Chapter 355: It’s Not Like That
"Intertwining fates?" Xiang Yu asked when they were back in the cave.
"That’s right," Li Yao said, sitting comfortably on his lap.
"I see," Xiang Yu nodded thoughtfully.
"So that’s why she wanted to get married," Xiang Yu thought to himself.
It wasn’t a bad idea at all. If they could intertwine their fates so that she could never forget him - whether in death or immortality, existence or nonexistence - then it would solve their problem completely.
Even if he didn’t exist when she embodied the Law of Heavenly Way, she would still remember him. This was perfect.
From what he had seen her do in that form, he didn’t want her to be unable to use that power anymore.
"Okay, let’s do it," Xiang Yu said decisively.
He thought to himself that the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.
He was just one reset away from his Appraisal reaching immortal stage. He wondered if this was what he had been sensing about his Appraisal - the Law of Karma. He sighed quietly. Well, he’d cross that bridge when he got there.
Li Yao smiled brightly upon hearing his agreement.
"Then when should the wedding be?" Xiang Yu asked.
He thought to himself that he was actually quite worried about another enemy coming after them, so it would be really nice if they got this done quickly so Li Yao could get her power back.
Li Yao smiled mischievously.
"I can see that senior brother wants it quickly," she said teasingly. She then glanced to the side with a pout. "But I’m afraid it’s for the wrong reason."
Xiang Yu looked surprised for a moment, then smiled warmly. He gently turned her face to look at him directly.
"Junior sister... no... Li Yao, will you be my wife and make me the happiest man ever?" he asked sincerely.
"Yes. I will," she said softly.
"Then no need to wait any longer. Let’s do it tomorrow," she said with determination.
Xiang Yu smiled. "Okay." He then paused suddenly. "Wait, can you learn Fate by tomorrow?" he asked with concern.
She smiled confidently. "Of course. I also have my own methods."
"Methods?" he asked curiously.
Suddenly, the World Core appeared before them. <Hi guys. I’m back,> it said cheerfully.
Li Yao smiled as she grabbed it firmly. "Right on time. Now pay up," she said directly.
Xiang Yu facepalmed. So this is what she was talking about. The World Core hadn’t even rested and she was already demanding benefits.
<Can’t we wait until I’ve recovered completely?> it asked hopefully.
"No! If you don’t pay up right now, I’ll destroy the rest of you myself," she said.
At that moment, the Empress appeared beside them.
[Why are you being so stingy? It’s not like you pay from your own pocket anyway. It’s all provided by the Heavenly Dao. And she’s the Heavenly Dao Avatar, so she’s just taking what belongs to her,] the Empress said.
"Ah, that’s right!" Li Yao said, her eyes brightening with realization. Her smile then grew even wider and more wicked. "Give me all you’ve got!"
"Ouch!" She instantly regretted it as Xiang Yu flicked her forehead.
"Senior brother?" she called in a wronged voice.
"Don’t bully others," Xiang Yu said.
"But it belongs to me?" she said, feeling genuinely wronged.
Xiang Yu sighed. "You also have to pay the world for letting you stay here," he explained.
Li Yao nodded reluctantly. She then gave the World Core a sharp glare. "You made senior brother hit me. Even though I kinda liked it, I won’t let you get away with it," she thought.
The World Core instantly tensed when it felt her glare.
<Ummm, actually, I don’t need that much. When the world survives a huge calamity, it also receives some benefits, so I’m good,> it said quickly. <I’ll also give you your senior brother’s share since he can’t have it,> it added.
When Li Yao heard this, her face brightened up immediately. "Oh, I almost forgot about that. Thank you!" she said sweetly, hugging the core.
<Phew! Safe,> the core thought with relief.
...
Li Yao thought to herself that she had been planning to abandon upgrading her spiritual root and instead upgrade her enlightenment to celestial grade so she could learn Fate much quicker. But now that she was also receiving Xiang Yu’s merit - which was just as much as hers, if not more - she could upgrade both.
With celestial grade enlightenment and spiritual root, combined with her senior brother’s cooking that was close to immortal grade, combined with dual cultivation once they got married tomorrow... kekeke, she would be invincible. And then, senior brother wouldn’t dare to run from her. Hehehe.
"Ouch!" She winced again as Xiang Yu flicked her forehead.
"What did I do this time?" she asked innocently.
"You were thinking of something bad weren’t you?" Xiang Yu asked suspiciously.
"Ah!" She quickly covered her mouth, wondering if she had been thinking aloud.
The Empress and the World Core both looked at her with disappointed expressions.
"It’s written all over your face," Xiang Yu said, shaking his head.
He thought to himself that he was so nice to her - even taking her as his wife - and yet all she thought about all day was scheming.
Suddenly, he paused. Wait, wasn’t that just him? He shook his head quickly. No, he needed to do better than this. How could he act like Li Yao?
Now the Empress and the World Core both looked at the two of them with expressionless faces.
[These two are really meant for each other,] the Empress thought with resignation.
<Phew! I really dodged a bullet there. It’s nice that these two insane people are getting married to each other, taking themselves out of the dating pool early. I call that natural selection, hehehe,> the World Core thought with relief.
Space suddenly broke inside the cave and Xiang Li instantly appeared.
She was all smiles, thinking to herself that she had made quite the profit today. Kekeke.
Suddenly, Li Yao’s expression became serious. "Woman?" Her sword instantly materialized in her hand, and she was already in front of Xiang Li in a flash.
Xiang Li easily held her at bay with one hand. "What are you doing?" she asked calmly.
"Dammit! She’s too strong," Li Yao thought frantically.
"Huh, wait... that smell." She sniffed Xiang Li’s hand that was holding her back. "Senior brother?" she spoke in shock.
"Senior brother..." she blushed deeply. "I didn’t know you were into this sort of thing."
It was then that Xiang Yu realized he had forgotten to change back to his normal form. No wonder Li Yao had gone after his clone so quickly - he had been wondering what was up with her.
"Junior sister... don’t misunderstand... this is..." he began.
But Li Yao didn’t let him finish and smiled knowingly.
"It’s okay, senior brother. Yao Yao completely understands," she said sweetly.
"Once we get married, you won’t have to do this anymore," she said as she slowly backed away.
"No, it’s not like that! Trust me!" Xiang Yu screamed out, reaching toward her, but she stepped back.
"It’s okay, you’re a grown man," she said with understanding.
"Empress! World Core! You guys believe me, right?" he asked, turning around.
Only to find that they had already backed away several meters.
"Noooo! You guys have to believe me! I really didn’t have a choice!" he said in despair.
But they didn’t listen, all three of them leaving the cave together.