After seeing Hu Liena off, Tang San let out a long breath, the coldness on his face fading considerably, replaced by a hint of sigh.
Despite their opposing stances, Hu Liena was undeniably a very intelligent and rational person.
"Knock, knock,"
The window was gently tapped from the outside.
Tang San paused, instinctively looking towards the door. Hu Liena's presence had already faded from his spiritual perception; she hadn't turned back.
Then, at this hour and under these circumstances, who would knock politely on a window?
Tang San walked to the window, pulled back the dark curtains, and saw Tang Sui suspended in mid-air outside the transparent glass.
"Sui Sui."
He opened both sides of the window and door. Tang Sui tapped the void with her foot, her small black leather shoes as if stepping on invisible stairs. Petite and exquisite, she easily darted in from outside the window and stood on the old, darkened wooden floor.
"I saw your name on the registration list for the killing arena," Tang Sui went straight to the point, her blue eyes fixed on Tang San. "Tomorrow is your hundredth match. After completing a hundred matches, you'll leave, won't you?"
Tang San didn't deny it, looking at Tang Sui steadily and nodding. "Yes. You also know... although there's an antidote and you're here, I... still can't bear the terrifying killing intent here and can't stay long."
He paused, then carefully looked at Tang Sui and asked, "Sui Sui, it's been almost two years. Will you... leave with me?"
Over these past two years, he had witnessed the subtle changes in the Slaughter City.
Those strange figures carrying grey stone carvings and shouting prayers... and the Slaughter City falling into fervent faith and another horrifying scene of the gods, he had seen it all.
He hadn't failed to try and understand what "god" they spoke of. Was it the King of Slaughter, or someone else?
But he hadn't managed to get any concrete information.
And as he investigated secretly, he also discovered... that Tang Sui seemed to have a shadow in all of this.
Unaware of the role Tang Sui played, Tang San hesitated, but ultimately chose to trust her.
Even if Tang Sui hadn't regained her memories, to him, his sister was still his sister. She hadn't been replaced by a stranger; she was still the one he grew up with.
Tang Sui didn't give Tang San a direct answer. Instead, she gave him a deep look and said something that left him confused and astonished, "Tomorrow, I will come to bear witness."
Bear witness?
Witness what?
The Hell Road?
Tang San frowned, about to ask if it would be dangerous for Tang Sui to go to the Hell Road, when Tang Sui suddenly stretched out her small hand, patted the back of his hand, and then vanished before him, appearing and disappearing mysteriously.
Staring at the small jade-colored porcelain bottle that appeared on the ground, Tang San felt a sense of helpless amusement.
...
The cheers of the Hell Slaughter Arena were deafening.
As Tang San's final hammer strike landed, his last slaughter match in the Slaughter City concluded. Like Hu Liena, who had come to cooperate with him the previous night, they had, as predicted, achieved a hundred victories in the Slaughter Arena today.
Only nine defeated opponents, barely clinging to life, were carried off by the staff.
But now, no one in the audience was thinking of scavenging for scraps.
Because they were all electrified with excitement!
Even though many of them now possessed a new, lifelong faith, after being in the Slaughter City for so long, witnessing the emergence of two Slaughter Arena champions in a single day made their blood surge again.
"Congratulations, champions of the Slaughter Arena."
A deep voice echoed within the arena, followed by a torrent of cheers.
"King of Slaughter! King of Slaughter! King of Slaughter!"
Tang Sui, standing in a corner of the spectator stands, also looked up at the combat arena. The figure in blood red, soaring through the air with huge bat wings, was none other than the King of Slaughter, Tang Chen.
Invisible threads of light, imperceptible to human eyes, entered Tang Chen's body amidst the fervent shouts. This was the power of faith emanating from them.
Tang Chen's bat wings fluttered slightly behind him, and he slowly descended to a height of five meters above the ground. Looking down at Tang San, his deep voice sounded again.
"We summon the Hell Envoy."
Hu Liena leaped lightly from the viewing platform and landed on the combat stage.
Tang Chen swept his gaze over the two of them, his peripheral vision subtly glancing towards Tang Sui's corner. He said calmly, "It has been decades since the Slaughter Arena saw a hundred-victory champion. Today, they have proven themselves with their strength, and also made you tremble, haven't they, my... subjects."
The last three words were spoken with a hint of emotion and mockery, making Tang San and Hu Liena, who were closer, feel a sense of inexplicable unease.
"Yes!"
The deafening response from all directions made Tang San tense his muscles again.
"You are both hundred-victory powerhouses, and I can give you two choices. First, I can grant you the title of God of Slaughter as an exception, allowing you to become honored guests of the Slaughter City under me. Second, you can walk the Hell Road, but whether you can pass depends on your own luck!"
Although Tang Chen's voice was not loud, everyone felt as if the words were spoken directly into their ears.
Without waiting for Tang San to say anything, Hu Liena stepped forward first. "There's no need. Thank you for your kindness, King of Slaughter, but you must not break the rules for me. I choose to walk the Hell Road with the Asura King."