He became the White-Haired Evil God after wearing the Seven Curses Rings.

Upon hearing this, Ivy, who had been looking down, trembled instantly and looked at Xie Bai to her side with disbelief.

"You...you...when did you start...coming by my side...?"

In response to Ivy's question, Xie Bai smiled and said softly.

"When... of course, I've been by your side ever since I left, you just didn't notice."

"After all, I said that I would respond immediately whenever you called me."

Hearing Xie Bai's explanation, Ivy's heart sank.

"So, you were aware of everything that happened before, my lord...?"

Xie Bai made no attempt to hide anything from Ivy's question.

"Yes. By the way, you were all...very cute before."

"..."

Ivy's head instantly turned red, and she felt dizzy.

If she heard correctly, was her lord secretly following her from the very beginning?

Being by my side all the time means that my Lord has been watching all my actions?

Did my Lord see all my private actions when I thought he wasn't around and that only Hiti and the others were by my side?

She imitated my lord to comfort Clythos, called my lord "sister" in front of other witches, admitted that she had indeed fooled my lord, wanted to show the responsibility of a teacher to protect her students, and so happily used the Starry Sky Authority to bombard everything...

—Wait, all of these things, my lord, she all of them all of them…!

Did you see it all?!

Thinking of this, Ivy lowered her head even further.

How clumsy... How childish... How shameful...

A jumble of random thoughts washed over Ivy's head, making it almost impossible for her to lift her head.

Xie Bai saw all this and gently shook his head, but did not persuade Ivy to raise her head.

She placed her hand on Ivy's back and patted her softly.

"I'm so happy that you're willing to call me 'sister' in private."

With that, Xie Bai snapped his fingers, and the surrounding passages instantly stopped shrinking and began to expand in the opposite direction.

Feeling the pressure on her body finally ease, Hiti quickly turned her head, eager to find out the source of the sound she had just heard.

But the next second, the scene in front of her suddenly changed, and the originally dark and boundless space instantly turned into a street bathed in moonlight.

When she turned around again, only Ivy was left beside her... and Chrisos, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.

At this moment, Krysos was still a little confused, but she quickly realized what was happening and immediately supported her right arm and said.

"Have we... succeeded?"

……

After confirming that the three people trapped in the shadow world had safely returned to the real world, Xie Bai turned her gaze away and faced the shadow world she was confronting.

If the current state of affairs in the shadow world can still be described as a standoff...

The previously turbulent and restless shadow world instantly calmed down and quickly set up a platform, table, chairs, and other furnishings for Xie Bai.

After Xie Bai sat down, Shadow World pulled out a cup of hot coffee from somewhere and gently pushed it in front of Xie Bai.

Xie Bai tried a bite.

"Hmm...it's quite sweet, but this isn't coffee, it's just hot cocoa. Of course, I prefer the one you gave me."

Upon hearing Xie Bai's assessment, the Shadow World fell silent for a moment.

"Is that so? I just saw that humans often drink this at night, and I thought it was the best drink to have at night."

【…】

Wait, isn't this the coffee they were talking about?

cough…

Xie Bai gently put the hot cocoa down.

"Alright, let's put that aside for now. First, explain to me why you insisted on coming to this world at all costs, and why you made such a big fuss about it."

Faced with Xie Bai's question, the Shadow World remained silent for a moment before answering.

I want to find you in the real world, and then return to your shadow.

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this answer, Xie Bai immediately became interested.

"Then why didn't you tell me about this when we met last time? Why wait until now, and even involve my three witches?"

Xie Bai's tone remained calm, but there was a hint of displeasure in it.

However, the Shadow World did not realize this and continued to explain honestly.

Before, I hadn't completely absorbed the reflection of the present world, and my strength wasn't enough to return to your shadow. Now that I have, I'm trying to come out and find you.

[But for some reason, as soon as I came out, someone tried to stop me. I tried to lock up the strongest ones first, but they started attacking as soon as they came in, and it hurt quite a bit.]

After hearing the explanation of the Shadow World, Xie Bai's displeasure suddenly subsided and turned into an awkward cough.

"Um... next time, remember to explain things clearly beforehand to avoid misunderstandings..."

I can only communicate with you; others are not of sufficient standing and would cause you psychological harm.

"..."

Xie Bai fell silent immediately.

She never imagined that, besides being blind, the person in the shadow world could also be mute.

How should I put it?

Xie Bai finished his hot cocoa in one gulp and then said.

"Alright then, you stay in my shadow for now, but don't go out and bother others. Your existence is quite harmful to people in the real world."

After receiving Xie Bai's permission, the shadow world immediately began to churn, forming a massive vortex around her.

Now? Can it be done right now?

Xie Bai nodded.

"certainly."

As she spoke, she put down the empty cup in her hand, only to find that it had been filled with hot cocoa again.

[By the way, since I can't leave your shadow to go to the present world, can I go to another timeline instead? I won't do anything, just devour the shadows from other places.]

"Um?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Bai's eyes lit up instantly.

"You can spontaneously travel to other timelines and have an impact?"

Yes, that's right. Is there a problem?

"Wow...that's amazing! How come I never knew you had this skill before? If you had told me you could do this, I would have come back every other day to check on your progress."

Faced with Xie Bai's praise, the Shadow World was not overly pleased, but instead showed a sense of confusion.

The Lord of Darkness can claim any place untouched by light as his territory. Isn't that what it means?

"Uh... I didn't know this title had this meaning? It sounds pretty impressive."

Xie Bai raised his glass and drank hot cocoa, trying to hide his embarrassment.

Fortunately, the shadow world didn't pay much attention; after Xie Bai nodded, it plunged headfirst into her shadow.

Thus, Xie Bai successfully absorbed the shadow world that would have harmed the present world into his own shadow.

Although the Shadow World promised that it would only target the shadows of other timelines, it doesn't mean that Xie Bai would allow it to be so obedient.

With its help, Xie Bai can now automate the harvesting of branch timelines even while lying at home.

This is undoubtedly the most useful ability she has ever acquired.

After collecting the last part of the shadow world into the shadow, Xie Bai returned to the present world.

As soon as she returned, she saw Ivy and the other two sitting on the street.

Just as she was about to go up and say hello, she noticed that the other two were surrounding Chrisos and asked her in a suspicious tone.

"How did you manage to get away with everything all by yourself inside?"

……