Luohu fell silent.
He looked at Xuandu, at those calm yet profound eyes.
After a long while.
He slowly spoke:
"Aren't you afraid that once I recover, I'll turn on you?"
"Aren't you afraid that I'll seize your Interception Sect and kill your master?"
"Aren't you afraid that I'll become a second Hongjun?"
Xuandu smiled faintly at his words.
The smile was slight, yet it carried an understanding that seemed to see through all things.
"Not afraid."
The two words fell like a spring breeze brushing across one's face.
Luohu froze.
Not afraid?
Why was he not afraid?
Xuandu looked at him and slowly spoke:
"Because you are not Hongjun."
"Because what you seek is freedom, Transcendence, and an unfettered Dao."
"While what Hongjun seeks is control, order, and predetermined certainty that remains unchanged through countless yuanhui."
"You and he walk different paths."
"You cannot conspire together."
Luohu's entire body trembled.
He looked at Xuandu, at those calm yet profound eyes.
Unspeakable emotions churned within him.
This child understood him.
He understood why Luohu had become Hongjun's enemy.
He understood why Luohu had self-destructed on Mount Sumeru.
He understood why Luohu would rather sleep through countless yuanhui than lower his head.
It was not for power or profit.
It was not to reign supreme over all races.
It was for the Dao.
For that unfettered Dao, without laws, without Heavenly Dao, without predetermined fate or Shackles.
For the innate nature of a Chaos Demon God, carved into his bones and impossible to erase.
What Hongjun wanted was order.
What Luohu wanted was freedom.
Their paths were different.
They could not conspire together.
Luohu slowly closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, his dark eyes were filled with unfathomable calm.
"Good."
That single word carried a sense of relief.
He