Chapter 915: Getting Along

Chapter 915: Living Together

Though the mysteries had thinned, the troubles remained as thick as ever, yet Li Huowang’s attitude had undergone a profound shift.

What of the God of Yu’er or the Si Ming of Shidu? Let them come! Your schemes failed once before, and they shall never succeed again! With clarity of purpose, Li Huowang’s heart burned with fighting spirit.

No matter how many causal threads must be severed, no matter how many cycles of reincarnation he must endure, as long as the goal is reached, Li Huowang fears nothing. He has already faced death; what else could possibly daunt him?

Just then, with a soft clatter, a plate of tomato and egg stir-fry over rice was set before him.

Li Huowang looked up at Wu Qi, who had brought the meal. "Thanks, but one portion is enough. I’m full."

"Who said this was for you? It’s for you to feed someone else."

"Feed someone? Who?" A question mark surfaced in Li Huowang’s mind. Who was so hungry they needed him to serve them?

"Your girl, of course. She’s staying upstairs. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten you have a girlfriend?"

"Yang Na?" Li Huowang suddenly realized. As the causality was severed, Yang Na, whom he had sent home, had naturally returned to the villa; she had come here seeking him.

"I wanted to tell you when you arrived, but you were so busy chattering away with Zhao Shuangdian and Qing Wanglai that I couldn't get a word in."

"I don't usually meddle in your private affairs, but your girlfriend doesn't seem well. She hasn't eaten much lately. See if you can get her to take a few bites. If you can't manage that, I’ll have to put her on an IV drip."

"Thanks, Sister Wu." Thinking of Yang Na’s current plight, Li Huowang’s mood darkened. He picked up the plate and, with a heavy heart, climbed the stairs.

It was the third room. As he pushed the door open, he saw Yang Na, frail and withered, huddled in the corner of the bed.

"Come, Na Na. You must be hungry. Let’s eat." Li Huowang helped her from the bed to the table.

"Huowang? Is that you, Huowang?" Yang Na gripped his wrist tightly, as if terrified he might vanish.

She immediately noticed his empty eye sockets and reached out, her heart breaking. "Huowang, your eyes? Where are your eyes? I’m sorry, is this because of me? Did I drag you into this?"

"No." Li Huowang clasped her hand firmly in his, looking at the scars on her wrists with a pang of sorrow, and whispered, "It’s not because of you. It has nothing to do with you. Please, don't blame yourself. You didn't drag me down; it was I who dragged you into this."

"That’s good, that’s good. But your eyes... it hurts my heart so much." After saying this, her haggard face broke into a radiant smile. "Huowang, I believe you. I truly do. No matter what you say from now on, I believe it. I am the Wusheng Laomu; I am a Si Ming, just like you."

Her words pierced Li Huowang’s chest like a blade. Though he had lived through this before, the repetition was no less agonizing.

He refused to show his grief, fearing she would blame herself again, so he forced a smile. "That’s good. That’s good."

This time, Li Huowang did not want to send her away. If the next cycle would only sever causality and return them to the start, he would let her be as happy as possible now.

Let it be a dream from which he would eventually wake; after all, when the time came, no one but he would remember what had transpired.

"Huowang, I’m the Wusheng Laomu now, I’m a Si Ming. I can help you. I’m not a burden anymore." Yang Na leaned her head against his chest, speaking in a half-dreaming trance.

"You aren't a burden. You can help me. Na Na is the best. Come, eat your food." Like coaxing a child, he lifted a spoonful of tomato and egg to her lips.

He fed her bit by bit, watching her color slowly return, and his heart finally eased a little.

"Huowang, don't worry about me. You don't blame me, so I feel much better. I can move." The weak Yang Na tried to push him away, but he held her fast.

"Be good, rest for now. It’s night; we’ll talk about everything tomorrow."

After she finished the meal and he had comforted her, Li Huowang carried the empty plate out of the room.

He had barely stepped out when he found Qing Wanglai waiting by the door.

Looking at that affable, smiling face, Li Huowang clenched his fist, then slowly forced his hand to relax. He walked downstairs with the plate.

"Staying here tonight, I assume? The room is ready." As long as his interests weren't at stake, Qing Wanglai’s performance was always flawless.

"No need. I’ll stay in that room to keep Yang Na company." Li Huowang brushed past him and descended the stairs.

"Yang Na has awakened. That’s a good thing—we’ve gained another one."

"Bam!" Li Huowang finally threw the punch. "I’m warning you! Don’t you dare involve her! Or I will kill you!"

Qing Wanglai wiped the blood from his face with the back of his hand, smiling. "Li Huowang, that’s a bit unreasonable. Since she can help, wouldn't it be a waste not to use her?"

"And have you asked the blade for its opinion? Perhaps she doesn't want her talent to go to waste. Even if she doesn't kill, she could at least peel fruit."

Li Huowang smashed the ceramic plate against the banister. Amidst the clatter of shards, he pressed a sharp fragment against Qing Wanglai’s throat. "I said no! Are you deaf?"

"I’m not deaf. But what are you afraid of, Li Huowang? You said that killing a Si Ming resets everything to the beginning, didn't you? If that’s the case, what does it matter? You’re overthinking this."

"We don't have many people. Every extra hand increases our odds."

Hearing this, just as his rage reached its zenith, Li Huowang suddenly stopped and lowered the ceramic shard.

"Fine. I’ll take Yang Na and go find Zhao Shuangdian to join her alliance."

"Oh?" Qing Wanglai’s brow furrowed.

"Didn't you say more hands mean better odds? If I take Yang Na and ally with Zhao Shuangdian, that should satisfy your requirements, shouldn't it?" Li Huowang looked at him with a mocking glint in his eyes.

Seeing him fall silent, Li Huowang held the shard and continued his descent down the stairs.

At last, Li Huowang had found the way to communicate with a true villain like Qing Wanglai. Physical threats were useless, but as Wu Qi had said, once you find the pattern, even such people are easy to get along with.