I Promised Them Benefits, but That Doesn't Mean They'll Live to See Them

The slightly cool night breeze slipped gently through the gaps in the hotel's floor-to-ceiling windows, dispersing the last trace of stifling tension in the room.

Ye Guyi finally recovered from her earth-shattering shock. Her emotions gradually settled, and calm reason returned to her clear, luminous eyes.

She looked at the young man before her, who calmly plotted and arranged the world like pieces on a board. Without the slightest hesitation, she nodded firmly and said in an incomparably resolute tone:

"That's right. I do want the Holy Spirit Cult to be completely destroyed."

"Not merely because I possess the Holy Angel martial soul, because I am naturally the bane of all evil, and because eradicating evil and upholding righteousness is the Dao I pursue throughout my life."

"But also because I have personally witnessed countless evil soul masters slaughter ordinary people, harm living beings, and commit every conceivable sin."

"So, from the bottom of my heart, I loathe darkness, loathe evil, and loathe seeing this continent forever dragged into conflict between righteousness and evil, with no peace in sight."

At that, she raised her eyes slightly and looked at Li Changsheng with a trace of vigilance and confusion.

"So, what exactly are you trying to say?"

Li Changsheng raised an eyebrow slightly, a faint smile flashing through his eyes as he spoke as though it were only natural.

"Isn't it obvious by now?"

That simple rhetorical question instantly stirred Ye Guyi's thoughts.

Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly as her mind raced.

All the conversations, truths, and arrangements of the night instantly connected into a single thread of clues!

After two seconds of thought, a look of astonishment suddenly crossed Ye Guyi's exquisitely beautiful face. She could not help blurting out softly:

"You... you want me to join you?"

She was utterly stunned.

She had never imagined that after laying out so many truths that overturned her understanding and revealing such a vast plan encompassing the entire continent, his ultimate goal would be to recruit her!

Seeing her look of sudden realization, Li Changsheng nodded openly. Without concealment or evasiveness, he said bluntly:

"Looks like you're not too stupid after all."

"That's right. I intend for you to follow me."

His gaze was calm, his reasoning clear, as he slowly laid out his complete plan for recruiting her and the absolute advantages it offered.

"Your Holy Angel martial soul is one of the continent's finest innate light martial souls. It naturally suppresses all evil, and its growth potential is terrifyingly limitless."

"Once you have fully matured, you will undoubtedly become one of the strongest forces capable of overturning the battle between righteousness and evil and purging the remnants of the evil path."

"And I, as the Holy Spirit Cult's nominal Holy Son, hold authority over the entire cult and possess the most favorable advantage possible."

"I can continuously provide you with evil soul masters who commit atrocities, give you ideal opponents to hone your skills against, and devote endless top-tier cultivation resources to you."

"I will help you grow rapidly and reach the pinnacle."

"In the end, you and the others I gather in the future will act on my behalf and kill every member of the Holy Spirit Cult!"

With those words, he revealed the ultimate plan!

Borrow the angel's blade to slaughter the upper ranks of evil!

Ye Guyi understood at once, yet a final trace of doubt remained in her heart. Frowning, she asked seriously:

"But why don't you do it yourself?"

"You're younger than I am, yet your cultivation is unfathomable. Your strength crushes everything. In terms of ability, methods, and power, you surpass me by far."

"It would be far simpler and far cleaner for you to settle things personally than to rely on us."

Li Changsheng fell silent for a moment.

The lights of Bright Capital flickered outside the window, reflected in his youthful yet profound eyes, concealing calculations and considerations that no one could see through.

After a moment, he slowly spoke, revealing the most essential and secretive constraint upon him.

"Because I have already promised Zhongli Wu, Ye Xishui, and Long Xiaoyao tremendous benefits."

"So I cannot personally break my promise or personally kill them."

"However—"

His tone abruptly shifted, and a cold, profound glint flashed through his eyes.

"I promised them benefits, but that doesn't mean no one else can make a move."

That brief sentence was cold and calculating, containing all the schemes of imperial power!

In an instant, Ye Guyi understood completely!

All her doubts, confusion, and blind spots in his plan suddenly became clear!

At last, she fully understood the terrifying depths of this young man's mind!

Li Changsheng had dangled an empty promise before the Holy Spirit Cult's three great leaders, offering them the divine realm opportunities and path to eternal life that they dreamed of yet could never reach.

He would stabilize the three of them, use their power to overturn Shrek, stir up the continent's winds and clouds, and complete his arrangements.

Yet he had never promised that they would live to the end or peacefully enjoy those opportunities!

He would not personally break his word, personally violate his promise, or personally stain his hands with blood.

But he could kill with a borrowed blade!

He would use the Holy Angel's hand to slay every evil tyrant!

He would use outsiders' blades to settle every sin!

He would promise them wealth and glory, but leave them no lives to enjoy it!

In an instant, all the fog completely dispersed.

She stared blankly at the young man before her, while monstrous waves surged within her heart.

Only now did she truly understand just how terrifying this person was.

He promised benefits, stabilized the upper ranks, and used the Holy Spirit Cult's power to overthrow Shrek's ten-thousand-year hegemony.

He kept his word by not killing them himself, leaving no grounds for criticism, violating none of his own promises, and leaving behind not the slightest flaw.

Yet he would borrow the hands of others to slaughter every leader of the evil path and cleanse the darkness from the world.

He would destroy the hypocritical righteous path and eliminate the filthy evil path.

He would reap both sides and draw the entire world into his game.

Such depth, such vision, such calculation—none of it seemed possible for a teenager.

Even ancient monsters who had lived for centuries fell far short of him.

Ye Guyi took a long breath, suppressing all the shock in her heart as her gaze gradually became incomparably resolute.

All her life, she had cultivated light, upheld righteousness, and slain evil.

But over the years, she had seen too clearly.

True darkness hid beneath Shrek's glamorous signboard.

The true path forward lay neither in rigid dogma nor in worldly prejudice over righteousness and evil.

The man before her was the only one who truly wished to purge the filth from the world and reshape the continent's order.

He stood within the evil path, yet did the deeds of righteousness.

He bore infamy, yet sought clarity and peace for generations to come.

By contrast, those righteous powerhouses who stood high above all others were hypocritical, double-faced, rotten, and indifferent to the suffering of the common people.

Who was righteous and who was evil was obvious at a glance.

Ye Guyi no longer hesitated.

She lifted her eyes, her gaze clear, open, and solemn as she looked directly at Li Changsheng.

"I understand."

"You do not stain your hands with blood because you wish to keep your promise."

"You use my hand to slaughter evil for the sake of all living beings."

As her voice fell, she supported her weak, aching body and slowly sat upright. Not a trace of hostility remained on her peerlessly beautiful face—only determination.

"I, Ye Guyi, am willing to join your side."

"From this day onward, I will use your resources to nurture my angel martial soul."

"I will use your plans to slaughter all the evil in this world."

"If you wish to settle accounts with the Holy Spirit Cult's upper ranks, I will act for you."

"If you wish to overthrow the rotten righteous path, I will stand beside you."

Every word rang with force!

The shackles of righteousness and evil that had bound her for more than a decade were completely shattered in a single day.

The Holy Angel had given its heart completely!

Watching the girl's open, resolute surrender, a trace of faint approval flashed through Li Changsheng's eyes.

Ye Guyi's nature was pure, her Dao heart clean, her talent peerless, and she clearly distinguished gratitude from grudges.

Compared to those hypocritical, cunning righteous geniuses who constantly spoke of benevolence, righteousness, and morality, she was far cleaner and far more trustworthy.

He slowly spoke, his voice calm yet carrying the weight of an unbreakable promise.

"Your choice to enter this game today is the most correct decision of your life."

"From this day onward."

"All evil soul master resources will be yours to kill and cultivate with."

"All top-tier heavenly treasures and earthly materials will be prioritized for your breakthroughs."

"Your martial soul, your cultivation, and your future—I will pave your path to the continent's peak."

"When the grand plan is complete, evil has been eradicated, and the righteous path has been purged, there will surely be a place for you in this clear and peaceful world."

Hearing his promise, the final trace of concern in Ye Guyi's heart completely vanished.

She lowered her head slightly, warmth creeping into the tips of her ears as a faint sense of relief arose in her heart.

She was relieved that she had encountered danger tonight, relieved that she had learned the truth tonight, and relieved that she had not stubbornly clung to foolish notions and mistakenly killed a worthy man.

Otherwise, she might never have seen the true face of this world for the rest of her life.

Of course, she could not have killed him in the first place.

After a long while, Ye Guyi raised her head. Remembering something, she asked softly:

"Then what should I do next?"

Li Changsheng raised his eyes slightly and looked toward Bright Capital's brilliantly lit nightscape beyond the window. He spoke calmly.

"Recover from your injuries."

"Wait quietly for the winds to rise."

"The next game will soon become truly lively."