【 Some time ago, Cloudstone Celestial Palace. 】

【 "Trianne...?" 】

【 Tribbie opened her eyes abruptly. 】

【 "What's wrong... Is there trouble at the Arbor Court?" 】

【 Tribbie was extremely worried: "Yes. A sensation flashed by, but it was incredibly intense... They seem to be in serious trouble." Tribbie lowered her head sadly: "...Trianne used the 【Gate of a Hundred Worlds】 again." 】

【 Aglaea's expression turned stern: "Can you see a specific image?" 】

【 "No, it's blurry, just like always. But the enemy's aura has vanished; perhaps they've transferred to a safe place... probably." 】

【 "Let's hope it's just a false alarm. Trust in Aether and Castorice, my student... They will protect Trianne well." 】

【 Tribbie touched her head: "Why are you treating *us* like children, Aglaia? One day, Trianne will reach her limit, and Tribbie will take over the duties of the 【Gatekeeper】 from her; we are both well aware of that." 】

【 "I'm just... a bit worried about her mental state. Before leaving, Trianne couldn't even recite short sentences clearly..." Tribbie lowered her head sadly, "...At least let *us* say a proper goodbye." 】

【 "...I will pray with you." 】

【 "Thank you. Aglaia, this time I'll have to trouble you to accompany *us* to the bathhouse to relax a bit... I feel like neither of us has smiled in a long time." 】

— —

The Legend of Qin.

Dusk descended, the setting sun like blood, staining the mountains outside the Mohist Mechanical City a desolate, vibrant crimson.

Watching the worried-looking red-haired girl on the Celestial Screen, Tianming lowered his head, feeling dejected: "After Trianne uses the Gate of a Hundred Worlds a few more times, will she... will she die...?"

Feeling the gloom and reluctance in the boy's words, Ge Nie, who was sitting cross-legged nearby, sighed softly: "Tianming, in a person's life, 'death' is an inevitable outcome most of the time; you must learn to accept it. Moreover, even if Trianne can no longer fulfill the duties of the Gatekeeper, she might not necessarily die. Everything you are thinking of right now is just speculation..."

"Uncle, I know that." Tianming suddenly interrupted him, his voice carrying a hint of childish stubbornness, "But I can't help but think of the worst-case scenario. Such a terrifying black-clad swordsman has already appeared; the future Flame-Chase Journey will only become harder to traverse. I'm so afraid that the black-clad swordsman will kill Trianne, and Castorice, Phainon, and the others... This time, Trianne overextended her power to save everyone, but what about next time? Or the time after that?"

As he spoke, Tianming lowered his head, his fingers unconsciously drawing circles on the ground, his voice growing quieter: "The moment I think that in the future, Tribbie will take over the duties of the Gatekeeper, and she will also overextend her power like Trianne, and finally, only Trinnon will be left alone, I, I just..."

"Tianming, the future hasn't happened yet, and the Chrysos Heirs still have many choices before them." Duanmu Rong said softly, "Right now, it is not necessary to go head-to-head with the black-clad swordsman. Listening to Dan Heng, perhaps we can find a way to return to the Astral Express by subjugating the Sky Titan.

So far, all our fear of the black-clad swordsman stems from our lack of understanding of him. If we can find a way to obtain a part of his body and hand it over to Herta or Ms. Ruan Mei to study in the future, we should be able to crack the secret of his regenerative ability. Besides, he must also have some kind of weakness."

Yue'er couldn't help but feel curious: "Sister Rong, but looking at it now... the black-clad swordsman hasn't shown any weaknesses, right? It seems only the Gate of a Hundred Worlds can restrict him temporarily."

Duanmu Rong nodded: "I am a physician; I don't understand sword techniques. But I know that no matter how powerful a person looks, vital points like the Dantian, the xiphoid process, and the Mingmen... these fatal points scattered all over the body remain an unavoidable weakness. The *I Ching* once said: 'The number of the Great Expansion is fifty, its use is forty-nine.' That missing part is precisely a person's weakness. I don't know that black-clad swordsman's weakness, but I believe it definitely exists."

— —

【 The two had just arrived at the bathhouse when Tribbie felt an unusual heat. 】

【 She saw many wounded people lying on the road in a daze. When asked about the cause of their injuries, they only mumbled repeatedly: "Care... careful... careful... the Suspended Blade people..." 】

【 "Suspended Blade people? This tragic sight... was it caused by them?" 】

【 Aglaea's internal alarm bells rang. Just then, Hyacine rushed over. She had already treated many wounded along the way; fortunately, they were not seriously hurt, just unconscious from soaking in the high-temperature bath for too long. 】

【 "So many people unconscious at the same time due to the high temperature of the pool water? Where is the manager of the bathhouse?" 】

【 Hyacine shook her head: "He has disappeared, nowhere to be found. Some people are muttering, saying it was the work of the 'Suspended Blade people'... Does Ms. Aglaea have any leads?" 】

【 "..." 】

【 Aglaea lowered her head and pondered for a moment, then looked up and instructed: "Let these people rest well." 】

【 "Aglaia, did you think of something?" 】

【 "Of course. Although I don't know what they are planning, it is time to end this farce." 】

【 The three continued deeper into the bathhouse and soon saw the swaying, unsteady Mydei and... Phainon lying on the ground enjoying a baby-like sleep. 】

【 "Pathetic the Savior, nothing more than this." 】

【 Tribbie was stunned: "Lit... Little Mydei?!" 】

【 She saw Phainon lying on the ground, stretching out one hand, still stubbornly pointing his index finger at the man in front of him. 】

【 "Little Phainon! Even Little Phainon is..." 】

【 Phainon's voice was intermittent, like a candle in the wind: "Mur... derer... the murderer... is... Mydeimos..." 】

【 After saying this, his head tilted to the side, and with an "uh" sound, he went completely still. 】

— —

Iron-Blooded Orphans.

"Phainon, what are you doing! Phainon!"

Watching a water stain continuously extending forward from the edge of Phainon's outstretched index finger, Ride suddenly shouted loudly at the Celestial Screen, as if he had received some kind of calling.

This shout echoed in the empty room, as if carrying a strong sense of despair about his companion taking a bullet for him in an assassination.

And Orga, who was sitting next to him, also erupted with astonishing momentum at this moment. For some reason, the posture of Phainon falling to the ground made him feel very familiar, making him unconsciously want to cheer him on:

"Phainon, don't stop your steps! Hurry up and stand up! As long as you don't stop, the road will extend forward! These minor injuries are irrelevant; protecting the Chrysos Heirs is your mission, right? So... don't stop!"

However, after the leader's passionate shouting, Ride suddenly calmed down and asked curiously: "Leader, do you know why Phainon is lying here?"