The figure of Zhao Xuan, Yun You recalled it in her mind no less than ten thousand times. Each time, she was filled with such hatred that her teeth itched, desperately wishing to tear his flesh and drink his blood.

But finally, this process of revenge turned out to be so simple. There was no more slaughter, no verbal sparring, merely sketching a full stop in the books, and everything was over...

In previous acts of revenge, each time wasn't it fought with all her might? But when it came to the main culprit, Zhao Xuan, things became so simple. So simple that Yun You found it somewhat unreal.

She pinched her leg, it hurt, seemed it wasn't an illusion.

Only then did she finally understand that everything before her wasn't a dream, but a reality that had already happened.

"Thud..."

Yun You's legs suddenly felt weak, unsteady, she collapsed against the bookshelf with a "bang".

All along, her body and spirit had been tense, highly strung.

This was both because she had lived in danger for years, with her life insecure, having to always be vigilant of her surroundings... and also because she took the word "revenge" too seriously, even seeing it as the entire meaning of her life.

Therefore, when her final goal was achieved so easily, aside from the initial joy and excitement, there was a greater sense of emptiness that was indescribable.

The string that propelled her to keep moving forward, fighting desperately to become stronger, snapped at this moment.

Thus, the joyful mood gradually disappeared, replaced by a tide of emptiness and confusion, and... an unspeakable sadness.

Revenge... Even if successful, so what? It couldn't restore her parents' lives.

She always thought she wanted revenge, to plunge the blade into the enemy's heart, to personally witness those bastards draw their last breath.

But now, she finally understood.

What she wanted was never this, the so-called revenge was merely a "mental anesthetic" to cover up the sorrow of her parents never returning.

At first, the girl only sobbed softly, but as this "anesthetic" lost its effect, large tears uncontrollably overflowed from her eyes.

In outsiders' eyes, she was a warrior, seemingly weak but inwardly as strong as steel, with no person or thing able to shake her unyielding will.

But the so-called iron will, after all, was just another disguise of hers.

Over a year ago, the girl who lived carefree under her parents' shadow in Lower City, that was her real self.

But Nest City is ruthless, it's a giant furnace that will distort and change everyone's appearance and character.

During those unspeakably suffocating days in the past, Yun You had no one to rely on, only trusting her fists.

"..."

Deng did not disturb Yun You, merely waited silently by her side, knowing that at this time, no one could console Yun You. To emerge from the sorrow and confusion, the little girl could only rely on herself.

Eventually, Yun You barely managed to stabilize her emotions, holding onto the bookshelf, she slowly stood up.

After such a vent, her spirit somewhat recovered, outwardly at least, that self-abandoned look was no longer visible.

Yet Deng could see that in the girl's eyes lay an unmistakable loneliness.

It hadn't manifested now only because she was still maintaining that disguise, keeping the mask on her face.

For a moment, Deng didn't know what to say, thus the vast library returned to silence.

"Deng..."

After a while, Yun You was the one to break the silence.

"Who are you really?"

She asked a question long buried in her heart, trying to dispel the emptiness within.

"Who I am doesn't matter."

Deng shook her head, speaking softly: "Because I'm restricted, I don't have much ability to change the real world. I can only operate within this grand library, and once I leave the library, 'I' become meaningless, unable even to leave a name."

"As for why I'm helping you..."

She shook the lollipop in her hand, laughing: "Well naturally, it's because you've always been supplying me with candy~ I'm not someone who likes to owe people, since you've fed my craving, aside from giving you prophecy, I must help you solve a little problem to be even."

"Don't treat me like a fool or a child, Deng."

Yun You shook her head, not believing this excuse at all.

Really, just a few candies for the life of a quasi-god? What kind of ridiculous deal is that?

Although Deng's personality was always eccentric, and her style of doing things irrational, Yun You still found this impossible.

Furthermore, previously when Zhao Xuan died, Deng was asked why she helped Yun You, and Deng's answer was Yun You's pair of scarlet eyes...

"You may not realize, but in my heart, you've always been... a child."

As she spoke, Deng deliberately adopted a kind demeanor, but Yun You didn't feel any warmth, instead getting goosebumps.

That old Deng's age probably could be a great-great-grandparent, but looking no different from her in appearance, showing such an "elderly" expression, Yun You couldn't stand it.