240. Time

'No... impossible!'

'It shouldn't be what I think...'

Otherwise, this wouldn't be the work of some Wicked Spirit or Demon professional... but rather a far more terrifying, truly unsolvable "Demon" curse!

'It's not a curse from the realm of fate... but... time!'

'... an unsolvable loop.'

Sulu, after making bold assumptions and carefully verifying them, felt his mouth was a little dry and unconsciously swallowed his saliva.

The clamor of the banquet and the liveliness of the dance floor contrasted madly with his chilling heart.

Glug glug!

Sulu downed the champagne in one gulp, feeling that even this Shadow Clone needed warmth, and wanted a strong drink, the stronger the better.

He took a deep breath, stopped a waiter, and asked with a smile, "Excuse me, where is the restroom?"

Following the direction the messenger indicated, he slipped into a corridor, looked around, and finding no one watching, immediately climbed out of the window.

He had been here before and remembered that after climbing over the corridor, he could hide in a bush and spy on the garden.

The view here is decent; you can barely see a corner of the Ancient Well.

Sulu used the [Rogue] ability to hide in the shadows, and the lines on his body seemed to become illusory.

This is the Shadow Warrior's Shadow Affinity, which even allows them to learn some Shadow-type spells.

Of course, since it's a clone, it only has about 20-30% of the effect, but with the cover of darkness, it's enough.

"In the Silence of the night, it's as if you've already left."

I hear your voice, but I cannot see your face.

"I can't reach you... I can't reach you..."

A slightly melancholic and sorrowful song lingered in my ears.

Two figures arrived in the garden, accompanied by footsteps.

It's Owen and his father.

Behind them followed a large number of the Dougwell Family members, each with a solemn expression.

"Owen!"

Owen's father, the shadowy ' Speaker ' Nailin Dogwell, his features softened as he looked at his son. "You are my pride... I am proud of you, the family is proud of you!"

"Thank... thank you... but could we not do it here... I'm scared..."

Owen's laughter sounded forced.

"Child... don't be afraid, it's your destiny! It's also a responsibility you can't escape!"

Nailin said with a sigh.

At this point, Owen was clearly even more frightened.

A banquet, elaborate attire, music, Ancient Well... all the elements of a curse were present. He was afraid that he would suddenly fall into that Ancient Well and die a gruesome death.

"Owen... take this, it's your diary, your stuff."

Nailin handed a diary to Owen.

In my ears, the classical music seemed to have entered its most melodious phase:

"It's as if you've already left..."

"Transformed into the Butterfly Guild within the Time Loop..."

I can hear your voice, but I can't touch you...

"My diary?"

Owen stared at the nearly falling-apart antique notebook in his hands and shook his head. "This isn't mine..."

He has absolutely no habit of keeping a diary!

"No! It belongs to you, the time is almost up!"

Nailin's expression turned grave. "I am proud of you, my child!"

He gently pushed with his right hand, and it seemed to carry an invisible force.

Bound, Owen arrived at the Ancient Well, his eyes filled with terror and despair.

Although he knew he was destined to fall into the Ancient Well, he never imagined that he would be pushed in by his father.

"Complete it, complete the time loop!"

Nailin pushed again with his right hand, and Owen fell into the Ancient Well.

No muffled sound came from it; the Ancient Well seemed infinitely deep.

Under the moonlight, the music of piano and violin still lingered melodiously.

Amidst the complex gazes of many family members, the Ancient Well gradually vanished into nothingness, just as silently as it had arrived.

"No!"

"We didn't disappear! Haha!"

After waiting a few minutes, the members suddenly cheered. "We've completed the Time Loop! As expected... Owen was the key!"

"Yes... but I lost my son. I remember what he looked like when he was born, every sadness and joy he experienced growing up, and his preference for women, especially the Lolita type... but now, he's gone from me forever."

A complex, indescribable expression appeared on Nailin's face.

'As expected... it's a time-related curse.'

Sulu, who had been 'listening in' the whole time, stared wide-eyed.

'So, Owen Dogwell was the historical Big Owen, the first verifiable ancestor of the Dougwell Family!'

'He's cursed by time... is he a time traveler who went back in time?'

Perhaps... he also left behind notes, recording what happened at that time. These notes were passed down through generations from the head of the household...

'Therefore, his clansmen both respected and feared him, secretly orchestrating all of this... because it's a paradox! If Owen Dogwell hadn't traveled through time on his twenty-fifth birthday, the historical Dougwell Family would no longer exist, and these descendants would likely have been wiped out instantly!'

Even banquets and formal attire... were perhaps considered ceremonial requirements and executed meticulously...

' Owen Dogwell... I always thought your ancestors were amazing, but I never imagined... that you Big Owen, were one of them!'

'Back in ancient times, all you ultimately achieved was becoming the builder and namer of Lori City, and leaving behind an extraordinary family? It seems a salted fish remains a salted fish even after transmigrating. Your limited achievements were probably forced upon you by your circumstances, weren't they?'

He had witnessed Owen's lazy, complacent side and knew the impact of a comfortable environment on him.

But witnessing this scene firsthand left me with mixed feelings.

'If this was truly caused by Demon, then its horror far exceeds my original imagination... meaning it not only dabbles in the realm of 'time,' but also delves very deeply into it...'

'No... even a true god couldn't possess such power!'

'Perhaps... it's a parallel universe? Owen went to another timeline?'

Sulu felt a throbbing sensation in his head.

The sheer horror and terror contained within made it difficult for him to remain calm.

'No... I have to go.'

Seeing the Dougwell Family preparing to clean up the mess, he also prepared to leave quietly.

He still doesn't know how to define this situation.

Owen did not actually die, therefore it cannot be considered a murder.

Besides, it's Owen's father's fault for cheating on his son; that's their family matter, and I shouldn't interfere.

Is this another form of "scamming one's father"?

Sulu complained, preparing to dispel the Shadow Clone to ensure there was no way to prove anything.

"There's a peeping tom!"

Just then, a purple light flashed in Nailin Dogwell's pupils as he looked towards a corner.

Whoosh!

There, a dark figure appeared, quickly tumbled out of the garden, and ran away as fast as it could.