Chapter 74.4 [Yuhui Bai] Part Three
“…”
I barely managed to block the black hair strands, which shot out like flying needles. Each strand was harder than a steel needle, and just defending against them took all my strength.
As a Ghoul, Xuan’er’s physical abilities were already far beyond those of a normal human. Now, with her completely berserk, she was even more difficult to handle than I had imagined.
The only good news was that, having lost her reason, she couldn’t use abilities like Sensory Deprivation.
Actually, I hadn’t even seen her like this when she was alive. Even during ‘that time,’ I had only seen the ‘result.’ If Xuan’er hadn’t retained a sliver of her sanity, everyone here might have been devoured by her.
This is troublesome. I’m not a fighter by nature; I’ve only learned a bit of Onmyōjutsu, which is difficult to use effectively in this world.
To be honest, facing Xuan’er in this state, only by using that power can I contend with her…
“If you want to eat so badly, how about I treat you to a feast?”
I deliberately provoked her with my words while continuously throwing Talismans, aiming to relieve the pressure on the Ponytail Maid. She had been blocking a large portion of Xuan’er’s attacks and was already covered in wounds.
However, Xuan’er showed no intention of changing her target, her attacks on me were merely at an interference level. She must be trying to take us down one by one. This Maid is quite formidable. Her physical abilities should only be at an ordinary person’s level, yet her skills have reached the apex of perfection. Even with the Head Maid, who is in a league of her own, teaching her, it’s remarkable that she has improved to this extent. I could say she’s on par with Nob’s skill level.
But now isn’t the time to be impressed. If I don’t find a way to stop Xuan’er, she’ll eventually find Juncheng An.
Moreover, Xuan’er seems to have awakened as a F. After gaining the ability to manipulate Destiny Power, what abilities has she acquired… It’s probably not just something as simple as manipulating hair.
If Xuan’er uses that ability, there’s no chance of winning.
“Devour… Devour it, and it will be mine…”
“You… You really won’t listen to reason, will you… There’s no one here for you to devour!”
The moment Xuan’er prepared to engulf me with her hair, I finally used my trump card, freezing the space around us.
This is a privilege of mine, who created this world.
But this won’t last long. To do something like this requires Destiny Power. However, the Destiny Power I’m using is Yu Hui’s, and I’m forcibly extracting it. Considering Yu Hui’s lifespan, I can’t overuse it.
It’s a pity I can’t use the abilities I had as a F in my previous life, and it’s also a pity that Yu Hui in this life isn’t a F…
“You, Maid over there! Cut off her hair!”
“Yes!”
Hearing my command, the Ponytail Maid immediately drew her sword and slashed at Xuan’er’s hair.
Although her hair, when gathered, was harder than steel, with the Maid’s skill, cutting steel was not a problem.
Just as I expected, Xuan’er’s hair was severed. Her black hair strands softened and scattered around like black snow. Xuan’er seemed surprised that her hair was cut off. Due to the recoil, she was thrown backward. Seizing this opportunity, I immediately charged forward, intending to embrace her.
Just as my hand was about to touch Xuan’er, my abdomen was pierced.
What pierced me was not Xuan’er’s hair, but blood.
The blood flowing from the Maid’s cut wound dripped onto the ground and was reassembled.
Is this the ability to manipulate… blood?
My hand failed to reach Xuan’er, my fingertips were only a few millimeters away from her forehead.
“Give it back, give back… my Juncheng…”
“Juncheng’s… Could it be that you’re going berserk because of that? Sigh, what a childish reason.”
“You’re just like a little girl who’s had her favorite doll taken away, throwing a tantrum, aren’t you?”
No matter what I said before, it was useless, but only this sentence seemed to work.
Blood-colored.
Crimson.
The color of crimson blood.
All other colors paled in comparison, only that crimson was clearly visible.
Deeply captivated by the beautifully blooming blood-colored flower, I smiled hazily.
Despite my carelessness, I could still feel its beauty.
This blood-colored flower was blooming upon me…
The blood I spat from my mouth, the blood flowing from the corners of my lips, did not drip down to stain my clothes. Even my fatal wound did not bleed.
All the blood in my body was drained, my vision darkened. I was so close, just a step away from touching her.
Is it going to be the same as that time again?
But there’s no other way now. I’ve bought enough time; Juncheng An has already successfully escaped…
… How could I give up!
Only this last step!
I absolutely must take it!
Enduring excruciating pain, I took a step forward, the wound in my abdomen widening.
… In my previous life, I never experienced childbirth to leave him offspring. Perhaps this is akin to the pain of childbirth… It can be considered as making up for a regret!
My fingertips touched her forehead. Looking at her scarlet pupils, I said softly.
“This time, I’ve finally touched you…”
Finally… teleportation.
I can’t defeat you, nor can I subdue you. So, I can only take you away from the battlefield. In fact, this was my goal from the beginning.
… Alright, Xuan’er, let’s stay together until the end of this world…
This is the “Outer side of the Mirror World,” a place where no world has been constructed.
A place devoid of everything, like a blank sheet of paper.
Even if I had exhausted all my Destiny Power back then, I couldn’t completely construct a complete world because the world is too vast.
If I had succeeded, I could have called myself ‘Heavenly Dao,’ couldn’t I? Heh.
“If you want to eat, then eat me.”
If I only strip away ‘this part of my past life’s memories,’ it shouldn’t hurt Yu Hui’s memories.
Then, when Amaterasu descends, that gentle and all-encompassing deity will surely return Yu Hui’s spiritual body to her main body.
Hmph, even if it’s just the experiences in this world, why should I fall behind others?
Although Yu Hui is not his F this time, precisely because she isn’t his F, she can be on equal footing with him. This is a greater advantage than anyone else’s.
Xuan’er slowly opened her mouth. Well, this is where I end… This extra life is finally coming to an end.
Just as I thought this, large teardrops fell from Xuan’er’s eyes. She reached out her trembling hands to cup my cheeks. She opened her mouth not to devour me, but to offer an apology.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
The solidified blood column turned back into blood. I lost my support and slumped to the ground, my clothes stained red, forming a pool of blood on the ground.
Xuan sobbed, trying to staunch my wound. When she realized she couldn’t, she choked back sobs and hugged me.
“No…”
“Really, if he sees you crying, he’ll get angry again…”
“I- I didn’t mean to… don’t…”
Has she finally recovered…?
That’s right. Juncheng An didn’t hesitate to sacrifice himself to free Xuan’er from years of curse and restore her memories. What awaits her should be a brand new ‘life.’
“Don’t let sorrow and anger cloud your mind… Keep smiling. He said it too, didn’t he? He likes your smile more…”
“… I’m sorry.”
Are these tears shed for ‘me’?
Ah… I am already a dead person… I’m not worth crying over…
“Seeing you, I feel like I’ve lived in vain…”
I trusted everyone, and then I doubted them again.
I hated Ikoma Kichiyō to the bone, only to pity her in the end.
I felt indignant for Okunoin’s background, only to discover she was just a victim.
I detested Harada Naoko, yet lamented her as a tragic woman.
And the Saka Clan, Hijikata Clan, Jidokuin…
Ah, how many women did that scoundrel marry…
Recalling it now, being the one who married him in the end, was it luck or misfortune…?
Everything turned to ashes in the war, everything vanished in smoke and fire. Tricks, schemes, deception, everything was…
What remained in the end was just the simplest story.
A boy fell in love with a girl.
A girl fell in love with a boy.
… To think I lost to a little girl. The main wife really is undeserving of her title (laughs).
“That damned scoundrel, marrying me wasn’t enough, he actually married so many concubines… But it was the era, so I couldn’t help it. However, it has nothing to do with the system. Society is monogamous now, yet he’s still the same – a true twisted fate, ah…
Far in the distance, golden light illuminated the world like the sun.
“Ah, look… The one to pick you up is arriving.”
The scent of flames permeated the air, making it suffocating.
These few minutes in this space outside the mirror equate to days in that world. It seems that deity is about to awaken.
Sigh, I actually held on until the end. It’s really beyond my expectations…
“Don’t try to keep me. I’m just a trace of the old era… Besides, I’ve always been by your side, haven’t I? I am her, and she is me. Let’s get along well this time.”
The brief dream is about to end.
To be able to gain this little bit of extra time at the very end is already a gift from heaven.
I never expected that centuries later, I would appear here again.
Always searching for the stolen past.
Wandering in a strange city, I encountered a new you.
We should have said goodbye already, we should have parted ways.
But to see you again…
My heart still races as if it were our first meeting.
I thought this soul was already tired of reincarnation… If I saw that hell again, my heart would dry up…
However, if this is destiny… No, she has already made her decision.
“Go, Xuan… Kaoru Tsukiyose, please don’t disturb me.”
Closing my eyes, memories swirled in my mind.
Indescribable, thoughts spreading.
Fleeting life, a dream like a butterfly.
Past events like smoke…
In my last glimpse, I saw a beautiful butterfly fluttering.
Am I, this butterfly, about to fly away, and a new butterfly will follow?
Then, this time, whose butterfly dream will construct this world?
