Returning home, He Li closed the door. Li Qin walked straight through it, sat down on the sofa, and turned on the television. He didn't care what was playing; he just wanted some background noise.
He Li went to the restroom, washed his hands, took a packet of instant noodles from the kitchen, boiled water, prepared the noodles, and returned to the living room sofa.
Li Qin reminded him, "There's a more delicious way to prepare instant noodles."
He Li replied without looking up, "Guess why I'm eating instant noodles?"
Li Qin was taken aback, rolled his eyes, and said, "You should go out to eat. You have money now, so when you're in a bad mood, you should eat something good, something sweet."
He Li stated, "I don't like sweets; you know that."
Sensing He Li's low spirits, Xiao Lan jumped off the sofa and nudged He Li's leg with its head.
He Li managed a smile, ruffled Xiao Lan's head, and said softly, "Don't worry, I won't sell you because I dislike you."
Xiao Lan's head shot up, looking at He Li, "??????"
Seeing the dog's bewildered face, He Li was amused. He stroked Xiao Lan's chin and comforted it, "Don't worry, I'll be good to those who are truly good to me, even if it's just a dog."
"Awoo..."
Xiao Lan whimpered softly and lay down at He Li's feet, looking very wronged.
"Heh..."
...
...
Modu.
On a quiet night street, dim streetlights cast shadows of small trees. A man and a woman stood facing each other by the street, the atmosphere as silent as the quiet lane.
"He who is unable to live in society, or who has no need because he is sufficient for himself, must either be a beast or a god."
Chen Du spoke to himself, then chuckled, as if mocking himself or perhaps expressing disdain.
He looked up at the girl and asked, "Have you heard this saying?"
Li Xuan nodded gently. She looked into Chen Du's earnest eyes and replied, "Aristotle."
"Correct."
Chen Du smiled lightly, "I often use this saying to comfort myself."
"And then?"
Li Xuan asked again. Her words were as gentle and soft as when they first met. To Chen Du, the girl's voice possessed a purifying magic.
But,
At this moment,
Even though Li Xuan's voice and tone hadn't changed, Chen Du couldn't feel any emotion, no matter how hard he tried.
Chen Du smiled. In fact, he had been smiling all along. A smile could convey mood, but it could also mask sorrow.
"I almost forgot, you have others beside me, so you won't be sad. You have so many people to replace me, but I don't..."
"I am slowly accepting all the things I can't control. I don't want this, but it seems like this is the only way."
Chen Du paused. He looked at the girl, who remained as clear and bright as when they first met. Perhaps, with a sliver of hope, he asked, "Is there anything else you want to say?"
Li Xuan pursed her lips and said softly, "If we meet again by chance, let's be strangers."
Chen Du turned and walked away. Modu in August was in the height of summer, very hot, but his heart was very cold. The trees by the street, illuminated by the dim streetlights, cast vibrant shadows on the ground.
Chen Du walked slowly along the long street, under the dim yellow streetlights. His shadow stretched and merged with the tree shadows on the ground, disappearing. Only when he reached the next streetlight did his shadow begin to lengthen again.
The shadows of people, the shadows of trees, the desolation merging into vitality, then being drawn out, repeatedly.
As he walked,
Chen Du stopped. He lowered his head, his face hidden in the shadows. He remained silent for a moment, then spoke in a low voice:
"I'm in a very bad mood right now. Don't bother me."
After Chen Du said this, a person emerged from the shadows behind a tree.
"Sorry, my timing is rather unfortunate."
Chen Du turned with heavy steps, looking at the man standing under the tree. He squinted slightly and asked, "Mo Lin, why are you looking for me? You should be by your god's side right now."
Mo Lin shifted sideways, standing fully under the streetlight. He remained silent for a long time, as if something was difficult to articulate. Just as Chen Du was losing patience,
Mo Lin finally spoke with difficulty, "I've left him."
"Left whom?" Chen Du inquired. He didn't understand, or rather, he hadn't considered the possibility that Mo Lin, a divine envoy, would betray his god.
Mo Lin took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and said, "I've left the god and chosen to follow another deity."
Chen Du froze. He stared blankly at Mo Lin, his mind a complete blank. He thought he had misheard, so he even dug his ear and leaned forward,
"Sorry, I just went through a breakup, I might be hallucinating. Say that again, I didn't hear you clearly."
Seeing Chen Du's silly demeanor, Mo Lin said with a grim expression, "You heard correctly. It's exactly as you heard."
"..."
Chen Du stood stunned for a few seconds, then burst into frenzied laughter. He covered his face, laughing uncontrollably, seemingly forgetting that he had just experienced a breakup and was still in the midst of his sorrow. But the joke was too funny; he couldn't help himself.
"Interesting, amusing, this is hilariously funny. Mo Lin, Mo Lin, how dare you? Hahaha... Hahaha..."
"I just broke up and I'm heartbroken, and you suddenly pull this stunt. The sad atmosphere is completely gone! I... I... Oh my god... Hahaha..."
"The Divine Talisman Mo family has been passed down for thousands upon thousands of years, surviving several divine wars. How is it that in this generation, you are such an interesting person?"
Chen Du bent over, leaning on the tree, tears streaming down his face from laughter.
"Don't tell me you're saying this, a joke that even your ancestors wouldn't dare to make, just to cheer me up because I'm heartbroken. If that's the case, you've succeeded. I'm fucking laughing."
"It's exactly as you heard," Mo Lin sighed deeply, his tone filled with resolve and determination. "The god of this generation, after awakening, did not awaken divine nature. He couldn't even defeat a clone of a Level 2 demon. What reason do I have to follow him?"
"If I had died on the battlefield of warring gods, like my ancestors in the previous era, I would have felt immensely proud. To die with glory and leave behind my will, entrusting my descendants to patiently await the next era to continue following him."
"But his weakness is beyond my imagination. I can't imagine how pathetic he would look when facing other gods."
Chen Du took several deep breaths, regulating his breathing, and forcibly suppressed his laughter. He straightened himself as much as possible, controlling himself so he wouldn't laugh when looking at Mo Lin's ridiculous face.
Then,
He said seriously, "The Divine Talisman Mo family will completely disappear in this era. The Divine Talisman abilities will vanish. The Divine Talisman Mo family, which has stood for nine eras, will be forgotten by everyone."
"Gods do not need companions, but they do not permit betrayal. Likewise, gods will not accept betrayers. Mo Lin, you have betrayed your god and will be scorned by other gods. The Mo family is a disgrace to all divine servant families. You don't even qualify to be spat upon by us."
Chen Du took a deep breath, raised his hands, and formed a hand seal. The moment the hand seal was formed, two profound formations lit up simultaneously beneath Chen Du's feet and in front of him.
"Divine Art Chen Family, current divine envoy, Chen Du, on behalf of the deity, executes the traitor."
...