"Fang Li's expression suddenly froze. Without explanation, Xie Huai would misunderstand that he was looking for a substitute for himself. With explanation, Xie Huai would know about his death escape.

 It was truly a dilemma.

But since he chose to be with Xie Huai, these were things he must face. Avoidance couldn't solve the problem. He didn't regret telling Xie Huai the truth.

He didn't want any more deception between them.

Death escape was indeed wrong on his part, because when he left, he never thought he would see Xie Huai again. If he had known about today, he would have confessed early, not letting Xie Huai misunderstand and feel sad.

As for himself...

Making mistakes meant facing consequences, starting with the right attitude.

Fang Li, as if awaiting judgment, said, “I'm sorry.”

Xie Huai watched Fang Li quietly.

Fang Li felt somewhat uneasy under Xie Huai's gaze. He knew Xie Huai would be angry... After all, he had lied to him so much and done so many excessive things. Despite his reasons, human hearts were tender. If Xie Huai had any thoughts about him because of this, it would probably be normal...

And accepting the truth in this world was also difficult.

As Fang Li thought more and more, Xie Huai suddenly reached out and hugged him tightly. Xie Huai's embrace was warm and strong, with a comforting power.

Fang Li was slightly startled.

Xie Huai rested his chin on the side of Fang Li's neck and whispered softly in his ear, 'I'm glad you're just you No need to feel guilty. You did what you thought was right at the time... .”

You didn't know my feelings, and you haven't wronged me. On the contrary, you've done a lot for me.

I'm glad you're not disdainful.

Because from beginning to end, what attracted me was the real and gentle you beneath the appearance of the Demon Lord. Regardless of the circumstances, you always bring kindness and warmth to others. Even if you had to use the identity of the Demon Lord and endure many restrictions, you still adhered to your true self, handling things with reason and balance... It's this side of you that piqued my curiosity and made me fall for you gradually.

Through layers of fog and disguise, who I fell in love with was always the real you, not that... cold-blooded demon lord who let himself fall into the depths of hell.

And you've never done anything wrong, there's no vendetta or struggle between right and wrong between us.

Xie Huai's eyes were gentle and affectionate, with a hint of relief. He no longer had to suffer from conscience condemnation for loving someone he shouldn't, nor struggle and blame himself between righteousness and affection.

He didn't violate his own principles, and from now on, he could stand by this person without reservation. He didn't love the wrong person; his love was flawless.

As for this world...

Perhaps it's just a book to you, but to me, everything is real. The stories in the book are also equivalent to destiny, aren't they? Destiny cannot be violated.

But you did your best to protect me. The me you changed fate for, the me who doesn't have to endure everything in the book, is real... And this world, the people who survived because of you, are also real.

Meeting you is my luck. I'm glad, that's the truth.

Xie Huai smiled, “So, Fang Li, that's your real name.”

Fang Li was held tightly by Xie Huai, and the uneasiness in his heart slowly dissipated. His gaze softened. This person... always knew how to make people feel at ease, to never worry about him leaving. He nodded with a smile, 'Yes.'"

Fang Li finally cleared up the misunderstanding with Xie Huai. Seeing Xie Huai back in white robes, Fang Li felt relieved and said, "You look ten thousand times better in them than Fu Junling."

Xie Huai only glanced at him lightly and replied, "I don't care about him at all."

Right, you don't care about him now. Who was always jealous before? No wonder there was a sour smell all around you.

Although Fu Junling didn't deserve to be Xie Huai's rival in love, he still caused a lot of trouble. It seemed like the grand wedding would have to be postponed for now.

Fang Li decided to send his family from the Fang household away. With the possibility of war breaking out at Hollow Ridge anytime, it was no longer safe there. He and Xie Huai went to the secluded palace where Fang's family resided.

As soon as Fang Mingyuan saw Fang Li, he happily exclaimed, "Son, the wedding is in three days. Don't be too nervous. We're all here for you." Fang Li felt a bit guilty about disappointing Fang Mingyuan, but after hesitating for a moment, he said, "The wedding has been postponed."

Fang Mingyuan was puzzled, "Postponed?" He immediately looked at Xie Huai with a look that seemed to accuse him of being disloyal to his son.

Fang Li immediately stepped forward to defend Xie Huai, saying, "It has nothing to do with Xie Huai. It's my decision to postpone it."

Xin Ruiyan looked at her son with confusion. Over the past few days, she had noticed that Xie Huai was deeply devoted and probably wouldn't do such a thing. Was her son so confused that he wanted to call off the wedding?

Xie Huai held Fang Li's hand with gentle and calm eyes, saying, "We discussed it together."

Fang Li explained, "Xie Huai's master is in seclusion at a critical time. It's likely he won't be able to attend our wedding. So, we decided to wait until his master comes out of seclusion before holding the ceremony. This way, it will be perfect... Parents, rest assured, it's not a cancellation, just a slight delay."

This reason was agreed upon by both Fang Li and Xie Huai. The Fang family, being ordinary people, couldn't delve into it too deeply. Whether or not Master Mingyuan was truly in seclusion didn't matter in a few days. As long as they sorted out their troubles and had the wedding later, the truth of this reason wouldn't matter.

Fang Mingyuan muttered an 'oh.' Xie Huai's master was indeed a great master of the Immortal Sect, and as a senior, he deserved respect. They weren't unreasonable people. Seeing how close the two were, postponing the wedding didn't seem to be a big issue.

Seeing that he had finally persuaded his family, Fang Li smiled and let someone in to escort them away. Several demonic cultivators entered. He had specifically asked Wu Yiming to pick a few who looked relatively normal and non-threatening to escort Fang Mingyuan's family to the separate courtyard.

With no unrelated people left on Hollow Ridge, he and Xie Huai could focus on preparing for battle without worry.

 

*

Another month had passed in the blink of an eye.

Xie Huai's injuries had already healed about ninety percent. Fang Li recalled their last encounter with Fu Junling and asked, "What do you think of his cultivation level? Has he reached the stage of Daoist Immortality?"

Xie Huai shook his head, asserting, "Not yet."

Pausing for a moment, he added, "Actually, I haven't reached the stage of Daoist Immortality either. There's still a thin line I haven't crossed. Although Fu Junling is the reincarnation of a Saint, the last threshold is extremely mysterious. It's not easy for him to break through."

With this, Fang Li felt reassured. He had suspected before that Fu Junling probably hadn't fully recovered yet, and now Xie Huai confirmed it.

He also remembered from the original text that Xie Huai was the only Daoist Immortal in the Spiritual Immortal Realm. His breakthrough was just a matter of time. So even if Fu Junling did break through, he wouldn't be without the ability to fight.

Furrowing his brow, Xie Huai asked, "But if he hasn't obtained the Black Talisman, he won't just give up easily. Is the place you've hidden it secure?"

Fang Li smiled, saying, "Don't worry, I've hidden it in a place where he'll never find it."

Xie Huai didn't inquire further, simply nodding.

But Fang Li looked at him, his eyes cunning and triumphant, as he said without hesitation, "I disguised the Black Talisman to look like a concentric talisman. It fell into the Fallen Star Sea, there's no way anyone could have found it in the Fallen Star Sea."

When he escaped and left in seclusion, he had considered how to deal with the Black Talisman. This item, the holy treasure, proved indestructible. So, he could only hide it away.

This evil item had brought such disaster to the Spiritual Immortal Realm. After he had completed his mission and saved the world, he naturally didn't want the Black Talisman to remain. If it fell into the hands of someone with ill intentions, it would surely bring about another catastrophe in the future.

So, he took the Black Talisman with him into the Fallen Star Sea. The Sea was filled with raging waves, and even a cultivator below the Nascent Soul stage would be torn to shreds if they went down there. Even if a powerful Nascent Soul expert dared to search, they would definitely be injured. Inside, there were so many man-eating fishes. Who would risk their lives to fish something out of the Fallen Star Sea?

Moreover, few people knew about the Black Talisman, and Chong Wanshan was already dead. There probably wouldn't be anyone in the world who knew about such a thing anymore. Even if someone did try to search, with the vastness of the Fallen Star Sea, finding a single talisman was like finding a needle in a haystack.

Disguising it was his last insurance. Even if someone did see it, who would think that a mere concentric talisman, worth only three spirit stones, would be the sacred treasure that could overturn the Spiritual Immortal Realm?

He disclosed everything to Xie Huai without reservation.

Fang Li smiled as he looked at Xie Huai. However, he saw Xie Huai's expression remain silent for a moment before he reached out and produced a stone talisman - precisely a concentric talisman.

Fang Li's expression froze slightly. He looked down at the white stone talisman in Xie Huai's hand. In the upper right corner of the white stone talisman was a mark he had left behind originally.

He thought he would never see this stone talisman again... because no one would take such a risk to search the Fallen Star Sea's raging waves for a simple concentric talisman.

But he was wrong. Someone had indeed done so.

Fang Li's hand trembled slightly as he looked up at Xie Huai, his eyes reddened.

He couldn't imagine how many times Xie Huai had gone down into the Fallen Star Sea.

He hadn't yet become a Daoist Immortal. He was also flesh and blood.

In the brutal, stormy depths of the dark sea filled with ferocious demon fish and fierce winds, how long had he searched, how many times had he gone down into it, enduring pain and despair time and time again... to find such a small thing? To find the only thing he had left behind. Worth only three spirit stones. Yet he had carefully preserved it.

Xie Huai frowned slightly and said lightly, "It was accidentally fished up. Should we throw it back?"

Fang Li's heartache drained the colour from his face. He reached out to grab Xie Huai's clothes, wanting to check his body.

Xie Huai grabbed Fang Li's trembling wrist, his voice low and hoarse, "It's okay. I have an innate Daoist body. It won't leave scars."

Because the traces would disappear, did that mean it wouldn't hurt anymore? A stronger body, wounds that healed more easily - they were just concealed beneath the surface, part of a past that was even more difficult and painful.

Fang Li dared not imagine how much he had hurt Xie Huai. His lips trembled, unable to utter a word.

If… if he had known that today would come, he definitely wouldn't have left Xie Huai alone...

Those nine years had been a fleeting moment for him, but for Xie Huai, every minute and every second had been long and arduous.

After a long time, Fang Li slowly reached out his hand, grasping Xie Huai's hand, placing the concentric talisman in his palm, and hoarsely said, "Never do something like this again."

Xie Huai looked at him tenderly and said, "Okay."

Fang Li closed his eyes. He suddenly remembered how, when he was injured while protecting Xie Huai, when he disregarded everything to complete his mission, Xie Huai would also get angry with him, reproaching him for why he had to do that... At that time, he didn't understand Xie Huai's feelings, nor did he take those words to heart.

Now he finally understood, because when you care about someone more than yourself, you hope they will cherish themselves, wishing they will never be in danger.

In this world, there are people more important than yourself.

And at this moment, his feelings were the same as Xie Huai's had been before. When he first came to this world, there was nothing worth caring about or clinging to. This world was meaningless to him... He acted recklessly until he started to care about someone and wanted to protect this world.

Back then, he thought it would be a brief encounter, and they would eventually part ways. But he was wrong. In fact, from that moment on, he was no longer alone. This world had someone he wanted to protect, someone he didn't want to lose.

He had his own concerns.

When a person has concerns, they are no longer afraid of anything.

But he had no regrets. Because being able to meet someone like this was the greatest gift from heaven to him.

 

Xie Huai looked at Fang Li, the corners of his eyebrows slightly raised, and chuckled softly, "It seems that crossing the lovers' bridge does work. It can truly bring predestined love from past lives. You won't leave me again, right?"

Fang Li answered without hesitation, "I will never leave you again."

Xie Huai looked deeply at the person in front of him.

Fang Li had confessed almost everything to him before, but there was one thing he hadn't said. Fang Li hadn't told him why he had rejected him before.

Although he was very happy that Fang Li had never liked anyone else, Fang Li's feelings were pure and genuine, just like his own towards him. But if it wasn't because of his jealous senior brother, why had Fang Li been avoiding him before? It could only mean that the Fang Li from before didn't like him. At least, not that much. He even considered leaving him.

This person was what he had longed for.

Xie Huai's eyes darkened slightly, and he spoke hoarsely, "How do I know you're not deceiving me, waiting until you've pacified me before leaving?"

Fang Li feared it most when Xie Huai mentioned the word 'deceive'. It hurt him deeply. How many times had he lied to Xie Huai before, probably leaving a psychological shadow? A person who was fearless, even of death, seemed to be plagued with doubt and insecurity about this matter.

Fang Li was heartbroken.

How could I leave you? In this world, where else could I go without you?

Fang Li wished he could tear his heart out and show it to Xie Huai, proving that he would absolutely not deceive him this time.

Looking at Fang Li's earnest and eager face, Xie Huai suddenly pushed him against the wall, rubbing against him, warm breath falling on his neck, his voice hoarse, "Words mean nothing. Show me."

Fang Li instantly understood.

His ears felt slightly warm.

Xie Huai's movements were gentle and restrained, as if waiting for his permission...

This time, he absolutely couldn't hesitate!

Fang Li gritted his teeth and reached out, hooking Xie Huai's belt, humming softly, refusing to give in, whispering in his ear, "Let me see if it's true... without leaving any traces."

Xie Huai was slightly surprised, then lowered his head to kiss Fang Li's lips, his gaze deep, and slowly said, "Then you better make sure you see clearly."

 

Translator : DarNan