I Contracted All Ancient Divine Artifacts-Chapter 290 - 189: Actor

"Aunt Bai, are you alright?"

Han Zhan suddenly snapped back to reality, as the avalanche of desire in his heart completely collapsed.

"Hmph. You scoundrel, you dare to have such thoughts about me, can you truly be kind to Xiao Jin? Wouldn't it be simpler for me to slash you with a sword here, saving us all some trouble!"

At that moment, Bai Su seemed to have transformed into a different person, suddenly tightening her grip on the sword technique.

The white fabric beneath her feet instantly rolled up from the ground, transforming into the shape of a long sword in her hands.

Her stance of holding the sword seemed exceptionally authentic.

Han Zhan remained unflinching, well-prepared.

"Aunt Bai, as the saying goes, a gentleman judges deeds, not thoughts. Admiring beauty is innate, but controlling one's nature and maintaining one's boundaries are principles we must uphold as humans."

"Did I gape?"

"No."

"I merely glanced; does that make me guilty? Aunt Bai, your punch carries quite the century-old power!"

Saying this, Han Zhan spread his hands with an air of helplessness.

"You're scolding me?" Upon hearing this, Bai Su suddenly threw the sword in her hand to the ground and squatted down like a young girl, covering her face and sobbing sorrowfully.

"Sob, sob! You're scolding me!"

Observing her growing cries, Han Zhan finally understood the identity of the woman named Bai Su before him.

Different from the brewer and artifact refining master, she performed solo on the vast stage, suggesting her identity as an actor.

Actors play myriad human roles; each "Bai Su" just now was simultaneously herself and not herself.

These were all merely acts.

But clearly, the woman before him couldn't walk out from her act.

"You heartbreaker!" White-clad Bai Su suddenly ceased crying and sprang up, glaring fiercely at Han Zhan.

"You promised to marry me, where's the promise to marry me? Why, why, haven't you come to marry me!"

As Bai Su spoke, the white opera robe she wore slowly turned crimson from its hem.

Like red ink spreading on white paper.

The crimson grew, staining her entire robe bright red.

Bai Su's eyes also began to turn an intense crimson as she looked at Han Zhan.

Watching the bizarre scene unfold, Han Zhan jolted in realization.

Time! It was time!

The lights overhead created the illusion that it was still daytime.

As Han Zhan swiftly extricated himself from the stage lights, he noticed that the sky over Buried Sword City had darkened.

"Leave the area before sunset."

Recalling Chen Zui's advice before departing, Han Zhan didn't hesitate, quickly retreating towards the direction from which he came.

"Weren't you looking for me? Why leave?"

At this moment, Bai Su appeared completely normal again.

"Don't flee, the night hasn't fully fallen, I won't go mad."

"With Xiao Jin's jade pendant you wear, I won't harm you in any way."

Despite Bai Su's words, Han Zhan's feet didn't falter.

It's nonsense; in this situation, only a fool would believe such drivel.

Discovering her deception failed, Bai Su's eyes reddened further, her fury mounting.

With a fierce lift of her arms, swathes of red silk attacked Han Zhan from all directions.

"You won't escape!"

"Stay here, stay, stay!"

The red silk lunged like snakes from their burrows, attempting to entangle Han Zhan, only to be sliced to bits by the Xuanyuan Sword's sweeping strikes.

Han Zhan pushed off forcefully with his back foot, successfully escaping the second quadrant of Buried Sword City.

Red-robed Bai Su tried to pursue him further, but upon spotting the Abnormal Skeleton Spirit Sword embedded at the central square, hesitation and pain flashed through her crazed eyes, causing her to halt.

Seeing Bai Su cease pursuit, Han Zhan too withdrew his Xuanyuan Sword.

He glanced at the sky, ultimately deciding to first return and inquire Elder Bing and Chen Zui about Bai Su's situation before making further plans.

The Abnormal Skeleton Spirit Sword lay right before him.

To say he wasn't tempted would be a lie.

Yet, given Chen Zui and the others allowed him passage here, it indicated the sword remains of the Abnormal Skeleton Spirit Sword were not so easily acquired.

Han Zhan restrained his gaze from lingering on the Abnormal Skeleton Spirit Sword, then turned to leave.

After Han Zhan walked away.

Red-robed Bai Su then reluctantly lifted her gaze, staring at the towering, sky-reaching Abnormal Skeleton Spirit Sword, a low, piercing sound echoing across the stage.

"Why won't you let me kill him!"

"He's here to kill you! He's here to kill you!"

"Why won't you let me kill him!"

"Chen Zhongxia, when will you come marry me?"

"You heartbreaker, why won't you come marry me!"

Her voice oscillated between low and high, transforming into a red silhouette amid the silk, poised to step beyond the second quadrant.

Soon, a precise sword light landed on her, forcing her back.

The Abnormal Skeleton Spirit Sword confined Bai Su to the second quadrant.

...

"So, are you still not prepared to tell me what's going on with Bai Su?"

Watching the two drunken folks indulge, Han Zhan, having escaped from red-robed Bai Su, couldn't help but complain.

Whether Bai Su, Chen Zui, or Dong Dachui, all were Tier Seven Peak's strength.

If a fight were essential, Han Zhan wouldn't shy away from trying.

But fearing unintended injury during such conflict, there'd be no explaining to Gongyang Jin.

If avoidance could be achieved, it was best not to engage. That's Han Zhan's principle.

"You met Bai Su?"

Spotting Han Zhan return unharmed, Chen Zui shifted his gaze back, casually inquiring.

"I did. She's an actor but seems deeply immersed in her world, unable to leave." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"She's mad."

"Indeed. Truly mad," Chen Zui agreed, then countered Han Zhan inquisitively, "Do you know why Bai Su went mad?"

Of course I don't; it'd be peculiar if I did. Han Zhan silently fumed, realizing everyone emerging from Buried Sword City relayed half-spoken riddles.

Elder Bing was like this, Chen Zui was like this, even Dong Dachui was like this, and Bai Su even more unmentionable.

What a lousy organizational culture!

"Achoo, achoo! Who's cursing me?" Suddenly sneezing twice in succession, Chen Zui rubbed his nose, muttering.

Seeing Han Zhan refrained from engaging further, Chen Zui continued uninterrupted:

"Bai Su went mad on the day Chen Zhongxia perished unexpectedly."

"That day was also when Chen Zhongxia promised to marry her."

"On that day, she adorned herself in a vibrant red wedding gown, an actor living not another's life, but hoping for her own, filled with anticipation."

"That very day, her dreams shattered."