Chapter 107 - 1#

Will You Marry Me (The Finale)#

King Luofu died, and the demon race became a scattered mess. That day, the frontier capital was in chaos. Su Ruhui took Sang Baobao and fled the capital, taking Tantai Jing with them. That Tantai Jing, for some unknown reason, insisted on going to the North Star Palace. Su Ruhui guessed he might have realized something, but time was pressing. Sang Baobao leaped up, gave him a “cat punch” to knock him unconscious, then bit the back of his collar and dragged him onto the carriage. Han Ye and the others received Su Ruhui’s message and quickly came to meet them, and everyone escaped through the portal without anyone noticing.

All of Su Ruhui’s permissions had been opened. Now, he looked like a frivolous young man, but in fact, he was the master of this world. He possessed all known secret arts: Celestial Eye, Mind Reading, Blizzard… He could even create secret arts himself, such as unlimited cat food. This particular secret art was mainly because he was lazy and recently disinclined to make cat food for Sang Baobao. Su Ruhui and Sang Baobao sent Tantai Jing back to Lizhou. During this time, Su Ruhui also lied, claiming he found a miracle drug to help Tantai Jing recover his Blizzard secret art. The medicine was concocted by Sang Baobao, and the main ingredients in the recipe were King Luofu’s gallbladder and half a catty of Coptis chinensis.

Tantai Jing drank the medicine without a change in expression. Su Ruhui instinctively gave him a thumbs up, thinking, “Uncle is indeed a true man.”

“Is she dead?” Tantai Jing asked.

Su Ruhui didn’t immediately realize who “she” referred to.

Sang Baobao, beside him, replied, “Dead.”

Su Ruhui belatedly understood that Tantai Jing was asking about his Senior Sister.

Upon hearing of her death, even though he had guessed it early, Tantai Jing couldn’t help but be stunned.

Su Ruhui added fuel to the fire: “Not only is she dead, but there’s no intact body. King Luofu killed her mother and her sister, and lied to her that they all died in the snow. She went for revenge, and her body exploded, leaving only half. I originally wanted to retrieve her corpse for burial, but then I remembered how she deceived your body and your heart, so I didn’t bother. Later, I heard she was devoured by the starving demons of the frontier capital. Uncle, don’t you think I got my revenge?”

Tantai Jing did not answer Su Ruhui’s question, remaining silent for a long time. He lowered his eyes, gazing at the flickering lamplight. There was a racial divide between him and that woman, and he knew he shouldn’t pity her fate. Yet, facing the dim yellow candlelight, in his blurred vision, her solitary, determined back as she walked into the pouring rain that day always appeared involuntarily before his eyes.

No intact body. She had always been decisive and resolute, and the way she chose to die was equally resolute.

Su Ruhui raised a hand and waved it in front of his eyes. “Uncle?”

Tantai Jing glanced at him indifferently, then furrowed his brows and turned to look at Sang Baobao.

Tantai Jing asked, “Why aren’t you in human form?”

This time, Sang Baobao didn’t speak. Su Ruhui also didn’t know how to explain to Tantai Jing.

Su Ruhui couldn’t possibly say that due to doing it seven times a night, the fat cat had become a废 cat, unable to hide its ears or tail, and being thin-skinned, it preferred to remain a cat.

Tantai Jing and Sang Baobao stared at each other, their eyes both cold.

Somehow, Tantai Jing guessed it. He said coldly, “Lack of restraint brings shame to this孤.”

Not long after, Su Ruhui and Sang Baobao were driven out of the room. That night, the lights in Tantai Jing’s chambers stayed on all night.

The next day, the gentry of Lizhou welcomed Tantai Jing. The four feudal lords of the human world gathered in Lizhou, forming an alliance to fight the demon race of the frontier capital. With Tantai Jing’s return, the human world regrouped. The demon race, without King Luofu and having lost Bai Ruoye, was left with a group of short-sighted demon officials. It was believed that good news would arrive soon.

Su Ruhui held Sang Baobao, gazing at Tantai Jing on the high platform, and said, “Brother Sang, we should go.”

Senior Sister was dead, everything was over. The heavenly gate could open at any time; they were just waiting for the right moment to say goodbye to their family and friends here.

Sang Baobao lifted its fluffy face, its ice-blue eyes reflecting Su Ruhui’s melancholic expression.

It didn’t speak; it knew Su Ruhui was reluctant to leave this place.

Outside Bukuguan Pass, the Snow Realm Great Wall.

“Are you really going on a long journey?” Zhou Xiaosu hugged Su Ruhui’s arm, her eyes tearful. “Senior Brother, the Snow Realm is so cold, even Princess Suwu gained nothing, let alone you?”

People from the Black Street Pleasure House and the Great Compassion Hall had all arrived, all trying to persuade Su Ruhui to think twice. A procession of shiny bald heads and colorful facial paints swayed before Su Ruhui’s eyes, making him dizzy.

Han Ye also disapproved. “Has your brain sprung a leak again? You’re always coming up with new ideas. Why doesn’t your husband manage you?”

Sang Chiyu appeared, carrying a travel bag, and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of him.”

Since even Sang Chiyu said so, there was no point for Han Ye to keep persuading. He just said, “Be careful. If you die too far away, I won’t go collect your bodies.”

Anan wiped his tears. “Young Master Sang, if you leave, who will manage our Great Compassion Hall?”

Sang Chiyu said calmly, “You.”

“Can I do it?” Anan hesitated.

“Five hundred coins a month,” Sang Chiyu said.

Anan’s expression suddenly became resolute. “I can do it!”

Shentu cried loudly, “Can’t you take me with you? I don’t want to stay with Han Ye; he poisons me every day.”

Han Ye was furious. “It’s good enough that I’m willing to cook for you, and you’re picking and choosing, saying my food is poisoned. Why haven’t you been poisoned to death? Weigh yourself, how many pounds have you gained?”

Zhou Xiaosu denounced him, “Han Ye, you abuse dogs.”

Han Ye rolled his eyes. “I don’t just abuse dogs; I’ll kill dogs too.”

Su Ruhui watched them argue with a smile. Sang Chiyu looked at his gently smiling profile, wanting to say something, but saw him stand on tiptoes and wave vigorously. Following Su Ruhui’s gaze, a blue-curtained carriage rolled in, cutting through the brilliant spring light. A guard escorted it, and the soldiers, each on a tall black horse, looked imposing.

As soon as that carriage arrived, the atmosphere among the Black Street crowd grew tense by several degrees. Su Ruhui ran over. A corner of the curtain was lifted, revealing Tantai Jing sitting upright inside.

“Leaving?” he asked.

Su Ruhui nodded.

“Take the guard,” he said.

“No need, Uncle. Who can beat Brother Sang?”

Su Ruhui took out a rolled-up map from his satchel and handed it to Tantai Jing. Tantai Jing opened the map; three red dots were marked with cinnabar: one in the extreme north of the Snow Realm, and the other two in Jiangnan.

Su Ruhui said, “King Luofu told me some secrets before he died. You should personally lead the guard to the Snow Realm King City; you might discover some things.”

Tantai Jing frowned.

“After you visit the first place, then decide whether to go to the second. As for the third place,” Su Ruhui hesitated for a moment, then rubbed away one of the cinnabar marks on the map, “forget it, don’t go.”

“Don’t be mysterious,” Tantai Jing’s expression was cold and indifferent.

“You should go and see; I guarantee you won’t regret it.” Su Ruhui ran towards Sang Chiyu, waving back at Tantai Jing. “We’re going, Uncle, take care!”

Sang Chiyu opened the portal. Beyond the portal was the icy, snowy wilderness of the Snow Realm. They didn’t need to know exactly where it was, or which part of the Snow Realm. Han Ye and the others stopped arguing, and the Black Street crowd also quieted down. The Secret Sect soldiers silently watched Su Ruhui and Sang Chiyu. Outside Bukuguan Pass, after the great catastrophe of the demon invasion, the Black Street and the Secret Sect miraculously did not clash, though Su Ruhui knew they would eventually fight.

“We’re leaving,” Su Ruhui bowed to them. “The future is long; please take care, everyone!”

They all shouted, “Boss Su, take care! Young Master Sang, take care!”

The soldiers also cheered, “You two, take care!”

Sang Chiyu nodded, took Su Ruhui’s hand, and stepped into the portal. The portal closed behind them; the voices of old friends could no longer be heard. What greeted them was endless swirling snow, and the vast sky and snowfield merging in the distance.

“Are you willing to leave it?” Sang Chiyu stroked Su Ruhui’s face. “You have many friends here. In reality, perhaps you only have me.”

Su Ruhui suppressed the bitterness in his heart and smiled, “If I said I was reluctant, would you be willing to stay with me?”

Sang Chiyu was silent for a long time, then frowned and said, “Is there a way to have both?”

“Are you saying live in reality for a few days, then here for a few days?” Su Ruhui shook his head. “Once consciousness enters the metascape, the body in reality will decay. Freezing the physical body works here because this is a world that doesn’t care about science. In reality, it will probably take many more years to achieve that. And I have to go; I have important things to do.”

Sang Chiyu understood him and guessed what he was going to do. “Are you going to change the metascape?”

“Yes, I’m going to iterate Metascape 21 Park into Metascape 22 Park.” Su Ruhui spread his arms in the snow wind. “I want to stop the wind and snow, and help them build a true paradise. Then, regardless of human or demon, everyone will have their own home. I hope everyone and every demon gets a perfect ending.”

Sang Chiyu looked at his back, his usually cold and calm gaze unconsciously softening.

He was just such a person; even after experiencing betrayal and slaughter, his heart remained warm. He was not a god or a buddha, yet he possessed a heart that could embrace all suffering. He was shameless and crude, yet also resilient and gentle. He was Sang Chiyu’s ruffian, and also Sang Chiyu’s unique sun.

Sang Chiyu liked Su Ruhui, liked him very much, it seemed he liked him more each day than the last.

“So I have to go back. And, Brother Sang, you have to pay me the fifty million you owe me to build a new laboratory for me.” Su Ruhui turned around and held out his hand to him. “Let’s go.”

Sang Chiyu: “…”

His constantly deepening affection suddenly paused for a moment.

Su Ruhui looked at his somewhat grave expression and said in surprise, “Wow, no way, you’re not going to renege on your debt, are you?”

Sang Chiyu walked towards him and took his hand.

“Seriously, do you have money to pay me back?”

“I need time to raise the money.”

Hand in hand, they walked deeper into the snow realm. Ahead, a hexagonal snowflake silently ascended. Light and shadow began to distort, and the heavenly gate channel slowly opened.

“So that means you don’t,” Su Ruhui said with some concern. “How much are your assets? I’m a big spender; if I marry you, will I have to eat coarse food?”

“Give me time.”

“By the way, I’m a wanted criminal. Are you planning to roam the world with me?”

“I have a way.”

If Sang Chiyu said he had a way, then he had a way. Su Ruhui didn’t press further and instead asked, “Will you hand over your salary to me to manage, Brother Sang? Savings too, and the house needs my name on it. I don’t accept prenuptial agreements unless you pay me back fifty million.”

He chattered on without stopping, and Sang Chiyu finally showed a helpless expression.

“Hand over, sign my name, fifty million, all yours.”

The wind and snow covered their voices. The next moment, everything fell silent. When the wind and snow dispersed, they were gone, leaving only four rows of footprints extending into the distance on the white snow.

The real world.

Upon returning to reality, Su Ruhui was indeed arrested. The time flow in the metascape was different from the outside world; Su Ruhui had used a 15:1 ratio when he initiated the rebirth program. This meant that for every 15 years in the metascape, only 1 year passed outside. Su Ruhui and Sang Chiyu had spent thirty-two years inside, while a little over two years passed outside. Two years was enough for the Secret Sect’s alliance of secret art families to search the entire seabed of the isolated island. Su Ruhui’s underwater server base was exposed. However, Su Ruhui was Su Ruhui after all; no one could breach his security ice wall. A hundred-person specialized team of technical personnel from the Secret Sect government worked for two years, tearing their hair out to crack it, but failed to enter the metascape.

But when Su Ruhui returned to the base and gained a physical presence, he naturally fell under their control.

Su Ruhui sat in a dimly lit interrogation room, five cameras facing him from all directions. A bright spotlight in front of him made him unable to open his eyes or see the Secret Sect police officer sitting upright behind the light. He had been interrogated for two days, from the loves and hates in the metascape to the stinky tofu he ate yesterday.

The Secret Sect government wanted Su Ruhui’s snowflake key, a technology encompassing digital consciousness, virtual reality, and many other technologies. Thus, Su Ruhui’s wanted level was very high; armies, investigation bureaus, everyone wanted to take Su Ruhui, and even the aerospace agency stepped in, claiming Su Ruhui’s digital consciousness could help them with space expeditions. These mad scientists were speaking animatedly outside the interrogation room, and even through the thick steel plate, Su Ruhui could hear their voices. According to them, if they could break free from the limitations of the flesh, spaceships could reach maximum accelerations unbearable for the human body, traveling to vaster spaces. The Secret Sect police listened expressionlessly for five minutes, then politely asked them to leave.

“Stop fooling us,” the interrogator’s voice subtly hinted at anger. “Prisons never provide stinky tofu.”

“Oh, sorry,” Su Ruhui chuckled in a flippant manner. “I forgot, I ate it in a dream. By the way, I really miss that taste; can I have it for my prison meal tonight?”

The interrogator’s expression was serious. “Mr. Su, please understand, you are not only suspected of cybercrime, but also face multiple charges including arms trafficking, murder, and terrorist attacks. Each of these charges, taken individually, is enough for you to be locked up for life. If you do not cooperate with the investigation and hand over all your illegal research results, when the trial court opens next month, I guarantee your sentence will extend into the next century.”

“Then let the trial begin,” Su Ruhui smiled. “I look forward to it.”

The interrogator clenched his fist and said, “You are too arrogant. So many soldiers died in your isolated island paradise. Mr. Su, murderers cannot escape justice.”

Su Ruhui shook his head, “I do what I want on my own island. You are the ones who broke into my home and ruined my paradise. Out of respect for Sang Chiyu selling himself to me, I won’t fuss over it,” Su Ruhui smiled lazily, “Otherwise, I would blow your damn base to smithereens.”

“Colonel Sang is impartial and incorruptible, he is our most honest and upright officer, he would never stoop to your level,” the interrogator sneered.

“Your Colonel Sang not only stoops to my level but also shares my bed. Every night he calls me his dear sweetie, his big baby, and doesn’t want to get up in the morning,” Su Ruhui said.

This statement was met with disbelief. The interrogator, infuriated, overturned the table. “Lies! How dare you slander Colonel Sang and ruin his reputation!”

He rushed forward to hit Su Ruhui, but other police officers quickly restrained him. The others escorted Su Ruhui back to his cell.

Su Ruhui’s cell became a solitary one, reportedly arranged by that interrogator. The shadow cast by the isolated island paradise on the Secret Sect was too deep. The Secret Sect removed all electronic equipment from an entire floor, fearing Su Ruhui might use some electronic component to escape. The new cell had no windows, no lights. The iron door was shut, and three locks clicked shut outside, leaving the entire cell in darkness.

Su Ruhui sat on the iron bed, hugging his knees, his head resting against the cold wall.

So dark, so lonely. Sang Chiyu, you unreliable person, where did you run off to?

Su Ruhui knocked on the wall, trying to talk to the prisoner next door. Unfortunately, Su Ruhui was the only prisoner who could reach S-class, standing out alone, with the surrounding cells empty.

He didn’t know how long passed; the cell was always pitch black, and Su Ruhui couldn’t distinguish the time. The prison was deliberately designed this way. The pressure of darkness was too great; many prisoners couldn’t last long in such a sunless place and would soon tearfully confess everything the interrogator wanted.

Su Ruhui wondered blankly how long he could last.

Suddenly, there was movement at the outer door locks, three clicks, and the heavy iron door opened a crack. Something round seemed to waddle in from outside, bringing with it an indescribable stench. Su Ruhui squinted, trying to make out what it was. Suddenly, something soft and fluffy brushed against his toes, then his lap felt heavy. Su Ruhui felt it; it was Sang Baobao.

“Brother Sang, why are you here?” Su Ruhui asked in surprise.

“To accompany you,” Sang Baobao lay down in his lap, licking his palm.

It was too dark; Su Ruhui couldn’t see, only feel. First, he felt its ears, then its round face, then its soft belly, and its large, duster-like tail.

Su Ruhui hugged it tightly. “Thank goodness you’re here, it’s so dark. How did you get in?”

“Privilege,” Sang Baobao said. “Bear with it a little longer, I’ll take you out next month.”

Su Ruhui knew that Sang Chiyu must have been tirelessly working these past few days to resolve his situation. He probably hadn’t rested well; Sang Baobao’s fur was matted, and Su Ruhui felt several knots. Su Ruhui rubbed its belly and asked softly, “Brother Sang, do you have to pay any price to solve my problems?”

Sang Baobao stroked his face. “Go home and inherit the family business.”

Su Ruhui: “…That’s a steep price.”

“My family is very large, and my clan is also very proud. You might have to live with me in the old mansion in the future,” Sang Baobao said. “I’m sorry, you might have to endure some cold words for a while. I’ll find a way to move us out.”

“Are all your family members cats?” Su Ruhui asked.

“Mhm.”

“Their pride means…?”

“They look down on humans,” Sang Baobao replied.

Su Ruhui understood and said very considerately, “Brother Sang, I don’t think moving is necessary. It’s too troublesome for you to commute back and forth to manage the family business. I’m very sensible, you know; I’ll definitely serve your elders well. I’m very good at brushing fur, making cat food, scooping litter, and giving massages.”

“…” Sang Baobao said, “No, I’m moving.”

Su Ruhui tried to persuade it for a while longer, but Sang Baobao was determined to move. Su Ruhui had no choice. Just as he was about to lie down and rest, he lowered his head and smelled that foul odor again. Su Ruhui hesitated for a moment and asked, “Brother Sang, have you been especially busy these past few days, too busy to shower?”

Sang Baobao: “…”

Sang Baobao nudged his hand with its paw pad, guiding him to a plastic bag containing a heavy bento box.

“Huh?” Su Ruhui carefully opened the bento box, and a steaming, stinky odor wafted into his nose.

“You said you wanted stinky tofu,” Sang Baobao said, “I brought it.”

Su Ruhui was so touched his nose tingled, and he picked up Sang Baobao and kissed it.

Sang Baobao pushed him away with its paw pad and asked, “What do you want to eat tomorrow?”

“Luosifen (snail noodles),” Su Ruhui said.

Sang Baobao: “…”

Its sense of smell was much more sensitive than a human’s. The stinky tofu was already unbearable, and it never expected Su Ruhui’s requests to become even more terrifying.