Eternal Body

It was Duanmu Yun.

Her eyes blazed with fury, transforming her usually dignified and beautiful face into a terrifying, chilling visage, akin to that of a malevolent spirit.

This scene was not unfamiliar to Xie Hai Zhu.

For the past five years, whenever Hai Zhu disregarded her own safety or engaged in perilous activities, Duanmu Yun would invariably abandon her usual demeanor, sternly scolding her in a fit of anger.

“Lady Duanmu… Lady Hai Zhu…”

Li Ziying glanced back and forth between the two, momentarily unsure whose words to heed.

“Please leave us for now. I need to have a proper talk with Sister Yun.” Xie Hai Zhu gently placed a hand on Li Ziying’s back, then teleported her outside.

“Are you showing off to prove that I no longer need to worry about you?” Duanmu Yun immediately saw through Xie Hai Zhu’s intentions.

“Truly, nothing escapes your notice, Sister Yun.”

Xie Hai Zhu offered a faint smile.

Yet, for some inexplicable reason, as she uttered the words “Sister Yun,” a flicker of imperceptible melancholy crossed Duanmu Yun’s eyes.

‘A trick of the light?’

‘Or perhaps Sister Yun is seeing something and thinking of someone, recalling the First Generation Hai Zhu?’

‘[It seems the user of the First Generation Hai Zhu puppet was a very important person to Sister Yun.]’

Xie Hai Zhu’s mood instantly brightened.

‘Huh?’

‘Feeling inferior? Believing herself to be merely a substitute?’

‘No way would I feel like that.’

‘To be a source of comfort for Duanmu Yun’s emotional wounds—isn’t that a good thing?’

‘As long as it makes a loved one happy and content, does the reason truly matter?’

Guided by this line of reasoning, Xie Hai Zhu preemptively apologized before Duanmu Yun could even speak:

“Sister Yun, I know I was wrong. I shouldn’t have acted so rashly today, especially since I haven’t fully accustomed myself to this body yet… I’m truly sorry for making you worry.”

Xie Hai Zhu spoke with profound sincerity.

However, far from pleasing Duanmu Yun, these words instead drew a scrutinizing gaze from her.

“I think you’re controlling it quite well, seeing as you can even display such expressions now,” she remarked, her tone laced with sarcasm.

“Ah, so I was exposed that quickly…” Xie Hai Zhu let out a light chuckle, then, as if changing faces, reverted to an expression as cold as ice.

Ultimately, no matter how lifelike it appeared, Xie Hai Zhu’s body was merely a puppet.

Regardless of her inner turmoil, the puppet’s body could not react spontaneously.

Yet, Xie Hai Zhu had completely mastered the art of making the “puppet” display expressions that conveyed her emotions.

Unfortunately, this level of skill was not enough to satisfy Duanmu Yun.

“Hai Zhu…”

“Sister Yun, what is it?”

“Promise me you won’t get involved in such dangerous matters again until you’ve fully recovered.”

Duanmu Yun suppressed her anger, speaking with a pained heart.

This, too, was a familiar scene.

Every instance of Duanmu Yun’s anger had, in the end, transformed into gentle persuasion like this.

“I will.”

“I know you’re eager to contribute to the kingdom, but there will be plenty of time for such things later. Don’t be so impatient… alright?”

‘I’m sorry, but there is no time left.’

Xie Hai Zhu nodded, her face devoid of emotion.

In that moment, she was profoundly grateful to be inhabiting the puppet’s body.

Were she in her original male body, she feared her true feelings would have been instantly exposed.

“That’s good then… You’re not feeling any discomfort, are you?”

‘Eh?’

Xie Hai Zhu paused, slightly taken aback, then a thought sparked, and she smiled faintly:

“It’s fine. It was Sir Lyte who made the move.”

Duanmu Yun visibly relaxed with a sigh of relief.

‘Good heavens.’

Xie Hai Zhu could never have imagined that Duanmu Yun’s deepest concern wasn’t her reckless use of the puppet for dangerous acts, but rather her potential inability to cope with taking a life.

Upon reflection, it was true that in the past five years, she had not killed a single person.

Even when confronted with danger, members of the Duanmu family would always intervene, shielding her so thoroughly that she seemed like a sheltered young lady oblivious to the world’s perils.

‘How utterly ridiculous… After the kingdom fell, Xie Hai Zhu had slain countless humans and demons without the slightest discomfort. Such worries were entirely superfluous.’

However, Duanmu Yun was unaware of future events, and Xie Hai Zhu couldn’t reveal her hands were already stained with blood. She could only silently accept it… or rather, that was impossible.

“But I am now Hai Zhu, the Saintess of Salvation. Surely I’ll have to deal with such matters eventually?”

“Eventually is eventually, but not now!”

Duanmu Yun exclaimed agitatedly, but immediately realizing her reaction was somewhat excessive, she turned her back, whether to compose her emotions or her expression, it was unclear.

“Sister Yun, may I know why?”

“Alright.”

Duanmu Yun sighed, as if in resignation, and turned back around.

“When you think of the previous Hai Zhu, what do you consider her most famous deed?”

“Naturally, it’s her feat of repelling the Empire and saving the kingdom. In that battle, she slew four hundred thousand imperial soldiers with a single sword… Wait, is the cost of using this puppet a prohibition against killing?” Xie Hai Zhu finally understood.

“Yes, so Hai Zhu, you must try your best not to kill, and ideally, not even witness it—”

Duanmu Yun gazed sadly at Xie Hai Zhu.

No, more accurately, she was looking at someone who had once been the Hai Zhu puppet.

“I no longer wish to see ‘you’ disappear again.”

****

By the time Xie Shenhong reverted to his original form and returned home, it was already half past eleven at night.

“You’ve worked hard, Big Brother.”

Shen’ai, of course, wouldn’t scold him for his late return, yet her waiting up until this hour clearly indicated her concern for him.

“I’m truly useless…”

After showering, Xie Shenhong lay on his bed, gazing at the golden pocket watch in his hand, and sighed weakly.

Not long ago, upon hearing Duanmu Yun explain that the user of the Hai Zhu puppet would disappear due to killing.

While still Xie Hai Zhu, she had accepted this reality without any psychological burden, vowing inwardly to use every kill with utmost precision.

However, upon reverting to Xie Shenhong, his feelings transformed entirely.

The mere thought of the puppet’s cost filled him with immense dread—

The fear of failing, of vanishing without having made any impact whatsoever.

The fear of betraying Sister Yun’s trust and expectations, and of squandering the efforts others had invested in him.

Indeed, Xie Shenhong was well aware that this was a manifestation of his lack of self-confidence.

Yet, this was a matter concerning the fate of an entire nation, even all of humanity. How could he possibly remain calm? How could he possibly feel confident in his utterly useless self?

Furthermore—

‘Me, the most suitable person in the entire kingdom to use the Hai Zhu puppet… Argh, why was I so arrogant and conceited back then?’

If nothing else, the First Generation Hai Zhu was undoubtedly the most suitable person.

It was also she who brought initial peace to the kingdom.

Having slain four hundred thousand people and endured such a heavy price, she still managed to persevere until five years ago, only truly vanishing after conquering the Sakura Nation.

He, on the other hand, caused Duanmu Yun concern right from the start.

Xie Shenhong never imagined that even as a ‘power bank,’ he was inferior to others…

‘No, if this matter didn’t need to be kept secret, wouldn’t there be countless people in the world more outstanding than him…’

‘Why am I so useless?’

Of course, Xie Shenhong’s greatest anguish stemmed not from his own mediocrity, but from realizing that Duanmu Yun saw him as a mere substitute for the First Generation Hai Zhu.

Indeed, he was jealous.

Although he had long been aware that Duanmu Yun always looked at him as if he were someone else, he had initially believed he could simply brush it off with a smile.

Yet, upon truly learning the truth, he discovered how laughable his resolve had been, and how narrow-minded his own heart was.

‘With this kind of performance… how could he ever be fit to be the Saintess of Salvation?’

Fortunately, after transforming into Xie Hai Zhu, his thoughts would become confident and fearless due to the puppet’s inherent effects… otherwise, Xie Shenhong would have already returned the golden pocket watch.

Of course, Xie Hai Zhu was not omnipotent, particularly concerning her views on Lyte… Realizing this, he immediately rose and rushed to the dressing table mirror, vehemently scolding the red-haired, maiden-like figure reflected within.

“It’s unbelievable! What on earth were you thinking, you idiot? How could a scoundrel as contemptible as Lyte ever meekly submit to anyone? Do you even know what it means to play with fire and get burned?!”

After scolding for a good while, Xie Shenhong paused.

It wasn’t because he was tired of scolding.

If his targets were Lyte and himself, he could easily scold for an hour, if not until morning, without any strain.

The reason he stopped was that he sensed something amiss.

His voice sounded off.

His natural voice was a clear, youthful tenor, and while he could easily produce a sweet, girlish tone with a little control, when he was exasperated and swearing, it would always revert to his original voice.

Yet now… it sounded unmistakably like a controlled, girlish voice.