...
Seeing Ah Yin's stunned expression, Xuan Hao toned down his teasing and became serious:
"Anyway, you already know the truth about those messy things from back then. Reality is cruel, and you definitely can't go back to that self-deceiving life you used to live."
"If that's the case, why don't you just stay here with me instead of going back?"
"Look at Sister Arou. After she sacrificed herself for me, isn't she happy every day now, living in her soul bone?
I'm also taking good care of Xiaowu; no one dares to bully her.
Moreover, once I reach that level in the future, I will definitely find a way to completely resurrect Sister Arou, and even you.
Then, we can all live happily together like a family.
What's wrong with that?"
Seeing Xuan Hao's rosy blueprint for a future "sleeping together under the same blanket" family life, Ah Yin was so angry that her body and mind trembled.
She gritted her teeth and cursed with contempt, "Beast!"
"Thank you for the compliment. When it comes to relationships, I've never denied that I'm a beast."
Xuan Hao wasn't angry at all; instead, he shrugged calmly.
"But apart from being a little greedy and shameless when it comes to women, what else have I done wrong?
Have I been bad to everyone?"
"I gave everyone the security, protection and resources they wanted, and I received the companionship and love I wanted in return."
"Ah Yin, I am actually a person who is very empty inside and extremely lacks love.
I long for many people around me to love me, care about me, and revolve around me.
In order to get this love and companionship, I am willing to give up many things that are unimaginable to ordinary people, and I am willing to do anything."
"I don't think there's anything wrong with what I'm doing. If it's something I want, I'll do whatever it takes to get it without hurting the other party."
"Of course, my non-harm policy only applies to my 'own people' whom I care about.
As for others, those insignificant people, I don't care about their lives or feelings at all.
If I have the capacity, I might take care of them; but if not, I would never wrong myself for the sake of others."
"I would never pretend to be a morally superior saint, and I disdain putting on those hypocritical facades."
"That's just who I am. Savage, violent, greedy, and ruthless in achieving my goals.
So even if you still resist me and hate me now, I will never force you or hurt you... but I will still try every other way to manipulate and wear you down until you willingly nod your head."
Hearing these shocking words, which could be described as "the ultimate villain's self-analysis," Ah Yin fell completely silent.
She simply couldn't understand this twisted yet logically consistent thought process: "You already have so many outstanding girls around you, and they all like you so much... Isn't that enough?
Why do you have to target me?"
"Not enough. There's no way we could have enough."
A barely perceptible hint of gloom flashed in Xuan Hao's eyes.
"You are also a being who has lived for 100,000 years. You should also understand that kind of emptiness that goes deep into your bones.
That kind of... the feeling of not getting what you wanted and needed most when you did, and the immense sense of loss that you can never fill even if you later have the power to get the whole world."
"To fill this void is my greatest purpose in life."
"If one day I give up even this little pursuit, then I might really not care about anything and just want to destroy this boring world along with myself."
Ah Yin looked at him in disbelief:
"Could it be... that even the girls who love you wholeheartedly can't give you the fulfillment you truly desire?"
"I can't give it to them." Xuan Hao shook his head.
"None of them can. Because none of them can truly understand me.
Even Na'er, who has the strongest mental strength and the most insightful perspective, only has a superficial understanding."
"I stood in front of them like a mountain, giving them a sense of security.
But they couldn't give me the same sense of security.
I also worry, and I also have moments of fear.
But I would never tell them."
"Because telling them is useless; it will only add to their troubles, and there's no need for it at all."
Ah Yin pointed to her illusory spiritual body in confusion:
"Since they can't give it to me, do you think... I can?"
"Maybe it will work, maybe it won't," Xuan Hao shrugged.
"But I have to try to find out."
"To avoid missing out, to avoid future regrets... the best way is to grasp everything you can see firmly in your own hands.
This is my unchanging life motto."
Looking into Xuan Hao's stubborn yet honest eyes, Ah Yin's anger inexplicably subsided a little, leaving only a weak sigh:
"But... I really don't have the mood to think about what you're saying right now.
After experiencing so much deception and betrayal, I'm feeling very sad and confused right now."
"I don't need you to make any decisions right now, nor do I need you to respond to me immediately."
Xuan Hao stood up.
"Just don't act like a hedgehog, deliberately keeping your distance from me and pretending to be deaf and dumb."
"You're unhappy, but that's a small problem. I can make you happy again."
Upon hearing Xuan Hao's words and seeing the familiar wicked smile on his lips, A Yin suddenly felt a sense of foreboding.
Make her happy?
What is this beast trying to do?!
"I've always been really good at making girls happy, you have to believe me."
Xuan Hao extended a hand, extending an invitation.
"So, would you be willing to put aside your worries for a while and go for a walk with me?"
Looking at his outstretched hand, and recalling his earlier vicious threat of "dream invasion," Ah Yin hesitated for a long time before finally gritting her teeth and agreeing.
There was nothing she could do; she was genuinely afraid that Xuan Hao, this ruthless devil with no bottom line, might actually come over in the middle of the night to play some kind of perverted dream invasion!
This shameless beast... he's really capable of doing it!
Xuan Hao chuckled and skillfully took out the huge flowerpot from his storage soul tool, carefully putting Ah Yin back in with the soil still attached.
Then, he revealed the Qiankun Ring capable of storing living things.
However, just before he was about to put the flowerpot away, Xuan Hao suddenly stopped and made an additional request.
"Before we go in, we need to establish some substantial contact."
Xuan Hao pointed to the finger on which he wore the Qiankun Ring and said matter-of-factly, "You need to extend your Blue Silver Emperor Vine a little bit and wrap it tightly around this finger of mine."
"Don't even think about it!"
Ah Yin instantly became alert, her spiritual form glaring at him with shame and anger.
"You... what kind of lewd trick are you planning to pull now?!"
"Hey, hey, hey, don't think of people in such a dirty way, okay?"
Xuan Hao rolled his eyes helplessly and patiently explained, "Although this Qiankun Ring can hold living things, it is still a closed and independent space.
It's pitch black inside and you can't see anything.
If you wrap the vine around my hand, our spiritual power can establish a stable two-way connection."
"That way, I can share all the scenery I see, the people I meet, and the things I experience with you in real time through mental communication."
Xuan Hao raised an eyebrow.
"And you can chat with me in your mind anytime, anywhere, just like Sister Arou.
I'm just trying to be kind by connecting you with the 'internet' so you won't get bored inside alone.
Don't bite the hand that feeds you."
Hearing Xuan Hao's seemingly considerate but actually controlling explanation, A Yin felt extremely unwilling.
She knew perfectly well that this guy was using this as an excuse to indirectly "bind" her and take advantage of her.
but...
Just thinking about that guy's vicious and perverted "dream invasion" warning made Ah Yin feel a deep sense of powerlessness.
She knew that if she dared to confront him head-on and refuse at this moment, this shameless devil might really turn on her immediately and sneak into her dream in the middle of the night to forcibly "communicate" with her.
"...You win."
Ah Yin gritted her teeth in frustration, but in the end, she could only compromise in humiliation.
With a faint flash of blue light, a slender, sapphire-like, crystal-clear Blue Silver Emperor vine slowly emerged from the soil of the flowerpot.
It was like a delicate blue ribbon, tentatively hovering in mid-air before finally creeping up Xuan Hao's wrist and tightly wrapping around the finger on which he wore the Qiankun Ring.
Feeling the cool, soft touch on his fingertips and the faint mental connection that instantly formed in his mind, Xuan Hao smiled with satisfaction.
"That's right! See, doesn't your field of vision open up instantly?"
Xuan Hao didn't delay any longer.
With a thought, he carefully put the flowerpot containing Ah Yin into his Qiankun Ring.
Then, facing the morning breeze of the sunset forest, he lightly touched the ground with his toes and leaped into the air.
"boom--!"
With a muffled blast of air, Xuan Hao transformed into a dazzling golden streak of light, instantly tearing through the clouds above and rushing back towards Tian Dou City at full speed.
Now that all the important business has been taken care of, it's time to get those girls, who've been itching to have some fun!
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