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Relief came to the human realm as quickly as the earlier danger did, catching everyone completely off guard. Just when they were psychologically prepared, the hundreds of thousands of ghosts who'd invaded the human realm abruptly turned around and left for the ghost city's portal.

It was as if they'd come to the human realm for sight-seeing and played a harmless prank, leaving after taking a look.

This entire process stunned all the divination masters whose scalps had gone numb and palms turned sweaty, over fears for their life and death. They'd finished all preparations and were even mentally ready to die in the line of duty. In the end, their enemies simply shook their butts and left without any hint of wanting to take action.

Were these spirits teasing them?

But teasing was still better than an all-out war. In reality, the spiritual organisation was well aware that if the ghost city were to truly set their sights on doing something, they would be powerless to stop it. At most, it could be described as a final struggle before death.

A few high-ranking people from each country, who knew the truth of the incident, organised a meeting while the top-level of China's department had long been suffocated by anger. Now that the matter had been resolved, it was time to properly settle accounts with Helun country.

Helun's actions directly caused the incident this time. For the sake of self-preservation, even countries with close ties to Helun no longer sided with them.

Therefore, the result of the meeting this time was that Helun's personnel were completely removed from the top three positions of the spiritual organisation. This was not just a current measure, but would extend to the future. This meant that Helun had no rights to run for the position of the chairman of the spiritual organisation.

When forced into a corner, even rabbits would bite, much less a sleeping tiger. After this incident, China did not cease its blows on Helun while the latter was already beaten down. With such continuous attacks, it would be difficult for them to dream of climbing back up.

Moreover, even though Xie Lan had given up the notion of destroying the human realm after his lover decided to stay in the ghost city from now on, there was no way he would easily let off those people from Helun who'd touched his reverse scale.

So he gave Helun 'special treatment'. From now on, their land would be where the gates between the ghost city and human realm opened every month; the most joyous place for the residents of Ghost City.

This piece of yin-yang-imbalanced land wouldn't receive any mercy until the Ghost King decided to let them off.

It had been half a month since the predestined date of humanity's extinction. During this time, Gu Yan deeply understood what it meant to not make a promise lightly.

He didn't have any intentions of breaking his promise of not returning to the human realm since he didn't have many requirements for his home. Moreover, he had lived pretty comfortably during this half year spent in the ghost city so there wasn't a pressing need for him to return to the human realm.

And it was also during this time when his lover would choose to lower his gaze and act out an insecure appearance. This manner resembled a big cat demanding hugs and pats from its owner and everytime it happened, Gu Yan's heart would soften and he would give in. He never once rejected his lover…even at times where he should.

Recalling a day where he had just coaxed his lover in order to calm him out from his crazed state, Gu Yan forthcomingly told him 'let's do it'. The outcome caused him to hold his head. He had nearly been unable to crawl out of bed the next day.

Those matters he shouldn't have agreed to were mostly similar to this. Whenever Xie Lan sensed the youth's heart softening, he would immediately put out the request 'Qiuqiu wants to do it with Ah Yan'. After seeking the youth's consent, he would possess the warm and beautiful body uncontrollably until the youth could no longer let out any sounds apart from low sobs. Only then would he slowly release him.

After a few times, Gu Yan discovered it was all a part of his lover's meticulous scheme but he had no ability to resist. Even though he knew the man was feigning insecurity, he would still be swayed by the tiniest hint of genuine fear. Then, he would agree.

If it wasn't for fear that the human body wouldn't be able to withstand the large amount of yin energy pouring into it within such a short time, Xie Lan would use every method he knew to drag the youth into his bed. It wasn't as if he needed to use any forceful approaches, simply acting obedient was enough. After so many worlds, Xie Lan had long grasped the youth's weakness.

Gu Yan was quite pleased. He naturally didn't not want to do it with his lover since every time they did, he would obtain incomparable bliss. It was just that too much of it would cause him to be unable to handle it. If he didn't need to care about his body and allowed his lover to do as he pleased, Gu Yan had a feeling he would never be able to ever get out of bed.

A human and a ghost. If the former was an ordinary person, they would have died long ago. But since it was a talented divination master, it was a different story.

It wasn't clear if it was because he received a certain amount of yin energy frequently, or because of long-term stay in the ghost city, or whatever reasons, but the youth's clean and beautiful appearance showed no sign of aging despite the time he spent here.

If there was any change, it would be those beautiful and irresistible eyes. When curved into crescents, they easily attract the attention of those around him.

However, it is a pity that the ghost king did not conceal his desire for the exclusive possession of the youth. There was not a single ghost in this ghost city who would dare to look longer at the black-haired young man, for fear of being caught by the second glance and thrown into the eighteenth level of hell to 'exercise'.

Ten years and decades passed. Comfortable days always made time pass faster. The ghost city had remained the same for so many years, but the human world probably had many places which had completely changed.

[00, how much time does this body have left?] Sitting on a rattan chair under the sun in the courtyard, Gu Yan leaned back and lazily squinted his eyes.

Although his appearance didn't change, it didn't mean his body wouldn't age. It's fine to not age, but avoiding death was breaking the rules of this world. Even if the rules were biased towards him, they couldn't give him such a cheat.

[Three days.] In less than a second, 037 had done a complete analysis of his body and gave him an answer.

Just as it spoke, 037 couldn't resist the system's instincts. [Real-time reporting, you have three days, seven hours and nine seconds remaining.]

[Mhm, got it.] With his eyes half closed as he bathed in the sunlight, the dark-haired youth narrowed his eyes further. He had long gotten used to the system's OCD-type of behaviour.

Three days was less than expected but it was enough. Enough for last words… and to urge his lover.

[The aggregation of readers' grievances towards the host has been almost completely eliminated. Once the body is confirmed to be dead, the host can safely return to your original world.] 037 hesitated to say.

It is reasonable to say that as a system, there should be no hesitation, but after experiencing so many worlds together, looking at the host's experience, 037 was no longer sure if 'returning to his original world' is still what its host wanted.

A certain special existence had been affecting its host since the first world. If he never saw this special existence again after returning to his original world, 037 had a feeling that its host would not be happy.

Even the system could not change or go against the rules between planes. In addition, the rigid task issued by its higher management was to 'safely send the target back to his original world after the matter is resolved'. No matter how much it wanted to open the backdoor for its host, 037 couldn't disobey this order.

The connection between the host and system is very intimate. Gu Yan could easily feel that his foolish child was not only depressed, but also filled with self-loathing. Gu Yan coughed, "00 did not do anything wrong, be good."

Gu Yan had some guesses about the cause and he was quite sure of them. Soon, he would have a chance to verify it.

Every time it heard the last two words at the end, 037 would freeze for a while and then stay silent. Because the special existence who could perceive its existence had approached the youth and embraced him.

"Ah Yan." The ghost king had a pale complexion which seemed almost transparent under the bright sunlight. It was a stark contrast against the dark robes he wore, outlining his unique beauty. He hugged the black-haired youth sitting on a wicker chair cautiously, like holding fragile porcelain, and drew closer to his cheek: "Human world, does Ah Yan still want to go and take a look?"

There was not much time left. Not only Gu Yan, even Xie Lan knew it. Now, Xie Lan just wanted to go along with his wishes and make the other person happy. If Gu Yan wants to go back to the human world for a look, he will not do anything to the human world because of it.

As long as this person is happy. Xie Lan squinted his eyes and planted a light kiss on the youth's lips.

Separation is something that will never get easier no matter how many times he experiences it. Xie Lan was well aware that once the youth dies, he will not become a ghost and he would once more experience the feeling of losing someone.

This pain and despair of losing someone could drive one insane.

Even if the youth could turn into a ghost after his death, there would be a day where he disappeared. This wasn't what Xie Lan wanted.

What he wanted was to possess his beloved treasure for eternity, a desire he never once stopped yearning for.

Gu Yan was quite baffled by his lover's spontaneous question but was quickly amused by the latter's careful attitude as if handling fragile porcelain. After thinking for a moment, he replied, "It's been many years and things must have changed. It's not a bad idea to take a look."

Coincidentally, the gates were open.

Three days was sufficient for them to tour the human realm. No matter where Gu Yan wanted to go, Xie Lan had the ability to tear a passage through space and bring them directly to their destination.

[One hour and forty-nine minutes left.] The host was in a very, very good mood and 037 had no desire to interrupt it.

Gu Yan was scooping a spoonful of the chocolate ice-cream and preparing to eat it when he frowned. He heard the message and gave a reply in his mind, his heart calm.

"It's talking to Ah Yan again." Although he couldn't hear its contents, Xie Lan could sense it and could even guess what they were talking about.

Gu Yan nodded and reached out to touch his lover's head. Xie Lan's body had gone rigid and the pair of dark eyes were fixed firmly on his body.

Uneasiness sprouted from the depths of these bottomless eyes, scattering outward. It spread quickly until it was impossible to conceal.

This uneasiness couldn't be alleviated from holding the youth securely in his arms. Xie Lan knew the voice that frequently appeared in recent times was most likely reporting the time the youth had left.

And also the time left before he loses his beloved.

"Qiuqiu will be able to find me." The youth said gently with curved eyes before planting a coaxing kiss on his lover.

"Mn." Xie Lan didn't avert his gaze. His originally deep voice was even hoarser than usual.

He couldn't always wait for the youth to go to him. Since he had the ability to retain his memories, he would go search for his beloved treasure in the next world.

Gu Yan didn't tell his lover this was the last world he could transmigrate into. Once this mission was over, he would return to the original world. The rules of the system forbade him from telling the inhabitants of this plane the truth.

"If you find me, you must definitely catch me." Tilting his head, Gu Yan continued to instruct him, "You can't let go. As long as you act cute, I will become soft-hearted for you. Understand?"

Although Xie Lan had some confusion over these words, he quickly dispelled his doubts and obediently gave a low sound of agreement.

"Qiuqiu, be good. You must definitely keep my words in mind." Once he said that, Gu Yan ate another scoop of ice cream, allowing the sweetness to ease the tension in his brows.

Another hour passed.

[Time left…]

[00.] Gu Yan suddenly interrupted his system's report. [Are you sure this will bring me back to the exact time before the transmigration?]

Its host's misgivings were natural. 037 gave the same answer it had given to its previous hosts before. [A plane pointer was set the moment you left your original world. Unless something major caused it to be lost, the time you return to will not be much different. At most, it would be a difference of 10 minutes.]

[The plane pointer is extremely safe.]

[This means that he had indeed caught me.] After eating the last scoop of ice-cream, Gu Yan's mood was extremely pleasant.

[?] 037 couldn't understand its host's words.

Xie Lan didn't interfere with Gu Yan's conversation with that formless existence, merely rubbing the youth's face after he was done.

Gu Yan allowed the one acting like a large cat to plaster itself against his body and even responded by indulging at times.

Until the time finally came-

[Transfer initialising. Counting down, 10, 9, 8…]

The familiar monotonous voice sounded. Gu Yan reached out to touch the person pecking at his face and gently shifted to kiss the other person on his lips.

"Find me and catch me. This way, I will belong to you."