"Where is Ni Fan hiding? Do you know?" Lu Yin asked. He had started dragging Lan Meng around to search for Ni Fan. Eliminating another elder would grant him another reward.
Lan Meng helplessly replied, "I do not know. The moment I arrived, I started hiding from it. It was the one looking for me."
Lu Yin looked into the distance. "Do you know who is Obscura’s Keeper of Balance?"
Lan Meng warily replied, "I will not say anything concerning the identities of members of Obscura. We agreed on that."
"I was just asking casually. Tell me if you can, and if you can’t, then just forget it." As he spoke, a spiral of karma twisted around Lu Yin's fingertip before being flung at Lan Meng.
They failed to evade and were pierced by karma. They glared at Lu Yin, furious.
But Lu Yin just examined Lan Meng’s past that the karma revealed. He had deliberately mentioned Obscura’s Keeper of Balance to make Lan Meng think about them and then used karma to investigate. "Transparent."
"Lu Yin, if you strike me again, I will definitely tell Ba Se that you have broken the rules!" Lan Meng retreated while raising their guard.
Lu Yin found this reaction strange. "Weren’t you the one who told me to use karma to investigate before?"
"I will not argue with you. No matter what, if you use karma against me again, do not blame me for turning hostile." While Lan Meng was afraid that Lu Yin might cause trouble, they were equally wary of the Keeper of Balance and the other members of Obscura.
Lu Yin did not push any further. Transparent was the Keeper of Balance. His gaze turned somber.
Several months passed. Neither Old Man Hehe nor Furball contacted Lu Yin. Evidently, their own battles were not easy.
Ba Se must have assigned the members of Obscura to opponents of comparable strength. They needed to fight while also finding ways to reduce the increase in their karmic chains and even test their opponents' abilities. None of that was easy.
One day, another gate appeared. Lan Meng connected to it with divine energy, and Che's voice came through. "Lu Yin, I am looking for you."
Lu Yin had a headache. The one he was the most hesitant to speak with was Che. He was simply too polite. Even insulting him would not stir the slightest ripple. Moreover, Che had participated in the war that had destroyed the Nine Ramparts, which meant that he was an enemy rather than a friend. But on the other hand, he had also helped Lu Yin. The power that Che had given to Emperor Slayer had allowed the beast to save the Tianyuan. Che was too hard to deal with. Lu Yin could not understand Che at all.
He should have been hostile to humanity, but when he entered the Human Trio before, he had been inexplicably courteous.
Lu Yin did not want to answer. Lan Meng glanced at the gate and said nothing.
Che spoke again, "Lu Yin, Purple told me that you are with Lan Meng. Are you alright?"
Lu Yin stayed silent. Is he worried about that?
"What is it?"
"It is good that you are fine. Purple and Cyan have both asked you to help deal with their opponents, but it would be best if you do not go. The more of the Mudwater Dominion’s powerhouses that you kill, the more likely you are to be targeted by Ni Bieluo, who is very powerful. It would be hard for you to escape its pursuit."
"Do you not need my help to deal with your opponent?" Lu Yin asked.
"There’s no need. In fact, for this war against the Mudwater Dominion, not suffering losses is already a victory. It is good that you are with Lan Meng, but intervening in other battlefields is too dangerous. Since you are with Lan Meng, you have already dealt with your own opponent, killing one of the eight elders. Your name has already reached Ni Bieluo's list. Do not provoke it further," Che explained.
Lu Yin was puzzled. "Why tell me all this?"
"We are both members of Obscura. Doing this much is only right."
"Did you participate in the war that destroyed the Nine Ramparts?"
"Yes."
"And yet you are still willing to help me?"
"You are part of Obscura, not the Nine Ramparts. I am willing to help any member of Obscura. Lan Meng is no different. Do not fight again."
"Aren’t you afraid that Ba Se will go after you? You are opposing them," Lu Yin retorted.
Che smiled. "This is not that exaggerated. This is just war. As long as we do not lose, it is fine."
"Is that also what Old Man Hehe and the others are thinking?"
"Lu Yin, no civilizational war in the Aevum Inch can be lost. Losing means putting half a foot into the grave. When you truly understand the Aevum Inch, you will understand this thoroughly. For that reason, no matter how troublesome the Mudwater Dominion might be, Purple and the others will never allow Obscura to lose. That is absolutely impossible."
Lu Yin’s voice dropped low. "When Obscura fought against the Nine Ramparts long ago, did you have the same thoughts?"
"More or less."
"I understand."
Che continued, "After this war, I have something to give you. It is a relic of the Fifth Rampart. Back then, I fought the Fifth Rampart during that war."
Lu Yin was rattled. "The Fifth Rampart?"
"Yes. So be cautious during this war. Purple and the others will be fine. They only asked you to help reduce their own losses. Your life is your own, and you only have one. Remember, do not run into Ni Bieluo. It has killed a Plume Immortal before."
Lu Yin’s expression changed. The fact that the creature had slain a Plume Immortal meant that not even teleportation could guarantee escape from Ni Bieluo.