Villain Simulator, Ch 343-347

[The cultivation method of the Yin-Shattering Absorption Technique is quite peculiar. It follows the principle of "nurturing Yin with Yin, subduing Yin with Yin," requiring the practitioner to absorb Yin-aligned entities as "nourishment." During cultivation, these entities are drawn into the body, both enhancing one's power and suppressing the excess Yin energy within.]

[With your current cultivation level, you are naturally incapable of capturing spirits and demons on your own. Fortunately, you were born into an exorcist family, which frequently receives requests for exorcisms and purification rituals. Your father, during these assignments, would secretly store the beings he was meant to destroy, keeping them as nourishment to aid in your cultivation.]

[8 years old: In the beginning, you could only absorb weak spirits and demons. However, as your cultivation in the technique progressed, the entities you could absorb gradually became stronger.]

[Even so, your cultivation progress remained painfully slow. The Yin energy you absorbed from these entities felt like drops of water falling into an ocean, barely making any noticeable ripple. In other words, while your cultivation level was increasing, your actual strength showed no tangible improvement.]

[9 years old: While your progress had come to a halt, Shenhe's advancement could only be described as astonishing. She was already a prodigy, and with a cultivation technique perfectly suited to her, she soon became the strongest young disciple within the branch family.]

[You, on the other hand, were the complete opposite—an undisputed failure. Even the simplest spells were difficult for you to perform. The only apparent effect of the Yin-Shattering Absorption Technique was that it suppressed your overwhelming Yin energy, reducing the number of spirits that sought to torment you. However, in terms of strengthening your abilities, its benefits were minimal.]

[10 years old: Your weakness became a frequent source of ridicule among your fellow disciples. They often compared you to Shenhe, going so far as to claim that you were unworthy of being the elder brother of such a prodigious talent. Whenever this happened, Shenhe would step forward without hesitation, fiercely punishing those who dared to mock you.]

[However, rather than easing your frustration, this only deepened the wounds in your pride. After all, wasn't it the elder brother's duty to protect his younger sister? Yet here you were, the one in need of protection. What troubled you even more was the growing gap between you and Shenhe—a gap that continued to widen before your eyes.]

[At some point, you realized that all you could do was chase after her shadow. But that shadow was moving further and further away.]

[11 years old: The Yin-Shattering Absorption Technique was not only excruciatingly slow in showing results, but it also required a constant supply of spirits and demons as "nourishment." Your father was never particularly powerful, and as he grew older, he struggled more and more to handle these entities.]

[12 years old: One day, your father became bedridden from exhaustion and could no longer capture spirits for you. You knew that without the continuous infusion of Yin energy from these entities, your cultivation in the Yin-Shattering Absorption Technique would be completely wasted.]

[However, you couldn't bear to see your father push himself any further. So, while your mother was tending to him, you secretly took his exorcist tools and slipped out of the branch family estate, determined to find spirits and demons on your own.]

[Despite your lack of strength, you had an unyielding spirit. Even if it meant putting yourself in danger, you refused to give up on your dream of entering the main sect.]

[Normally, Liyue Harbor didn't have an overwhelming number of spirits and demons. With exorcist families constantly purging them, they were kept at a manageable level. Even professional exorcists had to spend significant time searching to find traces of them.]

[But because of your Pure Yin Body, you naturally attracted spirits. Without the sect's protective wards, you quickly drew the attention of several entities. You lured one of them into an abandoned temple, preparing to use the techniques you had learned to defeat and absorb it.]

[As a disciple of an exorcist family, you had trained in skills specifically designed to combat spirits. This was your one advantage, and the only reason you dared to confront them at such a young age. As the spirit lunged at you, you relied on your knowledge to make up for your lack of power. After an intense struggle, you somehow managed to defeat the spirit.]

["I did it!" The thrill of successfully subduing your first spirit filled you with a sense of hope—something you had longed for as you endured failure after failure. But your excitement was short-lived. Almost immediately, you felt the Yin energy in the air grow thicker.]

[During your battle, your Pure Yin Body had acted as a beacon, drawing even more spirits to your location.]

[As more and more spirits encircled you, a deep despair settled in. Just as you prepared for the worst, an overwhelming force suddenly descended. In an instant, all the spirits surrounding you were annihilated.]

[The one who saved you was none other than your sister, Shenhe.]

[Entering ImmersiveMode]

A flash of white light filled Lucas's vision. In the next instant, the spirits that had surrounded him shattered into countless fragments.

A cold yet strikingly beautiful young girl stood before him, wielding a long spear. Her long black hair fluttered without wind, giving her a fierce and commanding presence.

It was none other than his younger sister, Shenhe.

Since she had not followed Cloud Retainer into the mountains for training, her hair had not yet turned silver.

At this age, Shenhe was already quite tall. The innocence of childhood had begun to fade from her features, hinting at the strong and imposing presence she would one day become.

"Ah-He?" Lucas blurted out in surprise. "Why are you here?"

"Hmph. If I hadn't noticed something was off and followed you, you'd already be demon fodder by now," Shenhe replied coolly, putting away her spear.

So she had been secretly following him all along and only intervened when she saw he was in danger.

Lucas had managed to survive, but the imbalance in his heart only grew stronger. Despite both of them receiving techniques from an Adeptus and training at the same time, the gap between them had become as vast as the sky and the earth. He had barely managed to take down a single spirit, while Shenhe had wiped out an entire group in an instant.

"I... I didn't need your help!" Lucas stubbornly declared. "I could have handled them myself."

"Do you really think I don't know your limits?" Shenhe snorted. "From now on, I'll take over Father's role. I'll capture spirits for you to use in your training."

"No… I don't need it!" Driven by his pride as an elder brother, Lucas shook his head. "I can already defeat spirits on my own. I don't need your help."

Shenhe's expression suddenly changed. Raising her hand, she took a step forward.

Lucas's heart leaped in alarm. He quickly shut his eyes and shouted, "Even if you hit me, I still won't agree!"

That's right. From childhood to now, Lucas had always been on the receiving end of a beating. Over time, he had been conditioned to believe that whenever Shenhe raised her hand, she was about to hit him.

As an elder brother, ending up in such a pitiful state was tragic in its own way.

However, the expected slap never landed. Instead, Shenhe suddenly pulled him into an embrace. The ever-cold expression on her face softened, revealing a rare, gentle smile.

"Idiot brother, I… am your sister, after all."

Just one sentence, but it carried more weight than a thousand words.

No matter how vast the disparity between their statuses and strength became, they were, in the end, siblings—bound by a connection deeper than anything else.

Lucas felt a strange warmth in his heart. However, as he gazed at Shenhe's smiling face, he suddenly froze.

Was his usually fierce and untouchable younger sister… actually this beautiful?

And more importantly…

Lucas suddenly became acutely aware of the warmth pressing against his shoulder.

Glancing sideways, he saw that Shenhe was leaning closely against him, without the slightest sign of discomfort or hesitation.

Of course. Shenhe had no idea that they weren't truly blood-related. To her, he was her real elder brother, and there was no reason to be reserved around him.

Even though the simulated Lucas himself was unaware of this truth, the real Lucas—currently immersed in this sensory experience—knew it all too well.

He quickly chastised himself in his mind. "I can't have improper thoughts! She completely sees me as her real brother!"

That said…

With her long, flowing black hair, Shenhe exuded an entirely different charm. Moreover, because she hadn't suffered the tragedy of losing her parents, her personality, while still cold, carried a hint of warmth. In front of her "brother," she even displayed rare moments of girlish softness.

She was… actually kind of cute.

"Hey, idiot brother?" Shenhe suddenly raised an eyebrow. "Why is your face red?"

"M-maybe I used up too much qi!" Lucas hurriedly made an excuse. "Unlike you, I don't have that monstrous level of true qi… mmph!"

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly felt something cool press against his lips.

Time seemed to freeze.

Lucas barely had time to react before he felt a surge of chilling true qi flow from Shenhe's mouth into his body.

His first instinct was to retreat, but before he could, he felt a firm grip on his shoulder—Shenhe had already locked him in place.

Although they were the same age, Shenhe was naturally gifted with immense strength. Lucas had no chance of breaking free. He could only surrender to his fate, accepting his sister's "generosity."

It wasn't long before his depleted qi was completely replenished. Yet, for Shenhe, this amount of qi was nothing more than a drop in the ocean.

At last, Shenhe pulled away slightly, her cheeks tinged with red. "How… do you feel?"

Lucas wiped his lips and forced himself to remain calm. "Feel? What's there to feel? You're my sister. At most, it was like kissing the back of my hand."

"Then why…" Shenhe bit her lip, her expression slightly uneasy. "Why do I feel like we're… different from normal siblings?"

"Ah-He, normal little sisters are the kind who, when they're young, say things like 'When I grow up, I'm going to marry my brother,'" Lucas said, deadpan. "Meanwhile, you're the kind who throws her brother off the second floor and stomps on him afterward. Of course, we're different."

Shenhe seemed momentarily embarrassed, murmuring, "But… I'm still a girl…"

"Ah-He," Lucas sighed, patting her shoulder. "In my eyes, you've always been a little brother without a—"

A vein popped on Shenhe's forehead.

Without another word, she delivered a swift flick to Lucas's forehead, leaving him clutching his head in pain. Then, as he groaned in agony, she stood up and strode toward the exit of the ruined temple.

"Starting tomorrow, we train during the day and hunt spirits at night," Shenhe declared without looking back. "We will enter the main sect together and bring honor to our family!"

[Exiting Immersive Mode]

[Switching to Text Mode]

[13 years old: From that night onward, it was as if an unspoken agreement had formed between you and Shenhe. By day, you continued your usual awkward sibling rivalry, constantly bickering and finding each other irritating. But by night, the two of you would hunt spirits together to aid your cultivation in the Yin-Shattering Absorption Technique.]

[At first, you could only handle weak spirits, leaving the stronger ones for Shenhe. But as time passed, your combat skills steadily improved, allowing you to deal with more formidable opponents.]

[However, the intense battles often left you completely drained of true qi. And every time this happened, Shenhe would resort to the most direct method of replenishing your qi—transferring it mouth-to-mouth.]

[Though this frequently left you feeling strange, you constantly reminded yourself: you are siblings, and this is only for the sake of cultivation. You must not let your thoughts stray.]

[14 years old: Perhaps due to Shenhe's assistance, your strength finally began to improve significantly. Although you were still far from her level, a newfound hope ignited within you.]

[Meanwhile, Shenhe had grown into a striking young woman. She was revered by the disciples of the branch family as an untouchable "flower on a distant peak." Even the main sect took notice, with some members proposing marriage alliances with your family. However, your parents tactfully declined, citing her young age.]

[Of course, this was merely a convenient excuse. In reality, they simply didn't want to separate the two of you.]

[15 years old: One day, you and Shenhe pursued a powerful spirit beyond the city walls, intending to subdue it for your cultivation. However, you soon realized that you had walked into a trap. Your actions in Liyue had not gone unnoticed—the lurking spirits had long been aware of your existence. This was an orchestrated attack meant to eliminate you both.]

[You and Shenhe fought with all your might, slaying dozens of spirits. But the enemy had come prepared. The endless tide of spirits continued to surge toward you. Just as Shenhe prepared to unravel her red rope and risk everything in a final confrontation, a figure descended from the sky.]

[A slender young Adeptus, wielding a long spear, tore through the horde of spirits in an instant. Within moments, he had wiped out every last one of them.]

[For the first time, you witnessed the sheer difference in power between yourselves and a true master.]

[The young Adeptus introduced himself as a Yaksha guardian. His expression remained indifferent as he observed you and Shenhe, but after a moment, his gaze settled firmly on you.]

[The Yaksha Guardian's gaze sent chills down your spine. However, he merely stated in an indifferent tone, "The cultivation technique you practice requires absorbing the power of spirits and demons to strengthen yourself. While this method is slow and demands patience, the further you progress, the more unfathomable its potential will become."]

[His words filled you with newfound determination, but he continued, "However, do not rush this process. If you absorb too much too quickly, the Yin energy will inevitably corrupt your mind. Take heed. Take heed."]

[With that, the young Adeptus leaped into the night and disappeared. Yet, his warning only reinforced your resolve.]

[Patience was important, but there was only one year left before the main sect selection. You had no time to waste. Even if you had to slow down, it would only be after securing your place in the inner sect.]

[16 years old: You remembered the first half of the Yaksha Guardian's advice, but you conveniently ignored the latter half of his warning.]

[To prepare for the upcoming selection, you increased your efforts to absorb the power of spirits and demons as fuel for your cultivation. Just as the Yaksha had said, you seemed to have passed the most grueling stage—by now, every bit of Yin energy you absorbed granted a noticeable boost to your strength.]

[The long-awaited sect selection finally began. Both you and Shenhe were now eligible to participate, so you signed up together.]

[Your participation shocked many of your peers who had long ridiculed you as the weakest among them. Over the years, you had spent your nights hunting spirits and your days in rigorous training, rarely displaying your actual strength. Most assumed you had long since given up on cultivation. In their eyes, your only future was living off the title of "Shenhe's brother," securing some mediocre position within the family to avoid starving.]

[The selection process was simple: a knockout tournament to determine the strongest candidates for advancement.]

[Your first opponent was a senior disciple who had once pursued Shenhe, only to be outright rejected. As expected, he bore resentment toward you. At the start of the match, he mocked, "You and your sister are quite the pair—one who looks down on everyone, and one who's not even worth looking at. What a perfect match of siblings—" BAM!]

[Before he could finish his sentence, you had already knocked him to the ground. What followed was an unquestionable, one-sided beatdown. Years of suppressed frustration erupted in that moment—you didn't even use spells, just pure fists, pummeling him until he couldn't fight back.]

[Blow after blow rained down. Soon, he was unconscious, unable to even admit defeat. If you hadn't stopped in time, he might have died right then and there.]

[Your actions may have seemed excessive, but in this selection process, strength was the only rule. It was survival of the fittest. Every year, it wasn't uncommon for a few candidates to lose their lives—after all, entering the main sect meant changing one's fate. No one wanted to waste this opportunity.]

[More importantly, even the ruling sect elders silently condoned this brutal tradition.]

[Years of enduring humiliation finally bore fruit. No longer did you have to hold back. Against those who once belittled you, you showed no mercy, ensuring they were beaten until they could no longer move before stepping away.]

[You didn't understand why you had become so violent. Was it just revenge? No… You felt something deeper. You realized that, somewhere inside, you were enjoying this—the thrill of crushing your opponents, the satisfaction of making them suffer.]

[As the tournament progressed, this reputation of yours only grew stronger. By the later rounds, your opponents were so terrified that some forfeited outright rather than face you in combat.]

[Finally, the selection reached its last round. As expected, your final opponent was none other than Shenhe.]

[This was exactly the outcome you had hoped for. In past years, the sect typically recruited multiple disciples from the top finalists, meaning both you and Shenhe could enter the main sect together. In your mind, you had already envisioned the two of you making a name for yourselves within the inner ranks.]

[However, just as the final match was about to begin, the sect elders suddenly made an announcement: due to special circumstances, only one disciple would be accepted into the main sect this year. The winner of the final match would be the sole recruit.]

[Both you and Shenhe were visibly shaken by this unexpected turn of events. You had no idea why this change had occurred, but the reality was clear—only one of you could stay.]

[For the first time, you saw a flicker of panic in Shenhe's eyes. You had to decide…]

[1. Fight with everything you have.]

[2. Forfeit immediately.]

Was the simulator really giving him a choice?

Lucas knew that despite all his training, he was still a step behind Shenhe. If they truly fought, there were only two possible outcomes. First, they could battle at full force, leaving Shenhe victorious but heavily injured. Second, she could deliberately hold back and let him win.

Neither of these options was what Lucas wanted.

After all, fate was always filled with choices. Even if he didn't join the main sect, there would surely be other paths for him.

"I choose the second option."

Lucas made his decision without hesitation.

[As the final match was about to begin, you suddenly raised your hand and forfeited. This choice didn't surprise many—most people already assumed Shenhe was the stronger sibling. Besides, few would expect two siblings to fight each other to the death.]

[In that moment, you saw a storm of emotions flicker through Shenhe's gaze. But even so, you had no regrets.]

["Just wait for me, idiot brother." Shenhe stepped closer, her expression firm. "I will rise through the ranks of the main sect. And when the time comes, I'll bring both you and our parents with me."]

[You simply responded with a helpless smile.]

[17 years old: Shenhe left for the main sect, and a year passed quickly. Though she frequently sent letters home, she never returned even once. Just as you were beginning to think life had settled into normalcy, your mother suddenly fell ill.]

[18 years old: Your mother's condition worsened by the day. Despite seeking out the finest doctors, no cure could be found. Only then did your father recall Cloud Retainer's warning from years ago—that you and Shenhe must never be separated. Without the mutual suppression of the Pure Yin Body and the Solitary Star and Calamitous Fate, disaster would inevitably befall those around you.]

[The Three-Eyed Five-Manifestation Immortal was nowhere to be found. Seeking Cloud Retainer's help was impossible. You wrote countless letters to the main sect, pleading for Shenhe to return, but the replies always contained the same message: her training was too intense, and she had no time to spare.]

[This filled you with fury. No matter how important training was, could it possibly outweigh the life of one's own mother?]

[Finally, your mother reached her final moments. Even in her fading consciousness, she continued to whisper Shenhe's name, as if longing to see her daughter one last time before passing.]

[Your letters remained unanswered. Your father, drowning in despair, lost his will to fight. Unable to bear it any longer, you decided to go to the main sect yourself. Even if it meant using force, you would drag that "unfilial daughter" back home.]

[However, upon arriving at the main sect, you were met with a firm rejection. The gatekeeping disciples had no intention of letting you in. When you mentioned Shenhe's name, their expressions turned mocking, one of them sneering, "Who do you think you are, daring to speak Shenhe's name?"]

[Their arrogant attitudes ignited something dark within you. You were ready to strike them down and break in by force. Just as you were about to act, the sect's grand gate suddenly opened. A refined middle-aged man stepped out and calmly ordered, "Stand down. I will take him to see Shenhe."]

[This man was none other than the sect leader himself. Years ago, it was his presence that had inspired your ambition to join the main sect. But now, you had no time to dwell on such thoughts. Led by the sect leader, you were finally allowed entry and taken to a massive underground training arena.]

[Through the one-way glass, you could see what was happening inside. After two years apart, Shenhe had become even more strikingly beautiful. However, what shocked you the most was her opponent.]

[She was facing a formidable beast, one whose power you knew you could never hope to match. Concern for Shenhe's safety surged within you, and you instinctively pounded on the glass, trying to rush in and help.]

[But Shenhe had no idea you were there. Without hesitation, she charged forward, spear in hand, enveloped in a freezing aura. Within a few swift exchanges, she had already slain the creature.]

[A trace of astonishment flickered across your face. In just two years, Shenhe had advanced to a level that you could no longer even dream of reaching.]

["Do you see it now?" The sect leader's face showed a satisfied smile. "Shenhe is the future of this sect. We have poured all our resources into her. She is no longer just your sister—she is the sect's most valuable 'asset.'"]

[You immediately retorted, "Shenhe belongs to no one. Let me speak to her. Our mother is gravely ill—she wants to see Shenhe one last time."]

[The sect leader simply shook his head. "Impossible. Shenhe is at a crucial stage in her training. She cannot afford any distractions. In fact, she doesn't even know that her mother is ill. As far as she's concerned, her family is living peacefully."]

[It was then that you realized the truth—every letter you had ever sent to Shenhe had been intercepted. Likewise, every letter she had sent home had been forged. The sect had manipulated all communication, ensuring that she remained focused solely on her cultivation.]

[Rage boiled inside you. Years of heartfelt letters had been for nothing. You clenched your fists, ready to rush into the arena and reveal the truth to Shenhe, but the sect leader's next words stopped you cold.]

["If you tell her the truth now, it will shatter her. Years of training will be undone in an instant. Your mother is already beyond saving. What would you gain from this?"]

[His words left you in turmoil. Even if you told Shenhe everything, it would only bring her pain and regret—without changing the inevitable outcome.]

[You couldn't even remember how you left the sect. You didn't dare to look at Shenhe again. When you finally returned to the branch family estate, you were greeted by a crowd of murmuring people. The moment they saw you, they fell silent.]

[You stepped into your home and saw the unthinkable—your mother had passed away. And your father, unable to bear the grief, had taken his own life.]

["Hey, this is your father's suicide note." A familiar voice sneered. It was the same senior disciple you had humiliated during the sect trials. He tossed the letter at your feet with a smirk. "No need to be too upset though. After all, they weren't even your real parents… Hah, read for yourself."]

[There was no time to deal with this bastard. You snatched up the letter and read its contents. Like a thunderclap striking your mind, you learned the truth—your father had written that you were adopted. You and Shenhe were never truly siblings. He urged you to take care of her in their place.]

[This was a secret meant only for you. But the moment your father's letter was discovered, the entire sect had already learned of your true origins.]

[The same disciples you had beaten down over the years now saw their chance. They surrounded you, their jeers merciless.]

["Look at this! The letter even says he should 'take care' of Shenhe!" That same senior disciple sneered. "I bet these two have been fooling around for ages. Too bad for him—Shenhe is in the main sect now. Like she'd ever look at a stray like him."]

[You clenched your fists. The senior disciple sneered again. "Oh? Not happy? Then hit me! Go ahead! The moment you touch me, the elders will cripple your cultivation and kick you out for good!"]

[You knew this was a trap. The bad news? You didn't care anymore. The good news? You no longer needed to hold back.]

[Your parents were gone. Shenhe belonged to a world far beyond yours. There was nothing left for you here.]

[The years of Yin energy festering within you finally took shape. As the rage in your heart boiled over, you placed your hand on the senior disciple's shoulder. A moment later, your fingers had already plunged into his chest.]

[Your hand was no longer human—it had transformed into a grotesque, demonic claw. With razor-sharp nails, it sliced through your senior disciple's chest as effortlessly as cutting through tofu. You extracted his still-twitching heart, watching it pulse for a few fleeting seconds before the surrounding silence was shattered by horrified screams.]

[The once-familiar faces of your fellow disciples twisted into nightmarish shapes before your eyes. Their voices warped into shrill, grating wails and hateful curses, no different from the malicious spirits you had fought countless times before.]

["He's gone mad!"] someone shouted, breaking the tension.

[For those who frequently dealt with spirits, it was common knowledge that prolonged exposure could lead to "possession"—a state where one succumbed to their inner demons, becoming bloodthirsty and uncontrollable. Normally, an afflicted individual would be restrained and purified over time. However, your case was far too severe. You had killed. And among those present were disciples who had always despised you. A silent understanding passed between them—the solution was simple: kill you immediately.]

[You were undoubtedly one of the strongest among your peers, but you were no Shenhe. Even worse, your opponents weren't just your fellow disciples—they included seasoned elders of the branch family. They were not at the level of the main sect's masters, but they were far from weak.]

[The very exorcism spells and forbidden techniques meant for subduing spirits were now turned against you. The combined mental and physical assault pushed you to the brink of madness. The Yin energy you had spent years absorbing surged uncontrollably, as if awakened by your torment, and began lashing out in retaliation.]

[With no will to live, you threw yourself fully into the carnage, seeking nothing but slaughter to quiet the chaos in your heart.]

[Blood, flesh, and the stench of death—by the time you regained some semblance of awareness, the ground was littered with mangled corpses. Once familiar faces were now unrecognizable, their bodies torn apart beyond repair.]

[But you, too, had paid the price. Your left arm was severed at the shoulder. Your right hand had been cut off. One of your knees had been shattered. Your internal organs were failing. Only sheer hatred kept you clinging to life.]

[Like a wounded beast, you crawled toward the wilderness, instinctively seeking solitude. Eventually, in the depths of an abandoned mountain range, your body could no longer endure, and you lost consciousness.]

Am I… dead?

Realistically, no one should have survived such grievous injuries.

However, the simulator did have a "pseudo-resurrection" function. Perhaps there was still a sliver of hope.

But even if he wanted to use Soul Possession to be reborn, he needed a host. In his current state, there was nothing suitable nearby.

So, what would it be—revival or death?

[You don't know how much time has passed, but the sheer agony eventually forces you back into consciousness. Your lips are parched, and your lungs burn as if set ablaze. You attempt to open your eyes, only to realize that one has been completely destroyed, while the vision in your remaining eye is so blurred that you can barely make out your surroundings. You appear to be inside a cave.]

[Just then, a petite figure carrying a bamboo basket enters the cave. You instinctively tense up, but your body is far too damaged to move.]

[However, the girl doesn't seem hostile. She gently pours fresh water into your mouth. A cool sensation spreads through your body, temporarily easing your suffering. As your vision clears slightly, you see that she is an adorable purple-haired girl. But you immediately recognize something unnatural—her entire being exudes dense Yin energy. She isn't human. She's a… zombie.]

[As someone who has fought countless spirits and demons, you've encountered zombies before. While high-level zombies could develop immense power, weaker ones were usually exterminated before they could grow strong.]

["Hello, I am Qiqi. I am a zombie," the girl states flatly, showing no hesitation about revealing her identity. "You were badly injured. I brought you here."]

[Ironically, after a lifetime spent battling spirits, it was a zombie that ultimately saved you. You manage to croak out, "You… you need to leave. My body is filled with Yin energy. I have made many enemies among the spirits. Without my clan's protection, they will surely come to kill me. You'll be in danger if you stay."]

[But Qiqi simply takes out a talisman from her pocket and places it beside you, saying, "This is Qiqi's emergency talisman. With this, ordinary spirits won't be able to approach. But… your wounds are too severe. Qiqi cannot heal them. Qiqi can ask Baizhu to look at you."]

[You know full well that after slaughtering over a hundred members of the branch family, you are now a wanted criminal. If anyone discovers your whereabouts, you are as good as dead. Desperately, you plead, "Please… don't tell anyone about me. I can… recover on my own."]

[Qiqi nods without hesitation. "Okay. Then Qiqi will bring you food and water. You must stay alive."]

["Why…? Why are you helping me?" You suddenly find yourself asking. "Aren't you afraid that I'm a bad person?"]

["Qiqi can sense that you are like Qiqi. Very cold. Very lonely," Qiqi says, shaking her head. "Besides, your hands and legs are broken. You cannot do bad things. Even if you could, Qiqi is not afraid."]

[With that, Qiqi picks up her oversized bamboo basket and leaves without looking back.]

[Just as she had said, the talisman she placed beside you truly masked your Yin energy. You could sense the movements of nearby spirits. Some even entered the cave but failed to notice your presence.]

[Though you barely clung to life, your injuries rendered you completely immobile. The internal damage to your organs was excruciating. Every day was a test of sheer endurance.]

[On top of that, the lack of food and water pushed you closer to death's door. Qiqi… never returned.]

[Perhaps she realized that you were nothing but trouble and chose to cut ties. It made sense.]

[You didn't blame her. You simply refused to accept dying here. You wanted revenge against your so-called "father." More than that… you wanted to see Shenhe one last time. But what could you do, now that you had become nothing but a broken shell?]

[A sudden downpour arrived, and rainwater trickled down the cave walls, forming droplets on the stalactites before falling into your mouth. This allowed you to cling to a sliver of life.]

[However, it was merely a temporary reprieve—you could feel your consciousness slipping away. Was this it? Was this finally the end?]

[Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the cave. Qiqi came running in. Seeing your frail state, she immediately pulled food from her pouch, attempting to feed you. But you were far too weak—even chewing was beyond your strength.]

[Even so, you soon felt soft, chewed food sliding down your throat. Qiqi was personally feeding you, piece by piece. There was no unpleasant taste—in fact, the food carried a faint, cool milky fragrance. You couldn't tell whether it was inherently delicious or if your hunger made it taste heavenly.]

[At last, you regained full consciousness and took in Qiqi's disheveled appearance. Her once pristine clothes were soaked through, her pale cheeks bore faint scratches… yet there was no blood. Of course, Qiqi had no flowing blood. Her stiff muscles and joints made her a true jiangshi—a zombie.]

["Sorry," Qiqi murmured, lowering her head. "Qiqi… forgot where the cave was."]

[Seeing you had awakened, she continued, "Then it rained… so I had to check cave after cave."]

["You don't have to blame yourself," you responded weakly, unable to shake your head but conveying your meaning through your eyes. "We have no ties. Even if I died, it wouldn't be your fault."]

[Qiqi shook her head. "Qiqi… does not want you to die. When you are here, I feel… not so lonely."]

[With that, she curled up beside you. For some reason, despite her body being ice-cold, you felt an inexplicable warmth.]

[The pain in your body seemed to subside slightly as you murmured, "You know… I have a sister. We're not related by blood, but…"]

[Before you could finish, all you heard was Qiqi's soft, rhythmic breathing—like a kitten purring in its sleep. You knew that zombies didn't need sleep. Perhaps Qiqi was truly different from the others.]

[19 years old: You had long abandoned any will to live, but Qiqi's presence made you feel like, just maybe, there was some meaning to your existence. Every so often, she would bring you food and water, using her knowledge of medicine to tend to your wounds.]

[Your internal injuries were severe. The fact that you were even alive was already a miracle. However, your severed limbs… could never be restored.]

[Your time with Qiqi was simple. Neither of you were particularly talkative. She often curled up next to you, perhaps finding comfort in your Pure Yin Body.]

[Occasionally, you asked Qiqi about events in Liyue, but her memory was poor, and her speech was often disjointed. The information you gathered was limited at best.]

[The massacre of the branch family had become an unsolved case. The corpses were too mangled to properly identify. You suspected that the main sect believed you had died in the carnage—otherwise, they would have continued hunting you down. In the end, the destruction of the branch family only severed Shenhe's last remaining ties to the outside world. To the sect that sought to cultivate her into a perfect weapon, this was likely a convenient outcome.]

[As your body slowly recovered, the Yin energy within you only grew stronger. Occasionally, you would sense spirits drawn toward you. If not for Qiqi's talisman shielding you, they would have long since devoured you.]

[20 years old: Unknowingly, two years had passed. Qiqi visited more frequently. However, this led to some… awkward situations.]

[For instance, basic necessities such as bathing and changing clothes—since you were completely immobile, these tasks fell to Qiqi. And while you saw her as nothing more than a younger sister, you were still a man in the prime of life. Even though your limbs were ruined… certain other parts were still perfectly functional, and they often had a mind of their own.]

[This time, your condition was more… obvious than usual. Qiqi stared at your lower half, unblinking, as if studying an interesting phenomenon.]

[Entering Immersive Mode.]

[Objective: Dispel Accumulated Yang Energy.]

Wait—

Now of all times?!

Lucas's protests were futile. By the time he regained awareness, he was back in the cave, fully immersed in the simulation. Worse yet, his body remained paralyzed—completely unable to move.

And in front of him, Qiqi sat cross-legged, staring intently at a certain part of his body with her usual blank expression.

"D-don't stare!" Lucas's face flushed red. "You'll get an eye infection!"

"Qiqi cannot get infections," she replied calmly. "Therefore, Qiqi cannot get eye infections."

"You're making a big deal out of nothing," Lucas muttered, exasperated. "This kind of thing happens to all men."

"You are not like other men." Qiqi blinked. "Your constitution is Pure Yin. If Yang energy accumulates too much… Yin and Yang will clash. It could lead to… explosion. Boom."

She even mimicked an explosion with her arms, making a tiny "boom" sound.

Of course, the implications of what she just said were anything but cute.

"You… you're joking, right?" Lucas swallowed hard. "That can't actually happen, can it?"

He wasn't afraid of dying.

But dying like that? No thanks.

"It is… very possible," Qiqi nodded. "In the past, how did you clear excess Yang energy?"

That was a rather personal question, but Lucas answered honestly, "I used… my hand."

"But you have no hands now," Qiqi pointed out bluntly.

That statement hit harder than it should have.

Lucas let out a dry chuckle. "Yeah… I can't even take care of that myself anymore."

For any man, this was undoubtedly a tragic realization.

---

Author's Note: Sigh. Everyday I stray furthur from god as I read this novel 😓