Chapter 599: I Don't Believe It (23)

And these eyes, filled with divinity... came from Ren Yidao's future.

That was his future self.

Even though he was staring at his past self at this moment, he looked on as if at blades of grass, without the slightest ripple.

"So, have you already forgotten all of this?"

Ren Yidao felt a sense of emotion, and for a moment, he actually felt a bit of melancholy and confusion.

"What exactly happened in the future where 'you' are, that would actually make 'you' lose your self?"

Who could have imagined that his initial absurd feeling was actually correct.

His future self was not an existence that "resembled" an ancient god, but had truly transformed into an indescribable being without a self.

It could even be said that there was a feeling of assimilating with the rules, completely losing the self.

That gaze cast from the future was merely instinctively pursuing the person who was peeking at him...

Becoming an Incarnation of the Heavenly Dao? Merging with the Dao?

Ren Yidao could not guess the specific state, as with his current realm, he had no way to infer what had happened in the future.

Ren Yidao's mood was somewhat heavy.

At this moment, he could not imagine at all what kind of future it would take to make him make such a choice, to make him willing to make such a sacrifice.

Ren Yidao was not a savior.

If there were other choices, he would certainly not make this choice that was akin to sacrifice.

So...

What kind of situation and despair must it be for me to choose to abandon my self?

In that future, what on earth happened?

In the future, could it really be that dark?

"..."

Ren Yidao looked with a heavy heart at the giant eyes that had actually appeared from the very beginning and had silently followed him the entire way.

After a long while, he suddenly laughed.

"... No, perhaps it hasn't reached that level of darkness." After feeling down for a while, Ren Yidao quickly cheered up again.

Yes.

Perhaps it had not yet reached the worst-case scenario.

All of his previous assumptions were based on the premise that the matter of "losing the self" was irreversible.

If, suppose if, the "self" could be recovered, then the situation would be completely different.

It would change from a forbidden option that "would absolutely not be done" to a risky possibility that "has certain risks, but is still acceptable."

"Right, it shouldn't be too late yet." The more Ren Yidao thought about it, the more he felt this idea was highly probable.

Because this gaze cast from the future at this moment proved exactly this point.

"As expected of me, even this hasn't made me give up; the tenacious instinct hasn't let go of a single opportunity."

Although he had already lost his self, he had not missed this opportunity and was instinctively watching the memories of his past.

He had not given up yet.

He was attempting to recover his self through this method!

He... no, I have not given up yet!

"Still as expected of me, to actually be able to provide an assist to my future self."

Upon realizing what his future self was doing, Ren Yidao laughed heartily.

So that was how it was!

"You are me, and I am you; if these things of mine at this moment can help you find your self again, then feel free to take them."

Ren Yidao completely opened his heart, letting his memories, emotions, and humanity all surge toward the eyes in the sky.

Boom!!!

The moment they made contact with that humanity, the giant eyes showed a change for the first time.

The pupils trembled slightly, and every seemingly light tremor made the entire pure white space tremble violently, appearing with huge cracks.

Crack, crack, crack—

In just a moment, the entire space seemed about to completely collapse and shatter.

Yet Ren Yidao, who was inside it, did not have any panic; instead, the corners of his mouth curled up even more obviously.

He knew.

He had bet correctly.

The greatest nemesis of divinity is humanity.

Watching the radiance of humanity leaping up in those eyes like a prairie fire, Ren Yidao chuckled and winked at it.

"My future self, wake up quickly."

He said:

"How can you sleep at this age?"

The giant eyes closed completely, and in the next instant, they snapped open.

Boom!

The entire space was torn apart directly, and everything, including Ren Yidao, turned into powder.

And at the very end as his consciousness dissipated, Ren Yidao saw the radiance contained within those eyes—it was a scorching emotion more brilliant than the blazing sun!

And then...

Ren Yidao woke up.

……

"Are you awake?"

"Hmm?"

Ren Yidao woke from his unconscious state, slowly opened his eyes, blinked as he looked at the half-sky above his head, pondered for a moment, and then realized, "Oh, it's little Yu!"

With such dazzling scenery, I actually thought Jing Yueqin had come.

He was just about to rise and sit up, but was gently pressed back down by Yu Yu's jade finger against the center of his brow.

That force was not significant to him, but for the young girl exerting it, this finger had used quite a bit of strength.

She was angry.

Having figured this out, Ren Yidao did not resist, obediently fell back to his original spot following the force, and continued to be cushioned by that softness.

"Uh... what's wrong?"

Ren Yidao blinked, first asking weakly, then using his peripheral vision to scan his surroundings.

He discovered that everyone else was busy with their own affairs on the other side—some reading, some practicing, some daydreaming, some supervising—as if for a moment everyone had their own tasks to do, and none of them were paying attention to this side.

What happened?

Ren Yidao felt the atmosphere was off, but couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong, and in the end, he could only cast his gaze upon the only young girl who seemed to have nothing to do.

Yu Yu pursed her little lips, her eyes, which were usually fond of smiling, were slightly widened, and her beautiful brows were knitted together, as if she had many things she wanted to say.

Ren Yidao had never seen her with such a face before; he initially found it somewhat novel, but once he thought that the person who made her angry was likely himself, he became honest again.

Obedient. jpg

Seeing Ren Yidao's obedient appearance, Yu Yu's pursed lips moved, her attitude softened somewhat, and after a long silence, she whispered, "You scared me."

Ren Yidao blinked, but still asked quietly, "... What are you referring to?"

Huhu, I can accept judgment, but first tell me, what exactly did I do wrong?

"……Sigh."

Having spent so much time together, Yu Yu already understood what kind of personality her Foster Father and Senior Brother had, so she spoke helplessly: "Running off on your own without saying a word, not returning for a long time, and then being unconscious the moment you return."

Yu Yu looked at the somewhat embarrassed Ren Yidao and said with a straight face, "Don't you think this is a bit excessive?"

Too bad.

Family, I've been lectured by my foster daughter and Junior Sister.

"Uh..."

Ren Yidao originally wanted to quibble a bit, but looking at the pouting Yu Yu, he finally followed his inner will, honestly lowered his head to admit his mistake, "Master Yu's lecture is correct, it is this commoner's fault, I will never dare to do it again, please be magnanimous and let this commoner go."

If you make a mistake, you must admit it, correct it, and not repeat it next time.

This is definitely not being cowardly.

Although Ren Yidao's words of apology were a bit off-key, seeing that his attitude was quite upright, Yu Yu accepted his apology.

She was a young girl who was easy to coax; she didn't need much.

An attitude, a promise, was enough.

And even when she was angry, Yu Yu had never done anything excessive, and had even kept the culprit resting on her lap the whole time.

"Please don't do such things again." Yu Yu's palm landed on Ren Yidao's cheek, stroking it gently.

Such an action was somewhat stimulating for Yu Yu, and she had never done anything similar before, but perhaps because of this accident, she finally gathered the courage.

Ren Yidao's eyes widened slightly, then quickly returned to calm, letting her stroke him, and replied, "Hmm."

"Please don't leave without permission again."

Feeling the warmth from her fingertips, Yu Yu's attitude softened further, whispering in a voice that seemed almost to melt, "I am not stopping you from doing anything; I know you have more important things to do, but you must tell us the time you will return."

"I, we will not stop you, but we don't want to wait like this in total ignorance... it is too agonizing."

She could wait, and was willing to wait.

But a wait with no end in sight was still a bit too cruel for Yu Yu.

Ren Yidao raised his eyes, looking at the determination in the young girl's eyes, and nodded gently.

"Hmm."

"Next time, I will let you know what I am going to do, what risks I might encounter, and when I will return; I will tell you, I will tell all of you."

He slowly sat up, this time not being stopped, gently took the young girl's hand, placed it on his chest, and whispered, "I will definitely keep my promise, I guarantee it to you."

The young girl turned her head, avoiding his calm yet burning gaze, revealing a neck that had turned pink from shyness, and nodded gently.

"Hmm."

……

"I didn't expect you to be so honest this time, you actually agreed; I thought you would find a way to brush her off!" Yaoyue looked at Ren Yidao with some curiosity and teased, "With your skills, you could do it, right?"

"I could do it, it's very simple, they are easy to fool... but I won't do that." Ren Yidao raised his eyes, glanced at his Master sitting beside him, and shook his head, "Being able to do it is one thing, but whether or not to do it is another; even before, I only kept them from knowing about those dangers, and never chose to deliberately deceive them."

"Hmph, there's no difference between those two points." Yaoyue curled her lip, thinking he was sophistry.

"There are still some differences; well, although avoiding the topic and deceiving the heavens don't differ much in terms of results."

Hmm?

Seeing her disciple so honest and with such low aggression today, Yaoyue was suddenly curious: "What happened? Why did you suddenly make such a change?"

What happened?

Can I say that I just saw my future self and then infused him with some humanity?

Ren Yidao felt somewhat melancholy, did not say those things, shook his head and said, "Nothing, just suddenly thought, if one day... if I really have to make you wait for a very, very long time, I should still tell you in advance."

If that kind of future really happens...

Hearing Ren Yidao's words, Yaoyue's brows furrowed tightly; she sensed some unusual emotions and pressed, "What do you mean by that? Do you want to go to a very far place alone?"

"A very far place... perhaps you could say that?"

Ren Yidao imagined the special state he might be in in the future; it wouldn't be much different from leaving this world, "However, who can say for sure what the future holds? I am merely hypothesizing a possibility... eh?"

As Ren Yidao was being evasive, his head was suddenly turned to the side, forced to look directly at Yaoyue.

"What are you afraid of?"

"... No, I am not afraid."

Ren Yidao wanted to turn his head away, but Yaoyue would not let go; she leaned in, staring straight into the depths of his eyes, for she had clearly seen a shadow there just a moment ago.

"Then tell me, what exactly happened before you lost consciousness?"

"... I, ha!" Ren Yidao looked at the bright eyes so close at hand, looking at the worry contained within them, and finally admitted defeat; he stopped resisting and let out a sigh.

"I am afraid that one day, you all will no longer be important in my eyes, afraid that you will become just like the common masses in my eyes... I am afraid that one day, I will no longer be myself."

Ren Yidao sighed in a low voice, speaking of a vast shadow that no one could understand and that he could not tell anyone about.

Humanity, self.

Divinity, selflessness.

He was unwilling to become that kind of existence one day.

"..." After hearing Ren Yidao's words, which were almost a sigh, Yaoyue narrowed her eyes slightly, carefully sensing his emotions.

"I'm fine, there are just some things I need to think about; let me think by myself."

He did not collapse, nor was he in despair.

He was just a little exhausted.

As long as he was given a little more time, he could adjust his state of mind, hide everything in the depths of his Heart Star, and bear and digest it all alone.

As long as a little more time passed, he would be the lawless little fox in her memories, the one who even harbored ambitions toward her.

As long as...

"Hmph." Yaoyue let out a soft huff, a thought flashing through her mind.

He wants to bear it all by himself?

I refuse!

How could I let you have your way every time?

No way!

She had her own way of doing things!

Thus, Yaoyue did not loosen her hand pressed against Ren Yidao's cheek, but instead pressed it tighter, then leaned forward.

Mwah.

"Seriously, if you just let me be alone for a moment, I'll... mmph!!?"

!!?

In the instant everything happened, Ren Yidao didn't even react to what had occurred; his brain simply crashed, and he was completely stunned.

Then, after he reacted...

He was even more stunned.

Ah?

No, brother... ah?

"How about now?"

Yaoyue was very satisfied with her disciple's reaction; she stood up with a smile, pinched his cheek lightly, and said leisurely: "Do you still think I am the same as the others? Will you treat me as one of the common masses?"

"I·don't·believe·it~"

Ren Yidao had been dazed for a while; he widened his eyes, looking at the cunning eyes so close at hand, and then looked at those moist lips.

Did she just...

Did she just molest me?

Can I call someone to have her arrested now?

While thinking this, Ren Yidao unexpectedly grabbed her wrist and gave it a light tug.

"Eh eh eh!? Mmph!!!"

Indeed...

She was right.

Huhu cannot do it.