Chapter Forty-Five: The Moon Waxes and Wanes

“Oh my, that man in black can fly through the air—could he be a Saint-level powerhouse?”
“It seemed that person was from the Dark Church, right?”
…
In a room at the Mercenary Guild, a middle-aged man was listening to the girl describe her encounter with Wang Luo. Suddenly, he stood up in shock, gazing uncertainly in the direction the two beasts had fled, his eyes filled with contemplation. It was at that moment when the swarm of magic exploded in the sky at the black-clothed man’s cold snort.

“Uncle, what’s wrong?” the girl asked in confusion, seeing the middle-aged man suddenly stand.

“Anwei’er, you must be careful in the future. If you offend someone you can’t handle, even being the daughter of the Mercenary Guild’s president won’t save you!” The man sighed lightly, spoke to the girl, then turned and left the room, leaving her stunned where she stood.

Deep in an unknown forest, Wang Luo sat cross-legged, shrouded in a mist of blood. The three little beasts guarded him warily, often glancing back at him with worried eyes.

The sun gradually set in the west, and as time passed, two moons rose slowly. Under the silver moonlight, the blood mist suddenly churned violently, then contracted sharply, revealing Wang Luo’s face, now flush with vitality.

Catching the little white lion that leapt into his arms, Wang Luo smiled and beckoned to the blood wolf and black panther. After a moment’s hesitation, both jumped into his embrace. After playing with the three beasts for a while, Wang Luo began roasting a Gu Gu chicken. Little White gestured excitedly, recounting the events in Nicholas City, with the blood wolf and black panther occasionally adding details.

Every assassin has a reverse scale—a quirk, perhaps. For Wang Luo, orphaned and alone, nothing angered him more than people claiming to be his parents. Now, reborn and having experienced parental love from the lion father and mother, Wang Luo resolved to let go of past grievances and start anew.

Yet, today, the girl’s careless use of “mother” stirred memories deep within Wang Luo’s soul, unleashing a surge of murderous intent. He nearly struck, but then fell into his inner turmoil, his blood energy erupting in chaos.

At that moment, Wang Luo was in grave danger—almost lost to madness, his body on the verge of exploding. Fortunately, a timely intervention—a single finger—snapped him out of it. Though it didn’t dispel his inner demons, it granted him a fleeting clarity.

In that moment of lucidity, Wang Luo realized his peril and broke out in a cold sweat. Guided by his nameless cultivation method, his consciousness stabilized, and his blood energy gradually calmed.

If things had ended there, Wang Luo would have slept for at least a month, perhaps longer. But at a critical point, a cool breath emanated from his chest, entering his mind and waking him that very night.

After awakening, having let go of his past life, Wang Luo’s state of mind soared. Breaking through to the sixth level—late Foundation—became a matter of time. Most importantly, his spiritual sense advanced to the peak of the sixth level, the pinnacle of Foundation, just a step from the seventh level, Golden Core. Yet that step was as distant as the horizon, unsure how long it would take.

Touching the black iron at his chest, Wang Luo knew the cool energy came from it, confirming its value and deepening his interest.

After eating and drinking their fill, the three beasts, exhausted from the day, fell into a deep sleep. Wang Luo, unusually, did not cultivate, but lay on the grass, quietly watching the two moons and the twinkling stars above.

“Unexpectedly, in just half a year, I’ve broken through twice. Had I stayed by the lion father and mother, who knows how long it would have taken to reach this realm? Sigh, why do I suddenly miss them? It feels odd—could this be the legendary bond of family?”

Recalling the moments spent with the lion parents, gazing at the twin moons, Wang Luo couldn’t help but recite an ancient poem:

When will the moon be clear and bright?
With a cup of wine in hand, I ask the blue sky.
I do not know, in the heavens above,
What year it is tonight.
I long to ride the wind, return home,
Yet fear the jade towers and crystal palaces—
Too high, too cold.
Dancing with my shadow,
How can it compare to life on earth?

Turning the vermilion pavilion, lowering the silk windows,
The moon shines on sleepless ones.
Why should there be resentment?
Why must the moon be full when we are apart?
People have sorrow and joy, partings and reunions;
The moon has phases—waxing, waning, full, and fair.
This has been so since ancient times.
May we all be blessed with longevity,
Though thousands of miles apart, we share this beauty.

On a large tree not far from Wang Luo, a man in black sat cross-legged, gazing at the two moons, murmuring, “People have sorrow and joy, partings and reunions; the moon has phases—waxing, waning, full, and fair.”

Suddenly, his eyes shone with brilliance, unable to hide his excitement, repeating those lines. He looked incredulously toward Wang Luo, just as Little White cast an impatient glance his way.

“Heh...” The man in black smiled at the little white lion, his interest intensifying, especially as he gazed at Wang Luo as if beholding a rare treasure.

As Wang Luo slept, he felt a familiar, long-missed sensation—a smooth, sticky, itchy feeling on his face. Nostalgia flooded him, and though he didn’t want to open his eyes, he reluctantly did.

“Little White, when did you learn your lion mother’s trick?” Lifting the creature licking his face, Wang Luo smiled.

The little white lion cheered, babbling nonstop, waving his little paws in excitement. Yet before he could finish, Wang Luo, who didn’t understand, tossed him aside.

“I haven’t slept so well in ages!”

Standing up, Wang Luo stretched vigorously, pushing his hands outward, eliciting a series of pops and cracks. He tilted his head left and right, producing two more sharp sounds. The three beasts mimicked him, nearly toppling over.

Watching the sun rise in the distance, Wang Luo couldn’t help but let out a long howl. The three beasts, who’d been copying him, paused, then followed with three excited roars. Before the echoes faded, Wang Luo conjured a bone sword, sweeping it to create a cascade of sword shadows, enveloping the three beasts.

Swish—

The black panther leapt easily out of the sword’s reach. The little white lion darted out as well, boldly stepping on Wang Luo’s head to gain momentum, then landing beside the panther on the tree.

The blood wolf, seeing no escape, let out a spirited howl, shifted to battle form, and lunged at Wang Luo. Man and wolf clashed fiercely in the woods, while on a nearby tree, the little white lion stirred up trouble, and the black panther watched coldly…

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Otherworldly Azure Dragon 45—Chapter Forty-Five: The Moon’s Changing Faces, Updated!