A sentence exploded in Xie Xie's mind.
Like a sudden enlightenment, like a strong wind sweeping away the mist.
He stared at the Space-Time Dragon, stunned. The self-doubt and confusion in his heart melted away like snow under the blazing sun, vanishing without a trace.
That was right.
When souls fused, they returned to their rightful places.
Since he could feel that love, ache over that regret, and live in this world with a color all his own—
Then he was Xie Xie.
His nose stung again, but this time, what welled up wasn't bitter tears. It was relief and peace at having survived a catastrophe.
Xie Xie slowly raised his head. The confusion in his eyes had cleared, replaced by a resolve unlike anything he had ever felt before.
"I... am Xie Xie."
He repeated it softly. His voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear. "I'm not someone else."
[Very good.]
The Space-Time Dragon's voice grew a little gentler.
With that knot in his heart untied, Xie Xie suddenly remembered something. He slapped his forehead and asked the question that had lingered in his mind ever since he'd read the original story in his previous life:
"Space-Time Dragon, I have a question."
"If the future me... if I've mastered the Space-Time Power, why can't I freely travel through time?"
"Like going back to the past to change the future, or taking the other six Shrek Seven Monsters to see Tang Wulin and Gu Yuena's wedding."
That was one of the biggest regrets in the hearts of so many Dragon King fans.
[...]
The Space-Time Dragon fell silent for a long while before finally speaking. Its gentle voice had grown a little hoarse.
[The Space-Time Power you will command in the future is but a drop in the ocean. You won't even qualify to touch the source of space and time.]
[Even as the master of space and time, I cannot recklessly travel against the flow of time.]
[The laws of space and time brook no trespass. The slightest deviation could cause a plane to collapse and time and space to shatter. The mortal realm and Divine Realm would both turn to nothingness.]
Its voice remained detached and calm, without the slightest ripple. Only its ancient, unfathomably deep dragon eyes revealed a trace of desolation, so faint it was almost imperceptible.
[Even as a god, I have no right to take life at will.]
[Of course, I would never make life a part of some private little roleplay, either. To put it in the words of your previous life, although I was born among the demons, I was still a fine candidate for the heartless path.]
Xie Xie: "..."
This was the part where he was supposed to be sad, for crying out loud. Could it please not break character all of a sudden?
Xie Xie stared at the Space-Time Dragon speechlessly. He hadn't expected the thing to have a sense of humor.
[As for my king...]
The Space-Time Dragon's gaze seemed to pierce through endless time and settle on a figure far beyond reach.
[Summoning you to this world was the only selfish thing I ever did.]
After a long while, it slowly turned its gaze back to Xie Xie, though it changed the subject. At last, a trace of obsession and wavering crept into its indifferent eyes—something it didn't even want to admit to itself.
[I command the source of space and time and have witnessed countless worlds across the heavens. Yet there is one future I cannot see through: yours. It is a blank unlike any other, filled with limitless, indescribable possibilities.]
Its dragon eyes suddenly turned a chaotic white, as if swallowing the endless ages.
Usually the very soul of reason, it now seemed to be taking a gambler's chance.
[You are the variable, and the only hope.]
[I cannot alter the past and future that are already set, but you, whose future is a blank slate, can.]
[This is my only hope, and the one exception I have made.]
"M-me?" Xie Xie pointed at himself in disbelief. "But my future is smooth sailing. I just want to kick back and ride on someone else's coattails. And now you're telling me you want me to save the future?"
"Isn't that just total nonsense?!"
The Space-Time Dragon stared steadily at Xie Xie, a trace of relief showing in its eyes.
[You will.]
[From the moment you came into this world, the world had already begun to change for you.]
As its final words fell, the Space-Time Dragon's form began to fade and dissolve. Its pure-white scales turned into points of starlight and melted into the pristine spiritual space.
[There isn't much time left, Xie Xie. You must return.]
As the last trace of its consciousness vanished, the empty white space began to twist and shatter.
Xie Xie felt the world spin around him. Then the heavy darkness of night and the cool evening breeze enveloped him once more.
He took a deep breath.
He slowly raised his head, and all he could think was...
The sky had fallen!!
Who else could relate? His future mission list had inexplicably gained a new main quest: Change the Ending, Save the Future!
Why did he have to save it?
After the Abyssal War, the Demigods, Quasi-Gods, and Titled Douluo would be dead or wounded. With God King Tang no longer looming over him, and the far more powerful Tang Wulin and Gu Yuena frozen in eternal ice...
With this Space-Time Power, he could absolutely rule the roost!
If anyone pushed him too far, he could unleash his ninth Soul Skill, Super-Space-Time Crossing Stab, and drag his entire opposition into a mutual explosion.
He could trade one life for one, or even take several down with him.
He had power, status, and a wife. Why the hell should he change the future?!
Without the slightest hesitation, Xie Xie opened his main quest list and directly blocked the golden-glowing main quest, "Change the Future."
After doing all that, Xie Xie bounced back.
His greatest ambition in this life was to cling tightly to Tang Wulin's coattails, marry Yuan En Yehui, and coast his way to the peak of life.
Save the Dragon God? Change the future?
Whoever wanted that job could have it. He sure didn't.
As soon as he stepped back into the Braised Beef Pot shop, Xie Xie happily waved at Tang Wulin and Gu Yue. "Hello, hello! I'm back!"
He glanced over. The three pots of braised beef on the table hadn't been touched, and they were still steaming.
Tang Wulin appeared beside Xie Xie in a flash, his worry plain in his voice. "Xie Xie, were you... okay just now?"
"What could've been wrong? I just went out to get some fresh air and clear my head." Xie Xie waved it off with a smile.
As he spoke, he plopped back into his seat and grabbed the drink on the table, gulping it down to calm his nerves.
Uncle Li watched Xie Xie come back to life, a relieved smile spreading across his face. He turned and brought out a few more plates of freshly roasted braised beef. The aroma instantly filled the entire little shop.
Xie Xie immediately banished all his worries to the nine heavens. He grabbed his chopsticks and dug in, stuffing his mouth full as he shouted indistinctly:
"Mmm! Delicious!"
"What are you two waiting for? Eat!"
Seeing that Xie Xie seemed genuinely fine, Tang Wulin relaxed and didn't think much more of it. He picked up his chopsticks and joined in.
Across from them, Gu Yue hadn't taken her eyes off Xie Xie since the moment he walked in.
An invisible ripple quietly coiled around them.
For some reason, from the second Xie Xie pushed open the door, the aura that drew her in seemed to split off in a new direction.
That attraction was no longer one-sided. There was now a faint echo to it.
A faint aura radiated from Xie Xie, so subtle that it still made the depths of her soul quiver.
It was like...
The only piece of driftwood in an endless ocean, or the sole light in boundless darkness.
The attraction wasn't strong. It was even far fainter than the aura on Tang Wulin that instinctively drew her close—but it was exceptionally pure, exceptionally... reassuring.
The feeling sent ripples she couldn't put into words through her normally cool state of mind.
Gu Yue withdrew her wandering gaze and looked at Xie Xie again.
The guy was being forced by Tang Wulin to drink hot water, looking utterly miserable, with a bit of grease on the tip of his nose. He was the very picture of carefree obliviousness.
Was it... just an illusion?
Before you continue