Chapter 28: Waking from Dream

Fang Li withdrew his hand.

He heard himself say in a calm voice, “Thank you, I have no more regrets. Go ahead and kill me now.”

That person made a strange noise, then reached out and pinched his chin, laughing hoarsely by his ear. “Alright, I’ll fulfill your wish.”

Fang Li felt a numbness at the back of his neck, then lost consciousness.

When he woke up once more.

He found that he was lying on a soft bed, and beneath his hands was the familiar feel of smooth silken embroidery.

It wasn’t the room from before.

But the grand duke’s estate.

【System: What on earth is going on???】

【Fang Li laughed mildly: Won’t you know once you keep watching? 】

【System: ……】 You were clearly the one who said you knew, but now that I ask you, you won’t say. Host, do you think being like this is proper? The System was about to burst from curiosity.

Fang Li heard himself open his mouth and make a raspy noise. “Someone……”

After a moment, an elderly voice said tremblingly, “My lord, you’re finally awake!”

Fang Li furrowed his brow.

His household naturally had maidservants. Uncle Zhang was the estate’s head caretaker, so why would he need to personally wait upon him?

“My lord, everything will be fine now that you’re awake, my lord. This old servant will go warm up some medicine, please wait a little while……” Although the old man tried hard to restrain his sorrow, his voice was still a bit choked up.

Fang Li realized that something was wrong, and his character also realized it.

Thus, he said in a heavy voice, “What happened?”

Uncle Zhang fell silent for a while, but perhaps he realized that it couldn’t be concealed and finally said in a trembling voice, “My lord, you left the evil shrine and went alone to Nothing Left Peak, then didn’t return for a very long time. The rumors outside all said that you died at Nothing Left Peak and took that monster to the grave with you…… Thus, the emperor expelled you from the imperial family’s ancestral line with the excuse that you disrespected the gods and fell onto the demonic path, then stripped you of your title of grand duke. When the tree fell, the monkeys scattered, and all the people in the estate left after receiving the news. Only this old servant…… this old servant didn’t believe that you would die just like that…… So, so this old servant has been waiting at the estate all this time…… This old servant knew that my lord couldn’t have died, my lord would definitely come back……”

So that was it. This story was actually pretty logical.

He’d been missing for such a long time, and it was unknown whether he was alive or dead. The emperor had long found him a hindrance, so wouldn’t he definitely find an opportunity to retaliate?

If Fang Li had come back safe and sound, right now, the emperor’s assassins would have already arrived.

But he was already half dead, his arm was severed, and his eyes were blind. It could even be considered a so-called fate worse than death…… So the emperor instead wouldn’t touch him. Since the emperor hated him so much, he was naturally delighted to see Fang Li turned into a joke.

Only, to think that that person hadn’t killed him……

Fang Li was pensive.

Seeing as he hadn’t died, it meant the story hadn’t ended yet.

He already had some guesses, and a general grasp of things, so he started to relax and watch the show again.

The ducal estate these days was completely empty, with only Uncle Zhang present.

Uncle Zhang was like both father and mother, helping him change and boiling his medicine. He was already an old man approaching sixty, and tending to a disabled person all alone was truly not an easy task……

Although it was only a dream, Fang Li was a bit embarrassed.

Luckily, the Grand Duke of Li was also a strong-minded character and wasn’t willing to be taken care of in such a way by someone. He stubbornly insisted on doing everything himself, and Uncle Zhang couldn’t win against him, so he could only let Fang Li eat and change himself. Although it was a little difficult, after a period of time, he gradually got used to it.

Although the estate was lonely and desolate these days, it was better than that little black room by who knows how much.

As a detached bystander watching the show, Fang Li was completely peaced out.

Only Uncle Zhang passed his days extremely sore of heart. Aside from his careful attendance, he also wept rivers of tears every day, making the slacker Fang Li feel a little awkward. After all, he didn’t really feel immersed in his character.

This sort of daily life passed in complete peace.

Time quickly flew by.

In the blink of an eye, several more months had passed.

The wounds on Fang Li’s body were more or less healed.

Just when he was feeling a little impatient with the story and didn’t know how much longer he still had to wait, one day, Uncle Zhang suddenly staggered inside in a rush and shouted with delight and astonishment, “My lord, my lord!”

It had been a long, long time since Fang Li had heard Uncle Zhang speak in such a joyous tone. What kind of happy occasion was it? With his state, what kind of happy occasion could there be? It couldn’t be……

The next moment, he heard the sound of soft footsteps approaching, and a tender, low, hoarse voice said, “My lord, I’ve returned.”

Uncle Zhang was overjoyed to the point of tears, wiping his face as he stammered, “My, my lord, my lady is back, how, how fortunate, how truly fortunate…… My lord, you, you didn’t wait for nothing!”

These days, the lord’s heart had become like ashes, and he lived like a walking corpse, as if he might disappear at any moment. These days, he was only waiting for death, nothing more…… That the lord had become like this was all for the sake of one person. Now, that person had returned, so the lord should also be able to die without regrets.

Uncle Zhang couldn’t be more touched, and he looked at Xie Huai as if looking at a savior. He choked, “My lady, this old servant will leave my lord to you to take care of. This old servant will take his leave.”

Having said that, he conscientiously left the stage to them.

What a qualified NPC.

Fang Li thought.

He had already guessed what was happening, and he knew the direction the rest of the story was going in.

Although he couldn’t see, he could sense the other person come to his side and softly grasp his hand, saying in a soft, tender voice, “My lord, I’ve finally returned.”

The other person saw that he made no response and seemed a little nervous, explaining carefully, “That day, I went up the mountain to pray for my lord. Along the way, I wasn’t careful and was captured by that monster. In order to preserve my innocence, I tricked that monster, saying that I had to think it over for a time…… After that, I found a chance to escape with the help of a kind stranger. Who knew that after leaving the mountain, in my hurry to escape, I fell and was injured, and I couldn’t find anyone from the grand duke’s estate…… I stayed at a farmer’s household to recover all this time and was finally able to heal…… then rushed without rest back here……”

It seemed like a pretty reasonable explanation.

This should have been an extremely joyous reunion……

But Fang Li felt that his heart was without a ripple. He heard himself say in an indifferent voice, “This lord always knew that the heavens would help the deserving, and that the grand duchess would come to no harm. If someone told this lord you had died, then they must be lying.”

The other person paused slightly, and the hand grasping his tightened. He seemed to be in pain and full of self-blame, saying slowly, “It’s all because I came back late, or my lord wouldn’t have……”

Fang Li remained tranquil as he said, “These were all this lord’s decisions. They have nothing to do with the grand duchess. The grand duchess mustn’t blame himself..”

These words seemed to make the other person extremely touched. After a long time, the other person said in a daze, “My lord…… I……”

Fang Li didn’t wait for the other person to keep speaking and pressed his lips together, saying word by word, “Only, with the state this lord is in these days, this lord is powerless to defend himself. This lord can’t protect you anymore, so you should leave and not involve yourself with this lord anymore.”

Those words were said with complete calm and indifference, as if they were discussing what to eat today.

The other’s breathing suddenly caught for a second, and after a moment, he said angrily, “Does my lord really think I’m such a fickle and unfaithful person? That I followed my lord only for glory and riches? If that’s what my lord believes, then my lord underestimated my feelings.”

Normally, at this time, the two of them should embrace each other in tears and swear never to part again no matter what trials they might face, spending the rest of their days together in love and affection……

But Fang Li wasn’t like that.

He felt himself completely at peace. These were the emotions that his character was transmitting to him.

So he only lightly quirked the corners of his lips and said, “What, you didn’t do it for the sake of glory and riches?”

That frivolous tone carried a bit of mocking intent. Any normal person would be infuriated into leaving.

The other person’s breathing suddenly became a bit urgent, and the hand grasping his tightened until there was the sound of joints cracking, as if he was doing his utmost to restrain his anger. After a long time, he said in a very slow voice, “If my lord wanted to use this kind of method to make me leave, that was a miscalculation.”

Oh, a miscalculation, huh.

Fang Li could feel his character’s state of mind. The Grand Duke of Li was indeed thinking that, so he’d intentionally used provocative words, but the other person still wasn’t willing to leave, which did actually surprise him a bit……

This dog-blooded play had already come to this point. It wasn’t going to forcefully push a happy ending, was it???

No way???

……………………………

Because the grand duchess had returned, the heavy responsibility of taking care of the grand duke fell to him. Uncle Zhang suddenly became much more relaxed; the poor NPC was finally free. Fang Li thought that was probably the only benefit to the grand duchess’ return.

That person actually did act like a gentle, considerate wife. Even though there wasn’t a single servant left in the estate, he didn’t complain at all and instead took out all of his own finances to procure more treatment and medicine for Fang Li, and he also personally took care of Fang Li.

Although Fang Li was always cold when speaking to him…… the grand duchess didn’t mind at all.

Seeing all this, Uncle Zhang was incredibly moved, continually persuading Fang Li to treat the grand duchess a little better. Even three lifetimes wasn’t enough to find a true companion like that who would never abandon you. What need was there to drive him away?

Fang Li could feel his own helpless exasperation.

He couldn’t do anything, either!

He was only watching the show……

As he watched, another period of time passed by.

That day, that person supported Fang Li to sit down as usual and combed his hair for him bit by bit, then helped him change his clothes and bent down to put on his shoes for him. After completing all of this, he said in a soft, smiling voice, “I made my lord’s favorite lotus seed soup today. My lord, why don’t you try it for me and see if my skills have regressed?”

Fang Li let the other do as he pleased, but after hearing him speak, he didn’t get up, but instead retrieved a letter from his robes and pushed it toward the other blandly, saying, “This lord already knows that the grand duchess is indeed faithful and devoted, but this lord is fickle and unfaithful. Take this divorce letter and find someone proper.”

The atmosphere fell silent for a  moment.

After a long time, he heard the other person clench his teeth and say, “Didn’t my lord say that we would spend our whole lives together, even when we’re old and gray?”

Fang Li laughed, “Those were just some pretty words, nothing more. It’s not like this lord said them only to you. No need to take them seriously.”

These words seemed to finally infuriate the other person, and he breathed harshly, yanking the divorce letter over and ripping it into pieces, then saying in a frigid voice, “My lord’s heart truly is ruthless.”

Fang Li thought, you’re still not leaving?

The other enunciated word by word, “I won’t be leaving!”

Oh……

Fang Li heard himself speak again. “Then do as you please. This lord doesn’t have long to live anyways. When this lord dies, you’ll have your freedom all the same.”

He said it casually……

But the other person’s aura suddenly became wholly terrifying.

He was no longer gentle, tender, and careful like in the past few days. Although Fang Li couldn’t see him, he could sense that the aura of the person before him was cold as if he were about to kill……

Drip, drip.

It was the sound of the water that had accumulated on the rooftops from last night’s winter rainstorm slowly dripping down.

The room was silent and dark.

Just like that room in the past that he hadn’t been able to leave no matter what.

And the person before him.

Just like that cruel person who never spoke a word.

Fang Li felt a bit of curiosity. Could it be that the other person finally couldn’t bear it any longer and wanted to show his hand?

Just then, he felt the other person suddenly approach, and slightly cool fingertips softly swept past the side of his neck. That person lowered his head and approached, his lips lightly brushed his ear. “It’s not out of the question if you want me to leave.”

The other person paused for a moment, his voice somewhat low and hoarse. “Once we make up our wedding night, I’ll leave and never bother my lord again.”

Fang Li, “……”

He finally panicked!

Actually, back in that dark room, when the other party had wanted to do this and that to him, when he’d touched him, the Grand Duke of Li had sensed this person’s identity, and when the Grand Duke of Li had touched that corpse, he’d already understood the reasons behind it all.

Fang Li had also understood everything at that time.

That person was Xie Huai!

His grand duchess.

So the story was actually like this—

Xie Huai’s identity in this dream was a survivor of the royal family of Xi, and he had approached the Grand Duke of Li for the sake of revenge. Back during their wedding night, those assassins had been arranged by him in order to kill the Grand Duke of Li, but the grand duke’s martial prowess was too high, and they hadn’t been able to succeed, so he’d countered by taking an arrow for the grand duke.

First, so he could gain the grand duke’s trust; second, so he could wash himself free of suspicion; and third, so he could avoid really having to have his wedding night with the grand duke.

Three birds with one stone.

So no matter how the Grand Duke of Li investigated, he couldn’t find out the person behind the assassins, because that person was right by his side, and he had never suspected him by even a hair.

Later, the grand duke went to battle.

While using letters to settle the grand duke and deepen the grand duke’s feelings for him, he’d also directed and acted out his own disappearance. He hadn’t been captured by that demon at all, so when the grand duke had gone to Nothing Left Peak, he hadn’t been able to find him no matter what……

He had watched with eyes wide open as the grand duke exchanged his life for power, then rescued the grand duke while he was on the brink of death.

Tormenting him over and over again.

It was for the sake of getting revenge on his sworn enemy, to see him lose everything and suffer a fate worse than death.

These were all things Fang Li could understand, but what Fang Li couldn’t understand was why he had actually returned to the grand duke’s estate again!

The grand duke was also surprised that he would, but after knowing everything, he understood that nothing could return to how it was, so he’d decided to let go.

The grand duke was unwilling to expose the other person, so he’d intentionally used cold words to provoke him, wanting him to leave without worry. Who could have known that even like this, he would refuse to leave, and he even wanted to stay and have their wedding night……

Fang Li thought for a long time, and the only thing that could explain this was that this nonsensical, dog-blooded story had made Xie Huai fall in love with him, his sworn enemy who had killed his whole family!

Help……

This wasn’t the start of the story anymore.

By now, it was clearly approaching the finale.

Although Fang Li hadn’t read many of these types of novels before, he could still guess that in these types of romance novels, during the endings, they would definitely force things into a grand reunion.

So it was very possible that in the scene coming up…… they were really going to experience the great harmony of life.

This time, there wouldn’t be any more assassins to interrupt.

In his heart, Fang Li cursed this garbage plot for its absurdity. When they got out, he would definitely give Lover’s Pass a bad review. They were already sworn enemies with the blood of one’s entire family between them, what kind of a happy ending did they still want to shove together?!

They might as well just keep hurting either all the way to the end!

Seeing that the other person had already approached and lifted him up and was heading toward the bed, Fang Li had already become totally numb!

Things couldn’t go on like this.

Even provoking someone had to be done in measures.

A suitable amount of provocation could make Xie Huai detest him and kill him when his cultivation was recovered, but going overboard with provocation would make Xie Huai want to take the both of them to the grave together right now, immediately.

If something really happened in the dream, Fang Li could guarantee that the first thing Xie Huai would do after coming out would be to stab him through with a sword.

So he definitely couldn’t go overboard.

Or else, it would be very easy to slip up.

Besides, there was still a very important point, which was……

Even if he had to die, he still couldn’t possibly top a man……

Not even in his dreams!

When he thought up to here.

The strength of Fang Li’s soul abruptly burst out, and his tremendous cultivation charged toward his forehead in a split second, immediately shattering the restrictions of the plot, and he took control of the body in the dream!

Then, in a single movement, he drew the sword hanging beside the bed!

He couldn’t see Xie Huai’s expression at this moment.

So he only lifted the corners of his lips and smiled at him, then, without a moment’s hesitation, slit his own throat!

Don’t worry, I won’t touch you even if I die!

…………………………

The Author Has Something to Say:

Fang Li: I know you would rather die than do it with me, so I’ll end myself first!

Xie Huai: Says who : )

Author: That, honey, let me just humbly say one thing, have you never thought, that you might be the one being topped……

Fang Li: Impossible, Xie Huai would rather die than get on top of a man.

Xie Huai: Says who : )