Chapter 00063: A Strong Wind and Heavy Rain
# A Strong Wind and Heavy Rain
Chapter 63
Novel: Above Destiny
Chapter 63: A Strong Wind and Heavy Rain
As everyone knows, the Chosen Ones of the Bai Lu sect do not necessarily need to stand out or spice things up, but they are all complete individualists through and through.
Their biggest annoyance is people nagging and pointing fingers at how they should do things, closely followed by the constraints of strict rules and regulations.
However, just as the Chosen Ones from Tian Yuan sometimes need to consider flexible rules, humanity, with all its complexity, can never be as pure as the Way of the Great.
Thus, even the Chosen Ones of Bai Lu have organized structures in place.
This organization is called the "Huang Ji."
It is a bizarre entity that combines functions similar to trade unions, skill transmission, dispute resolution, employment services, and project collaboration.
It is a chaotic mix of entangled factions covering various areas in the world, deeply rooted yet sprawling, with a myriad of businesses, sadly all operating in ways that are illegal under local laws.
From the smuggling of livestock to the grave crimes of murder and arson, it meddles in every dark corner of society.
In such a vast arena, naturally, there is a plethora of disputes and conflicts that arise.
It's not uncommon for internal divisions to harbor deep-seated grudges or deadly enmity.
In those times, twelve leaders elected from key components of the organization step in to untangle the disputes and maintain the basic structure and unity of Huang Ji.
The An family is a part of this Huang Ji, and an indispensable one at that.
Like other departments involved in dark deeds, the An family's means of survival is rather straightforward.
Simply put, if anyone in Huang Ji has even a tiny bit of disagreement with the leaders' decisions, the An family will show up at their door.
They ensure that the person—and their entire family—understands the leaders' good intentions and hard work.
From then on, they won’t have any more objections.
If the way of Bai Lu represents survival as hunters amidst the wilderness, then the An family is responsible for hunting down poachers, serving as a mechanism to keep the wilderness chaotic yet thriving.
"It's not just our family that does these kinds of things. It's the work of the uncles and elders. I'm still young and not capable enough. I got my leg broken and was kicked out for talking back to my sister, and if Wen Jie hadn’t taken me in, I might’ve had to take on jobs for Huang Ji to survive."
As he spoke, the boy seemed anxious, pulling on Ji Jue's sleeve as if afraid he would abandon him.
"Don’t worry, Ji Jue ge, I’ll be good! Wen Jie said I should listen to you; you mustn’t leave me behind!"
"Big shot, don’t say that! You’re incredible, better than many big shots out there!" Ji Jue was quite taken aback by An Ran's earnest regard for him.
Plus… he finally worked up the courage to ask the question that had been bothering him for a long time: "Why do you call me Ji Jue ge?"
"Because you’re older than me," An Ran answered, as if it was the simplest thing.
"Uh... that’s not necessary, right?" He scratched his head, feeling a bit overwhelmed.
"You can just call me Xiao Ji. Ji ge just doesn’t sound right..."
"Because Ji Jue ge is amazing!" An Ran replied seriously, his eyes sparkling with admiration.
He then lifted his notebook, flipping to the front page where an incredible quote was painstakingly written in neat handwriting, every word pronounced carefully, resembling a recounting of Ji Jue’s darkest past that he wished to erase.
"I fought tooth and nail for everything in my life…"
At that moment, realizing what was happening, Ji Jue instinctively reached for the notebook to tear the page out, but An Ran was too quick, clutching it tightly to his chest.
"Delete it! Delete it! Quickly delete it!" Ji Jue panicked, breaking into a sweat.
"That's not me! Really not me! Xiao An, listen to me, give me the book—"
But alas, he couldn’t overpower him!
Just as Ji Jue was in a frenzy, a group approached, armed and in uniforms, with the bearded leader politely beckoning Ji Jue forward.
They pointed to the RV parked at the front.
Waiting inside were Kong Qingyan and Lou Feng.
Watching Ji Jue push the cart over, Lou Feng couldn't help but twitch his expression, forcing himself to maintain composure, and finally managed to squeeze out: "Mr. Ji, we meet again."
"Wah, it’s been a while, Lou ge!" Ji Jue replied enthusiastically, grabbing his hand and shaking it vigorously.
"Remember how we felt like long-lost friends when we saw each other days ago? Why suddenly so distant now!"
Why the distance? Didn’t you know, you scoundrel?!
It was the first time Lou Feng wanted to curse in his life.
Ji Jue felt the same.
Looking at Lou Feng, who was decked out in +15 gear from head to toe—his shoes, glasses, and even underpants all were premium pieces—Ji Jue felt a deep envy welling up.
Lou Feng didn’t disappoint as the scion of a wealthy family, having gear upon gear like a pig in a bra, all so extravagant!
Just wait! One day, when I master separation technique, you're the first one I’ll go for!
Beside them, the usually silent and aloof Kong Qingyan finally noticed Ji Jue’s emblem, the logo of Chaosheng Workshop, and her pupils slightly constricted.
At this moment, she finally understood whom Ji Jue represented here and couldn’t help but sneer, "Looks like Master Ye is also doing some copycatting here, learning to walk from others."
"Master Kong, how could you say that?" Ji Jue maintained his smile, upholding the demeanor he learned from his teacher.
"Before coming, my teacher reminded me that if it wasn’t for you, we would’ve missed out on such a great opportunity. Even if we don’t need anything else, we can’t skip this scene. Let me help Master Kong out and show you my skills."
He paused, continuing, "And I'd like to remind Master Kong—"
Thus, he conveyed Master Ye’s message, "Recently, there’s been a strong wind and heavy rain, and after the thunderstorm, remember to gather your clothes at home. As for the outside matters, don’t worry about them."
Kong Qingyan’s complexion abruptly changed upon hearing this.
Then, a crisp voice rang out.
From the grand gemstone ring on her finger, originally filled with an array of multi-faceted brilliance, a deep fissure suddenly appeared.
BAM!!!
This was an emergency alert from her workshop, even a high alert.
Signals indicating that the central control was about to go out of control!
"Ye Xian—" She squeezed the words from between her teeth, her face changing dramatically, forgetting to deal with Ji Jue at that moment, and hurriedly turning to enter the RV to handle it remotely.
If it took any longer, the control over the forge might change hands!
Professor Ye hadn’t done anything remarkable.
At most, he simply sent a package to Master Kong’s workshop.
As for what was in the package and the consequences it would bring, Ji Jue had no idea.
Professor Ye had only said that once the package arrived, there would be no way for Kong Qingyan to stay on scene and stir up trouble, no matter how patient she was.
The importance of a workshop to a craftsman could sometimes be even more significant than the craftsman's life!
A workshop inherited through the generations often represents the combined efforts of artisans over many years.
Every circuit and rune within is a result of decades, even a century, of precise carving and careful nurturing.
Not to mention, there are collections and priceless equipment from an entire faction inside.
Even a master wouldn’t be able to turn a blind eye when another master invaded their workshop.
She was not the kind to betray her sect like Ye Xian at the slightest disagreement.
If anything happened to the inherited workshop, even she, as a master, would be labeled a traitor!
At that moment, seeing his teacher leave without glancing back, Lou Feng’s expression finally crumbled, and he coldly glanced at Ji Jue.
"It seems Mr. Ji has come prepared. That’s fine; we shall see who prevails when the time comes."
Ji Jue smiled but said nothing.
If they had to clash, then so be it.
He wasn't some pushover who would swallow his anger when bullies came knocking.
Deep down, he felt no reverence for the so-called noble families and high-born clans.
So imposing and arrogant, did they think the Rift was named after the Lou family?
After completing his teacher's instructions, he didn’t linger and turned to push his cart towards the fissure.
However, after just a few steps, there were sudden exclamations from ahead.
“It’s opening! It’s opening! The Rift is—”
Before the sound even faded, the glow from the fissure dramatically intensified, bursting forth in an instant, unleashing a violent sucking force that enveloped them.
Before Ji Jue could react, he was already lifted off the ground, swirling along with the crowd toward the rift...
"Ji Jue ge, be careful!"
In that crucial moment, An Ran's voice rang out suddenly.
The incapacitated boy swiftly reached out, and a rope shot from his sleeve, wrapping around him and binding him with a small calf.
In the next instant, a torrent of blazing light engulfed the entire camp.
After a moment of unnatural silence, the light vanished without a trace, the fissure returned to its original state.
The previously open rift had seemingly closed again without a sound, remaining unchanged and not responding to the calls of those left behind.
Yet, many in the camp remained frozen in place, bewildered and exchanging confused glances—wasn’t the opening of the rift supposed to resemble a tunnel where the entrance would last for a while?
Why did it suddenly suck in everyone like a whirlwind and then become unresponsive?
It just closed the door?!
As a result, over half of the crowd didn’t make it inside, trapped outside.
Panic erupted among the people, quickly leading to terrified screams.
Only then did someone notice that those who seemed to have fallen into the mud… had lost their voices entirely.
Blood and essence had vanished without a trace.
What remained were only withered and emaciated bodies.
Just like the remnants left after being completely devoured…
Silence fell unexpectedly.
When someone mustered the courage to reach out and turn over those remains, they finally saw the desperate expressions of those who had no idea what had happened before their passing; their features twisted into a ghastly contortion.
And upon their foreheads, a chilling emblem was clearly marked.
It resembled a cruel one-eyed figure with bizarre wings unfolding.
[Dragon Sacrifice Assembly]!
The one capable of leaving such a gruesome scene, having devoured all victims, could only be one.
The Chosen One from the heart's hub, who had long since ascended to the stage of rebirth.
—The Shepherd, Nameless!
And it wasn’t until two hours later in the early morning that the Haizhou authorities received an alert from the Tide City Safety Bureau—an important member of the terror organization [Nirvana] intending to disrupt international order, known as 'White Owl,’ had stealthily entered the country five hours ago, and his whereabouts were unknown.
Along with the alert came a wanted poster with a bounty of nine million one hundred thousand.
Only a blood-stained owl mask looked coldly upon the world from the photo on the wanted notice.
Thirsty and hungry for chaos.
(End of Chapter)