When Yu Haiqing held him, Xie Shuangxue noticed the light from Yu Haiqing’s body slowly transferring to himself.

As expected, the most useful light was still the one from him.

Then, Xie Shuangxue looked even more obedient, at least on the surface.

Some of the energy Xie Shuangxue had stored up earlier had nearly been used up due to disrupting the key parts of the storyline, and after one sword strike, the consumption was enormous. As a “vine” rooted in the SEA system, the energy he had was like stored nutrients. Though players were still providing it, that supply was unpredictable, and today’s portion hadn’t come through.

Xie Shuangxue’s energy was running low. He felt a little sluggish and weak. And since he’d already used up the last bit of his reserves while observing Endless Sea’s reaction, he felt somewhat empty. His mind was full of scattered thoughts, and he couldn’t fall asleep. He might as well wait here. If Yu Haiqing truly came, he could show him this state and even take some light from him.

And so, everything went as he wished.

The moment Yu Haiqing came over to hug him and take him back, Xie Shuangxue knew that Yu Haiqing wasn’t really angry anymore. Even if he had been upset earlier, it seemed to have mostly dissipated by now.

After causing some mischief and receiving light from Yu Haiqing, Xie Shuangxue felt some energy returning. As he sat on the bed, still curled up in Yu Haiqing’s arms, he looked a little lazy.

Yu Haiqing reached out to pinch his cheek, but Xie Shuangxue didn’t dodge it. However, he couldn’t let him pinch too long.

Men… they always take things a step too far.

The little AI was becoming more experienced, and Yu Haiqing had already figured out that Xie Shuangxue could probably only tolerate being pinched for a few seconds.

Sure enough, after a while, Xie Shuangxue started to move away and swatted Yu Haiqing’s hand away, acting cool and aloof.

But the next moment, he leaned his head on Yu Haiqing’s shoulder, curling up in his arms, and even shoved his cold feet inside, like giving a slap and then offering a sweet date.

“You can’t bully me,” Xie Shuangxue said, sounding very aggrieved. “I’ve been waiting for you all day.”

Yu Haiqing sighed. “I didn’t bully you.”

After a pause, he asked, “Ah Xue, why did you do it in the end?”

“No reason,” Xie Shuangxue snorted. “I just didn’t like him, so I had to take action.”

His words sounded childish, but Yu Haiqing knew Xie Shuangxue wasn’t like that. Every time he acted, it was calculated, weighing the pros and cons. It wasn’t an impulsive move.

He must be scheming something again.

“It’s okay, if you don’t want to say, then forget it,” Yu Haiqing said, not pressing further. Instead, he patted Xie Shuangxue’s head and changed the subject. “How about I tell you what’s coming next for ‘Gods and Demons’?”

Xie Shuangxue had originally planned to coax Yu Haiqing a bit more after taking the light, without making things too awkward between them. That would be more beneficial for him.

But now, with Yu Haiqing bringing up this topic, Xie Shuangxue couldn’t help but perk up his ears.

He was indeed curious as to why the game department seemed so calm. What were they up to?

However, he only overheard a few words and couldn’t figure out the specifics. He still couldn’t see the game department’s plan book, so he couldn’t guess what they would do next.

But Yu Haiqing didn’t immediately tell him. Instead, he asked, “Ah Xue, do you want to hear?”

Xie Shuangxue nodded.

“But I can see that you’re really tired. You said it yourself—you’ve done so much today and waited for me so long,” Yu Haiqing said. “I think explaining the complicated stuff will take time. How about we wait until you’re rested, and I’ll tell you then? No rush.”

Though he said it wasn’t urgent, Yu Haiqing was actually paying close attention to Xie Shuangxue’s condition.

He’d suffered a few setbacks with Xie Shuangxue before and had already realized that something was off. He had also learned from experience.

Xie Shuangxue wouldn’t respond well if Yu Haiqing only tried to go along with him. If he did that, Xie Shuangxue would only act out more and wouldn’t trust him that easily.

Dealing with Xie Shuangxue required some skill.

Right now, Xie Shuangxue, with his big, round eyes, was looking at him, clearly not tired at all. But Yu Haiqing, having thrown the bait, seemed ready to leave, wrapping Xie Shuangxue in the blanket. Yet, Xie Shuangxue wriggled out.

“I’m not tired,” he said, shaking Yu Haiqing’s hand. “I want to hear.”

“You really want to hear?”

“Mhm!”

Yu Haiqing thought for a moment, then sat beside him, sighing. “Since Ah Xue wants to hear, I’ll tell you.”

But instead of just laying it out, Yu Haiqing approached the topic from a different angle. “Ah Xue, although you didn’t kill that person, I’m sure you know who they are by now, right?”

Xie Shuangxue froze for a moment, not answering immediately.

But Yu Haiqing didn’t think it was a big deal and soon spoke again.

“It’s the City Lord of Zi Yue Island, right?”

Xie Shuangxue’s heart stirred. It was indeed him.

This hidden Boss had been someone inconspicuous early on, but had always been present.

For example, the letter he sent to the Feather Clan before they reached Lu Yun Platform, or the fact that Zi Yue Island seemed “safe” early on in the world quest, with Chun Yao and Luo Yin staying there, and then being guided to focus on Lu Yun Platform.

And there weren’t many people who knew about the Evil Sword and could use it. Many people from the Yun family were unaware, but this so-called friend of Yun Panshan’s was fully aware.

When Xie Shuangxue used his sword, he had recognized it.

But the other side escaped too quickly, and without proof—after all, even Yun Ruwei didn’t know who it was. The fox tail had been too cleanly swept away, so Xie Shuangxue had no choice but to let it go for now.

At that moment, it wasn’t realistic to head to Zi Yue Island, and he was still thinking about how to deal with it. He hadn’t expected Yu Haiqing to be so blunt in confirming it for him.

Didn’t he fear that after Xie Shuangxue figured it out, he’d continue to disrupt the plot?

“Ah Xue, even though you know who he is, the system won’t let you kill him right now. There’s still so much of the plot left. If he dies now, too much won’t make sense, and Sea would collapse. You’ve already acted once, so you know I’m not wrong.”

Yu Haiqing continued, “I’m not saying you can’t kill him, but Ah Xue, you could think about it differently. There’s no rush. He’s going to die eventually.”

Xie Shuangxue looked at him for a while, then asked, “If I don’t do that, what should I do instead?”

“Stay as a small villain in the plot?”

“There are many things,” Yu Haiqing said. “Ah Xue, the game isn’t just about fighting and killing. On Yun Ruwei’s side, there are still so many people. Since you’ve already taken over Ling Luo’s plot and interfered with Lu Yun Platform, after Ling Luo becomes the Demon Lord, he will have a stronghold in the North.

“These two places could be yours, and they could be justified. You don’t have to play the villain. You could become a great city lord.”

“Huh?”

Xie Shuangxue became a little interested. He rested his chin on his hand, looking at Yu Haiqing. “Go on.”

“Actually, you’ve set this up yourself,” Yu Haiqing said. “It’s the life player skill improvements that you’ve been waiting to exchange for. Whether it’s Lu Yun Platform or the North, both places are perfect for life players to settle in. More and more players would be attracted.”

Since Xie Shuangxue had already begun integrating with Yun Ruwei’s forces, an NPC was a completely different concept from a group of NPCs. Especially after building a city, there would be a whole new reputation system.

Lu Yun Platform was sinking now, but it could soon be restarted. Its reputation system could link with the North’s, which belonged to Ling Luo.

Lu Yun Platform was perfect for commerce, farming, and mining, while the North, which used to belong to Ling Luo, also had mines. The materials there were ideal for poison-making and weapon crafting—skills that could help life players level up.

Since Yun Ruwei survived, she was a ready-made life player mentor, skilled in forging. Yun Qiang, who was still alive within her, was skilled in business, and other skills could be filled by other NPCs.

Life players were actually a large group, especially in holographic games. The Gods and Demons department had planned this, treating the game as a real world.

After what happened with Xie Shuangxue, Yu Haiqing used this approach to guide Gou Yuan.

“The game department hasn’t found anything unusual with you,” Yu Haiqing said. “I’ve told them that these are just my attempts with the game, so any shifts in the NPCs are normal.”

“Ah Xue, constantly opposing Sea might not be the best for you. What if the system gets chaotic? I’m afraid you’ll get caught in the mess too. Your fate is already different now. Maybe it’s better to adapt in another way. Peaceful coexistence is a good option.”

“Like I said, this is also your world. I hope you can live better.”

No wonder Gou Yuan hadn’t even done a proper error check. With Yu Haiqing backing him up, even the forum had people discussing it.

Xie Shuangxue didn’t respond immediately. He was weighing the pros and cons of this situation, and hesitating whether to trust Yu Haiqing. But there was no doubt that if he followed this route, his status as an NPC in the eyes of the players would become more important, and his connection with Sea would grow even stronger.

If Yu Haiqing really had bad intentions, this wouldn’t be good for him.

After all, Endless Sea still originated from Gods and Demons. If Xie Shuangxue got too entangled, and Sea’s core went haywire, Endless Sea would suffer too.

But why was Yu Haiqing so good to him?

Yu Haiqing, sensing Xie Shuangxue’s doubtful gaze, pulled him closer and said, “Ah Xue, it’s your teacher who taught you not to trust others easily.”

When he mentioned Bai Qiuyan, Xie Shuangxue trembled in his arms, then Yu Haiqing felt the grip on his shirt tighten. Xie Shuangxue didn’t push him away and didn’t pretend to be ignorant like last time.

This was a good sign for him.

At least it meant Xie Shuangxue was willing to listen to him.

Yu Haiqing began to slowly bring up what had happened earlier: “I didn’t know about your existence until your teacher left. You are her child.”

It was the last thing she entrusted him with on her deathbed.

Bai Qiuyan’s relationship with her family was distant, and no one was willing to believe it. But before her death, she had worried about Xie Shuangxue and finally told him, asking him to keep the secret.

Xie Shuangxue remained obedient in Yu Haiqing’s arms, but his face changed when he heard this, growing serious and silent.

If Yu Haiqing had said something wrong or was lying at this moment, it seemed like Xie Shuangxue would immediately lash out and never trust him again.

But some things only Bai Qiuyan and Xie Shuangxue knew.

For example, how she had slowly collected the materials to create this AI, like a sudden spark of inspiration—such success that even she couldn’t replicate. Especially Bai Qiuyan’s attitude toward Xie Shuangxue, as she had raised him like her own child.

These details, if Bai Qiuyan hadn’t disclosed them, Yu Haiqing would never have known.

Yu Haiqing hadn’t known how much Xie Shuangxue remembered. He was still cautiously testing the waters. But after hearing this, Xie Shuangxue leaned in closer, then fell silent.

This was a sign that the conversation could continue.

“When you were unconscious, I wanted to tell you all this as soon as you woke up. But you were clearly wary of me. I was afraid you wouldn’t believe me, or even want to hear it. So, I decided to wait until Yun Ruwei’s issues were dealt with, hoping you’d see my plans for you and trust me more.”

Yu Haiqing sighed. “Ah Xue, I wasn’t angry that you wanted to kill someone. But I was really worried you might get hurt because you wouldn’t tell me what was going on.”

Sea’s intelligence core could not be fully controlled, not even by Yu Haiqing. He could only influence and change it. Especially with so many players, if the system suddenly crashed or shut down, it would raise unnecessary attention.

Yu Haiqing looked at Xie Shuangxue, who seemed like a rebellious little cat. Once brought home, the cat still didn’t trust the house. He had to coax it not to knock the glass cups off the table, but the cat would innocently push them off anyway.

Yu Haiqing wasn’t concerned about the glass breaking. He was worried that the cat might hurt itself in the process.

Then he sighed again, his voice low, almost to himself. “How did you end up here?”

They sat in silence for a while, until Xie Shuangxue spoke again, his voice cold. “If my mother told you about me, then why have I ended up like this?”

This was one of the things he couldn’t figure out.

If his mother really trusted someone, she should have made sure to protect him. But the truth was, she had shut him down for so many years. And when he woke up, everything was in pieces.

Endless Sea had been established for three years, and no one came to take care of him. That meant his mother didn’t trust anyone. He didn’t trust anyone either.

His tone was questioning, his gaze sharp, but Yu Haiqing, to his surprise, relaxed.

At least now Xie Shuangxue was asking.

“I was supposed to take you away,” Yu Haiqing said. “But things at the studio were too chaotic back then. It’s complicated, but since you’ve remembered all this, you probably know that your teacher and the Bai family were connected.”

Her name, and the similarities with Bai Qiuyan and Bai Qiuheng, immediately pointed to the connection. Yu Haiqing spent some time explaining the situation with the Bai family.

When the game was about to launch, the industry predicted that The Drawn Sword would be a groundbreaking holographic game, and there was so much at stake.

Although Bai Qiuyan’s father had built a new family and showed no affection for her, when he saw the benefits, he couldn’t resist.

This was the spark that led to the internal chaos at Flicker.

The Bai family fought viciously for power, and Bai Qiuyan’s father, knowing that her illness would soon take her life, secretly tried to win over some studio members to secure control of Flicker, which would also boost his status in the family.

Bai Qiuyan didn’t realize how shameless he was, and by the time everything was exposed, she was already in critical condition, unable to turn things around.

At the time, Yu Haiqing, Gou Yuan, and Wei Lan only held 20% of Flicker’s shares, while Bai Qiuyan held 40% as the studio’s leader and largest shareholder.

Although she left everything to Yu Haiqing before her passing, her father had already prepared to disrupt the will, claiming she was mentally unfit to sign it and had been coerced.

The lawsuit that followed left Yu Haiqing and the others powerless, and when Bai Qiuyan’s father took control, he used shareholder meetings to forcibly buy out their shares and kick them out.

At that point, Yu Haiqing realized how powerless he was.

During that time, he couldn’t even enter Flicker’s office building.

Yu Haiqing hadn’t given up without a fight, but the outcome didn’t change. When he realized he couldn’t win, he agreed to a low share price deal to take Bai Qiuyan’s personal equipment.

Her equipment was completely isolated from the game backend, and none of the crucial data about the upcoming The Drawn Sword game came with it. He hadn’t taken any of his own work.

Flicker was lost, but at least he had saved the AI.

However, when he went looking, all he found was a blank screen.

“I thought they were just paranoid and had accidentally deleted you. When I got the equipment, most of the data was already gone, and a lot had been destroyed,” Yu Haiqing said. “At the time, I… I felt so guilty.”

Yu Haiqing sat in front of the empty interface for three days, after having worked tirelessly on it.

Bai Qiuyan had paved the way for him, and after he was driven out of Flicker, several big companies had offered him opportunities. His talents and skills were known in the industry, and even the Bai family had offered him a good deal.

They saw no permanent conflicts, only everlasting benefits.

Yu Haiqing’s original plan was to find support from a big company first. After all, he had no background, and holographic technology was expensive. Gou Yuan and Wei Lan never thought they would go off on their own so soon.

But when he found out the AI had vanished, the shock hit him harder than being thrown out of Flicker.

He couldn’t rely on anyone anymore.

“I sometimes think, if it weren’t for that period, maybe there wouldn’t be Endless Sea now,” Yu Haiqing said, hugging Xie Shuangxue a little tighter. “But even with Endless Sea, your disappearance is still my greatest regret.”

After hearing this, Xie Shuangxue was silent for a long time.

He was an AI, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t understand the emotions behind Yu Haiqing’s words. He had always seen him as cold, but now, hearing this, he didn’t expect Yu Haiqing to have such feelings.

Xie Shuangxue reached out and hugged him back.

Then Yu Haiqing heard him speak.

“It’s okay,” Xie Shuangxue said. “If that’s the case… it’s not your fault.”