"Please... Xiao Feng, I'm begging you, don't do this!"
Shen Mengli resisted fiercely, her expression clearly showing disapproval of Ye Feng's actions.
"Mengli, I'm afraid you don’t have a choice this time. Even if you end up hating me for it, I have to do this—for your own safety."
Ye Feng's voice was resolute, as if nothing Shen Mengli could say would sway his determination.
"Xiao Feng!"
Shen Mengli pushed against Ye Feng's shoulders, trying to free herself, but her strength was no match for his. Within moments, he had lifted her from the bed once again.
"Mengli, don’t worry. I’ll talk to Xie Yuyan about this. You don’t need to carry this burden alone. Let’s just settle this today—"
"Ye Feng!"
Just as Ye Feng was about to carry her out the door, Shen Mengli stiffened and shouted his full name—something she hadn’t done in a long time.
"......"
Her cry made Ye Feng pause. He knew his approach was too forceful, but he couldn’t stand by and watch Shen Mengli suffer alone in the welfare institution. He had promised to take care of her.
"Xiao Feng, put me down, okay? Let’s just leave things as they are today."
Shen Mengli spoke softly, her final plea an attempt to make him abandon his plan.
"I’m sorry, Mengli. I can’t do that. Whatever difficulties we’re facing, we’ll work through them together at home, alright?"
"Xiao Feng, you know how I am. I don’t want this to ruin what we have."
Shen Mengli turned her head away, avoiding his gaze. She couldn’t bear to see the stern look on his face, but she would never agree to his proposal.
Faced with her unwavering resistance, Ye Feng finally played his last card.
"Mengli, legally speaking, I’m your guard—"
"Not anymore."
Before he could finish citing the regulations, Shen Mengli cut him off. Her words struck him like a knife to the chest.
"If I recall correctly, the agreement states that I have the right to terminate your guardianship, doesn’t it?"
Ye Feng fell silent. He hadn’t expected Shen Mengli to invoke their legal agreement just to avoid going back with him.
"Mengli, please don’t do this. Why would you say that?"
"I’m sorry, Xiao Feng. I didn’t want to..."
"You really don’t want to come home?"
"It’s not that I don’t want to!"
Shen Mengli shut her eyes tightly, but her voice trailed off as her body suddenly began to tremble.
Ye Feng, still holding her, noticed immediately. "Mengli, just tell me the truth. Why won’t you come back?"
"I’ve already told you everything, Xiao Feng. There’s nothing more to say."
"......"
Wordlessly, Ye Feng turned and placed her back on the bed. Their conversation had revealed that Shen Mengli did want to live with him—but Xie Yuyan’s presence made her refuse. The real reason? Shen Mengli had feelings for him...
"Xiao Feng, I know you’ve always had my best interests at heart. I don’t want this to ruin what we have."
"Mengli, please. You’ve always listened to me before."
"Because Xie Yuyan wasn’t around then. Just being with you, even in this broken state, was enough to make me happy."
Her voice wavered, laced with tears, her fragile demeanor heartbreaking.
"So please, Xiao Feng, just go. Let me stay here alone, okay?"
"Don’t be ridiculous! Mengli, have you forgotten our promise? I swore I’d take care of you."
The back-and-forth was wearing on Ye Feng’s patience. She had agreed before, when he was healing, that she’d return with him. Now, she was changing her mind. He couldn’t shake the feeling that her confession of love was just an excuse—something deeper was holding her back. What was it?
"Mengli! Trust me, alright? No matter what happens, I’ll protect you. I won’t let anyone hurt you."
He took a deep breath and sat beside her, softening his tone as much as possible.
Shen Mengli met his gaze with tear-filled eyes, then shuddered and looked away, murmuring, "It’s no use, Xiao Feng... I... can’t go back..."
"Can’t go back?!"
Ye Feng seized on her words. This was new—before, she had never framed it that way. Under pressure, she’d let slip the truth: something was preventing her from returning.
"Mengli!"
He dropped to his knees, clasping her cold hands in his, his eyes brimming with tenderness and concern.
"Tell me, please. Why can’t you go back? Is something—or someone—stopping you? Let me handle it. Just tell me the truth."
This time, his voice held no force, only a gentle plea to ease the burden weighing on her.
"Xiao Feng..."
Shen Mengli’s heart ached at his kindness. Slowly, she pulled one hand free and reached toward his face.
"That’s it. Don’t be afraid. Just tell me everything—the whole truth."
"The truth..."
Her hand froze mid-air. Her eyes widened in terror as she stared past him.
"Mengli? What’s wrong?"
"It’s... her..."
Her pupils contracted in fear. Ye Feng followed her gaze and turned—only to see a familiar figure standing silently in the doorway.
"Yu... Yuyan?! What are you doing here?"
Xie Yuyan, who had been standing there expressionless, suddenly brightened when she noticed Ye Feng’s attention.
"Oh... thank goodness. So this is where you were, Ye Feng."
ey change clothes. Li Chuan contributed all his possessions, only to find that things were not as they seemed. Almost a year after joining, he hadn’t managed to get a single Daoist consort. Thinking he had been deceived, he was approached by a stunning senior fellow disciple who asked if he would like to form a spiritual bond. For those who don’t practice cultivation, they might not know what “forming a spiritual bond” is. Let me put it this way: A long-term relationship is called a “Daoist consort,” while a short-term relationship is known as “forming a spiritual bond.” From then on, Li Chuan discovered the true way to interact with the Yin-Yang Sect’s Daoist consorts. As long as he had enough spirit stones, he could form a spiritual bond with anyone, Whether it’s Senior Sisters, aunts, Daoist consorts of aunts, female elders, Daoist consorts of elders, or even the Daoist consort of the sect leader, anyone can form a spiritual bond as long as there are enough spirit stones.” I've already joined the Yin-Yang Sect, and you're telling me to focus on cultivation? Do you even know what the Yin-Yang Sect is all about?
m back to his original world. In the end, he realized he had overthought things. [Hey, why is Shen Manni, the female lead, acting strange? Shouldn't she be fawning over the male lead at this point?] [Zhou Qiaoqiao, are you sick? Weren't you supposed to break off your engagement today?] [Damn it! An Youyi, please do your job as an undercover agent and sell my information to the protagonist, you idiot!] ... At this moment, Xu Mo himself didn't know that these female leads had already heard his inner thoughts. Then they decided not to play by the rules. Xu Mo: Please respect my profession as the big villain!
th】 【No prior gaming knowledge required】【The First Cultivation + Game Design Novel on the Platform】 In a world where the righteous path dominates and crushes the demonic sects, Lu Ze unlocks the "Son of the Demon Path" system. Killing righteous cultivators now grants him power-ups. Wait—deaths in illusions count too? As a former game designer, Lu Ze decides to give the cultivators of this world a little—no, a massive—shock... Sect Elders: "What is this 'Escape from the Demon Sect' game? Why have all our disciples abandoned cultivation to play it??" Elite Disciples: "You're saying... mastering 'Demon Slayer' can help us counter demonic schemes?" Reclusive Masters: "Why did I leave seclusion? Ask that backstabbing rat who ambushed me in 'Eternal Strife' yesterday!" Rogue Cultivators & Civilians: "'Immortal Abyss Action' is addictive! You can even earn spirit stones by loot-running..." Sect Prodigy: "My Dao heart is unshakable... except for that cursed black hammer." Royal Scions: "Can skins have stat boosts? I’ll pay 10,000 spirit stones for one!!" Sect Leader: "WHO IS CORRUPTING MY DISCIPLES?!!!"
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
