The end of the world is approaching, I'm handing myself over to the country.

As Lin Xiu finished speaking, he almost collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably, his entire body convulsing violently.

Sun Ye shook his head, his face showing a helpless expression of disappointment.

"You idiot, I already told you, this isn't about Yuanjing."

However, from an angle that Lin Xiu couldn't see, Lin Mo, who had a god-like perspective, clearly captured a different scene.

Just as Sun Ye uttered those high-sounding words, a fleeting look of triumph flashed across his face, only to be perfectly concealed by his mask of compassion.

Lin Mo coldly scrutinized all of this.

What a magnificent and spectacular show!

As for that "Ling'er", she was not a spirit at all.

She is a living, breathing person who, through a talent that allows her to alter her appearance and physique, perfectly replicated Ling'er's look!

The seemingly realistic "soul scattering" at the end was merely a performance orchestrated by another accomplice lurking in the shadows, utilizing a different kind of visual kei talent.

From beginning to end, this was an elaborate scam.

A hunt specifically targeting Lin Xiu.

Tragically, Lin Xiu, the prey, regarded the hunter as his only savior.

But now he is kneeling on the ground, desperately begging to be redeemed once more.

Looking at Lin Xiu, who had completely collapsed at his feet, Sun Ye finally squatted down and patted him on the shoulder.

"Get up first, the ground is cold."

Sun Ye's words were full of concern, but Lin Xiu remained kneeling on the ground, clinging tightly to his trouser leg as if grasping at the last straw, showing no intention of getting up.

"Get up first." Sun Ye's voice carried an undeniable air as he tightened his grip, trying to pull Lin Xiu up from the ground.

Lin Xiu's body was frighteningly heavy. He just kept shaking his head, his face covered in tears and snot, looking extremely disheveled.

"Brother Ye... I beg you... I'll do anything you ask, just let me see Ling'er one more time..."

Seeing his hopeless state, Sun Ye finally showed a hint of impatience.

But they quickly covered it up.

Sun Ye sighed, released his grip, and let Lin Xiu continue kneeling on the ground.

He adopted the demeanor of an older brother, speaking earnestly: "It's not that I don't want to help you, Lin Xiu, but do you know how much mental energy it would take for me to let you see her?"

As he spoke, Sun Ye reached out and pressed his temples, a pallor and exhaustion appearing on his face.

"My mental energy has been severely depleted in order to help you this time."

"I'm afraid... for a long time to come, I won't be able to use my talent anymore."

Every word of those words struck Lin Xiu's heart like a heavy hammer blow.

He suddenly raised his head and looked at Sun Ye's pale face, a look of panic and self-reproach appearing on his face.

"I...I don't know...Brother Ye, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." He began to apologize incoherently, wishing he could slap himself twice.

Sun Ye waved his hand: "It's not your fault, it's just that I'm not good enough."

He paused, then changed the subject, adding a touch of stern admonition.

"And even if I'm fine, I won't let you see me again."

"Look at yourself now. You're too deeply involved. Letting you see each other again will only hurt you. Do you understand? People need to learn to look forward."

These words were spoken with sincerity and without any flaws.

This both explained why he "couldn't" help anymore and occupied the moral high ground of "doing it for your own good."

However, Lin Xiu, who was already drowning, couldn't hear a single word of these道理 (principles/reasoning).

He only managed to glean one piece of information, which he can no longer access for the time being.

"How long will it take?!" Lin Xiu asked anxiously.

He stared intently at Sun Ye, as if grasping at the last glimmer of hope.

Sun Ye was a little annoyed by his appearance, but he still maintained a troubled expression on his face.

He pretended to think for a moment before giving an uncertain time.

"It's hard to say, the debt has been severely overdrawn... At the fastest, it will take at least three days."

Three days.

Upon hearing this number, it was as if a slit had been torn open in Lin Xiu's deathly silent world, allowing a faint ray of light to shine through once more.

As long as there's still a chance.

As long as he can see her again, he'll wait for no less than three days, or even thirty days or three months!

"Okay, okay, I'll wait!" he replied repeatedly. With hope in his eyes, even his convulsing body calmed down a bit.

Sun Ye looked at him and sneered inwardly, but patted his shoulder calmly.

"But don't blame me for being nosy, there are some things you really shouldn't get too involved in, or you'll only hurt yourself."

"Okay, I understand. Thank you, Brother Ye, thank you..." Lin Xiu nodded haphazardly, tears of gratitude streaming down his face.

He struggled to get up from the ground, his legs were numb from kneeling for so long, but he didn't care.

He bowed deeply to Sun Ye, and then, dragging his seemingly hollowed-out body, he staggered away step by step.

His silhouette was desolate, but no longer one of utter despair.

Lin Mo, with an omniscient perspective, coldly observed all of this.

What a wonderful "three days".

Sun Ye was not actually exhausted of his mental energy; he simply knew clearly that Lin Xiu had no more source crystals in his pocket.

A fish that has been squeezed dry should naturally be put back into the pond to be raised again until it grows new fat before it can be harvested again.

These three days are for Lin Xiu to collect source crystals.

What's most clever about this guy is that Sun Ye never mentioned the source crystal from beginning to end, but instead showed that he was considerate of the other party in every way.

This ingenious method left Lin Xiu, who was in a state of collapse, with no room for doubt.

He would only feel that Sun Ye was a benefactor who truly cared for him, and in order to repay this kindness, he would spare no effort to collect more source crystals and offer them to him with both hands.

That's... pathetic.

Only when Lin Xiu's figure completely disappeared at the end of the corridor did Sun Ye finally remove the mask of compassion on his face.

He straightened up, his face no longer showing any signs of fatigue, but instead displaying a coldness that ran deep to the bone.

He turned around and knocked on the door of the dimly lit room, neither too loud nor too soft.

"Come out, the person is gone."

With a creak, the door was opened from the inside.

Two figures walked out one after the other.

Walking in front was Ling'er. Her figure twisted and turned, eventually transforming into the appearance of a man.

Her sweet smile vanished, replaced by a cold and indifferent expression.