“Yes,” the silhouette behind him replied softly.
Liu Yun stood in the shadows, the candlelight casting flickering glows across half of her face.
“You know everything?” Liang Shuguang turned his wheelchair around to look at his old friend of many years.
Liu Yun’s eyes narrowed slightly, her voice somewhat raspy.
“Yes.”
“Why did you have to go this far?”
“Have you... really gone mad?”
Even though she had always anticipated Liang Shuguang’s actions, she couldn't help but feel shocked after learning the whole truth.
“I'm sorry for keeping so many things from you.”
Liang Shuguang looked up, that same smile still playing on his lips.
“Are you here to kill me?”
Silence fell between them. They shared too much history, and it was too complex; every private meeting they had was filled with subtle, surging undercurrents.
To the point that Liu Yun didn't even ask about the Xu family. It was as if Xu Linyuan’s death was completely trivial to both of them.
Liu Yun looked away, suppressing her surging emotions as she smoothly changed the subject.
“I’ve heard what everyone is saying about your speech for the upcoming abdication ceremony.”
“The potion indeed had a major flaw, and your error in judgment led to severe consequences, which is why you are taking responsibility and stepping down.”
“And then, you'll say the North District's greatest hidden threat has been resolved—that the riot, which could have destroyed all of Dawn City, was averted through the joint efforts of Bai Feifei and everyone else.”
“You'll thank them for their contributions, declaring that Dawn City has entered a golden age from this day forth.”
“And when inviting external factions, you told them we've resolved the lingering power of an Evil God of the Old Days?”
“Why make such a massive fuss about it?”
Hearing this, Liang Shuguang smiled and nodded.
“That’s about the gist of it. We have to give people confidence—turn a tragedy into a celebration.”
Liu Yun didn't smile. She closed her eyes, decades of memories flashing through the darkness.
With her eyes closed, her voice suddenly changed, the facade of composure finally showing a crack.
“The issues with your legs, your body...”
“Have you spoken to Bai Feifei about them? Are you going to ask the people of the Masked Hermit Society?”
“After all...”
As she spoke, her voice trembled slightly, as if she were grasping at the very last ray of hope.
Liang Shuguang blinked, momentarily stunned. He didn't react at first, but then he looked down at his legs and suddenly laughed.
“What’s wrong with my legs?”
He gently patted his knees.
“Oh, you mean this. It’s actually not that bad.”
“If anything, it's a good thing.”
“It serves as a constant reminder of what happened, helping me think from a different perspective.”
He spoke casually, but Liu Yun’s face was turning increasingly pale.
The world knew that the City Lord of Dawn City was confined to a wheelchair because his legs were useless. But only Liu Yun and Liang Shuguang knew that those crippled legs were far from numb!
They weren't paralyzed. Thirty years ago, they had been subjected to a form of “corruption.”
It was as if those legs were constantly being subjected to the excruciating agony of death by a thousand cuts—thirty years of torture, without a single second of respite!
Liang Shuguang had once said that the pain had not stopped for thirty years. To him, this was a literal fact, not a figure of speech...
No one knew why. Liu Yun had tried to amputate Liang Shuguang’s legs many times to free him from them, but for some reason, he had always refused.
Even as a powerful Prophet, Liu Yun could not begin to imagine what kind of hell Liang Shuguang had lived in for the past thirty years.
“It’s really not that bad.”
Seeing Liu Yun’s expression, Liang Shuguang waved his hand as if to comfort her.
“Pain is a very interesting thing. When it lasts long enough, the concept of it changes in our consciousness.”
“Our bodies are fascinating. The friction of blood flowing through vessels, the organs pressing against each other, the joints grinding between bones—all of it actually carries a sensation of pain.”
“It’s just that the human brain filters it out.”
“If we can adapt to minor pains, we can adapt to major ones as well. I have already adapted to it.”
Liu Yun stood there, staring at Liang Shuguang, looking at that face that always wore a smile, showing absolutely no sign of pain.
She was suddenly overcome by a wave of intense sorrow.
She had always harbored suspicions about Liang Shuguang’s evil deeds, but she couldn't let go of the past. She couldn't forget how this man had once poured his heart and soul into Dawn City, nor could she forget the sincerity and determination with which he had chosen to shoulder its burden.
But now, looking at him, she felt as if she were looking at a completely different species.
Thirty years of excruciating physical torment and staring directly into the abyss had twisted the man who once yearned for the dawn and stood in the light into an absolute psychopath!
“Maybe it's for the best that you step down.”
Liu Yun began to murmur to herself, shaking her head with a fragile expression.
“Maybe it's for the best...”
Sitting in his wheelchair, Liang Shuguang looked at her and suddenly burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! Why so serious? What's with the long face?”
His voice carried a touch more vitality now.
“I think it's wonderful. In thirty years, I have never felt as hopeful as I do right now!”
“I've met interesting people, an interesting organization... Everything is finally changing.”
There was something in his eyes that terrified Liu Yun—like a man who had waited far too long and had finally seen the answer he yearned for.
Liang Shuguang looked up, his eyes reflecting the dancing candle flames as he suddenly locked his gaze onto Liu Yun.
“Xiao Yun.”
“If you dwell on the past, you can never look forward!”
Liu Yun’s eyelashes fluttered slightly.
“For all these years, did you really not know what I was doing? Letting me get away with such heinous acts must have been agonizing for you as well.”
“Kill me!”
“Kill me, and you'll be able to see yourself.”
The air suddenly grew tense. With Liang Shuguang’s unstable mental state, there was no telling when he would spout more mad words.
Liu Yun froze for a second, and then her entire face instantly flushed red.
“Shut up!”
she roared, the candle flame flickering violently.
“My failure to reach Sainthood is because of my own lack of ability. It has nothing to do with you.”
“Don't you ever say things like that to me again!”
Liu Yun’s chest heaved violently, her fists clenched tight. Her unstable power caused the room beneath their feet to tremble violently.
Just then, her gaze fell upon Liang Shuguang’s hand.
Under the flicker of the candlelight, her pupils suddenly constricted.
“Why do you have my communicator?”
Liang Shuguang glanced down and tossed it back to her carelessly.
“It's nothing.”
“I sent a message to Little Wan in your name. You don't mind, do you?”
Liu Yun: ?
“Since the stage has been set, we must naturally invite the actors to perform.”
Liang Shuguang wheeled his chair, rolling around in a leisurely, carefree manner, the corners of his mouth curving upward.
“This is the final performance.”
You all... must absolutely not let me off!
Rate on N.U.
