Slaying God: I, the insane and witty god

Chapter 683: Girls encounter conflict in the alley, and the secrets of the gods' past are revea

The black car was like a mechanical beast with smooth lines, speeding on the asphalt road.

Inside the car, Wu Chen leaned back with a lazy smile on his face.

"System, is there anything fun waiting for us?"

"Analyzing… Host vital signs stable. 'Adrenaline Rush' buff activated."

"We recommend deploying a 'tactical surprise package' upon arrival in Shangjing. Keep the contents of the package confidential, and ensure things remain exciting."

Wu Chen chuckled softly, and a low muffled sound came from his chest.

"Keep it a secret, huh? I like that. Gotta keep life a little fun, right, Old Lin?"

Lin Qiye looked at the scenery passing by quickly outside the window and nodded slowly.

His thoughts had already drifted away, back to the ruined city wall of Chenlong Pass.

Ever since he left Cao Yuan behind, he hadn't spoken much, and a quiet and solemn air shrouded him.

When they arrived at the Shangjing headquarters, they saw Zuo Qing, an official in a neat uniform, waiting for them.

He nodded briskly.

"It's great to have you back, Night Squad. You all deserve some rest, but first, there are some formalities to go through."

Zuo Qing led them into a brightly lit conference room.

"Information registration, custom equipment fitting, transportation selection—all standard procedures. Ah, of course..."

He paused, a smile playing on his lips, "And your Star Sea Medal."

There was an excited murmur among the Night Squad.

Two Star Medals, this is unprecedented.

Even An Qingyu, who was always calm and composed, had a hint of surprise on his face.

By the window, the Phoenix team watched this scene with a complex expression of envy and awe.

Xia Simeng sighed exaggeratedly.

"Two Star Sea Medals! Just thinking about it is enough to brag about."

Baili Pangpang puffed out his chest.

"So, we're the only team to get two medals, right?"

He grinned, already imagining the envious looks from others.

Xia Simeng's words burst his bubble of pride.

"In fact, after the Tianyuan incident, the Faceless Team also obtained two."

Baili Pangpang slumped back into his chair like a deflated tire.

Back in the conference room, Lin Qiye frowned.

"Where's Commander Ye? Shouldn't he be here for an occasion like this?"

A strange silence suddenly fell in the room.

Zuo Qing's smile disappeared and his expression became unreadable.

He cleared his throat.

"Commander Ye's... whereabouts are currently classified. We will update you on the current situation later."

There was an unspoken tension in the air.

Wu Chen felt uneasy.

Something is wrong.

Later that day, Lin Qiye and Wu Chen stood on the wall of Chenlong Pass, the wind howling around them.

Below, repair work has begun and the scars of battle are slowly being erased.

Cao Yuan stood beside them silently with a serious expression.

"He saved all of us, Lao Lin," Cao Yuan said with a choked voice.

"If it weren't for him..."

"I know." Lin Qiye closed his eyes, a wave of grief surged in his heart.

He mourned not only Commander Ye, but also a friend, a mentor, and a hero.

A messenger climbed up panting, saluted tremblingly, and handed a sealed envelope to Cao Yuan.

Cao Yuan tore open the envelope and his face turned pale after reading the contents.

"Lu Qiu...he didn't make it." His voice was so weak that it was almost drowned out by the wind.

Wu Chen felt as if a cold hand was grabbing his heart.

No, it can’t be Lu Qiu.

It wouldn’t be the Lu Qiu who was always relaxed and loved to joke around.

He looked at Lin Qiye, whose face was as expressionless as stone.

"Half a day,"

Lin Qiye's voice was flat and hollow. "We'll go to the capital in half a day."

The biting cold wind swept across Chenlong Pass, and the wailing sounds were just like the grief in Lin Qiye's heart.

He stood there, a statue carved from granite and sorrow, gazing at the busy reconstruction work below.

The scars on the city wall are being repaired brick by brick, but the hole in his heart still exists.

Commander Ye... Lu Qiu... are all gone.

Just gone, extinguished like a candle flickering in a storm.

Wu Chen stood beside him and shifted uneasily.

He stuffed his hands deep into his pockets, trying to block out the cold wind and the even colder reality.

"Damn it, Lao Lin," he muttered, the words stuck in his throat.

He wanted to say something, anything, to ease the pain on his friend's face, but the words wouldn't come.

What could he say?

In the face of such profound grief, his usual playful banter seemed blasphemous.

"system."

He thought desperately, "Any suggestions? Anything to... I don't know... lighten the mood?"

*"Analyzing… Host Emotional State: Distress. Target Emotional State: Neutral. Activating 'Empathy Protocol Beta 2.7'. Physical contact recommended. Low probability of success, but negligible risk of negative consequences."*

Wu Chen hesitated.

Physical contact?

And *Lin Qiye*?

This is entering uncharted territory.

He swallowed hard, then patted Lin Qiye's shoulder with a little more force than he had intended.

"You know, he wouldn't want to see us so depressed." He muttered, and even he felt that his words were empty and powerless.

Lin Qiye did not respond.

He just kept staring into the distance, his eyes blurry and dull.

He was immersed in a sea of ​​memories, and each wave of memories hit him like a surging tide.

Commander Ye's hearty laughter.

Lu Qiu smiled easily.

Their bond was forged in the fires of countless battles.

It's all gone.

Reduced to ash and echo.

Cao Yuan walked over with a tired look on his face and joined them.

He handed Lin Qiye a crumpled piece of paper with a faint, bitter yet sweet smile on his lips.

"Found it in Commander Ye's room," he said, his voice hoarse with excitement.

"It's... a list. All the places he wants to go after the war."

"They were all silly ideas, really. A teahouse in Qinghe, a flower market in Baihua Valley... He even wanted to learn weaving."

Lin Qiye took the paper and ran his fingers along the faded handwriting.

He choked out a laugh, a strange, broken sound.

"Weaving?" He shook his head, a tear sliding down the dirt on his cheek.

"Who would have thought?"

An eagle circled overhead, its cry a stark contrast to the mournful wails of the wind.

Lin Qi Ye watched it soar, and suddenly, a strong determination made his eyes firm.

"He couldn't go to those places." He said in a low and steady voice.

"But we will go. For him. We will end this fight. We will rebuild."

"And then... then we'll go to that damn teahouse in Qinghe and have a toast in his memory."

Wu Chen grinned, and this time it was a genuine smile, his usual playful nature flashing back.

"Maybe you can even pick up a few knitting needles." He nudged Lin Qiye with his elbow and added,

"Maybe this is our hidden talent."

A faint smile appeared on Lin Qiye's lips.

"Half a day," he repeated, and now the words carried not only the weight of grief but also the weight of purpose.

"Spend half a day mourning. Then... go to the capital." He looked at the horizon, a new fire in his eyes.

"We have to win this war. And we have to keep our promises." He crumpled the list into a ball and held it tightly in his hand.

This isn’t just a list of places.

This is a proof.

A promise.

A legacy.

The wind howled like a banshee, raging around Chenlong Pass, pulling at the tattered flags and scratching the fresh scars on the stone.

Below, humans swarmed in like ants, rebuilding and repairing, trying to erase the traces of the beast's wrath.

But Wu Chen knew that some scars were deeper than stone.

They burrow into the bones and fester in the soul.

He leaned against the windswept battlements, clutching a half-eaten energy bar.

"System, do you have any way to heal a broken heart? I'm asking for a friend."

"The inquiry is illogical. The emotional trauma is beyond the capacity of the current system."

"Suggesting 'Tactical Distraction Protocol': 3...2...1... initiate 'Cute Cat GIF Orgy'."

Wu Chen snorted.

A series of animated images of furry cats doing extremely cute things flooded into his sight.

This is… strangely comforting.

Still, it couldn't dispel the gnat-like emptiness in his chest.

He glanced at Lin Qiye, who was staring into the distance like a granite statue.

Since they left the temporary infirmary, Lao Lin hasn't made a joke or even smiled.

Commander Ye... Lu Qiu... Their departure made the air heavy.

Cao Yuan, his face full of fatigue and grief, walked over to them with a crumpled piece of paper in his hand.

"Official report..."

He said in a hoarse voice, "It's confirmed. Lu Qiu... is gone."

Wu Chen felt something choking in his throat.

Lu Qiu always has a relaxed smile on his face and has endless jokes to tell.

Just left.

That's it.

The world seemed to grow colder and darker.

He wanted to say something, anything, to break the oppressive silence, but the words were swallowed back on the tip of his tongue.

"They called him a hero,"

Cao Yuan continued, his voice trembling, "Award him a posthumous military rank. Give him the highest honor."

"honor,"

Lin Qiye finally spoke, his voice low and emotionless.

"What good is honor to the dead?" He turned, his eyes burning with cold anger.

"They're just... gadgets."

"Shiny ornaments to distract from the gaping hole they leave behind."

Wu Chen frowned.

He understood Lao Lin's pain.

Hell, he felt the same way himself.

But there was something sharp and rough in Lin Qiye's grief, and there was a simmering anger beneath the surface that made him feel uneasy.

"We will leave for Shangjing at dawn,"

Lin Qiye said calmly and resolutely,

"Zuo Qing wants a report. He wants those medals. Give them to him. Let him choke to death on them."

Cao Yuan was startled. "Old Lin..."

Lin Qiye waved his hand and interrupted him.

"Stop it. Just... stop it."

He turned and strode away, his figure disappearing into the gathering dusk.

Only Wu Chen and Cao Yuan were left standing alone in the biting cold wind, with only the wailing of the wind in the silence.

The sound echoed the emptiness in their hearts, speaking of loss and the storm coming in the distance.

Wu Chen sighed and stuffed the last bite of the energy bar into his mouth.

Shangjing.

very nice.

He suddenly felt a deep fatigue rising in his bones.

He had a feeling things were going to get worse before they got better.

To be honest, he wasn't sure he had the energy to cope.

He glanced at the setting sun, its blood-red afterglow filling the sky.

"System," he muttered to himself,

"Remind me to invent something that can resurrect the dead when this is all over."

"Honestly, this is a top priority."

The system, thankfully its little digital programming worked, chimed in confirmation.

Wu Chen wasn't sure if this was possible, but at this moment, he needed to grab something, anything.

Hope, no matter how slim, is better than nothing.