Chapter 504: The You I Know

(Combined 8000 words) (Combined 8000 words) →: mayiwsk

Yi Leina felt her sleep had been deeply comfortable, like lying on soft velvet, warm and soothing.

Outside, rain tapped against the old house's windows, while inside, silence reigned, creating a stark contrast.

She shifted her head on the pillow, content to linger like this—after all, bad weather made travel unwise.

Of course, breakfast still had to be eaten.

Thinking of this, Yi Leina rubbed her eyes and blinked sleepily toward the bedside.

"So I'm in the library," she pushed back the covers, gradually becoming alert, as if brimming with boundless energy: "When did I get back?"

This was her personal library, maintained daily by the group of Yi Leinas she had defeated and captured.

"I should find them new jobs."

Letting them go so easily was out of the question—they'd attacked her, so they must accept the consequences. Even working in a sweatshop crafting magical artifacts could bring in steady profit.

Compared to her own magical artifacts rotting unsold, factory labor guaranteed income.

As compensation, they'd receive one magic book each month.

Yes, this is me—the kindest of all the Gray Witches, Young Lady Yi Leina.

"What time is it? Why hasn't my breakfast been served?"

Yi Leina glanced at the alarm clock beside her bed, yawned, then her eyes filled with confusion.

Hadn't she taken a commission and eaten at the French restaurant?

The last image in her memory was shoving the mushrooms she hated most into the mouth of that shameless, despicable man.

Then—

What had she done after that?

Had she drunk a cup of oolong tea? Yes, oolong tea. Damn it—had the commission been completed?

As Yi Leina struggled to recall, the door softly opened, and a gentle voice called out: "Rare to see you sleep in. Why not rest longer?"

Yi Leina turned toward the door and saw Han Li holding a tray, laden with fried dough sticks, soy milk, tofu pudding, bread, jam, and fried eggs.

"Why are you here?" Yi Leina's eye twitched; something about his tone felt off.

"Still groggy?" Han Li glanced at her with mild amusement, smiling fondly: "Time for breakfast. I made it myself today."

Ugh—!

Yi Leina's face darkened instantly. She clapped both hands over her mouth and shrank backward, pressing against the bedframe in horror.

What the hell is going on?!

What is this bastard doing?!

Can't you tone down that revolting expression?!

"Don't you dare come closer!" Yi Leina realized she was backed into a corner and warned: "Don't enter a lady's room without permission!"

Han Li looked utterly baffled. He placed the breakfast on a bookshelf desk and said, puzzled: "But this is my room too. After all these years, why haven't you gotten used to it?"

He raised his right hand and pointed beside Yi Leina.

Yi Leina followed his gaze and saw another pillow beside her own.

Why was there a second pillow?

The thought flashed through her mind—and instantly, Yi Leina crossed her arms tightly over her shoulders, trembling, eyes wide with chaos: "Y-you y-you—"

Han Li sat down by the desk, dipped a piece of fried dough stick into the soy milk, then said:

"By the way, our daughter wants to learn magic. When will you teach her?"

"I was planning to teach her cultivation and holy light spells, but you said yesterday that she's grown up and should decide for herself."

"Sigh—your personality really does rub off on her. What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Seeing her expression, Han Li rose, picked up the steaming soy milk, smiled faintly, and stepped slowly toward Yi Leina, whose pupils had gone unfocused.

He sat on the edge of the bed, picked up a piece of fried dough stick with chopsticks, and held it to her lips, speaking softly: "It won't taste right if it's soaked too soft. Here, open—"

"Excuse me." Yi Leina spoke in a flat, mechanical tone: "What daughter?"

At this question, Han Li's eyes widened, his pupils trembling as if shaken by an earthquake. He forced a strained smile.

"Nothing. Don't mind it."

"What daughter?"

Yi Leina pressed again.

"Nothing, Young Lady Yi Leina. I was just joking," Han Li whispered, tears glinting in his eyes: "It's all my fault—I didn't protect you well enough. That's why your head was struck by the enemy's magic."

He set down the food, hurriedly rose, and walked toward the wall lined with bookshelves, quickly gathering up the photographs displayed there.

His movements were slow enough for Yi Leina to clearly see the photos—each one was

unmistakably a picture of a family of three.

The man lifted the little girl high; the woman smiled beside them.

Before the girl sat a birthday cake marked "3"; the man and woman clapped in celebration.

Before the girl sat a cake marked "4"; angels surrounded her, playing music amid the clouds.

And other photos too.

The father stood on a flying sword, the girl gripping his pant leg, terrified of falling, while the woman rode a broomstick, beaming at them all.

Laughter, tears, reunions, arguments—but always three people together. Strangely, the man looked exactly like Han Li, the woman resembled Yi Leina, and the little girl was clearly a young version of Yi Leina.

Han Li's motion slowed. He stood with his back to Yi Leina; transparent droplets fell steadily onto the floor.

Accompanied by muffled sobs.

Yi Leina watched this scene—and suddenly smiled, relieved: "Ah, I see. I haven't woken up yet."

She cast one final glance at the rain-streaked window and the fog on the glass, her brow relaxing as she pulled the blanket over herself.

"So warm... so it was a nightmare after all."

"Among the spells I've been studying these days, there was one called Nightmare Magic—probably got out of control."

"I should've known better than to take that job, but they paid me too much."

As seconds ticked by, Irena felt herself drifting back into sleep—no, back into the real world—and remained unusually calm.

Until—*Bang! *

"Mom! Look, I can ride a broom now!"

Eyes bloodshot, Irena leapt up, raising her wand and pointing it at Weigong Shilang: "Fake! All of it's fake! Weigong Shilang, what are you trying to do?!"

"Waaah!!!" A child's cry rang out.

The girl, who looked almost exactly like

Irena, startled and trembling, clutched the broom and stared timidly in their direction.

The magical resonance from the broom was unmistakable—it was Irena's broom, no doubt.

"Calm down, you're scaring the child," Weigong Shilang said, shielding the girl behind him, hand over his mouth, eyes filled with guilt: "Don't do this—it's all my fault."

"Don't you dare trick me!" Irena trembled violently, her wand shaking, her breath erratic: "What kind of setup is this?! Do you think I'm Bai Chi?! That thing's magical signature is identical to mine!"

So close.

She had almost been fooled by this nightmare scene.

If not for the miniature Irena's broom—Young Lady—secretly whispering a warning to her, and if she hadn't checked the girl's magical signature, she might truly have been unable to tell reality from illusion.

"Stop acting! If you keep this up, I'll kill you!"

A barrage of magical projectiles shot out, striking Weigong Shilang right on the head while he still covered his mouth.

*Splatter*—blood sprayed.

In Irena's stunned gaze, Weigong Shilang

stepped out from thin air and said: "There's a setting where power fluctuates unpredictably. By the way, the main premise is that one day, thousands of years from now, you chased me down."

"You bastard!"

A storm of magical projectiles rained down, forcing the miniature Irena to scramble behind Weigong Shilang.

"You have a 'morning grumpiness' setting? That's kind of cute, huh? Ahh, poor Weigong Shilang—having to face this monster every day in the script," Weigong Shilang murmured, flipping through a small notebook with a sigh.

"I don't care—I'm not even sleeping in your room. You'll bear the cost of whatever damage comes next?"

After who knew how long—perhaps once the enraged witch's fury had finally drained—Weigong Shilang dispersed the magical elements hovering in the air.

"Disgusting! Scum!" Irena huddled in the corner, clutching her blanket, eyes wary: "You didn't do anything to me, did you?!"

"Your clothes were changed by them. Your pillow came from your own cabinet. I slept on Water Mirror Peak," Weigong Shilang replied, handing a vial of magic potion to the miniature Irena behind him, who immediately turned and ran off.

Irena glared at Weigong Shilang, then hurled the extra pillow at him: "Loli freak! Pervert!"

Of course, this pillow, harmless and soft, had no effect whatsoever.

Weigong Shilang picked up his soy milk and fried dough sticks, sighing: "Soggy. Can't even enjoy it."

He walked toward the desk, slurping down the breakfast prop.

"If you're not going to eat the bread, I'm taking it."

Irena scanned the room, then reluctantly slid off the bed.

"Eat up and get out. You loli freak! Don't go doing weird stuff to my doppelgänger!"

"Honestly, I don't want to sit at the same table as Song Shuhang, Xiao Yan, or Weigong Shilang."

Weigong Shilang waved his hand, crossed his legs casually, and said:

"Where are you going? You haven't forgotten what you did, have you? I can't even go home now!"

Hearing this, Irena studied him suspiciously, clearly not understanding a word he meant.

Weigong Shilang clicked his tongue and tossed his phone onto the table.

Irena picked it up—the contact label read "Mom," and a long string of chat logs filled the screen.

"The kid told me everything about you two!"

"Even if you won't tell me about those godlike things, why won't you tell me about your child?!"

"As parents—even if you weren't grown up back then—you still owe your child basic responsibility!"

"Why aren't you replying?! Come home right now! The kid doesn't even recognize you two anymore!"

【Twenty messages omitted】

"Forget it, don't come back! You didn't even tell me this place was owned by your friends! Today, they're treating us to lunch."

"Take care of my daughter-in-law—I'll look after the kid!"

"Weigong Shilang," Irena said, spreading jam on a slice of bread, "are you a scumbag? To do something like this—and your partner's just as irresponsible. I feel so sorry for your future child."

Weigong Shilang: ""

Without speaking, he glanced at the full battery icon on his phone, then initiated a video call.

Not long after, the call connected.

On screen, a lavish private dining room, laden with food and snacks. A little girl with gray-white hair and violet-blue eyes happily ate an ice cream cone.

She looked at the screen, squinted, smirked dismissively, then stuck out her tongue.

Hmm—there were also several familiar figures dressed as chefs and waitstaff, secretly giving thumbs-up from behind.

When I get back, I'll kill all of you.

Weigong Shilang smiled warmly, made a friendly gesture toward his neck, then the camera suddenly shifted to his parents' side.

"On the pillow you—

Before his mother could finish, Weigong Shilang covered one ear and ended the call, then cast a Clarification Spell and a Blessing to sharpen Irena's mind, enhancing her memory and clarity.

Explanation was useless now. Though running away was shameful, it worked.

"Remember now?"

"I remember a little. Just a little."

After a long silence, Yi Leina bit into a slice of bread and turned her head away; Su Lin picked up the bowl of tofu pudding drenched in chili oil and began eating without expression.

When Su Lin finished breakfast and stood to leave, Yi Leina whispered, so faintly it was barely audible: "Sorry."

"Too quiet."

"Sorry!"

Yi Leina lowered her head, clutching her clothes.

"Oh, so you were saying sorry?" Su Lin pulled out his phone and opened the camera, pointing it at the girl: "Say it again?"

Yi Leina visibly sank into gloom—her memories were nearly fully restored, and many of the events in between had indeed been caused by her.

"I'm sorry—"

"Thank you."

Su Lin cut her off, put down his phone, and smiled: "Thanks for showing up. I'll take the food now."

Who is this person who so contradicts my impression?

Yi Leina froze for a moment, then realized he had already pushed open the door and left.

Countless grimoires were neatly categorized and arranged; the architecture bore a Western style, with a dome of colorful stained glass.

Changed into new clothes and stockings, Yi Leina walked toward the library's core area, pondering how to retrieve the Yi Leina who had been given the Youth Restoration Pill.

"These two are getting more and more—"

"Perverted."

"That's why love-struck fools are unwise."

"If we don't leave soon, we'll get poisoned too."

"We might even be forcibly tied to bed. Love is just too terrifying."

"Actually, it's not that bad. I just took a photography job, and that guy Su Lin gave me five magic books—he was quite generous."

"The power of money is terrifying! The person who took the Youth Restoration Pill even got an extra one."

Whispered conversations buzzed around her ears; she'd heard this kind of talk before, so she chose to ignore it.

"Next time, I'll trade half a month's salary for one magic book."

As she said this, she glanced again at the chat group—and to her surprise, the conversation was unusually normal.

For instance, Tony Stark was asking someone for the essence of Tai Chi, hoping to create a program that could be directly loaded.

Weigong Shilang entrusted Song Shuhang to convey his thanks to Bie Xue Xianji; the recipe was usable.

Zhongli and Bai Zunzhe had gained something in the Cycle Space, and combined with remnants they'd acquired during their time in the Journey to the West world, they wished to accompany Bai Zunzhe to a Time Mystical Realm in Song Shuhang's world.

In short, this situation was like the calm before the storm.

Feeling this way, Yi Leina shook her head and went to her private spot: a lush garden atop the highest platform.

There, a troublesome person already sat in her designated place, sipping coffee under an unknown source of bright light, flipping through a grimoire.

"You haven't left yet?" Yi Leina asked.

She had assumed he had already gone.

"What do you think I'd experience if I went back now?" Su Lin asked without turning his head.

Can't you return to Shuijing Peak, or the Origin, or Ling Mountain, or the Hall, or Heaven?

Remembering this man's multiple identities, even the well-traveled Witch Young Lady felt a wave of dizziness.

Yi Leina walked over and sat across from him, sighing helplessly that her private, tranquil space had been borrowed.

"Aren't you close to mastering self-study? Don't you feel ashamed to beg God for magic lessons?"

You need to separate work from life to be happy. Besides, even Song Shuhang, who became the Dao, still asked Bai Zunzhe for spells. What's wrong with me slacking off?"

No rebuttal possible.

After all, there was precedent.

"By the way, why didn't you continue?" Su Lin closed the grimoire in his hand and looked at her.

Yi Leina glanced at Su Lin, looking confused: "Continue what?"

"The attitude you had when I went to your place the day before yesterday. Honestly, if you hadn't revealed your monkey nature yesterday, I'd still be struggling over how to reject a girl."

"Arrogant jerk."

Yi Leina was annoyed.

If he were a stranger or someone she could ignore, fine—but every time he came to learn magic, he acted like this.

After thinking for a moment, as if making a decision, Yi Leina suppressed her shame, clasped her hands together, and spoke in a tone thick with "otaku" flavor: "Ah, you like me like that? If you want, I'm always available."

"Miss Kelaien's cursed mouth scared you, didn't it?" Su Lin smiled faintly, rested his elbow on his thigh, and propped his chin as he studied her.

"Of course, if a self-absorbed, foul-mouthed, scheming, freeloading, lazy, greedy, seduction-seeking trash witch like you actually turned into that, I might just go along with it."

Yi Leina clenched her teeth, veins bulging on her forehead, forcing a smile: "I wonder which two-life virgin otaku panicked and tried to run away the day before yesterday? You're all talk."

But after retorting, she sensed something was off.

"How did you know?"

That submissive, or rather self-sabotaging, demeanor was deliberately faked by her to make Su Lin deliberately avoid her.

Obviously not—I don't believe you're secretly in love with me.

Though Su Lin was indeed a rare high-quality male human across countless worlds, handsome in appearance, and with his hidden cultivation charm gradually unfolding.

Su Lin snorted: "You still believe that guy's cursed mouth?"

Stare—

Facing his cold gaze, Su Lin's smile slowly faded, his voice devoid of any emotion: "I admit—even I must hold him in awe."

"You've become Lord Haotian already!" Yi Leina slammed her fist on the table. "If this keeps up, swallowing other universes is the least of my problems—my lifelong happiness is in serious trouble!"

And it was all terribly wrong—only when she snapped back to awareness did Yi Leina realize everything she'd experienced over the past two days was utterly off.

Not only had she failed to create distance from that guy, but to outsiders, it looked—

Fortunately, her parents hadn't misunderstood; her mother's insight was as sharp as ever.

Yi Leina exhaled in relief and continued: "Anyway, think of a solution—this kind of thing is terrifying!"

"Am I really that repulsive to you?" Su Lin suddenly slumped, dejected.

In an instant, Yi Leina remembered what the woman named Liu Ruyan had said, and grew flustered.

"No, not that—I mean, it's not like that. You know me—I'm not into this kind of thing. You'll definitely find someone better! Look at those Yi Leinas!"

"No, honestly, I also think that cursed mouth of his is troublesome." Su Lin pulled out the Tianqing Yu Xu Sword from his system inventory:

"Since obtaining the position of Hun Tian Di, I've felt—I don't know how to put it—that the next seal can be broken. I should give him a quick end."

"Still, spare his life," Yi Leina said after an internal struggle.

"Is that so?" Su Lin pondered. He saw no alternative except silencing him—but even if he silenced him, the top of the Gou family might still survive.

Eventually, the scene returned to how it had been moments ago.

"Aren't you afraid I'll just accept my fate?" Yi Leina looked at Su Lin, puzzled, then stepped back slightly. "Of course, if you're truly obsessed with the Gray Witch, I can understand."

"To everyone's eyes, she's a beautiful girl—whether man or woman, being captivated by her is only natural, possessing beauty so exquisite—

that across countless worlds, she is unmatched."

She placed her right hand over her chest and smiled lightly:

"Yes, it's me."

Su Lin rolled his eyes—at least White Zunzhe—

He fell silent suddenly, then clenched his fist and tapped his forehead gently, trying to crush that intrusive thought.

Anything else would be fine, but this kind of thought must not arise—what if next time the draw fails?

"You're overthinking," Su Lin raised his head and said helplessly. "I just know you're not the type to accept fate."

"Really?" Yi Leina was surprised.

Su Lin nodded slightly, lifted the cup of coffee still warm, and said: "If you gave up because of that cursed mouth, you wouldn't be you."

"You never accept things you dislike—you find a way to overcome even the greatest obstacles, just like when you first wanted to become a witch. You endured every hardship until you reached your goal."

"Besides, what you want is to travel and see more scenery, right?"

Hearing this, Yi Leina nodded in surprise: "You really understand me."

She truly wouldn't abandon her path just because Kleine's cursed mouth was too accurate.

"After all, I've watched anime before, and your profile is everywhere."

"As I expected."

But those weren't complete—they were only fragments shown through various media.

"And through years of interaction, I've sensed your stubbornness is consistent in every aspect." Su Lin gazed at the coffee's surface, reflecting a colorful dome:

"But putting your mind on this matter is completely unnecessary—after all, that guy's mouth isn't powerful enough to alter someone's will."

Though it's already exaggerated enough now.

From doubt, to awe, to "this boy must not be allowed to live"—it took only a few words.

Yi Leina felt Su Lin was right. After calming down and reflecting, she realized her actions had been somewhat superfluous.

"Besides, in the movie script, you're obsessed with me—are you obsessed with me?"

In response, Su Lin received a look of disdain.

"Then there you go," Su Lin shook his head and smiled. "Just be yourself. If you love traveling, go see more scenery and record it in your notebook. If you dislike a predetermined fate, say so outright—don't bottle everything up."

"By the way, I, Gu Tianwang, operate 24/7. Looks alone won't move me, so you can save your effort. Even if you're dragged to a wedding altar tomorrow, you won't give up trying to change your fate."

By the way, I, Gu Tianwang, operate 24/7; looks alone won't move me, so save your effort—you won't abandon your plan to change your fate even if you're dragged to the altar tomorrow.

Su Lin paused here, pointed to the clones idly killing time in the library below, and chuckled: "You're a bit of a tsundere, though you're less obvious than them."

"So those fifteen guys can't be the protagonist," Yi Leina crossed her arms. "What's wrong with having no personality? It means you're adaptable."

Su Lin's expression remained calm: "So, are you still troubled by that unwanted future?"

Yi Leina blinked, then slowly shook her head: "No."

"I've been a psychologist for over a decade. Counseling a stubborn girl like you is child's play." Su Lin placed the untouched coffee cup on the table before her: "Don't force yourself to do those things. Don't continue as you did the past two days. To me, you—right now—are the Yi Leina I know."

The coffee's surface rippled, forming a milky-white pattern: a witch riding a broom.

There's no need to deliberately do those things, or to keep going as you did the past two days, because to me, this version of you is the Yi Leina I know.

"By the way, this consultation fee, plus the cost of your last wand, will be deducted from your dividends at Ye Zhetian Corporation."

As Su Lin's figure dissolved, a magic bullet pierced the sofa he'd been sitting on—

By the way, the fee for this consultation, along with the cost of your previous wand, will be deducted from your dividends at Ye Zhetian Corporation.

As Su Lin's figure dissolved, a magic bullet struck the chair he had been sitting on.

Frustrated, she tore open a dimensional rift, tracked Su Lin's location, and saw him atop a skyscraper, facing the sea of clouds and rising sun, each hand gripping a man by the throat, dangling them over the railing.

"Ugh—"

Feeling inexplicably irritated, she slashed open a dimensional rift, tracked Su Lin's location, and saw him atop a skyscraper, facing the sea of clouds and the rising sun, each hand gripping a man by the throat, dangling them over the railing.

In his left hand: Lu Mingfei, face twisted in terror, desperate to live.

"Yi Leina, what's up?" Su Lin turned his head, smiling brighter than ever.

I was going to say that.

"Yi Leina, is something the matter?" Su Lin turned his head, his smile more radiant than ever.

That was what he had intended to say.

But there were simply too many pieces of information and too many price numbers for buying their lives.

Yi Leina hesitated for a moment, then said: "I need to speak with both of them."

Su Lin brought the two back from the rooftop, gently setting them down on the ground, and tidied their clothing one by one.

"Choose between taking photos in a little dress or the latest version of the Gospel Stele."

"Of course, you may also choose your own love stories—I promise to be only an audience."

After leaving behind a terrifying threat, Su Lin's figure vanished once more.

Yi Leina was not in a good position to chase after him now.

"Are you really not considering it?" Lu Mingfei snapped out of his despair: "I feel it would be better if someone could rein him in!"

"He enjoys chaos and has no humanity, but he's still a good boy," Kleine said with a long smile. "At least he hasn't killed me yet."

"If I had to pick one to avoid dying from that curse that kills you if you don't choose a man, I'd pick him," Yi Leina smirked.

"Alright," Lu Mingfei shrugged, slinging an arm around Kleine's shoulder. "Let's go have a drink—to celebrate surviving today."

"What about the choice?" Kleine said. "I feel getting killed once would be easier."

Watching the two walk away—especially Lu Mingfei—Yi Leina suddenly remembered something, and took a photograph from her fixed extradimensional space:

"Lu Mingfei, here's your photo back."

Lu Mingfei turned to look at her, and froze completely in place.

Kleine's pupils shrank, his body tensed like a cat on high alert.

"How did it end up with you?" Lu Mingfei's throat bobbed. "Are you sure I gave it to you?"

"When Stark first joined the group, after we drank on the planet Su Lin created, you tried to sell me on Su Lin—I refused, and you shoved it into my hands. Don't you remember?"

Yi Leina studied Lu Mingfei and said: "Don't do anything to betray Hui Liyi! Even though this girl is indeed the most beautiful I've ever seen."

Yi Leina glanced again, stepped forward, and handed the photo back to Lu Mingfei.

"Why did you only remember now?" Lu Mingfei forced out a grim smile. "I've been searching for it for ages."

"I can't recall what happened after I got drunk last night—Su Lin cast a spell on me that made me relive all my past memories."

Yi Leina found Lu Mingfei's expression too strange, and Kleine seemed odd too; just as he reached for the photo, she snatched her hand back:

"Who is it? Otherwise, I'll ask Su Lin and the others."

She was an entity of sacred, untouchable grace—any praise before her would pale into insignificance; though her eyes stared blankly ahead, like a doll's.

Yet in that frozen moment, an unprecedented etherealness and divinity formed a breathtaking work of art.

Several spirit worms writhed on Kleine's face, struggling to escape; he pressed his gloved right hand down on them. "Eliminate the others."

"What?" Yi Leina didn't catch on.

"Once, we captured a historical projection whose body contained the Divine Principle of Light; though its original escaped—"

During the period between deferred and immediate execution, Mr. Fool chose the deferred option.

He had a hunch that if this got out, he'd inevitably be dragged down by Lu Mingfei.

But as he spoke, Kleine noticed something odd: "Why is your face so red?"

"Nothing," he muttered. "It's just… this strange feeling—emotions I can't name, merging with Su Lin's annoying face. Not good… this feeling…"

Drip… drip…

"Why are you bleeding from your nose?" Lu Mingfei tried to pull the photo back.

The moment he reached out, the witch vanished without a trace.

. mayiwsk