Chapter 85: Eager to Try, Sharpening the Knives
The first thing Xiao Li did the day she woke up was go to the dungeon. The dungeon was still there, its three doors locked from the inside, proving she had indeed gone in. She had her men forcibly break them down to enter. Traces of what happened remained, but Liu Xueyin’s body was gone. The blood she had spilled all over the floor when she’d tried to kill herself was also gone.
Liu Xueyin had vanished into thin air. Xiao Li had clearly locked herself inside with Liu Xueyin, yet she had appeared outside.
In the eyes of Hong Yue and the others, she had suddenly fallen into a coma after returning from the Lu family. By the time she woke up, a month had passed, and the dust had settled.
Lu Yanzhi was hastily buried in the Lu Clan Territory, and the Lu family was exiled.
The Emperor had intended to exile Prince Chen, but the prince broke out of prison. Princess Chen disappeared immediately after, and everyone suspected Prince Chen had taken her with him.
No one knew Liu Xueyin had died at Xiao Li’s hands. Even the two people who had helped Xiao Li capture Liu Xueyin had no memory of the event. Perhaps she wasn’t dead at all. After all, Xiao Li herself had managed to die and come back to life.
This experience further convinced Xiao Li that this world was a complete fabrication. ’The dead can come back to life, just like respawning NPCs. How could this possibly be a real world?’
’A game? Artificial intelligence? Brainwaves?’
’Hypnosis, drugs, sound waves?’
’Metaphysics? Ghosts? A supernatural maze? Talismans?’
’Who’s targeting me? Who has such immense power? Was I betrayed?’
’So what state is my real body in right now? A coma, or am I already dead?’
’The first two categories represent barriers this world can’t currently break. Even if I tried to dabble in them myself—and it’s not like I could just whip them up—but even if I were a genius and actually succeeded, could something made in a fake world break through that world’s barriers?’
’Metaphysics, on the other hand, seems a bit more plausible. This world has Daoist temples. I wonder if those enlightened masters have ever glimpsed the secrets of heaven.’
’But they’re natives of this world. Even if they’re skilled, it’s not like they’ve ascended to immortality, so they probably wouldn’t be much help.’
’So, should I still go after the male and female leads? Killing Liu Xueyin didn’t work last time, so maybe I should try killing the male lead, Prince Chen, next? If all else fails, I can just kill myself a few more times. I’m bound to find the cause of all this eventually.’
Xiao Li grew eager, already sharpening her blades for what was to come.
’After all, I’ve tried killing myself and couldn’t even die. What do I have to lose?’
Perhaps finally realizing it had provoked a demon, a Living King of Hell, something pulled Xiao Li into a mystical world in her sleep.
All she could see was a stretch of pale gold. Above was a vast, boundless sky from which golden light scattered, like a celestial paradise. Below her feet was a translucent surface of water. Stepping on it created ripples, but she didn’t sink.
There was nothing in this world but the pale golden sky and the water’s surface.
Although she knew this place was strange, Xiao Li couldn’t help but feel a sense of curiosity and awe. It was composed of the simplest of hues, yet she found it magical and profound. It had an indescribable sanctity that seemed to nourish her very soul.
"This is the origin of the world."
An ethereal voice seemed to descend from the heavens. Immediately after, a pale golden, illusory figure slowly materialized not far from Xiao Li.
It was vaguely humanoid in shape, but it had no physical form and was completely transparent.
’The shadow I saw before I died... it wasn’t an illusion.’
"What are you? A god or an immortal?"
The other party answered, "I am the World Consciousness."
The voice was impossible to identify as male or female, old or young. It was mystical, like a celestial tune, and listening to it calmed Xiao Li, making it impossible for her to feel any anger.
’The term "World Consciousness" isn’t hard to understand. This is the being I’ve been looking for.’
"Are you here to send me away?" This was all she cared about.
It had no facial features, but Xiao Li could feel its gaze on her. Then, it slowly shook its head.
"I am too weak right now. I cannot send you away."
Xiao Li asked, "Because I killed Liu Xueyin?"
"It was to save you."
Xiao Li was speechless. ’Who the hell asked to be saved by it?’
The being seemed able to read her mind, but it didn’t get angry. Instead, it began to explain, "This world, like the one you came from, is real. Besides these, there are many, many other worlds. Some have only just been born, while others are already heading toward destruction."
"When a World Consciousness is on the verge of annihilation, its only way to save itself is to plunder the power of other worlds. You were dragged here by accident. Because you were once enveloped by a World Consciousness, you were able to glimpse the secrets of heaven."
Xiao Li was incredulous. "So all that torment I went through was just a glimpse of a heavenly secret?"
It nodded. "Yes. Those were merely things that are fated to happen in the future."
Xiao Li didn’t believe it. "Then what about the story of the male and female leads?"
It said, "Those are the targets chosen by another World Consciousness. It is attempting to use that pair as a medium to gain fortune and power. What you saw were its future plans."
Xiao Li found this even more absurd. "Then what about the original owner of this body?"
It asked in return, "Are you not her?"
"Parallel worlds, cycles of fate. You are her, and she is you. The only difference is the time, the space, and the destiny. From the day you arrived in this world, the two of you have already merged."
Xiao Li was not willing to accept this. ’I could never be the original owner, that fool who was willing to live and die for a man. And to think I’ve merged with her... the thought is just bizarre.’
"Can I still go back to my own world?"
It nodded. "You can, but not now."
Xiao Li was silent for a long while. "Why did you save me?"
It replied, "You are a fusion of a soul of two lives. If you die, you will be used by other worlds, becoming a threat to me and to your own world."
’Of course. There’s a reason for everything.’
"So Lu Yanzhi and Liu Xueyin aren’t dead either, right?"
It replied, "I cannot determine that at present."
Xiao Li’s feelings were now a little complicated. The information, so far beyond her common sense, had dealt her quite a shock. "Then how long do I have to stay in this world?"
It hesitated for a moment. "I do not know."
With that said, it waved a hand, and Xiao Li woke up.
She shot up in bed. Staring at the familiar yet strange bed, she was silent for a long time, then suddenly let out a laugh of exasperation.
’World Consciousness? Parallel worlds? Two worlds are fighting, and I’m the unlucky sod caught in the middle?’
’This is just too ridiculous.’
’All that pain is still so vivid, but it turns out it was just a glimpse of the future?’
’I’m not going to just blindly believe some so-called "World Consciousness."’
’I’m the one who felt the blade. I know how much it hurt.’
’It claims my past suffering was just a glimpse of some cosmic secret, but who’s to say it isn’t just trying to make me let go of my hatred and resentment?’
’It said I could leave but didn’t give a specific time or method. Isn’t that just writing a blank check, stringing me along and telling me to wait?’
’It deigned to meet with me and "kindly" answered all my questions, but in reality, it just wants me to stay in this cage willingly.’
’Whether it’s a friend or foe remains to be seen.’
’If there’s one thing in all this that I believe, it’s probably just this: my death would be a disadvantage to it, and that’s the only reason it bothered to save me.’