Chapter 69: Darling, are you looking for me?

Chang Jiao'e had once liked Jiang Yi.

After all, given her persona as an inspirational goddess, she was originally not supposed to be dating. Since she entered a relationship anyway, it was naturally because she liked him.

She was particularly fond of the way Jiang Yi stood. He was like a resilient green pine standing straight even in the bitter chill of midwinter. From head to toe, he seemed to embody a clear conscience. That unique temperament gave him an indescribable charm. He had been like that in the past, and he was the same right now.

Chang Jiao'e pressed her back against the tree trunk, struggling to steady her turbulent emotions. Then, she took out her phone and sent another message to Tang Ke:

[If I do not return alive.]

[Then I likely died at the hands of Jiang Yi.]

Meanwhile, inside the River-Watching Pavilion.

When Tang Ke saw this sentence, his pupils suddenly constricted!

Even so, he forced himself to maintain a nonchalant expression. The tone of his reply seemed equally casual:

[What do you mean?]

Chang Jiao'e bit her lip:

[I saw Jiang Yi.]

Tang Ke waited anxiously, but Chang Jiao'e did not provide any further description for quite some time. Finally, unable to hold back any longer, he asked:

[And then?]

After that, Chang Jiao'e never replied.

That extremely ominous premonition which had previously lingered in Tang Ke's heart... grew intensely stronger at this moment!

His heartbeat involuntarily accelerated. It was a sense of inexplicable, uncontrollable unease!

Tang Ke suddenly gripped his phone tightly. Closing his eyes for a moment, he abruptly stood up and gazed out toward the distant river surface.

Over by the riverbank, the senior executives of the four major guilds were stationed together. A ferry was anchored upon the river.

Regarding that mysterious boundless sea region—back when the apocalypse first descended, quite a few fools who failed to grasp the situation had attempted to flee the apocalypse-stricken Jiangcheng through there. And those fools had effectively proven one thing: rivers, lakes, and seas that had transformed into passages to the ferocious beast world would indeed teleport any human who jumped straight in directly to that realm. However, if one remained seated inside a boat, the teleportation would not trigger.

Therefore, this time, when the four major guilds invited Level 10 players to explore the boundless sea region, they naturally intended to utilize vessels.

The ship anchored there right now was a ferry about to set sail. It had already gathered quite a few Level 10 players!

However, this was only the first wave. Much like how clubs explored the ferocious beast world in multiple stages and separate batches, the earlier the batch, the more they existed merely as cannon fodder!

Yet, at this very moment.

Tang Ke, gripping his phone tightly, suddenly flashed toward the riverbank! Simultaneously, he sent a message to Luo Changqing:

[I've decided to directly join this batch of the boundless sea region exploration.]

Luo Changqing was in the midst of handling some guild affairs. When he received the message, he instantly mirrored the classic expression of an old man looking at a smartphone on the subway! He directly replied with three question marks.

Tang Ke offered a casual explanation:

[Those independent players aren't so easily fooled either.]

[I heard that both the Qingchuan Guild and the Changsheng Guild have dispatched Level 10 elite players from within their ranks to participate in the exploration.]

[In the current situation, the Zheyue Guild does indeed possess the strongest overall strength, yet its public credibility and appeal happen to fall short compared to those two major guilds.]

This kind of nonsense was only good for fooling children. What kind of person was Luo Changqing? The Tang Ke he knew was certainly not the type to be selflessly devoted, let alone someone who would consider ethereal concepts like a guild's credibility or appeal!

After a moment of silence, Luo Changqing cut straight to the point with a resolute and stern attitude:

[Tell me the truth, what is the real reason?]

Tang Ke thought for a moment and ultimately replied:

[That Jiang Yi who suddenly topped the level rankings...]

[There is a distinct possibility that he is someone I know.]

As Luo Changqing read these words, his eyes nearly popped out of his sockets!

What the hell! If he's an acquaintance of yours, why didn't you say so earlier! You left us guessing back and forth about what kind of operational style this mysterious powerhouse might have!

Yet shortly afterward, Luo Changqing also came to his senses:

[You two have a feud?]

Tang Ke: [An irreconcilable, life-or-death grudge.]

Luo Changqing's expression instantly turned grim. He couldn't help but wonder... If that Jiang Yi truly harbored a grudge against Tang Ke, would he hold the Zheyue Guild accountable because of Tang Ke? Would he implicate him as well?

Furthermore... That Jiang Yi had ignored the recruitment overtures from the other three guilds, replying only to his. Although on the surface it was merely an inquiry about the special roulette wheel, could it be that when he came to fulfill the appointment, it would also be the moment he sought his revenge?

Luo Changqing felt entirely unwell. He wanted nothing more than to drag Tang Ke over and subject him to a brutal interrogation.

However, before he could question him further, Tang Ke replied once more:

[You don't need to worry too much; it might not necessarily be the Jiang Yi I know.]

[Because the Jiang Yi I knew never crossed regions.]

[If you still want to know about his personality and the like...]

[I can only say that before the life-and-death feud formed between us, his character was quite upright.]

[But now, I have no idea.]

[Alright, enough said.]

[May we still have the chance to meet again in the future.]

These words sounded like a final farewell. And indeed they were!

This damn thing was practically a modern-day reenactment of the winds blowing bleakly across the Yi River as the brave warrior departs, never to return!

Exploring the boundless sea region in the first wave carried a danger level that was definitively higher than joining a suicide squad to explore the ferocious beast world for the first time!

Initially, when Luo Changqing saw Tang Ke mention that the Jiang Yi he knew had not crossed regions, he had even wondered if Tang Ke was just overthinking things. But now... could mere overthinking be enough to scare Tang Ke into risking his life to explore the boundless sea region ahead of time?

This implied that in Tang Ke's heart—the odds of surviving the exploration of the boundless sea region were actually higher than the probability of staying alive under that Jiang Yi's hands!

So... Was Tang Ke simply overthinking? Or had every single player in Jiangcheng gotten it completely wrong?!

That so-called cross-region powerhouse... had never crossed regions at all?!

Then just how on earth did he manage to parachute straight to the top of the level rankings?!

Luo Changqing furrowed his brows deeply, his heart growing increasingly tense and unsettled!

Tang Ke himself had no idea whether his choice was correct. Perhaps he truly was just scaring himself. Perhaps, paralyzed by his own fear, he would simply die in the boundless sea region.

However... throughout his journey thus far, that strange thing called intuition had saved his life countless times! And this time, he possessed an intensely strong intuition telling him that danger was closing in!

...

Over on Jiang Yi's side.

An arrow wreathed in fire was loosed, streaking away toward the marshland.

In this group, Luo Shan existed merely as a background decoration. The only thing that offered him a sliver of comfort was the presence of Jiang Yi.

Yet after such a short period of time, he suddenly realized: something was wrong!

The tone Guan Ling used when speaking to Jiang Yi was entirely unlike the attitude of a powerful expert addressing a weakling!

And right now... Jiang Yi's arrow was capable of flying that far?

As that arrow pierced the air with a fierce, formidable momentum, Luo Shan finally came to a belated realization!

In this fleeting span of time, Jiang Yi seemed to have undergone a metamorphosis, breaking out of his cocoon like a butterfly!

While profound shock stirred deep within Luo Shan's heart, that blazing arrow of piercing might struck its mark precisely within the distant miasma-filled marshland!

Just as Jiang Yi and the others had surmised, that toxic gas was indeed flammable!

With a deafening explosion, it truly triggered a chain reaction!

Moreover, the explosions did not come as a single blast, but rather one after another in rapid succession! In an instant, the entire marshland erupted into continuous explosions and dazzling sheets of flame!

Even standing at such a great distance, Jiang Yi and the others could feel waves of residual heat washing over their faces!

Simultaneously, the birds and beasts inhabiting the forest scattered in chaotic flight to escape. Alongside the wildlife, numerous venomous insects were flushed out as well. In a flash, the entire woodland bordering the marsh fell into total chaos!

Guan Ling's face turned slightly pale; while keeping a close eye on the explosions over there, she hurriedly urged:

"The explosions are growing more and more intense! We need to pull back immediately!"

Aside from Guan Ling, Zuan and the others naturally sensed the danger as well, shouting in unison: "Fall back, fall back!"

Amidst the chaotic scene, Chang Jiao'e, hiding behind an ancient tree further away, was also thinking of retreating ahead of that group.

However, as she cast her gaze forward, she discovered that among that group of people... Jiang Yi was gone!

What was going on?!

Where was Jiang Yi? Where had Jiang Yi gone?!

The nerves in Chang Jiao'e's mind tightened instantly!

Nervousness! Unease! Fear!

She possessed a vision-enhancing skill, and at this moment, her gaze swept frantically and anxiously through the swirling chaos!

Yet... all that unease and fear would ultimately be fulfilled right on schedule!

She felt her entire body freeze!

The back of her head was suddenly pressed against by a chilling sensation!

Simultaneously... came a voice that had once filled her with adoration, but now sounded chillingly demonic and gentle:

"My dear, are you looking for me?"