Chapter 901: I Who Exist for You 37

Throughout the conversation, Yishen was the one listening almost all the time.

Number Two had a lot to say today, but Yishen was only interested in the origin of Huacishu.

"Huacishu is a natural-born creator; he initially cooperated with the Time Exchange, gaining the ability to turn written stories into an illusionary realm indistinguishable from reality."

"He has hidden himself in the illusionary realm he created; centuries have passed, yet we still cannot rival him."

"That's why the director fears him so much; the ability granted to Huacishu has now nearly brought about the downfall of the Time Exchange."

Yishen, upon hearing this, already understood why Number Two had summoned him.

"You want to use me to deal with Huacishu."

Number Two spoke bluntly: "Do you think you're allied with Huacishu? Yes, you share the same goal—both of you want to overthrow the Exchange—but don't forget, Jin Chen is now in the illusionary realm; it's not just our plan."

"Jin Chen is in the illusionary realm..."

Yishen couldn't believe it, sat up straight, his indifferent eyes fixed on Number Two: "Wasn't he sent by you into the in-book world?"

Number Two listened, found Yishen's expression amusing, looked away toward the window, and gave an irrelevant answer.

"Zhu Yan is also a creation of Huacishu's pen, born from the illusionary realm, not even human; Zhu Yan bewitched me, fell in love with me, merely to infiltrate the Time Exchange and fulfill Huacishu's revenge against it."

"So, Jin Chen didn't return to the book; he was merely taken into the illusionary realm."

Having said this, Number Two turned his gaze to meet Yishen's eyes again, each word like a pearl.

"You too have been affected, haven't you? Who would think their lived world is a novel? If not resolved, you too will enter the illusionary realm."

Yishen remained silent, lowering his gaze without speaking.

He now can't tell whose words are true.

Think about it carefully; since the moment Jin Chen disappeared, he has indeed begun to be severed from this world.

And the source of all this is that suddenly appearing document.

After a moment of silence, Yishen looked again at Number Two, his tone still calm.

"Your demand."

Number Two: "I am no longer considered human; I rely on life points to survive, cannot enter the illusionary realm, and I only wish to see Zhu Yan."

Yishen: "……"

He finally realized, shocked and angry: "So you deliberately let Jin Chen enter the illusionary realm, hiding it from the Exchange, just to demonstrate? Are you sick?"

"You have no choice: either cooperate with me, and I'll help you find Huacishu—you also have the talent for story creation—and after obtaining Huacishu's brush, you assist me in entering the illusionary realm."

"Or else, you will never be able to see Jin Chen."

0731 sighed in admiration, shaking his head with a tsk.

What a shameless person.

After thinking, Yishen feigned agreement but put forward conditions.

"First give me Huacishu's location, in case I cannot obtain the means to enter the illusionary realm from him."

"You can, as long as you complete Huacishu's trial."

Number Two finished speaking and reported a string of addresses.

——

Yishen returned once more to that ruined temple.

This time his state of mind was completely different; he was no longer afraid, and upon seeing the old monk, he could roughly connect everything.

"You are Huacishu."

Yishen stood beside him, tone resolute.

"Long time no see, benefactor."

Huacishu seemed to have anticipated this long ago, changing his appearance in Yishen's presence.

This was his original appearance after drifting in the illusionary realm for several centuries.

It had nothing to do with ugliness; it was merely hard to see that this was actually a human appearance.

Under the continual compression of the timeline, Huacishu's body had become strangely shapeless, his features shifted and altered, resembling the grotesque demonic figures often used in fairy tales.

Yishen watched, expression unchanging.

"Your reaction is interesting; don't you find me frightening?"

Huacishu himself cared greatly about this appearance; once he took this form, the calm and kindness belonging to the old monk's visage vanished, leaving only obsession and faint madness.

"Come to think of it, you should thank me—I've helped you a lot, haven't I?"

Yishen shook his head, completely unmoved by his words: "You're not helping me; you just want to deal with the Time Exchange."

"But your ability is already this strong; you could handle it alone—why drag Jin Chen into it?"

"Who made us share the same ability?" Huacishu laughed hysterically, eyes wild with excitement: "You don't know how thrilled I was when I learned that Jin Chen was a character you personally created."

"I've lived for several centuries; finally I've met my kind."

"Your Fortune Value will surely be coveted by the Time Exchange; I know that, so I've helped you many times, and now it's your turn to repay me."

Yishen gripped his dagger warily: "What do you want to do?"

"I want to make a deal with you."

Huacishu suddenly stopped laughing, stared at Yishen with a blank face: "I want your identity in the real world, and you… you will fulfill your wish in the illusionary realm I created, staying forever with Jin Chen."

"Isn't this what you yourself want—to live in the world you wrote, where you have everything you need?"

Yishen only found it absurd.

In his plain brows and eyes, his feelings grew cold; even the pitiful, laughable Huacishu.

"Your resentment toward the Time Exchange is understandable, but you have never been a victim."

"You are now just like a madman."

"What do you know? I've long been mad!" Huacishu jumped to his feet, his expression grotesque, like a demon from an abstract painting: "I helped you—why won't you repay me! As long as I can see the Time Exchange destroyed, I don't care what price I have to pay!"

He clung to Yishen, almost drooling, his eyes mad and obsessive.

"As long as I obtain your identity, I can push my creative ability to the extreme, and then I can drive the whole Time Exchange into the Illusory Realm! I have waited several hundred years, finally waiting for someone like you—how could I let you go?"

Yishen retreated half a step, his gaze cold, as if looking at a clown.

"If you try to approach, you'll fall badly, unable to get up."

Pa-da!

Huacishu suddenly collapsed onto the ground, his face straight toward the earth.

He was unwilling to give up, baring his teeth and claws as he lunged toward Yishen.

Yishen wore a mocking smile, coldly watching Huacishu fall in various fancy ways.

Without Jin Chen by his side, he seemed to have nothing left to fear; even the nightmares and death that once troubled him became fearless.

Everyone wanted to tease him, but no one could influence his choice.