Free Web NovelChapter 402: Chapter 332: Only One Choice?
"What should I do? I think I’ve really fallen in love with White Fox."
Ying Rushi felt as if she had been electrocuted; her body instantly tensed up, instinctively clenching her fists, her bent legs tightly squeezed, and even her toes curled up.
She didn’t dare to open her eyes or make any movement. Only her hearing became unprecedentedly clear, allowing her to even hear her own heart pounding like thunder and the whispers carried by the wind.
He likes me?
But how can he like me? He clearly...
"But this is wrong... How can I fall in love with her?" Yan Qing’s voice was filled with melancholy and helplessness: "Red Snake and Black Wolf are already a tangled mess with me; how can I meet one person and fall in love with them? If I’m so fickle, she’d look down on me, right? I can only choose one."
"I should sever this emotional thread as soon as possible and not associate with her at all."
Even though Yan Qing’s decision perfectly aligned with her own thoughts, Ying Rushi felt an indescribable sourness surge in her heart.
Don’t be like this, Ying Rushi told herself in her heart, don’t be unhappy, or they will find out tomorrow. Do you still have any hopes? He has the fiery Red Snake and the amazingly talented Black Wolf by his side. They’ve known him longer, their feelings for him are deeper, and their future with him is brighter. Whether he chooses the naive noble lady from Liang Kingdom or the outwardly cold but inwardly passionate noblewoman from Zhou Kingdom, it would be easier than choosing you, who offended the Foundation Establishment from the Qi Kingdom’s royal family... His help to you is out of a teammate’s duty, who would want to live with someone like you?
You have righteousness, you are a hero, you sacrifice for the people, you are remarkable, but by his side, there are young girls who will walk shoulder to shoulder with him. Since you cannot achieve that, don’t think you are losing anything... because you never had the right to have it from the beginning.
Ying Rushi closed her eyes tightly, trying hard to fall asleep, but tears still slipped down her cheeks. Suddenly, there were gentle footsteps approaching, and Ying Rushi was startled, not daring to move an inch.
However, with the Three-headed Demon Fiend’s feather-clad wings protecting the bed, he didn’t dismiss the demon but stood outside watching. The air echoed with a light mocking chuckle: "How old are you, still crying in your sleep."
Ying Rushi didn’t react at all, her cheeks were burning hot.
"These days must have been tough," Yan Qing’s voice carried a hint of amusement, "Such a silly woman."
"But it’s because of this that I can’t bear to give up on you."
It took Ying Rushi a lot of effort to keep her breathing steady, but tears streamed down like a flood that couldn’t be stopped. The steadfastness, forbearance, and rationality cultivated by accompanying Ying Le, were shattered completely at this moment, as if she’d reverted to the crying little girl she used to be.
"No matter what happens, I won’t give up on you, this silly woman," Yan Qing murmured to himself, "Tomorrow, tomorrow I’ll confess my heart to you, maybe if we’re together, at least you won’t cry in your sleep?"
Ying Rushi’s heart trembled, but if that’s the case—
"As for Black Wolf and Red Snake," Yan Qing sighed softly, "I feel pity for Black Wolf, gratitude for Red Snake, they are both very very good, but... you need me the most, and I want you the most."
What is he saying, Ying Rushi bit her lip lightly, is it because he’s seen my body that he desires me? It’s all on Hui, if it wasn’t for Hui’s mischief, he wouldn’t be thinking so much... Even though she internally scolded Murong Hui’s prank, she couldn’t help but feel elated.
She had secretly looked at Black Wolf and Red Snake’s appearances before. Even though she inherited the Ying Family’s traditionally stunning looks, she didn’t dare claim she could outshine them. Hearing him say in his heart that he wants her the most, Ying Rushi instantly felt like she had drunk a glass of ice-cold sour plum juice, sour and sweet.
She heard Yan Qing returning to the windowsill, his voice full of worry, "But what if she rejects me? If I make my feelings clear, would we even be able to stay as teammates? She also knows about my relationship with Black Wolf and Red Snake, even if I say I only love her, would she believe it? No, what if it’s all been one-sided, and she doesn’t actually feel that way about me? After all, we haven’t known each other for long."
"Forget it, should I?"
Ying Rushi tensed her body.
"I should just wait and see. As long as... as long as she’s willing to take one step toward me, I’m willing to walk the remaining ninety-nine steps. As long as I find a chance to be alone with her, I’ll tell her I love her deeply."
Ying Rushi silently breathed a sigh of relief, suddenly feeling that this wasn’t so bad. At least the initiative was now in her hands. Forget it, Black Wolf and Red Snake are so great and so fitting with him. I’m stuck in the mud; why drag him down...
But just the thought of him with Red Snake and Black Wolf made Ying Rushi’s heart ache. If she hadn’t heard these words, she may have been saddened but willing to accept it, but knowing that just one step forward could grant her what she wanted and still forcing herself to give up... it was like she was willingly stabbing herself in the heart, the sourness made her unwilling to breathe.
Even betraying Ying Le back then hadn’t been this hard to decide.
Ying Rushi thought back and forth but couldn’t make up her mind, her mind was a jumbled mess, and she was getting sleepier and sleepier in her confusion.
Unaware of how much time had passed.
Ying Rushi suddenly opened her eyes, pushed away the long legs of Murong Hui on her, squeezed past the protective demon, and saw Yan Qing still sitting by the windowsill, half his body in darkness, half illuminated by the dim streetlight, inherently stylish in the haziness. Ying Rushi, seeing him like this, recalled Yan Qing’s previous soliloquy, and her heart began to race.
"Do you want to sleep a bit more?" Yan Qing asked, "You look very tired."
Ying Rushi shook her head, silently walked over to switch shifts with Yan Qing. As they brushed past each other, Ying Rushi suddenly grabbed Yan Qing’s arm. In Yan Qing’s puzzled gaze, she hesitated for a moment, then managed to squeeze out a sentence: "Thank you for your hard work."
Yan Qing raised his eyebrows, hummed, "Remember to wake up the little naughty cat later; she said she’d keep watch, don’t let her off."
"Also," Ying Rushi gathered her courage and said, "Although you’re entangled with Red Snake and Black Wolf, I actually don’t think you’re the type to have flings."
Yan Qing was taken aback: "Thanks, wow."
Yan Qing went to the bed and kicked Murong Hui’s randomly sprawled limbs aside, lay down comfortably, and fell into deep thought.
Why did she suddenly say I’m not the type to have flings?
Am I not the type to have flings?
Am I not?
Hmm, I’m not!
Even though keeping watch is boring, and I’ve been daydreaming, already thinking about what I’d name my grandchildren with Pharmacist’s Wish and Shang Xinlei, I’m still not!
Yan Qing contentedly closed his eyes.
...
...
The next day.
"Keeping watch is so boring, can’t do anything else but daydream." Murong Hui curiously asked, "What do you guys do to pass the time while on night watch? I’m imagining myself after Foundation Establishment, achieving great feats and unifying the Central Plains while adventuring in the Outer Realm; my timeline’s already advanced to Foundation Establishment Sixth Turn, almost ascending!"
Yan Qing blinked, muttering while eating fried noodles: "Something like that."
"Me too." Ying Rushi guiltily echoed, glanced at the pancakes on the table, and tightly pinched her lips, giving a slice to Yan Qing: "Try this, it’s hot."
"Try this too!" Murong Hui offered some spicy strips: "I found that mixing spicy strips with fried noodles tastes better!"
Yan Qing wanted to counter, but upon thinking, mixing fried noodles with spicy strips is similar to adding chili sauce; some people indeed like this flavor, but he had gotten sick of it during his school days, so he naturally declined.
"Who are we planning to kill today?" Murong Hui asked, "Yellow Dog boss, let us slay to our hearts’ content!"
"Today we’re delving into the Demon Gathering Land, targeting the Third-Turn Demon Fiends." Yan Qing said, "The goal isn’t a specific target, but to gather as much intelligence on puppet cards as possible."
Dragon Attendants have their limits; even if Yan Qing exerts maximum effort, his physique can only grow by 1,000-2,000 a day, and he can only have one Ascension Dragon Attendant and one ordinary Dragon Attendant. Not to mention facing the Fourth-Turn Demon Fiend squad in the city center, even handling a Baibao Guards squad is difficult.
Today is already the third day; Yan Qing doesn’t plan to linger in the Demon Gathering Land for long—he’ll leave on the fifth day, meaning he has to switch his lineup today!
If he hadn’t traveled or could access the game forums from his previous life, switching lineup wouldn’t be a problem; just checking strategies would suffice, but now Yan Qing can’t even recognize all the puppet cards, so he doesn’t know which lineup suits him. So he has to use the dumb method of checking as many puppet cards as possible and selecting a rudimentary lineup from them.
However, Yan Qing isn’t without clues; puppet cards are divided into different race series, indicating that the same race naturally forms a lineup.
With the plan set, everyone packed up to leave. Yan Qing was putting on his socks when Murong Hui casually extended her foot, "Yellow Dog, help me with my socks!"
"Alright!" Yan Qing grabbed her foot and pressed his thumb knuckle into her sole.
"Ahhh, let go, let go!" Murong Hui pulled her foot back, "If you’re not helping, just say so, geez."
Ying Rushi couldn’t help but cover her mouth in a laugh, only suppressing it when Yan Qing looked over. As Yan Qing passed by, he suddenly looked at her: "Don’t move."
Ying Rushi thought her outfit had something amiss and stood still, expecting Yan Qing’s help. Instead, Yan Qing reached out and pinched her cheek.
"Wasn’t your laugh great just now? Keep it up." Yan Qing laughed, "You should balance out with the little naughty cat; she laughs too much, you laugh too little."
"Hands off!" Murong Hui came over and swatted Yan Qing’s hand away: "If you’re not buying, don’t touch."
Ying Rushi momentarily forgot her anger at Murong Hui, and she rubbed her flushed cheek, silently making up her mind.
