Merkel frowned, his first reaction one of disbelief.
"Is it possible you saw wrong?"
"Oh...?"
Ye Buyu propped her chin on her hand, drawing out her response.
"Need me to call him out for you?"
Merkel shook his head. "No need. If you really can bring death, never mind saying I have an older brother-even if you say I'm fictional, I'll accept it."
Ye Buyu glanced upward out of the corner of her eyes, tapping her cheek lightly with a fingertip as she considered it.
Forget it. If he doesn't want to, there's no need to get to the bottom of it.
"I have a question for you. What do you think of what that old man just proposed?"
Merkel asked, "What proposal?"
"Devouring my friend's power to give this world the option of death while keeping the blessing of Eternal Life."
Merkel looked up at Kou Ying and Lou Guanshan, who were busy at work.
His face held no longing for Eternal Life, only a love of death.
He turned back to Ye Buyu and gave her the most relieved, radiant smile he had shown since they met.
"I still think death matters more."
The corner of Ye Buyu's mouth twitched. "That's certainly an unexpected answer. Maybe once you know what death is, you won't think that way."
Merkel countered, "Then do you, someone who's never experienced Eternal Life, want it?"
"No," Ye Buyu answered without hesitation.
Merkel became even more certain of his own thoughts.
"See? You don't want Eternal Life either."
Ye Buyu rubbed her nose. "Haha, it sounds nice, but when you really think about it, it is rather cruel."
Merkel quirked his lips. "Then see this through. If you could deal with this old man too, that would be even better, honored Deities."
Ye Buyu