CH 39

March 8th, 2023

Fang Li’s eyes widened in disbelief, his mind going blank for a moment.

What exactly did that sentence mean?

He understood every single word, but when they were strung together, he didn’t understand it anymore.

If not for the fact that he knew very clearly his relationship with Xie Huai, just looking at Xie Huai’s appearance right now, he would have thought that Xie Huai wanted to run off and elope with him……

Fang Li was scared silly by his own terrifying thought and quickly shook the idea out of his mind.

Impossible.

Fang Li contemplated for a moment. He knew the reason now.

It looked like Xie Huai had discovered the state of his body while drawing out the poison. With Xie Huai’s intelligence, how could he not have guessed Fang Li’s plans? So Xie Huai knew that he was arranging his own death.

If he were really going to incite a great war between the righteous and demonic sects, plunging the world into disaster, then Xie Huai would certainly eliminate him without any hesitation for the greater good. But after knowing that Fang Li only wanted to die…… his heart had instead softened.

After all, that was just the type of kind and benevolent person that he was.

He wouldn’t kill someone who was unquestionably about to die.

Even if that person was his enemy.

Having Fang Li leave this place and even feeling sympathy and pity for him was also for the sake of avoiding the final battle and reducing casualties as much as possible……

This was his compassion.

Fang Li’s expression was a bit complicated, a bit moved. At the beginning, when he’d read the book, the author hadn’t stinted on piling all of the good and beautiful phrases in the world onto this painstakingly crafted protagonist. At that time, Fang Li had thought that it was a bit overboard. How could such a perfect person exist in the world…… but looking at it now, it truly was the case. This person should by nature be perfect and flawless.

He had his standpoints that he would firmly hold to, and he also had forgiveness and compassion. Although it looked like he always had that cold and indifferent face on, in truth, he also had a very gentle side to his heart…… He really was a very, very good person……

It was no wonder that Yan Sui had fallen in love with him in the end.

After Shixiong’s death, in Yan Sui’s heart, the only good and unsullied person in the world was also the only person in the world with the right to kill him.

If he was fated to die, then dying by Xie Huai’s hand was the best ending.

Yan Sui had been charging to the top his entire life, never showing weakness in front of others. Even until his death, he never spoke one sentence of apology to Xie Huai, but he chose to use his life to clear Xie Huai’s name for a lifetime.

Fang Li had decided long ago to properly complete this last step in Yan Sui’s place.

And right now, having Yan Sui die in front of the world was the best and only way to pacify things and restore peace to the world.

So he couldn’t leave.

Nor could he retreat.

Fang Li smiled at Xie Huai and said mildly, “Yuyi-jin is joking, where could we go?”

After throwing out that sentence, he turned his eyes away and didn’t look at Xie Huai any longer, leaving cleanly and swiftly.

Xie Huai stood there, motionless.

He looked into the direction Fang Li had left in, painfully closing his eyes.

You want to restore peace, even willing to pay out your very life to atone for everything……

But have you ever considered?

This world still has people who care about you.

…………………………………

Fang Li returned to his living quarters. After a long time, he let out a gloomy sigh.

All of his actions would change the plot to a certain degree. That was within his expectations. But that Xie Huai would discover that he was about to die and sympathize with him because of it truly exceeded his expectations……

Luckily, the situation overall was still within control.

Fang Li sat in the room alone. That night, Wu Yimei came to visit him.

Fang Li pondered to himself for a bit, then said to Wu Yimei, “Return the Snowblue Sword to Xie Huai.”

The script was about to end. The great and mighty Yuyi-jun was going to eliminate this demon to protect the Dao in front of the entire world, and his name would soar to lofty heights. How could he not even have his sword?

Wu Yimei’s heart trembled. Then, he said respectfully, “Understood.”

Wu Yimei took the Snowblue Sword and went to Xie Huai’s side palace, but didn’t see Xie Huai. He made inquiries among the palace servants, finally finding Xie Huai at the seaside cliffs near the back of Hollow Ridge.

The night sky was heavy and dense.

Xie Huai stood there quietly, completely motionless for who knows how long, seemingly blending into the scenery.

He saw that Wu Yimei had come, and his gaze fell onto the sword in Wu Yimei’s hand, his expression painful and dim.

Wu Yimei took in Xie Huai’s appearance and frowned, a little puzzled, but he didn’t really care about how Xie Huai was, He only held out the sword to Xie Huai, saying coldly, “His Excellency had me give this to you.”

Xie Huai lowered his eyes, staring at the sword in a daze. This was his lifebound sword. At the beginning, he had made his resolve to stake everything on this one toss of the dice. When he had arrived in front that person, he had handed over this sword that was bound to his heart and mind.

At that time, he had never imagined that one day, he would gladly and willingly hand over his heart along with it.

Now, you’re returning this sword to me. So, you’re fulfilling your promise and letting me go?

Before, I didn’t understand how you would let me go without releasing the love parasite. Now I know.

So, you didn’t lie.

Because you really will set me free.

After a long time.

Just when Wu Yimei was getting a little impatient from waiting, Xie Huai finally slowly reached out his hands and accepted the Snowblue Sword.

Wu Yimei looked at Xie Huai with displeasure.

He had known from the start that Xie Huai would harm His Excellency. If not for Xie Huai, how could His Excellency have been poisoned and barely escaped with his life?

Even at a time like this, what His Excellency cared about in the end was returning Xie Huai’s sword.

Maybe the person His Excellency cares about most in his heart is you……

But the only one who can accompany him to die on Hollow Ridge in the end is me.

Now, on the eve of war between the righteous and demonic sects, Xie Huai would inevitably stand on the side of the Thousand Immortals’ Alliance. His staying here would only increase His Excellency’s heartache.

When he thought of this, Wu Yimei looked at Xie Huai coldly and said, “No matter what, during this period of time, His Excellency hasn’t treated you poorly. If you have a heart, then leave.”

A cold and sorrowful look suddenly appeared in the depths of Xie Huai’s eyes. He gripped his sword so tightly that the veins on his hand protruded……

He said, word by word, in an extremely slow and restrained voice, “Is this your intention, or his?”

The look in Xie Huai’s eyes made Wu Yimei shiver. He kept feeling like there was something wrong, but he couldn’t say what……

But if His Excellency didn’t want Xie Huai to go, why would he return his sword?

Wu Yimei said, “This is His Excellency’s intention.”

Xie Huai suddenly laughed coldly, his eyes like daggers, every word spoken with deliberation. “If this is his intention, then have him come and say it to me himself.”

Wu Yimei frowned and gave a cold snort. “His Excellency is very busy. He doesn’t have time to look after you. Go off on your own.”

Having said that, he left with a fling of his sleeves.

Xie Huai’s chest heaved up and down, the look in the depths of his pitch-black eyes like that of a trapped beast. His lifebound sword sensed his emotions and trembled faintly in his hand, letting out an uneasy, mournful cry.

Xie Huai tightened his grip, and the spiritual sword immediately quieted.

After a long time, the corner of his lip pulled in self-mocking.

Back then, you were the one who made me come here.

Now you want to send me away so easily?

In, your, dreams.

……………………………………

After returning the sword to Xie Huai, Wu Yimei went back to report to Fang Li.

When he received word that Xie Huai had taken back the sword, Fang Li relaxed a little.

The Snowblue Sword was Xie Huai’s lifebound spirit sword. To a sword cultivator, their sword was as important as their life. When he had stolen Xie Huai’s sword at the beginning, that had been a massive disgrace. Now that it was finally being returned to its owner, he hoped that Xie Huai wouldn’t hold too much of a grudge……

But Fang Li immediately startled at that and laughed in spite of himself. He was about to leave, so why was he concerning himself with whether Xie Huai would hold a grudge or not?

When Xie Huai’s matters had been arranged, Fang Li began arranging matters at Hollow Ridge.

Although he was already prepared to go to his death, there were still some affairs that needed to be put in order to reduce the amount of casualties as much as possible.

According to the original plot, because Du Meng had turned traitor, more than a few demonic cultivators betrayed Yan Sui during the final battle. At the critical moment, they let the Thousand Immortals’ Alliance’s people up the mountain, allowing the Thousand Immortals’ Alliance to charge straight in. Only Wu Yimei fought to the death to resist, finally dying on Hollow Ridge. After Wu Yimei’s death, the Thousand Immortals’ Alliance met with little resistance, quickly reaching the demonic palace.

This time, Fang Li would find an opportunity to send Wu Yimei away ahead of time. Without Wu Yimei, the rest of the demonic cultivators would either turn traitor or scatter like a flock of startled birds. They wouldn’t be able to start a battle with the Thousand Immortals’ Alliance, and neither side would suffer many deaths.

As for everything else……

Fang Li pondered to himself for a moment and said, “This lord doesn’t need to be attended upon by so many people. Remove the dancers, servants, and the people in the rear courtyard, so that they don’t disturb this lord’s mood.”

Wu Yimei pressed his lips together, his eyes pained. In the end, he still said, “Understood.”

His Excellency was preparing to meet his death all alone?

But if those people are going to leave, then let them leave. They didn’t matter from the start. But I will definitely stay by your side.

…………………………………

The mission was about to be completed, so Fang Li was rather idle these days.

Because everyone had been sent away, even the servants were gone.

The demonic palace suddenly became much more cold and lonely.

Fang Li thought it was very nice, very peaceful and suitable for sleeping.

This body of his was like an arrow at the end of its flight, and after using the black jade talisman, it wasn’t holding up too well anymore. Lately, he was craving sleep more and more. A moment of inattention would have him dozing off into unconsciousness, and it was also very difficult to wake up.

Fang Li was afraid he would sleep past the big final battle, so he instructed the System over and over again to remember to wake him up when the time came.

The System expressed, no problem.

The weather today was quite nice, the sunlight just right.

Fang Li didn’t like the chill inside, so he personally lugged a reclining chair outside and sat in the courtyard to sunbathe.

The soothing warmth setlled on him, and Fang Li quickly fell asleep.

There was not a person to be seen in the silent demonic palace.

Only the rustling of the wind softly brushing past leaves.

The dappled sunlight draped over the stone path.

A silhouette in white slowly walked over.

Xie Huai lowered his eyes to look at the person before him.

He was still wearing those thick and heavy black robes, the long sleeves dragging along the ground. His sickly pale white face was peaceful and content, and when he was asleep, his eyelashes cast shadows below his eyes, his expression gentle and lovely……

He slept so soundly.

Who would know that he was about to die?

Xie Huai was a bit lost in a daze.

The scene before his eyes seemed to become a little blurry. In the haze, it was like he had returned to that dream.

In the dream, this person hadn’t had much time left to live, his body ruined and his eyes blinded, but he had also treated it calmly like this, cheerfully facing his predetermined end……

He was so calm.

As if he wasn’t facing death, but only concluding a dream, nothing more.

Now, this person was going to once again die before his eyes.

This time, for real.

Xie Huai fiercely closed his eyes.

After a long time, he slowly reached out his hand to cup this person’s face, as gently as if he were holding a fragile piece of porcelain.

You have made many mistakes.

But I know that your compassion isn’t gone, that you still have kindness in your heart, and the more you’re like this, the more you’re unable to face everything you’ve done. You’ve had your fill of torment, you don’t want to suffer the pain of your innermost heart, you don’t want to continue on anymore……

Sometimes, living is more painful than dying.

I can understand your choice.

But since your revenge is complete, why not give yourself another chance?

I definitely won’t let that scene play out again.

I won’t let you so obstinately make the decision to leave all by yourself……

Xie Huai took a deep breath.

He suddenly lowered his head, and kissed this person’s lips.

Other than the time the love parasite had flared up, he had never done anything so improper again. He had once thought…… he would never do so again in his whole life.

To have uncontrollable feelings for a devil.

But the truth was, he did, to the point that he was unwilling to stop.

He savored the taste of his lips like this, reluctant to part. They were clear and cold and sweet, gentle and soft, completely unlike his violent outward appearance, taking over one’s thoughts, impossible to forget, making one want to hold this person tightly, to make him stay by one’s side……

It made one want to warm his ice-cold body and tell him, you’re not alone anymore, you’re no longer all by yourself.

The kiss was fierce and decisive.

After a long time.

Xie Huai finally lifted his head.

Within his gloomy, bottomless eyes was the resolve to press forward and stake everything on this one shot.

In the ancient Kunlun secret domain was the Nine-Petaled Lotus, which grew in red lotus hellfire, and it had the properties of restoration and rebirth.

The place was arduous and filled with all kinds of dangers.

In the past thousand years, not a single person had been able to retrieve it.

But I will definitely retrieve it for you.

So, you have to wait until I come back……

Keep on living……

I’ll accompany you in spending the rest of our lives to atone.