Chapter 78: It Is Love

Xiu rarely shed tears. Even in bed, he would only occasionally shed a few physiological tears. Let alone crying like this.

Wen Chu had only seen it at the end of the first world. At that time, he was busy trying to survive in the sea of Xiu’s tears and couldn’t attend to anything else.

This was his first time facing Xiu’s tears directly.

In this instant, helplessness, bitterness, and heartache surged into his heart together. Wen Chu didn’t even dare to struggle anymore, looking at Xiu guiltily like a child who had done something wrong.

Why?

He didn’t understand.

He wouldn’t die anyway, and his relationship with Xiu was one where they would fight to the death. Why would Xiu do this for him?

The answer was almost on the tip of his tongue, but Wen Chu subconsciously avoided this most obvious answer that he dared not believe.

Xiu gently stroked his side profile, then drew his sword, coaxing in a low voice: “I’ll kill them all and take you out, okay?”

Wen Chu blinked and tried hard to move his mouth, signaling to Xiu that he wanted to speak.

Xiu removed the chains from his mouth.

“What’s wrong?”

“Why?” Wen Chu asked immediately after being released.

He was somewhat anxious, as if trying to verify something, staring fixedly at the tear stain left on Xiu’s face where the tear had just fallen.

“Why… cry for me?”

Xiu was stunned for a moment, raised his hand to wipe away the remaining water stain at the corner of his eye, and looked away uncomfortably: “Are you an idiot?”

“I taught you to read and write every day, tried every means to take you away, and even got pregnant for you. Why do you think that is?”

As Xiu spoke, he raised his voice: “In your eyes, am I someone who would get pregnant for an irrelevant person?”

Wen Chu hurriedly shook his head: “No.”

Xiu stared at him: “Then why do you think it is?”

Wen Chu’s lips moved, but no sound came out for a long time.

He was afraid, after all.

He thought he should have forgotten long ago, but facts proved that even ninety-nine years couldn’t erase the scene of Xiu going to his death in front of him.

Thinking of love reminded him of how he wanted to confess to Xiu with joy, but Xiu chose to use himself to reverse the time of the world.

Wen Chu was afraid of pain, both physical and mental.

He couldn’t bear the pain of watching Xiu abandon him again.

That was why he repeatedly warned himself how impossible he and Xiu were in this world.

Thinking about it made Wen Chu want to cry.

Why did Xiu have to ask him? He didn’t know either.

He was just an idiot, so could Xiu personally pronounce the verdict on him instead of letting him let his imagination run wild alone?

“I don’t know…”

The teenager’s weak voice, tinged with sobbing, sounded.

Seeing Wen Chu’s nose tip starting to turn red and aggrieved tears flashing in the corners of his eyes, Xiu suddenly felt it was funny to be serious with this idiot.

“Stupid.” Xiu helplessly wiped away the tears at the corners of Wen Chu’s eyes with his hand, “Why are you crying? I didn’t scold you.”

His words were like a switch for tears. Wen Chu’s tears suddenly burst the dam.

Drop after drop of tears fell. Not blood-red ones, but transparent, normal tears.

Wen Chu cried fiercely: “I don’t know… I really don’t know. Don’t ask me anymore. If I knew, you wouldn’t think I’m an idiot.”

The tears couldn’t be wiped clean completely. Xiu’s heart softened into a mess.

He glanced at the people around him.

Having likely received news from Wen Shuhua, everyone looked fearfully at the sword in his hand. Even though he was pulling and pushing with Wen Chu at this moment, no one dared to step forward.

Xiao Yu was even more stunned by this turn of events, forgetting to cry, looking at Wen Chu and then at Xiu.

Her mouth formed an ‘O’ shape, revealing a shocked expression of “You guys actually play so wild”.

Xiu: …

Only then did he realize belatedly what astonishing words he had just said.

But it didn’t matter. They were just remnant souls of dead people remaining in the illusion. He had no obligation to care about dead people.

Xiu looked at Wen Chu again. Wen Chu was still crying messily while looking at him.

He pulled the chains closer again, pressing his forehead against Wen Chu’s.

“Don’t cry. Let me tell you.”

Xiu said gently: “I protect you because I care about you and don’t want you to get hurt. I got pregnant for you not because the illusion forced me, but because it was your child, and I wanted to keep your child.”

Wen Chu looked up with teary eyes.

He saw Xiu’s transparent blue eyes.

Clear, cold eyes like Arctic glaciers held gentle affection when looking at him.

“Baby.”

He heard Xiu’s smiling voice.

“Didn’t you lie to me first at the beginning, saying we were lovers in a past life? Why now that I’ve fallen in love with you, you dare not admit it?”

Boom—

His brain exploded with a buzz.

“Baby” and “lovers in a past life” looped in Wen Chu’s mind. He was stunned.

The fact that Xiu actually knew he was Wen Chu himself and that Xiu actually loved him started fighting in his brain. Wen Chu even forgot to cry, left with only one thought:

Is he still not awake?

Wen Chu subconsciously wanted to check the favorability panel, only to remember the panel was still upgrading. He had no way to verify, so he could only maintain the appearance of widening his eyes in shock with teary eyes.

Like a frightened rabbit.

Xiu was amused by his own association.

He pinched Wen Chu’s cheek and coaxed: “Alright, stay put obediently. Brother will go deal with this group of people, then smash this place and take you out.”

Wen Chu’s thinking was still messy. He nodded: “Okay.”

At this time, whatever Xiu said, he would answer “Okay”.

Wen Chu watched eagerly as Xiu left with his sword, repeating in disbelief in a small voice: “He likes me…?”

The system corrected: 【It is love.】

Wen Chu was still a bit dizzy. He subconsciously wanted to find traces of Xiu lying, but such a lie was simply too sweet.

He was thrown into a honeypot and didn’t want to climb out.

“He loves me…” Wen Chu continued to repeat.

Xiu loved him, so he felt sorry for him, so he protected him everywhere for ten years, letting him see another possibility of his life.

Being able to eat full, having someone care when injured, having someone teach him hand in hand when he couldn’t write.

Is it true?

It seemed it didn’t matter if it was true or false anymore.

Even if it was really false, just hearing such words, he couldn’t help feeling happy.

On the other side, Xiu slashed down with his sword. Just as he was about to retract the Soul-Binding Chain to destroy this place, he suddenly realized the sword in his hand began to become illusory.

Startled, thinking something happened again, he immediately wanted to retreat to Wen Chu’s side to protect him.

But the next moment, Xiu discovered something wrong.

Everything in the illusion became illusory.

Wen Shuhua, Wen Xiao Yu, the people of the Celestial Master Association, and the array were all slowly dissipating.

At the same time, the plot began to play rapidly forward.

Xiu saw the eighteen-year-old Wen Chu being dragged by Wen Xiao Yu to escape, then captured back. In panic, he took off all valuable accessories on him and stuffed them to Wen Xiao Yu, telling her to leave the Wen family, change her surname, marry, and go far away.

He also saw that when Wen Chu was having his bones extracted, Old Master Wen died suddenly and inexplicably in the old Wen residence far away. The nervous Wen Shuhua and Wen Yan frantically inquired about what Wen Chu said to Wen Xiao Yu at the end as if mad.

Finally, the entire Wen clan changed their surname to Wen (different character), moving away from the Wen family mansion.

He also saw… a newborn red-clothed fierce ghost.

Thin and weak, covered in cuts and bruises, curled up trembling, whispering that he was in pain.

At this time, no one cared about him anymore.

Trapped at the array eye, transforming energy for the grand array, he quietly watched the wronged souls in the grand array day after day.

And the people of the Celestial Master Association…

Wind rose, trees rustled.

Xiu raised his eyes and saw the desolate orchard and fruit trees that had long ceased bearing fruit due to lack of care.

Past events of a hundred years ago scattered in the wind.

He returned to reality.

Until now, Xiu finally realized.

Wen Chu’s obsession was never revenge, nor living a good life after escaping.

Responding to the Wen clan’s prayers to be born, facing intrigue from birth, imprisoned and abused when still weak, lacking even basic common sense, how could he imagine life outside.

He was just aggrieved.

Wen Yan had her son’s care, Wen Shuhua had a wife, even Xiao Yu was taken care of by the gardener.

Wen Chu wanted someone to know he was in pain, that he was also a person.

He also wanted to be loved.

It was just that simple, yet it took him so long to figure it out.

Xiu felt it was somewhat absurd and funny, but mostly heartache.

He turned to look at the bound and confused Wen Chu, whispering: “Where was your heart buried in the old residence? Let’s go dig your heart out, okay?”

Wen Chu still didn’t understand how they suddenly exited the illusion. He said nervously: “Actually, no need…”

His heart was buried in his courtyard.

But the ball they gave birth to was still locked in the wardrobe. Wen Chu hadn’t figured out how to explain to Xiu that what he carried for ten years was actually a mixture of spiritual power and ghost qi.

Xiu insisted: “We need to. I will find all your internal organs. I can contract a ghost with a complete soul as a contracted ghost; otherwise, as a fierce ghost, you will lose your reason one day.”

Contract.

Wen Chu was moved again.

He whispered: “The heart is in my courtyard.”

Xiu was very action-oriented. The moment he heard Wen Chu’s words, he immediately took Wen Chu to the old Wen residence.

Having lived in the illusion for more than ten years, he knew the layout here by heart. Even if it changed a bit due to overgrown weeds, it didn’t affect Xiu finding his way to Wen Chu’s courtyard with ease.

Wen Chu was led floating by Xiu the whole way, his brain still in a chaotic state.

Xiu actually didn’t express any doubts about him after exiting the illusion.

Exactly how much did Xiu know?

Knew he was the “Wen Chu” from a hundred years ago, knew he was the array eye, knew…

When did Xiu start knowing?

Wen Chu racked his brains but couldn’t figure out where he exposed himself.

He even suspected the system: 【Did you open a back door for Xiu?】

System: 【…】

Didn’t Wen Chu have a clue who it opened the back door for?

Fortunately, Wen Chu quickly ruled out this option himself: 【No, if Xiu knew I was the array eye early on, he would have definitely captured me back long ago.】

So where did it go wrong?

The “Wen Chu” in reality never met Xiu.

His small courtyard was still dilapidated. The room had no windows, let alone a desk and bookshelf. It looked like a storage room in a corner.

Xiu paused when he saw this courtyard, then stepped in.

Wen Chu pointed actively: “Just under that tree.”

Xiu walked over. He discussed with Xiu: “Can you untie me first?”

Being bound like this reminded him of some past events where his wrists were restrained and broken.

At that time, he felt no pain so it didn’t matter, but now he felt pain very much.

Xiu thought for a moment. Wen Chu didn’t need to run away at this time, so he untied Wen Chu.

He took out a multifunctional entrenching shovel from his backpack, assembled it, and began digging.

Five or six minutes later, an ancient small black box appeared in front of the two.

“This is it.” Wen Chu said with certainty, “I have a connection with it.”

Hearing this, Xiu bent down and took the small box out of the pit.

Under the box was carved a magic array. Xiu rubbed over it, knowing what it was.

It was a Suppression Array.

He opened the box to check. Inside was surprisingly a bright red beating heart.

Xiu closed the box and said to Wen Chu: “I’ll keep it first. When we find the rest of your parts, I’ll help you install them back together.”

Wen Chu nodded.

Thinking of the whereabouts of his other parts—laying out the Rebirth Reincarnation Grand Array, he couldn’t help but have some doubts.

Did Xiu really know who he was? Did he guess wrong just now?

Xiu couldn’t possibly let the Reincarnation Grand Array be destroyed just like that.

But Xiu seemed to definitely know he was Wen Chu.

Wen Chu was confused about the situation.

Unaware that Wen Chu was conflicted again, Xiu raised his hand and took out a new box from his bag, carefully transferring Wen Chu’s heart into it.

The moment the heart was transferred into the new box, a rumbling sound of collapse came from beside Xiu.

He looked up, only to see the surrounding trees, weeds, and walls turning into powder at an extremely unreasonable speed.

In just a moment, the huge old Wen residence became a ruin, disappearing without a trace.

“Disappeared.” Wen Chu was shocked.

“Mn.” Xiu lowered his eyes, “This residence should have disappeared long ago. It only continued to exist because your heart was buried here and you were still unwilling.”

Now, with the heart taken away and resentment dissolved, the residence disappeared just like the past events of a hundred years ago.

Truly like Wen Chu’s non-grudge-holding character.

Stupid.

Xiu remembered the hint in his initial mission.

【This residence is breathing】

At that time, he thought it was just a threat. He didn’t expect it meant this.

If he had grasped this sentence early on instead of clinging to the so-called “mission”, he probably would have found something wrong in Wen Chu’s courtyard, destroyed the heart maintaining the residence, and still cleared the level.

But this wasn’t what Xiu hoped for. What he wanted was to bring Wen Chu out intact.

The current ending was very good. Although spending more than ten years in the illusion, Xiu felt these years were worth it.

By the way—

Xiu suddenly remembered.

Where is the child?

He turned around, just about to ask Wen Chu if the child was also part of the illusion, when he suddenly saw a small white ball floating in mid-air not far from Wen Chu, where the house should have been.

It was faintly emitting an aura familiar to him.

Like his power, but mixed with some of Wen Chu’s ghost qi.

Xiu: …

An absurd guess rose in Xiu’s mind.

He looked at Wen Chu: “What is this?”

Wen Chu had completely forgotten the “child” too. Not until the house collapsed and the small white ball hidden in the wardrobe was exposed did Wen Chu remember this matter.

He broke out in cold sweat: “Uh… don’t know, maybe some passing ball.”

Xiu narrowed his eyes and walked towards the ball: “Is that so? I didn’t know there was any ball that could possess both our powers at the same time.”

Wen Chu: …

He watched helplessly as Xiu picked up that ball and examined it.

The little white ball adhered to the instruction of one of the main bodies and stayed put, but Xiu was also a main body, so Xiu picking it up didn’t count as a violation.

Following instinct, the little white ball flew towards Xiu’s lower abdomen, trying to return to the main body again.

Then failed again.

Its light dimmed a lot.

It was just a mixed power, similar to an energy storage ball.

Now unable to return to the main body, and the main body had no intention of using it, the little white ball’s operating program crashed, turning into a motionless small ball.

Examining the ball that stopped moving in his hand, Xiu said slowly: “How come I didn’t know when I separated so much power to make such a magic tool?”

Wen Chu: …

Wen Chu whispered: “Listen to my explanation.”

“Speak.”

Wen Chu quietly retreated a few steps, speaking very fast: “It was when Anya attacked you. I separated ghost qi to protect you, then that wisp of ghost qi drilled into your lower abdomen. You said it could be purified in a few days and told me not to mind.”

Xiu also remembered this matter. Even his later absurd wet dreams happened after this.

At that time, he thought he was too lewd, actually having such thoughts about Wen Chu.

Now, Xiu only felt his face burning, the small ball in his hand exceptionally hot: “…You mean, this ball is that thing from back then?”

Wen Chu nodded and retreated a few more steps: “Not entirely, only one-tenth is.”

Xiu: ?

Wen Chu explained: “To avoid being purified by you, my ghost qi merged with your spiritual power and hid. Sensing from outside, it felt very much like you were pregnant with something, but not showing yet.”

“When we just entered the illusion, I sensed this power from you and thought you were pregnant with someone else’s child…”

Wen Chu guiltily stopped speaking.

But even if he didn’t continue, Xiu knew.

Then, they did it until the sky turned dark.

After that, he started showing.

Then, another round of darkness…

Thinking that he was pregnant for ten years just to produce such a thing, Xiu laughed out of anger at Wen Chu.

He looked up at Wen Chu, repeating Wen Chu’s words at that time word by word: “This is the bastard seed of me and a wild man?”

Wen Chu took another step back.

Xiu: “You wanted to abort it?”

Wen Chu retreated again.

Xiu: “You were worried about the trouble of taking care of it, so you delayed letting me give birth?”

Wen Chu was almost out of the courtyard.

“I told the truth… you just said you loved me, you can’t hit me.”

Boo hoo, why does Xiu like bringing up old scores like the system.

Xiu’s temples throbbed with pain from anger at this idiot.

Looking at Wen Chu, he sneered: “Wen Chu, how come I didn’t know you were so bold before?”

Wen Chu.

Since coming to this world, this was the first time Xiu called him by his name directly outside.

Not the stiff “Hey” or “You”, but the clear two characters “Wen Chu”.

Xiu really knew his identity.

Wen Chu’s mind went blank, but his body reacted subconsciously.

By the time he realized it, he had already flown away like a wisp of smoke, leaving Xiu as a small black dot.

Xiu intended to grab Wen Chu and ask if he knew how dangerous this was. Unexpectedly, as soon as he spoke, Wen Chu’s face turned pale instantly. Without even leaving him time to speak, he fled like flying.

Xiu: …

Did Wen Chu remember that he had his Five Emperor Coins and Soul-Nourishing Stone on him?

Catching Wen Chu back was simpler than breathing for him.

Of course, Wen Chu didn’t remember such things.

He had fainted from anger at himself: “Am I stupid? Wouldn’t it be fine if I just denied it to death?”

Now great, he ran away directly, which was tantamount to tacit admission.

Going back to say he wasn’t actually Wen Chu—Wen Chu himself wouldn’t believe this lie.

Wen Chu squatted down painfully holding his head, shrinking into a mushroom: “What to do now? Is Xiu coming over? Am I going back to die?”

System: 【Xiu didn’t come over. Xiu sent a signal for a helicopter to pick him up.】

Wen Chu: ???

Wen Chu looked up abruptly, sure enough seeing a helicopter slowly approaching from the horizon.

Wen Chu choked with sobs: 【Xiu doesn’t even want to look for me?】

Sure enough, he was angry.

Anyway, being left by Xiu in the deep mountains and old forests was the worst outcome. Wen Chu decided promptly to fly back.

But seeing the tall handsome young man holding a round ball from afar, Wen Chu chickened out again.

With a “poof”, he drilled into the ground. Relying on being a spirit body, he approached Xiu silently.

Xiu, who was holding his breath and sensing Wen Chu’s distance the whole time: …

He was worried that chasing Wen Chu would make him run further, so he thought of fishing Wen Chu back.

Unexpectedly, he fished him back, but the cowardly guy drilled into the ground.

Being so cowardly, where did he get the courage to deceive him into carrying a ball for ten years back then?

Helpless, Xiu pretended to call the butler in the manor: “Hello, it’s me. Work finished early, I’ll return early. Make the chocolate waterfall for tonight’s dessert again, and…”

Xiu caught a glimpse of a bit of white quietly protruding from the ground behind him and suppressed a laugh: “Ahem, sorry, and, isn’t the farm’s deer ready to eat? Then cook it together tonight. Hmm, still double portion.”

Double portion?

Wen Chu poked his whole head out, staring fixedly at Xiu.

Who was Xiu preparing to eat with?

Seeing the time was ripe, Xiu hung up the phone and prepared to catch Wen Chu.

Just then.

“Buzz buzz buzz buzz—”

The helicopter began to land.

Hearing the sound of the helicopter, Wen Chu drilled back in panic again. Xiu, who hung up the phone and turned around, missed him perfectly.

“Xiu!!” Yuan Le’s voice came from the helicopter.

He waved to Xiu: “I went to your house to find you, wanted to talk about the case progress, but didn’t find you, so I came with the helicopter. Eh—what is that ball in your hand? Such powerful and pure energy.”

Sensing Wen Chu poking his head out again behind him, Xiu sneered and stuffed the ball into his bag.

“Nothing, a child left by a deceased husband who dared to do but not dare to admit.”

Yuan Le: ?

Eavesdropping Wen Chu: qwq?

Deceased husband? Xiu said he was his husband.

So does this count as forgiven or not forgiven?

Wen Chu wanted to hear Xiu continue, but Xiu seemed not to notice him at all. After speaking, he stepped onto the helicopter.

Wen Chu immediately flew out and sat on the tail of the helicopter exterior.

He didn’t forget to bare his teeth at Yuan Le threateningly while Xiu turned his back, warning Yuan Le not to talk nonsense.

Yuan Le: …

Yuan Le looked at the Five Emperor Coins on Wen Chu’s hand, then at Xiu running with a cold face while kicking the ball. Although he didn’t understand what play these two were playing, he still had the sense to shut his mouth.

Whatever play it was, anyway, there was definitely no name for him, this suddenly appearing third wheel.

So.

Yuan Le fell into deep thought.

Who gave birth to this ball?

No, why would a male ghost and a man give birth to a ball?