Chapter 697 - 9: Overestimating Oneself_2
The setting sun looked like blood.
The palace that suddenly appeared under the sunset looked like a monstrous creature with a massive body.
Si Yujie was stunned by the scene and unconsciously began searching for Chen Lusi’s silhouette.
And very soon.
She found him...
Because Chen Lusi hadn’t vanished—he was still standing right in front of her.
Except at that moment, Chen Lusi looked very unusual.
His face was expressionless, and his clothes, body, and face were covered in black grime. Eerie black mist surrounded him, alternating between dispersing and condensing, connecting to the four entities behind him.
A little girl in a white dress, a wheelchair, a shadow, and a man with a clock for a head.
"...Chen Lusi?"
Si Yujie was stunned again and uncertainly called out to him.
"..."
Chen Lusi heard the call and slowly looked at her, his gaze devoid of emotion.
Si Yujie noticed Chen Lusi’s gaze, and only felt a shudder from the depths of her spirit, rising suddenly.
She immediately wanted to retreat, to distance herself from Chen Lusi.
But before she could move.
Chen Lusi walked directly toward her, and as he moved, the eerie black mist on him began to roll and spread outward, seemingly wanting to touch her.
Si Yujie’s body became taut, her entire being frozen.
"Overestimating yourself."
Just then...a voice suddenly echoed from behind Si Yujie.
Even though her back was turned and she couldn’t see who spoke, Si Yujie could clearly sense who the voice was directed at.
Chen Lusi.
The Chen Lusi before her.
Turn around.
Then run backward...and it’ll be safe!
Such thoughts almost instantly surfaced, and with Chen Lusi drawing closer, they grew stronger.
Si Yujie felt her body moving uncontrollably, slightly turning, ready to pivot.
But at the last moment.
Si Yujie forcibly stopped herself from turning, despite her body being taut and her spirit still trembling.
And Chen Lusi had already reached her, slowly raising his hand.
This is it...
Si Yujie’s body shivered sharply; seeing Chen Lusi’s hand coming nearer, only this thought remained... The overwhelming impulse to escape, once more pressing her to turn around.
Yet Chen Lusi’s familiar face and the last bit of clarity in her mind made her bite down hard on her silver tooth: "I don’t believe...he would harm me."
Having said that.
She directly repressed the fear that had penetrated her spirit and opened her arms towards Chen Lusi, embracing him tightly.
Swipe—
The palace complex that covered the sky suddenly collapsed.
The monumental object under the sunset began to shrink.
And shortly after, everything returned to normal.
The kingfisher standing atop the Jade Seal was startled into flight.
Si Yujie realized...the surroundings had returned to normal.
Chen Lusi’s voice was heard: "Si Yujie?"
"..."
Si Yujie was slightly dazed, then looked at Chen Lusi standing before her, with no grime nor mist on him...and suddenly relaxed.
The mature woman slightly lowered her head, then couldn’t help but hug Chen Lusi tighter, her shapely body pressing against him without minding the soft curves being utterly compressed, simply letting out a long breath.
Chen Lusi’s expression was strange.
Others’ expressions weren’t any better.
"Ah—"
Until.
Lin Ying let out a short scream.
Si Yujie then suddenly reacted, hurriedly releasing Chen Lusi, stepping back a few paces, and with a hand tidied the disordered strands tucked behind her ear, then looked at Lin Ying with a trace of apology: "Sorry, the situation was urgent. I borrowed your boyfriend... I return him to you now."
Then.
She stepped forward again, embracing Lin Ying.
The two shapely bodies touched.
Lin Ying’s delicate face showed a hint of helplessness: "What kind of return is this? You’re just like my sister, and don’t you feel suffocated? Let go..."
"What exactly happened?"
Just then.
Li Zheng and Gong Fei finally shook off the shock and asked blankly.
They weren’t interested in the trio’s embracing.
But they were very interested in Si Yujie’s recent experience.
Because Si Yujie suddenly became unresponsive, as if possessed, and after waking immediately embraced Chen Lusi, which was clearly abnormal.
Upon hearing, Si Yujie released Lin Ying, then glanced at Chen Lusi, recounting what she had just witnessed.
"An illusion!? Or could it be...the Apang Palace!?"
Gong Fei, upon hearing this, became very excited: "That voice..."
"It’s best not to have expectations."
Si Yujie shook her head, looking at the Jade Seal in her hand and the golden kingfisher hovering above: "I think that was more like some kind of control method, though I don’t know what turning back would lead to, it certainly wouldn’t be good.
If at that time..."
She looked at Chen Lusi, then didn’t continue.
Hearing this, others also looked at Chen Lusi, and fell silent.
Everyone tacitly chose not to discuss the anomaly surrounding Chen Lusi.
"I should take the Jade Seal."
Chen Lusi listened to Si Yujie’s story, and reached towards her: "This is too dangerous."
"No."
Si Yujie pulled her hand back, refusing: "None of you should touch the Jade Seal now, especially you, Chen Lusi. In the face of animosity, you holding it might make things worse. I’ll hold onto it to prevent issues.
After all, I’ve experienced it once already, so I have some experience."
Chen Lusi opened his mouth, about to say more.