Supreme Alchemist-Chapter 2404 - 2394: Past Life

"Stop! Or I might just snap her neck out of excitement."

Ming Wu lifted the maiden in his hand effortlessly, as if carrying a helpless chick. His face wore a twisted smile.

"Mmm..."

Jian Wuchen, caught off guard, took a kick to the abdomen from one of the henchmen. The impact forced him back two steps. Though crafty, the attack landed squarely, leaving Jian Wuchen’s stomach writhing in pain as though it had been twisted.

The henchman next to him glanced at the maiden held by his boss, his face flashing a sinister smile. He lunged forward, unleashing a flurry of blows on Jian Wuchen. Beating down on the defenseless was their specialty.

"Ahhh..."

The maiden’s throat was gripped tightly by Ming Wu’s hand, making even breathing a struggle. Watching Jian Wuchen being kicked around like a ball, she couldn’t summon the strength to shout out even a plea to ignore her plight.

Fresh blood trickled down Jian Wuchen’s handsome face. After enduring so many attacks with his young body, he was already at the brink of collapse. Even given another chance, it seemed he would grasp nothing.

Jian Wuchen’s vision began to blur.

It seemed, once again, he had failed. He was nothing but rubbish. Not even his sword techniques could protect anyone.

"Don’t lose hope."

A voice echoed near Jian Wuchen’s ear, like a gust of wind. A white figure instantly sent the nearby henchmen flying away.

"Of course, it’s you."

Jian Wuchen forced himself to stand, his lips curling in a faint smile. Just as he suspected, Long Yan had entered the same world as him. Yet, the reason remained unknown to Jian Wuchen.

"So your inner demon is like this, huh?"

Long Yan glanced at the henchmen writhing on the ground, then placed a heavy foot on the chest of one of them. Even without his True Qi, dealing with these lowlifes was easy for him, given their obvious vulnerabilities.

"Who... who are you?"

Ming Wu stared at the man before him, an unexplained terror surging in his heart. His grip on the maiden’s throat loosened involuntarily. In that instant, Ming Wu lost his hostage, his shield.

"Want to know my name?"

Long Yan slowly approached, delivering a swift kick that flipped Ming Wu over. Golden eyes fixed on Ming Wu, whose trembling gaze was enough to send him close to fainting. Then, with a foot planted firmly on him, Long Yan spoke.

"I, your Grandpa Long Yan, never change my name. Feel free to seek revenge."

Turning away, Long Yan walked toward Jian Wuchen, leaving only his back to Ming Wu.

Suddenly, Ming Wu seemed to grasp something. Long Yan? Impossible! That infamous wastrel known throughout all of Chang’an?

But before he could process it, Long Yan and the two youths—one boy, one girl—vanished without a trace.

"Showing off and then running away—what a thrill!"

After Ming Wu’s departure, four figures stepped out from the corners of the small alley. Leaning against the wall, Long Yan quipped. If it had been a head-on fight, he could have exchanged blows with the lot, but this time, it was a sneak attack.

Jian Wuchen glared at Long Yan. If he hadn’t seen it firsthand, he wouldn’t have believed it was this unreliable man who had saved him. Without further ado, he hurried to check if the maiden was injured.

"I’m fine!"

Facing Jian Wuchen’s inquiry, the maiden shyly lowered her head, slightly breathless. The reddened handprint still marred her pale neck, stark evidence of how close she had been to losing her life.

Seeing the maiden’s expression, Jian Wuchen glanced at Long Yan. But his savior was already exchanging playful banter with a beautiful young woman nearby. Feeling that thanks between them were unnecessary, Jian Wuchen turned his attention to the maiden.

"Impressive, Brother Yan, showing such skill."

The flirtatious tone came from Lingxi, who had stayed by Long Yan’s side ever since Xiong Lie’s failure last night to abduct her. Although Lingxi’s voice carried its usual gentle warmth, her delicate hand mercilessly pinched Long Yan’s face.

"Come on, spill it—when did you suddenly become so skilled?"

Lingxi tightened her grip on Long Yan’s face, causing his whole body to lean toward her hand.

Seeing the imposing figure from moments ago being disciplined by the lovely woman, the maiden couldn’t suppress a giggle. Unfortunately, her laughter drew an angry glare from Long Yan.

"Well, maybe after being idle for so long, I suddenly had a breakthrough."

Long Yan responded earnestly, though his words were clearly nonsense. Lingxi’s skeptical expression showed she didn’t believe a single word. She knew her Brother Yan well but was relieved that he hadn’t resorted to any evil practices to gain power.

The matter was dropped. After all, Long Yan’s rise in strength was undeniably a good thing. If he grew stronger, it might even pave the way for their marriage—something Lingxi’s father, Di Lingtian, couldn’t oppose. However, Lingxi’s optimism overlooked the harsh realities. In this turbulent era, with Long Yan’s lack of family standing and limited abilities, even survival was fraught with peril. Who cared about distant futures?

"So, what’s really going on here?"

Long Yan’s gaze carried confusion. In theory, every stage of the Heart Inquiry Road was distinct. How did he end up in this unfamiliar realm, where even the people remained unchanged? Considering their ages, Jian Wuchen shouldn’t have been born yet when Long Yan first arrived in this world.

"I don’t know either, but if you think I’m younger than you, then you’re mistaken."

Though Jian Wuchen’s body bore numerous wounds, his strikingly handsome face remained unblemished. Despite his youthful appearance, he was closer to a century old. The youthful look was a hallmark of those who reached the Divine Emperor Level, achieving eternal vitality once stepping into the Realm of the Divine Emperor, akin to a Land Immortal. This explained why Jian Wuchen’s age seemed deceiving to Long Yan. As for Long Yan’s sudden appearance, Jian Wuchen had no clue. When Jian Wuchen was a child, Long Yan shouldn’t have been born yet. freeweɓnøvel~com

"I think I understand."

Jian Wuchen’s voice startled Long Yan. Seeing the serious expression on Jian Wuchen’s face, Long Yan listened as he slowly shared his conjecture.

"If my guess is correct, the role you’re playing now is likely that of your past life."

Jian Wuchen’s trembling voice carried a weight of fear. Though these were just two simple words, they seemed to harbor boundless unease, leaving even Jian Wuchen shaken by his own speculation.

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