Rebirth of MC Chpt 102 - 202 (unedited translations)

Chapter 173: Ephemeral

The lightning bolt that is as aggressive as a striking viper splits the ten-storey hospital in half, causing it to collapse.

Suddenly, the violent gales bring with it a fragrant scent of bamboo. Silver rays of light shine out from the pile of rubble that used to be a building. Closely following the flash of light, a power reminiscent of nature itself rips through the air, scattering the lightning before it can strike the ground.

A lean figure falls from the sky, the clothes wrapped around his frame now torn and tattered. Drops of scarlet blood flowing from the various lacerations on his body stain the ground beneath as it follows the body downwards.

A white-haired, white-robed figure leaps out from the debris, arms reaching out to catch the falling person. Eyes closed, Long Zhanye feels himself being drawn into a soft embrace, surrounded by the smell of bamboo, a scent he is extremely familiar with...

"Little Yuan," Eyelids open half-mast to reveal golden pupils as a faint smile curves his lips, Long Zhanye whispers.

"I'm here." Huo Zaiyuan tightens his arms around his lover, touching down lightly onto solid ground, a hand reaching up to roam lightly over Long Zhanye's bloodstained face. "Fortunately...all of you are all right."

Behind, a large piece of broken concrete is pushed away and Lian Xiang climbs out, coughing a little from the still-settling dust. Looking at the two embracing, lost in their own world, the corners of his mouth lift upwards.

So what if he helped defy the Heavens? As long as he is able to see him smile, he would do it a thousand times over!

~~~

"Haha...he's dead! He is finally dead, I finally killed him...hahaha!!"

Within the dim jail cell, a woman's loud, maniacal laughter rings through the area. The shackles clamped around her wrists and ankles jingle with every move.

Tap, tap, tap...

The slow, deliberate click of combat boots on the cold, hard ground grows louder by the second, the soft noise seemingly loud in the relatively quiet atmosphere of the prison. Along with the footsteps, one can also hear the sound of something being dragged over the floor.

Very quickly, that person arrives outside the cell door. A key is slotted into the steel lock, the 'clack' announcing its unlocking ringing out clearly. With the faintest creak, the steel door swings open.

The thing that was dragged behind this figure is carelessly thrown in. Like a dirty rag being tossed aside, a man sporting broken hands and legs is dropped to the floor in a sorry heap.

The raving mad woman sitting chained to the back wall of the cell abruptly halts her crazy laughter. Her entire body stiffens as her gaze falls onto the crippled man flung on the ground. A moment later, a startled expression crosses her face before she throws herself towards him. However, her actions are stopped short by the shackles binding her. No matter how much she struggles, she cannot hope to touch the man now emitting pained whimpers.

"Shouldn't you thank me? I mobilised the entire army in order to find your son, bringing him here from the furthest ninth district's separate housing," Slowly stepping into the small cell, a smooth, pleasant voice says. But in the woman's ears, it sounds like the voice of the devil himself.

This man is indeed the devil.

"You...what did you do to my son...you fiend! Devil!" Not stopping in her struggle, a desire to tear free of these blasted chains to protect the man on the ground rises. Her furious hollers are half threats, half garbled words. The glare piercing the soldier in the cell contains a murderous glint.