Super Artifact · Sword of Destruction!

A bolt of lightning split the sky outside the window, illuminating Su Ling's pallid face. Then, just as quickly, everything went calm again.

"So... you ate my reward again?"

How could that cold, heartless Gu Yuena possibly do something like that?

So this was probably just an excuse for the system to gobble up his reward.

"Umm..." The system fell silent for a long while before speaking again.

"Because the plot has deviated severely from expectations, and the Plane Will filed a complaint, all rewards for this Simulation have been wiped."

As the system spoke, its voice actually trembled a little.

"Three times... three times! Since I started following you, I've been reported three times already."

The system finally broke down and shouted, "If this keeps up, the Main System is going to format me!"

Su Ling didn't reply. He just stared blankly at the torrential rain outside.

After sitting there dazed for a while, he suddenly got to his feet and headed for the door.

Seeing this, the system thought he was about to take his own life and let out a panicked shriek. "What are you doing? It's pouring outside!"

"Okay, okay, there's actually some good news. Although this Simulation came with no rewards, I still secretly swiped your Super Artifact · Sword of Destruction and brought it back!"

"What do you think? Aren't I good to you? From now on, we'll never have to let those nasty women bully us again. Hey, are you listening—"

Su Ling ignored it and pushed open the door. The icy rain instantly soaked through his thin pajamas.

That damn system really was lying to him again.

At the end of every loop, it would make up some ridiculous ending and then dock his rewards.

It was practically treating him like a Japanese person.

See? It had still been hiding something good!

He gave a bitter smile, then tilted his face up to the downpour and let the rain wash over him.

But just as he was about to put on an acting performance, the drenched girl before him made his mind go completely blank.

Gu Yuena stood silently in the torrential rain. Her once brilliant violet eyes were now hollow and dim.

Rain slid down her silky hair and dripped from her slender shoulders. She looked like a kitten abandoned by its owner, helpless and forlorn.

But the instant she recognized Su Ling, her dim violet eyes suddenly contracted.

Killing intent, hatred, pain, longing... Countless tangled emotions surged through her like a tide.

Su Ling's heart nearly stopped. A thousand possibilities flashed through his mind, but he couldn't find a single reasonable explanation.

Why was Gu Yuena here?

They weren't supposed to have met yet at this point in time.

"Um... excuse me, do we know each other?"

Su Ling forced a smile. His hand had already reached for the doorframe, ready to shut the door at a moment's notice.

At the young man's question, Gu Yuena slowly raised her head and looked into his unfamiliar, wary eyes.

She suddenly realized that even if the young man before her really would become the future Destruction God King—the ruthless husband who would pierce her heart with his sword on their wedding night—

Right now, he was nothing more than a frail, insignificant human.

This time, she absolutely couldn't let the tragedy of the Previous Life happen again.

A hint of resolve flashed in Gu Yuena's eyes. She stepped forward, slowly making her way toward Su Ling.

But when she met his eyes again, her newly hardened resolve crumbled in an instant.

That gaze... It looked so much like his in her memories.

Gu Yuena opened her mouth, but no sound came out. The words of accusation caught in her throat.

She could only let the rain slide down her cheeks, mingling with her tears until she looked utterly heartbroken.

"Sigh, never mind. Come inside first!"

Su Ling sighed helplessly. Seeing how utterly lost she looked, he couldn't bring himself to leave her out there.

He walked out, took Gu Yuena by her icy wrist, and led her inside.

Warmth immediately enveloped Gu Yuena, driving away the chill surrounding her.

She let Su Ling lead her, mechanically moving her feet as she stared blankly around the room.

The furnishings were simple but cozy: a wooden table, a few wooden chairs, and a small but clean, tidy sofa.

In the Previous Life, wasn't this the kind of cozy home she had dreamed of sharing with him?

But he had destroyed it all with his cruelty.

Gu Yuena sat on the living room sofa with her head bowed, silver hair falling forward to hide most of her face. Her expression had gradually turned cold.

She shouldn't have let herself soften.

For the noble mission of restoring the Soul Beasts, and for the countless members of her kind he had slaughtered,

she had to steel herself and eliminate this future threat before it could grow.

"Host! Run! If you stay here, there's a 99.9% chance you'll die!" the system shrieked in Su Ling's mind like a panicked ground squirrel.

"Hey! Isn't this supposed to be a dream?"

Holding a clean towel, Su Bai gently wiped the rain and tears from Gu Yuena's face.

He even pinched her smooth cheek. It felt surprisingly soft.

Gu Yuena jerked her head up, a dangerous glint flashing in her violet eyes.

But just as she was about to lash out, Su Ling draped the towel over her soaking-wet hair and vigorously rubbed it dry.

"Don't move. You need to dry your hair, or you might catch a cold," he said softly.

By now, he had a vague sense that something was wrong. Even for a dream, this was much too real.

Interrupted halfway through her attack, Gu Yuena froze. She stared blankly at Su Ling, letting him do as he pleased.

She used to love jumping into the Lake of Life and coming out drenched, too.

That way, the young man would helplessly dry her hair for her.

Time seemed to stand still.

The torrential rain continued all around them. Beyond that, all they could hear was each other's faint breathing.

Gu Yuena could even hear the young man's heart pounding. It was so alive, so warm.

She almost wanted to dig it out and see if it was real.

Heh... How could this demon have a heart?

He had been so merciless when he killed her.

Thinking this, Gu Yuena's hand moved unconsciously toward Su Ling's heart.

Her beautiful dark violet eyes had turned bloodred, and her killing intent was almost tangible.

Su Ling's movements abruptly stopped.

He could clearly feel the icy hand pressed against his chest. With the slightest push, it could pierce his heart.

"Sorry, you looked so cold... I just couldn't help myself..."

Su Ling awkwardly withdrew his hand. The tips of his ears flushed faintly, and he lowered his head, pretending to be shy.

"You... really don't remember me?"

Gu Yuena's voice was so soft that the rain almost drowned it out, yet it carried a faint tremble.

In her memories, the Destruction God King had always been distant and indifferent.

The Holy Flame Alchemist, whose eyes had always been fixed on the Law of Truth, would never have looked so bashful.