Otherworldly Affairs Office

"People always change, and besides, in war, people are bound to die, you guys have to...," Mu Fanchen quietly responded after pondering for a moment to the questioning of his old friend, his brother-in-law.

Before he could finish, Gu Shenghui's angry voice interrupted, "What the hell kind of war is this?"

"This is merely the prelude to a real war, and you can't handle it already?" Mu Fanchen said, crossing his legs and taking out a cigarette from his pocket, put it in his mouth, lit it, and tossed the pack onto the table. He hadn't smoked in years, and it stung his nose, making him suppress a cough. He exhaled the smoke and continued, "You guys will probably find an excuse to cover up what's happening today, right? Yes, social stability is the priority! But this stability won't last. When the bloody truth is revealed, do you think those who haven't been prepared, living in a nursery, won't suffer even more?

"Are these people really going to wage war on this world? When?" Gu Shenghui questioned with sweaty palms after hearing Mu Fanchen.

Mu Fanchen looked up at the ceiling, flicked the ash from his cigarette, and said softly, "Soon. At most three years, maybe just one or two."

"What exactly do they want to do? Are they going to ignore the collapse of the space barriers? Have they given up on their own world? And what exactly does your god want? Stop playing games with us at this point!" Seeing Mu Fanchen's nonchalant expression, Gu Shenghui roared angrily.

"Now we each serve our own masters. Tonight, I've said enough. As a friend, I'll just add that we've missed the best moment to control the situation's deterioration. The source of all this happened too early, and we were too late to realize it. Really too late!" Mu Fanchen answered helplessly, tossing his cigarette butt high into the air, watching it arc perfectly before landing in a beer can on the table.

"And you? What exactly do you want? To protect this world with the method you mentioned?"

"Protect?" Mu Fanchen sneered dismissively at Gu Shenghui's question, "Since that day, there's nothing in this world worth protecting for me. The lives and deaths of the people in this world have nothing to do with me. I only live to pursue my own goals. If I happen to save or destroy the world before achieving my purpose, it's all the same to me."

After these words, the room fell into silence. The three men sat quietly on the sofa, each lost in their thoughts. After a long while, Xie Chujun broke the silence with a sigh, "Old Gu always believed you had your reasons. So do I, even if I'm furious inside and have imagined killing you countless times, I still hold on to that shred of hope in my heart, you know! Now, there are no outsiders here, only the three of us, no one to disturb or eavesdrop. Old Gu gave up his future to win this from the board room; he convinced me this is our last open-hearted conversation. I don't intend to forgive your crimes. Today, I just want an explanation of what really happened back then!"

Mu Fanchen smacked his lips, glanced at Gu Shenghui, and said sincerely, "Thanks!" Then he turned to look at Xie Chujun and spoke in a serious tone, "I explained what happened back then very clearly. I was the one who harmed Xuanzi and Dandan; I'm not avoiding responsibility. I know you hate me; you should hate me. Even if you kill me, I wouldn't flinch. But not now, wait until I've done what I need to do, if I'm still alive, my life will be yours."

"I just don't understand why you can't say it directly to us. Do you really think you're some lone hero out for revenge? I watched you and Xuanzi together and saw Dandan born. I can't believe you'd harm them. If you really lost control of your power and hurt them, I'd rather believe you'd commit suicide! Not become who you are now, someone who'd harm their past colleagues and work with people they used to despise! Do you think you can fool me and Old Xie without there being more to it?" Hearing Mu Fanchen's continued vague statements, Gu Shenghui finally couldn't suppress his anger any longer and slammed the table, shouting angrily.

Seeing Mu Fanchen remain silent after being questioned, Gu Shenghui continued to persuade him earnestly, "Even if you don't give me an explanation, it doesn't matter. But what about Old Xie and the bond you both have from so many years together as childhood friends? He is also...!"

"Enough, you don't need to remind us of our relationship. Have you been in a position of power for so long that you became so naggy? I said it was me who did it, so it was me. That's my explanation!" Mu Fanchen said, looking at the flushed Gu Shenghui with a bitter smile, "Sometimes being weak is a kind of crime."

"Since we're so untrustworthy in your eyes, then there's nothing left to say. After drinking this last cup, we'll be strangers from now on. Next time we meet, there will be no brotherhood, only a fight to the death!" Xie Chujun lifted the can on the table decisively.

Mu Fanchen opened a can of beer from the box and looked at Xie Chujun's trembling hand. A look of pain flashed in his eyes as he asked, "Is it worth it?"

"Yes, I think it's worth it. The Xie Family never regrets. What about you? Won't you regret it?"

"I won't regret it!"

After their cans met in the air and they drank in one go, Mu Fanchen slapped his thigh, stood up, and left without looking back. As he reached the door, a voice called from behind, "If I hadn't predicted your actions today, and it was just Old Xie here, would you have acted?"

"Yes!"

Watching Mu Fanchen's silhouette disappear at the door and his decisive answer echoing in his ears, Gu Shenghui collapsed on the sofa, exhausted. Xie Chujun took out a stone from his pocket, gently rubbed it, and sighed, "You knew the answer, why bother asking?"

"I always felt he still held onto old feelings, perhaps I was truly wrong," Gu Shenghui shook his head, picked up the cigarette pack left by Mu Fanchen, lit one for himself and one for Xie Chujun, and said in defeat.

"No, I see that there's more to it. It's not that simple. I have to figure this out. Three years, right? There isn't much time left for me. Old Gu, just give me a little more time! It will be done soon! Then you won't have to carry this burden alone!" Xie Chujun said, looking down at the polished stone in his hand, murmuring to himself.

Outside the hospital, the night wind clearing Mu Fanchen's drunkenness from his face, he glanced back at the hospital building. One was a childhood friend who had always looked after him, the other a brother he went through thick and thin with. It wasn't right to drag them down to Hell with him.

Just as he was recalling the past, an untimely phone ring blared from his coat pocket. Taking out his phone, he heard heavy breathing from a man on the line, "It's done!"

"Finally, some good news tonight!"