Chen Yi actually went to break the formation.
He wasn't stupid — just obsessed.
He knew perfectly well Cheng Shi was fishing. But when those words "willingly" were spoken, he found an emotional resonance — and truly beca willing.
He was willing to do anything for [mory]. Willing to collect exhibits for Him. Willing to fill that Collection Hall until it overflowed with splendor — so that through these omnipresent traces, he could "live" in [mory]'s "ho."
How divine infatuation forms is hard to pin down. But for soone who admires strength, worships mystery, and is deeply nostalgic, [mory] fulfilled every beautiful fantasy of a partner. So from the mont at the Path Starting Point when he picked up that old photograph, Chen Yi had fallen in love.
He believed [mory] reciprocated. Why else would He have brought him this far in barely half a year?
'Chosen One!'
To beco [mory]'s Chosen, he'd had to surmount two insurmountable mountains: Li Jingming and Like A Dream.
And now? Li Jingming had been "exiled" to [Deceit]. Like A Dream had simply vanished. Didn't all these signs prove He was introducing him — sparing no effort — to others, to other gods?
That's how Chen Yi saw it. Chosen — not just his choosing Him, but Him choosing him.
He wanted to share this joy with others. Share the thrill of His gaze. But ever since sharing once with Zhen Yi, he'd concluded that every malice in the world stemd from jealousy of their love. The world was united in obstructing this relationship. Especially [Deceit]'s followers.
'They deserve death!'
But this Cheng Shi... had a point. He should morize a willing mory for himself.
Though that's all it was — a good point. Following [Deceit] was his original sin. After recording this mory, Chen Yi would conveniently send this [Deceit] follower into the past too — let him lie in eternal [mory] as a witness to love.
Quickly, Chen Yi found the timber warehouse and the formation hidden in the rubble. Though an assassin, his extensive knowledge — courtesy of [mory]'s blessing — let him identify the formation's origins: definitely the work of Erudition Presidium grand scholars.
The array patterns bore the Erudition Presidium's "signature."
He began dismantling. He had no interest in what lay beneath. He knew [mory] couldn't possibly be here. But a whisper of hope still rose — a self-deceiving yearning.
Of course, recognizing and actually breaking were two completely different things. He wasn't a fool. He wouldn't endanger himself. So his thod wasn't doing it personally — he'd found a "stand-in."
He stood in the shadows near the formation, threw out the figure trapped within, and pointed at the formation:
"Break it. I'll return your freedom."
The figure frowned, turning to face Chen Yi with composure: "And if I refuse?"
"Then you'll permanently lose any chance of reuniting with your lover. I told you — the only reason I didn't banish you to the past is that your love defied convention. That's what I wanted to see.
But your love has lost its purity. You've developed thoughts of betrayal. Nothing disgusts
more than infidelity.
So seize this chance. If you help advance my relationship with Him, I can turn a blind eye to this blemish on love. After all, mortal love — no matter how transgressive — is never as profound as ours. Not worth morizing."
"..."
'This person is insane.'
The figure stood before Chen Yi for a long ti. His patience wore thin. He couldn't admit his own inadequacy — couldn't let others arrive before he'd broken the formation. That would stain this "willing" mory.
"Last chance. Either you act, or I do. Choose."
The figure stiffened. Clearly resolved not to comply.
Chen Yi's eyes darkened. He flung his dagger. But just as the blade pressed against the figure's neck, he suddenly stopped — and asked with genuine curiosity:
"I see now. The secret beneath this formation involves her, doesn't it?
You think those old n want to harm her, so you won't act?
Mortal love is so fragile. The mont a crack appears, it's kill or be killed.
Heh. Now I'm actually starting to sympathize with your lover.
But what puzzles
is — I can still see infinite love in your eyes. So tell : is that love the excitent of having moved on to soone new, or sothing you're hiding?"
"None of your business!"
"But it's my dagger's business." Chen Yi smiled as the blade drew blood. His tone turned ice-cold: "Act. Otherwise — whoever your love is for — I'll kill her imdiately."
"You can't kill her."
"Oh? Want to try?"
"..."
The figure trembled. Staring into those deranged eyes, she slowly relented.
Ignoring the dagger at her throat, she wrenched her head away — tearing a line of blood — and walked toward the formation without looking back. Watching this, Chen Yi murmured:
"Still in love...
But if the love remains, why won't you stop the Erudition Presidium?
Mortal love is truly complicated. Good thing my feelings are pure enough."
...
After detecting Chen Yi's departure, the players needed confirmation regardless. Under Cheng Shi's lead, four of them circled to the west and reached the timber warehouse.
What they saw defied belief:
A slender figure stood at the formation's center, dismantling traps with practiced, expert movents. Fire, lightning, thorns, and falling stone exploded and humd around her.
Good news: the formation's energy was fading. The breakthrough was imminent.
Bad news: the commotion was enormous. Anyone below now knew people were here — and that the intruder was soone they recognized!
Nobody expected the person breaking the formation to be not Chen Yi — but Pe Laya!
The four who'd just t Pe Laya's temporal reflection were now face to face with the real thing — right at the entrance to the Erudition Presidium's hideout!
But how? Why was she here?
Cheng Shi frowned and scanned the area. Soon he spotted "supervisor" Chen Yi in a shadow on the other side. Chen Yi sensed the gaze and shot him an ice-cold glance, smirking as he drew a dagger across his own throat in a "you're next" gesture.
Cheng Shi wasn't fazed. A fish that bites a straight hook was probably single-minded. He was safe before the formation broke — and with ng Youfang and Hu Xuan flanking him, one Old Days Hunter couldn't cause waves.
What truly unsettled him was Pe Laya's presence.
The Erudition Presidium's sche was clearly aid at her and Galusha. But if the "target" just showed up at the grand scholars' doorstep...
'Hss—'
'Did [Fate] intervene?'
'Otherwise how could this round go so smoothly?'
Cheng Shi's heart clenched.
...
Reviews
All reviews (0)