0146 The Grand Finale

Someone glanced at Huan Luo with puzzlement, uncertain whether to follow the direction indicated by the arrow. Huan Luo, however, maintained her expressionless demeanor. Yet, having spent considerable time with her, this person knew that such a stiff face actually meant Huan Luo was deep in thought.

“Since you’ve asked, why hesitate now?” came a voice, neither distinctly male nor female, echoing from all directions within the forest. Though not loud, its resonance was as impactful as a Dolby 7.0 surround sound system. The person's eyes followed the voice’s movement, shifting toward various corners of the forest. As they listened, they pondered the mysterious being’s words; no matter how they considered it, the reasoning seemed sound. If trust was lacking, then they might as well hold onto their instincts. Besides, they had no better options at the moment.

With this in mind, the person resolved and signaled Huan Luo to relax and follow. The two proceeded cautiously along the arrow’s direction. The forest seemed boundless, and they had no way to determine their position, so they pressed forward stubbornly. Fortunately, the mysterious creature never ceased guiding them. The two arrow-shaped signs floated and drifted through the woods, each time landing to reveal a new path.

After an indeterminate time, the sky darkened, and a cool night breeze sent a chill through the first person, making them shiver. In contrast, Huan Luo remained far calmer. After her injuries healed, her constitution seemed to have rapidly returned to normal—robust and unafraid of wind or rain. Yet, curiously, though she wasn’t cold, she hadn’t stopped frowning throughout the journey, and the furrow deepened with time.

“What’s wrong?” the person asked, concern evident as they gently grasped Huan Luo’s hand.

Huan Luo didn’t answer directly but shook her head, still frowning, signaling to stop asking.

This only deepened the person’s confusion. In their understanding, Huan Luo was never one to burden others in emergencies. In fact, in crises, she was more straightforward and easier to understand, ensuring those around her could trust and cooperate with her fully. This version of Huan Luo was inscrutable, but seeing her troubled expression, the person refrained from probing further, swallowing their doubts silently.

“Don’t hide it. Ask whatever you want,” the mysterious being spoke again, unusually talkative today, its ambiguous voice echoing through the forest.

Huan Luo did not respond with the expected seriousness. Instead, she frowned as if burdened by something unspeakable, lowering her head in silence. Her steps slowed, each one heavy as if weighed down by a thousand pounds, moving at a snail’s pace. This baffled the person even more, leaving them at a loss for where to begin.

“What, afraid I’ll ask too much? Afraid to move forward?” the mysterious voice pressed, sharper now. “Afraid of being exposed?”

The person was utterly bewildered, their crimson eyes darting between the forest and Huan Luo, unable to fathom why the two seemed like familiar acquaintances. Yet seeing Huan Luo so unsettled, they couldn’t bear it. Resolutely, they addressed the forest:

“You know Huan Luo, don’t you? Have you two encountered something? Why not come out and say it? Hiding and dodging won’t solve anything. Don’t try to use my voice to ask on your behalf—I won’t ask a thing.”

“Heh…” The mysterious being laughed, unfazed by the anger. It sounded amused, as if hearing a joke: “You’re overthinking. What could I possibly have to do with her? She’s not worthy of it.”

“You—” the person flared up, ready to retort, but before they could speak, the mysterious voice rose louder, drowning them out.

“Don’t be so quick to anger. Wait until you see the truth,” it whispered close to their ear, its warm breath teasing. The familiarity flushed the person’s face deeply. For some reason, their instincts told them they knew this being well. But the creature offered no time to dwell and continued: “Take two steps forward. You will see everything clearly.”

The person glanced back at Huan Luo, who still avoided eye contact, nervously staring at the ground. A swift inner battle raged, but curiosity prevailed. Gritting their teeth, they left Huan Luo behind and dashed forward.

After only a few steps, they encountered a natural bend and followed a narrow path, making a nearly ninety-degree turn. Suddenly, the scenery opened up before them, leaving the person dumbfounded.

Within the nearby forest, where trees should have stood thick, a human encampment had somehow appeared—tents, campfires, crowds, and demons intertwined in a surreal tableau that dazzled the person’s eyes. The previously established worldview shattered instantly, leaving them rooted in place in stunned silence.

Ryo and several soldiers, who should have been captured, were gathered peacefully, roasting meat and drinking. Beasts that should have been locked in fierce conflict with humans played like oversized pets beside them. Li Yi and his wife, who were supposed to be dead, glared red-eyed, bound in the camp’s corner. Alongside them were other red-eyed humans, brimming with murderous intent, dressed in uniform—not the attire of the White Tower Kingdom, but bearing strange, flame-like embroidery unfamiliar to the person.

“No!” a familiar scream cut through the air. From an unseen corner, Huan Luo burst forth, wielding the Dragon Tooth Sword, her eyes blazing with fury. She barreled through the crowd toward her parents, trembling and fragile in the wind.

The person stepped forward to comfort her but was suddenly embraced from behind. The warmth of the familiar arms around their waist instantly drained their strength. Turning slowly, disbelief struck them—the silver-haired youth’s familiar smile met their gaze.

“Lance…” The name escaped from their lips, barely audible after a long moment.

“That’s right,” Ryo appeared nearby, grinning proudly as he nudged the person into Lance’s arms. “Surprised? Shocked?”

“This… this is…” The person was lost, unable to comprehend why Ryo stood with Lance, demons mingled with humans, and Huan Luo appeared as a seeming antagonist. Even being held by Lance stirred no reaction. At that moment, a more astonishing figure appeared.

“Long time no see,” Bradley approached with a cold expression, offering a polite nod to the person and a formal greeting to Lance. Lance, cradling the person, returned the greeting with a smile.

“Um… can someone explain what’s going on?” The person awkwardly asked, still nestled in Lance’s embrace.

“To be honest, it’s all a setup,” Lance’s voice whispered in the person’s ear. “The Li family you see now are the true Night Demons. According to humans, they are spies sent by the Night Demon clan. Those red-eyed warriors are their subordinates. They have long harbored resentment towards both humans and beasts, working to sow discord between the two and planned to wipe us out when we were weakened by conflict. Fortunately, Ryo discovered the plot. In haste, Summer tried to silence Ryo but we saved him. To avoid detection, they faked death, leaving only Huan Luo and Andy as insiders in the White Tower Kingdom. They intended to lure you out to use your power against us, but our two factions united to crush them.”

The person’s mouth fell open, overwhelmed by the torrent of revelations.

“That’s right. Your power was secretly sealed when you first met Huan Luo. The real you is a formidable four-element mage capable of cataclysmic destruction,” Lance teased, amused by the blush coloring the person’s face. He leaned closer, nearly pressing his face to theirs.

Ryo, seeing the tender moment, chuckled and walked off. Bradley wisely stepped aside. The assembled demons and soldiers feigned ignorance, gazing elsewhere.

“So… my main role in this story is…” The person struggled to breathe as Lance drew nearer but insisted on finishing their question.

“Sorry to say, you were bait to restrain the Li family. But from now on, you just need to be happy,” Lance murmured, gently brushing the person’s lips.

“Really?” The person barely managed to utter the words before plunging into a long, sweet, almost suffocating kiss.

In the end, everyone lived happily ever after.

What’s that? You don’t like happy endings? Prefer tragedy?

No problem.

Just as the person and Lance kissed passionately, a thunderclap split the sky, striking Lance down. The person, too close, was struck alongside him. In the end, no one was together.

Alas, what a tragedy.

Author’s note: Happy April Fool’s Day, ha ha ha!

For those who thought it was over, you’ve been fooled, ha ha ha! (^^)