Rebirth of the Scumbag and the Retribution of the White Lotus

The light twisted violently in the air, the very fabric of space seemed to be ripped apart. An irresistible force swept over them. Zhao Shufang and Lu Lingyuan were crushed by this force, their feet mired in mire, unable to move. The overwhelming aura nearly suffocated them. It was as if the world itself had fallen silent, with only that mysterious figure observing their every move with a sneer.

"You are indeed extraordinary." The figure's voice echoed from all directions, like a deep echo. "But what can you change? Your so-called determination is still insignificant in the face of true power."

Zhao Shufang's gaze remained firm. Although the situation before her had reached its limit, she did not feel the slightest fear. She tightly grasped the talisman in her hand, silently chanting a spell in her heart, trying to use the power of the talisman to fight back against the strong sense of oppression.

"You are wrong." Zhao Shufang said in a low voice, with a sharp look in her eyes, "No matter how powerful you are, truth and justice will never yield."

"Justice?" The figure sneered. "What you call 'justice' is nothing but a truth distorted from the very beginning. What you have always sought has long been manipulated in my hands. You are nothing more than deceived pawns."

Lu Lingyuan's brow furrowed, his gaze sweeping around, trying to find an opportunity to strike back. "If we really are pawns, then what about you? Whose pawn are you?"

"Me?" The figure smiled meaningfully, a hint of sarcasm flashing in his eyes. "How naive you are. I am not a pawn controlled by anyone. I am the mastermind of this game, a force you cannot comprehend."

When Zhao Shufang heard this, her heart trembled slightly. She suddenly realized that this mysterious figure was not just an enemy, but part of a larger conspiracy that they had not noticed.

"So you came here not to destroy us, but..." She said in a serious tone, her eyes fixed on the figure, "to guide us towards the destiny you have set for us?"

"Very clever." The figure's voice was filled with a hint of approval. "I thought you would struggle a bit more, but it seems you've already seen the true nature of this."

Zhao Shufang bit her lower lip tightly, her expression growing increasingly serious. "What exactly do you want? You've been manipulating all this behind the scenes. Is your sole purpose simply to watch us fight our fate?"

"Purpose?" The figure's smile was profound. "My purpose has never been simply 'control'. Your struggle and the pain it brings are what I truly desire."

A flash of anger flashed in Lu Lingyuan's eyes. He slowly raised his sword and pointed it at the figure: "Is the pain you speak of the meaning of your existence?"

"Pain?" The figure chuckled. "You are too naive. True pain isn't physical torture, but the experience of seeing how your souls have been lost in your pursuit of the so-called 'truth'."

Zhao Shufang was shocked, and she suddenly realized that this mysterious existence was not only an oppression on their bodies, but also a challenge to their souls.

"Is the truth you're telling us a truth we've never known?" she whispered, her gaze looking into the distance through the light. "What exactly do you want us to know?"

"The truth?" The figure's smile deepened. "The truth you've been pursuing is only part of the surface. What you know, what you've experienced, what you consider 'fate' has actually long been controlled by me."

"Then..." Lu Lingyuan's eyes suddenly became sharp, "Are you the real manipulator behind this?"

"Manipulating from behind?" The figure said with a hint of disdain. "Your world is a grand drama, and I am merely a part of it. I am merely the 'guide' of your pain and struggle. You chose this path, and I am your destiny."

Zhao Shufang's heart trembled as she suddenly remembered some long-overlooked details. She lowered her head slightly, recalling the clues she had never understood—from the beginning until now, they had been pushed along, as if some force was manipulating everything from behind. And now, that mysterious figure had actually admitted this, making her realize even more clearly that she had been caught up in a vast conspiracy.

"We can choose our own destiny." Zhao Shufang raised her head, her eyes determined. "No matter how you try to manipulate us, we will not surrender."

"Surrender?" the figure sneered. "How long can you resist? Your strength is only a brief flash at best, and will eventually be devoured."

"Give it a try." Zhao Shufang took a deep breath and whispered, "We're not doomed to fail from the start. Even if the road ahead is unknown, we will keep going."

The figure's smile gradually faded, replaced by a cold expression. "You don't understand. The true 'unknown' is the most terrifying. What you are about to face is not a simple enemy, but a power that you will never understand."

"No matter what, we are ready to face this." Lu Lingyuan stood beside Zhao Shufang, sword tip slightly raised, "We will decipher the 'unknown' you mentioned one by one."

"Heh..." The figure smiled lightly, but there was no trace of smile in his eyes. "Then come on. Let me see how long you can hold on."

As soon as the words fell, the light in the space instantly became more chaotic, like a thunderstorm with lightning, surrounding Zhao Shufang and Lu Lingyuan. They knew that this battle had just begun.

"We won't surrender," Zhao Shufang whispered, a determination gleaming in her eyes she had never seen before. "No matter what game you want to play, we will be the ultimate winner."

Lu Lingyuan gripped the hilt of the sword tightly, and the aura on his body became more and more concentrated. The two stood side by side, facing the most severe test that was about to come.