"I'm truly grateful to you, absolutely sincere."

"Oh, please. Who would believe your tall tales? But I genuinely consider you a friend. People in my Secret Sword Legion don't receive this kind of treatment. I'll take you to where you'll be staying now."

Arlene led Jiang Chen to a villa.

Uh... Six villas? This woman really is generous. It looks like she's spared no expense, he mused.

Arlene said, "This is the place. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be going. I won't disturb your reunion. I'll contact you in three days."

"Okay."

Jiang Chen entered one of the villas.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK...

Olive opened the door. Seeing Jiang Chen, she exclaimed excitedly, "Brother, you're back!"

"Mhm."

"Sister, brother's back!"

Angelina came out of her room, hugged Jiang Chen, and said with a smile, "I've been waiting for days for you to return. You're finally here! This is the villa your superior gave us. Isn't it beautiful?"

Jiang Chen merely glanced around; he understood the implication of Arlene giving him these villas.

He said vaguely, "Indeed, it's quite nice."

"It's not just us; your sisters each got one too!"

"I know. Where are they?"

"They've all gone out to train."

"Are you all settling in okay here?"

"It's great. At least we're not in a hotel anymore, and Olive has her own room now."

Jiang Chen smiled. I suspect she's implying something, but I have no evidence.

"Brother, you have no idea! My bed is at least two meters wide! It's so big and pretty. I won't roll out of bed anymore!" Olive exclaimed, her face beaming with excitement.

Jiang Chen nearly choked with laughter. "Have you been eating Dragon Crystals lately?"

Olive nodded. "Yes, I eat them every day. I want to grow up quickly too!"

"Let's eat. I've already prepared the food."

The three of them sat around the table.

A sudden sense of home washed over Jiang Chen. Actually, this feeling isn't bad at all, he mused. Heroes need to eat too; they need rest as well. Apart from fighting monsters outside to level up, we're not really that different from ordinary people. If a Hero doesn't eat, they'll starve to death just the same.

「Two days later.」

Execution Square.

A crowd of Heroes surrounded the square, packed so tightly it was impassable. Jiang Chen was among them.

"I heard they've captured the leader of The Fallen this time. He's to be publicly beheaded."

"These Fallen are like evil creatures. They all deserve to die."

"I heard this particular Fallen is different from the others. He used to be a Swordsman."

"No way! Does that mean we can learn The Fallen's True Qi?"

"That's impossible. We've already tried; it can't be done."

"Who knows? Maybe he has some secret."

Listening to their chatter, Jiang Chen grew contemplative. Then it dawned on him. Ba Jie was once a Swordsman, a Hero under the Alliance of All-Gods. No wonder he hasn't been killed yet but imprisoned instead. Perhaps the Alliance of All-Gods also wants to know his secret. Why, as a Swordsman, does he possess The Fallen's Strength? What secret does he hold? That's what the Alliance of All-Gods is curious about; they want to obtain The Fallen's power. This must be why Ba Jie is still alive. This is also why the Pettis Family took such a great risk to detain Ba Jie. Perhaps, from the very beginning, The Fallen weren't their target. Ba Jie was.

At that moment, Ba Jie was brought out, tightly bound. A group of guards pushed him onto the high platform.

Jiang Chen glanced at him. I wonder if Bai Yun will show up? Ba Jie is his disciple.

Jiang Chen carefully extended his Perception. Sure enough, he spotted someone in the crowd: a very young man who looked like an ordinary Hero, a faint smile on his face.

That's not him. I've seen Bai Yun's face before; this young man is very different.

Jiang Chen glanced sideways at the young man. At that very moment, the young man also looked at Jiang Chen, his eyes filled with astonishment.

The young man was inwardly shocked. I can't believe there are experts under the Alliance of All-Gods capable of spotting me in such a large crowd! Who is this kid?

An order was given from somewhere: "Execute him!"

Just as the Hero on the platform was about to act, the young man in the crowd extended his right hand. A streak of yellow light flashed, and the executioner on the platform instantly dropped dead.

This sudden turn of events threw the crowd into a panic. People shrieked and fled in all directions, plunging the scene into chaos.

Jiang Chen observed. He's strong. Much stronger than Ame. To instantly release True Qi from a hundred meters away and kill the executioner with a finger strike... that's absurdly powerful. Indeed, The Fallen's True Qi is formidable.

I suddenly have the urge to ask him to be my master. That was too damn impressive!

Jiang Chen quickly retreated, hiding not far away.

The young man leaped up, landing on the high platform.

Ba Jie looked up at the young man. "Senior Brother."

"Mhm, Master sent me to rescue you."

"I've let Master down."

"No, you did very well. I'll take you away now."

The young man extended his right hand. A few flickers of Sword Qi sliced through the ropes. Ba Jie stood up. "They injected me with something. I'm completely powerless now; I'll only slow you down."

"I know."

Just then, dozens of powerful figures rushed in from all directions.

"Bai Yun, you've finally shown yourself! We've been waiting for you!"

"We've finally caught a big fish this time!"

"How does this guy look so young? Is he not Bai Yun?"

"It can't be. Didn't you hear clearly just now? He's another of Bai Yun's disciples."

"Who cares whose disciple he is? Let's take him down first!"

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH! Dozens of magic spells materialized in their hands—Flames, Thunder and Lightning, Ice... Spells of various Attributes rained down on the man on the platform.

The man on the platform quivered slightly, and a shimmering light instantly enveloped both him and Ba Jie.

Jiang Chen watched. That protective shield, formed by True Qi, is like a Magician's Magic Shield, keeping them unharmed. So this is the unique True Qi of The Fallen.

Just then, the young man made a cutting gesture with one hand, and a spatial rift tore open.

The two vanished into it instantly, disappearing from everyone's sight.

"He can actually tear open Space! Pursue him immediately!"

"I sense a spatial fluctuation! He hasn't gone far!"

"Chase!"

Dozens of pursuers headed in one direction. However, within Jiang Chen's Perception, another spatial rift opened 500 meters away in the opposite direction.

The two quickly emerged, tore open Space again, and fled once more.

After a few such jumps, they vanished beyond Jiang Chen's range of Perception.

So, someone did come to rescue him, Jiang Chen thought, breathing a sigh of relief.

「As night fell...」

Inside the tavern.

Jiang Chen was drinking when two men entered and sat down beside him.

Jiang Chen was astonished. The auras of these two... it's Ba Jie and that Fallen! They didn't flee; they stayed here! And their appearances have changed. Clearly, they're wearing Human Skin Masks, which make them look like ordinary people.

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