CHAPTER 296
This Time, I Will Not Take You Back
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【Tongzi, I need access to Youwei's memories.】
【Ding~ Chu Youwei's data as follows…】
Whether influenced by the girl before him or stirred by the battle that awakened the memory of the former Sovereign, Su Cheng's demeanor shifted.
He grew restless, uneasy. Whose shadow was that inexplicable guilt?
What kind of scene had stirred that unease?
Even Su Cheng himself couldn't articulate what he had seen, or what he had recalled.
【I don't want her personal information! I want everything about her! Her memories!】
【Ding~ All data concerning Chu Youwei has been integrated…】
【Dammit! You promised! You said you'd assist me with everything!】
【I want her memories—every last one!】
【Data and files are nowhere near enough. I want the memories!】
Su Cheng knew full well that no amount of files or photos could ever capture or store the emotions between them.
Only memories—only those tangible recollections—could make him understand what had happened to Chu Youwei!
Even mountains of files couldn't compare to her single sentence: "Slinging mud at walls is my job."
Words were too pale, medals too powerless. Only memories could bring Su Cheng peace.
As long as he remembered, they—she—would never be erased by authority.
[Ding~ System requesting permission to take control of host's body. Estimated takeover time: 0.27 seconds. Accept?]
[Cut the crap, I accept!]
[Ding~ The takeover process may cause slight physical discomfort. Prepare accordingly.]
【I'm the Godslayer King, for fuck's sake—like I'd be scared… Holy shit!】
0.27 seconds—if you call that short, it's but an instant.
Yet if measured as long, it spans a girl's entire lifetime.
From the day she became an apprentice, over 1,700 years passed—from cultivating qi and laying foundations to ascending as an immortal of the righteous path.
From an innocent young girl to one who strikes fear into the hearts of all immortals.
For over seventeen centuries, they shared every dawn and dusk. She was his sole direct disciple, enduring hardships and trials together, never abandoning him.
She never betrayed his trust, and he shouldered the responsibilities that came with it.
Pressing his palm to his forehead to dispel the dizzying sensation that felt like his soul was being stolen, Su Cheng wore an expression of utter helplessness.
"You… you really are an idiot…"
Impressions deeper than words surfaced in his mind, scenes unfolding one after another. Su Cheng felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. He looked at his outstretched hand, and it seemed distorted, as if borrowed from someone else.
There were no memories of Su Cheng's death—that was a hell unique to the girl.
But even without the details, Su Cheng could easily guess the girl's fate. Surviving alone—what difference was that from death?
This oppressive weight made Su Cheng feel suffocated, especially in that instant when he saw her again.
She had pledged her loyalty with her very life. If even death couldn't separate them, who else could possibly do so?
[Master, please wait. I, Youwei, must make preparations before meeting you again.]
Leaving these words behind, she exhausted all she possessed, vowing to gather rare treasures and assemble an army to avenge her wrongs!
But heaven never aligns with human wishes. Forces united by self-interest crumble and vanish when faced with the same problems.
Even if she was powerful alone, how could she possibly face several female protagonists destined by heaven?
This was all scripted—villains were meant to be defeated, were they not?
"My master is correct." Facing Su Cheng's words, Chu Youwei felt no urge to defend herself.
She truly was a fool, letting her master go alone to meet Ye Qinghan.
"Glad you're back. Don't make that mistake again."
"This disciple will remember."
Su Cheng lifted his gaze to the night sky. After the mist dissipated, even the night sky had become crystal clear.
After a long silence, neither spoke. Finally, Su Cheng broke the quiet.
"Youwei, this time, I won't take you back."
The head that had been bowed all along shot up abruptly. An expression of utter disbelief froze on her exquisite face.
Eyes that had held back tears for so long finally overflowed with crystalline droplets, blurring the carefully adorned, lovely face.
"Master… Are you… angry with me? Why won't you take me in?"
Su Cheng didn't know how to express herself.
But regardless, she had already done enough.
How could he? How could he bear to?
To let this girl risk her life again for him…
At that thought, Su Cheng felt utterly despicable for ever considering exploiting her.
What the hell was this SSR nonsense?
A pawn—one more or less made no difference. A subordinate—one more or less was insignificant.
This time around, let her… off the hook…
"Disciple… I'm not abandoning you. I just won't take you as my disciple anymore."
Su Cheng couldn't do it. He couldn't bring himself to command her as if she were his sole subordinate anymore.
How could he let Youwei die for him again? No—he couldn't let her face danger anymore.
Given another chance at life, she could have a completely different existence. He would spare no effort to give her the life she desired.
Heavenly treasures and rare gems—whatever she desired, there would be no shortage.
Everything could unfold exactly as she wished. Su Cheng owed her that.
Seeing the girl's face as pale as death, Su Cheng hurriedly spoke to comfort her.
"Don't misunderstand. It's just that you no longer need to seek a master. I will still treat you…"
The sharp crack of a slap echoed distinctly in the night air.
Smack! His left cheek burned fiercely—not exactly pain, but enough to force him silent.
"Master has spoken so much. How about letting Youwei say a few words? What do you think?"
Su Cheng now looked as docile as a child, his eyes clear as a college student's…
Chu Youwei’s jade-like hand, which had struck with such force, burned with the same stinging sensation.
But more than the pain in her hand, it was the ache in her heart!
It felt like a thousand-pound boulder pressing down on her chest, a walnut lodged in her throat, five bricks balanced precariously atop her head.
These three sensations converged simultaneously—that was Chu Youwei's present state.
Clearing her throat, she swallowed the metallic taste—whether snot or blood—and spoke slowly.
"Master, do you think this makes you look cool?"
"Or do you believe that as a man, as my master, this is how you should act?"
"Did you ever ask what I wanted? You just assumed and acted on your own!"
"The freedom you imagine isn't the life I want!"
"Mother always said a man's words can't be trusted!"
"You deceived me last time too, swearing you'd return—and what happened?"
"All Yuwei ever got was your corpse!"
"Even now, Master hasn't uttered a single word of apology. Yet even so, Youwei wouldn't hold it against him."
"But now, pretending to be so manly—isn't that a bit too much?"
"A man who abandons Youwei alone in this world—does he really have the nerve to claim he didn't forsake me?"
"Could it be you find Yuwei troublesome?"
"Master, have you forgotten that I was raised by your own hands? I'm no obedient child!"
Chu Youwei slowly approached Su Cheng, crouching down beside him. Though her smile was warm, her eyes held an unshakable resolve.
Her jade-like hand gently stroked the flushed half of Su Cheng's face, as if filled with pity.
After a moment of careful observation, Chu Youwei cupped Su Cheng's face with both hands and smiled.
"If Master tries to run away, I'll break your legs~"
With that, she seemed to stop at just the right moment, pulling back to create some distance.
"I hear Lingxian Hall's direct disciples all receive a jade pendant~"
"Did Master prepare one for Yuwei?"
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