Rebirth of the Scumbag and the Retribution of the White Lotus

The appearance of the black-robed figure instantly froze the air. Zhao Shufang and Lu Lingyuan instinctively became alert, quickly forming a line, ready to respond to any unexpected situation. Although the black-robed figure before them appeared calm, the undeniable sense of oppression caused their hearts to beat faster.

The man in black robe stood in the distance, with no expression on his face, but his deep eyes flashed with an unknown light, as if hinting at some unknown crisis.

"Who are you?" Zhao Shufang asked coldly, the alertness in her tone almost turning into a knife's edge. The talisman in her hand flickered slightly, ready to strike at any moment.

"You'll find out soon enough." The black-robed man maintained a calm tone, seemingly unwilling to directly answer their questions. His voice was low and steady, like an echo from the abyss.

"Sent by Yang Qiming?" Lu Lingyuan's eyes were filled with doubt and vigilance. He asked in a deep voice, "Are you his subordinate?"

The black-robed man didn't respond directly, but shook his head slightly. "No, I'm not Yang Qiming's subordinate," he said. "I'm the master of the 'curse' you've been seeking."

"The master of the curse?" Zhao Shufang frowned, her doubts growing. She realized the truth wasn't quite as simple as it seemed. This person seemed to have a deeper connection to the matter they had been pursuing.

The man in black robe slowly approached the two men, and every step seemed to step on their hearts, making people feel an indescribable sense of oppression.

"What you've been chasing is merely superficial. The true mystery lies deep within this land." The black-robed man finally stopped, his voice even deeper. "Yang Qiming is merely a pawn on my chessboard. His death means nothing to me."

"What exactly do you want to say?" Lu Lingyuan couldn't help but speak, his voice full of obvious anxiety. "We already know about Yang Qiming's curse, but your words seem to be going in circles."

The black-robed man smiled faintly, and the light in his eyes gradually became sharper, like a sharp blade flashing in the darkness: "What you see is just the tip of the iceberg. The real curse is far more than this."

Zhao Shufang's brow furrowed, suddenly realizing that this man in black robes seemed no ordinary person. "Are you trying to say that Yang Qiming's death was just the beginning?" she asked tentatively.

The black-robed man nodded, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Indeed. Yang Qiming is a foolish man. He thinks he can control everything, but he is just a small part of my plan. The real curse has just begun."

Zhao Shufang felt her scalp tingle. She had realized that the "curse" the man in front of her was talking about was not simply death or bad luck, but some more complex and dangerous power.

"So what exactly do you want?" She looked directly at the man in black robes, her tone calm but firm, "What exactly are you planning?"

"What I want is never something you can understand." The black-robed man sneered, "I don't care about Yang Qiming's life or death, nor do I care about your so-called 'justice'. I am simply waiting for a greater moment, and this moment is destined to be closely linked to your fate."

"I simply cannot believe what you said." Lu Lingyuan remained vigilant, staring closely at the man in black robes. "Are you trying to confuse us with these words, or do you have other intentions?"

"Confused?" The black-robed man chuckled. "You underestimate me. The so-called confusion began the moment you came into contact with Yang Qiming. You don't even realize that your every move has long been controlled by me."

"You're saying that all of this was a setup by you?" Zhao Shufang's eyes flashed with shock. "We've been trapped by you from the very beginning?"

"That's right." The black-robed man shrugged disapprovingly, a hint of contempt in his eyes. "Every step you take is within my predictions. No matter how hard you struggle, the final outcome is already determined."

"The ending?" Lu Lingyuan's tone was a little sarcastic. "Do you think that just because you control everything, you can change our lives?"

"Control everything?" The black-robed man sneered, "The world you see is just a part of me. Your resistance is nothing but a struggle doomed to failure."

Zhao Shufang's heart tightened when she heard this. She knew that while the black-robed man's words were extreme, there must be some shocking truth behind them. Every step forward between her and Lu Lingyuan seemed to be calculated by the black-robed man.

"You say you're in control of everything, but why don't you dare show up in person?" Zhao Shufang asked calmly, "Why do you always let Yang Qiming be your stand-in?"

A complex emotion flashed across the black-robed man's eyes, a moment of hesitation barely perceptible to anyone. Then, a cold expression returned to his face. "You don't understand. I do this only to make you understand that I've never been bound."

"Bound?" Zhao Shufang frowned. She had sensed some clues from the black-robed man's vague words. "Are you trying to say that the 'curse' you're talking about isn't simply magical power?"

"You finally understand." The black-robed figure finally smiled with a hint of satisfaction. "This 'curse' doesn't originate from an external evil force, but rather from some deeper power that you will never understand. Everything you encounter is the result of my meticulous planning. And now, at the final moment, you cannot escape."

"The final moment?" Zhao Shufang's heart skipped a beat. "What on earth do you want to do?"

The black-robed man's eyes were gloomy as he slowly said, "Do you think that by killing Yang Qiming, you can get rid of all this? In fact, the real test has just begun."