You Shouldn't Have Had the Courage to Return

"Cough, cough, cough... cough, cough, cough..."

In the cramped carriage, a passenger wrapped head to toe in a black robe had been coughing nonstop since boarding. Several times, he even coughed up blood, making everyone suspect he had caught some disease. They all instinctively moved farther away from him.

Only a little girl approached, timidly offering him a handkerchief. "Sir, are you feeling unwell? I have..."

Before she could finish, the black-robed passenger snarled, "What are you pretending for?" The little girl jolted in fright and nearly dropped the handkerchief.

Only then did the man in black raise his head. Seeing the little girl's pale face, he seemed to realize something and instinctively shook his head. "Sorry. I wasn't talking to you."

Not talking to her?

Then who had he been talking to?

The passengers in the carriage immediately decided that not only was the black-robed man in poor health, but there was probably something wrong with his head as well.

Ulu did not know how to explain it. While the little girl had been speaking to him, Bai Wei in his mind had also been asking about his condition. For a moment, he could not tell whom he was supposed to answer, so he replied to the little girl with the words meant for Bai Wei. Afterward, Ulu seemed to hear a teasing laugh from deep within his heart, though he did not know whether it was merely his imagination.

"Sorry, I don't need it." Ulu said to the little girl, "I'll be fine after getting some rest."

After declining the girl's offer, Ulu heard Bai Wei's voice again. "Your mind and body are too tense. You should relax."

Wasn't my body ruined by you in the first place? Ulu thought coldly.

"Yes." Bai Wei replied indifferently. "Without me, you would be lying in the dirt right now. Then you would not need to worry about your body getting worse."

Ulu was immediately rendered speechless, unable to think of a retort. After remaining silent for a while, he spoke again. "Visas, will you really honor our deal?"

"Tsk, your mindset really has changed." Rather than answering immediately, Bai Wei drawled, "You used to call me Visas-sama. Now you are already calling me by name?"

"Why should I keep using honorifics for a dangerous creature that wants my life?" Ulu said coldly.

"Ha, fair enough." Ulu saw his left middle finger use the index finger and ring finger to make another shrugging gesture, making the corner of his mouth twitch. "But it does not matter. I have never cared much about such formalities. At least, not as much as your god does. Next time something happens, pray to your god instead. He will come save you."

Ulu was left speechless once more.

He had to admit that, when it came to arguing, the gap between him and Bai Wei might not have been any smaller than the gap in their strength.

"Arguing with you is no fun. Before long, you just stop talking." Bai Wei continued shrugging. "Let's get to business. You asked whether I would honor our deal... Isn't that nonsense? I proposed this deal. Why would I break it?"

"How would I know?"

"Hehe, do not underestimate me. If I ever resorted to deception, the target should be the Gods, not you." Bai Wei said. "Actually, I do not think even the Gods are qualified for that. At least, no single god is."

Only the Gods were worthy of being deceived. It sounded truly arrogant, but when Ulu considered that the one saying it was Visas, even he did not find anything wrong with it.

Thinking carefully, Bai Wei had indeed never lied to him about anything during the time he had possessed his body.

That was what made it so terrifying. Not a single lie had passed his lips, yet he had still made Ulu offer up half his body. He was simply a master at manipulating people's hearts.

That was why Ulu had to confirm it with Bai Wei once more. He said in a low voice, "We agreed that I would take you to Somu City and help you find the whereabouts of your next body part. You must..."

"Tell you the cause of your mother's death." Bai Wei said blandly. "Do not worry."

"Not tell me. Let me see it with my own eyes." Ulu said. "Even though you claim to disdain deception, I still do not believe anything you say. I have to... see it for myself."

"Of course. That was part of the deal from the beginning."

Making another deal with Bai Wei, Ulu did not know whether he would regret it. When Bai Wei had first proposed the deal, a voice in his subconscious had seemed to warn him to stay away from it. This deal would lead him into an abyss of eternal damnation.

...But he found that he had no way to refuse.

In his memories, his mother had died of hunger and illness, and it should have had nothing to do with anyone else. But Bai Wei clearly did not think so. He said he knew the truth.

And it was this so-called truth that drew Ulu back onto a path from which he might very well never return.

"And one more thing." Ulu said. "You cannot deliberately lead me into danger and force me to use your power to fight... If that happens again, I would rather be killed by Rhine's people than keep you hidden."

"Hehe, it seems you have thought about quite a lot these past two days and learned plenty from experience." Bai Wei said with a light chuckle. "Do not worry. This time, I will not force you to use my power. Besides, I will let you see many more things with your own eyes. Consider them complimentary gifts."

Ulu did not care what Bai Wei meant by complimentary gifts. He now understood clearly that if one wanted something, one had to pay the corresponding price. "After the deal is completed..."

"You can cut me off, and I will not stop you again." Bai Wei said with a faint smile. "If you really decide to do that by then."

Ulu ignored Bai Wei's words. He now understood that, when facing Bai Wei, he had to remain true to himself. Only by not chasing after things that looked more enticing could he survive.

Nothing was more important than staying alive.

Ulu thought.

Then he fell asleep. He had been far too exhausted these past days, so even the rocking carriage could not lessen his drowsiness.

He slept, but not peacefully. He had many dreams, dreaming of many things.

For example... his mother.

He had not dreamed of his mother for twenty years. He was even beginning to forget what she looked like.

When someone vaguely shook him awake, he saw a Rhine Knight in armor standing before him.

Ulu was briefly dazed, then immediately came fully awake. When he realized this was not a dream, cold sweat instantly ran down his back.

But the knight merely glanced at him without saying anything. He made a round through the carriage, then called outside, "No contraband found," before jumping down from the carriage.

Ulu remained sitting there in a daze, clearly unable to process what had just happened.

Bai Wei's voice sounded at just the right moment. "It seems that Bishop did not publicly release your portrait and put out a warrant for you."

Ulu instinctively asked, "Why?"

"Because then everyone would know who took Visas's body part, and what he looked like." Bai Wei said with a smile. "They would rather let you run free outside than allow other churches to learn anything about you."

Only then did Ulu realize that the carriage had stopped. What had just happened was a routine inspection.

Which meant...

He hurriedly opened the window and looked outside.

The towering Somu City stood before his eyes.

"Keeping it from the other churches is one thing, but even the knights of Somu City do not recognize you. Do you know why?"

Ulu was silent for a moment before answering, "Because they never thought I would dare come back."

"Yes." Bai Wei drawled. "Because Bishop clearly believed... that a worm should not have the courage to return."

Ulu said nothing. He merely looked at the city he had dreamed of countless times before silently closing the window and shutting his eyes.