A chilling wind radiated from the dark portal, frosting the air itself.Chen Jiuzhang's grip tightened around the Serpent-Slaying Blade, his breath forming white mist in the cold.
Beside him, Shen Qingluan, wounded and pale, stood firm. Her hair whipped wildly from the unnatural suction emanating from the portal.Meanwhile, Zhang Chengying fumbled around his electric scooter, slapping on newly drawn talismans while muttering:
"We're screwed. Should've stocked up on nuke-grade charm paper when I had the chance!"
Just then, a clear bell chime echoed from within the portal.A girl in a fitted, inky-black combat suit stepped out slowly.At her waist hung a bronze bell, oddly similar in shape to Old Wu's Blade Credit Token.
She scanned the group with raised eyebrows, her gaze finally settling on Chen Jiuzhang's chest, where his faintly glowing birthmark pulsed beneath his shirt.Her lips curled into a meaningful smile.
"The fate of the Greedy Wolf Devouring the Moon—you live up to the name."
"Who are you?"Chen Jiuzhang's pupils contracted. He instinctively stepped back, wary.
But the girl strode forward until her finger was nearly touching the birthmark.Chen tried to move—but found he couldn't.
"I'm Su Nian—your long-lost… cousin."She withdrew her hand nonchalantly, though a fleeting sorrow shimmered in her eyes.
"Before my father died, he told me to find you. Said the Chen family's last hope lies in the merging of our bloodlines."
Suddenly, Shen Qingluan began to cough violently, blood staining her sleeve.Su Nian turned to look at her, eyes narrowing in appraisal.
"So what if you're the reincarnation of the Ziwei Star? Forcing the power of the Imperial Seal has all but shattered your spirit."
She tossed a small jade vial at her.
"A Life-Extending Pill, refined from Tianshan snow ginseng. I'm only giving you this for my cousin's sake—use it to hang on for a few more days."
Zhang Chengying circled Su Nian on his scooter, the compass on the front spinning out of control.
"Yo, little sister—cool entrance and all, but talk is cheap. Any proof you're really his cousin?"
With a cold snort, Su Nian flung out a half jade pendant, engraved with the character "陈" (Chen).It locked seamlessly with the half that Chen Jiuzhang had kept with him all his life.
Seeing the pieces join as one, Chen Jiuzhang's heart was a whirlwind.Fragments of forgotten memories pieced themselves together:He saw his mother holding him as a child, pointing to a family tree.
"That's your uncle's daughter…"
Back then, he didn't understand why his mother looked so guilty and wistful whenever she mentioned this cousin he'd never met.
"So… Father's death… was related to the Daoist sects?"
Chen Jiuzhang's voice was hoarse.
Su Nian was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"The Seven Great Daoist Orders feared the Chen family's two bloodlines would unite to unlock the Heavenly Talisman's final secret.They began planning a decade ago. But our father… placed his hopes in us long before that."
Suddenly, the blackness inside the portal churned violently.From within, came Watanabe Miyuki's mocking laughter.
"A family reunion—how touching.But did you really think that would stop us?"
Before her voice had faded, a swarm of shikigami surged from the portal.In the distance, the Paranormal Research Institute's forces also began to mobilize.
"Looks like catch-up time is over."Su Nian cracked her knuckles, the bronze bell at her waist letting out a sharp screech.To everyone's shock, the invading shikigami began attacking each other.
"Cousin, let's show these bastards what we're made of."
Shen Qingluan, having taken the Life-Extending Pill, struggled to her feet and stood on Chen Jiuzhang's other side.
"Fine. But once this fight's over—you better explain where this 'surprise cousin' popped out from."
Looking at the three of them now standing together, Chen Jiuzhang felt a strange warmth in his chest.He had once believed himself a lone pawn of fate.Now, he had allies he could trust with his back—and a family connection once thought lost.
"Alright. Let's survive—together."
He raised the Serpent-Slaying Blade.His birthmark and the blade burst into radiant golden light.
"This time—no one's taking anything from me again."