ISWTDB Ch148

Chapter 148: The BOSS is always acting up (30, 31)

Xiao Bai couldn’t betray Ying Zhao, so he couldn’t immediately agree to the Heavenly Dao’s request, yet he couldn’t bring himself to refuse either.

He lowered his head, not daring to meet the other’s eyes, fearing that just one glance would cause him to fall.

He knew how persistent this man was and thought about how much the other must have suffered when he left alone.

Heartache and guilt weighed on him, and all he could do was whisper softly, “I’m sorry…”

But the Heavenly Dao misunderstood why Xiao Bai apologized.

He thought he had been rejected again, and the pain pierced his heart, yet he still refused to let go.

Instead, he lowered his head and fiercely kissed the corner of Xiao Bai’s lips, wanting to swallow all of his painful words.

However, when he saw the slight redness in Xiao Bai’s eyes, he couldn’t bear to truly force him.

The Heavenly Dao’s movements gradually softened. He gazed deeply into Xiao Bai’s eyes.

Convinced that he had been rejected once again, Chen Tian felt his heart grow cold.

He didn’t want to suffer anymore, nor did he want to make things harder for the one who had awakened such precious feelings within him.

Forcing a weak smile, the man grabbed Xiao Bai’s hand and placed it on his chest.

While kissing Xiao Bai’s forehead, the Heavenly Dao gently said, “Xiao Bai, kill me.”

“I know this has all been one-sided. Honestly, I had already predicted this outcome. But I was unwilling to give up, so I had to try one more time.”

“Unfortunately, I still lost. Bai, I can’t bear a life without you.”

“You know, I don’t want to be a puppet bound forever. Maybe I’ve done many wrong things in the past, but I don’t regret any of them. Dying by your hand would be the best ending for me.”

Seeing the relief and determination in the Heavenly Dao’s eyes, Xiao Bai’s lips trembled, and he finally let his tears fall.

He knew that although the Heavenly Dao claimed to control the fate of this small world, in reality, he had always been bound by its rules.

And for someone who had developed his own consciousness, such constraints had always been torment.

He had to guide the flow of destiny with absolute precision, overseeing the endless cycle of reincarnation across worlds.

He was born for countless small worlds, but he had nothing of his own. Wasn’t that also a form of suffering?

Xiao Bai understood why the Heavenly Dao wanted to rebel, so he never hated him for it.

Moreover, this man had recklessly devoted himself to him, stubbornly like a moth to a flame.

After spending so many years together, how could Xiao Bai bear to hurt him?

In truth, he had already fallen in love with him.

He loved his gentleness, his persistence, and the deep affection in his eyes whenever he looked at him.

But alas, fate was cruel. No matter what, he couldn’t betray Ying Zhao.

Yet, when the other was truly willing to entrust his life to him, how could Xiao Bai bring himself to do it?

Xiao Bai shook his head forcefully. The other had given him his heart; how could he cruelly crush it?

He could only look helplessly at the Heavenly Dao, pleading, “Chen Tian, don’t force me. I can’t do it! Isn’t there any other way?”

Seeing his beloved in tears, the Heavenly Dao felt his heart break. He could only hold Xiao Bai tightly, gently patting his back.

He saw the pain in Xiao Bai’s eyes, as well as the emotions hidden beneath his inner turmoil.

Hope reignited in Chen Tian. He knew Xiao Bai must have feelings for him too.

Faced with his beloved’s dilemma, the Heavenly Dao couldn’t bear to push him further.

Taking a deep breath, his brow furrowed in thought. If that was the case, then he would bear the burden of their relationship and fight for it himself.

The Heavenly Dao understood the root of Xiao Bai’s pain and conflict. He knew that closing the gap between them would require a great sacrifice.

But as long as there was the slightest chance, any small opportunity that could bring them together in peace, he was willing to give everything.

The two held each other for a long time before parting. The Heavenly Dao told Xiao Bai that he would handle everything and wouldn’t make things difficult for him.

Though worried, Xiao Bai knew there was nothing he could do.

He only hoped they could both calm down, so he nodded and left, sorrowful.

By this time, Lu Chenhui had completely regained his memories of being the Heavenly Dao, but he was no longer simply the Heavenly Dao.

Because in this world, he hadn’t possessed anyone’s body.

Instead, his soul had directly projected into this small world, and he was born here.

In other words, Lu Chenhui was actually Chen Tian. He had inherited all of Lu Chenhui’s memories.

Everything the protagonist had experienced had truly happened to him as well.

Back then, when he attempted to destroy the Zhu Que’s soul fragment, it was merely a means to seize its energy.

It had been a strategic move in his quest to control his own destiny.

However, now, Flame Dragon had become his younger brother.

Even though he knew that his brother housed the Zhu Que’s soul fragment, he couldn’t bring himself to harm him.

At this moment, he had genuinely developed human emotions.

This was why he was even more certain of how deeply he loved Xiao Bai.

Thinking of the obstacles between him and Xiao Bai, Chen Tian lowered his gaze, then disappeared from the Journey, returning to the real world.

On the other side, Ying Zhao had just finished eating and organizing the company’s tasks.

He was about to return to the Journey when he heard a knock at the door.

Ying Zhao was a bit surprised since, due to his introverted nature, not many people knew where he lived.

With this in mind, Ying Zhao got up and walked toward the door.

But as he approached the entryway, he suddenly felt a familiar, dangerous presence.

This presence had threatened both him and his lover many times before. How could Ying Zhao not recognize it?

But when the soldiers came, the general blocked them; he had already made sufficient preparations. While accumulating energy in his hands, he opened the door.

He planned to deliver a deadly blow the moment the door opened.

However, before the power could fully coalesce, he heard a familiar voice say to him, “I want to talk to you.”

Ying Zhao was momentarily stunned upon hearing this. When he opened the door, he indeed saw Lu Chenhui’s face.

Although Ying Zhao had already been prepared upon hearing the voice, seeing it in person still shocked him.

He hadn’t expected that the Heavenly Dao had been lurking within Lu Chenhui’s body all along. Why had he never discovered this?

Thinking of Lu Chenhui’s identity in this life and recalling that in a previous world, the Heavenly Dao had also once been hidden within the body of his beloved sister.

Could the same thing be happening again?

He knew that the other party had deliberately revealed his aura, so what was his true purpose for coming to find him?

Just as Ying Zhao’s thoughts surged, the Heavenly Dao suddenly said to him, “I am not here to fight you to the death; I am here for Xiao Bai.”

Hearing this, Ying Zhao steadied his mind and ultimately stepped aside to let him in.

He could sense that the Heavenly Dao was no longer deliberately restraining his aura, exposing it before him, seemingly wanting to lay everything on the table.

Looking at the man sitting upright in front of him, expressionless yet tightly clenched fists, clearly nervous.

Ying Zhao couldn’t help but twitch his lips; he had never imagined he would have a day where he calmly sat with the Heavenly Dao.

However, what was this sense of déjà vu, like a father-in-law meeting his son-in-law?

He recalled the time when Xiao Bai had disappeared, and after returning, he felt somewhat unnatural every time he mentioned the Heavenly Dao.

There was also the last time when he was about to strike down the Heavenly Dao, but Xiao Bai had interrupted him.

It seemed that what had transpired between them was beyond his imagination.

Seeing the other party remain silent for a long while, Ying Zhao raised an eyebrow and took the initiative to speak, “You and Xiao Bai…”

The Heavenly Dao took a deep breath upon hearing Ying Zhao speak and recounted the past between him and Xiao Bai.

Then he solemnly said to the person opposite him, “I know that in your eyes, I am merely a wisp of intelligence that should not have been born and should be erased. But without Xiao Bai, even if I am erased, I will not let you have it easy.”

“But now, I am willing to bow my head. I just sincerely ask you, can you give me Xiao Bai!”

From another perspective, Ying Zhao was not unable to understand the Heavenly Dao’s feelings.

Any being that had truly gained intelligence would not willingly be endlessly manipulated; in reality, they were simply on different sides.

Although the Heavenly Dao was composed of the consciousness of multiple small worlds, he did not have a strong sense of right and wrong, and no one taught him what was right and what was wrong.

With a steadfast lover, Ying Zhao could naturally see that the Heavenly Dao had deeply rooted feelings for Xiao Bai.

However, from what he had learned about the other party’s style during their previous encounters, if he dared to come and talk to him, it must mean he had some kind of protection.

After all, even though he was the Heavenly Dao of this world, if his soul power truly erupted, the other party would not be his opponent.

Sure enough, the Heavenly Dao then said to him, “Although I also tried to attack you, seizing the fortune from the fragments of the Phoenix’s soul, the true enemy that poses a threat to you is not me.”

Upon hearing this, Ying Zhao’s pupils shrank sharply as he coldly said, “What do you mean by that?”

In fact, Ying Zhao had sensed a sense of disharmony before, but he had never been able to grasp the source of that feeling.

Now, hearing the other party’s words, he instantly felt that things were indeed not as simple as he imagined.

Thus, the Heavenly Dao confessed to Ying Zhao, stating that all along, while he had attacked them to seize the fortune from the Zhuque soul fragments, he had also sensed another energy competing for that fortune, and that force was clearly stronger than his.

Because that force could control the flow of fortune better than he could, it had been suppressing the Phoenix’s soul and gradually siphoning off its fortune.

Upon hearing this, Ying Zhao finally understood what that sense of disharmony in his heart was.

The Heavenly Dao had been forcefully seizing his lover’s fortune, and the methods employed were extremely ruthless.

In such a situation, naturally, the stronger the fortune on his man, the greater the benefits the Heavenly Dao gained by erasing him.

However, in most of the small worlds, his man played the role of a pitiful figure.

Although his physical shortcomings were uncontrollable, with his lover’s fortune, he should have been more powerful and held a transcendent status.

Yet, most of the time, even though his lover stood at the peak position relying on his own strength, he did not have a smooth journey.

He often had to endure a lot of suffering and hardship, even walking on the edge of life and death.

Recalling the previous interstellar mermaid world, if he had not rushed over in time, his lover’s soul fragments might have truly been erased.

So, there must have been something steadily stealing away his lover’s fortune, which led to his unfortunate fate.

And this person, or rather, this consciousness, was definitely not the Heavenly Dao because, in the previous world, the Heavenly Dao had not been able to follow.

Moreover, the Heavenly Dao had always used direct attacks to erase.

Doing something that would reduce the target’s fortune would be completely disadvantageous for him.

After pondering for a moment, Ying Zhao confirmed with the Heavenly Dao, “In the first world, was it you who caused Wen Renming to be struck by heavenly fire at birth?”

The Heavenly Dao was taken aback for a moment and shook his head, saying, “Not me, but the final thunder tribulation was caused by me.”

Ying Zhao nodded, indicating that he understood.

It seemed that the reason Wen Renming had not been burned to death by the heavenly fire was that the other party thought such an erasure was too conspicuous; they only wanted to cause Wen Renming misfortune.

Born blind, struck by heavenly fire at birth, disfigured, and losing his mother.

Such an ominous person living in the world would undoubtedly face many difficulties.

One must say, the other party’s attempt to harm his man was even more insidious than the actions of the Heavenly Dao.

Instead of using a quick method of erasure, they slowly tortured him while gradually absorbing his fortune.

If he had not come to the small world to find his lover, it was likely that even in one or two small worlds, his lover could withstand the other party’s schemes.

But in multiple worlds, who could say which one? His man might really be harmed by him.

Moreover, it was done so secretly and undetected.

Such behavior made Ying Zhao even more disgusted.

The important thing was that the other party could control luck like the Heavenly Dao. This also indicated that the other party was born from this spiritual weapon.

Could it be that there were two Heavenly Daos within this spiritual weapon?

Thinking of this, Ying Zhao shook his head, feeling that it was absolutely impossible.

If there were two Heavenly Daos coexisting, all the planes would be in chaos.

Looking at the serious expression on the man’s face opposite him, Ying Zhao couldn’t help but ask, “So, you already have some clues and want to use this as a bargaining chip?”

The Heavenly Dao nodded slightly: “There are some clues, but I can’t be sure yet. As long as you are willing to give me Xiao Bai, I am willing to pay any price, even to help you root out that real threat.”

Willing to pay any price?

Looking at the determination in the Heavenly Dao’s eyes, Ying Zhao understood that the other party genuinely cared about Xiao Bai, which was why he was willing to come to him in such a humble manner.

Moreover, ever since Xiao Bai returned, his frequent dazed expressions and forced smiles had also made Ying Zhao understand.

It seemed Xiao Bai had developed feelings for the Heavenly Dao.

Yet, even so, Ying Zhao still shook his head at the Heavenly Dao and said, “I’m sorry, I can’t.”

“Why?” The Heavenly Dao suddenly stood up, unconsciously releasing pressure. Ying Zhao could clearly feel that the man opposite him was very agitated.

“Why can’t you let Xiao Bai be with me? He is mine! If you must stop me, I will destroy this plane right now, even if it means going down with the shattered pieces of my soul!”

The Heavenly Dao’s eyes turned red, saying this, the energy around him seemed to fluctuate uncontrollably.

It seemed as if in the next moment, he would truly destroy this world.

“Even if you destroy this place, it will hurt Xiao Bai. Are you still willing to do this?” Ying Zhao’s one sentence instantly extinguished the man’s anger.

Indeed, Xiao Bai was also in this plane. If the plane were suddenly destroyed, even if Xiao Bai could escape, he would likely still get hurt.

Seeing that the Heavenly Dao had slowly calmed down, Ying Zhao felt somewhat satisfied in his heart.

This kind of cherishing made the other party indeed deserving of respect.

He recalled that although the Heavenly Dao had attacked them many times in the past, he had already resolved those conflicts.

Moreover, although his strength was greater than that of the Heavenly Dao, the other party was birthed from this world. He feared that capturing the harmful entity would indeed require the Heavenly Dao’s help.

So, Ying Zhao patiently said to the Heavenly Dao, “Xiao Bai is an independent individual. I cannot agree to give him to you because he does not belong to me.”

“I regard Xiao Bai as a partner, so he belongs to himself. No one can influence his thoughts. As for whether he wants to be with you or not, I respect Xiao Bai’s wishes.”

Upon hearing Ying Zhao’s words, the Heavenly Dao finally calmed down completely. His expression also softened a lot, and he nodded at Ying Zhao.

Then, Ying Zhao continued, “What you did to us in the past, I can overlook. But you have disturbed these planes, and you will have to bear the consequences in the future.”

As the Heavenly Dao, he understood the principle of cause and effect best. So he did not oppose Ying Zhao’s words.

As long as he could ultimately be with Xiao Bai, he was willing to accept any punishment.

Both parties received satisfactory answers; the Heavenly Dao promised not to covet the luck of the Zhu Que again.

Ying Zhao believed his words because at this moment, the Heavenly Dao truly seemed more human to him.

After all, although the Heavenly Dao controlled countless planes, he had never truly entered the world in the past.

And now, he had grown like a human, having formed bonds with Xiao Bai.

Thus, he genuinely possessed emotions—joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness.

Ying Zhao told the Heavenly Dao that he would not interfere in his relationship with Xiao Bai and was willing to give him a chance to change, allowing him to help them.

After sending off the Heavenly Dao and looking at the azure sky, Ying Zhao felt the fusion of the Zhu Que’s soul fragments in his sea of consciousness.

It seemed that the fragments of his lover would soon be complete.

And that thing should also be losing patience.

However, with himself around, he would not allow his man to suffer even the slightest harm.

Ying Zhao sorted through his memories from various small worlds, attempting to find some clues, but all failed.

Seeing that it was getting late, he did not delay any longer and returned to “Journey.”

As soon as he arrived at the teleportation point of the Dragon Clan’s Sacred Hall, Ying Zhao saw his lover, who had been waiting there for a long time.

He had been gone for less than a day, but for the Flame Dragon, it felt like a lifetime.

Before him stood this person, and he wished he could see him every minute, not letting him leave his sight.

Lu Yan quickly walked over and hugged Ying Zhao tightly in his arms.

The urgency in his demeanor warmed Ying Zhao’s heart, causing him to involuntarily curl the corners of his lips and say to him, “Why are you still being so clingy?”

Hearing this, the man rubbed against Ying Zhao’s neck, looking somewhat aggrieved as he said, “Yingying, you haven’t been as good to me as before!”

Upon hearing his lover’s words, Ying Zhao blinked and laughed, saying, “How could that be? I have always treated you the same, Your Highness!”

Lu Yan shook his head vigorously, pursing his lips and said, “Ever since I regained my memory, Yingying has not been as obedient as before.”

Seeing her lover’s childish demeanor, Ying Zhao felt her heart soften, and her whole being relaxed.

He hugged the other tightly, slightly raised his head, and proactively offered his lips.

Sure enough, this little bit of affection successfully soothed the restless man.

Happily embracing the person he loved deeply made Ying Zhao feel much more at ease in his heart.

After hearing the words of the Heavenly Dao, he inevitably felt a bit anxious in his heart.

After all, an unknown enemy was the most terrifying and worrisome.

Moreover, compared to the Heavenly Dao, Ying Zhao hated that guy even more, the one who caused his beloved to suffer continuously across so many worlds.

Thinking about how, after experiencing so many worlds, when he arrived, his lover had already endured so much suffering.

Every time he looked at those memories, it pierced his heart with pain.

He increasingly felt he could not forgive the person who harmed his beloved.

Thinking of this, a cold light flashed in Ying Zhao’s eyes.

He buried his head deeply in the man’s embrace, trying to soothe himself with his scent.

The two embraced for quite a while before separating.

The Flame Dragon looked at Ying Zhao’s serene expression and cautiously asked, “Baby, you remember what you promised me before you left, right?”

Upon hearing this, Ying Zhao recalled that before he left, Lu Yan had told him that they would start preparing for their wedding once he returned.

A smile crept onto his lips, and he felt a bit playful.

He lifted his head and pretended to be confused as he said to the man, “What did I promise? I don’t remember!”

As he spoke, Ying Zhao took a step back, leaving the man’s embrace.

Sure enough, when the man heard Ying Zhao’s words, a look of disappointment crossed his face.

However, when he noticed the sly glint that flashed in Ying Zhao’s eyes, he hurriedly pulled him back into his arms.

The Flame Dragon trapped his beloved between his arms and, as if punishing him, heavily kissed his blushing lips twice.

Somewhat exasperated, he said, “Yingying, you’ve really learned bad habits! I don’t care; I’m going to marry you today!”

Ying Zhao looked at the dimming sky with a bit of exasperation and raised an eyebrow at Lu Yan, saying, “Are you sure you want to marry today? The wedding of the Dragon Clan’s king is a big event; are you sure you don’t want me to have a grand celebration?”

“Ying, Yingying!” Lu Yan was somewhat incredulous at Ying Zhao’s words.

In reality, although Ying Zhao had agreed, he still felt uneasy.

He had always been anxious because he was just a consciousness stored in a game.

What he just said about marrying today was merely a spur-of-the-moment remark.

However, at this moment, seeing the bright anticipation in the other person’s eyes, Lu Yan felt that his unease was strangely soothed.

It turned out that his baby was also looking forward to it; he was willing to announce to the world and let others know about their love.

He took Ying Zhao’s hand and walked out of the Sacred Hall; for him, this place was their reality.

Thinking about how he was about to attain the greatest happiness in the world, a wave of excitement surged in Lu Yan’s heart.

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Author’s Note:

Well, the Heavenly Dao is not the ultimate BOSS~