Yu Haiqing knew more than the average player. From his first encounter with Xie Shuangxue, he’d thought this person might just find him interesting, maybe a little refreshing. If Xie Shuangxue’s actions somehow benefitted Endless Sea, all the better. Players sometimes cursed the company as “damn dog designers,” but that couldn’t compare to the attention and profit that controversy brought in. Yu Haiqing’s frequent appearances around Xie Shuangxue? Just part of being a stellar employee.

They both knew the game, so there was a lot of back-and-forth in their interactions. Xie Shuangxue had flattered others before, but he hadn’t expected Yu Haiqing to react so intensely to a single affectionate term.

Interesting.

Seeing Yu Haiqing’s flustered expression, Xie Shuangxue didn’t feel shy in the least. In fact, he leaned closer and lowered his voice again. “Brother, what are you thinking? Why won’t you talk to me?”

Sure enough, Yu Haiqing’s ears turned even redder.

For a moment, he was silent, just staring at Xie Shuangxue before finally forcing a calm tone, “Xie Shuangxue, who taught you to call people like that?”

It didn’t make sense—this NPC’s personality wasn’t supposed to be like this. The original Xie Shuangxue was clever, yes, but he didn’t flirt. Had someone taught him, or had the AI really generated such a personality?

“You need someone to teach you that?” Xie Shuangxue blinked innocently. “I always knew how.”

Yu Haiqing, this so-called workaholic who once seemed impossible to approach, now felt completely different.

“Can’t I call you that?” Xie Shuangxue asked, pretending ignorance. “I haven’t called anyone else that, you know.”

Yu Haiqing hesitated, “…It’s not that you can’t.”

His voice was quiet, and he coughed a couple of times, slowly regaining his composure. But just as he was about to ask something, Xie Shuangxue smiled, left him with a grin, and dashed ahead.

“Doesn’t matter if you don’t like it,” he called back, chuckling. “I’ll call you whatever I want.”

Yu Haiqing watched him run off and saw Xie Shuangxue approach another person standing by the gate in the distance.

“Ling Xuan!”

Xie Shuangxue called out joyfully.

The moment Ling Xuan spotted him, his eyes lit up. He immediately moved forward to give Xie Shuangxue a hug and carefully checked his condition, finally breathing a sigh of relief when he saw he was unharmed.

“Thank goodness,” he said, keeping a close watch on Xie Shuangxue. “I was worried about you the whole time.”

Following behind them, Yu Haiqing: …

He watched the scene unfold, and the emotions that had just surfaced instantly vanished, replaced by a mix of irritation and jealousy.

Xie Shuangxue, just how many “big brothers” do you have?

Luckily, the hug was brief. Any longer, and Yu Haiqing’s expression might’ve darkened further. But just as he was sulking, Xie Shuangxue turned, gestured him over, and said, “With him protecting me, nothing could go wrong.”

His gaze remained fixed on Yu Haiqing as he spoke, with a faint dependency in his eyes.

Yu Haiqing: …

How to explain it? For some reason, the irritation he’d just felt began to melt away.

He knew that Xie Shuangxue was probably just playing the usual hot-and-cold game to bait him. But there was something so irresistibly sweet about Xie Shuangxue in that moment, like a fluffy marshmallow.

Moreover, he noticed that while Xie Shuangxue often called Ling Xuan by name or addressed him as “senior,” he’d never called any other NPC “big brother.” No other player had heard this term, either.

This left Yu Haiqing with a slightly jealous but hopeful thought—maybe he was special?

As for Ling Xuan, he wasn’t just here for a friendly reunion. Xie Shuangxue was the only NPC he had come to meet; Yun Ruowei and Yun Qiang had taken a different path, splitting up to see Yun Panshan.

“Have you met Lord Yun yet?” Xie Shuangxue began. “And what I asked Yun Ren to tell you, have you taken it all in?”

“I have,” Ling Xuan replied. “I just spoke with Lord Yun. After our conversation, he had no objections.”

“That’s great,” Xie Shuangxue sighed with relief. “Regardless of how this turns out, at least I can get you out of here.”

Ling Xuan had been hiding in the sanctuary for a long time—something even Xie Shuangxue hadn’t anticipated. But it turned out to be beneficial, as Ling Xuan’s presence had helped Xie Shuangxue greatly.

Ling Xuan had hidden himself well, but his identity would eventually be exposed. When Xie Shuangxue received Yun Ren’s message, he knew time was running out. If something happened to Ling Xuan, the tension with the Feather Clan would only worsen.

So part of why he worked to gain Yun Ruowei’s trust quickly was for Ling Xuan’s sake.

He didn’t plan to hide Ling Xuan’s role as a spy from Yun Ruowei. In the story, those with true agency were always useful. After gaining Yun Ruowei’s trust and shifting the storyline, Xie Shuangxue devised a way to safely and usefully transfer Ling Xuan—sending him back to the Feather Clan with Yun Panshan. This would not only prove Yun Ruowei’s sincerity but also appease the Feather Clan. It was the best solution for the Battle of Lu Yun Tower.

If Ling Xuan was willing to go along with it, he’d be another important asset. Xie Shuangxue had worried he wouldn’t listen. But unexpectedly, Ling Xuan agreed without hesitation.

“I know that attacking Lu Yun Tower head-on might not be wise. If there’s a way to resolve things more peacefully, it’ll save my elder brother and the others from harm. I fear that this Lu Yun Tower incident is only the beginning of the Gods and Demons conflict. Using up our strength here could have dire consequences,” Ling Xuan said with a sigh. “So I believe you; I’m willing to try.”

Xie Shuangxue looked at him, a little surprised. “Ling Xuan, you…”

In the original storyline, Ling Xuan had been impulsive and somewhat stubborn. Yet now, he’d begun to think deeply, seeing further ahead and displaying emotions richer than his original character.

“I know I’ve changed. Shuangxue, I really must thank you. Without you, I’d still be living in ignorance within the Feather Clan.” Ling Xuan brushed a hand over Xie Shuangxue’s head, now looking less like a youthful noble and more like a mature man. “To be honest, I have my own selfish reasons. I don’t want the Feather Clan to suffer, and I also wish the Demons in the city could survive.”

“All my life, I believed the Gods and Demons were inherently opposed. But after coming here, I realized it isn’t so simple.”

“Yun Ren and those young Demon child, even the Demons who helped me—they aren’t evil by nature. On the contrary, they’re kind but forced into such a harsh life.”

“In the sanctuary, I slipped up several times due to inexperience, yet they chose to trust me and even helped cover for me. I was wrong before. Perhaps Demons aren’t as I imagined, and Gods aren’t always righteous. What I do know is that if anyone here dies at the Feather Clan’s hands, I’ll carry the guilt forever.”

“Thank you, Shuangxue. When I was torn between choices, you showed me another path.”

Xie Shuangxue paused, surprised by Ling Xuan’s words, then instinctively glanced back at Yu Haiqing.

They both knew the original plot, and they both knew these were Ling Luo’s lines.

Before being corrupted by demonic energy, Ling Luo had formed bonds with Demons in Lu Yun Tower, gradually breaking down his prejudice toward them. This journey of self-reflection was a core theme in the original storyline.

Xie Shuangxue had thought his actions would erase this dialogue, but it had merely shifted, appearing in Ling Xuan, the innocent Feather Clan noble.

Then he heard Ling Xuan continue, almost as if questioning his own heart: “Sometimes, I wonder if it’s wrong to think this way, like I’m betraying my own beliefs. But, Shuangxue, you encouraged me. Despite your deep hatred for the Demons, you still chose to trust them.”

“Right now, I’m not worried about anything else; I’m just worried about you. Can’t you come with me?”

Xie Shuangxue took a deep breath. “I can’t.”

“Yun Ruowei still needs me here,” he replied. “I promise you, I’ll be fine.”

Just as Xie Shuangxue finished, Yun Panshan returned after meeting Yun Ruowei, looking somewhat dazed.

He hadn’t actually seen Yun Ruowei in person but had heard her voice, catching only a shadowed silhouette behind a screen.

After that brief exchange, Yun Panshan’s eyes filled with tears. He didn’t know if it had all been a lie, but at that moment, he was truly happy. With little time left, it felt as if his long-held wish had been granted.

Any doubts he had before were gone.

Even without Yun Ruowei’s explicit actions, he had resolved to go back to the Feather Clan and do everything in his power to see this through.

Ling Xuan still wanted Xie Shuangxue to leave with him, but when that failed, he had no choice but to leave first.

Xie Shuangxue watched them go, then turned to see Yun Ruowei approaching, still using Yun Panshan’s body, with Yun Qiang beside her.

“Did it work?” she asked.

Xie Shuangxue nodded, taking a longer look at her and Yun Qiang.

After spending enough time here, he knew Yun Ruowei didn’t have her own body and constantly inhabited others.

When her powers were weaker, she shared Yun Qiang’s body, functioning as two souls in one. But as her strength grew, she transferred to Yun Panlong, completely controlling him.

Thus, the “person” Yun Panshan had just spoken to was Yun Qiang disguised with some trickery.

Xie Shuangxue looked at her and suddenly asked, “Ruowei, what are you going to do after you become the City Lord of Lu Yun Tower?”

She paused, then chuckled. “Once I’ve avenged everything, I’ll do exactly what you said and govern the city properly.” Her voice took on a hopeful tone. “Yun Qiang and I have an understanding. There are advantages to our shared situation; the side effects of my dark magic mainly fall on me, and I haven’t turned bloodthirsty. It affects her even less. When the time comes, we’ll work it out together.”

“Yes, I believe Lu Yun Tower will continue to secretly shelter the Demons, keeping them in check so they cause no harm. Honestly, you know as well as I do—they’re not inherently evil. Once the townsfolk get used to it, maybe they’ll coexist peacefully, and tragedies like my mother’s won’t happen again.”

“Sounds good, doesn’t it?”

Yun Qiang nodded in agreement beside her.

Xie Shuangxue replied, “It sounds perfect.”

It was as if they were genuinely imagining a bright future together, but every player present knew this future was impossible.

Not long after the Battle of Lu Yun Tower, the entire city would sink. According to the lore, Yun Ruowei was buried in its depths, and her dreams for the city would never be realized.

In Bai Qiuyan’s livestream, the mood in the comments was equally complicated.

“Sigh, a wish doomed never to come true. It’s so heavy to listen to.”

“But Xue-baby will save Yun Ruowei, won’t he?”

“With our Shuangxue here, it might just happen! Based on His Majesty’s recollections, Shuangxue is supposed to be the Demon King. They’ll have a stronghold of their own, so maybe it’ll come true?”

The players began to question the tragic story. Maybe Yun Ruowei didn’t actually die? Yu Haiqing knew the lore stated she was buried in the city’s heart. But now, things seemed less certain.

Xie Shuangxue appeared to believe that nothing was set in stone. What he wanted, he would strive for.

The more Yu Haiqing learned, the more Xie Shuangxue’s determination stirred something in him.

Looking at Xie Shuangxue, he found he couldn’t tear his gaze away. His heartbeat quickened as he realized that Xie Shuangxue wasn’t only changing his own fate; he was transforming the destinies of all NPCs around him, bringing a glimmer of hope into this grim tragedy.

At that moment, Xie Shuangxue’s eyes sparkled. He looked like hope incarnate.

Not far from the city gates, Yun Panshan and Ling Xuan arrived at the Feather Clan’s camp, ready to present Xie Shuangxue’s message.

In the camp, Princess Chun Yao and her entourage listened. Her first reaction wasn’t to express an opinion but to look at Chen Xin and Ling Luo.

After all, they were the ones most familiar with Lu Yun Tower. Chun Yao wanted to know if this was a trap.

But Ling Luo and Chen Xin, concerned only with Xie Shuangxue’s safety, responded immediately, “Then let’s try it.”

“We can’t risk Shuangxue’s life.”

Chun Yao: ? That quick to decide?

For caution’s sake, further discussion was inevitable.

While the original storyline would influence her decision, Xie Shuangxue’s actions had led to multiple shifts, allowing the plot to take a different course.

Meanwhile, outside the city, Yun Ruowei’s forces had staged minor confrontations with the Skeleton Ghosts. According to Xie Shuangxue’s plan, Yun Ruowei’s army gave just enough of a fight to discourage Feather Clan forces without inciting heavy losses. If they perceived the threat of the Ghosts, they’d be more inclined toward a cautious approach.

The situation was more complex since Lu Yun Tower’s divine veins remained under foreign control, making a direct assault impossible.

This continuous unfolding led even Chun Yao to soften.

Thus, under the influence of various NPCs, the plot began to visibly shift.

From the player’s perspective, it was clear that this was Xie Shuangxue’s scheme. As the night of the final battle approached, an atmosphere of tension filled the city.

The wind started picking up in the evening, carrying a faint stench of blood and decay. The wails of the Skeleton Ghosts grew louder within the city.

According to Yun Ruowei’s plan, the stationed troops weren’t sitting idle. While the original story had Yun Ruowei using deception, she’d also relied on other forces to succeed.

Though she had to leave Yun Panshan’s body and conceal her own demonic energy, the Skeleton Ghosts had already been summoned, and dark magic couldn’t be undone at will.

At that moment, the mindless Yun Panshan was sustained solely by demonic energy, which could easily turn him feral. Yun Ruowei could only try to control it with the divine veins, but they would still need the players’ help to suppress the madness.

Meanwhile, the Feather Clan forces, armed with foreknowledge and well-prepared, rushed in when they heard the Ghosts’ wails grow louder.

Sure enough, the city’s divine veins showed them less resistance.

The players, too, received a main quest—to exterminate the rampaging Skeleton Ghosts across the city.

NPCs had set routes and wouldn’t snatch players’ bosses. Experienced players raced to the City Lord’s Mansion, where the highest-level bosses and the most legendary items awaited.

Some players, desperate to reach the City Lord’s Mansion, streamed their battles with monsters outside.

“These NPCs have no idea this was all my baby’s plan, do they?”

“Haha, looks like Xue’s about to put on a show for everyone! Wonder what flavor of Xue we’ll get today?”

“Ahh, I want to get to the mansion too and play the hero!”

Soon, a few streamers reached the City Lord’s Mansion, and the first thing they saw was a flurry of sword shadows.

This time, Xie Shuangxue wasn’t hiding.

Standing at the center of the City Lord’s Mansion, he was surrounded by a horde of Skeleton Ghosts, their numbers concealing him. Yet each time his sword flashed, another Ghost’s head rolled.

Dressed in black, he stood in the midst of fallen Skeletons, breathing lightly. A giant Skeleton Ghost General loomed over him, twice his height, roaring as it charged.

Qiao Zhihui, an ardent fan, arrived just in time and rushed to assist.

Xie Shuangxue fought with fluid grace, but when the player joined in, he held back, leaving the finishing blow for them.

As Qiao Zhihui’s Assassin delivered the final hit, the Skeleton Ghost crumbled into bones, dropping a reward.

“Oh wow, the White Bone Token!”

“Brings back memories of Penglai City… Wasn’t it a streamer who got a White Bone Token there, with Xue Shuangxue by their side?”

“I’m so proud of my Xue baby! Before, he had to be protected, but now he’s the one helping others get items. The joy of nurturing a character!”