Fang Li's expression abruptly froze.
If he didn't explain, Xie Huai would misunderstand that he was looking for a substitute. If he explained, Xie Huai would know about him faking his death.
It really was a difficult dilemma.
But since he'd chosen to be together with Xie Huai, these were all things that needed to be faced. Avoiding it wouldn't solve the problem.
He didn't regret telling Xie Huai the truth.
He didn't want any more deception between the two of them.
He really was in the wrong for faking his death, because back then, when he'd left, he hadn't thought that he would meet Xie Huai again. If he'd known that things would come to this, he'd definitely have come clean much earlier, instead of letting Xie Huai misunderstand and feel hurt and anguish.
As for himself...
After making a mistake, one should accept the beating. First, he had to have the proper attitude.
Fang Li assumed the manner of a guilty convict awaiting his fate and said, "I'm sorry."
Xie Huai looked at Fang Li placidly.
Fang Li became a little anxious and uneasy from his gaze. He knew that Xie Huai would be angry... After all, he'd tricked Xie Huai so many times, and he'd done so many unreasonable things. Even if he'd had his own difficulties, in the end, the human heart was made of flesh. If Xie Huai had any thoughts toward him because of it, it would probably also be normal...
And the fact that this world was a book, that was clearly also a difficult thing to accept.
Just as Fang Li's thoughts were piling up more and more, Xie Huai suddenly reached out and hugged him tightly.
Xie Huai's embrace was warm yet strong, a strength that put one's heart at ease.
Fang Li startled slightly.
Xie Huai rested his chin against the side of Fang Li's neck, his low, hoarse words falling into his ear. "I'm very happy, that you are only you."
There's no need for guilt.
You simply did the only thing you could do at the time, what you thought was right... You didn't know my feelings, and neither have you done anything to apologize to me for.
On the contrary, you did a lot for me.
I'm very happy that you aren't Yan Sui.
Because from beginning to end, what drew me in was the genuine, tender, and serene you underneath the demon lord's exterior. It was the you who would bring kindness and warmth to others no matter what kind of situation you were in. The you who, even when you had no choice but to use the demon lord's identity and suffer from numerous restrictions, was still able to stay true to your heart and carry things out with reason and measure... It was precisely this side of you that made me curious, that caused me to probe, and gradually moved my heart.
Through layers and layers of fog and pretense, the one that I saw and fell in love with was always the real you. It was never that... cold-blooded devil who let himself fall into the depths of hell.
And besides, you have never done anything wrong. There is no debt of the blood of my sect between us, no conflict between good and evil.
Xie Huai's eyes were tender and fond, with a trace of release.
He would never again have to suffer the condemnation of his conscience for falling in love with someone that he shouldn't, wouldn't need to feel pain and guilt over his struggle between his morals and his feelings. He had never once betrayed his Daoist heart, and from now on, he would always be able to stand with no misgivings at this person's side.
He hadn't loved the wrong person. His love no longer had a single flaw.
As for this world...
Perhaps, in your eyes, it's only a book, but from my perspective, everything is real.
Wasn't the so-called story in a book also equivalent to fate?
Fate is undefiable.
Yet you did everything in your power to protect me.
The me whose fate was changed by you, the me who didn't need to suffer everything in the book, is real... And this world, all of those people who live on because of you, are also real.
Meeting you was my great fortune.
I'm overjoyed, that is truth.
Xie Huai smiled. "So, Fang Li is your real name."
Being held tightly by Xie Huai, the unease at the bottom of Fang Li's heart slowly dispersed, and his eyes softened. This person... always knew how to put one at ease, so that you would never, ever worry that he would leave you behind.
With a smile, he nodded. "It is."
......
At long last, Fang Li cleared up the misunderstanding with Xie Huai. Seeing Xie Huai wearing white again, he expressed with satisfaction, "You look ten thousand times better than Fu Junling in white."
Xie Huai only shot him a bland look. "I don't care about him at all."
Right, right, right.
You don't care about him anymore, but who was chugging vinegar all day in the past? No wonder you smelled sour all over.
Although Fu Junling wasn't worthy of being Xie Huai's rival in love, he'd still stirred up quite a bit of trouble. It looked like there would be no way to hold the wedding for the time being.
Fang Li decided to first send the Fang family away.
Hollow Ridge might erupt in battle at any moment. This place wasn't safe anymore.
He and Xie Huai set out together toward the side palace where the Fang family was staying.
As soon as he saw Fang Li, Fang Mingyuan said happily, "Son, the wedding is in just three days. Don't be too nervous, all of us are here."
Fang Li didn't quite have the heart to disappoint Fang Mingyuan, but after a moment of contemplation, he still said, "The wedding is being delayed."
Fang Mingyuan was startled. "Delayed?"
He immediately looked toward Xie Huai with an expression that said, Are you the unfaithful wretch who's about to abandon my son?
Fang Li immediately stood forward to defend Xie Huai and said, "It has nothing to do with Xie Huai. I'm the one who wanted to delay it."
Xin Ruiyan looked at her son doubtfully. She had also seen in these past few days that Xie Huai was fully infatuated and probably wouldn't do something like this. It couldn't be that her son was so muddle-headed that he actually wanted to renounce the marriage?
Xie Huai grasped Fang Li's hand, his eyes tender and steady as he said, "We discussed it together."
Fang Li said, "Xie Huai's master is currently at a critical point in his closed-door cultivation. We're afraid he won't be able to make it in time for our wedding, so we discussed it and decided to wait until after his master has come out of closed-door cultivation to hold it. Only then can it be considered perfect... Mother, Father, don't worry, it's not being canceled, it's only being delayed for a little while, that's all."
He and Xie Huai had thought up this excuse together.
The entire Fang family was made up of common mortals. Naturally, they had no way to look into whether Elder Ming Yin was really in closed-door cultivation. Besides, after a few days, when they'd resolved all of the troubles and then held the wedding, whether the excuse was true or false wouldn't be important.
Fang Mingyuan blankly made an "oh" sound. Xie Huai's master, huh? That was an incredible personage, and one's master was also one's elder. It was indeed proper to show respect.
It wasn't like they were unreasonable people.
It was evident at a glance from the way those two were stuck together like glue that their relationship was fine and well. Since it was only a delay, there wasn't much of a problem.
Seeing that his mother and father had accepted it, Fang Li spoke again. "Hollow Ridge needs to be rearranged. For the time being, it might be a little chaotic with many people here. Mother, Father, I've readied another complex for you. Stay there for a little while, and when the time comes, I'll go over to bring you back."
Fang Mingyuan said with a smile, "No need to go to so much trouble. We can also be of help."
But Xie Huai said, "How could we ask you to personally help with such trifling matters? Naturally, there will be people to take care of it."
Although Xie Huai spoke politely, in the end, Fang Mingyuan was still awed by Yuyi-jun. Hearing those words, he didn't speak anymore. Since Yuyi-jun had spoken, they just had to follow the arrangements!
Seeing that they'd finally persuaded his family, Fang Li smiled and had people come in to send them off.
The people who entered were several demonic cultivators. He'd especially had Wu Yimei pick a few subordinates who looked rather normal and not too frightening and had them send Fang Mingyuan and the rest of the family to the complex.
Thus, there was no one unrelated left at Hollow Ridge, and he and Xie Huai could also prepare for battle without worry.
......
In the blink of an eye, another month passed.
Xie Huai's wounds had also healed eighty to ninety percent.
Fang Li recalled the last time Xie Huai and Fu Junling had exchanged blows and asked, "What do you think of his cultivation level? Has he become a Unified Dao true immortal?"
Xie Huai shook his head and said, "Not yet."
After a pause, he continued, "In truth, I haven't achieved Unified Dao, either. There is a last thread that I've yet to break through. Although Fu Junling is the Great Sage reincarnated, the threshold for the last door is profound beyond profundity. Even if he wants to break through, it won't be easy."
In that case, Fang Li was a bit relieved.
Previously, he'd guessed that Fu Junling likely had yet to fully recover, and now, Xie Huai had also confirmed it.
Moreover, he still recalled that the original novel had stated that Xie Huai was the world's only Unified Dao true immortal. Xie Huai's breakthrough was only a matter of time. In that case, even if Fu Junling really did break through, they would at least still have a fighting chance.
Xie Huai said with a creased brow, "But without obtaining the black talisman, he won't let matters rest. Is the place you hid the black talisman still adequate?"
Fang Li said with a smile, "Don't worry, I hid it somewhere he definitely won't be able to find."
Xie Huai didn't ask further, only nodding his head.
But Fang Li gazed at him, a crafty, delighted look in his eyes, and said without hesitation, "I disguised the black talisman as the lover's talisman. Back then, it fell alongside me into the Fallen Star Sea. There couldn't possibly be anyone who could find it in the Fallen Star Sea."
Back then, when he'd faked his death and departed, he'd thought about what to do with the black talisman.
The black talisman was the Great Sage's greatest treasure. He'd tried destroying it to no avail, so he could only hide it away.
This evil thing had brought such calamity to this world. He'd finally managed to complete the mission and preserve this world, so naturally, he didn't wish for the black talisman to remain. If it were to fall in the hands of someone with ill intentions, there might be a sea of blood once more.
Thus, he'd taken the black talisman with him into the Fallen Star Sea.
The towering waves of the Fallen Star Sea were violent and fierce, and anyone under the Void Refining stage would be torn apart into pieces. Even if a Void Refining-level master wanted to go down to find it, they would certainly suffer a good thrashing even if they didn't die. It was a place where not even a Void Refining-level cultivator could stay for very long, and there were also so many man-eating fish. Who would be so eager for death as to go into the Fallen Star Sea to scoop up treasure?
Besides, there weren't many people who knew about the black talisman from the start, and Chong Wanshan was also dead already.
There was probably no one left in the world who knew that something like this existed. Even if someone really did go down to look, the Fallen Star Sea was so vast, and finding a single jade talisman was like looking for a needle in the great sea.
Thus, the disguise was his last bit of insurance. Going back a thousand steps, even if someone really saw it, who would think that a lover's talisman worth a mere three spirit stones would be the Great Sage's greatest treasure, capable of overturning the entire world?
He'd done all of this to ensure that this evil thing never appeared again.
He had absolutely no reservations toward Xie Huai, so naturally, he openly told him everything.
Fang Li smiled as he looked at Xie Huai, but he saw Xie Huai fall silent for a few moments before reaching out his hand, cupping a stone talisman.
It was precisely one single lover's talisman.
Fang Li's expression became blank for a moment.
He lowered his eyes, looking at the white stone talisman in Xie Huai's hand.
There was a scratch at the top right of the white stone talisman, precisely the mark he'd left back then.
He'd thought that he'd never see this stone talisman again...
Because no one would face that kind of danger, would go into the fierce and violent waves of the Fallen Star Sea, just to find a lover's talisman worth a mere three spirit stones.
But, he was wrong.
There really was someone who'd done so.
Fang Li's hands trembled slightly. He looked up at Xie Huai with reddened eyes.
He didn't dare imagine how many times Xie Huai had gone down into the Fallen Star Sea.
He still had yet to become a Unified Dao true immortal.
His body was also made of flesh and blood.
At the bottom of the dark sea full of violent currents and ferocious demonic fish, just how long had he looked, how many times had he gone down, over and over again, bearing the pain and despair... just to find this tiny little thing?
To find the only thing that Fang Li had left behind back then.
It was only worth three spirit stones.
And yet he'd preserved it carefully.
Xie Huai's brow furrowed minutely, and he said blandly, "I picked it up accidentally. Let's throw it back, after all."
Fang Li's heart ached to the point that his face paled, and he lifted his hand to tug at Xie Huai's clothes, wanting to look at his body.
Xie Huai grasped Fang Li's faintly trembling wrist, his voice low and hoarse. "It's fine. I have an innate Dao physique, it won't leave scars."
Would it not hurt just because the scars would disappear?
A stronger body, wounds that closed more easily—those were nothing more than a more difficult, more painful past, hidden underneath where no one would know.
Fang Li didn't dare to imagine just how much he'd hurt Xie Huai.
His lips trembled, unable to speak.
If only, if only he'd known things would turn out like this, he, definitely wouldn't have left Xie Huai alone...
To him, those nine years were nothing more than the blink of an eye, but to Xie Huai, every minute and second had been endless.
After a long time, Fang Li very slowly stretched out his hand and grasped Xie Huai's, holding that lover's talisman in his palm, and said in a hoarse voice, "Don't ever do something like this again."
Xie Huai looked at him tenderly and said, "Alright."
Fang Li closed his eyes.
He suddenly recalled how, in the past, when he'd been injured in order to protect Xie Huai, or when he'd acted with reckless abandon to complete the mission, Xie Huai would get angry at him and scold him, asking why he would do such things... At the time, he hadn't understood Xie Huai's feelings, nor had he listened to those words. Now, he finally understood, because when you loved someone even more than yourself, you would wish for them to properly cherish themselves, that they would never put themselves in danger.
In this world, there were people even more important than yourself.
And right now, his feelings were the same as Xie Huai's back then.
In the beginning, when he'd first arrived in this world, there hadn't been anything to him worth lingering over. To him, this world had been unfamiliar and meaningless... He'd acted as he'd pleased, up until he'd begun to care for a person, and because of that, wanted to properly protect this world.
Back then, he'd thought that this would be a brief encounter that would end in parting.
But he'd been wrong. In truth, from the very start, he had already stopped being all alone in the world. This world had someone who he wanted to protect, who he didn't want to lose.
He had attachments that were his now.
Once a person had attachments, they would no longer be fearless.
But he didn't regret it.
Because being able to meet such a person was the greatest blessing that the heavens had given him.
Xie Huai gazed at Fang Li, his eyebrows raised slightly, and let out a low laugh. "The Lover's Pass really is effective. It truly can grant a union fated across lifetimes. You won't leave me again, right?"
Fang Li answered without any hesitation. "I'll never leave you again."
Xie Huai looked deeply at the person before him.
Previously, Fang Li had confessed almost everything to him, but there was only one thing that Fang Li hadn't explained. Fang Li hadn't told him why he'd rejected him before.
Although he was very glad that Fang Li had never liked anyone else, and that Fang Li's feelings were pure and genuine just as he felt towards Fang Li, if it wasn't because of Yan Sui's shixiong, then why had Fang Li avoided him over and over in the past?
It could only mean that Fang Li hadn't liked him back then.
At least, he hadn't liked him that much.
To the point that he'd even thought of leaving him.
This person was his only through yearning and prayer.
Xie Huai's eyes darkened slightly, and he spoke in a hoarse voice. "How do I know that you're not deceiving me, waiting to leave as soon as you've coaxed me."
Fang Li was most afraid of Xie Huai using the word "deceive."
His heart ached beyond belief.
In the past, who knows how many times he'd deceived Xie Huai—it'd probably left a scar in his heart by now? A perfectly good 'number one in the world' who wasn't even afraid of death, yet it just had to be that when it came to this, he would worry over what he stood to lose.
How could I leave you?
In this world, if I were to leave you, where else could I go?
Fang Li wished for nothing more than to dig his heart out for Xie Huai to see, to prove that this time, he definitely wasn't tricking him.
Xie Huai gazed at Fang Li's sincere and anxious face. Suddenly, the corners of his mouth lifted, and he pushed Fang Li to the wall, close enough for their faces to touch. A warm breath fell against the side of his neck, his voice low and rough. "Words mean nothing. Prove it to me."
Fang Li reacted instantly.
His ears faintly turned hot.
Xie Huai's movements were tender and restrained, as if waiting for his permission...
This time, he definitely couldn't be a coward!
Fang Li grit his teeth and reached out, hooking Xie Huai's belt. With a light hmph, refusing to lose, he said beside Xie Huai's ear, "Then you also show me, if there really... aren't any scars left."
Xie Huai startled for a moment, then lowered his head in a kiss that fell onto Fang Li's lips, his eyes dusky as he slowly spoke. "Then you'd better take a very close look."
......
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Xie Huai: Who says I can't do it
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