Chapter 42: Sudden Change Part 3

“So we’ve known each other for a long time already,” Xiang Xian said. “We were acquaintances from the start! We just forgot because the Demon King twisted our fate!”

Xiao Kun replied, “Does it matter?”

“Of course it does,” Xiang Xian said. “What are you thinking?”

“Can you focus your brain on what actually matters?” Xiao Kun was exasperated. What he meant by “Does it matter?” was that in this life—provisionally called a “life”—they had already forged a bond of life and death. How they interacted before wasn’t so important.

But Xiang Xian misunderstood, thinking Xiao Kun didn’t care about their forgotten past.

“First off, it didn’t happen just once,” Xiang Xian said. “From what I gather, we work hard, find the Heart Lamp, gather our team, fight to the Demon King—and then he activates that thing. Time reverses, and everything resets.”

“Exactly,” Xiao Kun said. “That’s what my dad figured. And we forget every life’s memories completely.”

“Does that King Mu remember?” Xiang Xian asked.

“He must,” Xiao Kun answered. “That’s why they always get ahead of us.”

Xiang Xian got it. That’s why they came from the Central Plains to the Western Regions for the Heart Lamp, only for the enemy to set an ambush in Kizil first. It all made sense!

“Ah, I see.” Xiang Xian said.

Xiao Kun stood naked in waist-deep stream water, washing the blood from his body. He glanced at Xiang Xian.

Xiang Xian snapped his fingers. “Do the demons remember?”

“I doubt it,” Xiao Kun said. “Just a vague guess. My dad said only the one who controls and activates the Wheel of Fate keeps complete memories. The demons just follow orders. We’ve tried more than once and failed every time before the Wheel of Fate.”

Xiang Xian: “Maybe we had this exact conversation last time.”

The reasoning was too eerie, but for a Super Magical Treasure that looped endlessly, every victory was overturned by the enemy, forcing a restart. What a dire situation.

“I think there’s another way to look at it,” Xiang Xian said. “In other words, we succeeded every time, forcing King Mu to activate the Wheel of Fate.”

Xiao Kun replied, “You’re pretty optimistic.”

Xiao Kun climbed ashore. Xiang Xian handed him his robe. Once dressed, he stood before Xiang Xian.

“Right?” Xiang Xian said. “Since we’ve beaten King Mu before—even if we forgot—they should be the scared ones, not us.”

Xiao Kun stared at Xiang Xian for a long moment, then nodded. “You could say that.”

Xiang Xian’s insight opened a whole new perspective for Xiao Kun. Indeed, it meant they had once pushed to King Mu’s stronghold and nearly purified the Demon King—otherwise, the enemy wouldn’t have used that artifact.

“So what’s wrong with doing it again?” Xiang Xian grinned and extended his hand to Xiao Kun.

Xiao Kun clasped it.

“You’re right.” The helplessness weighing on Xiao Kun’s heart vanished instantly, thanks to Xiang Xian. All along the way, he’d been uncontrollably pondering: How to defeat an enemy who could forcibly reverse fate and reset time upon defeat? An unheard-of foe, unseen even in vast history.

The sun rose. Hulü Guang finally got a chance to talk to Xiang Xian.

“Master, you’re not hurt, are you?” Hulü Guang asked.

“I’m fine, don’t worry.” Xiang Xian beckoned him over, clasped his wrist to feel the flow of Magical Power inside.

“His Pulse Wheel is shattered,” Xiang Xian said to Xiao Kun. “The Heart Lamp is repairing it.”

Xiao Kun knew Xiang Xian had studied under masters and was well-versed in cultivation theory. Though he’d received guidance from experts too, Le Wan Shuang wasn’t versed in Exorcism Division methods, so he nodded.

Xiang Xian said, “With diligent practice—no slacking—maybe in time he can wield the Heart Lamp.”

Hulü Guang: “I don’t know why…”

Xiang Xian waved it off, indicating it was fine.

Hulü Guang added, “I just want to help you all.”

Xiang Xian stood silently, hugged Hulü Guang, and patted his back.

“No need to say more,” Xiang Xian said.

A mere mortal, once a slave, handed to Chaosheng on Gaochang King’s whim—yet he’d toiled without complaint and risked his life in battle. Xiang Xian began to understand why the Heart Lamp chose Hulü Guang.

Xiao Kun still felt a bit dejected. Meeting Xiang Xian’s eyes, he knew Xiang Xian understood—originally, Xiao Kun, as the current Grand Demon-Exorcist, was supposed to obtain the Heart Lamp to better team up with Xiang Xian against the Demon King.

His failure had troubled him for a long time.

Xiang Xian beckoned to Xiao Kun. Unsure, Xiao Kun leaned in, thinking he had something to whisper.

Xiang Xian promptly kissed him on the cheek—with a smooch.

“What the hell are you doing?!” Xiao Kun roared.

Wu Yingzong and Hulü Guang immediately burst into laughter. Xiang Xian’s action was half to understand his inner thoughts and comfort Xiao Kun, and half because he truly wanted to make a gesture, to tell him that after this battle of life and death, his own inner feelings had changed.

After all, they had held hands and embraced before. A simple hug and words could no longer express Xiang Xian’s heart, especially after being soaked in his blood throughout his body. Xiang Xian faintly harbored thoughts of being with him, with him… Though he hadn’t thought it through, the notions were very complex.

Xiao Kun’s face flushed completely red, bringing color to his pale skin as he angrily stood up.

Everyone understood that the kiss held no frivolous intent and found it highly amusing. However, seeing Xiao Kun’s extreme reaction only made them laugh even harder, doubling over.