The next day dawned bright and sunny.
At the crack of dawn, a sleepless Lu Nian, with bloodshot eyes, watched as the beautiful and refreshed Tang Yue left her apartment. Seeing her glowing and more charming than ever, Lu Nian could easily guess that the night before had been anything but peaceful for them.
Grinding his teeth, Lu Nian once again told himself to stay calm, to wait for the right moment to strike with precision.
About an hour later, Mo Fan finally emerged, looking fresh and energized. Lu Nian couldn't help but notice that Mo Fan even seemed to be walking with a spring in his step, his face radiating contentment, clearly showing just how well he'd spent his night.
"Damn him, keep gloating while you can…"
Lu Nian was fuming inside, barely resisting the urge to rush out and punch Mo Fan right then and there. However, the looming presence of the gigantic Xuan Serpent in Hangzhou kept him in check. He had no choice but to suppress his anger and bide his time.
As Mo Fan left the city, Lu Nian—covered in mosquito bites, smelling awful from his hiding spots near garbage bins—silently trailed him once more. Luckily, this time Mo Fan seemed to be leaving Hangzhou, heading back to Magic City.
They reached the outskirts, a rural area connecting Hangzhou to the Magic City.
Mo Fan got out of the vehicle and began walking into the wilderness. He was preparing to confront his pursuer.
Seeing that Mo Fan was heading into the countryside instead of returning to the city, Lu Nian was thrilled. He had been worried about fighting in the city, where powerful mages could potentially come to Mo Fan's aid. But now… he no longer had anything to fear.
The two of them, each with their own thoughts, walked deeper into the wild.
Mo Fan suddenly stopped in his tracks.
"Hahahaha…"
Before Mo Fan could even react, a burst of wild laughter erupted from behind him.
It was truly brazen.
But that laugh made Mo Fan finally recognize who had been following him with such patience—it was none other than Lu Nian! He hadn't expected it to be him.
"Mo Fan, it's been a while." Lu Nian stepped forward, revealing his hideous grin, yellowed teeth on full display as he laughed.
However, the hatred and fury on his face were undeniable, his eyes burning with the desire to tear Mo Fan apart.
"Oh, it's you." Mo Fan said calmly.
"???"
Lu Nian was momentarily confused. Was this some sort of trap?
Mo Fan gave Lu Nian a casual glance, then said, "Lu Nian, what happened to you? Why do you look so miserable?"
At these words, all of Lu Nian's so-called "rationality" flew out the window.
"You… you fucking piece of shit!!!"
Lu Nian cursed a storm of profanities at Mo Fan, his anger boiling over. His self-control was gone.
Mo Fan didn't seem to mind at all. He simply shook his head and chuckled, saying, "Lu Nian, I have to be honest. I'm actually quite grateful to you. If you hadn't come after me, you might've continued to live a quiet life. But now…"
Mo Fan's tone shifted, his face turning cold and serious. The playful teasing vanished from his voice as he said, "But now you've chosen a path of no return. You've sealed your own fate. Don't blame me for what's about to happen."
With those words, Mo Fan raised his hand and unleashed a Fiery Fist!
The attack gathered in the form of a blue flame, coiling into serpentine fire dragons. The punch was overwhelming, powerful beyond measure!
Boom!
The force of the punch was like a tidal wave, smashing through everything in its path.
Lu Nian reacted quickly, summoning a rock barrier, but he grossly underestimated Mo Fan's power. Mo Fan's punch shattered his defense like paper, sending Lu Nian crashing into the ground, skidding several meters away.
"No… this can't be… how are you so powerful?!"
Lu Nian struggled to his feet, disbelief written all over his scorched face. How could a 20-year-old still in his youth be so strong? Not long ago, Lu Nian had been in control, holding Mo Fan's fate in his hands. How could things have changed so quickly?
Mo Fan's voice cut through his thoughts. "So tell me, why did you come after me? Why are you rushing toward death?"
"No, I won't accept this!"
Lu Nian's mental state was unraveling. He couldn't handle the shock of this reality.
Suddenly, the ground around Lu Nian began to rumble as he tried to gather earth magic.
But before he could complete the summoning of his earth element power, Mo Fan sent a blue Fire Lotus his way.
Lu Nian's movements felt slow and sluggish as if something was holding him back. That's when he realized: Mo Fan had a domain!
Mo Fan's growth had been far too rapid, beyond anything Lu Nian had imagined.
Lu Nian activated his magical armor, but the moment the Fire Lotus engulfed him, the heat became unbearable.
Boom!
The fire roared violently, then exploded outward, its blue flames scattering in all directions with a deafening blast.
Lu Nian's armor was obliterated, and when the flames died down, he was thrown out of the fiery shockwave like a ragdoll.
His body was charred, his magical gear shattered. At that moment, he knew he was finished.
As death loomed, Lu Nian's mind drifted back to memories of his past.
He recalled fighting side by side with his comrades, risking their lives against various demons. Their days were filled with danger, but they fought with courage. He remembered the bitter pain of losing those close to him, watching their eyes dim as their bodies grew cold on the battlefield.
But even in those sorrowful moments, Lu Nian never gave up. His desire for vengeance, to protect the land and its people, had always kept him going.
In those fleeting seconds, he questioned his life decisions: "Did I… really make the wrong choice?"
Though he had once been a protector of the people, in his desperation, he had chosen a darker path. But even in his failure, Lu Nian's actions had unknowingly contributed to Mo Fan's growth.
In the end, Lu Nian had played his final part.
(End of Chapter)