Role Playing the Dark Horse Character

Chapter 114: Unable to Believe

The sound of waves crashing on the shore echoed, and Li Li and Yu Xiao stood by the sea, their gazes meeting.

“Why did you come?” Li Li said in a flat tone.

Her smile faded, revealing the cold demeanor she adopted when playing Li.

“You’re in a bad mood,” Yu Xiao said instead.

He took a few steps forward, stopping in front of Li Li, and said gently: “I can keep you company, help you clear your mind.”

“Why did you come?” Li Li repeated.

She raised her hand, looking at the skull floating in the nutrient tank, seeing Yu Xiao’s magnified face reflected in the solution through the glass.

“Still mad?” Yu Xiao smiled faintly.

He didn’t mind Li Li’s poor attitude and continued: “I think we need to talk properly, clear up some misunderstandings. You can tell me—do you dislike me, or do you dislike the boy I’m possessing?”

“Possessing?” Li Li echoed.

The waves lapped at the coast, and the distant sea was a beautiful blue, reflecting the clouds in the sky.

“If it’s me, I’m sorry,” Yu Xiao said. “I only recently woke up, and my memories aren’t complete.”

The blond boy’s round red eyes curved slightly in a gentle arc.

He continued: “If it’s the boy I’m possessing, then wait until he comes out and you can talk. He’s not a bad person, just a bit mischievous.”

“You’re saying you possessed him after you died,” Li Li slowly reiterated.

“Yeah,” Yu Xiao smiled. “Can we talk properly now?”

But Li Li had no intention of strolling with him.

Her hands, holding the nutrient tank, tightened slightly, the bones in her hands tensing.

“Looks like it’s my problem,” Yu Xiao said, noting Li Li’s still-flat expression.

“Let me guess,” he said, one arm crossed, the other hand stroking his chin thoughtfully. “These past few days, I’ve remembered some things. I was part of the Ability Guild, Tide’s predecessor. I should have died in the upheaval six years ago.”

“You think I didn’t die but survived, hiding until now, with the power to act but letting the Ability Guild fall?” Yu Xiao’s eyes seemed filled with the wisdom of an elder. He didn’t blame her, instead explaining slowly: “It does seem that way.”

Li Li neither confirmed nor denied.

She lowered her eyes to the skull in her hands and said: “Do you have anything to explain? Appearing by Yiming’s side, guiding him, but ignoring the plight of the Ability Guild’s survivors.”

“Give me an explanation that can convince me,” she said again.

“Let me think, where to start,” Yu Xiao said, as if organizing his thoughts. “Six years ago, I realized I was going to die, so I found this boy.”

He pointed to his head.

“I placed my consciousness in his body and fell into a deep sleep. But before that, I told him what he needed to do,” Yu Xiao said, his gaze still carrying that tolerance. “But his abilities were limited. Doing what I tasked him with was already a huge effort. I couldn’t demand he risk himself to save others.”

It was a perfectly reasonable explanation.

But Li Li’s grip on the nutrient tank tightened even more.

In the distance, a whale spouted a jet of water into the sky, its massive body stirring a huge wave.

The spray surged, tiny droplets spreading through the air, refracting sunlight to form a beautiful rainbow.

The sunlight glowed warmly behind the mist, a vibrant seven-colored rainbow appearing before them, then fading as the droplets fell.

Yu Xiao’s golden hair shimmered under the sunlight, and he stared at the mist in the air, momentarily dazed.

Then he said slowly: “I think I remember something.”

He looked up, earnestly at Li Li: “Did you try to stop me?”

Li Li pressed her lips together.

“Did you tell me not to go?” he continued.

Looking at Li Li’s cold expression, he took another step forward.

“I don’t know what happened back then, but you seemed very sad, just like now.” He raised his hands, cupping them to cover the nutrient tank, shielding the skull from Li Li’s crimson pupils.

With a hint of apology, he said: “I must have forgotten you. That’s my fault.”

The sea breeze blew, slightly lifting Li Li’s black hair and Yu Xiao’s radiant golden strands in front of her.

Yu Xiao said: “But starting anew now sounds pretty good, don’t you think?”

He slowly took the nutrient tank from Li Li’s hands.

“The past is already gone, but we can move toward the future together.”

As he spoke, he bent down, placing the nutrient tank on the sandy beach by his feet, then stood up.

“Like right now, take my hand, go from one person to two. I don’t know if I ever came to the seaside with you before, but today, I can walk with you until the sun sets or wait with you for a sunrise.”

The blond boy’s smile seemed to melt into the shimmering sunlight.

“Shall we?” He extended his hand to Li Li.

Under the sunlight, that hand seemed to glow.

As if grasping it would let her step into the world he spoke of, a dazzling, radiant world like the shining sun.

But Li Li looked at the hand of the blond boy before her, silent for a long time.

She said softly: “The future…?”

“Hm?” Yu Xiao still smiled gently, letting out a curious hum.

Li Li took a step back.

“I can’t do it,” she said.

The glowing hand before her suddenly dimmed. Yu Xiao stood in place, looking at her with confusion.

He seemed to be looking at a sulky child.

Though rejected, his eyes still held that tolerant gentleness.

Yu Xiao looked like he wanted to say more, his outstretched hand not retracting, but at that moment, Li Li raised her eyes, looking into those red pupils.

She could almost see her own calm reflection.

“I know you’re the one who killed Lin Ran,” she said.

The blond boy’s figure didn’t move, nor did his expression change.

“You’re an SS-rank ability user, from the very beginning,” Li Li took another step back. “You have power, immense power that could change the status quo in one fell swoop.”

“But you did nothing.”

This time, the blond boy’s expression shifted.

Because he hadn’t expected Li Li to know he was an SS-rank ability user.

He looked puzzled, as if wondering why Li Li would say this, opening his mouth to speak.

But Li Li didn’t give him the chance.

Looking at him, she said: “I know more.”

“Tang Zeng didn’t betray you. You made him ally with Yue Qing, working with the nobles to destroy the Former Ability Guild.”

“Ranmu City’s ‘Eternal Night’ was orchestrated by you. You turned mother and son against each other, plunging a city into chaos.”

She continued, her voice quickening, under Yu Xiao’s gaze that seemed to freeze.

“You let those who trusted and followed you die clinging to impossible hopes.”

“And now, you’re letting Yiming, who wants to help others with all his heart, destroy this world with his own hands.”

She watched Yu Xiao’s smile gradually fade.

Li Li admitted, because of Yu Xiao’s last performance, she had almost believed he might be separate from Shuang Buyan.

But a fabricated past was still fabricated.

Li Li had never met Shuang Buyan, held no illusions about the Prophet, and had no expectations of him.

Her outsider’s perspective made it impossible to ignore the inconsistencies.

“I can’t trust you,” she said softly.

She couldn’t trust him.

An Heyu had mentioned the elusive SS-rank ability user, describing him as someone whose attention you didn’t want to attract.

Because he was someone who enjoyed nurturing, but also destroying.

He built towers with his hands, only to tear them down himself at the final step.

Like the Former Ability Guild, and now, like Yiming.

The white clouds in the sky were blown by the wind, covering the sun.

The sunlight dimmed, and the golden hair lost its luster, turning dull.

Yu Xiao laughed.

“You’re really clever,” he said.

He lowered his hand, looking at Li Li’s expressionless face, showing no frustration at being exposed.

“As Yiming said, you’re truly stubborn,” he said with a touch of regret. “It would’ve been better if you’d believed me.”

It was all fake.

Lin Ran had said the Prophet could manipulate hearts, using people’s deepest desires as bait, luring prey into traps step by step.

This man couldn’t be trusted.

He brought only destruction.

An SS-rank ability unfolded, and the waves and sand swirled in a fierce wind.

In an instant, an isolated space enveloped them.

The sound of waves grew distant, the sunlight faded.

Li Li raised her arm, shielding against the strong wind.

“You asked if I wanted to keep a black cat. I did consider it.”

The blond boy stood at a distance, hands in his pockets, looking up.

“But it was too clever, unwilling to get close to me.”

Blue light shifted, the power of an SS-rank ability user rippling outward.

Something emerged from the surrounding walls—spikes, sharp blades.

“So I killed it and threw its body in the trash,” he said, flashing a smile at Li Li.

SS-rank domain-type ability [Game World].

Lin Ran had died here, then been thrown out of the domain, her head severed.

Blades fell like Tetris blocks, grazing Li Li’s arm, leaving a bloody mark.

Her form shifted rapidly, weaving through the SS-rank domain.

She turned her face, her black hair falling, concealing the thick killing intent in her eyes.

The fish had taken the bait.

Your little cutie suddenly appeared!

Change! No update tonight!

Also, after the Dawn Arc, there’s a Dawn City Arc, so it won’t end quickly.