Chapter 62: Right or Wrong

Jin Datong lunged forward, channeling all his strength from his legs into his fists, aiming a powerful blow at Su Hao.

However, to his surprise, his foot sank into thin air, causing his body to momentarily lose balance

"What the–?" Jin Datong was horrified. In that instant, he realized he had fallen into a trap. A chill ran down his spine.

Su Hao hadn't been moving randomly earlier. He had been deliberately seeking out firm spots on the ground, and with blood qi infused into his feet, he had stomped countless deep pits. In the darkness of night, they were impossible to notice unless one looked carefully. Su Hao had been waiting for this moment.

The pits weren't designed to cause major damage, but just a slight imbalance at a crucial moment was all he needed.

As soon as Jin Datong lost his footing, Su Hao struck.

«Shadow Step»

He swiftly circled to Jin Datong's side, where his arm was severed, and swung his blade horizontally, aiming to decapitate him with one stroke.

But Jin Datong suddenly grinned menacingly. His foot, which had stepped into the pit, accelerated downwards, and he quickly regained his balance. His previously limp severed arm now jerked upward, blocking the blade's path.

"Ha∼!"

With a roar, Jin Datong shifted his right fist, adjusting the trajectory to strike Su Hao.

"«Bone Crusher!»"

In Jin Datong's mind, this punch would end Su Hao's life.

"Slash∼!"

Once again, Jin Datong's left arm was severed.

"Bang∼!"

Su Hao took another punch, this time to his left chest.

Another arm traded for another punch.

But this time, Su Hao wasn't sent flying. His feet were firmly planted on the ground, solid and immovable as a mountain. The blade that had severed Jin Datong's arm swiftly reversed direction.

"Splat∼!"

"A barri–!!"

Jin Datong's head flew into the air.

Jin Datong's vision blurred as his head soared, and, even though his throat was severed, he let out an eerie screech.

Until his head hit the ground and his eyes plunged into darkness, Jin Datong couldn't comprehend how his opponent had managed to use the same rune twice.

Unable to grasp it, Jin Datong's final thoughts drifted to one thing: "You bastard..."

….

After cleaning up the scene, Su Hao made his way to the Jin family's residence. Since the guards hadn't arrived yet, he quickly dealt with all traces of his presence and retrieved his long blade.

Once [Cosmic Light]'s scan confirmed no abnormalities, he returned to the academy.

Su Hao lay on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

He had gained immense power, enough to defeat Jin Datong, ranked second in the academy. In Lingyun Town, his combat prowess was now among the top.

But with this power came bloodshed. Jin Datong, someone familiar to him, had also fallen to his blade.

For a moment, Su Hao wasn't sure if what he had done was right or wrong.

He had always believed he had a hardened heart, able to crush any obstacle without hesitation.

He believed human life wasn't that significant because, in the vastness of the universe, a lifespan of a few decades was but a fleeting moment. In the face of time, everything would eventually disappear into oblivion.

He believed the world didn't matter either, that every world was just one of the universe's possible outcomes. All the wondrous phenomena, whether it be technology, blood qi, or runes, were just the result of the universe's random manifestations. Perhaps his existence was merely another one of those possibilities.

He believed that he himself didn't matter, either. He was just a normal person who had gotten lucky, someone who should have died long ago...

Su Hao's mind was a chaotic mess at that moment.

He suddenly asked himself a question: "Am I right? Am I wrong?"

After a long pause, he reached out his hand toward the night sky.

Then he smiled: "Is there really such a thing as right or wrong? Everyone is just chasing what they want."

Once there is desire, pursuing that desire inevitably comes with a price—whether it's money, emotions, life, or something else.

Isn't every action in life bound by the cost we must pay?

If one chooses not to act, it's only because they can't afford the cost. If they act despite being unable to bear the price, it's just self-destruction. What's right? What's wrong? There's no such rule in the laws of the universe.

As for him, he simply needed to always be prepared to give everything in pursuit of his desires.

Aren't all living beings like this?

To Su Hao, life was far too short.

He didn't know whether, when he closed his eyes for the final time, he would ever awaken again. Like Schrödinger's cat, until it happens, the outcome remains unknown. And it's not a gamble he can take.

So, treasure each day.

When you open your eyes, use everything you have to explore the unknown, to uncover the secrets of this universe. There is so much left to discover.

All confusion, all doubts—these are simply because you haven't gained enough knowledge or reached a high enough vantage point.

Su Hao murmured to himself: "What you think is right may not be right. What you think is impossible may not be impossible. What you think is abnormal may not be abnormal…"

With a long sigh of relief, Su Hao got up and climbed onto the roof, lying there to gaze at the night sky.

The endless stars were so distant.

….

At the headquarters of Lingyun Town's Guard.

The bodies of Jin Datong and Jin Damo were laid out in the front hall. Jin Dayan and Jin Xiaohan knelt beside them, their eyes lifeless, swollen, and red, with no more tears left to cry.

Gathered there as well were all the major figures of Lingyun Town.

Among them was the head of the Warrior Academy, the elusive grandmaster, Xiao Jixuan.

The captain of the Town Guards, the grandmaster, Hua Hongyi.

And the town's mayor, another grandmaster, Lü Luyun.

The three powerful individuals had gathered.

"Any leads?" Lü Luyun, a tall and imposing middle-aged man, asked. His appearance was neat and meticulous, his long hair and beard groomed to perfection.

Someone immediately reported, "Based on eyewitness accounts, the suspect is about 1.5 meters tall, but after reviewing all records in Lingyun Town, we couldn't find any master level or above matching that description. We've already sent people to Ancheng Town and the capital to investigate, and we expect results within five days.

"We also attempted to use the qi-tracking method, but by the time the bodies were discovered, too much time had passed, and it no longer worked. We found no traces at the scene. All the hair and blood we collected belonged to Jin Datong."

Lü Luyun turned to the Guard captain, Hua Hongyi, and the academy's head, Xiao Jixuan, asking, "What do you think?"

Xiao Jixuan shook his head.

Hua Hongyi, a man of well-proportioned build and strikingly handsome features, looked quite young for his age despite being in his forties. He enjoyed dressing up, giving him the appearance of someone in his twenties.

Hua Hongyi said, "It wasn't a warrior from Lingyun Town. I don't want to boast, but within this town, no one other than the three of us could have been a match for Jin Datong. The one who beheaded him…"

He shook his head and added, "It must have been a top-tier master, most likely someone from Ancheng."

Lü Luyun replied calmly, "Then we'll wait. The Guards will impose martial law for the next month, and we'll issue a bounty to all exploration teams for any information about the killer. As for the matter of the seriel killer, we'll publicly announce that the murderer has been slain."

He then turned to Xiao Jixuan and Hua Hongyi, saying, "I'll trouble the two of you to stay in the city for the next month."

Both men nodded in agreement, clasping their hands in respect.

….

Following the incident, Su Hao temporarily gave up on the idea of selling beast veins for money. Carrying such items around now would draw too much attention.

His money bag now only contained 1 gold crown and 68 silver shillings, He was officially broke.

As for earning money, as long as he had enough to eat, Su Hao was too lazy to care.

Three days later, the academy resumed classes, and Su Hao met Fatty and He Qingqing again.

Neither had changed much, but the moment they saw him, their eyes lit up like light bulbs.

He Qingqing suddenly said, "Xiangwu, why do I feel like you've changed?"

Su Hao looked at himself, confused. "Changed? I don't think so. Maybe I've grown taller?"

Fatty nodded. "Now that Qingqing mentions it, I feel the same. There's something different about you."

He Qingqing nodded as well. "Yeah, but I can't quite put my finger on it."

Shaking her head, she added, "I can't explain it in words."

Su Hao chuckled. "Maybe! I did take a bath last night. Come on, let's go register."

Moments later, Su Hao's incredulous voice rang out: "What? We still have to pay tuition? One gold crown? Forget it, I'm not going to school anymore!"