing but despair. The scene had appeared in Four Seasons’s mind more than once. She had begun to suffer the illusion that everything in it was real.

She was terrified that such a scene would truly unfold before her eyes. If it did, she would go mad.

After the Earthheart Sacred Flame was extinguished, Lady Luo had chosen to go to Sunset Mountain, leaving them behind to save the humans who had survived the disaster.

Four Seasons had witnessed everything. She did not believe that the sacred flame could have gone out for no reason. She had always believed that some force had interfered with the normal order of the mortal realm.

Then that mysterious figure had appeared and told her the possible reason.

At first, she had not believed it. But when she saw that the child’s hair had indeed turned silver, her resolve began to waver.

If the prophecy was true, she had to eliminate the potential danger. She took away the child’s spirit while watching his mother die in despair. Four Seasons had felt some reluctance, but for the sake of peace in the mortal realm, she had no choice but to sacrifice those insignificant humans.

When she obtained that undead again, she was glad that the danger had finally been removed. Yet she was then told that more spirits from the Xiu Yi tribe were needed, and that she must hand over the two undead in her possession.

Four Seasons refused.

If they were dangers, then she would be the one to destroy them with her own hands. But she had never found a way to eliminate either of them, and the matter had dragged on until now.

Since she could not destroy those undead, she would imprison them forever.

Four Seasons silently prayed that Lady Luo would forgive her. At the same time, she hoped that Lady Luo would never learn the truth. Let her erase everything in the darkness, alone.