191. The Witch's Cursed Kiss
"I had a dream."
"In my dream, I was the librarian and scribe."
"I met my first friend."
"I was drinking coffee with people from the former Lobotomy Corporation."
"In a million-year cycle, when I was within reach of my dream..."
"I gave up."
"I...wanted to break the cycle of fate."
"But I woke up...and what I saw after waking was far more...outrageous than the dream." As Angela finished writing in her diary, there was a gentle knock on her door.
"Angela, are you awake?" It was Carmen's voice, coming through the door.
"Maybe she's still sleeping? After all, she was quite busy at work yesterday." Ein's voice followed, tinged with hesitation.
Angela's gaze fell on the door, as if she could see through the wood and into the two figures standing side by side outside.
As she hesitated about how to respond, Carly's voice came from outside the window: "No, she's awake, writing in her journal!"
"I think...we should respect her privacy, shouldn't we?" Michelle's gentle admonition rang out.
Angela turned her head at the sound of her voice and saw Carly casually hanging from her windowsill with one hand, a half-eaten piece of bread in her other.
Seeing that Angela's gaze had finally focused on her, Carly said, "Yo! Time to go, we've been waiting for you!" Before the words were even finished, she let go, her figure falling cleanly from the windowsill.
Angela stared at the empty window, took a deep breath, and felt a complex, indescribable emotion surge in her chest. She looked down, her gaze returning to the open diary, and finally, below the passage about dreams and reality, she wrote the last line forcefully and clearly:
[Even if it's absurd, this is reality.] —I was in the thick of it.
She stood up, walked to the door, and opened it.
Outside the door. Carmen, Ein, Ilya, Gabriel, Michelle, Giovanni, Lisa, Carly, Gallion, Benjamin… faces so familiar, etched into her memory. The people from Lobotomy Corporation stood at her door, as if welcoming a latecomer.
"Come on, Angela," Carmen, standing at the front, smiled and extended her hand. "They're waiting for us again."
Angela slowly raised her hand. When her fingertips touched Carmen's warm palm and were firmly grasped, Carmen's smile blossomed, dazzling like sunlight breaking through the clouds.
"Let's go!" she announced loudly, then, without another word, grabbed Angela's hand and, like a gust of wind, left the others at the door behind, running straight off in a certain direction.
Ein and the others, who remained behind, exchanged glances, shrugged helplessly, and then followed.
"Yo! Everyone, you didn't have to wait long!" Carmen, pulling Angela along, stopped in front of a spacious bus that had been waiting for a while, greeting the people on and off the bus with great enthusiasm.
"Not yet," the Tarnished mumbled, leaning against the door and munching on a bun, "We still have a lazy dog here who hasn't arrived yet."
Carmen's gaze quickly swept across the gathered crowd; she understood: "Xiling hasn't arrived yet?"
Ein, who had just arrived, explained, "His divinity and evil have completely merged; he needs an adjustment period. Right now... he's probably still adjusting."
Dan Heng, standing nearby, frowned slightly: "Won't there be any interference?"
"No." A calm, emotionless voice came from the other side of the street.
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Xiling walking slowly towards them.
Everyone looked at Xiling now. Compared to before, he had changed drastically. It wasn't a change in his facial features, but rather a transformation of his very essence, an inner and outer quality.
His once short hair had grown to waist-length, flowing smoothly, a length that seemed to symbolize the accumulation and growth of some kind of power.
But what was most striking was his aura.
Even in broad daylight, Xiling seemed to radiate a strange radiance from within, imperceptible yet clearly perceptible to the naked eye. It wasn't a blinding light, but a warm, pure presence. Even more peculiar was that anyone who approached him within a certain range would feel a joy stemming from an innate life force.
Then, a very strange scene unfolded.
Kevin tried to recall the saddest thing in his life, then walked to Xiling's side, but instantly couldn't help himself; a happy smile spread across his face.
"No, no… I really can't control myself!" Kevin quickly took a few steps back, escaping the invisible aura of joy.
"This is normal," Ein explained calmly, observing the scene.
"Even though the core Seed of Light has been launched, the prolonged and deep contact with it in order to contaminate it has inevitably imbued Xiling's very being with some of the Seed of Light's characteristics."
"Don't worry about it." Xiling's voice remained as steady as ever, as if discussing a trivial matter unrelated to him.
"Time will heal all wounds. Let's go on our… road trip." He didn't linger, leading the way to the bus door.
Lemuen also smiled and called to everyone, "Everyone, get on the bus."
Kevin nodded, then saw someone get on the bus, walk straight to the steering wheel, immediately rush onto the bus, and pull the other person to the back seat.
"I'm very rational now, you can trust me more." Xiling's calm gaze met Kevin's.
"We'll talk about it another time," Kevin replied expressionlessly.
He, Kevin, had sworn to everyone that as long as he was alive, he would never let this guy touch the steering wheel!
People boarded the bus one after another.
This was a grand gathering spanning two generations of forces involved in the project—the former planners, Lobotomy Corporation, and the latter planners, Fire Moth.
The bus had three comfortable rows of seats. Angela sat in the middle row, Carmen by the window, and Ein on the outer side.
As the bus started moving, with a slight sway, Angela's hand, resting on her lap, unconsciously curled slightly, a barely perceptible unease flashing in her eyes.
Just then, a warm hand gently covered the back of her hand.
Carmen turned her head, looking at her with concern: "What's wrong, Angela? Are you feeling a little carsick?"
"...No, I'm fine," Angela shook her head gently, her voice low, "It's just...a little...not quite used to it yet."
She gazed at the scenery rushing past the window, as if confirming the tangible touch.
Carmen smiled and said, "Then you'll have to work even harder to get used to it."
"After all, we still have a very, very long time... to spend together."
Angela nodded slightly, as if an invisible burden had been lifted.
Their companions around them, whether it was Ilya and Gabriel in the front row, or Michelle and Benjamin in the back, all smiled subtly, their eyes revealing genuine relief.
In the back row by the window, Xiling's gaze also returned to the scenery outside. He quietly watched the figure in front of him, a slight smile playing on his lips.
His clear eyes reflected the warmth of the carriage and the vast world outside.
"This ending... is good, isn't it?" A silent whisper flowed in his heart.
New City.
Seven days have passed since the Seed of Light ascended and bloomed.
The City's appearance has undergone an unimaginable transformation.
People experienced a grand dream, a long dream called "life."
In this dream, there were no longer chasms of back alleys and nests; everyone was an ordinary person. Birth, education, growth, choices… After traversing these inevitable paths, they each found their heart's desire. And at the moment their long-cherished wish was fulfilled, the dream vanished like morning dew.
Zhuangzi dreamed he was a butterfly, or was the butterfly dreaming it was Zhuangzi? Did they themselves transform into a dreamlike bubble, or did the bubble reflect their true selves?
Time will reveal the answer.
However, one thing is certain: the clear goal in the dream—the starlight called dreams or ideals—has been imprinted in everyone's heart.
From then on, they had a direction to move forward.
But Xiling's gaze remained fixed on the depths of the sky.
The crisis in The City was far from over.
He had indeed driven away the Outer Gods who coveted this place, keeping them far from the planet, but this did not mean they would submit.
The Abyss, too, had temporarily gone into hiding after that earth-shattering battle.
However, Xiling was absolutely certain: they would one day return.
When would that day come? No one knew.
"And..." he withdrew his gaze, silently reciting, "Our journey is not over either. When that day comes, both the high-hanging stars and the lurking abyss will likely taste bitterness."
The group was on a month-long road trip, starting from Nest A. The scenery flowed past the car window, and all sorts of people brushed past them.
At this moment, inside a roadside beverage shop.
"Hey, Ein," Carmen whispered in Ein's ear, glancing at the distance, "Look over there…isn't the atmosphere there a little awkward?"
Ein glanced over discreetly, nodding knowingly. Carmen's eyes lit up instantly, sparkling with curiosity.
Beside "Kyuushou," a soft mutter came from next to Luo Tianyi, "Don't you think…something's weird over there? Am I being too sensitive?"
"Absolutely not!" Luo Tianyi nodded firmly, a barely perceptible blush rising on her cheeks.
"Hey, Tarnished," Kevin nudged theTarnished beside him with his elbow, desperately trying to suppress a laugh, "if that guy gets hacked to pieces someday, what can we do?"
"Probably…just three minutes of silence?" The Tarnished feigned grief, but couldn't hide the twitching smile at the corners of his mouth.
Dan Heng glanced helplessly at the two of them, then turned his gaze to a table on the other side of the shop.
Five people sat around the table. Kiana, Lemuen, Elaina, Placidusax… and Xiling, the center of the storm.
Elaina and Lemuen smiled, their gazes silently meeting in the air.
As for Kiana?
Their gazes didn't seem to truly consider her.
What was Placidusax doing there? She was focused on enjoying her food, completely absorbed in it.
And Xiling? He was also eating calmly, seemingly oblivious to the strange atmosphere surrounding him. He even picked up a mouthful of noodles, looked up, and asked casually, "Aren't you eating?"
"Yes," Elaina smiled, waving her staff. A few mushrooms floated lightly from her plate and landed steadily on Xiling's plate.
"It's just that I don't really like this."
Then, she began to eat her own meal. Lemuen chuckled softly at this sight.
"Heh, you've become more frank, haven't you?"
The moment the Seed of Light bloomed, the light that cleansed the city also shone upon each of them.
The core of the Divine Awakening lies in the enlightenment of "self," the fleeting brilliance being an eternal echo.
In that brief yet life-long baptism of light, they too were immersed in a dreamlike journey through life.
Those who successfully awaken to Divine Awakening have, in their dreams, faced their inner selves and made choices true to themselves. Their authentic selves.
Confronting their inner desires.
The journey continues, arriving at the U-Nest. The group, now in swimsuits, gazed at the clear, expansive lake before them, their faces beaming with excitement.
"Singularity Technology, truly awe-inspiring," the Tarnished exclaimed sincerely, then, clutching his swimming ring, jumped into the cool water with a "plop."
"Hmph! Useless landlubbers!" Kevin stood on the beach, pointing and gesturing at the figures splashing in the water, his face full of disdain.
"What are you laughing at!" The Tarnished surfaced from the water, responding with two middle fingers without hesitation.
"You can just sit there and play in the water, we'll play with this!" Kevin smugly pulled out a volleyball, weighed it in his hand, and casually bounced it. His gaze inadvertently swept across the water, meeting another person's eyes.
As the saying goes, the moment eyes meet, a silent challenge is declared.
The atmosphere on the beach instantly became tense. Everyone tacitly stepped back, clearing a space.
"Xiling," Kevin's voice deepened, tinged with seriousness, "Have you ever lost?"
Xiling selectively forgot the teachings of a certain skeleton soldier, crossed his arms, and replied coldly and confidently, "Never."
"Today, you'll lose on this beach!" Kevin roared, tossing the ball high into the air with a powerful spike! The volleyball tore through the air with a piercing shriek, breaking the sound barrier!
However, the next frame seemed to be edited out—with a soft "thud," the volleyball had mysteriously appeared on the sand at Kevin's feet, bouncing gently.
Kevin stared blankly at the ball at his feet.
Meanwhile, to Xiling's left and right, two hazy humanoid silhouettes quietly emerged.
One was bathed in pure, flawless divine light. The other was shrouded in a deep, dark, and twisted shadow.
"All beings pray: I hear the call, I witness the thirst, I grant your wishes. You offer your faith, and it becomes my...omnipotent power."
"All things are reversed: truth can be falsehood, falsehood can be truth; up is down, defeat is victory."
Xiling calmly pointed to the volleyball at Kevin's feet: "That ball, normally it should have landed on my side, but under the reversal of all things, it was reversed, so now, it's on your court."
"...Turn it off," Kevin waved his hand weakly.
"It's really pointless..."
---------
As evening approached, the orange-red afterglow dyed the beach a gentle gold. The group began to gather their scattered belongings, preparing to return to the hotel to find food and rest.
At this moment, Elaina gently tugged at Xiling's sleeve.
"Hey," she said softly, her gaze fixed on him, "Could you… walk with me for a while? Just the two of us."
Xiling met her eyes and, without much hesitation, nodded.
"Okay."
The two stepped onto the beach, one after the other.
Elaina took off her sandals, her bare white feet lightly treading on the soft sand, occasionally playfully kicking up a small clump.
Her hands were behind her back, her slender figure leaping in the golden-red light, while Xiling kept a half-step distance, quietly following behind.
Silence flowed between them, broken only by the gentle breath of the tide and the soft crunch of their feet on the sand.
They walked along the waterline for a long time, until the sky darkened, a deep blue-purple spreading across the horizon, and the first star quietly lit up.
"Huff…" Elaina seemed to have finally exhausted herself, and without warning, she sat down on the sand, curling her legs up. She patted the sand beside her, damp and dried by the lake, gesturing for Xiling to sit down.
Xiling silently sat down beside her, bringing a cool breeze.
The two stood side by side, gazing at the vast lake shimmering with tiny silver lights under the starlight.
Elaina rested her chin on her knees, hugging her calves, her gaze somewhat vacant, simply staring silently at the deep lake.
A cool breeze blew across the water.
"You should...see it all, right?" Elaina's voice was muffled, coming from between her knees.
The person beside her remained silent for a few seconds before giving a soft reply: "...Mm."
"Such a lukewarm reaction," Elaina turned her head slightly, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye, trying to mask her true feelings with her usual pride.
"I am a witch actress, possessing both beauty and talent!"
"..." Xiling paused, his gaze still fixed on the starlight on the distant lake.
"I should...not be bad either."
"Hmph, yes, yes, great savior," Elaina muttered softly, her shoulder unconsciously leaning slightly towards him, the fabric of their arms lightly touching. She buried her face deeper into her knees, her voice growing muffled, almost broken by the lake breeze:
"...Then...does this mean you...saw me completely naked, from head to toe, inside and out?"
"No." Xiling's answer was concise and firm.
"I only saw Elaina, a complete individual. That's all."
"A sophistry."
"You spied on a girl's most secret thoughts, didn't you?"
The images awakened by the light flooded her mind again—the ordinary self in her dreams, an ordinary trip, and then...one day, without warning, in an ordinary way...falling into the river called love, drifting downstream, until entering the ordinary hall of marriage...that ordinary happiness that made her heart pound erratically at this moment...
"Xiling."
"I'm here."
Elaina took a deep breath, as if making a decision.
She slowly raised her head, turned her body, and looked directly at the boy beside her.
Xiling seemed to sense her gaze and turned his head as well. Moonlight crept silently above the clouds, gently bathing them in its glow, casting two almost intertwined shadows on the beach.
Time seemed to stand still. Only their soft breaths and the murmur of the lake remained.
Elaina's eyelashes fluttered slightly.
As if drawn by the moonlight, or captured by some irresistible force, her body involuntarily and slowly leaned forward, with the inquisitive curiosity of a witch, and the timidity and resolve of a young girl's first encounter.
Under the silent witness of the moonlight, their lips met.
It was a fleeting moment, yet felt like an eternity. Elaina abruptly pulled back, covering her lips tightly with the back of her hand. Her delicate earlobes and cheeks flushed an undeniable blush in the hazy moonlight, and even her neck turned pink. She dared not look Xiling in the eye again, and forced a hint of pride, tinged with a touch of vengefulness, characteristic of a genius witch:
"This...this is a witch's first kiss! And...a cursed kiss! Remember this well!"
With that, she stood up, not even bothering to brush the sand off her skirt, and stumbled away towards the brightly lit hotel in the distance, her gray hair flying wildly in the night wind.
On the beach, only Xiling remained seated, and behind her, the vast lake, its surface shimmering in the moonlight.
After a long while, Xiling raised his hand and gently touched his slightly cool lips.
There, a trace of that strange, soft touch seemed to linger.