CHAPTER 377
Personal Feelings
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"That guy was specifically assigned to Amber. You'd be wise not to walk into Amber's line of fire."
"Oh? What's the point of setting up some pretty boy? I thought it was a reward for the troops~"
"You're acting like a total flirt, you know that?"
"You're not much better than me, so cut it out!"
"I heard that pretty boy is a tech Amber brought in—a core member of the Iron Pot Project. He's here to help crack technical challenges. He's an intellectual, you know!"
"So what if he's an intellectual? I went to school before joining the army too!"
"Cut the crap. Out of all us here, only He Guang and Amber graduated from military academy. The rest of us are just country bumpkins, aren't we?"
"Don't you believe me? If Yichen Valley hadn't fallen during the Soul-Gripping City defense, I wouldn't have left home. Who knows, I might've been an educated person too!"
"You only got lucky because Lady Gu Ai took you in. Who else would want a slut like you?"
"You're the slut! I've never even been on a date!"
"You bastard, asking someone their age right off the bat? Who'd date you?"
As if they were the leaders of a bandit den, the Valkyries paid no heed to others' gazes, simply chatting and bantering. Before Xiao Ai woke up, before new orders were issued, they enjoyed their free time.
They acted as if they were in their own home. The sexy beauty codenamed Plague even went to the kitchen hall to fetch some snacks, bringing them over to share with her sisters.
But truthfully, in their eyes, this place was already theirs.
What belonged to Su Cheng belonged to Xiao Ai. And who was Xiao Ai? She was their leader!
And what belonged to Xiao Ai wasn't theirs too?
Frankly, it was all their home. When Su Cheng arrived at the mansion, it was the same—he ate and drank freely, occasionally teasing the Valkyries.
Back then, though, all the Valkyries except Amber got along quite well with Su Cheng. He hadn't yet reached the point where everyone wanted to beat him up.
At this moment, Su Cheng had already arrived in the Northern Realm. Evidently, another Su Cheng had also sensed his arrival.
As if destiny was about to unfold, or perhaps another storm of bloodshed was imminent, the Northern Realm was once again engulfed by a blizzard—even as the Southern and Eastern Realms endured scorching heat.
"Hui, are you saying it wasn't Shen Rui who abducted Qinghan and the others?"
"Your Excellency, at least during the mission, I will not let personal feelings interfere."
Su Cheng looked helpless, but at least the woman codenamed Yu Meng hadn't drawn her sword at the slightest provocation. That was already quite good.
"No, dear sister, I just want to know who they are."
Yu Meng offered an equally official explanation.
According to the mansion's investigation results, the target is human (a cultivator), possesses heavy-grade spatial suppression equipment, and is classified as high-risk.
Honestly, Su Cheng was somewhat surprised upon hearing this. Logically, such a situation shouldn't occur—he'd never encountered a case where someone who crossed over could meet the original host.
Yet here it was, happening before his eyes. This development shattered the framework of his long-held assumptions.
His transmigration wasn't merely a soul transferring into a similar host—he had arrived with his physical body intact.
The original host had either been sent to another world due to some accident or other circumstance, or had died.
As Su Cheng was lost in thought, a voice reached his ears.
【Master, what are you thinking about?】
【Xiao Ai, you didn't tell me it wasn't Shen Rui.】
【Master didn't ask, did you?】
This was a small hill not far from Ling Shuang Pavilion. Standing on the hillside, Su Cheng could see the snow-covered pavilion.
Xu Zhanfeng had mentioned this residence to him before, though Su Cheng had never visited.
【My Lord, you know you don't belong here, don't you?】
Su Cheng remained silent, for Xiao Ai was correct.
He wasn't a native of this world. Had it not been for seeking a cover identity, he wouldn't have cared about being a sect master at all.
Through a series of twists and turns, his disciples grew in number, and he seemed to become immersed in this game.
He no longer kept his distance from his disciples. He became reckless, carefree.
He shouldn't have. It violated his principles.
As Yu Meng had said, he shouldn't let personal feelings cloud his judgment. As the one holding the reins, he dared not relax even for a moment, nor could he afford to indulge in pleasure.
【You're right, but I still need to see what kind of person he is, don't I?】
【Master, you're acting like a child right now, though it is rather adorable~】
【Are you mocking me?】
【Indeed~】
Xiao Ai understood perfectly well that Su Cheng would likely never let go. Yet, as water wears away stone, she and Su Cheng possessed ample time. Nothing could sever their bond except death.
Eternity was an unrealistic dream to begin with; seeking immortality and consulting divinities was a misguided path.
Only by holding everything firmly in one's grasp could one gain the leverage to bargain with the gods, the right to rewrite the rules.
The notion of "good deeds beget good rewards" was merely a four-character mantra used to suppress ants under ugly rules—a means to lock rebellious beings with hands and feet into cages meant for livestock.
Amber once asked Xiao Ai: Is this filthy world truly worth saving?
Was it truly worth it for them to raise swords against the gods, protecting those beasts that devoured people whole?
Perhaps the gods are the ones who are right? In a world like this, it might be better to just let it perish~
……
Gu Ai replied: Only those who have witnessed the darkness deserve the hard-won dawn.
Another non sequitur. Important figures always seem to enjoy keeping their thoughts a mystery. But was it truly irrelevant? Amber couldn't say. In the end, following the Master's orders was the right path. Lady Gu Ai surely had her reasons.
[Any leads on the Void Blueprint? The Book of Atonement is in your possession—finding something shouldn't be too difficult, right?]
【If the Master could retrieve the positioning anchor, it might be easier. Even with spatial authority, both the Mansion and the Executioner's Blade have limited coverage.】
【Understood. Brew me a cup of tea… I'm feeling rather parched…】
Compared to disciples clad in brocades and fine robes, Su Cheng wore nothing but a long tunic and a pair of cloth shoes.
His feet were buried in ankle-deep snow, soaked through, yet Su Cheng felt no chill.
The original owner in his memories hadn't been a bad person either. It was only after his master's death that he seemed to become a different man.
Separated by the mountain, Su Cheng could see the man who was his exact replica. Standing high above, the man seemed to be waiting for Su Cheng's arrival.
This farce…
Perhaps it truly was time for it to end.
"Yu Meng, I'll go alone."
"My job is to guide you. I never intended to help."
"Hmm, that's best."
Without summoning his sword, Su Cheng walked step by step toward Ling Shuang Pavilion. The journey seemed long, yet compared to the paths he had traversed before, it was scarcely worth mentioning.
Compared to the countless years they'd lived through, their half-year together was nothing. Yet Su Cheng couldn't deny that it mattered just as much.
He should have long ago corrected his habit of making promises lightly. He had understood this for quite some time.
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