Ch127 - Worries

Xie Zhiwei was appalled. “What did you say?”

Dammit, no wonder Yin Cangshan that bastard said “that treasure can’t stay in the hostile qi too long” back then. To lure him back, Mu He used Red Lotus as bait. But that’s Red Lotus! Chi Yan could do whatever he wanted because of its power. The protagonist had also gone through plenty of trouble to get it in his hands. In the original novel, he had a vicious showdown with Chi Yan that brought the plot to a full climax and only obtained it after much suffering. In this runaway plotline, he had Xie Zhiwei’s help which reduced the difficulty of the Demonic Sect sidestory, but that didn’t mean Red Lotus was unimportant. It didn’t matter if the hero lost it, but Yin Cangshan couldn’t snatch it!

The System didn’t care anymore and would even step on them instead. Mu He couldn’t be compared to his stallion novel self, while the bold yet tactless Chi Yan had been replaced by a strong foe in the form of Yin Cangshan. Although Mu He had never read his own novel, he should be clear on what the loss of Red Lotus meant for himself.

Otherwise, why would he submit to being pierced through his collarbones and being refined alive? He would’ve given up the lotuses long ago.

Xie Zhiwei wanted to say Mu He was a fool, but when he thought of how the other had acted recklessly just to save him, he couldn’t reconcile his feelings and said nothing. The plot was already a mess in the last two days, filled with nothing but unexpected events. Xie Zhiwei hadn’t had a single moment to relax. Even without the System pushing him, he couldn’t manage much expression on his face beyond furrowed eyebrows.

Mu He scooted forward and wanted to touch his face, but realized it was no longer possible in the dreamscape. His raised hand dropped silently by his side as he broke into a small smile. “Shizun looks so stern that it’s almost identical to sect leader martial uncle.”

Not even close. Your eldest martial uncle is tense enough to be a door god. You could plaster him on people’s doors at any time to ward off evil.

Xie Zhiwei knew that Mu He was trying to lighten the atmosphere, but he wasn’t in the mood to play along. There was no time for bullsh*t at this point, and they could only brace themselves to face the raging plot head-one. He quickly adjusted his emotions and asked, “Disciple, why did Commandery Princess Yin find you today?”

Mu He saw his brows ease and felt slightly relieved as well. He was about to answer when the words changed on the tip of his tongue. “Is shizun unhappy that disciple met her?” he asked carefully.

Xie Zhiwei found it random. “Why would I be unhappy?”

Mu He mumbled, “When disciple sees shizun together with Tantai Meng or youngest martial uncle, my heart gets depressed…disciple wants to know if shizun is the same.”

Xie Zhiwei wanted to tell him not to think nonsense when he suddenly recalled how he’d abandoned Cheese and Mengmeng to rush back and channel spiritual energy for Mu He, only to see him chatting with Yin Wushuang. Back then his temper had quite flared up. If it wasn’t for Mu He’s sudden attack of hallucinations that almost had him strangling Yin Wushuang to death, he would’ve simply turned his back and left.

If Mu He’s actions could count ask randomly eating vinegar, what about his? In the midst of his confusion, he heard Mu He’s pleading tone. “Shizun would be unhappy…right?”

Xie Zhiwei couldn’t bear to refuse him and mechanically nodded his head.

Mu He smiled as light seemed to glimmer in his eyes. He hung his head and mumbled, “So, perhaps it’s true…” His chest rose and fell slightly for a moment before he gathered enough courage to look up. “Does shizun like this disciple?”

Three days ago, I wanted to find a chance to chat and draw the line with you on gender. Now you’re asking me this and putting me in a tough spot ah, youngster, Xie Zhiwei thought to himself. If I refuse, you’ll definitely do something stupid. But if I don’t…you want to me say “I like you?” Don’t joke with me.

Xie Zhiwei left out a soft puff of breath and carefully changed the topic. “It’s not time to talk about that now. Yin Cangshan’s strength would have increased greatly after obtaining Red Lotus. But don’t worry, the Buddhist and daoist sects already know of his plots and are uniting with other sects to deal with the situation.”

He briefly summarized the recent turn of events, expecting Mu He to be pleasantly surprised. But the other’s eyes only dimmed as he gradually looked elsewhere. Seeing this, Xie Zhiwei thought his words weren’t shocking enough, so he added in a warm tone, “There’s been a turnaround in the imperial court too. Your father—”

“Since the situation has become clear, shizun can rest easy,” Mu He interrupted indifferently.

Xie Zhiwei quietly shut his mouth.

Mu He’s voice sounded muffled. “It looks like disciple’s efforts to release Red Lotus today were superfluous. Shizun didn’t need disciple to act this way.”

“That’s not it. If you hadn’t forced out Red Lotus, I’m afraid Yin Cangshan would’ve already—”

“Shizun.” Mu He cut him off again. “Disciple has already been refined in the spell formation for nearly three days. Every moment is torture, so I probably won’t last much longer…disciple just wants to know, whether shizun would be sad if disciple died.”

“What are you talking about?” Xie Zhiwei replied on instinct. “You won’t die.”

But as soon as he spoke, he wasn’t so sure. Although they gained Golden Lotus and the situation had mostly reversed, these were all things that didn’t have much to do with the protagonist currently trapped within the spell formation. Moreover, Yin Cangshan’s hostile qi was bound to strengthen after he got Red Lotus while they still had no knowledge of how to break through the formation. Judging from Mu He’s state, he was clearly weaker every time they met in the dreamscape…Xie Zhiwei had the mistaken sense that the plot would end at any moment from now.

Mu He keenly captured the slightest hint of hesitation on his face and erased all expression from his face. His voice was cold. “Shizun’s just been coaxing me the entire time.”

His final words were heavy. Before Xie Zhiwei could react, the vision before him shook as the dreamscape spun wildly into darkness. The last thing he saw was Mu He’s blank face.

No, it wasn’t completely expressionless. There was a trace of resentment in those eyes.

He was having a falling-out with him.

…he valued the worth of some empty words over his own safety.

Faced with absolute blackness in the dream, Xie Zhiwei’s heart was in chaos. Even if Mu He was a far cry from his original image, any ordinary person would firmly grasp at a chance at life if they knew their days were numbered. But Mu He was the opposite.

It was worthy of praise that this child’s soul had ascended from a stud horse to a saint of love. Now he was all “life is precious, but love has higher worth.”

But! He, Xie Zhiwei, wasn’t at that state!

He couldn’t even face the three choices from Gallant Outlaw, much less these vague and empty things! After hesitating for half the day, Xie Zhiwei finally connected to the System.

Gallant Outlaw immediately popped up in the dialogue box. “How is it, Idol? Did you think it through?”

“Think what through?” Xie Zhiwei asked knowingly.

“Stop messing around,” Gallant Outlaw rested his forehead in his hands. “Of course I’m talking about those three choices. Last time I only cared about Mengmeng and forgot to remind you. System’s already started a countdown, so time’s running out.”

Xie Zhiwei then noticed that the System interface now had an extra box showing a countdown timer. It was quite humanistic and followed conversion into ancient time units to display: Two Days and Twenty Hours.

There was also a simulated hourglass beneath the display showing fine, dense dots of light as sand that slowly dripped from top to bottom.

“Dammit!” Xie Zhiwei immediately cursed, his loud voice reverberating in the System space.

Frightened, Gallant Outlaw said timidly, “Looks like you haven’t decided yet… Idol, are you still planning to fight for the hero one last time?”

Xie Zhiwei was mute.

“Idol, don’t just stay silent all the time, ah. This is very important.”

“Of course I f**king know,” Xie Zhiwei retorted. “I wanted to wait until Mu He was safe before thinking it over…but there’s less than three fricking days left, are you kidding me?”

“It’s impossible for the System to let you delay indefinitely after it came up with these options. Otherwise it’s not playing with you, but you playing with the System,” Gallant Outlaw said patiently. “Why don’t you set a default choice first before going all in without worries? Whether or not you succeed here won’t affect your safety.”

Xie Zhiwei slapped his forehead. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

Gallant Outlaw chuckled. “It’s not too late now. What should the default choice be, Idol?”

After pondering, Xie Zhiwei said slowly, “Then…choose Option 1 for now. After all, I’ve lived three to four decades in my last life, so I’m more familiar with that side.”

Gallant Outlaw had selfish motives at heart when he noted, “But Idol, you’re already past your popularity, ah. You’re not even as good as the virtuous and respected Xie Zhiwei from the original novel.”

Xie Zhiwei had personally experienced both lives and had more insights than him. “A starving camel is still bigger than a horse. I can lower my salary to act and one day rise again. So what if the original host had high morals and respect? It’s frickin’ useless when he can’t even bear to wear new robes and saves everything for others.”

Gallant Outlaw smacked his lips. “Then, I’m selecting it, ah.”

Xie Zhiwei froze for three seconds before snapping, “Wait.”

Gallant Outlaw stopped his hand from touching the button, confused. “What’s wrong, Idol?”

Xie Zhiwei subconsciously glanced down at the hourglass trickling down with unstoppable momentum and gritted his teeth. “Choose it!”

“Okay.” Gallant Outlaw pressed the key.

There was an instant beep before a prompt sounded: “You have chosen to return to your original world. The time selected will be before the car accident. If there are no doubts, the System will automatically default to this choice after time is up.”

Xie Zhiwei’s heart began to pound at the System’s words. For some reason, he couldn’t calm down.

“All right, Idol. Now you can play to your heart’s content,” Gallant Outlaw rubbed his hands. Although Xie Zhiwei didn’t choose Option 2 as he wished, at least the decision was settled. “That’s right Idol, what did you find me for?”

“Oh, I wanted to ask you something,” Xie Zhiwei said, but his eyes were still fixed on the hourglass. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

Gallant Outlaw immediately cried wolf at the words. “Ahhhh Idol, as a novelist I’m incurably curious. Is it something related to the plot? You can’t be like this, say it already ahhhhhh I want to know!”

“It’s not about the plot,” Xie Zhiwei said.

“Hm? Not the plot? Then…is it about feelings?”

“I’ll give you authorization, go see it yourself. I don’t want to say anything right now.”

“Okay!” Gallant Outlaw was waiting for those very words. Recently the plotline had been tight with its shares of ups and downs. He wished he could prepare a pack of melon seeds to munch on as he watched. But he suddenly remembered something and cried, “Idol, wait a sec!”

Xie Zhiwei was just about to hang up and felt impatient. “What?”

“I just thought of a setting related to that demon world.”

“Tell me quickly,” Xie Zhiwei all but blurted.

“When I designed attributes for the demon world, I also thought it was too counter-intuitive. Even if it’s an open ending, I can’t pit the hero, ah. So I set up a bug that doesn’t really count as a bug.”

“A bug that doesn’t count as a bug? What does that mean?”

“It used to be a bug. The hostile qi will grow weaker in the presence of moonlight. so it’s easier to fight on a moonlit night.”

Xie Zhiwei’s blood boiled. “Holy shit. Why didn’t you tell me something so important earlier?!”

Gallant Outlaw gave a dry cough. “But I’ve seen the plot and you’ve gotten nothing but snowstorms and cloudy days recently. So this bug can’t really count as a bug at the moment…do you think the hero can survive until a moonlit night in his current state?”

Xie Zhiwei fell silent briefly before he said, word by word, “You’re f**king full of empty-mouthed bullsh*t.”

He quit the System in a rage and woke up immediately, filled with spirit. Opening up the door, he saw that it was almost dawn outside. The sky was thick with clouds and it had started snowing again. The pine tree during the day was all but blanketed by now. Heaven and Earth were filled with ice, just like Mu He’s last look at him.

Xie Zhiwei forgot to shut the door and simply stood in the wind to stare at the gloomy skies.

There was a creak from the door of the upper room at the end of the hall. The King of Nine Provinces emerged with his head held high and looked towards him from beneath the darkened eaves. Xie Zhiwei couldn’t avoid it, so he nodded and prepared to return to his room. But the king reluctantly nodded back and actually started walking towards him.

Xie Zhiwei was very taken aback. “Is Your Royal Majesty looking for this surnamed Xie?”

“I do have words to say.” the King of Nine Provinces glanced at him before entering Xie Zhiwei’s room as if it was his own house. Then he sat unceremoniously in the host’s seat and pointed to one below him. “Sit.”

Xie Zhiwei didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at the king reversing their roles of host and guest. In the past, he could ramble internally for ten minutes at such an oddball without repeating a single insult. But now he wasn’t in the mood and simply sat. He looked at the King of Nine Provinces and waited for him to speak, but the man simply poured a cup of hot tea and slowly took a sip before fiddling with the tea leaves.

Xie Zhiwei watched for a while but the king showed no sign of stopping. Instead, he sipped another mouthful and continued to fiddle.

Looks like this guy’s just here to cause trouble.

Xie Zhiwei used temper to fight temper and actually ended up extinguishing his fury. He unexpectedly calmed down and took the scissors on the tablet to cut the lengthening candle wicks before grabbing a book and pretending to read. He didn’t pay any attention to the words at all.

The King of Nine Provinces was unhappy and wanted to make Xie Zhiwei uncomfortable. However, when he looked up, it was to see Xie Zhiwei with his head lowered in a book and no ripples on his face. He couldn’t sit still and set his cup on the table. “Xie Zhiwei, this king greatly dislikes you.”

Xie Zhiwei placed the book down and said calmly, “I can tell.”

Thanks for gracing me with your dislike, bro. I have enough headaches with your son already.

“If this king dislikes someone, I avoid them or kill them. It’s cleaner that way.”

Xie Zhiwei wondered why he’d ran over just to say this. He’s not gonna take advantage of his son’s absence to strike again, right?

“But after you left the inn that day, Royal Son had a long heart-to-heart chat with this king.” The King of Nine Provinces slowly stood up as the expression on his face turned odd. “Royal Son said, he likes you…and wants to hold hands with you forever.”

—

Translator’s Note: *looks into the distance* The end is drawing near yet their relationship is still far off…. *internal screaming*

You know what they remind me of right now? hoax by Taylor Swift. Ahhhhh….

Your faithless love’s the only hoax

I believe in

Don’t want no other shade of blue

But you

No other sadness in the world would do

Anyways, as the clock winds down for Xie Zhiwei, I’ve created a real life countdown timer so readers can join in the fun live! Are you ready for the end? >: )

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