Young Prime Minister, a Hermit - Chapter 159
"The sins of the world must be ignited by the flames of Brahma, enduring through a thousand lifetimes and countless calamities, until their souls are finally extinguished. The Star Souls of the Heavenly Star Flowing Sword Sect must be people of unwavering will and hearts as hard as iron. They possess the power to destroy the world, approaching the level of the Grim Reaper Taragan, and will spare no effort to divide and unite the world, only to divide it again. As if watching a game, they coldly observe the common people struggling and wailing in misery."
"All those who aspire to supremacy on the continent of Ishu believe that Xinghun of the Tianxing School and Chifei, the Son of God, are rare and capable generals and advisors. If one of them is obtained, the world can be settled; if both are obtained, an eternal dynasty can be established. However, they do not know that Xinghun is the person closest to the demon and Chifei is the person closest to the god. When the two are in the same court, black and white are mutually reinforcing and mutually restraining, and what they will stir up will be a raging storm that will overturn the entire continent of Ishu."
Yu Fei understood what she was saying, but it was like gibberish to Galan. She couldn't help but yawn, and Yu Fei chuckled. His voice also carried a hint of amusement: "I'll keep it short. This generation of Star Souls is the ninth generation. Nine marks the end of a cycle, but it will also give rise to the beginning of a new one. In other words, this generation of Star Souls is both demon and human, and will determine the fate of the Ishu Continent for the next thousand years."
Yufei heard his own slightly heavy and disordered breathing, and heard himself slowly ask, "If she doesn't go back, who will be the next Star Soul?"
The already dim lights in the room suddenly went out for a moment, then came back on, as if the person controlling them had suddenly lost control due to mental confusion. After a long while, she finally said, "It's Liu Cenfeng."
Her voice trembled slightly, and upon closer listening, it seemed to contain unspeakable guilt and remorse: "Originally, the Tianxing Sect should have smoothly ended in the hands of this generation's Star Soul—Feng Yihan, and Liu Cenfeng's life should have ended in the 768th year of the Wanli era. However... I simply couldn't believe at the time that the reincarnation of this generation's Divine Child would be a woman..."
Yu Fei interrupted her with a cold laugh: "So you took it upon yourself to send both of them to the Ishu Continent?"
"I'm sorry..." the voice apologized softly, "I really didn't expect to cause them so much suffering, and I never imagined that it would indirectly change the fate of the continent of Ishu."
"If the Divine Child does not return before October of this year, nothing can be changed."
Yu Fei leaned back in the crystal chair, gently closing his eyes. In the dim light, the veins on his pale skin seemed to pulsate beneath. After a long while, he opened his eyes and said coldly, "You caused this mess yourself. What does it have to do with her? Why should she clean up your mess?"
“Young Master Han… I will naturally be punished, and that is what I deserve.” The voice softened from gentle to tender, showing no resentment when speaking of punishment. “However, Young Master was once a citizen of the Ishu Continent. Can you really watch your homeland fall apart? Moreover, there is at least one person who is definitely not unrelated to her. Do you know why I said that after October, it will be too late?”
After a moment of silence, Yufei said calmly, "Go on."
“Because he only gave himself five years to wait,” she said, emphasizing each word. “Once five years are up, he will give up all hope, and even… give up his life.”
A muffled thud, not loud, but like a hammer blow to the heart. When Yufei turned around, he only saw Galan slowly collapsing to the ground.
He screamed and rushed over to hug her, a wave of fear and regret washing over him. He shouldn't have brought Galan here. She could have lived well in this world; why did he bring her here? Why did he have to make her recall that excruciating pain?
"It's no use." The voice trembled slightly, its originally gentle tone becoming hoarse for some reason. "If Galan stays in this world, she will never be able to escape loneliness, contradictions, and pain. Because of forgetting, she cannot reject your and Xu Lie's feelings, but because of forgetting, she has engraved that name deep in her heart, and will never be able to truly love anyone else. The pain will only intensify as the entanglement deepens."
“You should let her go back,” she whispered. “It’s her destiny as a goddess…”
"Shut up!!" Yu Fei roared, "What do you mean by fate?! Which god ordained that she deserved to suffer so much torment and harm?!"
“Young Master Han…” The voice suddenly interrupted him, “This was also her own choice… She chose to love the people of that world, and chose to stay there at all costs, without any regrets… Just like you back then, choosing to scatter your soul to save her.”
"These are all your own choices."
Yufei suddenly felt weak. He bent down and gently picked up the woman on the ground, walking step by step outside.
The woman's soft voice still echoed gently in the room: "If she leaves here, she will forget everything we said, but the pain caused by the despair of longing in her subconscious will not disappear."
Before leaving the Crystal House, Yu Fei vaguely heard the woman's voice, which suddenly became clear and no longer gentle and melodious, but instead exuded infinite calmness and resilience, yet was exceptionally pleasant to the ear: "Han Zimo, the past is the past, and the present is the present. The same decision, even if wrong back then, may be right now. Don't let guilt blind you. You should know what she truly wants and which path she should take!"
“Galan… Qin Luo is much stronger than you imagine.”
Chapter 5 Design
Some say that time is like a river, with unforgettable memories on the left bank, precious youth on the right bank, and the subtle sadness of youth flowing swiftly in the middle.
Vodka is a very strong liquor; even Xu Lie would pass out after only two bottles. Let alone Galan, who never drinks, who drank two full glasses.
Galan lay quietly on the table, her cheeks flushed, facing him, breathing evenly. In the blink of an eye, she was fast asleep. Xu Lie reached out, his fingertips gently tracing her forehead, bridge of her nose, and slightly flushed face, finally resting on her small, red lips.
"Galan..." Xu Lie called her softly, but Galan only uttered a muffled sound and didn't even change her posture.
Xu Lie's breathing gradually quickened; he didn't know if it was from the alcohol or something else, but his breath became fiery hot. He lowered his head and gently touched her lips, pecking at her again and again.
He actually knew that Galan would get drunk, and he should have stopped her from drinking, but he didn't. Instead, he watched with a sense of excitement and anticipation as she choked on the clear liquid, her face flushed, her eyes glazed over as she looked at him, seemingly deeply moved.
Xu Lie, you're getting more and more despicable. He said this to himself in his heart, then held the back of Galan's head with one hand and deepened the kiss until Galan struggled unconsciously due to lack of oxygen, then he let go.
His lips, red and luscious from the kisses, seemed to burn from his body into his being, a surge of heat coursing through his lower abdomen. The alcohol intensified his excitement, his breathing becoming rapid and eager, like a ravenous beast impatiently devouring its thirsty prey.
Xu Lie knew he wanted Jialan, the woman who was already his wife, and he didn't want to wait a moment longer. He knew what he was doing was despicable; marital rape was a shameful act he would never have considered before. However, when he saw Jialan's packed luggage in her room that morning, his anger flared up. The hatred of betrayal and the pain of abandonment caused a string of reason in his mind to snap.
He wanted to keep Garan by his side at all costs, even if it meant incurring her hatred.
Xu Lie swayed as he straightened up. It was pitch black outside the window, but a cool breeze, carrying a chill, blew in through the half-open glass. September had arrived in the blink of an eye. Seven months had passed since he returned from Lausanne, Switzerland, and since Jialan regained her sight. Yet, seven months felt so short—so short that the revenge was over, Fan Yingying was imprisoned, Shao Jun was utterly disgraced, and Jialan packed her bags, determined to leave his home, all within what seemed like mere hours.
Xu Lie still remembers that day clearly. It was a grand occasion in the entertainment industry, the day that Xia Yan, a darling of the film and television circle, got engaged to his first love, Fan Yingying, who had waited for him for many years. Xu Tian Group's most prominent businesses are chain supermarkets, followed by real estate and entertainment companies. So, on that day, Xu Lie attended with Jialan, a prominent figure in the business world.
Dressed in a black tuxedo and a well-tailored suit, Xia Yan looked handsome and dashing, complementing Fan Yingying in a dark purple evening gown beside him. From a distance, they looked like a perfect couple. Xu Lie seized an opportunity to raise his glass to Xia Yan from afar. Xia Yan downed his drink in one gulp, revealing a cold smile.
Time passed slowly, and the engagement banquet was about to end. Xu Lie remained calm and composed, knowing that what was meant to happen would eventually come. As he thought this, the male and female protagonists, the focus of millions of people's attention, appeared before them.
Fan Yingying smiled sweetly and extended her hand to Jialan: "I didn't expect you to come, Lanlan."
Galan frowned slightly. Fan Yingying glanced at Xu Lie, smiled nonchalantly, took the wine from the waiter's hand, and said loudly, "Lanlan, I know there are some misunderstandings between us, but I really cherish you as a friend."
Because of Fan Yingying's deliberately raised voice, everyone's eyes were drawn to her. Fan Yingying's face showed a nostalgic sadness and a sincere plea: "Lanlan, if you still have any regard for our friendship, drink this glass of wine, and we can still be good friends."
As she spoke, she handed the wine to Jialan. Xu Lie sneered inwardly, but saw Jialan slowly walk over. In an instant, Fan Yingying turned to block Xia Yan and the guests' view. Just as Jialan was closest to her, she suddenly flipped her wrist and poured the entire glass of wine over herself, then screamed "Ah—!"
Her sexy red lips pursed slightly, revealing a barely perceptible, eerie smile, which she quickly concealed, replacing it with a tearful expression: "Lanlan, why... why did you do this to me? I just wanted to cherish you as a friend!"
Xu Lie had been coldly observing everything until Fan Yingying's tearful accusation rang out. Everyone turned their accusatory and disgusted gazes towards Jialan, looking at her as if she were a wicked woman jealous of her friend's meteoric rise. Xu Lie felt as if his entire body was on fire, a chilling murderous intent spreading through his heart. This woman had destroyed his family, killed his child, and dared to frame Jialan right in front of him; she truly deserved to die a thousand times over.
However, how could I have been deceived by such a woman, wronged Garan, and abandoned him? Shouldn't I, who was so foolish, have died even more?
"Galan." Xu Lie quickly stepped forward and put his arm around him, his cold gaze sweeping over the onlookers one by one, until he saw Xia Yan with a half-smile, and Fan Yingying, whose face was slightly pale but who was trying to remain calm.
Few people at the scene were unfamiliar with Xu Lie, and few were unafraid of Xu Tian's power. Therefore, everyone remained silent, allowing an eerie stillness to permeate the banquet hall. Those who initially believed that Jia Lan had thrown wine at Fan Yingying out of jealousy knew they were terribly wrong. As the wife of Xu Tian's sole heir, why should others be the only ones to envy her?
“I certainly wouldn’t do that to you.” A clear voice suddenly broke the silence without a care. Garan smiled faintly, took another glass of wine from the waiter’s tray, and said loudly, “This is what I would do to you.”
Galan casually splashed the wine in her hand, landing precisely on Fan Yingying's face and head. The red wine dripped down her deliberately curled hair, down her face, and into her sexy low-cut neckline.