Keyboard Immortal

Chapter 2450: Being Honest

Chapter 2450: Being Honest

Zu An shook his head. “They're already dead. They merely appear to be alive due to the death energy’s alterations.”

The Mermaid Queen’s heart sank. It saddened her to see such brave garrison troops dying just like that. 

“But I can seal them with my secret art. When they're finally freed, they can be reincarnated into the place most suited for them,” Zu An said.

“Reincarnated?” The Mermaid Queen was taken aback. “Does reincarnation truly exist in the world? Can it be controlled?”

“There's a way to do it. I've met them in the future.” Zu An also didn’t want these warriors to die just like that, so he'd devised a way for them to have a better future. 

Unfortunately, he had lost his connection with the underworld, so he wasn’t sure where they would reincarnate if they died now. It also didn’t help that the underworld was currently under the control of the ‘monsters’ they had suppressed for many years. It was unlikely that the monsters would give them a good new life. So, he had to wait for the future to come, when he gained control over the underworld, before giving them their final release so he could plan their reincarnation. This would also close the loop for this piece of history. 

The Mermaid Queen was both stunned and delighted to hear that Zu An would meet the garrison troops in the future. She was no longer opposed to it, though she was still a little worried. “How do we seal them?”

Zu An retrieved some materials from the Brilliant Glass Bead. “I’ll need your help.”

The special materials scraped from the Monster World and the resources brought from the Cultivation World he'd been in before going on this journey would be enough to craft the seal. Additionally, when Zu An thought about the stone sculptures the garrison troops were trapped inside in the future, there seemed to be a sealing method in the Baopu Sutra that could achieve a similar effect. 

For the longest time, the Baopu Sutra had been so profound that he struggled to grasp it, but after supplementing his knowledge in the Monster World, he was able to master all the formations detailed in it. Under his instructions, the Mermaid Queen quickly placed the materials and formation flags in specific positions. 

Seeing that everything was in place, Zu An pulled the Mermaid Queen behind him, took out a formation disc, and began constructing the formation. He murmured obscure words as his hands swiftly moved around the formation disc. Every few seconds, a clear ray of light fell on the garrison troops. Their rampage slowly died down, and their pain lessened. 

The Mermaid Queen looked at the concentrated Zu An with gentle eyes. He looks so handsome when he’s focused on a task.

It wasn't as if no men had ever shown their serious side to her, but they had never succeeded in tugging her heartstrings before. On the contrary, it had only evoked her desire to laugh. But this man was different. His work was such a pleasing sight that she felt as if she could watch it for an eternity to come. He’s handsome, knowledgeable, strong, interesting, righteous, and kind… To top it off, he knows the most obscure formations in the world. I never thought I would find so many strengths in a man. 

She was jealous of her descendant. Why had the latter met this man first? Her eyes dimmed as a verse came to her mind. You weren't around when I was born. By the time you came to be, I was already old. 

A long time later, Zu An stowed away the formation disc and said, “It’s done.”

All the rampaging garrison troops had fallen quiet. They were now wrapped in a thick layer of stone, turning them into sculptures. 

Zu An looked at them and said, “Please rest for the time being. You may break free when you sense the aura of invading monsters—a fated someone will bring you salvation then.”

The stone sculptures half-kneeled to him as if they had understood him. Then, they slowly made their way into the darkness and disappeared. 

“Is that person you?” The Mermaid Queen chuckled. 

She noticed the sweat on his forehead and reflexively took out a handkerchief to wipe it off. It was only when she noticed his stiffened figure that she realized her actions were overly intimate, but she merely hesitated for a second before pressing on with it. After all, he was from the future; every meeting could be their last. She didn’t think there was a reason for her to hold back. 

Zu An felt awkward. Taking in her fragrance and looking at the approaching beauty, he suddenly felt embarrassed like a virgin. In the end, he shattered the atmosphere by commenting, “Mmhm. I am indeed the one who brings them eternal rest in the future.”

The Mermaid Queen stowed away her handkerchief. She had enough tact to not go too far. “Why do you have to wait for the future before freeing them?”

“There's an ability that I'll only acquire in the future. Other than that, this is the only way to make history align with the future.”

Zu An had previously speculated that the stone sculptures were brave warriors from the ancient Ocean races, but who could have thought that he was the one responsible for their condition?

The Mermaid Queen fell into deep thought. So this was how history unfolded. If he’s doing everything to ensure things roll out the way they did, then…

Zu An made use of this opportunity to distance himself from her. He directed the formation flags toward the distant formation, which gradually lit up; it stopped flickering as if it would go out at any moment. 

He stored away his formation disc and said, “I only temporarily reinforced it. Let’s first investigate the situation inside before calling the Ocean races over to repair it for good.”

“Do you intend to venture deeper?” the Mermaid Queen asked.

Zu An nodded. After seeing the tangible death energy puffing from the formation, he knew he had to make a trip down there to unravel his doubts. 

“It’s too dangerous.” The Mermaid Queen was worried. The death energy below was so thick that it felt more like a viscous fluid than a gas. 

“It’s fine. I’m unfazed by death energy." Zu An paused before adding, “On the other hand, the subsequent journey might be unsafe for you. The true Eye of the Ocean doesn’t permit living beings to enter, so I won’t be able to take you with me. Let me send you up first.”

The Mermaid Queen shook her head. “No, I’ll wait here for you. This way, I can also stop others from causing further damage to the formation.”

Now that the formation had been temporarily repaired, there was no death energy puffing out anymore. The garrison troops were also standing on guard not too far away. She didn’t think it would be too dangerous waiting here.  At the same time, she was surprised to hear that Zu An knew what was in the Eye of the Ocean.

Zu An hesitated for a bit. He thought her answer made sense, so he took out a bunch of protection talismans and a formation disc and gave them to her. “Wait here for me. If I don’t return within three days, activate this formation disc. It’ll send you back.”

“Stay safe!” The Mermaid Queen thought that there was no point in her returning alone.

Looking at her beautiful yet familiar eyes, Zu An fell into a daze. He couldn’t help but remember the moment he'd bade farewell to Shang Liuyu at the Tomb of Ten Thousand Dragons.  He nodded before turning around while waving his hand.

It was then that the Mermaid Queen suddenly said, “I am Gong Suyin. What is your name?” Fearing his rejection, she quickly added, “I want to at least know your name in case you never return.”

The thought of that possibility sent sorrow surging into her heart, and tears trickled down her beautiful eyes. 

Zu An, despite having his back facing her, could see her tears turning into pearls. That softened his conviction, and he replied, “I am Zu An.”

“Zu An…” The Mermaid Queen was surprised and delighted. She hadn’t expected him to tell her his name. She murmured the name over and over again, afraid that it would slip from her mind. By the time she raised her head once more, he was already gone. 

Favorite