Emperor’s Domination

“If this isn’t your life, would you have tried so hard? And if you only found out at the end, what would be your reaction?” The old man asked.

“I wouldn’t be able to stop cursing.” Li Qiye nodded.

“You’re the real thing, that’s why you are carefree. If you were in the other’s shoes, you wouldn’t be standing still.” He said.

“I suppose I will be even more pessimistic than you, resorting to inaction.” Li Qiye said.

“Inaction? No, this is my life, this is how I take charge, be comfortable instead of worrying about upholding the bullshit dao heart.” He snorted.

“You’re completely right, we are bastards indeed.” Li Qiye said.

“Not that knowing this would have changed anything.” He said.

“I do know I owe myself an apology, but the sentiment alone is insufficient, I need to do more.” Li Qiye said.

“What else can you do? Nothing will change how everything will go back to the true self. That’s what you owe, can you give it away?” He said.

“No, not even with my life.” Li Qiye shook his head.

“Yes, avatars and other intents are always part of the true self, nothing more.” He said.

“I do hope that once everything is finished, my other self can live independently and free.” Li Qiye said.

“Artificial words.” He didn’t buy it: “They’re mere puppets, their lives are fundamentally meaningless.”

“So you figured it out for quite a while, not just when Octopus activated the light source here.” Li Qiye said.

He snorted without responding.

“Nonetheless, you accepted your fate and still challenged the high heaven like a moth drawn to the flame.” Li Qiye said.

After a long pause, he answered: “Damn, I had thought that I wanted to finish the villainous heaven, that it was my mission since birth. I had to try regardless of the outcome. Bah, then I realized this bullshit was not my fate at all.”

“Why did you keep going?” Li Qiye asked.

“What else can I do?” He glared at Li Qiye.

“You understand it too. The reason you were able to be born was precisely that you refused to accept your fate.” Li Qiye said.

“Hmph, that’s not me refusing to accept fate. You could only say that my true self refused to accept it.” He responded.

“To put it simply, the real you couldn’t accept fate. This birthed you, who had no choice but to fight the high heaven. This was your unavoidable destiny.” Li Qiye said.

“Which is why you all deserve to die.” He said.

“We want to, but can’t. Is that accepting fate or not accepting fate? The former includes struggling and moving forward, not accepting fate is attempting despite knowing it’s impossible.” Li Qiye said.

“At the very least, your suffering is for your own life. The same can’t be said for us.” He complained.

“I suppose, maybe it’s not so bad.” Li Qiye nodded.

This made the old man glare at him before letting out a sigh. The duo lay side by side, aware of each other’s secrets and memories. Perhaps no one else knew them better.

“Another expedition soon?” He eventually asked.

“Yes, I have to, just as you said, I can’t bear not trying.” Li Qiye said: “It is time for change and for me to get my answer.”

“Damn it, you will do what I can’t, I’m jealous.” He uttered coldly.

“Jealous because of yourself or your true self?” Li Qiye asked: “Probably not for yourself but your true self, yes, the favorite yet still can’t kill the villainous heaven.”

“Whatever you say.” He sneered.

“Now that I am here, I potentially have the power to set you free. Would you like to set yourself free or your true self free?” Li Qiye asked.

“You can?” He asked skeptically.

“Yes, since I found an answer for myself, everything else is not difficult.” Li Qiye smiled.

“Acting all cool, I see.” He said.

“So which do you pick?” Li Qiye asked.

“I ask you the same question.” He said.

“I’ve only met you, not your true self. I will obviously pick you.” Li Qiye said: “But you might not agree.”

“What makes you think that? I’m not a masochist.” He snorted.