Ch83 - Determination

“Help me take revenge.” — This was the last sentence Xie Zhiwei left before his death that year.

He felt smug when he recalled it. After all, Bai Jianzhu had status while Chi Yan had high cultivation. If Mu He wanted to take those two down, he had to improve his own skills first. This quiet phrase 1) emphasized the importance of his words, 2) could indirectly push Mu He to better himself, and 3) give his death scene more pathos. If it was filmed, it’d definitely become a classic bridge in the narrative and included in a variety of Top 10 Most Tearjerking Scenes in Film and Television.

But now it was a stone he’d picked up to smash his own foot.

Did the hero take revenge? Yes, but Xie Zhiwei was alive, making Bai Jianzhu suffer a wrongful death.

Did the hero get stronger? Yes, even stronger than himself. He couldn’t even fight back if the protagonist moved against him now.

If Xie Zhiwei knew all this earlier, he would tell the hero to set down his hatred and vengeance instead, even if it made Mu He a dandy and ruined the ending with illogical leaps.

Forget it. Why am I so conflicted? What’s it to me if the hero’s bent? Even if he died, he wanted to keep up the persona of Xie Zhiwei. That was the highest realm for an actor. He almost forgot—what were Xie Zhiwei’s character settings again?

Oh, right. Good-tempered, no temper, not temperamental. Xie Zhiwei calmed down and sighed. “How could I not be afraid? You took revenge and for that Master is gratified beyond words. But…your methods were too vicious.”

“Vicious?” Mu He narrowed his eyes. “Does shizun still remember Bai Yu’s cousin Lu Zhanyun? He was the only one at the banquet who spoke against shizun, so disciple wanted to tear him to pieces. But under the circumstances, I could only make him a laughable fool.”

Naturally Xie Zhiwei knew as clear as a mirror, but still pretended to be surprised. “So…so that was you!”

Mu He nodded before the corners of his mouth quirked up into a contemptuous smile. “Let’s not mention how Bai Jianzhu cost shizun your life. Death still isn’t enough for him even if shizun’s ascended and returned. He caused shizun and I to be separated for four years. If not for this, disciple would long…”

Xie Zhiwei’s mouth twitched. “Would what?”

Mu He didn’t continue, but simply smiled. Xie Zhiwei immediately felt a tingling sensation from his collarbone. He looked down and nearly blew his top: a finger was stroking him gently, if clumsily, in circles. There was no technique to it at all.

True enough. I really have to thank Bai Jianzhu. If not for him, who could delay the hero for four years ah!

Mu He exhaled and continued, “It’s all disciple’s fault that shizun’s clothes are so tattered. I’ve already ordered people to clean the daoist robes I brought back from Summit City. Later disciple will serve shizun to wash and dress.”

Youngster, there’s nothing wrong about the clothes, but your eyes and hands are obviously on the wrong target! Xie Zhiwei’s hairs stood on end before he pried the offending arm off. “No need, I can do it myself.”

Mu He didn’t budge. “Disciple knows the deep extent of my sins. I was the one who affronted shizun first in Blood River Lake and assumed shizun was Chi Yan to torment. May shizun give disciple a chance to make amends.”

Can’t we match the payment to the deed? Is bathing someone you damned old gay’s idea of making amends? Aren’t you just taking advantage of me?

“You don’t need to make amends,” Xie Zhiwei had tried to break free all this time without success and was afraid he’d lose his temper to curse, so he could only suppress himself. “Your biggest sin is liking me.”

Mu He was obstinate. “Disciple does like shizun!”

“But I don’t like you.”

“One day you will!” Mu He insisted. He was like a small child throwing a tantrum to eat his favorite candy lobster.

Xie Zhiwei felt metaphorical black lines down his face. Youngster, where do you get your confidence from, the Xinhua Dictionary? He lowered his gaze towards the arm firmly imprisoning him and felt his breathing being affected. After a long time of silence, he said helplessly, “Although I don’t know what’s possessed you, you’re now decisive and unparalleled in the world. There’s probably nothing you can’t have.”

He paused, then hardened his tone to continue. “But you should know that Master’s already died once. I’m not afraid to die again.”

Mu He’s grip loosened as he looked blankly at him. Abruptly, he broke into light laughter. “Looks like shizun still doesn’t trust me. Why doesn’t shizun take a look at this?”

Xie Zhiwei could finally take a deep breath. He soon noticed something glimmering in Mu He’s palm and glanced over. “What is it?”

It was nothing more than a square piece of metal with its front facing up. On it were etched the words: Heart Sway Arts.

Xie Zhiwei was stunned. “You…you had this thing the entire time?” The sight was chilling. Would the hero try to control him the same way Ming Kong turned Shen You into a…

Snap.

His frightening train of thought broke at the sight of the metal piece shattering to pieces.

“Now it doesn’t exist anymore.” Mu He spread open his palms and let the fragments fall out of his hand and onto the floor in front of his bed.

In the past, Xie Zhiwei only had two goals on his mind: assist the hero and find him girls. The latter had led to nothing but bitter tears, but at least the mission at Ashen Cloud Sword Sect went somewhat smoothly. The hero got everything he could carry along with this metal piece. This item was held in fear by the righteous sects and sealed away by the sect leader of Ashen Cloud Sword Sect. Ming Kong only happened upon it by chance, but ruined so many lives because of its brief incantation and flash of light. Even Shen You died in the psychological shadow of thinking he had killed Nie Ting by accident.

After death, he was controlled as a puppet by Ming Kong for three years while his once-famous sect fell into decline and scattered. This piece of iron allowed one to control everything in hand. Mu He probably had similar plans by keeping it on him.

But now he had crushed it to pieces in one move.

Was he expressing his determination?

While Xie Zhiwei pondered his thoughts, he couldn’t remember the fate of the metal piece in the original novel. He only knew it was a tool Ming Kong used to ruin Shen You. But the protagonist’s looks and EQ were both excellent, so all of the girls in the book threw themselves willingly into his arms without any help.

Forget it. It might be another thing Gallant Outlaw glossed over with his cheap writing skills.

With Heart Sway Arts gone, he didn’t have to worry about Mu He following the footsteps of Ming Kong. Nor would the tragedy of Shen You ever occur again.

…speaking of which, I feel the protagonist’s a bit off today. After clearing up misunderstandings in the novel, the hero and heroine are supposed to fool around. Why is this so angsty? So dog blooded? So tormenting for both sides?

Pah! What do the hero and heroine have to do with me, Xie Zhiwei?

Mu He asked, “Is shizun satisfied?”

Xie Zhiwei only replied tangentially, “Now that there’s one less harmful object in the world, Sect Leader Shen and Sect Leader Nie should be at ease.”

Mu He didn’t buy it. “Disciple only wants to know if shizun is at ease too.”

Doing this doesn’t count for a thing when you’re full of tricks. Xie Zhiwei sighed and said sincerely, “Master will be at ease if you let Master go.”

“Impossible,” Mu He refuted immediately.

“Why?” Xie Zhiwei asked while concealing his anger.

“The outside world is dangerous. How could disciple not worry if shizun leaves?” Mu He’s tone was irrefutable. “Besides, disciple is the only one who can protect shizun nowadays.”

Only you can protect me—why does that line sound so weird? Xie Zhiwei gave a start. “How come?”

“Because disciple’s cultivation base is the only one on par with shizun in the entire world,” Mu He said righteously.

Xie Zhiwei’s jaw dropped. The words made so much sense that he was momentarily speechless. But doesn’t that imply the hero’s the only one in the world capable of bullying me too?

Mu He’s tone softened and took on a pleading quality. “Could shizun just stay? Disciple promises not to force shizun for anything. Is that enough?”

Xie Zhiwei silently disdained the protagonist for alternating soft and hard tactics. Look at those eyes, tearing up in a second. If I was a director, I’d give him an extra boxed lunch. Seems like I can’t refuse for now. He couldn’t very well not give face when the hero had already gone so far. That’d raise too many flags. Since Mu He wasn’t forcing the issue, staying here for now shouldn’t be bad.

At present, the protagonist had gotten stronger, the plot had mysteriously unfolded, and the love line was non-existent. Even if he ran away now, he had no other goals or targets. Though there didn’t seem much meaning in him sticking around, either.

Xie Zhiwei waved a hand, feeling somewhat weary. “I get it, you can leave.”

“But…”

Xie Zhiwei furrowed his eyebrows. “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t force things?”

Mu He shut up completely and obediently got off the bed. But he didn’t leave immediately, only saying in a small voice, “But shizun hasn’t changed clothes yet. Do you need disciple to—”

“I don’t,” Xie Zhiwei cut him off. “I can do it myself.”

Mu He’s cheeks were slightly red as his eyes traced Xie Zhiwei’s body from the waist downwards. His voice grew even quieter. “Disciple means to say, does shizun need disciple to arrange for hot water? Shizun’s clothes were, were dirtied by this disciple…”

Xie Zhiwei followed his line of sight and looked down before instantly understanding. In a flash, his temper surged before he sat up with a black face to grab a pillow and smash it at the other. “Get out!”

Mu He didn’t even dodge but took the projectile straight to the face. As a dignified and upright Shizi, he wasn’t angry at all but even smiled a little in return. He caught the pillow in his hands like a flower before setting it neatly back on the bed. When Xie Zhiwei lowered his eyelids, he heard the other murmur gently by his ear, “Then disciple shall arrange one for shizun.”

Xie Zhiwei was planning to turn and face the wall, but Mu He suddenly came close to peck him at the corner of his eye while blushing. This only added fuel to the fire. Once again, Xie Zhiwei picked up the pillow and smacked at him—only to hit air.

The person in front of the bed had already disappeared.

Xie Zhiwei reckoned he’d have trouble sticking to the original character settings if this kept on.

But…I think I’ve already lost control over them.

He told himself he wouldn’t lose his temper, but here he was throwing pillows. The hero didn’t even seem to see a problem. Didn’t he like Xie Zhiwei for his tolerance and calm?

Or does the hero not care about my personality at all?

After all this, Xie Zhiwei finally had a chance to reconnect with the System again. He didn’t need to worry about keeping up his act in there and starting roaring as soon as he was online.

“Gallant Outlaw, get the hell out of here ahhhhh!”

“Hey, what’s up Idol?” Gallant Outlaw accepted the call like a startled deer. “You’re in an awful mood, ah. What happened?”

“I’ll give you the authority to watch for yourself,” Xie Zhiwei said crabbily.

“Fine fine fine, calm down ah, Idol.” Gallant Outlaw coaxed before fretting, “You’ve never lost control before even though you were mad…you weren’t like this while acting as the original host, right?”

“It wasn’t that bad, I think,” Xie Zhiwei replied. “I just hit the hero with a pillow.”

Gallant Outlaw didn’t digest his words at first and echoed nervously, “You hit the hero with a pillow?”

“And it was even twice.”

—

Translator’s Note: Yanderes are fun, but my favorites are the ones who do their best to curb themselves. (Though I had a heart attack when first reading Mu He showing off Heart Sway Arts haha.) btw, lots of interesting reader comments from the raws coming up in the next few chapters, so I’ll be translating those for you guys too. It’s more fun to eat melon with friends!

Gallant Outlaw somewhere in the background: Also, my writing isn’t cheap! It’s logical and cool!