Chapter 288 Shackles
In a brief moment of emotional turmoil, the two were overcome with an overwhelming, strange yet familiar feeling, and longed to touch each other more deeply.
Yu Sui's breathing became slightly disordered, but she lowered her eyes and stared intently at the person in front of her.
She reached out, ran her fingers through the man's hair, leaned close to Mei Liangyu's ear and whispered, "Senior brother, I keep my word."
Mei Liangyu instantly understood her meaning, and chuckled softly as they whispered sweet nothings to each other.
Yu Sui has only made definite promises to two people.
The first is Zhong Lique, and the second is Mei Liangyu.
Mei Liangyu believed himself to be highly talented, able to learn anything quickly, and seemingly without any troubles in his cultivation. However, he would set goals for himself and work diligently to achieve them.
He will always get what he wants.
Whether it's receiving his master's pity and doting affection, or deciding to regain his memories, he can do it all.
When one can't suppress the destructive urge within and wants to destroy something, one can also find the dangerous entity in the ancient books treasured by Taiyi and open it.
But Mei Liangyu had never been so eager to get something.
It wasn't until Yu Sui uttered those words that he truly understood what it meant to be impatient. Whenever Mei Liangyu rested and closed his eyes, he would involuntarily recall that scene—her tone of voice and expression, and the pounding of his heart when he heard that promise.
A flavor that is intriguing and novel.
Mei Liangyu knew himself very well; he would lose interest in many things once he obtained them. For example, the things he gained in cultivation, the trials and challenges of the academy—all he wanted was the thrill of conquest and the instant gratification.
But this was the first time she had ever wanted to be liked by someone, and her feelings were completely different from when she wanted to please her master.
After receiving it, he became even more eager and wanted more.
Mei Liangyu was suddenly reminded of her parents from her memories.
Their level of affection for each other should be considered enviable.
The two rolled around in each other's arms on the wooden deck of the dock. Mei Liangyu thought of her injuries, took a deep breath, and then separated them. He pulled her up and whispered, "Finish applying the medicine first."
Yu Sui did as instructed and did not act recklessly again.
Mei Liangyu made her put her feet on his lap, stared at the penetrating wound on her leg caused by the lightning bolt for a while, and her expression was not good.
Yu Sui said, "My body is already repairing itself, so don't worry too much. Give me some more time, and it will heal on its own."
Seeing that Mei Liangyu remained silent, Yu Sui continued, "It just looks scary, but the bones are actually fine; it's just a skin and flesh injury. If you don't believe me, press it."
"You're the one who's injured, why are you comforting me?" Mei Liangyu asked her.
Yu Sui said, "I was afraid you'd worry."
She knew that her senior brother did care about these things.
Just like Zhong Lique, who was injured outside but dared not go back to tell Madam Sun. She knew her mother would be heartbroken, and she didn't want to see her mother frowning and worrying about her.
In the past, Yu Sui would never have bothered to say these things. She would just watch Mei Liangyu silently worrying and fear, and would even doubt the truth of the matter.
Mei Liangyu was frowning as he applied medicine to her wounds. Sometimes, the most painful wounds are the ones that hurt the flesh. They are burning and painful.
"Why are you so good at enduring pain?" he said. "Just say it if it hurts, or I might hurt you too much."
Yu Sui responded, then, recalling the past, couldn't help but suppress a laugh and said, "Senior brother, speaking of endurance, you are the one who can endure more. Back in the outer city, your hands were slashed to pieces by the Judgment Technique, and you were in a state of reversed Five Elements, yet you didn't utter a sound from beginning to end."
Mei Liangyu remembered it after she said that.
Putting aside the fact that they weren't familiar with each other at that time, he had just finished fighting with Gu Gan and then ran into Gu Gan's "childhood sweetheart." Even if this childhood sweetheart was his junior sister, he couldn't show her that he was injured and pitiful.
No matter how painful it is, you have to endure it.
Mei Liangyu chuckled nonchalantly, "I don't need to endure that level of injury."
“It wasn’t just that one time; the injuries you sustained later made my heart pound, but you still didn’t utter a sound.”
Yu Sui thought for a moment and then said, "Once, when I offered to bandage your hand, you refused, saying you were afraid of the pain."
Mei Liangyu: "..."
He looked at Yu Sui with an expression that said, "Are you sure you're not mistaken?" Yu Sui nodded firmly.
Yu Sui then said, "Since you're not afraid of pain, then you don't want me to bandage you. Senior brother, you probably think my bandaging is bad."
She said this in a gentle and serene manner, making it impossible to tell whether she was joking or simply annoying.
Mei Liangyu carefully observed her face and said, "At the time, I just felt that how could my esteemed junior sister do such rough work? Your delicate fingers should be directing others to work hard."
Yu Sui laughed and said, "No wonder they all say you can't trust men."
Seeing that she wasn't angry, Mei Liangyu asked, "Did you really want to bandage me back then?"
Yu Sui shook her head and answered honestly, "I just want to see how long you can keep up this act."
Mei Liangyu: "..."
He glanced at the person laughing happily, pursed his lips, but ultimately couldn't hold back and laughed along with her.
When the conversation turned to the past, Mei Liangyu recalled some details and asked her, "When Gu Gan and Wei Kun were plotting against me in the outer city, were you also watching?"
Yu Sui nodded: "Mm!"
“Gu Gan’s Divine Strategist Technique has a range limitation. It was useful to me at first, but suddenly it stopped working. Could it be that you tampered with it?” Mei Liangyu asked, glancing sideways as she applied medicine to Gu Gan’s leg.
Yu Sui blinked when he looked over, offering no silent reply. Mei Liangyu paused, feeling as if something had struck him hard in the heart; he adored his junior sister's little gestures.
“Brother Gu didn’t seem to know you very well back then, otherwise he wouldn’t have been surprised that you used some low-level techniques,” Yu Sui said. “When he was in the outer city, his Heavenly Official position was still somewhat limited, but recently he seems to have found a way to break through those limitations and become even more powerful.”
Mei Liangyu was unimpressed by Gu Gan's abilities: "He used to be arrogant when he was below Grade A, and I wouldn't bother to cause trouble for a Grade B disciple for no reason. We can say that we keep to ourselves. He just had to walk right into my line of fire."
"Can the Divine Mechanism Technique evolve?" Yu Sui asked curiously.
She felt that Mei Liangyu had studied the Nine Schools of Thought more deeply and for a longer period of time, so even if she had some suspicions, she would habitually ask him.
"It's possible depending on the usage," Mei Liangyu said. "Some Divine Mechanisms are inherently diverse. The top three Divine Mechanisms are even labeled as having unrecorded abilities. I think Old Ancestor He hid something when he wrote the Divine Mechanism Ranking; he didn't disclose all the Divine Mechanism information they obtained."
After thinking for a moment, he added, "It's also possible that they simply don't know."
Yu Sui agreed with her senior brother's statement in her heart.
After all, no one had ever heard of the Divine Eye that could repair a body on the verge of death and serious injury.
The feeling of being watched by the Heavenly Eye is like being trapped in a barrier, forcibly pulling back the lost energy in the body and restoring it to its previous state.
Mei Liangyu thought for a moment and then asked, "Then when you appeared in the outer city last time, did you really not go to the Beast Bone Ship?"
“I went.” Yu Sui answered directly this time, “I noticed that after you called a few instructors, you didn’t come any closer.”
After listening, Mei Liangyu looked at Yu Sui thoughtfully for a while.
Yu Sui reached up and wiped her face: "What's wrong?"
Mei Liangyu: "Even if you were angry with me back then, you went to the Beast Bone Ship to save me, not like Qin Chongxue."
Yu Sui couldn't help but laugh: "What else?"
“In the past, I only thought that Master was really amazing. Although I always said that I didn’t want to summon Master when I encountered problems, I knew in my heart that I had Master behind me. No matter what I did, Master would protect me, so I could act recklessly.”
As Mei Liangyu spoke, his arrogance and smile intensified: "Now I not only have my master backing me up, but also a reliable junior sister as my support."
When Yu Sui heard him speak of his master, he was affectionate and easygoing. Although he was smiling, he couldn't help but think to himself:
If the relationship between the senior brother and the master is not as intimate and beautiful as it appears on the surface, what will happen in the future?
After Master finds them, he will definitely suspect whether Senior Brother has regained his memory. What will he do then?
Just as Yu Sui was about to ask a question, Mei Liangyu, sensing her intention, preemptively asked, "The name you gave yourself?"
This interrupted Yu Sui's thoughts. She paused for a moment, then nodded.
"Isn't 'Nangong Sui' a good name?" Mei Liangyu lowered her head, seemingly focused on applying medicine to her.
Yu Sui also lowered her eyes, watching him press the fingers that were applying the ointment, and asked softly, "It's not that it doesn't sound good, it's just that since I came into this world, this is the only name I want, and it's the only thing I can give myself."
She has too many things she doesn't want, yet she has too little to give herself.
She didn't want the strange fire, the breathing soil, the identity of Princess Nangong, or the opportunity to be born into this world.
But she had no choice.
“The name Yu Sui is indeed better than Nangong Sui.” Mei Liangyu said this in a flat tone, as if they were just talking about an ordinary little thing.
Yu Sui understood her senior brother's meaning; this would make her more accepting of the topic.
If an expression is too somber, a tone too complex, or an overly hesitant and cautious manner, it will make Yu Sui overthink things.
She didn't like that; she didn't like the pity and sympathy people showed after they saw through her.
"I really don't like the name my father chose."
Yu Sui also spoke of these things in a light tone, these were the secrets she thought she would never have the chance to tell anyone else.
"The Nangong family is very powerful, but I don't really like them. If I say I don't like the Nangong family, people will just think I'm ungrateful, but I just don't like them."
Yu Sui slightly bent her knees and placed them on Mei Liangyu's legs, leaning down and resting her head on her knees, looking at the dark sky with intertwined thunderclouds in the distance: "I dislike too many things and like too few things, so when I was tormented by the strange fire, I also thought that I might as well just set fire to the entire Xuan Gu Continent as the prophecy said."
"Even if the strange fire burns down the entire continent, it's not my fault, and there's nothing I can do about it. The strange fire chose me, not the other way around. Blame the strange fire, blame your inability to stop it, blame your inability to save the world."
Yu Sui spoke softly and calmly, showing no resentment on her face or anger in her words.
Even if what she said was malicious, Yu Sui didn't try to hide her true thoughts at all.
Mei Liangyu stopped applying the medicine and watched her quietly.
Mei Liangyu had this thought before: perhaps his junior sister, like him, didn't really like this world.
However, the reasons for these differences vary.
“When I want to burn everything, I always see some reasons why I can’t do it. There are many people coming and going in the four streets of the capital every day. Not everyone should die, but I can’t accept that I have to take care of everyone and suffer myself.”
"Later I met Zhongli Que. Although the Zhongli family had many hidden dangers, Que Que had a father who supported the whole family, a mother who cared for and loved her, and an older brother who doted on her. Even though General Zhongli always had a cold face to outsiders, he would become much gentler when he was with his daughter."
As Yu Sui spoke, her brows furrowed slightly, and she couldn't help but raise her hand to gesture towards Mei Liangyu: "Just looking at their family makes me feel so happy, and I subconsciously want to help maintain this happiness and prevent it from being destroyed."
She glanced at Mei Liangyu.
I thought to myself, this kind of beauty is probably just like the home in my senior's memory.
Mei Liangyu did indeed think of her parents, elder sister, and elder brother.
"The existence of Zhongli Que makes me feel that I shouldn't release the strange fire. At least, I shouldn't be the one who releases the strange fire to burn down the Xuan Gu Continent and kill everyone."
Yu Sui chuckled softly as she spoke, her clear black eyes glistening with tears, reflecting Mei Liangyu's image: "Because I hate strange fire, I'm willing to put layers of shackles on myself. Who would want to be a world-destroying villain!"
When people encounter such things, they always think, "The wicked deserve to die; they're burned by the strange fire, but what about the kind people?" But whether they are wicked or kind, they don't get to make that choice.
No one else had a choice; only those chosen by the strange fire could decide what to do.
Yu Sui straightened up slightly. The last ray of light in the sky sank into the sea, night fell, and the sea breeze became fierce.
“Senior brother, so no matter what you do, I can understand.” Yu Sui looked directly at Mei Liangyu and said softly.
The fierce wind did not drown out her voice.
Mei Liangyu heard it.
His eyes reflected Yu Sui's smiling gaze as she looked at him.
My junior sister's words just now were referring to both herself and him.
Just as Mei Liangyu had thought, Yu Sui put herself in shackles and chose to continue to endure her anger and resentment, while Mei Liangyu chose destruction.
Yu Sui knew that Mei Liangyu was from the Yan state, and that his parents were probably among the most powerful people in the Yan state.
Those people will not have a good ending.
With such a background, his missing memories are the source of destruction in his heart.
When his senior brother remembers everything, he will only become more angry and hateful. He will absolutely, absolutely, absolutely not be as patient as I am.
What will he do to his master then? What will he do to the Nangong family? And what about Qingyang?
Yu Sui looked at Mei Liangyu, but only said that she could understand.
She understood his hatred and anger, so she wouldn't stop Mei Liangyu no matter what he chose.
As Yu Sui said, no one had a choice.
Except for himself.
Mei Liangyu seemed to be thinking seriously. After a long while, she finally spoke in a hoarse voice: "I can't answer you now because I haven't remembered everything yet. I haven't remembered the most important thing."
For example, how his parents, older sister, and older brother died.
Mei Liangyu paused for a moment, then said slowly, "But if I also put myself in shackles, then you will be all I need."
While you are alive, you are the shackles that bind me.
Yu Sui said, "I like Zhongli Que, but I also hate Qingyang. Senior brother, the strange fire alone has exhausted all my patience. I have no interest in the conflicts between the six kingdoms outside of the strange fire."
These words were utterly treasonous, and if others heard them, especially the Qingyang Emperor and the Nangong family, they would certainly curse her mercilessly.
Mei Liangyu, however, asked with a forced smile, "You like Zhongli Que?"
Yu Sui generously replied, "I like you too."
Mei Liangyu couldn't help but grit her teeth: "You like Zhongli Que so much, even if you say you have no feelings for him now, how can you bear to see the Zhongli family suffer when the six kingdoms are at war in the future?"
Yu Sui said, "The Zhongli family is the Zhongli family, and the Zhongli sparrow is the Zhongli sparrow."
Mei Liangyu sneered, "That sounds nice, but getting you to take action is just a matter of Zhongli Que saying a word."
Seeing his jealous expression, Yu Sui couldn't help but laugh and said, "Senior brother, you and Zhong Lishan have a good relationship, can you bear to see Zhong Lishan suffer in the future?"
Mei Liangyu said, "It is only right for him to suffer. Being the young general of the Zhongli family is a life meant to be filled with hardship."
He thought for a moment and then asked, "What will you do if I really fight with Qingyang in the future?"
Yu Sui replied, "It's very simple. The victor is king, the loser is villain. Isn't that how it is?"
"But if you really want to fight Qingyang, then you will definitely fight Zhongli's family. Qingyang's military strategist and war god, the general, will not let you enter Qingyang so easily. In the end, you will still be fighting Zhongli Mountain."
Yu Sui was about to continue speaking when Mei Liangyu raised his hand to stop him. Mei Liangyu's expression was indifferent, but his tone was somewhat amused as he said, "You talk as if I can really take over Qingyang."
She couldn't help but laugh.
Mei Liangyu tapped the ground again: "Write down anything else you hate. I'll remember it. When I see people you hate in the future, I'll take care of them for you so you won't be annoyed when you see them after you return to the capital."
Yu Sui then used the energy of the five elements to write it down on the ground. During this time, he also asked Mei Liangyu what she liked and disliked. The two exchanged answers and asked each other questions.
If you could have one wish granted, what would it be?
It's unclear who raised this question, or perhaps both of them, so they each wrote down their answers:
"He did not come into this world."
"To bring the dead back to life."
Yu Sui had just finished reading Mei Liangyu's answer when he noticed the strange fire flickering and looked up into the distance.
At least two groups of people are coming from different directions.
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