CH 168

The last chapter T-T

The first time Mang Ya saw Shu Shuishui and Gu Langu, he knew that these two, just like himself, were people living in self-deception, thinking they were still alive. Moreover, these two individuals inexplicably gave him a sense of familiarity. As a result, he often involuntarily focused his gaze on them. Because of this, he witnessed their distant past, life after life, until the ultimate truth.

He knew that Shu Shuishui had sensed something, and he cleverly used Shu Shuishui’s curiosity to reach an agreement, allowing himself to break free from endless cloning and eternal life.

Binding with the system allowed him to regain a physical body and stabilize his crumbling mental strength.

After returning to the Shui Jing Gong, Shu Shuishui found the right moment to inquire about the agreement’s results. Mang Ya didn’t conceal anything, and he even explained the details clearly because he had a somewhat mischievous desire to see how Shu Shuishui would react upon learning the truth.

However, he was disappointed. Shu Shuishui’s reaction was no reaction at all. In Shu Shuishui’s eyes, from start to finish, he and Meng Mo Li weren’t the same person, and Gu Langu wasn’t Lan Gu. Therefore, Shu Shuishui didn’t care about this. Even when leaving, he reached out and patted Mang Ya’s head. “Xiao Ya Ya, you’ve always been you. You’re right; we are all the same, so we all have the same happiness.”

Mang Ya was puzzled for a long time, gradually sinking into memories. He then compared his own experiences with those of Shu Shuishui and Gu Langu and felt that what he had gone through was insignificant.

As for Shu Shuishui and Gu Langu, perhaps Shu Shuishui was the truly smart one. Mang Ya’s thoughts returned to the day when he saw the ultimate truth.

In Gu Langu, he saw the beginning of all things, the very origin. Gu Langu was an azure dragon, but not a revered mythical beast; he was destined to be the Lord of Hell, a Death God.

And the original Huanxing Continent was indeed a hell. It was where the souls of the deceased gathered. Death permeated every corner, and there was no trace of life. The azure dragon was the master of this time and space. He was fated to never leave this purgatory, from birth to death, forever accompanied by death. He would never experience what life, happiness, light, or happiness truly meant.

He felt neither joy nor sorrow; everything he saw and heard every day was death, suffering, and darkness.

Until one day, a person who had lost their homeland escaped to this place. That person was Meng Mo Li. He seemed to realize that this was not a good place and planned to leave when the next opportunity to cross over came.

The only splash of color in this world was impossible to ignore. The azure dragon’s attention was captivated, but it was merely a passing interest in such a weak and insignificant life.

However, as he observed, got to know, and interacted with Meng Mo Li, the azure dragon’s perspective changed. He suddenly felt that even though this world was full of color, Meng Mo Li was still unique.

When he learned that Meng Mo Li wanted to leave, the azure dragon fell silent but also helpless. It was the first time he had understood what it meant to feel inferior. His world, his time and space, couldn’t keep Meng Mo Li.

The azure dragon didn’t try to persuade him to stay, but in the end, Meng Mo Li chose to stay and decided to use his own abilities to change this world. Dreams come true; what a powerful ability it was. Whatever his heart desired, it could become reality, even if it meant creating a completely new and beautiful world.

Meng Mo Li transformed that hellish place into a thriving world, everything appeared real. However, the Dream Clan’s ability had a flaw. People who dreamt often didn’t realize they were dreaming, and gradually, they would be assimilated by the dream.

For thousands and tens of thousands of years, Meng Mo Li gradually forgot who he was. He genuinely believed that the dream world he had created was real, believing that everything was genuine. It was only when his subconscious told him that the world would be destroyed, and what was called destruction was actually waking up from the dream.

Meng Mo Li then started to investigate the whole situation. This led to the creation of the simulator dungeons that Shu Shuishui and the others later explored. Meng Mo Li left, and the dream world he had created awakened. However, the beings living there refused to believe that everything was, in fact, the truth. They considered this place itself to be hell, so they blamed everything on Meng Mo Li and the Azure Dragon.

The Azure Dragon pursued Meng Mo Li but, as the ruler of this world, it was destined to be imprisoned in this particular time and space and not allowed to enter other inhabited timelines.

The Azure Dragon attempted countless methods, but all ended in failure. It was a cosmic Grim Reaper, and its power guaranteed its eternal imprisonment.

But it was also incredibly impoverished, with only one realm – a hellish world that everyone else avoided. And itself!

At that moment, the Azure Dragon finally thought of a way to leave. Its capital was itself; every scale, every bone on its body was a treasure.

It bit off a scale from its own tail. “I’ll give you a dragon scale in exchange for the chance to visit another timeline!”

This was the deal it made with a higher cosmic being. The Azure Dragon finally gained the right to travel through time and space, joyfully circled for a while, and then eagerly plunged into the cycle.

But it didn’t know that, in the end, the cosmic overlord had tricked it. The timelines it traversed were all opposite to Meng Mo Li’s timeline.

“I’ll give you a dragon scale in exchange for the chance to visit another timeline!”

“I’ll give you a dragon scale in exchange for the chance to visit another timeline!”

“I’ll give you a dragon scale in exchange for the chance to visit another timeline!”

“…”

“I’ll give you a dragon bone in exchange for the chance to visit another timeline!” It had run out of scales but left the reverse scale in Huanxing Continent, fearing that if Meng Mo Li returned one day, he wouldn’t find his home.

What is Lan Gu? He is the product of all the death energy from different timelines, and no one can kill him unless it’s he himself.

Piece by piece, the dragon bones were removed, and even to increase the number of times he could travel, he learned to be frugal and broke the bones. “I’ll give you a dragon bone in exchange for the chance to visit another timeline!”

Finally, Meng Mo Li returned to the Huanxing Continent but found that Lan Gu was no longer there. The truth was excruciating, and he didn’t know what to do. How could he handle this? In the end, Meng Mo Li chose to let himself be devoured by the dream, splitting himself into countless dreams, turning these dreams into reality, and then pursuing the footsteps of the Azure Dragon.

In one timeline after another, the dreams created by Meng Mo Li met the bones and scales of Lan Gu, and they knew, loved, and cherished each other.

To break free from the cycle, in the worlds of Li Meng and Wu Lan, Li Meng created Shui Lan, and through a wormhole, met Shu Shuishui, allowing Shui Lan to be successfully refined. Finally, Meng Mo Li and Lan Gu ended the endless cycle, and Gu Langu was actually the last piece of Lan Gu, the only bone left.

Seeing this truth for the first time, Mang Ya was a bit dazed. This was probably the most gruesome truth he had ever seen. But somehow, he felt that it was all worth it.

Mang Ya finally smiled and thought to himself that he had worried too much. The voice of Xie Feng calling him for dinner came from outside, and Mang Ya responded, “I’m coming, Xiao Feng Feng~” This frightened Xie Feng, who rushed away.

—

In the year when the Seventh-dimensional Civilization arrived, officially known as the Seventh Year of the Apocalypse Era, after this year, Cang Zhan Star continuously bound individuals drifting in the turbulent currents of the outside world through the system. By completing tasks, it led them to a small asteroid on the Huanxing Continent.

Gradually, the development of the sub-systems became more and more sophisticated. Later on, even without binding with Mang Ya, the sub-systems began to develop their own intelligence and personalities.

The little frog began to send sub-systems to other dimensions for tasks. In other words, the binders were no longer limited to the Cang Zhan and Xian Ge Galaxies. This was done to welcome more outsiders and talents and to seek technological breakthroughs and innovations. After all, to stay ahead of the Seventh-dimensional Civilization, they couldn’t afford to stand still.

Things naturally progressed with their fair share of setbacks. For example, the first batch of sub-systems sent to other dimensions initially ended up in parallel universes instead. This system was bound with Mang Ya, and while everyone wasn’t worried about its safety, there were some concerns. It wasn’t until they re-established contact with the sub-system and learned that it had taken root on a planet called Qing Star, Mang Ya even developed a high-end villa area called Dream Star River. The system made new friends there, rumored to be a fish with a beautiful singing voice, and it was excited to introduce them to everyone.

Because that parallel universe wasn’t the originally designated dimension, the sub-system couldn’t return, so it decided to establish itself in that dimension. Later on, it even became a local deity.

This could be considered a blessing in disguise, but there were also some timid sub-systems. One day, one of them suddenly came back crying, claiming that it had been beaten by someone!

The people in the Shui Jing Gong were greatly surprised. Who could be so powerful? The little frog even shouted that it would find justice for its offspring. However, traversing time and space was no easy task. Soon enough, the system came running again, crying, saying that the person who beat it was chasing after it!

Everyone was shocked! This person could actually traverse time and space; they couldn’t underestimate them.

As they approached with caution and vigilance, they saw a furry, round-bodied rat sitting there, impatiently tapping the ground with its sharp claws.

Everyone stared in disbelief. So, it was just a mouse that had beaten up the sub-system, and it even managed to traverse time and space to find them!

Before they could inquire about the situation, Shu Shuishui suddenly shrank in size, turning into a dormouse, and swiftly ran over while shouting, “Shu Bao! Shu Bao! I missed you so much!”

The two mice immediately rolled together on the ground, and everyone watched as one mouse clung to the other’s thigh while cuddling intimately.

That day, Gu Langu’s face turned black. When he attempted to tear apart the two mice, he received a fierce glare from both of them. The two mice went into the house and began whispering to each other.

Once inside, Shu Bao tossed a small package to Shu Shuishui. “You even lose the presents you’re given. Have you finally become rich enough to throw them away?”

Shu Shuishui quickly denied, “No, no! I just slept for a while and then found myself in another dimension. I didn’t have time to take them. It’s great to have these; I really like them.” Although Shu Bao’s sense of aesthetics was always about gold and wealth, Shu Shuishui genuinely liked these items. When he first arrived at Cang Zhan Star, he regretted not having them for a long time.

“Did Shu Bao find his brothers?” Shu Shuishui remembered Shu Bao’s original goal before leaving.

Shu Bao’s expression finally relaxed. “I found them. It turns out they all have partners now. We even went back to Earth together to see our parents, which can be considered resolving a lingering concern.”

“So, how did Shu Bao find me?”

“Thanks to that system. It actually tried to sell me roasted grasshoppers, and the taste was very familiar. I asked about your situation, but it was stubborn and wouldn’t talk. Well, I gave it a good beating, and when it returned through the space-time, I followed its time-travel trail here.” Shu Bao casually explained.

Shu Shuishui: “…” So, the little system got beaten up because of this. I should compensate it with a couple of roasted grasshoppers sometime.

“Shu Bao, Shu Bao, tell me how Earth is now? How are your brothers? What are the other dimensions like?” Shu Shuishui bombarded Shu Bao with one question after another, expecting a long conversation between the two mice.

Shu Bao didn’t stay on Cang Zhan Star for too long. However, his talent for treasure hunting was exceptional. He said he would visit Shu Shuishui more often in the future. As he spoke, he muttered to himself under Gu Langu’s cold gaze, “Why are all these partners I found so stingy?”

A disgruntled Gu Langu: “…”

In the two days following Shu Bao’s departure, Shu Shuishui felt somewhat down. Gu Langu did his best to take him on various trips, traveling between Cang Zhan Star and the Huanxing Continent. Eventually, Shu Shuishui managed to forget the sadness of parting.

Looking at Gu Langu beside him, Shushuishui smiled. “Gu Gu, don’t worry. Shu Bao is gone, and I do miss him a bit, but with you by my side, I’m never alone. After all, I belong to Gu Gu.”

Gu Langu smiled, and the jar of jealousy in his heart finally settled and was sealed tight.

The two of them nestled together on a beautiful planet, sitting by the sea and watching the sunrise. The newborn sun was orange-red, resembling a yolk soaked in oil. “Gu Gu, let’s raise a few ducks, and later we can have roasted sweet potatoes.”

Gu Langu nodded, his chin resting on Shu Shuishui’s head. “Sure, and add a couple of roasted grasshoppers.”

Translator’s corner:

Finally! Shu Bao appeared again T-T Although it was just for a short while huhu…

And that’s it! Shui Shui and Gu Gu’s story ends here. Thank you so much for reading. I hope you enjoyed their journey. Don’t forget to support the original author here. See ya on my other projects~

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