Chapter 69 Senior Brother, I Love You
go home?
Oops!
Upon hearing Lin Wanshuang fall into the water, he hurriedly stuffed the lantern into Ji Fuguang's arms, forgetting that there was a wish written on it.
Ji Fuguang's eyelids were half-closed, but he kept a close eye on Sheng Zhiyi's expression.
His fingers tapped lightly on the table, the deep sound seeming to strike Sheng Zhiyi's heart, and an invisible pressure filled the air.
Sheng Zhiyi subconsciously looked away, her fingers gripping the chopsticks tightly until her fingertips turned white.
"Um... I was just..."
She swallowed hard, and under Ji Fuguang's gaze, she forced herself to continue.
"I just miss the Heavenly Evolution Sect a little. This is my first time coming down the mountain to complete a mission, so it's inevitable that I feel a bit uncomfortable..."
After hearing her explanation, Ji Fuguang picked up his teacup and said in a very indifferent tone, "Is that so?"
Sheng Zhiyi nodded with her eyelids lowered.
"Yes, yes... Senior brother, I didn't mean anything by it..."
Before Sheng Zhiyi could finish speaking, Ji Fuguang placed the teacup on the table, making a crisp clinking sound, interrupting her.
Ji Fuguang's face remained expressionless as he said indifferently, "Junior Sister is truly homesick."
Sheng Zhiyi's heart trembled at his words.
Did she mean she wanted to return to the Heavenly Evolution Sect, or did she mean she wanted to go home...?
Ji Fuguang stood up, turned around and left.
"Junior Sister, please rest and recuperate at the Chen residence these days."
Hearing his monotone voice, Sheng Zhiyi panicked and instinctively raised her hand to grab Ji Fuguang's sleeve.
However, the sleeve quickly slipped from her fingertips before she could close them, following her movements.
Sheng Zhiyi watched Ji Fuguang's departing figure, before she could even utter a word.
"Senior brother, are you leaving...?"
Ji Fuguang went out and walked along the corridor in the courtyard.
Sunlight streamed through the eaves, illuminating half of his face and making his features appear even more sharp.
He slowed his pace, his eyes narrowed slightly, and a ruthless glint flashed in his phoenix eyes.
Even now, he's still full of lies.
Does his junior sister think she can get away with this?
Just now...
Ji Fuguang's lips curled into a cold smile as he looked down at his fingers.
Hearing her tell those lies in front of him, he almost wanted to grab her by the throat and snap her slender, white neck to see if she could continue to deceive him.
But the time wasn't right yet; he had more important things to do...
Ji Fuguang raised his head, his gaze following the eaves to the distant mountains in the suburbs, a cruel look appearing in his eyes.
——
It's been three days already.
Sheng Zhiyi lay on the table, staring at the incense burner in front of her, and sighed softly.
She hadn't seen Ji Fuguang since that unpleasant dinner.
Although the two of them lived together in the backyard, Ji Fuguang left early and returned late every day. No one knew what he was busy with, or perhaps...
Does Ji Fuguang not want to see her...?
Sheng Zhiyi pursed her lips, forcibly suppressing the bitter emotions in her heart, picked up her teacup, and poured herself a glass of water.
She swallowed the warm tea and coughed involuntarily.
The wounds inflicted by the myriad flowers and blossoms have not yet fully healed.
The poison was so potent that she dared not imagine what would have happened if there had been no antidote.
In the past few days, she also consulted the books and learned that "Thousands of Flowers and Myriad Plants" was not a specific poison, but a metaphor.
There is only one way to make this poison, but depending on the different flowers used each time, there are millions of possible combinations.
The antidotes for different combinations are not the same. Although some antidotes can resolve the toxicity of most combinations, they may become ineffective if the person who concocts them makes even slight changes.
Although such speculation is unnecessary, Sheng Zhiyi still can't help but think about it...
That day, Ji Fuguang's speed in countering the old man in black was so fast; was he truly certain that the antidote he possessed could cure the poison in her body...?
This thought was like a persistent ailment, always surfacing whenever she tried to shake it off.
When she was falling asleep, taking a walk, or meditating, it was like a snake that would suddenly dart out and gnaw at her heart.
Does she mean absolutely nothing to Ji Fuguang...?
Sheng Zhiyi shook her head vigorously, as if that would shake off the silent and invisible thoughts.
As if hearing her thoughts, a voice suddenly rang in her mind:
[Good afternoon, player Sheng Zhiyi!]
[Since the walkthrough is nearing completion, the final mission is now being released. Please check your inbox!]
[Final Mission: Confess your feelings to Ji Fuguang and receive his consent.]
[Mission Reward: Return to Reality]
[Punishment for failure: Extinction of existence]
[Given the special nature of this final mission, the timeframe for this mission is three days.]
[Please complete the current strategy mission as soon as possible!]
Sheng Zhiyi stared at the words "confession," her heart filled with complex emotions.
Confessing my feelings...?
Ji Fuguang would definitely not agree. He has too many things on his mind, and Sheng Zhiyi doesn't know how much she means to him. Perhaps in Ji Fuguang's eyes, she is just a junior sister.
But...but...
What if Ji Fuguang agreed, even if there was only a one percent chance?
Before she could even contemplate that possibility, Sheng Zhiyi looked at the words "back to reality."
Even if Ji Fuguang agrees, she can't possibly have a future with him.
She will leave this world and return to reality.
Sheng Zhiyi let out a bitter laugh.
There were too many enormous rules that trapped her within them; she was like a tiny ant, constantly being pushed along by the hand of fate.
He brought her into this world on his own, forced her to do tasks on his own, and now he wants her to go back on his own.
Does she really want to go back? Back to that place where she has no family or friends, a place filled with loneliness.
After her parents passed away, she wanted to go with them countless times.
But many people said no, they wanted her to persevere.
She knew they were right, but... every day when she returned to the cold, empty house, she had to face that painful and desperate feeling all by herself.
During that time, seeing Ji Fuguang's experiences brought her immense comfort.
Despite suffering immense hardship and being emotionally broken, he still wanted to help others. He wouldn't intentionally harm others; he would only silently torment himself.
Countless times, she felt that she was enduring immense pain and loneliness, just like Ji Fuguang.
She thought she had gotten used to enduring it, but she still felt a little resentful.
Just like now, from beginning to end, why hasn't anyone asked for her opinion or thoughts?
But what can an ant, powerless to resist, do in the face of such an unshakeable rule? It can only choose to obey.
All she could do was honestly complete the task and confess her feelings to Ji Fuguang.
On the table was a teacup, the tea inside a deep amber color.
Sheng Zhiyi picked up the cup and drank the completely cold tea, sip by sip.
It was so cold, just like the night her parents passed away, so cold it seemed to extinguish the burning fire in her heart.
As night fell, Ji Fuguang finally returned.
Upon seeing him, Sheng Zhiyi ran from the doorway, tilted her head back, and softly called out, "Senior Brother!"
Ji Fuguang glanced at her, his gaze lingering for a second, as if he were pondering something.
When Sheng Zhiyi looked over, he had regained his calm demeanor and said indifferently, "What is it?"
"Senior brother, why have you been leaving early and returning late these past few days? Is something important happening?" Sheng Zhiyi asked with a smile and a light tone.
Ji Fuguang strode forward, unhurriedly, "Recently, some remnants of the demon race have appeared in the suburbs."
As expected, Ji Fuguang was only thinking about this important matter...
Sheng Zhiyi's smile remained unchanged as she softly spoke, "Senior brother, I heard there's a lotus viewing festival in Yingzhou City these days, it only takes half a day. I wonder if you'd be interested..."
Yingzhou City has a network of waterways that connect in all directions, and it is famous for its summer lotus flowers, which are a unique sight.
In the past few days, Sheng Zhiyi has learned that the lotus viewing event is absolutely stunning and should not disappoint.
Ji Fuguang paused slightly and glanced at Sheng Zhiyi.
Sheng Zhiyi couldn't continue speaking and lowered her head slightly.
"Junior Sister, we are not going down the mountain for a leisurely trip, but because we have an important mission. Do you understand?"
Sheng Zhiyi forced a smile, "I understand, senior brother, you go ahead with your work..."
Ji Fuguang seemed not to have heard her at all and continued:
"If every time you go down the mountain it's just to admire the flowers and scenery, why bother trying to enter the inner sect? Why bother taking on missions? Wouldn't it be better to just let others have them?"
Sheng Zhiyi could no longer maintain her smile.
All her previous efforts seemed to have been reduced to selfish acts of seeking pleasure and disregarding the bigger picture, all because of this invitation.
She said with difficulty, "I understand. I'll go back now. Senior brother, you should rest early too."
After finishing her words hastily, Sheng Zhiyi turned and left.
She didn't know if her voice was trembling, but at that moment, she felt utterly ashamed.
With only three days left, regardless of the outcome, she might never see Ji Fuguang again.
Therefore, she wanted to go lotus viewing with Ji Fuguang, and she considered it a date that only she knew about.
As expected, I was rejected.
One should not be selfish, much less demand that a virtuous person like Ji Fuguang be guided by selfishness.
Sheng Zhiyi had only taken a few steps when her wrist was suddenly grabbed, and she was pulled around by a strong force.
She widened her eyes slightly and looked at Ji Fuguang.
Her tearful eyes were completely exposed to Ji Fuguang.
Ji Fuguang stared at her, his beautiful phoenix eyes flashing with emotions that Sheng Zhiyi couldn't understand.
After a moment of silence, Ji Fuguang slowly spoke: "Junior Sister, is this all you want to say tonight?"
Thin clouds reflected the moon, and moonlight shone down through the shadows of the trees.
The intermittent clouds made the light on Ji Fuguang's face flicker, completely concealing his emotions and making them impossible to discern.
Sheng Zhiyi was filled with doubt and unease.
Was Ji Fuguang referring to a confession...? But how could he possibly know...?
"Senior brother..." Sheng Zhiyi forced a smile, trying to cover it up, "I didn't..."
Ji Fuguang suddenly released her hand, stared at her with his eyes, and sneered:
"Tomorrow, I will go to the outskirts of Yingzhou City."
Sheng Zhiyi asked instinctively, "When are you coming back?"
"Perhaps one day, perhaps three days," Ji Fuguang said calmly.
Three days... three days is already past the deadline set for the mission...
Is it now? So sudden and rushed?
Sheng Zhiyi raised her head and looked deeply into Ji Fuguang's eyes, her gaze tracing his face inch by inch, trying to remember every little detail about him.
A night breeze suddenly rose, scattering the thin clouds, and the clear moonlight poured down, enveloping Ji Fuguang and making him look more gentle.
Sheng Zhiyi took a deep breath, curved her lips into a smile, and tried her best to show a perfect smile.
"Senior brother, there is something I need to tell you."
The moonlight was like a ribbon. Ji Fuguang looked down at her, and her small face was reflected in his deep eyes. Her whole person was reflected in his pupils.
The young girl, dressed in a flowing robe embroidered with silver thread, slightly raised her almond-shaped eyes, her cheeks puffed out, and her lips parted gently. Her voice trembled slightly, yet she tried her best to remain steady:
"Senior brother, all these days, you were the one who taught me swordsmanship, you were the one who helped me punish the other disciples, you were the one who protected me while I replaced my spiritual root, you were the one who made me express my sadness, you were the one who saved me from the demons, and you were the one who fed me the antidote..."
“I will not forget a single detail. I am just an insignificant inner disciple, but my heart is as clear as the bright moon, and heaven and earth can bear witness.”
"Senior brother, I love you."
Sheng Zhiyi looked at Ji Fuguang nervously, her blood boiling, her mind blank, and she waited for Ji Fuguang's answer with almost despair.
Only she knew that amidst the immense despair, there was still a sliver of hope.
What if...?
However, the blood in her body gradually calmed down and slowly cooled.
Ji Fuguang's phoenix eyes were deep and unfathomable, and the sea-blue ribbon binding his hair fluttered in the wind. From beginning to end, his expression remained unchanged, as if he were being forced to watch a poorly performed show that no one cared about.
He finally spoke, his tone indifferent: "Junior Sister, it's time to go back and rest."
Sheng Zhiyi lowered her head, not daring to look any longer, and managed a weak "hmm".
Just as he was about to turn around, he felt a sharp pain in his heart, and a spurt of blood gushed from his mouth.
Is it... to erase existence?
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