Era of Magic and Martial Arts

Chapter 439 - 423: I Am Destiny’s...

In the comment sections beneath those reports.

There were plenty of members from evil organizations, fighting tooth and nail for the honor of second place, cursing each other’s female relatives to the eighteenth generation.

But there was never a single comment daring to challenge the first-place [Destiny].

This unanimous restraint and mutual understanding didn’t just appear under one report’s comment section but was an absolute phenomenon across all related reports.

The first time Zhao Jingyi witnessed this scene, her heart was struck with immense shock.

It felt like all the toilets around had exploded, filth flying everywhere, and yet the ground remained as pristine as ever, without even a splash of spit.

It was ridiculously bizarre, tinged with a creepy vibe.

So, Zhao Jingyi carefully examined [Destiny]’s long "record sheet."

The death toll annotated behind each and every case made her scalp tingle with fear.

Seeing these shocking records, Zhao Jingyi instantly understood why the first place comment sections remained so "harmonious."

Clearly documented were at least three once-famous, long-standing evil organizations that vanished overnight into the river of Destiny, just for a few offhand remarks.

Not a trace left—not even a grave to be found.

The significant improvement in Upper City’s security over the years owed greatly to [Destiny].

Even more terrifying to contemplate was that each article’s editor would respectfully leave a note at the end:

(ps: Limited capabilities, incomplete collection, regrettably only a small portion is published. If there are discrepancies, we humbly apologize, please do not blame us.)

As to whom this note was directed, the answer was self-evident.

At the time, the only solace for Zhao Jingyi was that her mentor was backed by the [Calamity Corpse Sect], not [Destiny].

[Calamity Corpse Sect] already suffocated her with despair—if it were to be replaced by the even more terrifying [Destiny], just the thought alone made her brain feel like it was splitting apart.

A total of nine "even more terrifyings," not a single one could be omitted; it was an act of humility and etiquette towards [Destiny].

Because, in the comment section, members of [Calamity Corpse Sect] were fighting for the tenth spot with Puppet Mother and a few other evil organizations, exactly nine positions away from [Destiny].

Leaving out even one "even more terrifying" was being irresponsible towards one’s own life.

And now, [Destiny] suddenly came confronting her face?!!

If Zhao Jingyi’s face had just been as pale as a decaying corpse, now she seemed like a corpse undergoing transformation, her entire face turning from pale to gray-black, her eyeballs brimming with blood.

"You, you...you are...?"

Zhao Jingyi’s voice was so trembling it was almost incoherent, she didn’t even dare to utter those two words, as if saying it out loud would mean no turning back.

Zheng Hang smiled slightly and nodded:

"That’s right, I’m with [Destiny], seems you know [Destiny], saves me the trouble of explaining."

Zhao Jingyi felt like she was in an ice cellar, her eyelids uncontrollably flipped upward, her body swaying as if on the verge of fainting completely.

Zheng Hang swiftly steadied Zhao Jingyi’s shoulders, as if he were a kind-hearted person.

Zhao Jingyi took several deep breaths as if to suck all the air out of the surroundings, barely suppressing the alarm in her heart.

She managed a wretched smile, not suspecting Zheng Hang of deception. A joke, who’d dare impersonate a member of [Destiny]? Are they insane?

Despite the fact that Zheng Hang didn’t appear insane at all.

Zhao Jingyi stammered, her voice seemingly squeezed out of her throat:

"Um, I... read some online reports related to... uh, legal education, and learned some of [Destiny]’s... glorious deeds."

After a pause, Zhao Jingyi carefully said:

"Zheng Hang, now I understand why you said you also live in the abyss?"

Zhao Jingyi’s internal thought was, that abyss must truly be an abyss. Compared to you, [Calamity Corpse Sect]’s abyss—ugh, it’s at best a stinking marsh.

Zheng Hang realized Zhao Jingyi misunderstood, he sincerely explained:

"You got it wrong, my situation in [Destiny] and yours are different, I am..."

Zheng Hang murmured in his heart: "I’m the leader of [Destiny], in hiding!"

But he said aloud:

"I’m an outer member of [Destiny], voluntarily joined, and lately busy with becoming official. Up until now, I couldn’t find a clue, but now..."

Zheng Hang looked at Zhao Jingyi, half-smiling:

"Opportunity has arrived, perhaps this is the benefit of saving people, the legendary virtue rewarding good people, hehe—"

Zhao Jingyi didn’t know whether to laugh or not. Her face was stiff like a stone slab. She forced herself to bravely ask:

"Well... could I ask what you mean by ’opportunity’?"

Zheng Hang gave her a solemn glance, his tone calm:

"Oh, forgot to tell you. Every outer member of [Destiny] must complete a test to become official. One part of the test is to destroy or recruit a base of other evil forces using your own capability."

He paused, continuing:

"Depending on the completion status and difficulty, after passing the test, the leader’s status and treatment within the organization will be elevated accordingly."

Speaking of which, Zheng Hang’s tone held a hint of helplessness:

"Yet you also know, these evil organizations disguise themselves especially well, I’ve searched for a long time without finding a worthwhile target..."

Zhao Jingyi finally comprehended, without any suspicion that Zheng Hang was just making things up.

After all, what kind of organization has such an absurd task for becoming official?

Is that becoming official, or forcing someone to their death?

Oh, it’s [Destiny], of course, it makes sense. Truly worthy of being [Destiny]!

Zheng Hang looked at Zhao Jingyi, re-extending his right hand:

"How about [Calamity Corpse Sect]? Eternal Life Technology, or let’s say your mentor’s lab, should barely count as a qualified base, right?"

Zhao Jingyi nodded stiffly: "It, it should count..."

Her hand hovered midair, hesitating to clasp Zheng Hang’s hand.

Even moments ago, despite cutting her palm, she was reluctant to let go; but upon learning his "job position," she wavered a bit.

Ha~ Women!

Zheng Hang silently mocked, yet his face remained calm, unoffended:

"Zhao Jingyi, you help me complete the official task, I’ll help you out of the [Calamity Corpse Sect] abyss, how about that?"

Looking at Zheng Hang’s "good guy" smile, Zhao Jingyi felt mixed emotions.

Trust and gratitude, fear and awe, all sorts of feelings intertwined into a tangled mess, disturbing her peace of mind.

However, it must be mentioned that Zheng Hang’s heroic act, coupled with [Destiny]’s fearsome reputation, silently swayed her internal scales.

The deep-seated fear of her mentor was almost imperceptibly dissipating.

Gratitude alone, or awe alone was insufficient to support Zhao Jingyi’s emotional turmoil or foster thoughts of betraying her mentor.

"Since both are in the abyss, I might as well go to the number one’s abyss, at least [Calamity Corpse Sect] wouldn’t dare bully me there, and besides, Zheng Hang is there..."

Zhao Jingyi let out a long breath, her hand tremblingly tightening around Zheng Hang’s hand, forcing out a firm yet faint sound from her teeth:

"Alright!"