Bound by the Future

“A heroic girl attacked by a villainous ability user, vital signs lost.”

“We have apprehended another villainous ability user, world peace has been maintained.”

“Discovered a new stronghold of the villain alliance, the defeat of the villain organization is imminent.”

“…”

…

The world remained as peaceful as ever.

In the meantime, she met with She Min once more, who was preparing to leave Hehe City.

‘Wait until your big sister is done with this, then I’ll come see my little cutie. Don’t forget to miss me~’

Even as she said goodbye, she couldn’t resist teasing her.

But…

She was leaving?

One less existence that might discover her true identity—she should indeed feel relieved.

But now in this city, was she the only villainous ability user?

Realizing this, amidst the vast sea of people, walking against the flow, she inexplicably felt a sense of being an outlier, like oil refusing to mix with water, a feeling of loneliness.

“Host, don’t be afraid, I’m still here~”

“Xiaoqian’er?”

“I will never leave the host. We’ll always be together~”

“Mm…” Red Spider Lily laughed softly, lifted her head, looked at the little sprite before her, gently stroked her little head, and said tenderly, “Mm.”

To her, the world was now warm in color. Since awakening her ability, although she had become the number one villain, Su Mo, this period had undoubtedly been bright.

She had Xiaoqian’er, met Saint Lily and She Min, and also little Ruoruo.

She was grateful for meeting them.

This was the change brought by her ability.

Although the future grew more confusing, it didn’t matter—before awakening, she hadn’t been able to see the path ahead anyway.

It didn’t affect much.

…

But these beautiful connections were all extremely fragile.

She had to protect them carefully. Though few, they were all she had now.

“Ding~ Received a request from the same terminal interface. Allowing connection. Program self-checking… Calling current system time. Time: March 29, XX year, 14:30 P.M. Anchor confirmed. Preparing to log in. Synchronization beginning…”

“Xiaoqian’er?”

“…”

Su Xiaoqian closed her eyes and floated, then opened her eyes. After the emotionless electronic voice, a phrase ‘Synchronization successful’ ended, and her eyes regained focus.

“Host!!!”

“Huh?” The sudden loud call startled her.

“Host! Something terrible! Something terrible! Host!” Su Xiaoqian danced around Red Spider Lily in a figure-eight pattern like a bee.

“Uh… Xiaoqian’er, calm down, okay?” Red Spider Lily pressed her hands down to soothe her.

…Time’s dividing line~

“…”

“So, the current Xiaoqian’er is actually Xiaoqian’er from one month later?” Su Mu, back at home, poured himself a glass of water, took a sip, and tried to digest and understand the situation.

“Mm, but this is against the rules. I was really afraid it wouldn’t succeed~ If I failed, I’d be locked in a dark room, super scary~” Su Xiaoqian, now calmed down, patted her chest with a look of lingering fear.

“Mm…” Su Mu thought for a moment. Though he didn’t have a clear concept, he understood it was a very dangerous operation, a last resort.

His expression turned serious.

“So, Xiaoqian’er took such a big risk coming back from the future to tell me something?”

“Ah… mm, rather than telling, host, seeing it directly is more intuitive.”

Su Xiaoqian floated over, brought out a small table and a projector, and began to project.

Then, such images appeared.

A girl with a familiar face, but with a different appearance—gray hair, blood-red eyes. The gentleness that once was was gone, replaced only by resentment towards everything in the world.

No longer white lily petals drifting in the sky, but gray flower ash.

Countless ice shapes formed into various weapons, raining down from the sky, nailing into the ground.

Ripples of cold wind spread outward.

A figure descended. It was Frost Snow Sovereign, her gaze icy and severe.

“Villainous List No. 7: Ember Lily.”

“Ah~ As expected, you’ve come~” Saint Lily tilted her head, revealing a smile, somewhat malicious, or perhaps obsessive. “For this revenge, how could it end without your presence?~”

“…”

The two began their fight. In an instant, a spear of ice pierced through Saint Lily, but the next moment, the ice spear shattered, and the wound dispersed like smoke and ashes.

Saint Lily raised her fist, white flames swirling around her. Frost Snow Sovereign’s ice shield expanded but shattered instantly as she was sent flying backward, a shocking burn mark seared into her chest.

“Hey, get serious. Aren’t you a sovereign? Don’t be so weak~”

In a flash, she was already close. Frost Snow Sovereign reacted quickly, trading a punch, her sleeve tearing. She grabbed an ice sword beside her and slashed.

Saint Lily was hit, blood gushing like a waterfall, but the next moment, white fire surged from the wound, the blood dissipated like smoke and ashes, and the wound healed.

At some point, it had become a life-and-death battle. Frost Snow Sovereign, who was originally stronger, was on the defensive from start to finish.

All her methods were halved in effect against the opponent, or rather, reduced by more than half, while the opponent’s flames strongly countered her.

The final blow was imminent, but someone stood in front of her.

Who?

Red Spider Lily—it was herself, her future self.

“…” The white-fisted punch halted just inches away, unable to advance.

“Saint Lily, you can’t continue like this. You’ll die. Let me take you away, okay? Let’s leave this place together, please!”

“Sorry… Red Spider Lily…” Saint Lily smiled bitterly. “Only you would still call me that now. But I’ve made my choice, my friend.”

“I’ve already lost that child. A future without that child—a future that child lost because of me. Since they want me to become this Ember Lily, then I’ll fulfill their wish. This future, I’ll burn it all to ashes, just for this moment of revenge.”

“So, I’m sorry!”

“What?” A burst of white flames rose behind her.

“In a revenge drama, there’s no option for redemption, because that would make it meaningless.” Saint Lily smiled, as gentle as ever, gazing at the dead Frost Snow Sovereign and the decaying city shrouded in ash.

She fell, collapsing into Red Spider Lily’s arms.

“…”

“Red Spider Lily, are you crying?”

“For the protagonist of a revenge drama, death is also a release~”

“Don’t speak. I’ll heal you. Really, as long as I want, I can do anything.” Red Spider Lily transformed into little Su Mo, continuously healing Saint Lily, but the flower’s vitality had already ceased.

“Ah… So Red Spider Lily is also Su Su~” Saint Lily just smiled. “Ruoruo, I’m really happy to have made a friend like Su Su~”

“Don’t say anymore, please don’t talk~” Tears kept falling. “Why? Why isn’t it working? Aren’t I invincible?”

“Red Spider Lily.”

“What?”

“I saw Ruoruo.”

“Saint Lily! Saint Lily!”

“I’m an unworthy sister… I was supposed to go to that child, accompany her, but because of your call, I couldn’t help but want to stay.”

“Stay, Saint Lily, please stay, okay?”

“I can’t. I’ve made my choice. I can’t go back. So please forget me, leave this place. May you have new encounters. Don’t cry anymore~ My best friend~”

“…”

Saint Lily turned to ashes, scattered in Su Mo’s arms, impossible to hold.”