Peerless Douluo: Blood of the Black King Nidhogg!

Chapter 178 A Sigh on the Ice Sea (5K)

The fake succubus: Everything about her perfectly matches your XP.

The true succubus: amidst widespread suffering and bloodshed, she seeks nothing more than a single thought to save the world.

At that very moment, Mo Yuan was completely occupied by the divine young man before her, and Ju Zi stared up at him in a daze, her mind completely blank.

After a long pause, Ju Zi frowned slightly, a major question surfacing in her mind. She considered it for a moment before asking,
"I'm very curious. You're already so powerful, your methods are terrifying to an unimaginable degree, and you even have a pet at the Limit Douluo level. According to my opinion and that of most people on the Douluo Continent, even if you and the Secret Party don't dominate the world, you should at least remain aloof as before, right?"

Why waste time and effort doing something that has nothing to do with you? Just for a group of ordinary people you don't know and who are vastly different from you? I'm sorry, I don't understand, and I think there are very few people in this world who can understand it.

Hearing Ju Zi's question, Ye Guyi smiled. She wasn't mocking her; rather, she felt a sense of empathy, because she had the same question before meeting Mo Yuan again.

But later she got the answer: perhaps people are different from each other. Some people are naturally different from the world, as if they are born to shoulder great responsibilities. For example, Mo Yuan, whether in thought or behavior, is completely out of step with the people of Douluo Continent, which is extremely attractive. Mo Yuan later told her that this is called personal charisma.

“Good question, but I think there’s a saying from my hometown that might answer your question,” Mo Yuan said slowly, a slight smile playing on his lips. “When poor, one should cultivate one’s own virtue; when successful, one should benefit all under heaven.”

"When I was just an ordinary person, all I thought about was how to survive, live well, and live comfortably. I had the will but not the power to achieve those things."

But later, with power and supreme authority, things that were once out of my reach became easily attainable. At that point, what difference would it make if I were to spare a little effort to help more people live a better life?

"If we really have to explain why we think this way, we can only say that we have a great teacher..."

After saying that, Mo Yuan seemed to remember something, his eyes turned indifferent, his tone became extremely cold, and his anger was clearly revealed.

"Doesn't it seem simple? Yes, it is that simple, but sometimes I just can't understand why some people, who already have so much, are still so greedy! Do they only realize their conscience when a knife is held to their throat?"

"No! They didn't just figure it out; they knew they were going to die!"

Ju Zi stared blankly, remaining silent for a long time. After a while, she suddenly raised her head and exhaled a long breath, as if she wanted to expel all the pent-up frustration in her heart. She looked directly at Mo Yuan, and all the entanglement, hesitation, and doubt in her eyes disappeared without a trace, replaced by unwavering determination.

I've made my decision. Since my path is destined to fail, why not choose another path that sounds more noble?

As long as she could avenge her blood feud, that was all that mattered. But before that, she had one last question, one she had asked at the beginning.

Does the Secret Party truly possess the ability to contend with the gods?

"Do not."

Looking at the disappointed Ju Zi, Mo Yuan slowly said the second half of his sentence, "You're wrong. It should be, the Secret Party has the ability to kill gods."

Killing God!

The taboo word flashed through Ju Zi's mind instantly, her pupils dilated in shock and astonishment. She didn't know if what Mo Yuan said was true, but none of that mattered now.

After all, her own path was already blocked, so what difference would it make if she chose another path? Besides, she felt that this path seemed... to be a little better.

Orange stood up, extended her right hand to Mo Yuan, and said her name, "Let's get to know each other again. My name is Orange. As for more information, I think you know more about me than I do."

Ye Guyi looked at the two people staring at each other and noticed something different in Ju Zi's eyes. Suddenly, she felt a pang of jealousy and couldn't help but purse her lips before saying her name.

"Leaf Bone Robe".

Mo Yuan gently shook hands with Ju Zi. Her skin was as supple as fine jade, yet it wasn't just soft; it also had a firm and reliable feel, which perfectly matched her personality.

"You will know my name later, soon, probably very soon. In the meantime, you can call me Yuan Zhisheng."

…………

Six months later, in a calm sea area deep in the North Sea of ​​the Sun Moon Empire, where countless ice floes floated, pure white snowflakes fell from the sky, piling up a thick layer of snow on the deck of the Sunshine Thousand Miles. At the bow of the ship, three snowmen of the same size but with distinct features stood quietly.

Inside the warm, spring-like cabin, Orange and Leafy sat lazily cross-legged on a soft blanket, both wearing fluffy white cotton socks. In front of them was an unfinished game of Go, with Black attacking and White defending. Judging from the overall situation, the outcome was already imminent.

"I'm not playing anymore, I'm not playing anymore. I keep losing, it's so boring." Ye Guyi threw the white chess piece in her hand into the chess box, waved her hand listlessly, and said, obviously she was a little discouraged by losing too many games.

Ju Zi smiled softly, her initial awkwardness completely gone. After six months of living and working together, she had become quite familiar with Ye Guyi and Mo Yuan.

It can only be said that first impressions are often unreliable. For example, Ye Guyi, whom she thought was a cold and aloof goddess, was actually quite lively in private. She would sulk and refuse to play Go if she couldn't win, but after a while, she would get itchy and play another game.

Furthermore, Mo Yuan wasn't always portrayed as dignified and mysterious. He would get so angry when he couldn't catch any fish that he told Apophis to get lost. Gradually, the distance between the three of them undoubtedly narrowed considerably.

As for Apophis, the monster that was like a nightmare to her, she gradually became less afraid of him after spending some time with him, but she still dared not get close to him.

"Stop playing and tidy up the table," Mo Yuan's voice came from the kitchen not far away.

"Oh! Okay!" Upon hearing this, Ye Guyi immediately and excitedly cleaned up everything on the table. Ju Zi's eyes also lit up, and she seemed to be looking forward to dinner.

A moment later, Mo Yuan emerged from the kitchen, carrying a strangely shaped copper pot. The red broth inside was bubbling and releasing white steam and a pungent aroma that made one sweat just by smelling it.

"Is this the hot pot you were talking about? It looks so delicious." Ye Guyi swallowed hard, her eyes shining, and immediately reached for her chopsticks to dip into the copper pot.

Snapped!
Mo Yuan patted Ye Guyi's restless little hand, then pointed to the kitchen behind him and said irritably, "Go wash your hands and serve the dishes. If you keep expecting everything to be done for you, you'll be cooking for yourself and then feeding me."

"Oh... okay." After a brief moment of disappointment, Ye Guyi immediately stood up and jogged into the kitchen.

Orange covered her mouth and chuckled, her eyes crinkling with a bright smile as she looked at Mo Yuan, who was wearing an apron, her eyes sparkling.

She once thought that a powerful figure like Mo Yuan, with lofty ambitions and unparalleled strength, should at least maintain the aura that a strong person should have, if not be approachable.

But now it seems that he is no different from an ordinary man. He gets angry because of the Air Force, and he says that he is childish, but he still squats on the ground with them like a child to build a snowman. He can even make a lot of strange but delicious dishes. Not to mention strong people, even husbands in ordinary families rarely do this.

That's precisely why they were able to grow so close in such a short time; after all, no one dislikes an approachable companion. Gradually, as Orange looked at Mo Yuan, who was standing in front of her untying his apron, with a smile in her eyes, her gaze suddenly became unfocused.

In such a warm and peaceful environment, her memories of the past that she didn't want to look back on resurfaced, and Mo Yuan's figure became somewhat blurry, overlapping with another figure.

"Dad..." Orange murmured softly to herself, her thoughts drifting away until Mo Yuan's voice brought her back to reality.

"Don't just stand there, go help Bone Robe."

Looking into Ju Zi's gentle yet affectionate eyes, Mo Yuan frowned slightly, feeling a bit strange and unable to understand what Ju Zi meant.

"Oh...oh! Okay, I'll go right away!" After regaining her senses, Ju Zi looked at Mo Yuan's strange gaze and felt her cheeks burning and her ears turning bright red. After suppressing the strange illusions in her mind, she lowered her head and hurriedly stood up and ran into the kitchen as if fleeing.

……

The pristine night sky over the icy sea, untouched by human pollution, perfectly reflects the magnificent Milky Way on the surface of the water. The sound of the waves is gentle and unhurried, a perfect white noise that, like the bow of a violin, plucks at the strings of a weary heart. The biting wind, carrying snowflakes, lashes against the clear portholes, revealing a brightly lit and warm cabin inside.

The spicy red broth in the copper pot was boiling vigorously, making bubbling sounds. Every now and then, food could be seen floating out of it, and the aroma was irresistible. On the surrounding tables were plates of fresh ingredients, with vibrant green vegetables, bright red meats, and several bottles of opened, fragrant wine.

Ye Guyi swallowed hard, then eagerly asked Mo Yuan, "Should we eat now?"

Mo Yuan glanced at the ingredients in the pot, smiled helplessly, and nodded. "Okay, it's ready, but remember to be careful not to burn yourself."

Before she could finish speaking, Ye Guyi impatiently picked up a piece of cooked beef from the pot with her chopsticks, pursed her red lips, blew on it, and then stuffed it into her mouth.

The beef, with its unique savory aroma, is rich yet not greasy, melting in your mouth with just a gentle bite. This is followed by the distinctive spiciness of the red broth, the numbing and spicy flavor bursting in your mouth, constantly stimulating your tongue. It's not painful, but rather a pleasant sensation. After swallowing, your whole body feels warm and comfortable.

Combined with the snowflakes falling outside the window and the howling wind, it creates a unique and special atmosphere.

With just one bite, Ye Guyi was moved, her eyes gleaming with astonishing light. A pale pink blush gradually appeared on her fair, snow-white cheeks, and her rosy lips became even more vibrant and alluring.

"Hiss...delicious!" Ye Guyi gave it high praise, took a sip of wine, suppressed the lingering spiciness in her mouth, and immediately started eating rice.

Seeing this, Orange couldn't help but swallow her saliva quietly. Without further hesitation, she also started eating. After taking a bite of beef, she felt the indescribable deliciousness on her tongue and couldn't help but squint her eyes. Then she also devoted herself to the task of eating.

The enjoyment of the food lasted a long time, until Ye Guyi and Ju Zi could no longer eat. Due to the spiciness of the hot pot, the two of them also drank the bottles of wine to relieve the spiciness.

Looking at the two women, their cheeks flushed and eyes glazed with sleep, snoring on the table, Mo Yuan took a sip of hot tea, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

He then stood up, put on his trench coat and shoes, pushed open the door, and went to the deck outside. The biting cold wind howled past like a blade, but it dispersed instantly when it got within five meters of him, gently caressing him like a warm spring breeze, lifting the black hair that had fallen across his forehead.

The broken ice floes rose and fell and collided on the black icy sea, making a pleasant, clear sound. In the distance, an ice bear sleeping on the ice sensed Mo Yuan's arrival, trembled, turned its head and jumped into the sea and disappeared.

A crimson flame rose from the tip of his index finger. Mo Yuan lit a cigarette, then slowly exhaled a puff of smoke and looked up at the starry sky.

Soon after, the faint light disappeared into the darkness. Mo Yuan exhaled his last puff of smoke and prepared to return to the cabin to wake the two women and send them back to their rooms to sleep.

However, he seemed to sense something, and he withdrew his step, instead lighting another cigarette.

Not long after, the crunching sound of snowflakes being trampled underfoot echoed in the quiet night. Orange, wearing a thick white fur coat, stepped out of the cabin. Her smooth hair was blown about by the cold wind, and her beautiful face still had a noticeable blush. Her eyes were not as clear as usual, and she was obviously still drunk.

She glanced at the lonely figure standing at the edge of the deck, then braved the cold wind and went straight to Mo Yuan's back. Once she was within five meters, the cold wind vanished instantly, which surprised her.

Mo Yuan glanced at Ju Zi standing beside him, then turned away without speaking. Ju Zi didn't speak immediately either, but simply stood quietly beside Mo Yuan, gazing with him at the dark sea and the dazzling starry sky in the distance.

The warm light inside the cabin shone through the glass onto the two of them, like a warm coat draped over them. Their shadows stretched long behind them, and as the distance between them increased, their shoulders eventually touched.

“I’m leaving tomorrow,” Orange suddenly said. “You should know that Xu Tianran of the Sun Moon Empire has some connection with me. I’m sure the news of the destruction of the Southwest Royal Navy and my disappearance has already reached the country. If I don’t show up soon, it might cause some unnecessary trouble.”

After saying that, Ju Zi turned her head and stared intently at Mo Yuan's profile. She wanted to see how he would react after she finished speaking.

"Ah."

Upon hearing this, Mo Yuan simply gave a faint "hmm." Ye Xuan's spiritual clone was in Mingdu, so he naturally knew how much impact the disappearance of Ju Zi had on Xu Tianran. It could only be said that Ju Zi was probably the only soft spot in this ruthless man's heart.

Unfortunately, after these six months, although Xu Tianran had calmed down and ordered everyone to search for Ju Zi's whereabouts with all their might, what good would it do even if they found her? The person hadn't changed, but her heart had.

Orange's expression froze for a moment, then immediately returned to normal. This wasn't the reply she had expected, but it was the most normal reply. She felt bad, but she understood.

The atmosphere fell silent again. After a long silence, Ju Zi suddenly turned her head to look at Mo Yuan. Her long black hair fell like silk, and her eyes sparkled. She seemed hesitant, as if she was struggling with whether or not to do it.

Finally, she made up her mind and asked softly,
"I suddenly thought of something, a question that has been bothering me for a long time, and I can't find the answer no matter how much I think about it. So, may I ask you?"

"You said."

"What do you mean by 'like'?" Orange asked.

"What does it mean to like someone?" Mo Yuan repeated the question in a low voice. After pondering for a moment, he exhaled a puff of green smoke and slowly replied under Ju Zi's expectant gaze.
“Deep in my memory there are always some vague and ethereal things that are hard to recall, but they all seem to have a special activation button. It’s like how you often remember someone not for their appearance, but for some insignificant things.”

Years later, as you walk through a crowd, you suddenly smell a unique scent. It might be her favorite perfume, or the fragrance of her hair that lingers in your memory.

In that instant, amidst surprise and a mix of other emotions, you turned to look behind you. At that moment, perhaps that emotion was liking.

Ju Zi listened quietly as Mo Yuan finished speaking. Her eyes, already slightly tipsy, grew even more unfocused. She stared blankly at the man beside her and subconsciously asked her next question.
"So what do you think regret is?"

Mo Yuan exhaled the last puff of smoke, raised his head and let the breeze ruffle his hair. "Regret is when you turn around and look behind you, all you see are the unfamiliar backs of thousands of passersby. Only then do you finally come to your senses and realize that the person you just brushed past was her, the one from before."

But she's already gone, disappearing once more into the crowds, going to any corner of this vast world, even if fate smiles upon you again, allowing you to meet her once more.
But by then, you might not even recognize her now; all that remains are faded memories and her blurry face.

(End of this chapter)