The success of Morioka Immortal today is likely due to someone else bearing his misfortune.
So, the man did not want to provoke this enemy bound by karmic laws.
He simply said:
"Morioka Immortal used to have a younger brother, but it is said he died very early. After that, Morioka Immortal started to change, looking more and more like an immortal."
"People say the younger brother went to the Celestial Kingdom and brought blessings to his older brother."
"Morioka Immortal often tells others that if his brother were alive, he would do whatever it takes to make him happy."
"Life always has regrets; when you gain the way to happiness, there is often an unfillable void."
The man seemed quite emotional:
"It’s like those people at auctions who spend a fortune on an item... but in reality, they can no longer see the opposite sex normally. It’s as if every member of the opposite sex who approaches them is after money."
"There used to be a guest who tried to fall in love with an auction item. After all, the auction item had been tamed into a dog. Dogs are absolutely loyal."
"But when the guest created the illusion of his own bankruptcy... the dog chose to leave him."
The man seemed to be expressing that to gain something, one must lose something.
But for Akiyama Sachi, her heart was deeply shocked.
Morioka Immortal doesn’t have a younger brother?
The younger brother of Morioka Immortal is already dead?
Then who was talking to her?
Could it be that Morioka Hitomi is a liar?
Or...
A horrifying thought suddenly appeared in Akiyama Sachi’s mind.
...
...
March 16th.
These days, Xiaoxing asked a lot about Morioka Immortal’s matters. She also told some things about herself to Morioka Hitomi.
Including her mother’s death, and her views on the world.
Including her acceptance of exchanging pain for rewards.
They were like two friends who spoke of everything, rapidly deepening their understanding of each other over these days.
Morioka Hitomi then realized that Xiaoxing’s life was even worse than he had imagined.
It was like he suddenly understood the mission of the Celestial Eye God.
Morioka Hitomi recounted many past events with his brother.
His words were full of affirmation, agreement, and admiration for his brother.
But the more he spoke, the more sorrow Xiaoxing felt.
She felt that this child was even more tragic than herself. She didn’t even know whether to tell the child the truth she knew.
If she exposed certain things... would he become miserable? Or would it be better to let him remain in his current state?
Or perhaps, he wouldn’t believe her at all?
Akiyama Sachi became more convinced of one thing——
Morioka is using Morioka Hitomi, who has no idea that he’s never been an immortal’s brother nor a candidate for the Celestial Eye God.
In the eyes of others, he is called a "ghost."
Her life was already a mess, but at this moment, Xiaoxing still wanted to save others.
"Xiaotong, can you come see me?"
"I’m... I’m sorry, I can’t come. My brother says I can’t come until I become the Celestial Eye God. But I... I’m about to become the Celestial Eye God, and I will come to see you."
"But I’m leaving, going to a faraway place. If you don’t come to bring me happiness, I will keep living unhappily in a distant place. Please come save me... I really want to live as a human."
Xiaoxing’s words were sincere.
If there really is a way in this world to instantly attain happiness, her happiness should be living with dignity, right?
Just as her mother said... living with both dignity and money.
She yearned for redemption, but more so, she hoped Xiaotong could know the truth.
At this moment, on the other side of the computer——
Xiaotong’s heart suddenly ached fiercely.
Living as a human, this phrase unexplainably stirred a longing within him.
After continuously absorbing the misfortunes of many people in District 19, his body had started to change, and he no longer looked human.
He was now a monster, his shadow writhing, and he couldn’t even describe what he looked like now.
If he could, he actually didn’t want to become the Celestial Eye God as his brother said; he wanted to return to his former self.
He wanted to find Xiaoxing.
Someone without human dignity, someone without human form.
In such a place, these two monsters yearning to become "human" finally made a pact.
Morioka Hitomi:
"Are you leaving? When?"
Xiaoxing:
"Probably in these few days, I might go to a faraway place."
Morioka Hitomi:
"Then I’ll come to you, I... I will definitely come to you before that! There are many things I can’t decide on, I have to wait for my brother to make the decisions."
"But... I am very certain about wanting to make you happy!"
Never before had he so intensely desired for someone to attain happiness. Morioka Hitomi thought he must go find Xiaoxing.
Xiaoxing also hoped Morioka Hitomi would find her:
"Then I’ll wait for you to find me, it’s a promise."
"Alright, it’s a promise. I will definitely come to you!"