The manās face was pale white, and those gray eyes were dim and lifeless. The man looked in his direction woodenly, as if heād thoroughly given up on everything.
And all of this had been caused by him.
In the dream, this person was his sworn enemy who had destroyed his family. In order to get revenge, he hadnāt hesitated to make use of his feelings, watching with eyes wide open as that person gave up everything for himā¦ā¦ Watching him fall from noble, lofty grand duke to the point of being half-dead. Then, Xie Huai had finally appeared and brought this person back.
He hated him, and he should have killed him straight away, yet he couldnāt bear to, couldnāt let go.
So heād silently stood guard by his side, watching him brave forward without a second thought time after time despite knowing that the outside was covered in thorns. Knowing that Xie Huai was his sworn enemy, yet putting down his pride just to search for his corpse.
To share the same path in life and the same tomb in death. This person had carved this sentence into his heart, never forgetting it for a moment.
It was probably precisely because this person had paid his all without complaints or regrets, not sparing a single thingā¦ā¦ so the him inside the dream had still fallen for him in the end, despite the sea of blood that lay between them.
In the end, he had returned to his side.
But that person made him leave, because he knew now, knew that that person was him, but even after knowing the truth, knowing that everything was part of his scheme, that person still chose to let go, to the point that he was unwilling to expose Xie Huai.
Probably because this beautiful lie was the only thing he had left.
So he couldnāt give it up, couldnāt shatter it just like that.
He wanted to take this beautiful dream to the grave with him.
Xie Huai looked at him, and in the end, he still fell in love with someone that he shouldnāt love. The emotions in the dream tangled in threads and strands, like mist seeping into the ground, softening the hard, dry ground bit by bit. In the midst of a dazeā¦ā¦ heād already picked this person up. He said to him, as long as they made up their wedding night, he would left and never disturb him again.
But those words werenāt sincere. He was never going to leave again. He only wanted to accompany him to the last moments of life.
He wanted to do many, many things to him, wanted to entangle in affection with him.
To take all of those mistakes and make them up to him.
Xie Huai knew he shouldnāt continue on like this. This was merely a dream, nothing more. After waking up, it would be nothing. Everything in the dream was fake, and those thoughts werenāt his, yet he was too deep in the dreamā¦ā¦
Even knowing that all of these were the emotions of the dream, he still madly, uncontrollably wanted to get closer to this person.
Even though he clearly knew that he should kill him, he couldnāt strike.
Even though he clearly knew that he should leave, he still came back.
Tormenting each other without release.
Unwilling to part, unable to let go.
What would happen next.
He was fully aware.
For the first time, Xie Huaiās heart was a knotted mess. He knew he shouldnāt, yet he actually felt a trace of anticipation, as if he really were the person in the dream right now, wanting toā¦ā¦
It was also precisely at this momentā
The eyes of the person in his arms suddenly blazed with bright light. Fang Li had actually forcefully broken through the restraints of the dream! With a single movement, he drew the sword by the bedside and raised the corners of his lips to smile at him, and then, without any hesitation, slit his own throat!
This scene happened too quickly.
To the point that Xie Huai didnāt have any time at all to stop itā
He fiercely stretched out his hand, but all he grabbed onto was thin air when the sight before his eyes vanished like a mirage.
He woke up from the dream.
Xie Huai raised his eyes in a daze.
The pale, wan man was standing calmly in front, his expression languid and carefree, his posture leisurely and relaxed. He was still alive and well, standing there whole and unharmedā¦ā¦
Thank goodness, it was only a dream.
This was the first, unconscious thought in Xie Huaiās heart.
Following that, his eyes dimmed.
But even knowing none of it was realā¦ā¦
Xie Huai still had no way to forget the scene before his eyes just now, no way to forget the smile that Fang Li had shown him at the end, as well as that decisive, unhesitating swing of the sword.
You kept saying over and over that you wanted to pray for union fated across lifetimes, and youāve already stayed through all of the infatuation and torment just for the sake of a good dream, yet at that very last moment, you would rather end your own life rather than reallyā¦ā¦ why? Are you that scared of really compelling meā¦ā¦
Xie Huai closed his eyes, his mood extremely heavy.
Butā¦ā¦
How fortunate that everything in the dream was fake, how fortunate that things between us arenāt really like that.
I hope that in the future, no matter what the situation, no matter for whose sakeā¦ā¦ even for me.
You wonāt hurt yourself.
Only, Iām afraid that I wonāt be able to return these feelings that you have. After all, you and I walk different paths.
When he thought up to here, he actually felt a trace of guilt.
The other person was clearly a vile and unforgivable devil, and heād once sword to kill him, but in the end, his heart had softened, had wavered.
Things shouldnāt be like this between them.
After Fang Li slit his own throat, the illusion immediately disappeared, and they came out of the dream.
Because they had broken the illusion by force, they werenāt at the exit of Loverās Pass right now, but were instead standing on a soft surface that felt fleshy to step on. Just what kind of place was this? Was this where the illusions were created?
Truthfully, although this Loverās Pass used a rotten mess of a script, they still had a thing or two. Manufacturing that many dreams night and day without rest and letting thousands of people dream together at the same time wasnāt something an average person could do.
Fang Li was a little curious. Although the surface of the ground looked smooth, it seemed to be faintly trembling. Interestingā¦ā¦
He narrowed his eyes, then suddenly raised his foot and stomped down hard!
Peals of pained cries rang out, and the surface beneath his feet unfurled like flower blossoms, the layers and layers unfolding along with the sound of rustling. It turned out that they were actually standing inside a massive flower.
It looked like the dreams of this Loverās Pass were created by this flower spirit.
Seeing that it couldnāt hide, the flower spirit trembled and rustled, instinctively sensing that Fang Li was dangerous. Even after being stomped on, it didnāt make a sound. If it were anyone elseā¦ā¦ it wouldāve tossed them into a nightmare long ago!
But faced with Fang Li, it didnāt dareā¦ā¦
Fang Li widened his eyes with interest, his gaze roaming around, and he said leisurely, āDidnāt this lord say early that if this dream couldnāt please this lord, this lord would burn this place to the ground?ā
Flower: ā¦ā¦ Who did I provoke?! QAQ
Xie Huaiās jaw was clenched tight, his lips pressed together without a word. He looked at Fang Liās reckless, laughing appearance, yet what appeared before his eyes was his withered appearance in the dream, his eyes hollow and vacant.
You wanted to seek out a lovely dream, but in the dream, I turned my back on you, so your dissatisfaction isnāt without cause.
Fang Li was joking, wanting to scare the flower spirit a little. Who knew that when he looked around, he would see Xie Huai with a stiff face and a grave appearance? His heart couldnāt help but make a thump.
Heād obviously already stopped things in time in the end, so why did Xie Huaiās expression look this bad?
Had he really gone overboard?
Recalling Xie Huaiās dainty, artificial manner in the dream, he thought, it looked like heād still accidentally pulled a bit too much enmityā¦ā¦
With a guilty conscience, Fang Li felt his scalp go numb, and he subconsciously wanted to take a step back. But he recalled that he was the demon lord right now, and making a fool out of himself like that wouldnāt do, so he forcefully stopped his feet.
It looked like he could only make his move against the flower spirit for the sake of alleviating Xie Huaiās anger. Who told you to pick such a rotten script?
At this point, you canāt escape punishment!
Fang Li waved his sleeves, and an imposing aura exploded from his entire body. He said in a dark and foreboding voice, āDo you know what the outcome of offending this lord is?ā
The flower spirit whimpered, scared to tears.
As it cried, all of its petals rustled and trembled, opening and closing without pause. The ground beneath their feet was like a wave of flowers, and a sound appeared in their minds.
āSob sob sob,Ā please spare me,Ā sob sob sob, Iām only an innocent little flower, Iāve never, ever hurt anyone, I only wanted to give all of the lovers a lovely dream,Ā sob sob sobĀ sob, forgive me!ā
It hiccuped as it cried, āSob sob sob sob,Ā thereās, thereās so many people who dream every day, itās hard to avoid having some that arenāt to our guestsā tastes, but even if we pick a dream that the guests arenāt pleased with, the guests can still choose to end the dream. How would I dare to force our guests to have a dream they donāt like? The reputation of our Loveās Pass is real, everything is done with the customerās satisfaction as the priority, besides, guests, didnāt you also forcefully come out of the dream?Ā Sob sob sob sobā¦ā¦ I really didnāt do it on purpose,Ā sob sob sobā¦ā
Fang Liās expression abruptly froze.
It, it seemed like that really was the caseā¦ā¦
Thinking back on it, he had indeed broken through the illusion very easily, but at the time, heād burst out his entire strength and hadnāt thought twice about it, and heād thought it was because he was too strongā¦ā¦
So, this dream could actually be ended any time?
Fang Li couldnāt help but turn to look at Xie Huai.
Xie Huaiās face was heavy as stone, and his expression was even worse than before by a hundred times.
Although the dream had been preposterous, bizarre, and ridiculous, when he was inside the dream, he had only paid attention to the person before himā¦ā¦ He hadnāt thought about this at all, but had allowed himself to sink into itā¦ā¦
Crack.
The joints of Xie Huaiās fingers cracked.
Flower: ā¦ā¦ Iāve clearly already explained very clearly, so how come the guests seem to be even more angry? Before, there was only one person looking to kill, but now thereās two!Ā Sob sob sob, just what had it done wrong?Ā Sob sob sob sob sob!
Fang Li also sensed Xie Huaiās killing intent, and his whole body shivered.
Last time heād felt Xie Huaiās killing intent had been because heād accidently left him alone for seven days and nights after using the love parasite on him.
Cold sweat dripped down Fang Liās forehead. He, he really had gone overboard, it seemedā¦ā¦
He hadnāt in a thousand years imagined that the dream could be exited at any time. The reason that Xie Huai hadnāt freed himself could only be because his cultivation had been sealed, and he had no way to break through the illusion. Now, listening to the flower spiritās words, heād immediately thought of his imprisonment and lack of freedom. Being forced to have such a humiliating dream was shameful enough, but now it was even being brought up to his face. How was he supposed to save face?
Wasnāt this basically adding oil to the fire?
Flower: āSob sob sob sob, I really donāt dare to force our guests to dream,Ā sob sob sob sob sob sob, Iām only an innocent little flower, I only wanted to give some lovers a nice dream, at, at most, I just take a few spirit stonesā¦ā¦Ā sob sob sob sob, how about, I return those three spirit stones to youā¦ā¦ No, Iāll compensate with thirty spirit stones!Ā Sob sob sobā¦ā¦ā There were occasionally dissatisfied guests, but if they werenāt especially hard to handle, it definitely wouldnāt return their moneyā¦ā¦
Fang Li said coldly, āShut up!ā
Flower: āSob sob sobā¦ā¦ hiccup.ā
It was so terrified it didnāt dare cry, only hiccuping.
Fang Li cautiously glanced at Xie Huai, then turned his head and looked at the flower spirit under his feet. He gave a light cough and said, āYou donāt even know that you should say such an important thing beforehand? Isnāt that your own problem?ā
The flower spirit was extremely aggrieved, but it didnāt dare retort.
This time, Fang Li wasnāt in the mood to tease the flower spirit. He only wanted to quickly bring Xie Huai away from here, but just as he was about to reach out to take Xie Huaiās hand, he saw the Xie Huai who was as stingy with words as if they were gold open his mouth to say coldly, āRidiculous. If theyāre truly in love, what use have they for a dream? If not, what use is a dream to them?ā
Very true, very true. As expected of the protagonistĀ shouĀ going the stone-hearted, logical route! He never indulged in tiresome matters of love and looked at desire as if it were manure!
Fang Li gave the flower spirit a sidelong glance and reprimanded coldly, āNext time, find a better story. Stop using these kinds of terrible, dog-blooded scripts.ā
Creating dreams wasnāt too bad, but that dream was really too garbage. After killing his entire family, you still want him to fall in love with his sword enemy? It was even more nonsensical than the book heād transmigrated into! If things went on like this, sooner or later, someone was going to make a fuss!
When he was done speaking, Fang Li pulled Xie Huai by the hand and dragged him away.
Having weathered the deadly storm, the flower spirit sat there in a daze.
Were its stories not good?
Its dreams were all made to fit according to each guest. All of the guests before were very satisfied?
Besides, what was wrong with that dream? It had all kinds of twists and turns, suspense and stimulation, love and hate, affection and enmity, and at the end, there was a big reunion and a happy ending. It was really a very touching, unforgettable love storyā¦ā¦
The flower spirit felt extremely aggrieved.
Maybe its scripts really were out of date? Recently, it seemed like the story of the demon lord and Yuyi-jun was very popular, and there were tons of different versions of novels about them. Since it was so popular, it should be a good scriptā¦ā¦
Maybe it should fix it up a bit and use that?
ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦
Fang Li dragged Xie Huai directly away from Loverās Pass.
They stepped out of the white mist.
With a single glance, Fang Li spotted Wu Yimei standing guard outside. Wu Yimei really was a good subordinate who gave his all. His boss had gone off with his little lover to play, and he still didnāt know to give himself a vacationā¦ā¦
He was really too honest.
Actually, even if you ran off for a bit, I wouldnāt blame you.
Wu Yimei stepped forward as soon as he saw Fang Li come out. When his gaze swept over them, it fell onto their tightly clasped hands, and his eyes immediately darkened.
For the past fewĀ shichen, he had waited here without moving, just to wait for Fang Li to come out.
He knew Fang Li and Xie Huai had entered the dream.
When had His Excellency ever paid attention to these things before? Even less had he cared about things like love and romance, viewing it all as a shamā¦ā¦ He was such a cold-hearted, ruthless person who looked down on the whole world, yet he broke precedent over and over again for Xie Huai. He was even willing to go to a little coupleās spot like this with Xie Huai just for the sake of spending a lovely dream togetherā¦ā¦
Before, His Excellency had said over and over that he wouldnāt fall for Xie Huai, that he was only using him. But looking at things now, whether he was making use of him still stood to be seen, but he had clearly already fallen for him.
Those words had only been for the sake of reassuring Wu Yimei so that he wouldnāt act against Xie Huai.
His Excellency had gone to such painstaking lengths, all of it for Xie Huaiās sake.
Wu Yimei tightly clenched his teeth.
He took in a deep breath and pressed down all of his jealousy and unease, then stepped forward to welcome them.
He said respectfully, āYour Excellency, this subordinate has already made arrangements at the inn. Will Your Excellency rest for the night before departing again?ā
Oh? Considerate as always.
Fang Li nodded with satisfaction, saying, āAlright.ā
As it happened, he was a little tired.
Wu Yimei led the carriage over respectfully and helped Fang Li inside. As for Xie Huai, he only coolly shot him a glance and pretended not to see him.
Xie Huai didnāt even look at Wu Yimei and followed behind Fang Li directly into the carriage.
Very quickly, they arrived at the inn.
Wu Yimei had considerately prepared three rooms, ensuring that His Excellency could rest well at night.
The three of them appeared calm as they each entered a room.
Fang Li went into the room lazily. The inn was pretty decent, and what Wu Yimei had prepared was naturally the best. After cleaning up, he was about to rest when he suddenly heard a knock at the door.
Although Fang Li had had his doubts, he still said, āCome in.ā
Wu Yimei pushed the door open and entered, his gaze resting on Fang Li.
Fang Li had a crude stone talisman hanging at his hip. The talisman had been bound with red string, and it swung from his waist.
His Excellency was used to wearing all black and never liked to wear any kind of accessories, but today, he was carefully wearing this loverās talisman that cost just three spirit stones, never taking it off once during the whole journey.
How was this loverās talisman a match for His Excellency?
His Excellency couldnāt really believe that he and Xie Huaiās hearts could be tied forever this way? Do you really care about that person this muchā¦ā¦
Wu Yimei finally couldnāt watch on any longer.
Xie Huai didnāt like His Excellency at all. Right now, he was only making compromises and pretending to ingratiate himself for the sake of finding a chance to kill His Excellency. If His Excellency insisted on going down the wrong path and loving with someone who wanted to kill him, he was bound to get hurt.
But His Excellency didnāt like it when Wu Yimei opposed Xie Huai and warned him over and over again that he wasnāt allowed to stick his hand in matters concerning Xie Huai. If he really did secretly make a move, forget the fact that he wouldnāt be able to hide it from His Excellency, he was afraid that it would have the opposite effect and make His Excellency feel even more affection for Xie Huai and estrange himself from Wu Yimei.
Wu Yimeiās expression was somewhat solemn. He stepped forward and said slowly, āThis subordinate has something he has to say.ā
Fang Li looked at Wu Yimeiās extremely grave appearance and thought, what kind of important thing was this aboutā¦ā¦ He couldnāt help but stand at attention, saying, āSpeak.ā
Wu Yimei said word by word, āYour Excellency, in the beginning, you led the demonic horde to besiege Cloudbank Keep and captured Xie Huai in front of the whole world, forcing him to submit to you. Xie Huai definitely wonāt like you. No matter how diligent you are, what use is it? There wonāt be any results from trying to obtain something by force like this.ā
Fang Liās expression sank, and he pretended displeasure as he said, āThis lord has already said, donāt bring this matterā¦ā¦ā Up againā¦ā¦
But Wu Yimei didnāt retreat this time. He suddenly looked up and met Fang Liās eyes. āIf you really like him, it would be better to let him go. That could also count as fulfilling his wishes.ā
Fang Li was startled.
He almost thought he was hallucinating.
Wu Yimei was actually persuading him to let Xie Huai go??? Instead of telling him to kill Xie Huai???
āXie Huai wonāt be happy being forced to stay by your side like this, but will only hate you more. Are you really willing to watch him be unhappy and depressedā¦ā¦ Why not let him go, and maybe heāll even remember Your Excellency with fondnessā¦ā¦ā After he was done speaking, Wu Yimei immediately knelt to the ground. āThis subordinate has been too bold. Begging Your Excellencyās forgiveness.ā
He really did want to monopolize Fang Li and didnāt want anyone else by Fang Liās side, but his concern for Fang Li was also genuine.
He couldnāt watch His Excellency continue to sinkā¦ā¦
His Excellency had always listened to no one but himself and didnāt like it when others argued with him. Today, heād committed a great taboo, but even if His Excellency punished him, these words still had to be said.
Xie Huai couldnāt be allowed to stay!
Fang Li looked at Wu Yimei.
It looked like all of his efforts had finally paid off!
Wu Yimei had finally stopped opposing Xie Huai and opened his mind. Even if his goal was still to drive Xie Huai away, his methods had become much less underhanded, and he no longer tried to convince him to kill Xie Huai, nor did he secretly make trouble for Xie Huai anymore. On the contrary, he was openly and honestly borrowing the excuse of thinking for Xie Huaiās sake to have him return Xie Huaiās freedom.
Heād changed his outlook on life!
Fang Li felt incredibly gratified.
How could he bear to get angry with such an obedient, studious, well-taught subordinate?
Fang Li reached out his hand and helped Wu Yimei up, saying gently, āThis lord understands your concern for this lord. Why would this lord blame you?ā
Wu Yimei lifted his head and looked at Fang Li, falling into a pair of tender eyes, and his heart couldnāt help but skip a beat.
He, he had said such outrageous things, but His Excellency wasnāt angry at all and was even being so kind to himā¦ā¦
Wu Yimeiās lips moved slightly, and his expression was complicated. āYour Excellencyā¦ā¦ā
Fang Li was very satisfied with Wu Yimeiās transformation, so of course he wouldnāt attack his self-confidence. At this time, he should be encouraging and affirming and put Wu Yumei at ease, so he sighed softly and said, āThis lord will let him go, but not right now.ā
Wu Yimei was a little afraid to believe it. āYour Excellency will reallyā¦ā¦ā
Fang Li slowly nodded, his tone assured as he said, āWhen has this lord ever lied?ā
Anyways, there was only a little over a month until the end of the story. By then, he would have died, so wasnāt that the same as letting Xie Huai go? It didnāt count as lying to Wu Yimei.
Fang Li said, āIt wonāt be much longer.ā
ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦.
Xie Huaiās room was two rooms away from Fang Liās instead of being lined up together. How could Wu Yimeiās thoughts be hidden from him? Was he that afraid of Xie Huai being together with Fang Li?
Although the rooms werenāt together, as a cultivator, Xie Huaiās senses were extremely sharp, and no movement on this floor was hidden from him.
So when Wu Yimei knocked on Fang Liās door in the middle of the night, Xie Huai heard it all.
Now what business did that master and servant pair have to discuss?
What did they have to say that had to be done so secretively and hidden away from him?
Fang Li had always been like this in the past. No matter what it was, he wouldnāt hide anything from him, but only when he was with Wu Yimei, he would never let Xie Huai stayā¦ā¦
Before, Xie Huai had told himself that he didnāt need to be curious about these things. Whatever Fang Li wanted to talk about with Wu Yimei, it was his freedom to do so.
But tonight.
Xie Huai sat alone in the room.
He thought about Wu Yimei quietly going to look for Fang Li again. Wu Yimei had always found Xie Huai unpleasant, so who knew what he was saying behind his back? Xie Huai didnāt think Fang Li was someone who easily believed what others said, and even less did he believe that Wu Yimei could incite Fang Li.
Besides, even if Wu Yimei said something, it was all true. From the start, he and Fang Li stood on irreconcilable sidesā¦ā¦
He shouldnāt care about these things
But when he closed his eyes, he saw the affectionate, short-lived appearance of the person in the dreamā¦ā¦ Before he had even thought things through, heād already quietly gotten up and arrived at Fang Liās door.
Xie Huai pressed his lips tightly together. After a long time, he breathed in deeply.
Perhaps, Wu Yimei and Fang Li were discussing attacking the righteous sects. If his momentās negligence allowed the demonic sects to incite chaos and bring disaster to the world, then that would be his responsibilityā¦ā¦ So, even if he listened in a bit, so what?
Thinking thus, Xie Huai bent his ear to listen.
And then he heard Fang Li say, āThis lord will let him go.ā
ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦
The Author Has Something to Say:
Fang Li: Itās all part of the script, donāt take it seriously.