Eldest Senior Brother wielded three legendary treasures: the Wind and Thunder Halberd, which controlled wind and lightning, the Yin-Yang Dao [1], said to embody the principle of true unity, and the Breaking Wood Sword, rumored to be capable of cutting through anything in the world.
The image of Senior Brother He Lou in my memory never changed—muted gray robes with wide sleeves, loosely tied-back hair, an air of effortless calm, and those three fearsome weapons strapped across his back in a stark, jarring cross.
At that moment, the two swords were gone. Apart from that, his appearance hadn't changed much. His hair seemed a bit longer than I remembered.
"Eldest Senior—"
I was about to speak when grotesque laughter echoed through the air, followed by the howl of a green wind. In its wake, a round mass began to form, once again taking the shape of Tantata.
How the hell could this bastard keep coming back? I was stunned to see him resurrected in full, despite having been struck directly by the Wind and Thunder Halberd.
"Steeeeella....!"
For a moment, I thought he was uttering something in a demonic tongue. But as I looked closer, his expression told a different story.
Stella... Is it another name for Eldest Senior Brother?
"W-what brings you to my domain...?" Tantata stammered.
"That's my line. Why did you snatch my guest?"
"G-guest?"Tantata blinked in shock.
Senior Brother He Lou's face remained expressionless, a look I had never seen before. "No need for your theatrics in front of me. You've already paid the price for deceiving me—with that last attack."
" H-hohoho... I'm not sure what you are talking about..."
"I will take this human with me. Do you have any objections?"
"O-of course not...! I-I'm not bold enough... to fight with you... O-ohohoho... " Tantata said, giving a thumbs up. "H-have a good time...! B-bye...!"
With that, he jumped and vanished into the gloomy sky.
His departure was as dramatic as his entrance.
As I stared blankly upward, Senior Brother He Lou spoke. "Will you come with me?"
His expression stayed cold, but his voice was soft. It was the same voice I remembered.
I hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
***
Senior Brother He Lou entered one of the many buildings in the alley. The interior was empty—no furniture, no wallpaper, and the floor was nothing but bare ground. It was so hollow that even the alley outside seemed tidier in comparison.
I guess he only cared about appearances.
Tantata had made a show of calling this a city, but a closer look revealed it for what it was: a hollow shell with no substance.
He Lou entered first and stood with his back to me.
Why hadn't he turned around right away? Perhaps he didn't want me to see the expression he was wearing.
Normally, I would have asked him outright before such a question even crossed my mind. But facing him now, I found it hard to speak.
"You've reached a remarkable stage in the Supreme Art of All Time," he remarked.
Why was he suddenly talking about martial arts?
"It is a great achievement considering your years of training," he praised. "Congratulations."
"Thank you," I replied, a little embarrassed.
Only then did Senior Brother He Lou finally turn to face me. "Tantata."
I waited for him to continue.
"He is a dangerous demon king. Of course, all demon kings are dangerous from a human perspective, but he's particularly vile. You should dismiss everything you've seen of Tantata as false. I don't know why he's here, but interacting or even engaging in play with him could be fatal."
"Is this advice?"
Senior Brother He Lou didn't answer. His dry gaze settled beyond the old window frame.
Outside lay a hellish landscape, but this didn't seem to be the only reason for the weariness clouding Senior Brother He Lou's face. He looked worn down, like someone who hadn't slept in a very long time.
I suddenly wondered, When was the last time he laughed?
"I knew you'd come," he said.
I remained silent.
"I didn't expect it to be this soon, and certainly not in a place like this. You're too early—on several levels."
I nodded. "That's what it feels like."
"Bai Luguang must've told you a time."
At that, I glared at him.
He met my eyes with indifference and asked, "What did he say?"
"He spoke of a reunion ten years from now," I replied.
"Then he spoke the truth. You're ten years too early to kill me," he said nonchalantly.
"To kill you?" I echoed.
"Didn't Bai Luguang send you to kill me?" he inquired.
"Master... told me to bring you back, Eldest Senior Brother."
For the first time, Senior Brother He Lou's expression changed. It was subtle, but the emotion behind it was undeniable—a flicker of agitation.
"Then let's pretend this meeting never happened." He shook his head, as if trying to shake off his weariness. "Next time, I hope you'll come find me on your own strength"
"And where would that be?"
"Spirit Mountain," he answered.
"Excuse me?"
Senior Brother He Lou said nothing more.
I nodded. "So I'm meant to figure it out on my own. Fine. Can I ask you another question instead?"
"Go ahead."
"How many people have you killed?"
Senior Brother He Lou responded without hesitation, "Too many to count."
That was unexpected.
"And I'll kill more still," he added.
"What is the reason?"
"The reason..." Senior Brother He Lou laughed for the first time. It was quiet, almost derisive, but it didn't suit him "Let me ask you instead. If I gave you a reason—one that made sense—would you be convinced and accept it?"
"What does that—"
"You wouldn't. You'd dismiss it as an excuse. You'd only believe what Bai Luguang told you. To you, my words wouldn't be reasons, just justifications." He paused, then shook his head. "Sorry. That wasn't meant as blame. I'm not saying I'm right. But you already treat Bai Luguang's words as law. It's as if..."
Senior Brother He Lou emphasized the next part. "It's as if he's the god of martial arts."
He added, "And as long as that doesn't change, there's nothing more I can say to you."
"You've definitely changed." I met his gaze. "The Eldest Senior Brother I remember never spoke in absolutes like that."
"What?"
"If you gave a valid reason, would I be convinced and accept it? Of course, I would. I respect Master, but that doesn't mean I blindly agree with everything he says. I have my own values."
This was, after all, what our master had taught me. I was sure he had taught the same to Senior Brother He Lou. That's why I believed he had left to walk his own path.
Senior Brother He Lou looked at me.
Though our eyes had met earlier, this was the first time it felt like we were really seeing each other.
" Puhuhu. " His helpless laugh sent me back to the days on Spirit Mountain. "It was nice to see you, Luan."
" Huh? "
Soon after, I sensed something instinctive—an odd feeling that I could no longer remain here. It was hard to describe, but I felt like I was about to be expelled from this place.
Is this the primordial rule that the Martial God mentioned?
Senior Brother He Lou must've sensed it as well, for he spoke again. "By the way, my name is He Lou."
The introduction came abruptly, but I understood the meaning behind it. "Yes. I'll see you again soon, Eldest Senior Brother."
For now, I turned away, not yet prepared. I would let this moment slip by, but I wouldn't shy away the next time we met. I would have to call him by his name—not Eldest Senior Brother, but He Lou.
***
The sounds of forest birds echoed through the woods, blending with the earthy scent of grass and the faintly damp feel of the ground beneath me. I savored these sensations—ones I could never experience in Hell.
The sunlight filtering through the cool breeze felt warm, comforting. For a moment, I wanted nothing more than to stay like this and lie here a little longer.
Should I do just that?
I lay there with my eyes closed, reflecting on the meeting that had just taken place. Senior Brother He Lou called Master by name and no longer wants to be addressed as Eldest Senior Brother. He wasn't expelled—he declared it himself.
"I expelled Eldest Disciple," my master had revealed.
" To be exact, he went out on his own..."
Only now did my master's words start to make sense. I had finally reunited with him, but honestly, I wasn't sure how to feel. He had changed, but it didn't feel like he had become someone else—not fundamentally.
Although he had stopped smiling and his tone had grown drier, the way he scolded me for impulsively plunging into Hell was unmistakably the same Senior Brother He Lou I remembered.
Hmm... He told me to come to Spirit Mountain.
I wasn't sure what he meant. Did he want me to use the blessing again?
"Not enough. I'm still not nearly strong enough," I groaned.
There wasn't just a lack of information—there was a lack of power. Even though I had achieved much on Spirit Mountain, I could feel my thirst for power growing.
I also recalled my master's words about finally entering the martial world.
"Guess it's time to get up."
My head was heavy, but my body felt light. I jumped to my feet and exhaled deeply.
As I opened my eyes, I found myself standing in a clearing bathed in daylight. The signs of battle were everywhere. This was the spot where Juan and I had vanished.
I had returned to the exact place I'd left. Since it was now daylight, at least a full day must have passed. It hadn't been a long time, but it wasn't a short one either.
Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the clealring.
" Ugh, it's cold," I muttered, shivering. My training clothes had been badly torn during my game of tag with Tantata, and they were no match for the biting midwinter wind.
I quickly made my way through the forest and returned to camp. Perhaps it was the sight of the twisted buildings of Hell, but even the shabby hero disciples' building appeared unexpectedly neat.
It looks fine on the outside.
Hopefully, everything was okay.
Juan was dead, so the Demon King's Summoning Ritual must've been successfully stopped.
Thinking of Juan left me with mixed feelings. I didn't sympathize with him—he had orchestrated the massacre and paid the price. Still, the fact that he was killed by a demon king before and after the regression carried some kind of meaning.
Was Juan's end truly predestined to come at the hands of a demon king? I didn't believe in fate, but I couldn't shake the thought.
" Ugh, I'm getting a headache..."
For now, I just wanted to rest. But first, I needed to meet with Carzakh or Junian to confirm nothing had gone wrong.
By the way, the camp is eerily quiet. I can barely sense any presence. Should I check on the other hero disciples before heading to the infirmary?
No. By this point, they'd have already entered the forest for the second special trial.
Then it clicked—this explained the silence. The number of instructors was only half that of the hero disciples.
Just then, I ran into one of the instructor-knights. He looked startled to see me.
I paused briefly, quickly adjusting my behavior. I was still technically in the infirmary, so my presence at the camp wasn't unusual. If he criticized me for my disheveled appearance or for moving around freely, I had nothing to say in my defense.
"I was just walking around to get some fresh air! I'll return to the infirmary right away—"
"Young Master... Luan?" he exclaimed.
Young Master? We were still at the training camp.
"It's Hero Disciple Luan," I corrected him.
"L-L-Lu..." The knight, who had been staring at me with wide, trembling eyes, suddenly shouted, "It is Young Master Luan—!"
"What the hell?"
What kind of reaction was that?
1. Dao=The Chinese weapon, the dao, a single-edged sword ☜