The moon is high in the sky.
The lake finally calmed down, and Dai Yao and Bibi Dong lay relaxed on the beach, not caring at all even though the sand was sticking to their bodies.
Bibi Dong's clothes were soaked through, and two strands of hair clung tightly to her cheeks. She clasped her hands together on her stomach, breathing heavily, her chest heaving, and her face was full of a carefree smile.
"Dai Yao, thank you. I haven't felt this kind of happiness in many years..."
Gazing at the stars and the bright moon in the night sky, Bibi Dong was somewhat lost in thought.
For years, she lived in pain, regret, and a thirst for revenge, forgetting what happiness was.
"You're welcome. You've just pushed yourself too hard."
Dai Yao smiled.
Bibi Dong frowned slightly, turned her head slightly, and glanced at Dai Yao out of the corner of her eye. She saw that Dai Yao was still extremely relaxed, and his demeanor was very natural when he said those words.
But she always felt that Dai Yao knew something, otherwise he wouldn't be able to hit the nail on the head with every word he said, as if he wanted to enlighten her.
Even in the zombie world, before Dai Yao's identity as a divine messenger was revealed, she still maintained a degree of vigilance when communicating with him.
She never told Dai Yao about her past.
"Perhaps it's just a coincidence..."
She thought to herself.
However, spending time with her today, she felt as if she had returned to her carefree teenage years.
With a sigh, she remembered herself as the Pope of the Spirit Hall, above all others. Her soul power surged, instantly evaporating the water stains on her clothes and drying her purple hair. Though barefoot, her dignified and noble aura radiated outwards.
Wearing stockings and tying on purple high heels, the papal scepter returned to her left hand, and the purple-gold crown, symbolizing the papacy's majesty, flew back into Bibi Dong's hands.
With a thought, the sand on the purple-gold crown fell away, and when the purple-gold crown was placed on her head, the majestic Pope returned.
Seeing Bibi Dong dressed neatly, Dai Yao knew she was about to leave.
Are you leaving?
Bibi Dong turned her head slightly and nodded expressionlessly. Just as Dai Yao was feeling somewhat regretful, she suddenly turned back and smiled sweetly:
Thank you so much for today...
After saying that, Bibi Dong disappeared.
Dai Yao stared blankly at the spot where Bibi Dong had disappeared for a long time before finally smiling helplessly.
He never imagined Bibi Dong could smile, much less that her smile would give him such an innocent feeling, like that of a naive young girl...
"Is my brain broken that I actually think the successor of the Rakshasa God has an innocent smile?"
Dai Yao chuckled lightly, realizing how absurd he had been.
······
At the window of the wooden house.
Looking at Dai Yao on the shore, Zhu Zhuqing's beautiful eyes were full of doubt.
"Sister Wutong, what's wrong with Brother Yao? Why is he jumping and skipping around by the lake all by himself?"
It turns out that Dai Yao could see Bibi Dong, but Zhu Zhuqing and the others couldn't. Otherwise, how could Bibi Dong have suddenly appeared in the valley where Dai Yao lived?
Feng Wutong also cast her gaze towards the lakeside, observed for a while, and pondered deeply:
"Perhaps... young master is trying to relax?"
Zhu Zhuqing frowned slightly; this was the only explanation. But she had a peculiar feeling, a faint unease, like the feeling a woman has when she catches her husband cheating…
······
Several days later, in the Papal Palace of Wuhun City.
"Teacher, has he... arrived?"
Hu Liena knelt on one knee, her facial injuries long since healed, restoring her stunning beauty. However, her face was now filled with an impatient expression.
There was even a faint sense of unease.
Bibi Dong sat on the papal throne, watching her beloved disciple's eagerness for a man, and shook her head with a hint of disappointment.
"He has arrived and is waiting for you at the summit."
Hu Liena was slightly taken aback, but immediately understood the place Bibi Dong was referring to. It was the summit of the mountain where the Papal Palace was located.
"Thank you, teacher!"
Upon hearing the information she wanted, she respectfully bowed to Bibi Dong and then quickly ran out of the hall.
But just as she was about to leave the Papal Palace, she suddenly stopped, her gaze lingering on her clothes for a moment. Hesitantly, she turned back and asked Bibi Dong with a somewhat uncertain look:
"Teacher, do you think if I go like this, will he... like me?"
Bibi Dong was taken aback.
The beauty of Hu Liena today is beyond description; few men in the world could resist her charm.
Even so, Hu Liena was still somewhat insecure, worried that the 'Asura Emperor' would look down on her.
How similar this is to her back then? A young girl with budding romantic feelings met a bookish nerd who knew nothing, and all her hard work was met with complete indifference from the man.
A sorrowful sigh escaped my lips.
"Nana is so happy right now, how could she imagine that her most respected teacher would have such a cruel ending waiting for her..."
"Nana, don't blame the teacher for being heartless. The teacher is doing this for your own good."
He...is not right for you...
Bibi Dong composed herself, appeared beside Hu Liena, gently straightened her clothes, smoothed a stray hair behind her ear, and smiled:
"My Nana, you are the most beautiful woman in the world. That 'Shura Emperor' was probably captivated by you the moment he saw you."
"No way..."
Hu Liena said with a touch of shyness and a plaintive tone:
"If he was really infatuated with me, why didn't he show up sooner?"
Immediately, she embraced Bibi Dong's slender waist, her foxy eyes sparkling, and smiled:
"I'm not the most beautiful girl! The teacher is! Teacher, I'm leaving now!"
With a string of silvery laughter, Hu Liena left the Papal Palace with joy, while behind her, Bibi Dong's long sigh echoed.
The top of Papal Hill.
Inside a pavilion.
A mountain breeze rustled through the pines. Looking down at Wuhun City below, though still majestic, it appeared much smaller and less spectacular.
But Dai Yao was in no mood for it at all.
He put on the bracelet that Bibi Dong had given him to conceal his identity again. After putting it on, his once golden hair turned black, and his features changed quite a bit, but he could still vaguely make out Dai Yao's appearance.
Therefore, he put on another mask.
He hadn't expected things to develop this way; in the City of Hell, he hadn't used any means to gain Hu Liena's favor.
All he did was help Hu Liena escape the Killing City safely. On Hell Road, he even thought Hu Liena was a burden; if it weren't for her, he would have left Hell Road long ago.
But to his surprise, things didn't go as he expected. The 'Asura Emperor' disappeared from this world after leaving the City of Hell.
He saw Hu Liena's arduous search.
But Hu Liena's love for the 'Asura Emperor' was entirely due to her own imagination. He kept his promise, asked for nothing in return, and safely led her away from the Hell Road.
But this is entirely because it's Bibi Dong's mission!
He used a false identity to get along with Hu Liena, and now every time he encounters her, he feels an urge to avoid her. Therefore, he doesn't want to agree to Bibi Dong's conditions; wouldn't it be better to just let the 'Shura Emperor' disappear?
However, Hu Liena's desperate search forced Dai Yao to make a decision to settle things between the 'Shura Emperor' and Hu Liena.
Hu Liena shouldn't waste her precious youth on someone who doesn't even exist.
With the crisp sound of high heels hitting the bluestone pavement, Dai Yao turned around and saw a tall woman walking gracefully towards him through the holes in his mask.
A gentle breeze rustled through the trees, causing the woman's shoulder-length brown hair to dance in the wind, her vest swaying behind her. In her slender hands, however, she tightly clutched a nearly worn-out mask.
It was the mask Dai Yao had left behind when he left the City of Hell.
When the woman saw him, Dai Yao clearly noticed that her hand, which was gripping the mask, suddenly tightened, and her knuckles turned slightly blue. Her large, watery eyes, after a brief moment of surprise, were filled with the joy of a long-awaited reunion.
Hu Liena bit her red lips lightly, and a cold aura was suddenly released. The wind stopped and a chill arose. The sounds of the surrounding woods gradually ceased, and frost climbed up the tree trunks.
And at the center of the gathering chill was Dai Yao!
Hu Liena stared intently at the masked man in front of her. Although his physique was very similar to that of the 'Asura Emperor' and even his appearance was exactly the same, she still couldn't be sure of his identity.
The true way to confirm the identity of the 'Asura Emperor' is through the Killing God Domain!
Dai Yao stood with his hands behind his back, frost forming beneath his feet. His long black hair danced wildly behind him within Hu Liena's killing domain. Dai Yao took a deep breath and stomped his foot down.
Buzz—
An equally icy aura suddenly erupted from Dai Yao, colliding with the icy aura emanating from Hu Liena.
The woods rustled wildly, and leaves fell frantically.
Hu Liena gave a muffled groan, but her beautiful face was filled with surprise and delight as she exclaimed:
"It really is you!"
She was so excited she wanted to run towards it, but fearing she would be too abrupt, she suppressed her elation and approached the 'Asura Emperor' step by step. Good heavens, she had never imagined that those few steps would feel so long.
After a long wait, she finally stood before the 'Asura Emperor'. Looking at the man she had longed for day and night, she had to suppress her emotions and pretend to be reunited with an old friend.
"Please sit down."
She gestured for the 'Asura Emperor' to sit down.
After the 'Asura Emperor' sat down, she poured tea, and a faint aroma of tea rose. When she looked at the 'Asura Emperor', a smile unconsciously appeared on her lips.
She smoothed the stray hairs behind her ears, afraid that her hair would get messy, and said with a hint of reproach:
"'Asura Emperor', you led me away from the Road to Hell, but why did you leave without saying goodbye? You helped me so much, even if you were sent by His Holiness the Pope to help me, you should still let me thank you properly."
Dai Yao stared at the tea, lost in thought. After a moment of silence, he finally said in a deep voice:
"Having been entrusted with a task, one should be loyal to it. The mission is complete; why linger any longer?"
Hu Liena felt a pang of bitterness in her heart. Was she really so insignificant in this man's eyes? Was he not even willing to linger for a moment? She forced a smile.
Perhaps it was because he didn't know his own feelings. If he did know, he certainly wouldn't be so indifferent. Thinking of this, he rallied his spirits and said with burning eyes:
"'Asura Emperor,' do you know how long it's been since we last met?"
"have no idea."
Dai Yao said calmly.
"It's been 521 days in total. For these 521 days, I've thought about you every single day. You left without saying goodbye, which really hurt me. Oh, right, this is the mask you left behind. I've kept it all this time, and I'm returning it to you now."
Hu Liena smiled sweetly, holding the mask with its patterns already somewhat blurred in both hands, and handed it to 'Shura Emperor'.
"I've made my feelings clear. This time, even if you have no feelings for me, you won't be so cold, will you...?"
Hu Liena thought to herself.
But the smile on her face gradually disappeared, and 'Asura Emperor' showed no intention of taking the mask.
"Just throw it away."
Dai Yao closed his eyes and said calmly.
He was well aware of Hu Liena's feelings, but the more she acted this way, the clearer he became that he couldn't let her continue to sink into despair. The one she loved was merely the 'Asura Emperor' of her fantasies!
Upon hearing the words of the 'Asura Emperor', Hu Liena felt as if she had been struck by lightning, and her body suddenly stiffened.
Tears welled up in my eyes, and an uncontrollable sorrow surged into my heart. Was all the longing and anticipation of these past five hundred days just a joke in the end?
She instantly understood the 'Asura Emperor's' intentions. Forcing back her tears, she asked stubbornly, her eyes red:
"Are you really that heartless?"
Dai Yao didn't answer. He picked up the mask from Hu Liena's hand and, to Hu Liena's disbelieving gaze, tossed it out of the pavilion. The mask spun rapidly and disappeared into the sound of the pine trees.
"There was no fate between us, so why bother pursuing it? Let it go, why torture yourself?"
Dai Yao sighed softly, put his hands behind his back, and turned to leave.
When the mask was thrown, Hu Liena felt as if all her strength had been drained away. She collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down her face. She bit her red lips so hard that they bled.
She gritted her teeth and said:
Can you tell me your name?
"cannot."
"Please, please let me see your face, just once!"
"I am ugly, and I hope my ugly appearance will not disturb the saintess."
Dai Yao didn't stop or look back at Hu Liena. When he reached the bottom of the mountain and looked up, he saw that the sky was suddenly covered by dark clouds, as black as ink, and it was about to rain.
Dai Yao removed his mask and sighed deeply:
"After today, Hu Liena should no longer be infatuated with that 'Asura Emperor'..."
······
boom!
A rumble of thunder boomed, lightning struck, and large raindrops pelted down relentlessly.
The forest was gradually enveloped in a misty haze. Hu Liena sat frozen on the ground, staring blankly in the direction the 'Asura Emperor' had vanished. She had never imagined that over five hundred days of waiting would end like this…
"No, no, that's not how he is!"
"If he were truly so heartless, why would he take me with him on the road to hell? Even if it was a mission from his teacher, he wouldn't risk his life to bring along a comatose burden like me on the perilous road to hell!"
"He must have his reasons..."
"Oh, right, he said he was ugly. It must be because he was so ugly that he was so insecure that he had to use the most ruthless method to get rid of me..."
Suddenly, her lifeless eyes lit up again.
The rain was deep, but she rushed into the torrential downpour without hesitation, searching for the discarded mask.
The mountain road was muddy, and Hu Liena was being searched for everywhere. Even though she was soaked to the bone and covered in mud, she did not give up.
Finally, she saw the mask hanging on the tree branch.
She leaped lightly, removed the mask, and stroked it gently. She seemed to see the ugly face beneath it, and said tenderly:
"Don't worry, no matter what you look like, I will never leave you..."
Dai Yao never imagined that his casual remark would make Hu Liena think so much more… (End of Chapter)