After revealing that shocking secret, the sadness and resolve on Yue Lan’s face slowly faded away, and she once again donned that gentle and holy mask.
She even gave Aoki a shy, faint smile—so different from the woman who had just uncovered the secrets of the world.
“Aoki-oniisan,” her voice was soft, with an almost unnoticeable stickiness, “about the things in the past… I was blinded by fear and obsession. I imprisoned you, used the wrong medicine on you… I’ve always regretted it.”
She lowered her head slightly, her hands nervously twisting the hem of her Saintess’ robe, her lashes trembling lightly, looking like she might burst into tears—a pitiful sight that would tug at anyone’s heartstrings. “Can you… forgive me? I was just… too afraid to lose you.”
This sudden “repentance” and “fondness” made Aoki sneer inwardly. Yandere will always be yandere; even wrapped in holy vestments, the paranoia and possessiveness deep in her bones couldn’t be completely hidden. Behind her seemingly sincere apology, that flash of almost greedy possessiveness in her eyes did not escape his notice.
But he did not expose her. With the threat of the Demon King’s Army still looming, Yue Lan still wielded considerable influence within the Allied Forces as the Saintess, and she seemed to know more secrets about the “world.” Burning bridges now would not be wise.
“The past is past. Let it go,” Aoki replied calmly, neither warm nor distant. “For now, dealing with the Demon King’s Army comes first.”
Yue Lan lifted her head, a trace of disappointment flashing in her eyes, quickly replaced by a perfectly gentle smile. “You’re right. We’ll fight side by side, won’t we?” She leaned in slightly, as if wanting to get closer, and a cool fragrance, the kind found only in church halls, drifted over.
Just then, the tent flap was lifted by a slender, gloved hand—black leather, every finger well-defined. Nongli’s tall figure appeared at the entrance. She still wore her sleek black dress, her nine fox tails hanging quietly behind her, and her red eyes swept over the two of them before finally landing on Yue Lan.
“Saintess Yue Lan,” Nongli’s voice betrayed no emotion, yet carried an invisible pressure, “the Allied Command is holding an emergency meeting to discuss the next phase of attack. Please come immediately.”
Her entrance shattered the ambiguous mood Yue Lan had been trying to create. Yue Lan stiffened almost imperceptibly, a tiny crack appearing in her flawless smile. She glanced at Nongli, a hint of wariness and displeasure flickering in her eyes, but quickly recovered.
“I understand.” Yue Lan stood up, giving Aoki a slight nod. “Aoki, let’s talk again later.” With that, she followed Nongli out of the quiet chamber. As she passed Nongli, their eyes met briefly, and it felt as if invisible sparks shot through the air.
Aoki watched them go, clear in his understanding. This so-called “emergency meeting” Nongli spoke of was probably just an excuse. She had been secretly keeping an eye on Yue Lan, guarding against the possibility that this seemingly “reformed” Saintess might do something out of line to Aoki again. This silent protection stood in subtle contrast to the distance she showed on the surface. She claimed their bond was finished, but her actions still kept him safe from the shadows.
*****
Allied Command Tent.
At the massive sand table, the main commanders and core figures of the Allied Forces had gathered. The newly appointed Hero, Lin Qiyou, stood at the center. Her injuries seemed to have healed; her eyes were sharp again, regaining the confidence and calm unique to the strong. At her side was Aoki, now serving as the Hero’s strategist.
Nongli and Yue Lan sat on either side—one expressionless, the other gentle and smiling—a sharp contrast. Little Ya, representing the Halflings and as a talented supporting priest, was also present.
“According to the latest scout report, the main force of the Demon King’s Army has withdrawn to the ‘Bone Fortress’ along the Blackstone Mountains.” Lin Qiyou pointed to a distinctive black fortress model on the sand table, her voice clear and steady. “The fortress sits on treacherous ground, easy to defend and hard to attack, and is protected by a powerful barrier of darkness. A frontal assault would be too costly.”
Everyone in the tent wore grim expressions.
Aoki studied the sand table, thoughts racing. He combined his memories of the original timeline with an analysis of the current situation and spoke up, “A direct attack is indeed unwise. There’s been recent turmoil within the Demon King’s Army; their offensive is weakening. This is our opportunity. I suggest we use the strategy of ‘openly repairing the plank road while secretly crossing the Chen Cang*.’”
All eyes turned to him.
“The Hero, Lin Qiyou, leads the main force to feign an assault on the Bone Fortress, drawing the Demon King’s Army’s attention and primary force.” Aoki traced a line across the sand table. “Meanwhile, we send an elite squad to infiltrate from the flank—through the ‘Mist Gorge.’ The terrain there is complex, monsters are relatively sparse, and the barrier is at its weakest. The squad’s goal is to slip inside, sabotage the fortress’s core energy source, or… directly decapitate the Demon King’s Army’s commander.”
“Mist Gorge?” a human general frowned. “That area is treacherous, and rumor has it there are spatial rifts—it’s extremely dangerous!”
“Risk comes with reward,” Aoki replied coolly. “It’s exactly because it’s dangerous that the Demon King’s Army overlooks it. We need a squad strong and agile enough to succeed.”
His gaze swept the room, finally landing on Nongli and Lin Qiyou.
“I propose that I, the Hero Lin Qiyou, Special Envoy Nongli, and Little Ya form this infiltration team,” Aoki said. “Lin Qiyou will lead the frontal feint to draw fire, Nongli is skilled in illusions and stealth to aid the squad’s infiltration, Little Ya’s holy magic can restrain demons and provide healing support, and I’ll handle tactical planning and contingencies.”
The suggestion triggered a flurry of whispers in the tent. Sending the Hero and her core team on such a dangerous mission was a bold move.
Lin Qiyou barely hesitated before nodding. “Agreed. I’ll make sure to keep the feint in check.”
Nongli lifted her eyelids, her red eyes giving Aoki a glance. “No problem.”
Little Ya looked a little nervous but still clenched her tiny fists resolutely. “I… I’ll do my best!”
Yue Lan watched them, still wearing her gentle smile, though her gaze turned subtly complex. “If that’s the case, I’ll stay on the front line with Hero Lin Qiyou and pray for everyone.”
The plan was tentatively set. After discussing a few more details, the meeting was adjourned. The assault was scheduled for dawn, three days later.
*****
Aoki’s tent.
Night fell deeply, and the camp gradually grew quiet. Aoki sat alone in his tent, replaying the day’s events in his mind.
He needed strength, needed more information, needed to uncover more of this world’s secrets.
And perhaps, all of this could be answered through that simulation system which always brought “surprises.”
He no longer hesitated, and sank his consciousness into his mind’s sea.
The faintly glowing simulation interface reappeared.
[New simulation ready]
[Simulation World: Magic World]
Staring at the icy words on the screen, Aoki took a deep breath. This time, the simulation would not be a distant xianxia tale, but his own life—one that was still ongoing, perhaps!
“Begin simulation.”
He made his choice.
That familiar dizziness hit him. The surroundings started to twist and blur; the outline of the tent faded away, replaced by a strange, exotic forest landscape—and a terrifying sense of crisis, as if his soul itself was locked onto by some cold will…
A new journey began, once again, in the reflection of reality. And this time, he would face head-on the deepest secrets about himself and this world, hidden beyond the mists.