Simultaneous time travel: But our system is out of sync!

The deafening roar shattered the tranquility of dusk, as if the earth itself were howling in agony.

In an instant, a destructive force exploded from the center of the Rose House! Lady Rose, Jasmine, and Jiro Ashina were thrown out like withered leaves in a storm, their bodies tumbling uncontrollably in the air, their vision instantly swallowed by chaos and intense light.

This was no ordinary wind, but a shockwave carrying the scent of death.

Countless tiny dust particles, sharp fragments of rubble, and broken splinters, driven by the frenzied blast wave, converged into a destructive torrent that blotted out the sky, like the most violent typhoon passing through, howling and sweeping past their heads, sides, and even the gaps close to the ground with a piercing shriek.

The air was compressed violently, emitting a tooth-grinding whimper, leaving only a buzzing roar in the ears.

Those low-lying weeds and fragile saplings that unfortunately blocked the path of the blast wave didn't even have a chance to struggle. In an instant, they were torn apart and pulverized by this violent force along with the deadly debris flying at high speed. They turned into dust that filled the sky and disappeared without a trace, leaving only the bare ground to tell the story of the instantaneous destruction.

After being thrown by tremendous force, the three people crashed heavily into a muddy puddle filled with rainwater.

The icy, murky water instantly soaked through their clothes, bringing a bone-chilling cold and an indescribable dishevelment.

Their faces were covered in mud, their hair clung to their foreheads, and their clothes clung to their bodies, making them feel heavy and vulnerable. Yet, it was precisely this seemingly unfortunate and disheveled state that became their only chance of survival at that moment.

The sunken terrain of the puddle became a natural shelter. When the destructive blast wave, carrying a torrent of debris powerful enough to turn a person into a sieve, swept past the edge of the puddle like the scythe of death, they were just huddled at the bottom of the puddle, avoiding the most deadly attack.

Aside from the dull pain from the fall and the cold, muddy mess, the three miraculously escaped serious injury; they were merely shaken, their blood surging and their ears ringing.

Time seemed to freeze for a long time amidst the aftershocks of the explosion. Finally, the devastating shockwave gradually subsided, leaving only fine dust drifting slowly down in the air, making a soft rustling sound, like the embers of the apocalypse.

The three struggled to their feet, struggling to climb out of the icy mud, each step kicking up heavy mud. They gasped for breath, trying to wipe away the mud that obscured their vision, but as the scene before them gradually came into view, a bone-chilling cold instantly froze their blood.

As far as the eye could see, there was only devastation and ruin. The once exquisite, cozy, and exotic Rose House was now gone.

It was as if an invisible giant hand had completely wiped it off the ground, leaving only a pile of uneven, smoldering ruins. Broken bricks, twisted beams, and scattered furniture fragments were piled up haphazardly, creating a desolate scene of ruins.

The power of the explosion was not limited to the Rose House itself; the shockwave, like a rampaging beast, relentlessly swept outwards.

Several nearby houses were not spared either; huge gaps were blasted into the walls, the roofs were blown off, the windows were shattered, and the wooden doors drooped askew, as if weeping silently.

The air was thick with the acrid smell of gunpowder, the burnt smell of wood, and the heavy scent of dust; the atmosphere of death and destruction weighed heavily on the hearts of the three.

Jasmine's gaze was fixed blankly on the ruins of the Rose House, which she had once meticulously managed and poured countless efforts into.

Her mind went blank; all her senses seemed to have been stripped away by the sight before her. She opened her mouth, but her throat felt as if something was tightly choking her, and she could only utter broken, trembling syllables.

"Rose... Rose House... Gone... Gone!" The voice was so soft it was almost a whisper, filled with unbelievable despair.

She had always known that the explosives the Western merchants sold her were powerful, secret weapons specifically designed to deal with inhuman beings. But she never imagined that these few tubes of explosives could unleash such terrifying and utterly destructive power after detonation, completely exceeding her wildest imagination.

However, the shock and heartache lasted only a moment before an even more terrifying thought, like a cold, venomous snake, suddenly seized her heart—that evil spirit, Mikako, was at the epicenter of the explosion, and Lin Bei… Lin Bei was also inside the Rose House!

Just moments before the explosion! An explosion of such magnitude reduced even sturdy houses to dust, and severely damaged even the surrounding sturdy dwellings... How could a human being of flesh and blood possibly survive? He... he didn't even have time to escape!

An overwhelming sense of guilt, almost overwhelming her, instantly replaced her shock.

A chilling sense of despair spread rapidly from her feet throughout her body, making her almost unable to stand.

She...she only wanted to kill that cruel demon, Mikako, to avenge Lady Rose, herself, and all the innocent victims. She never intended to implicate the innocent, much less to kill Lin Bei! She lit the fuse herself; she pushed Lin Bei—the pillar of support Lady Rose had so painstakingly found and cherished—into this hopeless situation!

Although deep down, she did feel a bittersweet feeling at Lin Bei's appearance.

Watching Madam Rose display a dependence and tenderness towards Lin Bei that she had never shown to her before, she occasionally felt a sense of loss at being replaced, a jealousy that a position she had guarded for so many years had been taken by someone else.

However, this tiny bit of jealousy was as insignificant as a feather in the face of Lady Rose's happiness and safety.

She would rather endure a thousand grievances herself than see Lady Rose suffer even the slightest harm. At this moment, the thought of personally "killing" Lin Bei made her feel like she had become the executioner Lady Rose hated most.

She didn't even have the courage to look at Lady Rose beside her.

She is afraid.

I was afraid to see the tears of heartbreak streaming down Lady Rose's face; I was afraid to see the flames of deep-seated hatred burning within those eyes that were always smiling or sharp.

She imagined the look of utter hatred in Madame Rose's eyes as she looked at her, a look that pierced her heart more deeply than any sword. She only wanted to bury herself in this filthy mud, never to face the impending judgment again.

However, Jasmine knew that running away wouldn't solve anything.

It was her mistake, and no matter how terrible the consequences, she had to bear them. A profound sense of guilt and a deep fear of Lady Rose's reaction weighed on her like two mountains, making each breath incredibly difficult.

However, in the end, trembling, she forced herself to turn her head with all her might, looking at Madame Rose beside her with a near-death resolve.

However, the scene that came into view completely stunned her, and her thoughts instantly fell into a quagmire of chaos.

There was not a trace of the expected sadness on Lady Rose's face! Although her beautiful face was covered in mud and looked somewhat disheveled, there were no tears or despair in her deep eyes, only a kind of... an indescribable determination?

Even Ashina Jiro, standing to the side, the usually composed swordsman, showed little grief on his face. He gripped his sword hilt tightly, his brow slightly furrowed, but it was more like vigilance and a barely perceptible tension than the sorrow of losing a comrade. Their reaction was eerily calm, as if Lin Bei's life or death was...insignificant to them?

Or was it something that was already anticipated?

Jasmine's mind went completely blank; her logical chain of thought collapsed entirely.

How could this be? Isn't Lin Bei the beloved partner of Lady Rose? Their intimate interactions, the affection in their exchanged glances—was it all just Jasmine seeing things wrong?

Are they hallucinating? Or... are these two people so overcome with grief that they've fallen into a numb state, refusing to accept reality? A sign of impending mental breakdown?

She opened her mouth, her dry throat trying to form weak words of comfort, but she didn't know how to begin to soothe the wounds caused by this "immense grief".

However, just as she was racking her brains, Lady Rose turned her head and her gaze precisely caught her eyes, which were filled with guilt and fear. Those eyes were clear and bright, without a trace of tears, but instead shone with an almost obsessive, unwavering determination.

"Lin Bei will be alright!" Madam Rose's voice was clear and powerful, piercing through the silence of the ruins, carrying an unwavering belief, "I believe in him!" Every word was resounding, filled with unconditional trust.

As if to confirm Lady Rose's words, Ashina Jiro spoke up in a deep voice, his tone still steady but with the same certainty: "Yes, Lin Bei is definitely still alive."

He narrowed his eyes slightly, gazing at the still-smoking ruins, and added, "He's too mysterious. This explosion was powerful, but... it couldn't kill him."

His words revealed an understanding of Lin Beishen's unfathomable strength.

Looking at the unwavering trust in their eyes, Jasmine was completely bewildered and deeply confused.

This was completely beyond her comprehension! Such a massive explosion—no matter how powerful Lin Bei was, he was still just one person!

How could a human being of flesh and blood possibly survive under such power? This completely violates the most basic laws of physics!

Let alone a person, even a tenacious demon like Mikako would be completely annihilated and certain to die at this core explosion point!

Who exactly is this Lin Bei?

What secrets does he hold that make Lady Rose and Jiro Ashina believe so unconditionally, even blindly, that he can create such an impossible miracle of survival?

This is simply... simply unbelievable, completely overturning her understanding of the limits of "human beings"!

Could it be that... Lin Bei is really not an ordinary person?

He possesses some kind of supernatural power that allows him to withstand such a violent explosion without dying.

The moment this thought popped into her head, Jasmine's rationality as a "human being" ruthlessly suppressed it.

No! Impossible! This is absolutely impossible! This is simply a fantasy! Her reason screamed, telling her it was an absurd delusion.

But just as Jasmine's rational thinking gained the upper hand, and she tried to convince herself with cold, hard logic that Lin Bei was dead—

"Splash... splash..."

A clear and abrupt sound of bricks, tiles, wood, and stones rustling and rubbing suddenly emanated from the depths of the desolate ruins of the Rose House! The sound wasn't loud, but in the absolute silence after the explosion, it sounded particularly jarring, like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly breaking the stagnant air.

The voice seemed to possess magic, causing the expressions of the three people to change drastically in an instant!

Lady Rose and Jiro Ashina were both jolted at almost the same time, their eyes instantly lit up with immense surprise!

Lady Rose's tightly clenched hands trembled slightly, not from fear, but from extreme excitement. Ashina Jiro's furrowed brows suddenly relaxed, and the corners of his mouth even managed an uncontrollable upward curve.

As expected! Their trust was not betrayed!

Lin Bei was indeed still alive! He was still under these ruins! This voice was the most powerful proof! The flame of hope burned brightly in their hearts.

However, contrary to their surprise, Jasmine's expression suddenly turned into one of high alert and seriousness the moment the voice rang out.

Unlike Lady Rose and Jiro Ashina, she didn't have an almost religious, irrational faith in Lin Bei.

Although deep down she also desperately wanted Lin Bei to live, so that she wouldn't have to bear the heavy sin of causing Rose's lover's death.

However, her cold, rational thinking, rooted in reality, made the most logical judgment in the first instant: at the epicenter of an explosion of this magnitude, the probability of a human surviving was extremely low, almost zero; in contrast, the possibility of a demon with powerful regenerative abilities and inhuman vitality—Mikako—surviving the explosion, although equally slim, was definitely much greater than that of a human!

Therefore, when strange noises came from the ruins, alarm bells went off in Jasmine's mind, and her first thought was: Mikako! It's that evil spirit!

It wasn't dead yet! It was struggling to crawl out from the depths of the ruins! This realization made all the muscles in her body tense instantly, her heart pounded, and she instinctively assumed a defensive posture. Her eyes were sharp as a hawk's, locked on the direction from which the sound came, preparing to meet the terrifying being that was about to break through the ground.

The sounds from the ruins grew louder and more frequent. They were no longer sporadic "crashing" sounds, but rather continuous, muffled "crackling" and "rumbling" sounds, as if some enormous force was stirring and colliding deep underground.

The bricks and rubble in that area began to rise and fall violently, like boiling water.

Large amounts of debris rolled down, and a noticeable bulge quickly formed and rose on the surface of the ruins, as if a sleeping beast was about to break out of the ground and unleash all its ferocity!

Immediately afterwards—

"BOOM!!!"

A deafening roar, a hundred times more violent than the previous commotion, suddenly erupted! The center of the ruins from which the sound had just come exploded upwards as if a buried landmine had been detonated!

Countless fragments of bricks, sharp tiles, and broken splinters of varying sizes were sent flying wildly in all directions like a torrential rain under the immense impact! The dense, piercing sound of debris cutting through the air was deafening, and the flying stones shot out like bullets, bringing with them a deathly whistle!

Fortunately, Lady Rose and her group were thrown a distance by the blast wave from the previous explosion, and were now in a safe buffer zone that was not too close to the core area of ​​the ruins.

Although many high-speed fragments still flew towards their location like arrows, posing a deadly threat, Jiro Ashina, who was standing at the forefront, was prepared.

His eyes narrowed, and with a flick of his wrist, the longsword at his waist transformed into a shimmering silver barrier. "Clang, clang, clang!" A rapid, sharp sound, like raindrops pattering on banana leaves, rang out. All the flying rubble and debris were easily deflected, cleaved, and deflected by his precise and swift blade; not a single piece could penetrate his defenses or harm Lady Rose and Jasmine behind him. The three of them were once again unharmed.

Amidst the billowing smoke and dust, a blurry figure shot out like a cannonball from the gaping hole blasted open by the ruins, leaving a powerful gust of air before crashing heavily onto the open ground not far in front of them with a loud bang, kicking up a cloud of dust. The figure remained motionless after landing, as if devoid of all life.

At this moment, the last rays of the setting sun had completely sunk below the horizon, dusk had fallen, and the light had become extremely dim.

Although the figure landed not too far from them, the billowing dust and dim light still acted like a thick veil, making it impossible to discern whether the figure lying on the ground was Lin Bei, who had miraculously survived, or the tenacious evil spirit, Mikako.

Without the slightest hesitation, Ashina Jiro immediately said in a deep voice, "Don't move here, stay alert. I'll go check it out!"

He gripped his long sword tightly and walked steadily and cautiously toward the fallen figure.

Although he had a strong belief in Lin Bei's survival, as a master swordsman who had been through countless battles, his ingrained caution would never allow him to relax his vigilance in such a life-or-death situation.

Each step he took on the rubble made a soft sound, exceptionally clear in the silent twilight. His gaze, like that of a hawk, was fixed on the figure on the ground, his muscles taut, ready to respond to any unexpected situation.

When he finally approached the figure and carefully discerned it in the dim light of day, his brows furrowed instantly, and his voice carried a hint of surprise and seriousness:

"It's not Lin Bei!" He suddenly raised his head and shouted behind him, "It's that demon from before! Mikako!"

Upon hearing Jiro Ashina's confirmation, Jasmine's heart sank as if she had fallen into an ice cave. Her worst premonition had come true!

"Oh no! It really is an evil spirit!" she cried out in alarm, her voice shrill with tension. Instinctively, she tried to grab Lady Rose beside her. "Rose, run! It's too dangerous here!"

"I'll do my best to help you hold it off!"

Almost instinctively, she wanted to protect Lady Rose and get her out of danger, even if it meant facing the terrible monster alone.

However, Lady Rose's next move once again stunned Jasmine, leaving her as if frozen in place.

Instead of heeding Jasmine's warning and running away immediately, Lady Rose acted as if she hadn't heard it at all. Ignoring Jasmine's outstretched hand, she strode forward without hesitation, heading straight towards the fallen demon! Her steps even carried a sense of urgency, as if she were trying to confirm something.

Lady Rose strode to Jiro Ashina's side, scrutinizing the motionless figure on the ground—Mikako's twisted and deformed body. She nodded, her voice eerily calm:

"That's right, it's the demon Mikako." Having confirmed the enemy's identity, her gaze did not linger on the corpse for long. Instead, she eagerly turned her attention back to the ruins where smoke and dust were still rising, as if searching for another figure.

As Jasmine watched Lady Rose's resolute steps forward and her almost indifferent confirmation of the demon's corpse, she felt as if she had been nailed to the spot by an invisible force, turning into a stiff wooden figure.

One of her hands was still futilely raised in mid-air, making a futile gesture of pleading for Lady Rose's back, but her throat seemed to be completely blocked, and she couldn't utter a single word.

A great deal of confusion and a deeper fear gripped her: What was wrong with Lady Rose? Why wasn't she afraid? What was she looking for?

And in the instant that Jasmine's mind went blank due to extreme shock and confusion—

Amidst the ruins, a new anomaly unfolds!

At the spot where the demon Mikako had been blown away earlier, a softer yet incredibly dazzling light suddenly shone forth! This light was not the flame of an explosion, but a pure, warm, and vibrant golden-red radiance, like the rising sun piercing through the smoke and dust of the ruins and the dim twilight.

Then, in Jasmine's wide, shocked pupils, a figure slowly emerged from the golden-red light-emitting opening. In stark contrast to Mikako's disheveled state after being blasted and thrown to the ground, this figure calmly and steadily walked out from the depths of the ruins! His posture was composed, his steps firm.

What's even more astonishing is that this figure is enveloped in a dense, impenetrable golden-red aura.

The light was so bright and so warm that, at this moment when the sun had already set and the world was shrouded in a gray-blue twilight, it was like a human-shaped sun that had suddenly descended upon the ruins!

Wherever the light reached, the outlines of the ruins were clearly delineated, and the drifting smoke seemed to be plated with a sacred golden edge. The surrounding darkness was instantly dispelled, and the entire explosion site was shrouded in a sacred and powerful field of light.

As the figure approached the location of Lady Rose and her companions, the dazzling golden-red aura began to recede and fade away like a tide.

The light did not completely disappear, but gradually transformed into a more restrained, soft, and pale white light, like the radiant moonlight, thinly covering his body. Although this white light was not as intense as the previous golden-red light, it still radiated a clearly visible glow, as if it had its own light source, enough to illuminate an area several steps around him, outlining a clear and sacred silhouette for him in the dim light.

As the figure finally approached, the warm white halo gently illuminated his face, and Jasmine finally saw the person's true appearance.

That face was calm, composed, and even carried a hint of indifference that she couldn't comprehend.

It turned out to be Lin Bei, whom she had previously thought had been blown to pieces in the explosion and had no chance of survival!