Chapter 321: I Am Very Ugly
The moon had reached its zenith.
The lake finally calmed, and Dai Yao and Bibi Dong lay relaxed on the shore, unbothered by the sand that clung to them. Bibi Dong's clothes were soaked in several places, and two strands of hair clung to her cheeks. Her hands were folded over her abdomen, her chest heaving as she caught her breath, a rare look of unrestrained joy lighting up her face.
"Thank you, Dai Yao. It's been so long since I felt this kind of happiness…" she murmured, her gaze fixed on the starry night above.
For so many years, she had lived in an endless cycle of pain, regret, and a desire for revenge, so much so that she'd forgotten what happiness felt like.
"No need to thank me. You're the one who drove yourself so hard," Dai Yao replied with a smile.
Bibi Dong frowned slightly, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. He looked as calm as ever, his demeanor relaxed and natural as he spoke, but she couldn't shake the feeling that he knew more than he let on. It was as if each of his words were crafted to reach the core of her struggles, almost as if he was trying to awaken her to something.
Even in that other world, before Dai Yao revealed his divine nature, she had maintained a degree of wariness around him. She had never told him about her past.
Perhaps it's all just a coincidence…
Yet, for the first time in ages, she felt as carefree as she had when she was a young girl.
Sighing to herself, she called her soul power, drying her clothes and hair instantly. The elegance of the Pope returned as she slipped her feet back into her purple heels and adjusted the purple-gold crown on her head, brushing off the grains of sand before placing it carefully atop her head. The symbol of her authority restored, the Pope's dignified aura returned in full force.
Seeing her composed and dressed once more, Dai Yao knew she was preparing to leave.
"You're leaving?"
Bibi Dong paused and nodded slightly, her expression neutral. But just as Dai Yao was about to bid her farewell, she suddenly turned back and flashed him a smile, soft and sincere.
"Thank you for today…"
With that, she disappeared.
Dai Yao stood there, gazing at the spot where she had been, a bit dumbfounded. He hadn't expected her to smile, much less in a way that seemed so innocent, like a girl untouched by the cruelties of the world.
"Did I really just think that the inheritor of the Rakshasa God looked pure when she smiled?" he muttered with a wry chuckle, finding the notion absurd.
By the Cabin Window
Watching Dai Yao by the shore, Zhu Zhuqing's brows furrowed with curiosity.
"Sister Wutong, what's wrong with Brother Yao? Why is he jumping around by the lake alone?"
To Zhu Zhuqing and the others, Bibi Dong was invisible. It was as if Dai Yao were talking to the air. Otherwise, the Pope would hardly show up so unannounced in the valley.
Feng Wutong glanced toward the lake, observing Dai Yao for a moment before replying thoughtfully, "Perhaps… the young master is simply unwinding?"
Zhu Zhuqing frowned. It seemed like a reasonable explanation, but something about it bothered her—a faint, uncomfortable feeling, almost like a woman's intuition when suspecting another woman's presence.
A Few Days Later, Spirit City's Pope's Hall
"Teacher, is he… here?" Hu Liena asked, kneeling on one knee. Her injuries had long healed, and her breathtaking beauty had returned in full, but her face bore a hint of urgency, along with a tinge of nervousness.
Bibi Dong, seated on the Pope's throne, looked at her student's eager expression and shook her head in exasperation.
"He is here, waiting for you at the peak."
Hu Liena's eyes lit up. She immediately understood that her teacher meant the peak above the Pope's Hall.
"Thank you, Teacher!" She bowed respectfully and turned to leave quickly.
Yet as she reached the threshold, she paused, glancing down at her clothes in hesitation. Turning back, she looked up at Bibi Dong, slightly unsure of herself.
"Teacher, do you think… I look good enough for him?" she asked hesitantly.
Bibi Dong froze, taken aback.
With her stunning beauty, Hu Liena could enchant almost any man alive. Yet, despite this, she was still worried that the Asura Emperor might not find her appealing. The situation reminded Bibi Dong of her own youth—how she had once felt her heart stir for a reserved scholar, only to have her devotion go unnoticed.
A faint sigh escaped her.
Nana is so happy now, but she has no idea her teacher has arranged such a cruel outcome…
"Nana, don't blame me for being heartless. I'm doing this for your own good."
"He… is not the one for you…"
Suppressing her feelings, Bibi Dong appeared beside Hu Liena and gently adjusted her collar, brushing stray strands of hair back from her face. Smiling, she reassured her softly.
"My dear Nana, you're the most beautiful girl in the world. The Asura Emperor will be enchanted with you the moment he sees you."
"Teacher…" Hu Liena blushed shyly and murmured with a playful pout, "If he were so easily charmed, why hasn't he come forward sooner?"
Giggling, she hugged Bibi Dong around the waist and playfully added, "I'm not the most beautiful woman—Teacher, that title belongs to you! I'll be off now!"
With a laugh like a chime, Hu Liena left the Pope's Hall, leaving behind the soft echoes of Bibi Dong's sigh.
At the Mountain Peak Pavilion
The wind rustled through the pine trees as it swept across the mountain. Looking down, Spirit City seemed grand yet small from this height, no longer as imposing.
But Dai Yao's mind was elsewhere.
He wore the bracelet that Bibi Dong had given him to conceal his identity. With it, his golden hair turned black, and his features subtly shifted, although traces of his true self still remained. For added security, he wore a mask.
He hadn't expected things to escalate like this. In the City of Slaughter, he had done nothing to court Hu Liena's affections. All he'd done was help her survive, and on Hell Road, he'd even considered her a burden. Without her, he would've been out of that forsaken place much faster.
Just as he sighed, thinking about the situation, he heard Hu Liena's footsteps approaching.
Things hadn't gone as Dai Yao planned. He thought the "Asura Emperor" persona would disappear from the world once he left the City of Slaughter. He had noticed Hu Liena's desperate search for him from afar, yet her feelings for the "Asura Emperor" were merely based on her own projections of loyalty and gratitude toward someone who helped her escape Hell Road without expecting anything in return.
But it was all because of Bibi Dong's orders.
Dai Yao had used a false identity to interact with Hu Liena, and now every time he saw her, he felt an urge to avoid her. He had no intention of agreeing to Bibi Dong's request; it would be much easier if "Asura Emperor" simply vanished.
But seeing Hu Liena's unwavering dedication, Dai Yao realized he had no choice but to let "Asura Emperor" put an end to things with her. She shouldn't waste her youth pining for someone who didn't exist.
The crisp sound of heels on stone pulled him from his thoughts. He turned around and, through the slits of his mask, saw a tall, elegant woman approaching.
A light breeze swept through the trees, and Hu Liena's brown, shoulder-length hair blew gently around her face. She clutched a worn mask tightly in her slender fingers—the very mask Dai Yao had left behind when he departed from the City of Slaughter.
As soon as her eyes met his, Dai Yao noticed her grip on the mask tighten, her knuckles paling slightly. Her gaze, wide with momentary shock, soon softened, brimming with the joy of reunion.
Biting her lip, Hu Liena let out a chilly breath. Instantly, an icy aura spread, silencing the rustling forest. Frost crept up the surrounding tree trunks, centering on Dai Yao.
She stared intensely at the masked figure before her. His build, his appearance—everything matched the "Asura Emperor," but she had to be certain. The true test lay in the Asura Domain.
Dai Yao stood still, his black hair swirling as Hu Liena's domain took hold. Taking a steady breath, he stomped one foot, and an equally chilling aura burst forth, colliding with hers. The air crackled, leaves fell in torrents, and Hu Liena's heart skipped a beat.
"It's really you!" she exclaimed, restraining the urge to run to him, fearing she might come across as too eager. Instead, she approached him slowly, her joy barely contained.
After what seemed like an eternity, she stood face-to-face with the man she had dreamed of daily. Holding back her emotions, she maintained an air of nonchalance.
"Please, have a seat," she murmured, motioning to a chair beside her.
Once they were seated, Hu Liena poured tea, and the aroma wafted up as she risked a glance at the "Asura Emperor," her lips curving into a smile. Brushing her hair back in slight embarrassment, she said softly, "You helped me escape Hell Road back then, but you left without a word. Even if you were acting on orders from the Pope, you still deserved a proper thank-you."
Dai Yao stared blankly at the tea, pausing before replying, "I was entrusted with a task and fulfilled it. There was no reason to linger."
A flicker of sadness crossed Hu Liena's face. Did she truly mean so little to him that he wouldn't even stay a moment longer? She forced a smile, thinking perhaps he was simply unaware of her feelings.
Resolving to press on, she said, "Do you know how long it's been since we last met?"
"No," he answered flatly.
"Five hundred and twenty-one days. I thought of you every day during that time. When you disappeared, it was… difficult." Smiling sweetly, she held out the worn mask, cupping it gently in her hands. "This is the mask you left behind. I've kept it safe all this time. I wanted to return it to you."
I've shown him my feelings. Surely now, even if he doesn't feel the same, he won't be so cold, she thought to herself.
But her smile slowly faded as the "Asura Emperor" made no move to take the mask.
"Throw it away," Dai Yao said, closing his eyes.
He knew her heart, but the more deeply she cared, the more he understood that he had to end things. Her love was for the fantasy she had created of the "Asura Emperor."
It was as if she'd been struck by lightning. Her hand froze, the mask slipping slightly from her grasp. Tears filled her eyes as a deep sorrow took hold. Was her longing nothing but a cruel joke?
Her voice breaking, she looked at him, tears brimming, and asked, "Are you really that heartless?"
Dai Yao remained silent, taking the mask from her hand and, without a second thought, flinging it beyond the pavilion. It spun through the air and disappeared into the trees below.
"There was never meant to be anything between us," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "Why hold on to something that was never real? Let it go and spare yourself the pain."
Turning his back to her, he clasped his hands and began to walk away.
As the mask left her grasp, Hu Liena felt the strength drain from her body, collapsing to the ground as tears spilled freely. She bit her lip so hard it bled.
"Please… at least tell me your name," she called after him, her voice a mix of pain and desperation.
"No."
"Let me see your face, just once. Just one glimpse, that's all I ask."
"I am very ugly," he replied coldly, never breaking stride. "You wouldn't want to see it."
As he descended the mountain, the sky above darkened with thick clouds, the scent of rain heavy in the air. Removing his mask, Dai Yao let out a weary sigh.
"After today, Hu Liena should finally move on from her fixation with the 'Asura Emperor'…"
Thunder rumbled as lightning flashed across the sky, rain pelting down in torrents. The forest was soon cloaked in a misty haze as Hu Liena sat motionless on the ground, staring dazedly after the "Asura Emperor." Five hundred and twenty-one days of waiting—all for this moment.
"No… he's not like that!" she whispered to herself, the words barely audible over the rain.
"If he was truly heartless, why would he have taken me out of Hell Road? Even if it was on orders, why would he risk his life to protect a burden like me?"
"He must have his reasons…" she murmured, her gaze gradually brightening with hope. "When he said he was too ugly, he must be deeply insecure… that's why he's pushing me away…"
With renewed determination, she plunged into the storm, scanning the muddy terrain for the discarded mask.
She didn't care about the cold rain soaking her or the mud clinging to her clothes. She would search until she found it.
Finally, she spotted the mask dangling from a tree branch. Leaping up, she retrieved it, clutching it close. Gently caressing the worn mask, she imagined the scarred face beneath and whispered tenderly, "Don't worry. No matter what you look like, I'll never leave you…"
Dai Yao could never have guessed that his casual remark would only deepen Hu Liena's resolve.
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