Logan Cross turned and strode away, his voice echoing from afar: "Cult Master of the Heavenly Saint, Quinn Shepherd; Grand Venerable of Loulan Golden Palace—one day, if you achieve greatness, I will repay you both handsomely and avenge my severed arm. Just don’t die too soon!"
He vanished into the thick darkness.
Quinn Shepherd still stood firm, the Worryless Sword continuing to circle and spin around him.
He did not relax at all, still staring into the darkness. Only after a while did Quinn finally let out a breath.
Ben Coates’s face turned sour. He complained, "Quinn, why did you announce our titles? Now what are we supposed to do?"
"If I hadn’t announced our names, he might not have left."
Quinn’s aura suddenly collapsed; he slumped to the ground as the Worryless Sword clanged onto the floor. He didn’t even have the strength to wield it anymore, his breath withered: "If he’d stayed to fight to the death, we might not have survived. Announcing our names was the only way to make him leave."
Ben struggled upright, eyeing Quinn with a flicker in his gaze. From the Blueblood Gourd on his back, a mass of fresh blood poked out, restless, as Ben weighed whether to strike at Quinn now. He feigned anger: "You could’ve just given fake names!"
Quinn raised an eyebrow; the Worryless Sword at his feet quietly lifted its tip. He replied weakly, "I never use fake names. Besides, when we return to thirty or forty thousand years in the future, how could he possibly find us?"
Ben’s anger flared. He gritted his teeth: "Quinn, is your name really real? Never used a fake name? You’ve got the nerve to say that out loud!"
More blood seeped out from the gourd, a silent mass rising.
He narrowed his eyes, switched to a friendly expression, and said kindly: "But you’re right, Cult Master. That bastard Logan Cross is arrogant and won’t live thirty or forty thousand years. He might die in battle soon. Need a hand getting up?"
Quinn looked up, face earnest: "Sure, I’m completely drained. If you don’t help, I really can’t get up."
Ben shivered suddenly, hurriedly stepped back, and chuckled: "Men shouldn’t get too close, better keep some distance—don’t want people talking."
Quinn shrugged it off, leaned on the Worryless Sword, and shakily stood: "Logan Cross has retreated, but we need to leave fast. He might return with the Prodigy Legion. It’s not safe to linger here."
Bruno retracted his dragon scales and staggered out of the box’s range. There were a few thuds as the box folded up, becoming a moderate size.
Bruno climbed onto the box, panting heavily. Quinn struggled up as well, turning to smile: "Grand Venerable, come up too."
Ben shook his head, crawled under the box, and hugged one of its legs: "I’ll stay here."
Quinn nudged Bruno, chuckling: "You’re way too careful. We’re all in this together—same box, same enemies, same life and death. You really think I’d attack you?"
Bruno lifted a forepaw, extending several blade-like claws—if Ben tried to climb up, he’d be stabbed on the spot.
Ben replied cautiously, "Your kindness is hard to refuse, but I’m always careful—never trust anyone. Could you have Bruno put his claws away?"
The box strode forward into the darkness. Quinn cradled his sword and pretended to nap, while Ben, under the box, stayed alert, secretly popping a few spirit pills from his Glutton Dragon Pouch to recover his strength.
After a while, feeling some of his strength return, Ben’s eyes flickered as he quietly activated the Blueblood Gourd: "He’s badly wounded—perfect time to finish him off…"
Suddenly, he caught the scent of medicine and quickly gave up the idea of attacking.
Quinn slipped a hand into his Glutton Dragon Pouch, secretly refining several batches of elixirs and popping a few into his mouth now and then. He also made some for Bruno, who ate them quietly without a sound.
But the drifting scent of medicine still couldn’t fool Ben’s nose.
Trying to trick him isn’t easy, Ben thought to himself.
Finally, a light shone out of the darkness—they had reached the way station ahead.
Gods sheltered the way station, where many commoners rested. Queena White anxiously scanned the area, finally spotting a blood-stained box carrying Quinn and the fat Dragon-Qilin wobbling toward her.
The box strode forward, racing swiftly over mountains and hills.
Queena White was overcome with emotion and hurried forward, carrying Felix’s son. Quinn jumped off the box, stretched his body with a series of cracks, and asked in confusion, "Why haven’t you left yet?"
We can’t go any farther. Most of these people have little cultivation, and many are old or traveling with families.
Queena White pressed down her feelings and said quietly, "The deity who guarded the way station is gone—probably went to help at Baillong. Now, only mortals are left here."
Quinn looked around the way station. Many people slept on the ground; others lay awake, their eyes flickering in the shifting light of the Dragon God Pearl, but none made a sound.
Most who escaped were poor commoners, not the wealthy families. The rich escaped quickly, following the city god through the north gate—but they probably didn’t survive.
Only these commoners, because of their weak cultivation, escaped late and ended up following us.
We can’t stay here long.
Quinn thought for a moment and said, "Why don’t I let them into my box and carry them as far as I can?"
Queena White was taken aback, glanced at the box, and asked, "Where’s the other person who came with you? He…"
I’m here.
Ben crawled out from under the box, grinning: "Fortunately, we survived. Sorry to make Miss White worry."
Quinn had Bruno jump down from the box. "Queena, wake everyone up. We can’t stay here any longer. Since the guardian deity is gone, we need to move immediately before the pursuers catch up."
Queena nodded and roused the crowd. Quinn unfolded the box, letting everyone enter. Ben tried to climb in too, but Quinn shook his head: "If the pursuers catch up and no one is outside to fight, we’ll all be wiped out. We’ll stay outside the box."
(Irrelevant webnovel pagination notice—skipped.)
The Taotie Bone Box was sturdy, but it couldn’t attack—no real fighting power. If everyone hid inside, any outer-domain demon could wipe them out without a trace.
Ben suppressed his anger and sneered: "Quinn, with your attitude, you won’t survive in this chaotic world! We’re running from Aiden Starr, not here to save people!"
Quinn laughed heartily and shook his head: "Grand Venerable, I just want to preserve a little innocence and kindness in this muddy, chaotic age."
Ben snorted, crawled back under the box, and grumbled, "Call me if the enemy shows up!"
Queena stayed outside too. Quinn and she sat atop the box, Bruno hopped up and quietly lay down, soon falling asleep.
"Why does the Grand Venerable like hiding under the box?" Queena asked, puzzled.
Quinn explained, "He’s guarding against attacks from underground."
Queena suddenly understood. "So the Grand Venerable was being thoughtful."
The box strode briskly eastward. Quinn glanced at the girl beside him—Queena had just endured the destruction of her home and family. She’d been a bit naive and tender before, but overnight, determination had settled between her brows, her eyes now clear and bright, her former frailty cast aside.
Only now did Quinn notice Queena wasn’t entirely human—she had some dragon traits. Hidden in her hair were two tiny dragon horns, tucked away in her twin buns.
The first time he’d cupped her face, he hadn’t noticed those tiny dragon horns.
A hint of sorrow lingered between her brows; she wanted someone to lean on, but forced herself to be strong.
She wasn’t the type of girl Quinn usually liked. Growing up in Oldridge Village, the nine elders always said girls should be chubby and round-faced; Village Chief, Apothecary, and Butcher all told him a girl ought to have a plump face, thick waist, and wide hips.
Queena definitely didn’t fit that mold.
Yet now, her fragile strength deeply moved Quinn.
"Are you tired?"
Quinn suppressed his unusual thoughts and said, "If you’re tired, you can lean on me and rest for a while."
Queena murmured in reply and gently leaned on his shoulder, the faint sound of Bruno’s snores drifting by.
But she couldn’t sleep. Closing her eyes only brought visions of Baillong’s destruction, her mother and uncles fighting the outer-domain demons, the slaughter in the darkness, countless deaths, her brother and sister-in-law’s last smiles before turning back to fight, and the monstrous faces that sometimes burst from nightmares.
"By the way, I haven’t asked you yet—when we first met, you said you came from another time."
Queena opened her eyes, leaning against Quinn’s shoulder, and whispered, "Is that true?"
Quinn nodded.
"Where are you from? The past, or the future? Is it peaceful there?"
"A long time from now—maybe thirty or forty thousand years in the future. It’s peaceful for now, but who knows about later."
"Thirty or forty thousand years in the future?"
The girl on his shoulder was silent for a moment, then whispered, "I don’t know if I’ll live that long. Life here is too bitter, sometimes it feels impossible to go on…"
"You need to survive—the people in the box still need you."
Quinn smiled gently, his voice soft: "You’re stronger than I imagined. Many people—not just girls, but even men—would have collapsed after all this. I know living is hard, but you carry their hopes, your brother and sister-in-law’s hopes, and their child’s future."
Queena trembled and nodded lightly.
"Will you walk with me further?" she asked.
Quinn fell silent for a moment.
"Dawn is coming."
He gazed eastward, his voice hoarse from a night of fighting, yet carrying a unique warmth: "When the sun rises, I’ll probably disappear. I came here by a strange, unfathomable chance, and once it’s over, you’ll need to lead them on your own. Survive…"
Queena lifted her head, staring at the whitening sky in the east.
Quinn stood up and smiled: "Good sister, I probably can’t walk with you any farther. The rest of the journey is yours alone."
Queena was overwhelmed, standing in confusion, still holding Felix’s son in her arms. Tears unknowingly wet her cheeks.
Quinn cupped her cheeks, giving her his purest smile: "Live. You must survive!"
Queena’s heart twisted. She clung tightly to him, trembling: "Don’t go—I’m afraid I won’t make it…"
"Maybe all traces of me in this prehistoric world will vanish, and nothing I brought will remain. But I can leave behind one line that moved me."
The sky grew brighter. The first ray of sunlight spilled over the eastern horizon, lighting the mountains and sending the darkness fleeing.
Quinn held the girl close, and with his free hand pointed at the nearby cliff. The Worryless Sword leapt out, carving characters into the rock face.
The sword flew back. Before the sunlight reached them, Quinn embraced the girl who would soon face danger alone, Queena clinging to him as if she could keep her anchor.
As sunlight spilled over, Quinn in her arms faded away like blue smoke.
The box vanished too, leaving behind a crowd of bewildered survivors.
Queena stood stunned, then suddenly turned to the cliff—there, the words carved by Quinn’s Worryless Sword.
Human life is greater than heaven!
Suddenly, the weight of those words crashed down on Queena. The hope in everyone’s eyes became a terrifying pressure—and a driving force.
"Follow me!"
Cradling her brother’s child, she raised her arm, her voice filled with strength: "I will lead you out of this doom and find a place where we can survive!"
Hope rekindled in the crowd. They followed her, winding their way toward the distance.
"You really came from thirty or forty thousand years in the future?"
Queena glanced back at the cliff where Quinn’s inscription remained, then turned and led the people toward the rising sun: "I’ll survive—I’ll come find you! Wait for me! I’ll be here…"
"To meet you again—"
A reunion across ten thousand years—wait for me.
When you left, I never told you how I felt. When we meet again, I hope there will be no more regrets.
(Author’s note: This chapter ran to 3,800 words, 800 more than planned, and was posted ten minutes early! Is Zhai Zhu proud? Not at all! Such a small thing isn’t even worth mentioning—let me bask in my own modest glory for a bit~~)