CH 40

March 12th, 2023

Fang Li slept until the middle of the night before finally stirring groggily.

When he opened his eyes, he saw that it was already late. He had really slept too long.

Luckily, there wasn’t really anyone in the palace right now, or he might have even been killed without knowing it.

This body was becoming more and more unable to endure hunger, and Fang Li was about to get a midnight snack to eat, but his lips seemed to hurt a little, and when he touched them, he actually found a tear…… No way, was he already so hungry that he’d started gnawing on himself?

The system remained quiet as a mouse, wanting to speak, but stopping.

Actually, when it had seen Xie Huai kiss the host, it had already been shocked silly and had crashed right on the spot.

It could tell that because the host had changed the plot, Xie Huai didn’t hate him or want to kill him as much anymore, to the point that he might even not dislike the host…… But the system had never in a million years thought that Xie Huai would have those sorts of thoughts toward the host. Hadn’t he hidden it a little too well?!

How had Xie Huai started liking the host?

When had he started liking him?

You couldn’t tell at all!

When it thought about how the plot had collapsed into this state without anyone’s knowledge, the System suddenly felt its heart turn to ash.

It was over. The mission couldn’t be completed anymore. This world was about to disappear.

Maybe it was because its heart kept crumbling and crumbling…… but the System slowly reached nirvana.

If it were still back during the beginning of the plot, the System would have been sure to give the host a good nagging and tell him to properly follow the script…… but at this point, what use would it be to say all of that? The plot was already impossible to recover!

When it thought about how the script couldn’t be completed, this world would disappear, and the host would disappear along with it……

The System suddenly couldn’t bear to tell the host what had happened.

It still remembered clear as day the ruthless vigor with which the host had slit his own throat in that illusory dream. With things at this point, it would still be better to avoid telling him and upsetting him, right?

Just let him go about in peace.

It could be seen as a final act of care.

Because all of the servants had been sent away. Fang Li groped his way to the kitchen by himself, overturning cabinets in search of food as he mumbled to himself, “Since I was biting my lips, it probably means I’m craving meat. I should find something with meat to eat.

The System’s heart was full of pity and sympathy. It zipped its mouth shut, pretending to be mute.

Luckily, although the demonic palace was empty of people, it was stocked with plenty of luxurious delicacies. Even though he was doing the preparations himself, Fang Li had more than enough to enjoy.

When he was full, he went back to sleep again.

Fang Li didn’t wake up until late the next morning, then called Wu Yimei over.

Wu Yimei still had that respectful appearance. “Your Excellency, what orders do you have?”

Fang Li pondered to himself for a moment.

He was about to die, and all the unimportant people had also been taken care of now. Now, only Wu Yimei was left.

He slowly opened his mouth.”There is a matter that this lord would have you take care of. This lord can only trust you.”

Wu Yimei immediately said, “Your Excellency, please give the order.”

Fang Li said, “This lord already knows where Du Meng is. He’s at the Qing clan’s Returning Spring Valley. Capture him and bring him back.”

Having said that, he waved his hand, and a little black pagoda appeared in his palm. This was his spiritual device, the Soul-Refining Tower.

“Du Meng’s cultivation is too profound to measure. You likely won’t be a match for him. Bring this lord’s Soul-Refining Tower, so that even if you aren’t able to capture him, you can still defend yourself,” Fang Li said.

Wu Yimei’s expression suddenly changed. His dark red eyes seemed to be dripping with blood. For the first time, he didn’t accept the command right away, but instead said in a hoarse voice, “You want me to leave right now?”

The Thousand Immortals’ Alliance could attack at any time, and Returning Spring Valley was far, far away. With the trip there and back, regardless of whether or not he captured Du Meng, he couldn’t possibly make it back within ten days.

Moreover, the Soul-Refining Tower was one of His Excellency’s most important spiritual devices, as important as his lifebound weapon, the black stone halberd. At a critical time like this, he was actually giving the life-preserving card up his sleeve to him……

His Excellency was driving him away.

He was going to stay here alone to meet death.

Wu Yimei knelt down, his forehead knocking against the ground, as he said word by word, “You are more in need of people by your side right now. This subordinate can capture Du Meng in the future……”

Fang Li’s voice became cold, “Are you defying this lord’s command?”

Wu Yimei remained completely still, looking at Fang Li imploringly. “Please allow this subordinate to stay.”

But Fang Li remained unmoved, his expression increasingly frigid. His voice was cool as he said, “It looks like this lord really is no good anymore. Even you dare to defy this lord.”

Wu Yimei’s lips trembled. “No, I’m not……”

I only, want to stay here and accompany you by your side.

Fang Li leaned over teasingly and fixed his eyes on Wu Yimei, laughing softly. “What kind of expression is that? Do you think this lord is about to die? Do you think so little of this lord?”

Wu Yimei looked at Fang Li with grief, his expression full of pain and despair. Why do you have to drive me away?

I’ve followed you for so many years.

I only want to follow you to the end.

Is even such a tiny, tiny wish no good?

Fang Li looked at Wu Yimei’s expression, his heart a bit unable to bear it. But he couldn’t let Wu Yimei stay. He toughened his heart and turned, saying in a frosty voice, “Leave. If you don’t leave, then don’t ever appear before this lord again. This lord doesn’t need any subordinates who would defy this lord’s commands.”

Wu Yimei looked at Fang Li’s cold, decisive back, his heart feeling like it’d been soaked in ice.

He knew this person was telling the truth……

His Excellency never needed anyone who would go against him. In all these years, he had stepped over mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and everyone who had defied him had become a vengeful ghost under his throne……

If Wu Yimei defied his order, he didn’t even need to die. It was only that they would never meet again.

That was also this person’s mercy.

But if he followed the order, perhaps…… he would never see this person again.

For a while, he didn’t know exactly which choice held more despair.

Just then, Wu Yimei heard the person before him open his mouth to say mildly, “Do you believe in this lord?”

Wu Yimei lifted his eyes in a daze.

Fang Li said, “If you leave today, perhaps there will be a day we can meet again. If you don’t leave, then there won’t be.”

When Fang Li spoke this sentence, his tone was extremely calm, yet it held a certainty that couldn’t be doubted. Just like every time before, every sentence that this person spoke held the weight of a mountain, and Wu Yimei had never doubted a single one of his decisions before.

But this time, Wu Yimei didn’t dare believe him. His face was ghastly pale, and he said blankly, “Is what you’re saying true……”

Fang Li smiled. “When has this lord ever deceived you?”

He paused, then said slowly, “If you live, then we’ll meet again.”

Wu Yimei fixed his eyes on him.

His dark red eyes seemed to be steeped in blood.

On their entire road together, this person had never deceived him…… So, this time, you wouldn’t lie to me either, right?

The room was completely silent. There were only two people, one standing, one kneeling.

After who knows how long.

Finally, Wu Yimei stood up slowly, and the Soul-Refining Tower flew into his arms. He gave Fang Li a fond look, full of reluctance to part……

I will definitely return.

I will definitely see you again.

That’s what you promised me.

Fang Li heard footsteps behind him leaving. Only when he was sure that Wu Yimei was far away did he turn around again, his expression complicated.

It wasn’t really deceiving him.

If we both live this time, maybe there will be a day where we meet again…… So, you must live on properly.

The System looked on silently, finding it difficult to bear. If this world disappears, then what meaning is there to everything you’re doing right now?

The System couldn’t resist tactfully reminding the host.

【System: Actually, you don’t need to be like this. If the mission isn’t completed, even if you send him away, he won’t be able to stay……】 Everything in this world would disappear.

Fang Li didn’t like to hear such disheartening words. He’d been working so hard for so long, so how could the mission possibly fail?

Fang Li said, “I think it can be completed.”

【The System said again tactfully: I think Xie Huai couldn’t possibly be willing to kill you.】

Hearing that, Fang Li fell silent for a moment, then said, “Don’t jump to conclusions before the moment has arrived.”

The System thought, is this jumping to conclusions? I have an omniscient viewpoint!

If Xie Huai is willing to kill you, I’ll call you Daddy from now on.

But Fang Li had on the airs of someone with cards up his sleeve. He said mildly, “Don’t worry, everything is already in place, just waiting for the push to set things in motion. The Thousand Immortals’ Alliance will quickly attack. As long as Xie Huai is present, I have a way to complete the script.”

【System: Ha ha.】

It truly didn’t know where the host’s confidence came from. Even if you don’t know that Xie Huai likes you, you should be able to tell that he doesn’t hold any killing intent toward you, right?

It was all because I got hoodwinked by you at the very beginning that I fell for you saying this or that was about the same…… Now the plot has collapsed into this state. Is this the “about the same” you were talking about back then?

Tired, I don’t want to talk anymore.

Fang Li saw that the System wasn’t speaking anymore and also delighted in the peace. Speaking of which, it’d been a few days since he’d seen Xie Huai.

After all, Xie Huai was the protagonist of this book, and he was an important VIP of the final plot. Fang Li decided to go visit Xie Huai and see what was going on……

But when he went to the side palace to look, Xie Huai wasn’t in his room.

Where had Xie Huai gone?

Fang Li walked through the entire demonic palace and still didn’t find Xie Huai.

Fang Li: “……”

He’d talked too big just now. Although all of his machinations were in place in all other matters, the only thing he hadn’t expected was that Xie Huai would run!

No way……

This didn’t match up with Xie Huai’s style of doing things……

Did he seem like the kind of person who would flee just before the battle?!

But right now, the truth was……

Xie Huai wasn’t here.

It couldn’t be that he’d gone too overboard previously and had really angered Xie Huai into leaving?

If the protagonist wasn’t present, no matter how many plans he made, the most clever housewife in the world couldn’t cook without ingredients!

Fang Li’s confidence immediately crumbled a little, but he had just made a pledge in front of the System, saying that he could complete the mission. He couldn’t go and slap his own face now……

After a long time, Fang Li coughed lightly and said casually, “That, if Xie Huai isn’t here when the time comes, and I die at the hands of the Thousand Immortals’ Alliance, that also counts as completing the mission, right? Look, after all, I’ve already made it to this step and completed ninety-nine percent. It shouldn’t be a big deal if I’m only missing one percent, right?”

【The System’s voice was stupefied: You’re saying Xie Huai is that one percent?】

Cutting some other parts of the script was one thing, but this related to the future development of the world, the final ending that would determine the track of the protagonist’s destiny! You think it won’t be a problem if the protagonist isn’t here? This world is already about to collapse, okay?!

Fang Li: ……

Fang Li said heavily, “Don’t worry, maybe he only went back to his sect temporarily, and he’ll arrive along with the rest of the Thousand Immortals’ Alliance when the time comes. It would save some effort.”

【System: Hah……】

If not for the fact that the host was about to disappear, it would have definitely roasted him a few times. Do you even believe your own words?

Fang Li’s hands were behind his back, his footsteps heavy as he returned to his residential palace.

Three days passed.

Fang Li sat at the entrance of his residential palace day after day, almost like a watchdog. Even eating and sleeping lost their flavor……

He’d gone to such painstaking efforts to bring the plot up to this point, and he was only missing the last tiny bit, yet the protagonist had turned in his resignation letter and decided not to do it anymore? Was that something a human would do?

I even thought of you as a brother, yet you’ve left me behind and run off on your own?

Fang Li was very angry.

But after getting angry, he was completely helpless. In the end, he couldn’t blame Xie Huai. Who told him to keep changing the plot?

The human heart couldn’t be controlled.

It was his mistake.

So this time, he wasn’t sure either……

He wasn’t sure whether Xie Huai would return.

Fang Li let out a low laugh in self-ridicule.

In the blink of an eye, another three days passed.

Fang Li was too lazy to sit by the palace door anymore and decided he might as well leave everything to fate. Every day, he stayed at the seaside cliff behind the mountains, fishing to practice his patience!

Besides, this was a great place for a decisive battle, very in line with the style of the demon lord. In the original book, this was precisely where Yan Sui had met his death. There wasn’t much time left anyways, and he didn’t want to bother moving, so he might as well stay here.

He sat on a rock, the black stone halberd stuck into the rock by his side. His robes billowed up in the cold wind, rustling fiercely, the atmosphere perfectly solemn and grave.

Look, I’ve prepared everything, so how come you haven’t come yet?

The System accompanied the host silently the whole time.

Although it had had some disagreements with the host in the past, after a long and bumpy road together, on the eve of their separation, it also felt a little emotional. When a person died, it was like extinguishing a light, and they wouldn’t know anything after that. The System decided to say something pleasant to hear.

【System: Relax, if the mission isn’t completed, then forget it. If it does get completed, I’ll definitely pick a good body for you.】

Normally speaking, the hosts would care very much about their bodies after they died, and before their deaths, they would double-check over and over again before feeling at ease. Some hosts would even have requests for their new bodies regarding age, gender, appearance, talent, and so on……

【System: Do you have any requests for your new body? As long as it’s not anything overboard, I can fulfill them.】

Fang Li said, “Male.”

【System: …… That’s it?】

Fang Li opened an eye lazily and made a noise of confirmation. “I’ll leave the rest up to you.”

【System: ……】

The System was suddenly a little bewildered. Had the host already given up, so he didn’t even care about this anymore?

It couldn’t help but recall the first time it had met the host. The host had had this very same appearance of being indifferent to everything. At the time, it had been very worried that the host wasn’t willing to properly follow the script and would nag from time to time. After that…… starting from who knows when, the host had started to seriously and earnestly complete the mission, and it had gradually stopped speaking.

I thought you had changed. Had it only been my mistake?

But if you didn’t care, then what need was there to go to such lengths?

Actually, you could have collapsed the plot whenever you wanted.

Seeing that the host had stopped talking, the System also fell silent. It didn’t know what else it could say.

Fang Li sat on the boulder beside the seaside cliff, his eyes lowered, his fingertips fiddling inattentively with a white stone talisman. It was precisely the lover’s talisman that he and Xie Huai had bought for three stones at Baihua province. After leaving the dream, he’d kept it on his person the whole time in order to disgust Xie Huai. Looking at things now, it hadn’t had much effect……

He recalled the path he’d walked with Xie Huai.

Although their standpoints were different, they’d unexpectedly walked it quite smoothly. As expected, Xie Huai was just like he’d imagined in the beginning, a very good colleague and collaboration partner.

They could also count as friends forged through crisis, right?

When Fang Li thought of this, he couldn’t help but laugh.

The sound of weapons and fighting drifted over from far below the mountain. The Thousand Immortals’ Alliance had charged over so quickly, huh…… There wasn’t even someone to report the news……

In the end, aside from Wu Yimei, Yan Sui was still alone without any family or friends……

Perhaps Xie Huai wouldn’t come.

Fair enough.

There was no need at all for him to kill a devil who was already seeking his own death. How could Xie Huai do such an unnecessary and dishonorable thing?

So it was understandable that he would leave now.

Fang Li let out a soft sigh.

He stood up slowly.

Just then.

He saw a white silhouette approach from afar, appearing before his eyes.

Fang Li’s eyes slowly widened, looking out in disbelief.

Xie Huai had actually come back.

He had never awaited a person with so much eagerness as right now.

Fang Li’s hands trembled slightly.

It looked like he hadn’t actually been as calm as he’d appeared on the surface……

But following Xie Huai’s approach, Fang Li’s brow suddenly creased. Xie Huai held his sword in one hand, and his white robes were splattered with blood, as well as traces of burn marks. He looked to be in a very tragic state……

Even when being besieged at Cloudbank Keep, he hadn’t looked nearly as tragic as right now.

Just where had Xie Huai gone, what had he been doing? How had he gotten himself into such a state? Fang Li’s lips moved, wanting to ask, but when the words reached the tip of his tongue, he ended up swallowing them back down.

In the end, Fang Li only said softly, “You came back.”

Xie Huai looked at the person before him, his eyes blazing hot.

Thank goodness, you’re still here.

Thank goodness, I made it in time.

I’ve already retrieved the Nine-Petaled Lotus.

You won’t die.

Seeing that the Thousand Immortals’ Alliance was about to charge over here, the most important thing right now was to leave this place.

Xie Huai said in a hoarse voice, “I have something to say to you. Let’s leave first.”

But Fang Li stood there without moving. He laughed softly. “Do you know what the world will say about you if you leave with me today?”

Xie Huai’s expression sank, his lips pressed firmly together.

Of course he knew, but he didn’t care what the world said. He only wanted this person to be safe and sound. Even if the road before them was full of thorns, he would still walk it by his side……

Fang Li looked at Xie Huai’s appearance right now and couldn’t help but feel a bit touched.

His actions had ended up changing many things after all. Some were within his expectations, and some were not.

What he hadn’t expected was that Xie Huai would be willing to go this far for him……

Why?

Do you also think of me as a friend?

Or is it because your heart is full of pity, pity for someone like me facing certain death, and you’re unwilling to see me die here?

Fang Li let out a low laugh.

But right now, the reason wasn’t important anymore.

I can’t leave with you.

If I leave with you today, it would serve as proof for the rumors outside. Afterwards, everyone would say that Yuyi-jun fell gladly and willingly onto the demonic path and sank into depravity with the devil. And no matter what Xie Huai said, from then on, all of the world would curse and revile him.

As soon as one stepped onto that path, there would be no turning back.

Fang Li absolutely wouldn’t permit something like that to happen, he couldn’t allow Xie Huai to become the next Yan Sui.

It was enough for Yan Sui alone to suffer a thousand torments with no hope for reprieve. Xie Huai should by nature be noble and honorable, the pride of the heavens looked up to and admired by the whole world, not a devil who could only live in darkness for the rest of his life, forever sinking into an endless hell.

Not even Yan Sui could bear to let Xie Huai fall to such a state. In the end, he’d chosen to use his life to fulfill Xie Huai. So how could Fang Li be willing to bear it?

Do you know? I’ve never regretted changing the script.

I’m very thankful that none of those dark and painful things happened to you at all.

And as soon as today is over, everything will return to its proper path.

You’ll still be the Yuyi-jun revered by the whole world.

And I will be just another devil cut down by Yuyi-jun’s blade, nothing more.

Dark clouds roiled in the sky above the Fallen Star Sea, the sound of thunder booming. The Thousand Immortals’ Alliance was already storming over, the four great sects marching shoulder to shoulder, bloodstained banners billowing. Fang Li narrowed his eyes, sweeping over those angry, terrified, hateful faces……

Fang Li gave a smile to Xie Huai. With things at this point, he could finally say something from the heart. He softly raised the corners of his lips, a faint smile in his eyes. “I’m very happy that I had you by my side to keep me company these days.”

To him, this world was strange and unfamiliar and icy-cold.

But the person by his side was boiling hot and full of life.

He was so vivid, so real, so perfect, that Fang Li hadn’t felt a single bit of boredom or loneliness in this strange and unfamiliar world.

He didn’t know from what time it was that he had started seriously completing the mission and following the script……

Fang Li looked at Xie Huai.

Because you made me feel that this world was worth existing.

So, in order to allow you and this world to keep existing, no matter what…… I have to complete the mission.

Nobody will disappear.

Xie Huai looked at Fang Li’s expression, and for some reason, a powerful unease suddenly arose in his heart. The sound of yelling and fighting behind him was just within reach, there was no time……

No matter what else you have to say, we can talk after we leave first.

Xie Hua’s face set, and he reached out to pull Fang Li away—

That was what he had thought—

But the hand that stretched out was his right hand that was holding his sword, and his blade pierced right through the chest of the person before him.

Xie Huai stared blankly at his own hand.

This, was this really his hand?

Why was it like this?

He had clearly…… only wanted to pull that person away, to take him away from here……

Xie Huai’s body was shaking. He wanted to pull his hand away, but he couldn’t move his hand. He wanted to speak, but he couldn’t open his mouth. He was just like a wooden puppet, trapped inside a shell of a body.

Fresh blood soaked through Fang Li’s black robes, but the person before him revealed a crafty, delighted smile. On that pale, white face was the delighted look that he was familiar with.

Xie Huai’s eyes were about to split open.

The love, parasite.

This was the trump card Fang Li had left for himself.

Fang Li had planted the love parasite but had never used it to control Xie Huai precisely because he didn’t want Xie Huai to be vigilant of it, because someone like Xie Huai wouldn’t give someone a second opportunity to control him. So…… there was only one chance.

He had to be taken by surprise.

Xie Huai stood there completely motionless. Only his eyes were suffused with red, as savage as a ghoul’s. Inside his body, every single strand of his meridians was screaming with pain, every vein in his body trembling and threatening to tear. Fresh blood trickled down from the corners of his eyes……

Fang Li knew that Xie Huai was about to free himself from his control……

He gave Xie Huai an apologetic look.

From now on, you’ll still be that noble and honorable Yuyi-jun who has devoted your life to slaying demons and protecting the Dao.

Being able to die by your hand was Yan Sui’s good fortune, as well as my good fortune.

I’m fulfilling you by clearing your name for a lifetime, and you’re fulfilling my death in its proper place.

But I don’t wish for Yan Sui’s body to be trampled on and humiliated after my death, so I can only say goodbye to you here.

Fang Li took a step backwards.

The sword slid out of his chest.

His body toppled downwards, the strong winds sending his robes billowing upwards. Fang Li raised his head and gave Xie Huai a smile.

I’m very happy to have met you. Good-bye.