CH 167.2

To mend the relationship between Cui Cui and Gu Langu, Shu Shuishui pointed to the plate of roasted grasshoppers. “Cui Cui heard you had a tough day outside, so it personally caught these for you. Give them a try.”

Gu Langu, who typically had a gentle demeanor, became cautious. He looked at the tempting roasted grasshoppers on the plate, then picked one up and handed it to Yu Jin.

Yu Jin, salivating, looked at the roasted grasshoppers on his plate in disbelief and asked, “Boss, are these for me?”

Gu Langu nodded. “Yes.”

Yu Jin was deeply moved and almost cried. “I’m so touched, Boss. We’ve known each other for so long, and this is the first time you’ve ever served me food, especially roasted grasshoppers prepared by Shui Shui!” As he expressed his emotions, he quickly and honestly stuffed a roasted grasshopper into his mouth, fearing that Gu Langu might change his mind.

After Yu Jin swallowed the grasshopper, Gu Langu asked, “How is it?”

Yu Jin gave a big thumbs up. “Delicious as always, it’s so tasty!”

Gu Langu nodded in satisfaction. “It seems like there’s no poison.”

Yu Jin: ???

Shu Shuishui: ???

Everyone else: “…”

Meanwhile, Cui Cui, who had been lazily grazing on the ranch, sneezed suddenly.

Life continued with these small quirks, with Shu Shuishui’s minor annoyances, Gu Langu’s little schemes, and Yu Jin’s calm acceptance.

Summer faded into winter, and another year passed in the blink of an eye. This year’s winter was exceptionally easygoing, as the climate around the Cangyu Mountains improved. After a year of hard work, the entire Cangyu Mountain Range was now enveloped in protective arrays.

Besides the Cangyu Mountains, several bases in the northern hemisphere, meeting the required conditions, asked for the assistance of the people from the Shui Jing Gong to construct protective arrays, resulting in the most comfortable and warmest winter in history for them.

Yet, this year, Gu Langu still hadn’t advanced to the next stage.

In the fifth year of the Era of Apocalypse, not only did people from the Shui Jing Gong advance, even among the mutant creatures, there were those who reached the Foundation Establishment stage, including Bai Ye and the Viper.

Among the upper management of the Shui Jing Gong, Liu Po and Liu Du began their cultivation relatively late, but the others, including Nan Fang who had less aptitude, all achieved Foundation Establishment. Still, Gu Langu remained unresponsive. This unusual situation finally attracted the attention of everyone, but they were unsure where the problem lay. Could it really be due to his constitution?

It wasn’t until one day when Mang Ya obtained the opportunity to spar with Shu Shuishui that things changed. With the assistance of the system and his recent years of cultivation, Mang Ya’s strength had improved significantly.

While the two of them were exchanging blows, barely a few seconds into their fight, Gu Langu suddenly appeared and engaged in a fierce battle with Mang Ya, nearly injuring him severely.

Gu Langu’s eyes were bloodshot, seemingly devoid of reason, and he harbored an undisguised intent to kill Mang Ya. If Mang Ya didn’t have the system, he might have truly died there. Mang Ya wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said, “Interesting. I’ve heard you’ve been stagnating for the past two years, but you’re still this strong! Truly, you’re Gu Langu!”

Mang Ya didn’t mind Gu Langu’s murderous intent and wore his signature casually careless smile. “I know why you want to kill me~ Hahaha~ So, come at me~”

This statement indeed infuriated Gu Langu, but fortunately, Shu Shuishui stepped in to stop them.

Shu Shuishui took Gu Langu away, leaving the onlookers behind to exchange puzzled glances. Nan Ge pondered, recalling the deal Shu Shuishui had made with Mang Ya and the incident where he had gone to rescue Mang Ya. What was that deal about?

Back inside, Shu Shuishui stared at Gu Langu for a while. “Gu Gu, you have a devil in your heart.”

Gu Langu’s gaze met Shu Shuishui’s for a moment before he quickly averted his eyes. “I just felt that Mang Ya was a bit dangerous, and I lost control for a moment.”

Shu Shuishui reached out and gently turned Gu Langu’s head to face him. “What are you afraid of, Gu Gu?”

Gu Langu remained silent. In that moment, he didn’t appear to be the legendary God of War, but rather, a stubborn and vulnerable child guarding his deepest secrets.

Shu Shuishui took a step closer and embraced Gu Langu, whispering softly in his ear. “Are you afraid of Mang Ya’s eyes that seem to see through everything?”

For an instant, Gu Langu’s body froze, and there was even a slight tremor. Shu Shuishui’s voice continued. “Don’t be afraid, Gu Gu, because we’re the same. You’re not Lan Gu, and I’m not Meng Mo Li. You’re just Gu Gu, and I’m just Shui Shui. Shui Shui loves Gu Gu!”

The last five words were pronounced clearly and with great emphasis. Following this, Shu Shuishui provided a detailed explanation of his conversation with Mang Ya. To this day, Shu Shuishui still remembers Mang Ya’s first words during that conversation. “I saw a bone in him, while in you, I saw nothingness. Do you know? When people dream, they often don’t realize they’re dreaming.”

Mang Ya, like Qing Mengxing, had come into contact with the Wormhole, Wu Lan, and Li Meng. It was highly likely that their abilities were also derived from the Shui Lan Ring. Therefore, when Mang Ya looked into Shu Shuishui and Gu Langu’s past, he saw a more detailed and interconnected web of time-traveling experiences, which ultimately revealed the truth.

“So, Gu Gu is no longer the Blue Dragon he once was. He’s just a dragon bone left behind after the Blue Dragon’s death. And you, Shui Shui, you’re not Meng Mo Li either. You’re just a dream created by Meng Mo Li before his death. It’s a very powerful function, as long as the dreamer believes in absolute reality, you truly exist. As for Li Meng and Wu Lan, it’s the same. I’ve said it before, we are all of the same kind, living in dreams of our own making, thinking we’re still alive…” Mang Ya concluded, just as he had said before, waiting for Shu Shuishui’s reaction to learning the truth.

However, Shu Shuishui’s reaction was quite calm. He felt that this truth wouldn’t have any impact on himself and Gu Langu. After all, a long time ago, he had told Gu Langu that Shui Shui loved Gu Gu, and that was all there was to it, and it had never changed.

It’s just that he didn’t expect Gu Langu to be afraid and even feel inferior because he wasn’t the original Blue Dragon, fearing that Shu Shuishui loved the Blue Dragon rather than this small and insignificant bone, especially when this bone wasn’t even a normal person. But what he didn’t know was that Shu Shuishui wasn’t the real Meng Mo Li either; he was just a dream created by Meng Mo Li’s Dream Tribe ability, a dream come true.

Shu Shuishui’s narration didn’t take long, but Gu Langu’s emotions fluctuated wildly. His mood swung between heaven and hell, and the influence of his inner demons made him exceptionally sensitive and fragile. He desperately wanted to prove something, urgently wanted to possess something. It wasn’t until Shu Shuishui finished telling everything that Gu Langu’s body gradually softened, and he hugged Shu Shuishui, his voice slightly hoarse but resolute. “Shui Shui, I want to have you!”

Shu Shuishui was momentarily stunned but then understood the meaning of those words. His ears turned slightly red, and he didn’t hesitate much. “I feel the same way.”

On this day, while it was still daytime, Shu Shuishui and Gu Langu’s home was already closed to visitors. Even the door was sealed with a formation, impossible to open from the outside, and no sound could be heard from within.

Yu Jin, who came to call them for lunch, scratched his head, not understanding what was going on, and left in confusion. Back at the dining table, he explained the situation. “It’s broad daylight, but the boss and Shui Shui are holed up at home. They’re not even having lunch, and they’ve even used a soundproof charm.”

The others had various expressions upon hearing this. Nan Ge cleared his throat. “There’s no need to call them for dinner tonight either. They probably won’t come out until noon tomorrow.”

Liu Po smiled knowingly. “Not easy.”

Mang Ya touched his swollen eye and let out a deep sigh. “Indeed, not easy. But this beating wasn’t in vain. It’s a way to repay a favor. After all, one is accustomed to being timid, while the other is accustomed to letting things take their course.”

“Accustomed to being timid? Letting things take their course? Are you guys playing dumb charades? Let’s be clear, letting things take their course suits Shui Shui, but being timid? Come on, when have you ever seen Boss being timid? He was quite fierce when he beat you this morning!” As a devoted fan of Gu Langu, Yu Jin immediately retorted.

Mang Ya gave a mysterious smile. “Guess, Xiao Feng Feng~”

Xie Feng immediately got goosebumps. “Don’t talk like that! It’s creepy!”

Liu Po, however, was more interested in something else. “I’m curious about what you actually saw.”

Mang Ya made a shushing gesture. “It’s a secret~ I promised Shui Shui~”

After spending a long time together, the others gradually got to know Mang Ya as a person. As Qing Mengxing had said, he was indeed a very honest person. Everything he said was true; it just depended on how you interpreted it. So when they heard Mang Ya saying this, Liu Po understood that he wouldn’t be able to get anything more out of him.

Inside Shu Shuishui and Gu Langu’s room, just like today’s lunch, it was filled with sensuality and deliciousness, leaving a lingering and irresistible desire.

Both of them had no experience, and the first time was somewhat long and torturous, but as they got into it, they became more in sync. Even with the soundproofing charm in place, Shu Shuishui’s restrained voice was all the more tempting, making this feast last for a long time.

As Nan Ge had guessed, breakfast was skipped the next day, and they only reappeared at the dining table during lunchtime.

Yu Jin, in hindsight, noticed something unusual and stared at Shu Shuishui and Gu Langu the entire time. It wasn’t until near the end of lunch that he exclaimed in disbelief, “Holy crap! Seriously? It took you guys so many years, Boss, for it to happen!”

The others: “…”

Gu Langu: “…”

In the following days, Yu Jin found himself in a rather “heated” and miserable situation, but when you owe someone a punch in the mouth, you’ve got to repay it when the time comes.

However, following this, a momentous event occurred in the Shui Jing Gong. Their leader, Gu Langu, finally proposed to Shu Shuishui, and it came with a massive dowry that shocked everyone. They hadn’t expected Gu Langu to be such a savvy businessman, silently amassing such a substantial bridal gift. Oops, I mean engagement gift.

It was only then that they discovered the issue – the partners behind Gray Rats Company was none other than Gu Langu. When they thought about the little flags that Gray Rats Company waved during their business transactions and the common phrases like “XOXO” on them, everyone’s expressions contorted. It was too stimulating, and their hearts couldn’t take it!

The Shui Jing Gong was truly bustling for quite some time. The members of the Shui Jing Gong were overjoyed and deeply moved that their leader had finally climbed the ranks officially. It was a moment for celebration and congratulations!

With Gu Langu’s inner demon dispelled, his true potential was finally unleashed. Thunder tribulations came one after another, and he soared two levels, bypassing the Foundation Building stage and reaching directly into the Golden Core stage. It was evident that Gu Langu’s strength had long been at this level, but it had been suppressed by his inner demon all this time.

In the sixth year of the Era of Apocalypse, the greenification efforts in the northern hemisphere were mostly completed, and some members of the Shui Jing Gong returned to the southern hemisphere.

After six years, they finally set foot on familiar soil, returning to their original homeland. In those six years, the world had undergone a remarkable transformation. Spirit trees had begun to take root all over, and the seasons and climate had stabilized. Now, there was no need to worry about floods in the summer or frequent extreme snowstorms in the winter.

Most of the bases in the northern hemisphere were enveloped by protective arrays, surrounded by vast green forests teeming with spirit trees, spirit plants, and various creatures that no longer went berserk.

Those who had experienced these changes firsthand could hardly believe that this was real. They had truly changed the world, reversing the catastrophic fate of Cang Zhan Star. However, no one was resting on their laurels. The Shui Jing Gong had already announced that next year, in the seventh year of the Era of Apocalypse, Cang Zhan Star would face a catastrophic event. The specifics were not disclosed, but the leaders and researchers from various major bases were frequently shuttling to and from the Shui Jing Gong, seemingly planning something important.

The greening efforts in the northern hemisphere took six years, which was actually considered quite fast, but it still wasn’t enough. The northern hemisphere’s spiritual power and protective arrays had begun to take shape, but in the southern hemisphere, work had not yet begun due to environmental factors.

The members of the Shui Jing Gong had discussed this issue extensively. So, all the energy stones they earned in the northern hemisphere were purified into spirit stones and transported to the southern hemisphere. The plan was to spread spirit stones throughout the southern hemisphere and plant spirit tree seeds before the next year. They aimed to rely on the growth of spirit stones and spirit trees to collectively withstand the attacks from the higher-dimensional civilizations that were expected.

During the six years, the Shui Jing Gong had almost gathered all the energy stones that had been mined on Cang Zhan Star. A large number of these energy stones had been transported through the Cang River as early as the previous year, and it had taken a whole year to transport them all.

However, even with this massive collection of energy stones, Shu Shuishui still worried that it might not be enough. He had even used the spiritual objects they obtained from the Shui Lan Ring that belonged to him and Gu Langu.

But when Shu Shuishui and Gu Langu personally returned to the southern hemisphere on a boat, they were pleasantly surprised to find that the situation there was much better than they had expected. The desert had not worsened further, electromagnetic storms had weakened, and even looking around, there was an abundance of greenery.

“Gu Gu, do you find those two spirit trees somewhat familiar?” In order to grasp the situation in the southern hemisphere as soon as possible, Shu Shuishui’s group did not rush back to Shui Jing Gong’s initial valley. Instead, they chose to explore some suitable living areas in the southern hemisphere.

“Are these the ones we planted on the way when we were migrating for the first time?” Gu Langu was not entirely sure, as at that time, he didn’t have much understanding of spirit trees.

Shu Shuishui nodded. “Exactly, I didn’t expect them to grow so big! The tall one is the one I planted, and the smaller one below is the one you planted.”

The others glanced at each other. They hadn’t expected that the big boss’s planted spirit tree would be so “useless” that it needed Shu Shuishui’s protection. While it might be strange, it was understandable. After all, they had a boss who was protective of everything, not just people. But who could blame them for feeling a sense of pride for having such a boss? They were practically selling the entire Shui Jing Gong for a piece of the boss’s flesh.

Gu Langu felt a slight pang in his heart. He realized that even during their first migration, Shu Shuishui had been unconsciously protecting him. In a way, Shu Shuishui had treated him like a pet, and a pet’s owner would naturally protect it. This was only natural, right?

In a delightful misunderstanding, the group explored the areas where they had once lived. To their surprise, all the seeds Shu Shuishui and Gu Langu had planted along the way had grown into spirit trees, forming a small region of guardian spirit trees. Several spirit trees had even given rise to a small forest. This was an unexpected joy, and they had thought that the improvement in the southern hemisphere’s environment was solely due to the greening efforts in the northern hemisphere.

Without needing any orders, the Shui Jing Gong members, who had already developed the habit, spontaneously organized planting teams and quickly began the expansion of greenery. They had returned to the southern hemisphere with the purpose of greening and setting up protective arrays. With the basic conditions in place, they worked diligently. Seeing this blank area, the planting teams, who had almost developed a compulsion, didn’t rush back to the Shui Jing Gong’s valley. Instead, they set up camp nearby and vowed not to leave until they met the greening standards.

After circling around for a while, Shu Shuishui’s group finally returned to their initial valley, the Shui Jing Gong. As they walked up the mountain path, each person was filled with mixed emotions. Six years ago, they had descended the mountain with hearts full of determination and reluctance, leaving behind the gray rats who had bid them a heartfelt farewell. At that time, who could have imagined that today they would be returning? Could this be considered a triumphant return to their homeland?

It was unclear who started it, but within the team, the song they had sung when they left began to resonate. Just like when they left, the melodious song echoed through the mountains. The song raced ahead, eagerly reaching the valley. In the valley, the gray rats who were laboring suddenly stopped and were momentarily stunned. After a while, they rushed out of the valley toward the direction of the sound.

When they reached the outskirts of the valley and stood atop a hill, they saw the Shui Jing Gong team returning under the morning sun. There were also the furry gray balls that had once been left behind. Excited, they followed the team one by one, and their cheerful chirps accompanied the song.