Chapter 176 - Love from the Male Protagonist’s Harem

The lilting sound of the flute gradually echoed into the distance, signaling the end of the tune. Under the cool moonlight, Xia Wushuang gazed at the vast sky full of stars, not saying a word for a long time. Gu Peijiu thought she wanted to hear her say something. Anything at all. As if she heard the voice in her heart. Gu Peijiu heard Xia Wushuang say, "This is the first song I learned here." "The person who taught me this song told me that when I feel homesick, playing it would make things better." Xia Wushuang sat on the grass, looking into Gu Peijiu's eyes and smiled, "I know this song doesn't bode well, but I still like to play it." "It doesn't bode well?" "Yes." Xia Wushuang simply lay back on the soft grass, staring at the radiant stars, "The prelude is cheerful, depicting a soldier returning home in joy." Gu Peijiu listened quietly, even though she knew the story that followed, she couldn't help wanting to hear it from her. She had heard the same words once in her childhood dreams. Scenes from those blurry dreams now flashed before her, becoming as clear as parting clouds thanks to Dou Dou's memories. "But after returning, everything has changed, nothing seems familiar, and it's all ruined." "So, the prelude is cheerful, and the latter part is sorrowful." "..." After a moment of silence, Xia Wushuang said, "...I'm actually not afraid of what terrible things might happen in the future." "I'm just a bit afraid that nothing will be like I imagined." "..." Like a soldier who returns after a deadly struggle, thinking they can obtain what they want, only to find it was all just imagination. Nothing stays the same forever. Just like she thought Chu Shi wouldn't abandon her. Just like she thought all her efforts would earn a bit of recognition. Gu Peijiu held the bone flute; after a while, she heard herself speak. "Don't be sad." She leaned forward, her cold fingertips grazing Xia Wushuang's slightly moist eyes, "…And don't cry." Don't put on a crying face with those smiling lips. Gu Peijiu wondered. Perhaps because they shared the same soul. That's why they have the same expression when sad. Xia Wushuang was silent, as if in a daze. "…I don't know who to like anymore." Xia Wushuang muttered to herself, "Nor do I have anyone to rely on." "Thinking about having to walk the road alone in the future." "It makes me feel very uneasy." The carefree and reckless Xia Wushuang. At the end of the day, she's just a girl afraid of loneliness. "If there's someone I can always believe in." She said, "Someone I never have to fear will leave, it would be nice." Gu Peijiu gazed into Xia Wushuang's eyes. As if she could see deep into her soul. Xia Wushuang continued to talk to herself for a while, then found it a bit funny and mocked herself, "…Why am I telling you this?" "You don't understand anything." At that time, Gu Peijiu really didn't understand. But she knew what she wanted. So, even if it means trying her best, she will give her everything she desires. This person's soul is the entire meaning of her existence. It's irrelevant whether she understands or not. Gu Peijiu bent over, wrapped her arms around the girl's neck, her soft black hair cascading over her shoulder, feeling the warmth that was hot for her, hearing her own gentle yet determined voice. "If… please trust me." "I will always be what you imagine." Perhaps fearing rejection, she spoke slowly but without pause, with logic and conviction. "I am your leader..." "I will always be by your side." "I will never leave you." "Until death." "I... swear to you." At that moment, the moonlight was cold, but the starlight in the night sky was dazzlingly bright. == These days on Danfeng Peak, there wasn't any sign of the senior sister waking up, yet the number of people coming to visit her due to her status as a high-level alchemist was increasing, and even Chang Lan, the first disciple of Jianfeng Peak, personally came by. At the time, Chang Lan stared at her meaningfully for a long time. It made Xia Ge feel a little uneasy, like she accidentally revealed something. But in truth, she felt she shouldn't have exposed anything. Since arriving at Danfeng Peak, she'd been living off a fasting pill, not eating or drinking, wearing a mask that she never took off, except for that one time to lure out the snakes, she hadn't done anything particularly suspicious. After dispatching the visitors, Xia Ge felt somewhat exhausted; looking at her senior sister's peaceful sleeping face, she thought she needed to make a trip to the demon sect for the antidote. Hoping… A Chan was also in Su Chan's hands. Su Chan. Su Chan. Xia Ge thought of this name, wondering how someone could be so wicked. Truly wicked to the core. Su Chan... As Xia Ge mouthed the name, in a flash, a scene burst into her mind. Like a dream, yet not quite. In that scene, a cluster of purple perilla was in full bloom. A little girl in red, barefoot, clung to her hand, refusing to let go, holding a handful of purple perilla, seemingly speaking, her voice tinged with helpless laughter, "Why don't you act like a god at all?" The little girl pursed her lips, shook her head, stubbornly looking at her. Her eyes full of words, "Wherever you go, I go." "Really clingy." She shook her head, then laughed, "Right, little goddess, let me give you a name?" The little girl's eyes lit up slightly, then she rattled off a string of words Xia Ge couldn't understand. Presumably expressing that she wanted it to sound good, something she would like. "Alright, alright, I got it." She placed a sprig of perilla on the little girl's head. "Hmm, since you're so clingy, let's call you... A Chan." "Do you like it?" The little girl, adorned with perilla, looked at her with long, beautiful eyes swimming with warmth; she neither agreed nor disagreed. After a moment, the little girl slowly said, "... Last name." The little girl tugged at her clothes, speaking earnestly, "I want, a full name." Her pronunciation was a bit awkward, as if it was the first time she was speaking the language. She chuckled, waving a handful of perilla in her hand, "Alright, how about Su Chan?" The little girl tilted her head, thought for a moment, and softly said "Mm." "... Su, Chan." She said, "Like..." "Xia... Wushuang." The memory came to an abrupt halt. Xia Ge pressed her temples, a little disoriented, and it took her a while to regain her composure. Shaking her head, feeling somewhat dazed, she walked out of the room, "... What was that just now?" "The Earth-level is different from the Mysterious-level and Yellow-level," the system explained. "Once you've reached the Earth-level realm, it means you've broken open a bit of the Heavenly Dao, and it also signifies... that some rules of the Heavenly Dao will no longer apply to you." Xia Ge was bewildered, "What do you mean?" "For instance, normally after people die, their memories are erased as they enter the six paths of reincarnation," the system explained. "This is a 'rule' imposed by the Heavenly Dao. However, those who reach the Earth-level can step out of these rules, meaning some rules become inapplicable... which means, you might recall certain aspects of your past life that should have been forgotten." "......" Xia Ge found it ludicrous, "Impossible." Past life? She's a soul of the present life, how could her past life exist here? Or is it this body's past life? The system said, "This is the Heavenly Dao's rule in this world. You've also stepped into this world's 'Earth-level,' so..." —So, the memories you recall would be of your 'past life' in this world. The system paused, "…The rest, I'm unsure of too, could it be an error?" "…What a mess," Xia Ge felt a headache coming on. No matter how much she pondered, she couldn't make sense of the fleeting memory and chose not to believe it. She didn't want any kind of involvement with the name "Su Chan." The system had previously informed her that the senior sister wasn't in serious trouble; the Soul Meridian Pill had indeed worked. The damage to the soul caused by the Soul Poison had been mended by the pill, but... "…Her soul is only half," the system explained. "The reason she functioned like a normal person until now is that the half-soul relinquished certain emotions, creating a delicate balance between her soul and body." The Soul Poison shattered that balance cleanly. Even though the half-soul was repaired by the Soul Meridian Pill, under the influence of the lingering soul poison, that balance would be incredibly hard to regain. The best course of action is to find the missing half of her soul, secondly to find Su Chan and have her completely remove the soul poison. Xia Ge wanted to find that half of the soul. She really wanted to know where the senior sister's missing half-soul was. Unbidden, Xia Ge recalled the Rain God Temple she'd seen in the White Dream Cave long, long ago. The woman in black, gentle and serene. Her heart skipped a beat. When Xia Ge came to her senses, she realized that somehow, she had wandered into the territory of Jianfeng Peak. "..." The senior sister had told her not to come to Jianfeng. So, it had been years since she last came here. Xia Ge shook her head, ready to turn back, but then she heard a faint rustling. And that constant, barely perceptible gaze. But the next moment, Xia Ge's steps abruptly halted, her voice cool, "Come out now, stop lurking." There was no response. Xia Ge's eyes turned cold, an aura of chilling pressure spread out, and suddenly the forest erupted with startled birds, leaves quivered, the scene turned eerie. Xia Ge's voice was icy, “I told you to come out, didn't you hear?” After a long moment. A young man slowly emerged from the trees. Dressed in the attire of Jianfeng Peak disciples, with his black hair tied back by a blue headband, he looked at her with gentle eyes, the image of an elegant young gentleman. A Jianfeng disciple... Li Liu! Xia Ge had a good memory; she narrowed her eyes, "You..." Scarcely suppressing the name in her throat, her voice remained indifferent, "Who are you? Why are you following me?" Xia Wuyin knew Li Liu, but Xia Ge did not. "Merely passing by," Li Liu lifted his eyes, his face bearing a gentle smile, "Pardon the offense." Xia Ge regarded him for a moment, then withdrew her aura, turning to head back to Danfeng Peak. "Forget it." "Please, stay," the young man smiled, "Having come here, wouldn't returning so soon spoil the fun?" "Not interested." She had no such interest at all. "Chief Xia truly has a fine temperament," the young man's smile deepened, "It's no wonder..." In the next instant! Her hands gripped his throat, pressing Li Liu against a tree, his spine cold against the hard wood. Behind the fox mask, her black eyes were icy and indifferent, "Who are you?" "..." Choked, but Li Liu's expression remained smiling, as if utterly unaware he was facing a life-threatening situation. "Chief Xia would not kill me." His smile was faint, and under his long lashes, his eyes were a deep, penetrating black. "After all..." "I know many things you ought to be aware of." Xia Ge's expression was impassive: "Aside from killing spies, there is nothing else I need to know." Li Liu grasped Xia Ge's wrist, the one she used to choke his neck, "No... you should know." == These past days, Ye Ze had been deeply unsettled. On the Mountain of Evil Spirits, Xia Wuyin's words were like poison, seeping into his heart. ...What was it? The realization of a beautiful dream brings an ecstatic joy, but what happens when a nightmare becomes a reality? All that has happened before... What was it?! As usual, Ye Ze went to Jianfeng's practice field to hone his sword skills. He had already reached the pinnacle of the Mysterious level, only one step away from entering the Earth-level realm. And that step was incredibly arduous. That step... was Xia Wuyin. Betraying trust three years ago had become an obsession, a barrier in his heart, a bottleneck he couldn't break through for two years. And now, knowing the "truth," he should have been able to break through that step—this proved he hadn't betrayed any trust, that Xia Wuyin owed him from the start! He should have been able to cross that boundary— However, he couldn't. It was like the mist should have cleared to reveal the day, but instead, heavier shackles replaced the clouds, weighing on his heart, oppressing it with an indescribable heaviness. Breaking through felt utterly unreachable. Because his instincts told him. —Xia Wuyin is not that kind of person.