Enhancing Favorability, New Memories

What the hell is this prophecy about?

Gu Yan took a deep breath and carefully examined the contents of the book.

First prophecy:

【Gu Yan killed Leng Qingqiu】

Gu Yan... that should be me, right?

And Leng Qingqiu is my precious darling, isn’t she?

But... how the hell does this make any sense when you put these words together?

I killed Leng Qingqiu??

Are you freaking kidding me??

How could I possibly kill Leng Qingqiu?

Second prophecy:

【Gu Yan destroyed the world of martial artists】

?? Are you handing me the villain’s script now?

And now I’m destroying the world? How am I supposed to live happily ever after with Qingqiu if I destroy the world?

No way. Absolutely no way.

Third prophecy...

【Gu Yan succeeded】

I... succeeded?

Gu Yan fell into deep thought. If there was one thing he wanted most to succeed in, it was changing Leng Qingqiu’s original fate.

But...

This directly contradicts the first prophecy, doesn’t it?

How could I possibly kill Qingqiu?

Gu Yan glanced at Xiao Leng, who was wearing a cryptic smile, then pointed at the cursed book. "This is all just nonsense, right?"

"Nope. These are the prophesied outcomes based on the path you’re currently walking."

"Let me ask you this—is there any chance this old, outdated book’s prophetic powers have gone rusty?"

The moment he finished speaking—

"Hey! Human! What did you just say about this book?!"

The cursed book snapped shut abruptly, and a giant mouth lined with jagged teeth split open along its spine, a single blood-red eye glaring at him from above it.

Gu Yan didn’t even flinch. He just pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation. "Tch. A talking book that grants wishes is already weird enough."

"And now it’s spouting this kind of nonsense prophecy."

"Plus, you’re all just speaking in riddles."

"Ugh, can anyone relate..."

Xiao Xie, clearly displeased, circled Gu Yan once before huffing. "Human, this book’s prophecies are never wrong!"

"So you will inevitably experience these three prophecies in the future!"

At this, Gu Yan retorted, "Then how was Qingqiu’s prophecy broken?"

"Uh... well..."

Xiao Xie faltered, unable to respond. It seemed embarrassed to be contradicted, but since it didn’t know why the prophecy had failed, it could only stubbornly insist, "That was an exception! There won’t be any more exceptions like that!"

"Hah. So what you’re saying is, you’re outdated, and that’s why your prophecies fail."

Gu Yan pressed further, "If Qingqiu’s prophecy could be changed, then doesn’t that mean mine can be changed too?"

"Theoretically... from a theoretical standpoint..."

Xiao Xie stammered, struggling to explain.

"If I take different actions, won’t the prophecy change?"

Gu Yan reached out and grabbed Xiao Xie mid-air.

The book squirmed in a surprisingly human-like manner before finally giving up and admitting defeat. "D-damn you, human! It’s only because you’re a special existence that you can influence the course of prophecies!"

"As for why you’re so special... I have no idea."

Xiao Xie trailed off, peering at Gu Yan with curiosity. It tried to probe deeper, but Gu Yan seemed shrouded in something that blocked its vision entirely.

Perhaps this was why he could alter prophecies?

But the only being capable of blocking its sight was that one from back then... the one called Xiao Ai.

Just then—

Buzz!

Xiao Xie shuddered, and in the blink of an eye, it transformed into a streak of black light and vanished into Xiao Leng’s forehead.

Gu Yan turned to Xiao Leng, forcing a smirk. "Xiao Leng, will this prophecy really come true?"

In response, Xiao Leng stepped forward, gazing meaningfully into Gu Yan’s eyes. "What if I said yes?"

"Furnace, would you still stick to your plan?"

Gu Yan froze.

Time passed in heavy silence.

One minute. Two minutes. Three minutes.

Finally, Gu Yan clenched his fists and met Xiao Leng’s gaze. "Yes."

"But I won’t let the prophecy happen. And you know why?"

He took a deep breath and declared firmly, "Because I love Qingqiu more than anything!"

Xiao Leng studied him silently, lost in thought.

After a long pause, she curled her lips slightly. "Is that so? Then I’ll be watching."

She clasped her hands behind her back and turned toward the floor-to-ceiling window. "It’s about time. I should head back."

The abrupt change of topic left Gu Yan momentarily stunned.

Shouldn’t you be mocking me right now? That’s how this usually goes.

"You’re leaving already?" he blurted out.

Xiao Leng paused and glanced back, a playful smirk on her lips. "What? You’ll miss me?"

Bathed in moonlight, she looked like a mischievous spirit toying with human hearts.

"........."

"Never mind."

Gu Yan averted his gaze. He hated how Xiao Leng used Qingqiu’s body to say things like that.

"Heh. See you later, Furnace."

"I had fun tonight."

"Remember what I told you earlier?"

Xiao Leng raised her hand, summoning a swirling black vortex—her means of travel.

"Huh? What did you say?" Gu Yan frowned, confused.

"It was..."

She stepped into the vortex, her voice fading as she disappeared.

"...that I’m lonely."

Buzz.

The vortex vanished.

At the same time—

[Pure Love Target’s Trust Level has increased to 93%!! New Memory Fragment Unlocked~~ Please check~~]

The system’s notification rang out.

Gu Yan was dumbfounded.

Huh?

The affection level just went up?

And by 2% all at once??

What the hell?

He replayed Xiao Leng’s departure in his mind.

She hadn’t seemed like someone whose affection had just increased.

"Meow?"

Yeye padded over to Gu Yan’s feet, tilting its head up at him in confusion over the sudden disappearance of its mistress.

"Tch. You woke Yeye up too."

Sighing, Gu Yan picked up the cat, deciding not to overthink the affection boost.

Since he’d gotten a new memory fragment...

Might as well check it out.

...

...

A short while later, after settling Yeye back to sleep, Gu Yan sat on his bed, staring at the memory bubble floating before him.

This one was noticeably larger than before.

"Is this memory bubble... bigger?"

The previous ones had been about the size of his face, but now... it was twice as big.

[Host, this is because the trust level increased by two points, merging two memory fragments.]

"Alright then..."

Gu Yan nodded, deciding not to dwell on it.

What would this memory reveal?

Would he finally learn something more?

With that thought, he reached out and touched the memory bubble.

Instantly—

Consciousness faded.