Pov Lu Qingyao
BOOM!
Fireworks exploded across the sky, painting the city in gold and green.
I looked up, mesmerized.
Their glow lit the river, the city, the bridge… and the silhouette of Wu Tian beside me.
'So beautiful…'
Then a thought surfaced—unbidden.
'Was this… planned by him?'
He had lived in this city for a long time. Fireworks of this scale only appeared during New Year… and this wasn't New Year.
'Did he… prepare this for me?'
My heartbeat stumbled.
I didn't think this was a coincidence. I just couldn't believe he had… taken this night so seriously.
When he suddenly grabbed my hand, I froze.
Silence.
My blood felt like it stopped flowing.
My hand reacted faster than my mind—pulling away, too startled… and too afraid to give a hope I could never return.
"M-Mister Wu… I…"
I wanted to explain.
To tell him I didn't hold those kinds of feelings for him.
That this closeness… shouldn't be misunderstood.
But before I could speak, he called out softly.
"Qingyao… let's enjoy the fireworks together."
His voice was warm—honest—without pressure. And somehow, that made it even harder to say anything.
I lowered my gaze, holding my breath.
"…Yes. Let's watch them."
I was touched by his kindness—there was no denying that. But being moved… did not mean I wanted to go further.
Before I could say more, he repeated gently.
"Qingyao… let's enjoy the fireworks together."
That tone… warm. Not demanding, not like those who saw me as a duty or an ornament of my family.
And because of that warmth, my heart trembled ever so slightly.
I bowed my head, breathing softly.
"…Yes. Let's watch them."
I said it not because I wanted this relationship to deepen—but because I didn't want to shatter this moment with a truth too sharp.
We stood side by side, watching fireworks bloom across the sky. The last burst shimmered like the petals of a spiritual flower drifting through the night.
Behind the small smile on my lips…
there was a gentle weight pressing on my chest.
Not the weight of affection. But the weight of knowing I was touched by his sincerity… yet still unable to let this go any further.
Wu Tian was a good man. Too good, even. It was too easy to feel appreciated around him.
And that… made me want to keep more distance.
I didn't want him to misunderstand. Didn't want him to keep pursuing me simply because I didn't know the perfect way to refuse.
I was moved… but I didn't want closeness. Warm… but not in the way he hoped. Tonight was beautiful… but it didn't change my heart.
I only hoped my smile didn't make him believe something was growing between us. Because whatever he saw on my face right now…
…was not love.
Wu tian Pov
Wu Tian walked alone along the cobblestone road, the dimming lanterns of the night accompanying him.
The air was cold, yet his thoughts remained warm from the moment he had just experienced.
He exhaled slowly and nodded to himself.
"Five more days left at the inn…" he murmured as he walked toward it.
Inside his mind, Soul Reaver's mocking voice echoed.
"She rejected you."
Wu Tian only smiled faintly. "No. I stopped her before she could say it. As long as she hasn't spoken the rejection, it means I haven't been rejected."
"Hah… pathetic reasoning." Soul Reaver sounded resigned. "Do you like her that much? If so, why not just wash her mind clean? I have a technique for that."
Wu Tian halted, expression hardening. "Are you insane? I'd never do that to Lu Qingyao."
"Oh? So you truly have feelings." Soul Reaver chuckled darkly. "Remember—women will only drag you into disaster."
Wu Tian let out a light laugh. "Feelings? Not that deep. I'm just… interested. She's amusing, pleasant to look at. That's all."
But his smile faded, replaced by curiosity.
"But anyway… you mentioned a mind-washing technique? What kind? And do you have other spiritual arts?"
The demonic sword sighed in exasperation. "Of course. If you want the Mind-Wash Technique, the requirement is simple, consume hundreds of human brains. That's merely the first stage."
Wu Tian grimaced. "Right. I forgot you're a demonic artifact. Absolutely not."
Soul Reaver continued unfazed. "Fine, then here's another technique. Suits a human with strong spiritual power like you. No disgusting requirements."
Wu Tian raised a brow.
Soul Reaver's tone grew serious. "This technique draws on your understanding of emotions. The deeper your grasp of joy, fear, sorrow, anger—the more real the illusions you can create."
"Illusions?"
"Not just illusions," Soul Reaver corrected.
"These illusions can trap others within their own minds, manifest visions in the real world, and with enough power… even inflict physical wounds. Emotions become weapons. Your inner world becomes a battlefield."
Wu Tian paused. His eyes sharpened.
"Good. Very good. What's the name?"
The sword seemed to smile, voice low and grand.
"This art is called—『Soul-Reaving Dream』—The Emotion-Woven Illusion Technique."
Wu Tian repeated it softly. "…Soul-Reaving Dream. Fitting."
He reached the inn and sat cross-legged once inside his room. Under the soft candlelight, he opened the technique scroll Soul Reaver projected into his mind.
Hundreds of diagrams, chants, and pathways of mental qi unfolded like a web of stars.
Wu Tian took a deep breath. "Alright, Let's begin."
And that night, beneath the quiet of the city, Wu Tian took his first step toward an illusion art capable of shattering a person's soul.
In his inner world, he floated in a pitch-black void.
"Oh… I thought I'd appear in my sea of consciousness. So the inner world and the sea of consciousness are different," Wu Tian mused.
"According to Soul Reaver, I need to recall strong emotions to start practicing the Soul-Reaving Dream."
Wu Tian recalled the things that once made him happy, afraid, angry.
The pitch-black world shifted—like a screen replaying memories.
First, he saw himself earning big money at a young age, satisfaction lit up his face.
Then the scene shifted to him watching a horror movie, faint tension lingering.
Next came the moment he was furious because someone altered his code, breaking the system he built, forcing him to reread thousands of lines code.
But though the images were vivid… he couldn't feel the emotions anymore.
Wu Tian sighed.
He could remember—but he couldn't feel.
So he dug deeper. Farther into the past.
His inner world trembled… and shifted again.
Wu Tian now sat in the VIP room of an upscale restaurant—quiet, warmly lit, sound-proofed, with a single round table in the center.
A thin candle burned, and untouched dishes lay neatly arranged.
Across from him sat a girl—someone who once meant so much to him.
Wu Tian smiled softly, genuinely happy at the start of that memory.
But the smile faded the moment the girl spoke.
"In three days… I'm getting engaged."
Author: Alright everyone, I have two routes here. first, a semi-NTR version based on real story with a twist, the second, a version with absolutely no NTR at all. Which one do you want?
Note: If there is no response don't blame me for being cruel (TO LATE)😈😈😈
just kiding 😇 😇 😇