Chapter 29: [World 1] Castle Stories 29: Goodbye

The moment Xunian took the Key, a familiar voice sounded not far away.

“What? Li Hua, you’re seriously saying the butler is the Duke?!”

Fu Ruxue’s exaggerated and deliberately loud voice carried clearly through the few trees, reaching their ears.

Li Hua, puzzled, urged Xunian, “Hurry up.”

“Maybe we should just run…” Xunian glanced past him at Li Hua behind and quietly took a step back.

Sensing something was wrong, Li Hua turned around.

A creature wearing tattered butler’s clothes stood just a few meters away.

Its body was covered in grotesque, flesh-mangled burns, with torn patches crudely sewn together, adding to the eerie sight.

Its face was a gruesome mass of fused flesh, with sunken eye sockets housing two blood-red eyes fixed on Li Hua.

That terrifying mouth-shaped hole gurgled unintelligibly, only a few words faintly audible:

“…Die for me…”

The Duke’s Daughter really has miraculous hands—she casually sewed him back to life.

Xunian didn’t wait for the Duke to finish and immediately bolted. Li Hua saw this and hurriedly chased after her, shouting from behind, “Give me back the Key!”

Hearing the voice behind her, Xunian couldn’t help but sneer coldly. This “Key” was hers to begin with—how did it suddenly become Li Hua’s?

“Xunian! Come here!” Fu Ruxue waved to her from the nearby woods.

Xunian ran faster than she ever had in her life, her throat dry and burning, her windpipe aching as if it would explode.

She gasped, struggling to catch her breath, using all her strength to run toward Fu Ruxue.

Along the way, she pushed the Key deep into the hard core inside the Teddy Bear and shoved it in with force.

In an instant, the air seemed to freeze; a suction pulled inward, and brilliant colors burst forth around the plush toy.

Li Hua behind was already entangled by the Duke, so for now, they were safe.

Xunian hugged the bear as she reached Fu Ruxue and said, “Well done.”

Fu Ruxue raised an eyebrow at her. “This was my own idea—exploiting a loophole in the Rules.”

She had risked everything, using the Rules loophole to reveal the Duke’s true identity after his resurrection, hoping to trigger the Seventh Rule.

She was even prepared to use her Protective Talisman, but unexpectedly, the Duke attacked Li Hua first.

The resurrected but damaged Duke’s power was greatly reduced, yet he was still far stronger than an ordinary person.

His claws sliced swiftly through the air, leaving marks as they reached for Li Hua.

Li Hua gradually fell into a disadvantage but noticed the commotion on Xunian’s side. Following the Duke’s attacks, he slowly backed toward her.

Xunian naturally noticed this and quickly tugged Fu Ruxue’s sleeve.

“Get inside.”

Li Hua’s earlier strange attitude made it clear he didn’t want Fu Ruxue to return to the Real World—probably because she held some leverage over him, which explained the fierce attack.

“How do I get in?”

Fu Ruxue looked at the Teddy Bear, clueless.

“Touch the plush toy. You should be able to leave then.”

Xunian felt a pulling sensation from the toy and told her.

Holding the bear, Fu Ruxue felt a strong tug, drawing her into the dazzling, colorful vortex.

It seemed possible to resist the pull with willpower, allowing her to stay in this world for a while longer.

She wanted to take this chance to say goodbye.

Xunian’s eyes flicked toward the second-floor windowsill, where it seemed only a clean, empty balcony was visible—no one was there.

“Xunian, I’m leaving. Want to exchange phone numbers or contact info? I can come find you; I still have some strength…” Fu Ruxue muttered, reluctant to part.

Xunian sighed helplessly and made up a number offhandedly. “14345… phone number.”

Then she gave Fu Ruxue a gentle push.

“Huh? I haven’t memorized it yet…”

Fu Ruxue’s voice cut off abruptly as light enveloped her entire body, swallowing her up into the vortex.

Fu Ruxue’s figure completely vanished before their eyes.

Finally, she was gone. Xunian’s heart felt half at ease.

If she didn’t leave now, Li Hua would have caught up.

That’s why Xunian really hated cooperating with others—once you cooperate, you have to be responsible for getting them out safely.

Li Hua and the Duke exchanged blows fiercely until Li Hua was knocked down near the door.

Wiping a trace of blood from his mouth, Li Hua shot Xunian a glance before seizing an opportunity to leap, passing through the light wrapping the area and quickly disappearing.

The Duke, losing his target, stood holding his blade uncertainly. After a dazed moment, he turned and left.

For a moment, the empty Forest was eerily silent, as if only Xunian remained between heaven and earth.

“Not going to show yourself?” she said to the air.

Black Mist gathered, taking on a human shape. Soon, a figure emerged, hands stained with blood.

Her red eyes were filled with sorrow as she quietly looked at Xunian.

“You can’t get close to the Key, can you?”

Though it was a question, Xunian’s tone was certain.

The Duke’s Daughter said nothing, only reddened her eyes.

“You’re Motifira. Can I call you Fira?”

Motifira looked up, seemingly puzzled and a bit surprised.

“Fira, come closer. I have something to tell you.”

Xunian beckoned her with a finger.

Fira hesitated, seemingly trying to drag out time, hoping to keep Xunian there a little longer.

“If you don’t come, I’m leaving.”

Xunian announced expressionlessly.

Only then did the Duke’s Daughter reluctantly approach, stopping just a meter away.

“Closer.”

The usually eloquent and decisive Duke’s Daughter hesitated, then stepped forward a bit more.

“Don’t you want to know my secret?”

This time, Fira stood right beside her, still reluctant in expression, but her body honestly took a step, leaving only an inch between them.

Xunian rose on her toes, breathing softly into her ear. The warmth brushed her ear, turning it pink.

“The secret is…”

The Duke’s Daughter couldn’t help but perk up her ears, ready to listen.

A soft, fleeting touch landed on her face, instantly turning it rosy.

Xunian lightly kissed her cheek, then stepped back and smiled at her.

“Fira, your name sounds lovely.”

After saying this, Xunian turned into light and vanished.

Flirted and ran away.

A heartless move.

The Duke’s Daughter only managed to glare at her.

“Plop.”

The Teddy Bear lost support and fell to the ground.

Picking up the bear, the Duke’s Daughter curved her lips into a smile.

“You don’t really think I’d let you go that easily, do you~?”

“Xunian, you’ll never escape your whole life.”

Her pitiful look was gone, replaced by cold eyes sweeping over the Castle.

Here, she was no longer needed.