He heard himself say in a calm voice, āThank you, I have no more regrets. Go ahead and kill me now.ā
That person made a strange noise, then reached out and pinched his chin, laughing hoarsely by his ear. āAlright, Iāll fulfill your wish.ā
Fang Li felt a numbness at the back of his neck, then lost consciousness.
When he woke up once more.
He found that he was lying on a soft bed, and beneath his hands was the familiar feel of smooth silken embroidery.
It wasnāt the room from before.
But the grand dukeās estate.
ćSystem: What on earth is going on???ć
ćFang Li laughed mildly: Wonāt you know once you keep watching? ć
ćSystem: ā¦ā¦ć You were clearly the one who said you knew, but now that I ask you, you wonāt say. Host, do you think being like this is proper? The System was about to burst from curiosity.
Fang Li heard himself open his mouth and make a raspy noise. āSomeoneā¦ā¦ā
After a moment, an elderly voice said tremblingly, āMy lord, youāre finally awake!ā
Fang Li furrowed his brow.
His household naturally had maidservants. Uncle Zhang was the estateās head caretaker, so why would he need to personally wait upon him?
āMy lord, everything will be fine now that youāre awake, my lord. This old servant will go warm up some medicine, please wait a little whileā¦ā¦ā Although the old man tried hard to restrain his sorrow, his voice was still a bit choked up.
Fang Li realized that something was wrong, and his character also realized it.
Thus, he said in a heavy voice, āWhat happened?ā
Uncle Zhang fell silent for a while, but perhaps he realized that it couldnāt be concealed and finally said in a trembling voice, āMy lord, you left the evil shrine and went alone to Nothing Left Peak, then didnāt return for a very long time. The rumors outside all said that you died at Nothing Left Peak and took that monster to the grave with youā¦ā¦ Thus, the emperor expelled you from the imperial familyās ancestral line with the excuse that you disrespected the gods and fell onto the demonic path, then stripped you of your title of grand duke. When the tree fell, the monkeys scattered, and all the people in the estate left after receiving the news. Only this old servantā¦ā¦ this old servant didnāt believe that you would die just like thatā¦ā¦ So, so this old servant has been waiting at the estate all this timeā¦ā¦ This old servant knew that my lord couldnāt have died, my lord would definitely come backā¦ā¦ā
So that was it. This story was actually pretty logical.
Heād been missing for such a long time, and it was unknown whether he was alive or dead. The emperor had long found him a hindrance, so wouldnāt he definitely find an opportunity to retaliate?
If Fang Li had come back safe and sound, right now, the emperorās assassins would have already arrived.
But he was already half dead, his arm was severed, and his eyes were blind. It could even be considered a so-called fate worse than deathā¦ā¦ So the emperor instead wouldnāt touch him. Since the emperor hated him so much, he was naturally delighted to see Fang Li turned into a joke.
Only, to think that that person hadnāt killed himā¦ā¦
Fang Li was pensive.
Seeing as he hadnāt died, it meant the story hadnāt ended yet.
He already had some guesses, and a general grasp of things, so he started to relax and watch the show again.
The ducal estate these days was completely empty, with only Uncle Zhang present.
Uncle Zhang was like both father and mother, helping him change and boiling his medicine. He was already an old man approaching sixty, and tending to a disabled person all alone was truly not an easy taskā¦ā¦
Although it was only a dream, Fang Li was a bit embarrassed.
Luckily, the Grand Duke of Li was also a strong-minded character and wasnāt willing to be taken care of in such a way by someone. He stubbornly insisted on doing everything himself, and Uncle Zhang couldnāt win against him, so he could only let Fang Li eat and change himself. Although it was a little difficult, after a period of time, he gradually got used to it.
Although the estate was lonely and desolate these days, it was better than that little black room by who knows how much.
As a detached bystander watching the show, Fang Li was completely peaced out.
Only Uncle Zhang passed his days extremely sore of heart. Aside from his careful attendance, he also wept rivers of tears every day, making the slacker Fang Li feel a little awkward. After all, he didnāt really feel immersed in his character.
This sort of daily life passed in complete peace.
Time quickly flew by.
In the blink of an eye, several more months had passed.
The wounds on Fang Liās body were more or less healed.
Just when he was feeling a little impatient with the story and didnāt know how much longer he still had to wait, one day, Uncle Zhang suddenly staggered inside in a rush and shouted with delight and astonishment, āMy lord, my lord!ā
It had been a long, long time since Fang Li had heard Uncle Zhang speak in such a joyous tone. What kind of happy occasion was it? With his state, what kind of happy occasion could there be? It couldnāt beā¦ā¦
The next moment, he heard the sound of soft footsteps approaching, and a tender, low, hoarse voice said, āMy lord, Iāve returned.ā
Uncle Zhang was overjoyed to the point of tears, wiping his face as he stammered, āMy, my lord, my lady is back, how, how fortunate, how truly fortunateā¦ā¦ My lord, you, you didnāt wait for nothing!ā
These days, the lordās heart had become like ashes, and he lived like a walking corpse, as if he might disappear at any moment. These days, he was only waiting for death, nothing moreā¦ā¦ That the lord had become like this was all for the sake of one person. Now, that person had returned, so the lord should also be able to die without regrets.
Uncle Zhang couldnāt be more touched, and he looked at Xie Huai as if looking at a savior. He choked, āMy lady, this old servant will leave my lord to you to take care of. This old servant will take his leave.ā
Having said that, he conscientiously left the stage to them.
What a qualified NPC.
Fang Li thought.
He had already guessed what was happening, and he knew the direction the rest of the story was going in.
Although he couldnāt see, he could sense the other person come to his side and softly grasp his hand, saying in a soft, tender voice, āMy lord, Iāve finally returned.ā
The other person saw that he made no response and seemed a little nervous, explaining carefully, āThat day, I went up the mountain to pray for my lord. Along the way, I wasnāt careful and was captured by that monster. In order to preserve my innocence, I tricked that monster, saying that I had to think it over for a timeā¦ā¦ After that, I found a chance to escape with the help of a kind stranger. Who knew that after leaving the mountain, in my hurry to escape, I fell and was injured, and I couldnāt find anyone from the grand dukeās estateā¦ā¦ I stayed at a farmerās household to recover all this time and was finally able to healā¦ā¦ then rushed without rest back hereā¦ā¦ā
It seemed like a pretty reasonable explanation.
This should have been an extremely joyous reunionā¦ā¦
But Fang Li felt that his heart was without a ripple. He heard himself say in an indifferent voice, āThis lord always knew that the heavens would help the deserving, and that the grand duchess would come to no harm. If someone told this lord you had died, then they must be lying.ā
The other person paused slightly, and the hand grasping his tightened. He seemed to be in pain and full of self-blame, saying slowly, āItās all because I came back late, or my lord wouldnāt haveā¦ā¦ā
Fang Li remained tranquil as he said, āThese were all this lordās decisions. They have nothing to do with the grand duchess. The grand duchess mustnāt blame himself..ā
These words seemed to make the other person extremely touched. After a long time, the other person said in a daze, āMy lordā¦ā¦ Iā¦ā¦ā
Fang Li didnāt wait for the other person to keep speaking and pressed his lips together, saying word by word, āOnly, with the state this lord is in these days, this lord is powerless to defend himself. This lord canāt protect you anymore, so you should leave and not involve yourself with this lord anymore.ā
Those words were said with complete calm and indifference, as if they were discussing what to eat today.
The otherās breathing suddenly caught for a second, and after a moment, he said angrily, āDoes my lord really think Iām such a fickle and unfaithful person? That I followed my lord only for glory and riches? If thatās what my lord believes, then my lord underestimated my feelings.ā
Normally, at this time, the two of them should embrace each other in tears and swear never to part again no matter what trials they might face, spending the rest of their days together in love and affectionā¦ā¦
But Fang Li wasnāt like that.
He felt himself completely at peace. These were the emotions that his character was transmitting to him.
So he only lightly quirked the corners of his lips and said, āWhat, you didnāt do it for the sake of glory and riches?ā
That frivolous tone carried a bit of mocking intent. Any normal person would be infuriated into leaving.
The other personās breathing suddenly became a bit urgent, and the hand grasping his tightened until there was the sound of joints cracking, as if he was doing his utmost to restrain his anger. After a long time, he said in a very slow voice, āIf my lord wanted to use this kind of method to make me leave, that was a miscalculation.ā
Oh, a miscalculation, huh.
Fang Li could feel his characterās state of mind. The Grand Duke of Li was indeed thinking that, so heād intentionally used provocative words, but the other person still wasnāt willing to leave, which did actually surprise him a bitā¦ā¦
This dog-blooded play had already come to this point. It wasnāt going to forcefully push a happy ending, was it???
No way???
ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦
Because the grand duchess had returned, the heavy responsibility of taking care of the grand duke fell to him. Uncle Zhang suddenly became much more relaxed; the poor NPC was finally free. Fang Li thought that was probably the only benefit to the grand duchessā return.
That person actually did act like a gentle, considerate wife. Even though there wasnāt a single servant left in the estate, he didnāt complain at all and instead took out all of his own finances to procure more treatment and medicine for Fang Li, and he also personally took care of Fang Li.
Although Fang Li was always cold when speaking to himā¦ā¦ the grand duchess didnāt mind at all.
Seeing all this, Uncle Zhang was incredibly moved, continually persuading Fang Li to treat the grand duchess a little better. Even three lifetimes wasnāt enough to find a true companion like that who would never abandon you. What need was there to drive him away?
Fang Li could feel his own helpless exasperation.
He couldnāt do anything, either!
He was only watching the showā¦ā¦
As he watched, another period of time passed by.
That day, that person supported Fang Li to sit down as usual and combed his hair for him bit by bit, then helped him change his clothes and bent down to put on his shoes for him. After completing all of this, he said in a soft, smiling voice, āI made my lordās favorite lotus seed soup today. My lord, why donāt you try it for me and see if my skills have regressed?ā
Fang Li let the other do as he pleased, but after hearing him speak, he didnāt get up, but instead retrieved a letter from his robes and pushed it toward the other blandly, saying, āThis lord already knows that the grand duchess is indeed faithful and devoted, but this lord is fickle and unfaithful. Take this divorce letter and find someone proper.ā
The atmosphere fell silent for aĀ moment.
After a long time, he heard the other person clench his teeth and say, āDidnāt my lord say that we would spend our whole lives together, even when weāre old and gray?ā
Fang Li laughed, āThose were just some pretty words, nothing more. Itās not like this lord said them only to you. No need to take them seriously.ā
These words seemed to finally infuriate the other person, and he breathed harshly, yanking the divorce letter over and ripping it into pieces, then saying in a frigid voice, āMy lordās heart truly is ruthless.ā
Fang Li thought, youāre still not leaving?
The other enunciated word by word, āI wonāt be leaving!ā
Ohā¦ā¦
Fang Li heard himself speak again. āThen do as you please. This lord doesnāt have long to live anyways. When this lord dies, youāll have your freedom all the same.ā
He said it casuallyā¦ā¦
But the other personās aura suddenly became wholly terrifying.
He was no longer gentle, tender, and careful like in the past few days. Although Fang Li couldnāt see him, he could sense that the aura of the person before him was cold as if he were about to killā¦ā¦
Drip, drip.
It was the sound of the water that had accumulated on the rooftops from last nightās winter rainstorm slowly dripping down.
The room was silent and dark.
Just like that room in the past that he hadnāt been able to leave no matter what.
And the person before him.
Just like that cruel person who never spoke a word.
Fang Li felt a bit of curiosity. Could it be that the other person finally couldnāt bear it any longer and wanted to show his hand?
Just then, he felt the other person suddenly approach, and slightly cool fingertips softly swept past the side of his neck. That person lowered his head and approached, his lips lightly brushed his ear. āItās not out of the question if you want me to leave.ā
The other person paused for a moment, his voice somewhat low and hoarse. āOnce we make up our wedding night, Iāll leave and never bother my lord again.ā
Fang Li, āā¦ā¦ā
He finally panicked!
Actually, back in that dark room, when the other party had wanted to do this and that to him, when heād touched him, the Grand Duke of Li had sensed this personās identity, and when the Grand Duke of Li had touched that corpse, heād already understood the reasons behind it all.
Fang Li had also understood everything at that time.
That person was Xie Huai!
His grand duchess.
So the story was actually like thisā
Xie Huaiās identity in this dream was a survivor of the royal family of Xi, and he had approached the Grand Duke of Li for the sake of revenge. Back during their wedding night, those assassins had been arranged by him in order to kill the Grand Duke of Li, but the grand dukeās martial prowess was too high, and they hadnāt been able to succeed, so heād countered by taking an arrow for the grand duke.
First, so he could gain the grand dukeās trust; second, so he could wash himself free of suspicion; and third, so he could avoid really having to have his wedding night with the grand duke.
Three birds with one stone.
So no matter how the Grand Duke of Li investigated, he couldnāt find out the person behind the assassins, because that person was right by his side, and he had never suspected him by even a hair.
Later, the grand duke went to battle.
While using letters to settle the grand duke and deepen the grand dukeās feelings for him, heād also directed and acted out his own disappearance. He hadnāt been captured by that demon at all, so when the grand duke had gone to Nothing Left Peak, he hadnāt been able to find him no matter whatā¦ā¦
He had watched with eyes wide open as the grand duke exchanged his life for power, then rescued the grand duke while he was on the brink of death.
Tormenting him over and over again.
It was for the sake of getting revenge on his sworn enemy, to see him lose everything and suffer a fate worse than death.
These were all things Fang Li could understand, but what Fang Li couldnāt understand was why he had actually returned to the grand dukeās estate again!
The grand duke was also surprised that he would, but after knowing everything, he understood that nothing could return to how it was, so heād decided to let go.
The grand duke was unwilling to expose the other person, so heād intentionally used cold words to provoke him, wanting him to leave without worry. Who could have known that even like this, he would refuse to leave, and he even wanted to stay and have their wedding nightā¦ā¦
Fang Li thought for a long time, and the only thing that could explain this was that this nonsensical, dog-blooded story had made Xie Huai fall in love with him, his sworn enemy who had killed his whole family!
Helpā¦ā¦
This wasnāt the start of the story anymore.
By now, it was clearly approaching the finale.
Although Fang Li hadnāt read many of these types of novels before, he could still guess that in these types of romance novels, during the endings, they would definitely force things into a grand reunion.
So it was very possible that in the scene coming upā¦ā¦ they were really going to experience the great harmony of life.
This time, there wouldnāt be any more assassins to interrupt.
In his heart, Fang Li cursed this garbage plot for its absurdity. When they got out, he would definitely give Loverās Pass a bad review. They were already sworn enemies with the blood of oneās entire family between them, what kind of a happy ending did they still want to shove together?!
They might as well just keep hurting either all the way to the end!
Seeing that the other person had already approached and lifted him up and was heading toward the bed, Fang Li had already become totally numb!
Things couldnāt go on like this.
Even provoking someone had to be done in measures.
A suitable amount of provocation could make Xie Huai detest him and kill him when his cultivation was recovered, but going overboard with provocation would make Xie Huai want to take the both of them to the grave together right now, immediately.
If something really happened in the dream, Fang Li could guarantee that the first thing Xie Huai would do after coming out would be to stab him through with a sword.
So he definitely couldnāt go overboard.
Or else, it would be very easy to slip up.
Besides, there was still a very important point, which wasā¦ā¦
Even if he had to die, he still couldnāt possibly top a manā¦ā¦
Not even in his dreams!
When he thought up to here.
The strength of Fang Liās soul abruptly burst out, and his tremendous cultivation charged toward his forehead in a split second, immediately shattering the restrictions of the plot, and he took control of the body in the dream!
Then, in a single movement, he drew the sword hanging beside the bed!
He couldnāt see Xie Huaiās expression at this moment.
So he only lifted the corners of his lips and smiled at him, then, without a momentās hesitation, slit his own throat!
Donāt worry, I wonāt touch you even if I die!
ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦
The Author Has Something to Say:
Fang Li: I know you would rather die than do it with me, so Iāll end myself first!
Xie Huai: Says who : )
Author: That, honey, let me just humbly say one thing, have you never thought, that you might be the one being toppedā¦ā¦
Fang Li: Impossible, Xie Huai would rather die than get on top of a man.