Welcome to Rewind World Game-Chapter 1664 - 7: The Indifferent Perish Before the True Heart

Chapter 1664: Chapter 7: The Indifferent Perish Before the True Heart

After Su Ming’an finished weaving the dream, he fell unconscious from exhaustion, his injuries were so severe that his heart was nearly exposed, its beating slowing gradually... he was on the brink of death.

"So, it was a dream just now..." Bei Wang looked at Su Ming’an’s gloves.

Compared to the witch’s truth, this story was as beautiful as an illusion.

Su Ming’an, facing the unbeatable witch, chose not to retreat, but to weave a dream head-on. Did he believe that this fairy tale dream could soothe the witch’s millennia-old hatred and resentment?

How could it be possible?

Could a fairy tale of a "hunter living with a girl in the forest" really heal the witch’s millennium of pain and hatred? Absolutely laughable.

However, "Tian Yu’s" body suddenly started to tremble violently.

Su Rin’s "dream weaving" power can allow a person on the verge of collapse to experience the happiness of rolling in a sunlit flower bed, or cause one to fall into inescapable nightmares and struggles. For the mentally unstable "Tian Yu," this dream, blurring reality and fantasy, was like a sharp sword.

How beautiful the dream was.

How painful the shattering upon waking.

Su Ming’an could not use dreams to change the resentful witch; he needed to awaken the consciousness belonging to the female Tian Yu—Bei Wang’s friend, that innocent, cool, noble, and steady soul.

"Huff... ha... ha... ha..." Suddenly, as if waking from a nightmare, Tian Yu opened her eyes wide, clutched at her chest, and gasped for air.

This dream caused her persona to become chaotic; she awoke, taking over the male consciousness.

"Tian Yu, you’re back," said Bei Wang, sharing the body.

Tian Yu gasped deeply, looking at the gradually cooling body of Su Qi on the ground, at Su Ming’an, unconscious from the exhaustion of dream weaving, and at her own slightly trembling hands.

Her fingers, wrapped in ice crystal gloves, curled and then loosened. For the first time, a blank expression of confusion appeared on Tian Yu’s cold face, as if something hard was shattering within.

"I’ve done... unforgivable things." Tian Yu quickly understood the situation; with the confusion of personas, the memories of her male form gradually flowed into her mind, "I stole the destiny that belonged to the Rin Clan. I nurtured them and then killed them, making each generation of innocents repeat my suffering... turning both myself and them into monsters."

Bei Wang couldn’t listen anymore, and immediately said, "That wasn’t you!"

"Even if it wasn’t me, it was my body..." Tian Yu said.

"That wasn’t you at all! You knew nothing, and you’re nothing like that consciousness!" Bei Wang retorted.

"Even if it’s not my will, I can’t deny this is a sin," said Tian Yu. "I’m just a separated consciousness... but the one who committed the sin is still ’me.’"

Bei Wang opened his mouth, feeling this was wrong. Why should someone who knows nothing bear the burden of sin? Is Tian Yu’s nobility the reason for her guilt?

Why should someone with a high moral standard take responsibility for someone of low moral standard?

"Let’s not talk about that, first check on Su Ming’an’s condition." Tian Yu extended her hand, touching the ice crystals on Su Ming’an’s chest, the rolled skin and flesh at the wound site were shocking. His injuries were so severe you could even see his beating heart.

She pursed her lips, frowning deeply.

"Is there any way to save him?" Bei Wang asked.

Tian Yu shook her head, clutching her forehead, still feeling the chaos in her memories, her head splitting with pain: "Even if we go out now to find someone, it would be too late; his injuries are too severe..."

Bei Wang fell silent.

In truth, he had guessed that Su Ming’an had some sort of time retrospection ability, if Su Ming’an died here, perhaps everything would immediately restart, and Su Ming’an would definitely find a better development than now...

But then what?

The witch’s curse persists, endlessly. When "Tian Yu’s" consciousness reawakens, it will still be an unsolvable cycle.

In fact, with Bei Wang’s smart mind, he had already thought of the only way to save Su Ming’an.

Moments later, Tian Yu regained her composure, as usual, her voice cool and firm: "This endless nightmare inheritance must end."

She quickly reached a decision, so swift and smooth.

But how to end this nightmarish inheritance? If it could be done, the witch wouldn’t repeat the tragedy again and again. The witch is immortal; to escape, she can only pass the sin on to the next person endlessly.

However, the clever Bei Wang and Tian Yu had already thought of the only way to end the sin. They couldn’t meet eyes, but they understood the thoughts in each other’s hearts.

Bei Wang opened his mouth, but Tian Yu spoke first:

"Little Bei Wang, once you asked me about the concept of ’love,’ I am answering you."

She turned her gaze, her frost-like cool and beautiful face showing a wave of agitation.

Strange indeed, though it was the same face as "Tian Yu’s" a moment ago, when she looked over, expressionless, it only brought reassurance.

"Love is what makes the hunter willingly stay in the forest," she said.

"Why would the hunter want to stay in the forest?" Bei Wang blurted out, "The hunter can take the girl and leave, leave the eternal curse! Love is a mother going far and wide to find medicine for the hunter!"

Love is clearly to leave! Not to stay!

This is really unreasonable... There’s already nothing in the forest.

But he thought of the black cat repeatedly walking in the swamp, the cat also seemed to think love is staying.

The heart beating in the chest is getting faster, in the same body, Bei Wang can sense her emotions... complex, resentful, sorrowful, painful...

Suddenly knowing there is another "self", and has committed countless monstrous sins, makes one want to curse the whole world. How can one accept it so quickly? But her first reaction was to stop these sins.

The heartbeat grows faster, and conversely, Su Ming’an’s heartbeat in front of her grows lighter.

The hatred towards the witch "Tian Yu" stirs uneasily, as if about to wake.

"Can it be done?" Tian Yu briefly asked. She said nothing, but Bei Wang knew what she was asking.

"...It can." Bei Wang said, "This is your choice."

They are all smart, they have already figured out that there is only one way to save Su Ming’an.

—Witch’s legacy.

The only solution to this deadlock, is giving the witch identity—to someone from the Outer Realm who doesn’t need to stay here. Otherwise, generations of Rin Clan will continue to suffer like Su Qi.

Even if it weren’t Su Ming’an today, but some other trustworthy Player, Tian Yu would make this decision immediately—this "witch’s" sin must end.

And only the Player can end this sin.

"This is the only method. Give him all my strength, the World Tree’s contract... let him take them away." Tian Yu extends her hand.

A brilliant blue radiance bursts forth, ice-blue long hair shedding moonlight-like luster. Seizing the moment before the consciousness of hatred towards the witch "Tian Yu" awakens, Tian Yu decisively took action. Her fingertip lightly touched her heart. A point of light was drawn out, vaguely displaying the silhouette of a small white-haired girl.

"—And you will end this cycle of sin." No need for much communication, Bei Wang fully understood her intention.

The light transformed into an earring.

Tian Yu handed the earring to Bei Wang.

This is Tian Yu’s protective artifact, which will transform into the purest ice-guarding power and merge into Bei Wang’s soul.

She said softly:

"Wear it, and it will be like I’m by your side. Until one day, when you are strong enough, strong enough to break the established laws, strong enough to truly define your future..."

In the witch’s ice-blue eyes, silent expectation reflected:

"Then take it beyond this... forest named ’Destiny’ and ’Curse’."

"Wow—!"

She ignited a grand yet silent rain of blue light, reflecting in Bei Wang’s trembling eyes.

At the same time, Su Ming’an slowly opened his eyes.

He silently watched Tian Yu, who made a decision in an instant, her chin resting on her knee, blood flowing down the corner of her mouth.

...Despicable, despicable one.

He told himself.

He clearly knows someone as noble as Tian Yu would choose death immediately upon learning the truth to sever this sin. He clearly knows she will die, yet he chose to weave a dream letting her learn the truth, thus bringing the hateful witch’s male persona "Tian Yu" to accompany her in death.

To prevent himself and Xi Li from being killed by the witch, he decisively did so.

Even though he just conveyed the truth, didn’t allow Tian Yu to remain deceived, didn’t let her continue as an unaware executioner, but isn’t this also the exploitation of someone’s nobility?

He truly is... despicable.

Reneging in Su Qi’s fair duel, and then utilizing Tian Yu’s virtues, he is indeed not a noble person, too many have been deceived by his halo and flowers.

Too fast.

Tian Yu made the decision too swiftly. As soon as she exited Su Ming’an’s dream weaving, she immediately judged the present situation and decided upon self-destruction, as she does with her decisive actions and words. In comparison, someone like himself could hardly be more despicable.

Bei Wang’s consciousness was merely pulled over briefly, soon to be drawn back to the timeline. While Tian Yu’s body and even soul will be annihilated here.

"Previously always felt there was still plenty of time, and many words still unsaid between us." Tian Yu said to Bei Wang.

The light flickers, and ice flowers bloom at their feet.

Bei Wang seldom spoke, as did Tian Yu, the two often passing half a day without saying a word, quiet as ice.

Yet now, the goodbye comes too abruptly, Bei Wang just idly dreaming about the future journey, only to be struck by the critical factual truth in an instant, and without time to digest the truth, they have to bid farewell.

In this world, there are too many farewells, sudden enough to be unacceptable. As if in just a blink of an eye, a turn, a full stop, familiar people are gone.

"Swish."

Bei Wang felt sweetness in her throat as Tian Yu’s hand pierced her heart.

Both shared a body, and at this moment, felt the same pain, a blend of chilling cold and tearing agony.

Bei Wang instinctively tried to control her body, as if driven by a survival instinct, wanting to pull back her hand, but her palm was forcefully shifted back by her surging will.

"Help me, Su Ming’an." Tian Yu turned her head, steadfastly looking at Su Ming’an.

Su Ming’an opened her mouth, still feeling her own baseness.

"——You did nothing wrong, I’m deeply thankful for you revealing the truth to me." Tian Yu’s eyes were resolute, "Do not belittle yourself, fortunately you’ve given me the chance to end the sins, otherwise, once all you players have left, I would be entrapped in an even more terrifying reincarnation, finding no means to end, becoming the next desolate Witch of Hatred. You possess the courage to bear self-blame, you possess the courage to hold the sword’s hilt and help me self-destruct——you are someone I truly recognize and respect."

"I..."

"To think of using the method of revealing the truth to protect yourself. This should not be called baseness, but wisdom." Tian Yu said, "Because, you living on is also for saving people. Otherwise, afraid that you would rather die than harm others, right? How could I name this spirit as cowardice and frailty? Daring to bear sins to live on is the bravest person."

"Your moral baseline is just too high, even for something like this you’re strict with yourself, please learn to properly forgive yourself, Savior."

Frost spread along the palm, the chill penetrating the bone marrow, freezing the blood.

"Snap".

A hand stained with blood held Tian Yu’s palm. Su Ming’an breathed weakly, assisting Tian Yu in steadying her palm, holding onto the heart.

The palm gradually tightened, the heart began to shatter.

Wind blew across the cheek, bringing piercing pain, nothing but monotonous ice color in sight, neither sky nor ocean, frozen blood dripped to the ground, transforming into solid frost.

Bei Wang saw her resolve, no longer stopping her, instead vying for control over lips and tongue. Words rushed out urgently as if there would never be another chance. The fear of "too late" compelled the stuttering little Hunter to embark on the most fluent confession of his life. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

——As if under the final illumination of love and warmth, the mute finally learned to sing freely.

"In the Undead Territory, you and Prince Aier competed for the Divine Envoy position... back then I thought, the final winner would definitely be you..." Bei Wang stumbled over the beginning.

"If there’s another chance to travel, I’d definitely be willing to meet you all again." Tian Yu said, her voice calm, yet each word clear.

"You seem cold, but your heart is warm... Mom said, such a person is wonderful..."

"Next time, if cycles indeed exist in this world, Bei Wang, Su Ming’an, please let me meet you once more."

"Eventually the great war erupted, you clearly knew the past was dangerous, yet you still promised me, you went to the most perilous battlefield..."

"However, honestly I more hope, this time is the end."

"Tao’er says you’re a kind-hearted Immortal, I think she’s right... others often perceive High-class Race as indifferent, but I know you’re different..."

"I’m very glad to have met you all."

"Regarding the Black Water Dream... since I possess the talent for dreaming, I just want to have a look, want to share some burden for them... I’m only worried, being in your body, would I implicate you..."

"When a very distant future arrives, when you’re free from all constraints, no longer forced to save worlds like ours... you carry this earring, as if carrying with me, to travel to the future."

The Hunter learned swiftly, his voice evolved to become incredibly smooth as if never having been mute.

As if adrenaline surged, he spoke to the fullest before the fear of farewell, even far exceeding the words of another.

Then, Tian Yu’s voice began to stutter.

Gradually fading brilliance, slowly stripped her voice box.

Then, his voice grew clear.

In love and warmth, the little Hunter’s words became increasingly fluent.

The same mouth, different words.

One laughing, one crying.

Like a persona of a split-minded patient, Hunter and girl worked hard to persuade the other, swiftly speaking their final words.

It’s all because usually talks are too few, everything kept in the heart, always thinking to speak slowly during travel once it all ends. Why so sudden, why so quick.

"I believe you will definitely be able to walk very far with your animal friends, the blue bear, the black cat, the mischievous raccoon..."

Below her chest and abdomen had gradually frozen, turning into immobile ice sculptures.

"Tian Yu, I want to take you out of this shackled forest. I don’t want you forever frozen here... It’s too cold here..."

"Bei Wang, I hope you can leave this sealed sandbox world... transforming into a sorcerer of the universe, unrestrictedly flying on a broomstick..."

"Why is there no you on that journey?"

"I never thought of you all as thieves who stole my life..."

"Why is there no you in that future?"

"You, Su Ming’an, Lu... you are all... my dear Savior friends..."

"Why does your life turn out this way?"

"Your expression is always like mine... cold as ice... but your smile looks nice... come... give it a try..."

"Tian Yu."

"Please try, just smile..."

Mobilize the muscles...

Move the lips and teeth...

The muscles tug at the right corner of the mouth, lifting it up; the lips pull at the white teeth, revealing rosy lips; the left corner trembles slightly from sadness, making the lips form a slanted curve.

But he smiled, he was smiling.

The young man trembled to maintain this awkward smile, his muscles frozen by the extreme cold outside, the pain tugging at his cheeks, his eyes dazed with moisture, aching. The nose felt blocked, the throat couldn’t swallow something, a surge of sourness.

The temperature was so low, the cheeks hurt, pulling out a smile felt like tearing the skin, like something broke apart inside, causing the non-existent heart to twitch with pain. But he kept smiling.

Choking, smiling.

Tian Yu couldn’t see this smile because it was her face too, but she could sense the subtle tug of her facial muscles, feel the cold wind on her teeth, sense her eyes narrowing slightly—she could imagine what this smile looked like on his face.

It was not a bonfire.

Yet it surpassed a bonfire.

Tian Yu raised her hand. Her lips touched the back of her hand, like a farewell kiss. This was the highest etiquette of the Celestial Clan, for the most sincere friends.

She placed her hand against her face, then reached out to Su Ming’an.

"..." Su Ming’an’s expression remained frozen.

Slowly, he gripped Tian Yu’s hand with his blood-stained palm.

If back then he had accepted Yuanyuan’s invitation of chocolate, entered her Dream Realm, would these people not have died? All of it was his choice, it was he who caused these outcomes...

But, could such an ending be acceptable?

Who knows if it might lead to a more terrifying future?

"I’m sorry..." he said through gritted teeth, squeezing the words from his throat.

He didn’t know what he was apologizing for, Tian Yu had already thanked him, and he knew she was genuinely grateful. Yet he kept apologizing, repeatedly.

"I am the one who should... apologize." Tian Yu said hesitantly, "On behalf of us Luowasha people, I apologize to you."

"Please don’t mind too much... those Luowasha people who once fought with you for control of your bodies."

"They were just... too scared... very sorry..."

"Even though... you were here to save people..."

"You are my... very good friends."

"Thank you all... Players... for visiting my world."

...

—Like a pale firefly, the ice-white starlight quietly floated, as if thousands of stars blinked their eyes simultaneously.

Under the vast, boundless ice cavern resembling the universe, on the crystal-clear wall, a white-haired girl’s long hair floated, strands of energy flowed from her void-like heart, transforming into countless streaming droplets. Each drop landing on the crystal wall sprouted an ice crystal branch; each drop on the ground bloomed into a translucent ice flower. As the heart’s "blood" flowed out in countless drops, her skin turned from rosy to pale.

This was the Witch’s source of power for the World Tree, the eternal Heart’s Blood, now she unleashed it all, abandoning all nutrition and strength.

Where the star fountain flowed, ice flowers surged and bloomed, covering the entire vista instantly.

As if countless roots were forcibly extracted from the soul, carrying memories, pain, attachment, and reluctance accumulated over millennia, and fell into Su Ming’an’s eyes—

The spring day of initial glacier melting, the first Witch kneeled beneath the World Tree, begging;

The village burned on a moonlit night, a little girl on an execution frame opened bewildered eyes, as she was painfully consumed and screamed in the flames cast by her father;

In the wasteland, a child curled up, was picked up by the icy hands, and heard a gentle lie: "From today, you have a home";

Generation after generation of the Rin Clan, moved towards mutual destruction unbeknownst to them, ultimately the victor’s head was taken by the Witch herself, donned upon her guise;

The previous Witch, dead in the wooden cabin, dressed in a complex long gown, wearing a lily lace hat pinned upon her head, her beautiful hands tightly clutching the envelope left for Bei Wang, unable to discern if it was a blessing or a curse;

And Tian Yu himself — the part of "good" that was stripped away, sitting alone on the branches of the World Tree, gazing at the distant village smoke, playing the golden stringed instrument of the Celestial Clan, in her youth imagining the future...

Light dust drifted past the chin, past the lips, past the ice-blue eyes — eyes that once reflected a millennium of solitude and also the villagers’ smiles.

"Shhh..."

Silently, an avalanche rang out.

All frost started to tremble, echoing a mournful buzz in the air, the World Tree cried out as it sensed the contract rupture.

Ice crystals were frantically spreading, enveloping the entire cave into an eternal ice coffin. Here, Su Qi’s body would be eternally preserved, sealing away the last relics of this sinful reincarnation.

Including Tian Yu herself, gradually turning into an immobile ice sculpture, merging with the blooming ice flowers on the ground.

A speck of crystal-like light gently adhered to Bei Wang’s left earlobe, condensing into an exquisitely crafted ice-blue earring. Its shape resembled a miniature snowflake, or perhaps a frozen tear.

The last thing Bei Wang heard was her incredibly faint voice, almost inaudible —

"Shhh... Little Hunter..."

"I give you one last gift..."

The youngster slowly closed his eyes. He did not know what gift Tian Yu wanted to give him, he had never seen her buy anything... a luxurious bead chain? a beautiful magic wand? an ancient spellbook? These she never lacked.

Slowly, he felt his arms crossed over his shoulders, holding himself tightly. Tight hugs, tight.

Everything was cold, including his heart.

Only this embrace was like a bonfire, wrapping him.

Ah...

The Little Hunter felt unparalleled warmth.

Like being hugged gently by his mother, who snuck into his childhood bedding.

Like nestling in a cozy room, sleeping until daylight.

Like just closing his eyes and not being afraid of anything.

Under extremely low temperatures, he paradoxically perceived limitless warmth. Uncontrolled by him, his hands gently pat his shoulders, stroked, encircled, tightened, as if someone truly embraced him, borrowing his hands, burying their head within his neck’s recess, exhaling gentle warmth, narrating softly in his ear what they ate today, or whom they encountered.

Like a sister, like a mother, like a mentor, like a friend.

"So warm..."

Frost bloomed like flowers on the firmament and the landscape, he seemed to transform into a white ice wolf, endlessly running in the snowy plains’ gusts, until embraced by the girl, forehead pressed, kissed goodbye.

Fingers trembled with difficulty, the tear-soaked youth discovered he finally regained control of his body.

It meant, her consciousness had completely vanished.

She was gone.

Before his shell fully froze, Bei Wang exerted all his strength to reach out his arm, ice flakes peeled off along the fingertips, leaving crooked marks —

Sand, sandy.

[——Tian Yu]

A line in Luowasha script.

Then underneath, he forcefully etched:

[——Sunlight]

As if on sandy ground, using a stick to awkwardly write like a Little Hunter.

...

[The Hunter walked to the girl, extended his hand, gently wiped her tears.]

[Then picked up a stick, clumsily writing on the sandy ground:]

["Daughter of Ice and Snow, travel with me, the black cat, and the bear."]

["There, the best-looking sunlight..."]

["I know, you really like good-looking sunlight. Let’s dance under the beautiful sunlight..."]

...

In the forest lived a group of evil witches.

Relying on "adoption" and "inheritance", each generation of witches received the shackles in resentment and passed them onto the next innocent one out of despair. They lived in endless anger, in endless hatred.

When shattered crystals scattered across the shoulders, the witch still chose annihilation.

But this time, not because of [hatred].

This was the only time, and the first time, the witch chose to end because of [love].

From now on, the witch adopted children not out of hatred.

But for love.

...

...

"Ding-dong!"

...

[Sunlight (Red Level): "Hatred once built an eternal prison, but human smiles are different. I saw your smile, and I wish to soothe the light worry between your brows."]

[Spirit +10]

[Passive (Dispel): Wearing this item, under Divine Level ice magic, you will not feel cold, nor will your movements be sluggish.]

[Note: Inside the earring resides a girl’s figure. Does wearing her earring mean traveling with her?]

...

[You have acquired Tian Yu’s spells: "Ice Crystal Whale", "Ice Peach Blossoms", "Witch’s Ice Spin Dance", "Thawing Gauze Dress."]

[You have obtained the Witch race’s strength! (This race strength can be taken as your personal power, not considered as Luowasha’s possession ability)]

...

[You ended the witch curse, gaining 100 achievement points!]

[Achievement "Breaking the Witch Curse".]

[(Breaking the Witch Curse): Henceforth, there is only love.]

...

[ Ending logged.]

...

Gazing at the girl frozen into an ice sculpture amid the snow and ice, Su Ming’an’s sight momentarily pierced through her pupils, glimpsing a distant, distant future.

There, thousands of ice flowers simultaneously bloomed, smilingly welcoming the sunless winter night.

The touch will not be frost, but real, soft gentleness.

Someone once leaned upon his shoulder, transformed into an eternal ice statue...

"Xiao Bei..." Su Ming’an murmured subconsciously,

"Tian Yu..."

Upon hearing the call, Bei Wang’s lingering consciousness hovered in the air, seemingly aware of Su Ming’an’s summon. Because, he too was called "Xiao Bei".

Yet the next moment, his consciousness quickly pulled back, leaving only Su Ming’an alone in the silent ice cavern.

Amid the all-encompassing ice flowers, a young man with long purple-black hair scattered.

Large and small petals accompanied ice vines blossoming upon his shoulder and face, leaning within the icy flowerbed, he raised his hand, within his palm, lay a key’s design, the key after Su Qi’s death.

The white-haired youth, together with Tian Yu, were frozen into ice sculptures, resting in this cave.

A silent young man.

Two silent bodies.

Su Ming’an watched this scene, suddenly feeling fatigued, endless disgust swept over, with the two bodies surging into his heart, Su Qi’s key and Tian Yu’s bloodline paved the way to the future. And his heart seemed to be violently torn by emotion almost like an explosion, a rare moment of agitation seized him.

——What’s wrong with me?

Su Ming’an slowly lowered his head, through the crystal-clear ice wall, seeing his exhausted eyes. Grey, silent... as if a dying cold crow.

Haven’t you gotten used to it, seeing death, seeing sacrifice.

The sacrifice of one person allows the strongest to move forward a bit in this game, isn’t that "how it should be"?

...

["I know, so what?" Shire remained indifferent, as if without emotional fluctuations, "As long as Su Ming’an sets a task, he won’t be soft-hearted. This time she became an obstacle, and her fate is nothing but death. Whether it’s white-haired or a friend, what’s the difference? Would he give up getting the [Key] for this? Even if it’s his friend, at most he’d say a few soft words and then take action. Better that we act first, sparing long-term pain."]

...

Suddenly, Su Ming’an fiercely took off the ring, the movement so fast it even stirred a slight whoosh of wind.

"Bang!!!"

The ring hit the ice wall hard, echoing layers of reverberations. It bounced off the crystal wall a few times before finally rolling into a corner of ice flowers.

He maintained the posture of a forceful throw, muscles tensed, chest heaving violently, breath heavy.

This sudden burst of anger felt unfamiliar even to himself. His breath condensed into puffs of white mist in the cold air. He closed his eyes.

The number of names is almost reaching thirty, and that’s only the number of people important to him...

He rationally knew these are symptoms of reaching the limits of his soul, making it hard to maintain absolute calm, causing abnormal actions. After a moment of breathing, he opened his eyes again and murmured to himself:

Alright, you know what you need to do...

Those words about "not being born a sacrifice" were what you said to Su Qi, they are your strategy lines, you clearly know that along this path, there’s no shortage of sacrifices. And you can never change it, you can only choose to respect their deaths...

You can’t save everyone, you can only pick up their weapons and keep moving...

Why are you being hypocritical? The moment you were Dream Weaving, you foresaw Tian Yu’s sacrifice, didn’t you? You knew she would choose this path... You just told her the truth, didn’t let her remain in the dark...

No, you’re still the true culprit... you despicable person... If you didn’t tell her, if you didn’t tell her...

This kind of venting would only shake you, make you more vulnerable... You calm down now...

Alright, calm down, deep breath.

Su Ming’an, you still have a road to walk, accept your identity as a despicable person. Only after you finish it will you have time for remorse.

Head hurts so much, brain feels like it’s about to split...

Deep breath...

Remember who you are... remember what you need to do...

There are still many waiting for you...

Moments later, Su Ming’an closed his eyes, then opened them again.

The red in his eyes gradually faded, and his rapid breathing calmed down.

He picked up the ring, put it back on his hand, his sight sweeping over the densely packed names. Picking up the torn coat, he barely draped it over himself, covering the hollowness of his chest.

He staggered step by step towards the outside.

Sometimes, he felt that Mizushima Haru was right, he was a terrible and cold monster.

And the time for the monster to rest had not yet come.

...

In the normal timeline, Bei Wang woke up from a dream.

He sat on the chair, clutching his chest, his face full of tears.

Outside the window, the pattering red rain was still falling, and the sounds of people moving could be faintly heard, everything was as usual.

But his heart felt an empty spot.

The young man wiped away his tears, got out of bed, and walked to the window.

In the morning light, he saw a new ice crystal on his desk, without knowing when it appeared.

It’s an earring, transparent and pure, refracting a faint blue under the sunlight.

He walked over in a daze, picking up the earring.

The touch was icy but not cold. Holding it in his palm gave him a strange sense of peace, as if... someone had once held his hand like this, giving him a hug.

Bei Wang lifted the ice crystal to his eyes.

Looking at the world through it, everything was overlaid with a blue filter. Dawn, distant mountains, cooking smoke... and his own bewildered and sorrowful face.

"This is..." he murmured.

The center of the ice crystal flickered with a weak blue light.

Like an answer.

Like a farewell.

[When you become strong enough to break all the laws]

[Girl, I will take you flying out of this forest]

The original ear hole couldn’t hold it, Bei Wang pierced his ear, blood seeped out, he put on the earring, looking at himself in the mirror.

After everything ends...

He will bring her earring... and travel to the distant universe.

It was promised.

No matter in which universe’s reincarnation, no matter in what kind of future...

...

["Where are you going next?" Su Ming’an asked Bei Wang.]

[Bei Wang lifted his head, looked at Su Ming’an wearing cat ears:]

["The road... is gone."]

["Yamada... is also gone."]

["I want to find my friends back."]

["I’ve already brought you back."]

["I want to bring the others back too."]

[Bei Wang gently nodded his ear, an ice crystal blue earring hung on it:]

["Tian Yu will be my friend on the journey."]

[Turns out Bei Wang brought back Luowasha’s friend.]

["Tian Yu is inside your earring, huh? Is it a space prop?" Su Ming’an had seen similar props. They could fit a live person into an accessory for easy traveling, very magical.]

[Bei Wang was dazed for a moment.]

[Then, he slowly revealed a pure, gentle smile:]

["Yes."]

["I promised her."]

...

["I just had a dream,"]

["I will see you again."]

[——Yukio Mishima]

...

...

Luowasha, World Lord’s Palace, succession ceremony.

The gap where mountains and sky were stitched together, pale rouge dissolved in water, spreading toward the sky.

Countless towering spires stabbed straight into the transitioning firmament, and massive columns required several people to encircle. High and unreachable stained glass windows merged with daylight, coating the Holy Temple with a flowing sheen of brilliance.

In front of the palace was a plaza accommodating tens of thousands. A dense crowd like tidal waves spread in layers from the white jade steps at the base of the Holy Temple. Nobles in attire symbolizing their families were scattered near the platform area; monks and scholars in plain robes formed their own phalanx; farther out, countless civilians gazed up, forming a blurred ocean.

At the center of the world, surrounded by a vast sea of people, atop the high platform that all eyes focused on—

Sitting in a wheelchair was a young man. His black hair flowed, adorned with a golden six-pointed star on his forehead, the pure white holy attire edged with intricate gold, even the hands folded on his lap covered in finely woven silver gloves, and the ancient embroidered patterns on the garment shimmered with a splendid cold light under the temple and plaza’s illumination.

——World Master’s Heir, Su Wenli.

Today was his succession ceremony, yet he ascended the high platform in a state of coma, like a puppet whose strings had been cut.