Ch131 - Endgame

Xie Zhiwei forgot to turn off the screen for a while. He suddenly remembered that he had no idea back then how serious Mu He’s hallucinations were, nor did he bother taking care of the other’s feelings. That was the period when he was the coldest and most awful towards him.

But Mu He still said he liked his shizun.

Those emotions were no different than when he coaxed Mu He with flowery words after the three days three nights incident…from then on, Mu He didn’t waver no matter what Xie Zhiwei did or tried.

Xie Zhiwei had a poor temper but was very aware of his own image. Therefore, in his last life he didn’t like making friends or having deep connections with other people. In the end, he became the withdrawn and unapproachable film emperor in the eyes of the public. It helped him avoid a lot of trouble, but also lost him many things that a human life should have in this world.

Who was it that really gained something from transmigrating into this novel?

The images on screen played naturally to an end before Mu He’s figure blurred like special effects and sporadically faded away. The cold System interface replaced him.

Xie Zhiwei was still muttering to himself. “No good, no good at all.”

Gallant Outlaw only asked, “What’s no good? The hero’s actions?”

Xie Zhiwei didn’t deny it, but paused and asked, “Can the default choice be changed at any time?”

Gallant Outlaw thought it over. “Technically speaking, yes. But right now you can only enable the System once a day and there’s only 14 to 16 hours left. You won’t make it til tomorrow.”

Xie Zhiwei slowly lifted his head. “In other words, I only have one chance left to change it?”

“Hold on Idol, I’ll check the System processes, ah.” Gallant Outlaw flipped through the records before saying, “This is still pretty humane. The System will prompt you at the very end to confirm your choice. You can make one final change then. Remember, it’ll be the last chance. After that there’ll be nothing.”

Gallant Outlaw saw that Xie Zhiwei was still lost in silence after his words and couldn’t help asking, “Idol, you’ve been hesitating ever since you chose Option 1 last time and keep asking questions. Looks like this wasn’t the best choice after all. Want to consider Option 2?”

Xie Zhiwei still didn’t speak as he stared blankly at the hourglass trickling down.

Gallant Outlaw said, “Option 2 is so good, ah. Starting over fresh must be plenty interesting, right?”

“Going through your original plot?” Xie Zhiwei retorted.

“What, don’t want to? …Idol, did your tastes change?” Gallant Outlaw pondered over his thinking. “That’s okay too. Actually, I used your experiences with the protagonist to start a new story and found you perfectly avoid any dogblooded drama, ah. For example, you as Chi Yan could have had a mutual love-kill relationship with the hero, or the protagonist could have imprisoned you in a little black room forever to abuse your body and his own heart. Your conflicts with the King of Nine Provinces might’ve suddenly transformed into a conflict between you and the hero, breaking ties but not severing them completely…the majority of female readers love this kind of story. Even with a danmei tag, your experiences lack those explosive tropes.”

“Then doesn’t that mean the plot I’ve experienced is one of a kind?” Xie Zhiwei asked.

It sounded accusatory, but Gallant Outlaw actually sensed the deep feelings hidden beneath his sarcastic tone. He froze. “Idol, you couldn’t have…cough, you’re actually harboring feelings about the hero?”

“I don’t know.” Xie Zhiwei instinctively avoided the topic. “I just want to give it my all.”

“Idol, although what I’ll say sounds a little heartless, at this point you should just play for fun. Definitely don’t draw yourself in, there’s no need for that.” Gallant Outlaw had a rare moment of seriousness. “There’s not much time left. How certain are you of saving the protagonist?”

Xie Zhiwei looked at the spot where Mu He’s image had disappeared and suddenly said, “I’m sorry for him.”

“Ah?” Gallant Outlaw’s eyes widened.

“I said, I’m sorry for him,” Xie Zhiwei repeated. He paused, then added, “I’m also sorry for lots of other people.”

Mu He should have lived a glorious life, but his appearance caused the entire plot to deviate from canon. The main character who barely suffered after his rebirth was now hanging to life by a thread. As for the rest: Cheese lost an arm, Mengmeng died, the disciples of the Buddhist and daoist sects were injured in the previous attack, and all the people of the capital city were displaced…

How could he be qualified to make a different choice?

Xie Zhiwei took a deep breath before slowly exhaling. “Just think of me as someone relapsing into chuunibyou who wants to be a superhero that saves the world.”

Gallant Outlaw couldn’t say anything to that. He looked at his so-called Idol in a brand new light. As a normal dead citizen, he and a big celebrity like Xie Zhiwei were from two completely different worlds. The Xie Zhiwei he knew was lowkey with a personality and a bad temper. After meeting the actual person, Xie Zhiwei more or less fit those descriptions, so he’d always been humbling himself to flatter him any way he could. As time passed, he got used to Xie Zhiwei’s attitude, but he’d only ever paid attention to the storyline and its characters, not the transmigrator Xie Zhiwei.

Since when had Xie Zhiwei been willing to care about the feelings of Mu He and other characters without the plot or System forcing him?

Moreover, everything he was doing now had no relation to the System at all.

Xie Zhiwei’s appearance transformed the plot and changed Mu He. But hadn’t Xie Zhiwei been changed by the plot and Mu He as well? He had already become a part of this world.

A world created by him, its author.

Gallant Outlaw suddenly laughed.

Xie Zhiwei pursed his lips. “Mm, it is a little ridiculous.”

“No, I’m happy,” Gallant Outlaw withdrew his smile. “Idol, I should thank you.”

“What are you raving about now?”

“Thank you Idol, for treating this world and every character I’ve written so seriously,” Gallant Outlaw said sincerely. “Teacher Xie, you’re a good actor. You’ll always be my Idol.”

Xie Zhiwei’s face flickered with complex emotions when he heard the word “actor.” He only replied, “Isn’t that obvious.”

Gallant Outlaw laughed foolishly a few times again before encouraging him. “Idol, do your best. That new story of mine is almost done, but whether it’s a happy or bad ending depends on you. I wish you success in saving this world before you leave!”

—

When Xie Zhiwei left the System, he realized that was probably the last time he and Gallant Outlaw would ever speak again.

He thought things were getting interesting: striving to make a difference, acting hot-blooded; in a flash he was back to his middle school days.

Currently it was bright with the fires unabating. Ice and snow had been melted by the heat for miles around him, while a layer of clouds still obscured the sky and blocked even the sun. The entire Yin Estate had been engulfed by the spell formation, preventing anyone from seeing inside.

Xie Zhiwei schooled his patience as he continued to explore around the compound. He couldn’t resist rereading the details of the master and disciple in the new story again. There were two places where the cheeky disciple claimed that his master liked him, with one pursuing and the other shooing off, which was very amusing. He couldn’t even help chuckling a couple of times even as his eyes gradually dimmed.

By the time Yan Zhifei and the others arrived, they saw this scene:

Xie Zhiwei holding Qingping Sword was strolling outside the Yin Estate, his crow-gray robes covered with a sheen of red light. From time to time he looked into the depths of the flaming sea with a mixture of sorrow and joy on his features.

Chu Zhishi observed this and muttered to Yan Zhifei, “This is bad. My second senior brother must have lost his mind from anxiety because he can’t rescue his disciple.”

The King of Nine Provinces’ pupils shrank before he ran over to grab Xie Zhiwei by the lapels. “Where’s Yin Cangshan? And Royal Son?”

Xie Zhiwei pointed at the flaming Yin Estate.

The King of Nine Provinces lost his voice. “You still haven’t saved him yet?”

Chu Zhishi dragged the king away with one arm. “Can’t you see it’s covered in hostile qi? How dangerous is that? Just a single bit blew up the entire Buddhist sect last time. How is second senior brother supposed to go in?”

“Yin Cangshan is there too?” Yan Zhifei asked.

Xie Zhiwei nodded with fatigue. It seemed that some unseen force was sucking his energy away with every minute that trickled by. This was the first time he felt so powerless towards the plot.

Time Remaining: 10 Hours.

Yan Zhifei peered at his expression and said, “Zhiwei, rest for a bit. Do what you can.”

“Xie Zhiwei, how did you promise this king?” The King of Nine Provinces stepped forward to demand, but Chu Zhishi blocked him like a mountain. Helpless yet angry, he could only exclaim, “You have Golden Lotus, what’s there to fear?”

Yan Zhifei’s voice grew heavy. “The Golden Lotus isn’t omnipotent. If anything happens to Zhiwei inside, then there will be no one to save Mu He.”

Du Sheng caught up as well and sighed. “The power of this field is extraordinary. Those who enter would be left with no bones. Although Xie zhenren has strong spiritual power, he may not be able to protect himself.”

The King of NIne Provinces broke out in sweat from worry. He gave one last glare to Xie Zhiwei before tossing his sleeves and sat on the ruins irregardless of his image. Then there was a meow that alarmed the crowd. Following that, a white shadow struggled out from beneath the king‘s robes.

Dog’s dirty body slipped out of the rubble before he meowed angrily and pounced to bite the King of Nine Provinces’ hand. The latter didn’t evade in time and wore a painful grimace while the guards hastened to pull the animal off, but in vain. Instead, they stoked Dog’s ire and it bit down even tighter.

Chu Zhishi gloated at his misfortune and laughed under his breath. “This fat cat’s pretty biased towards that brat. Has it been guarding this place the entire day? Perfect, he can vent for second senior brother’s sake.”

Meanwhile, Yin Wushuang had huffily marched out of the crowds with an anxious air. “Where’s my father? Where did my father go?”

Chu Zhishi gestured in Xie Zhiwei’s direction with his chin. There was nothing but a sea of flames and red light there.

Yin Wushuang’s eyes flooded with tears as she screamed, “You guys promised me not to kill him! Liars! You’re all liars!”

The King of Nine Provinces knitted his brows before raising his hand. Immediately a few guards came to surround Yin Wushuang and carry her away. She struggled and kept crying out “Liars!” as she was forced into a carriage and driven off.

Xie Zhiwei looked at the king while feeling somewhat reluctant. There was still Dog hanging off the man’s arm as he said, somewhat unhappily, “Don’t worry, this king won’t go so far to act against a child. But she’ll only be in the way if she stays here, so I’ve sent her into the palace for Chongyun to look after.”

Xie Zhiwei nodded and said no more.

There was no guarantee that Yin Cangshan was dead yet, but if they couldn’t enter the spell formation, it wouldn’t matter whether or not he survived. Xie Zhiwei gripped Qingping Sword and stared at the skies, deciding to try one more gamble.

Yet after guarding bitterly for an entire afternoon, there were still no signs of movement within the formation.

Time Remaining: 4 Hours.

It would almost be night soon. Could he wait until moonlight appeared?

Chu Zhishi saw Xie Zhiwei fixated on the sky and asked, “Second senior brother, are you waiting for something?”

Xie Zhiwei shook his head subconsciously. “Youngest junior brother, set up a formation for me. I want to sleep awhile.”

Chu Zhishi was startled. He looked at everyone’s tense expressions around them and felt that Xie Zhiwei was behaving very abnormally. “Second senior brother, you’re really in the mood to nap? I thought you’d be too worried about that kid to do anything.”

Xie Zhiwei said calmly, “I have to sleep.”

The margin of victory was getting smaller and smaller. If he tried his best and still failed tonight, then he should at least see him one last time before he left.

Xie Zhiwei found a secluded place, sat down with his legs crossed, and closed his eyes. Very soon, he was in a place of darkness and heard the voice he missed most at the moment.

“Is that shizun? Is shizun finally willing to see me?”

There were no images this time nor even their figures. Mu He’s spiritual energy was weak to the point that he could only enter dreams and do nothing else.

“Yes,” Xie Zhiwei blurted out. “Master is here.”

—

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