The Only Player in ‘Child of Stardust’
Chapter 359 - 248 Lifetime

Chapter 359: Chapter 248 Lifetime

The boat was stationary in the river, the water’s surface smooth and undisturbed.

Here, far from the city, the world around was pitch-black, not a single ray of light to be seen, quiet as if the entire world had receded, an extreme void, a deep, profound silence.

On the boat, flames flickered. The charcoal in the stove burned, casting a warm orange glow. On the iron plate, sizzling meat dripped with oil, its rich aroma intertwined with a slight scent of char—you couldn’t help but drool.

Beside this, a fridge was blasting cold air with expensive wines from the Wine God Association inside, each bottle valuable enough to get an extraordinary person thoroughly drunk.

Two candles were dyed on the table, put there by Zhou Yuan, who thought it gave a great atmosphere.

Splash.

Chen Guangxi cast his fishing rod and hooked a palm-sized, ancient turtle shell covered with cracks, nearly useless.

"I remember you have a repair skill," said Chen Guangxi as he tossed the cracked turtle shell to Zhou Yuan, asking him to restore it.

Zhou Yuan used the Lesser Restoration Skill to repair the turtle shell.

[Name: Mystic Turtle Shell]

[Quality: Ordinary]

[Effect: One of the tools used for divination.]

[Note: A 70-year-old turtle was snatched away while basking in the sun—is this a twist of human nature or a decay of morality?]

"Nothing special, just classic fashionable trash." Zhou Yuan casually tossed it aside to keep company with the other garbage.

This was the seventeenth item that Chen Guangxi had fished up; the previous sixteen were also all useless—old cellphones, broken pot lids, animal bones, glass bottles... Not a single worthwhile item. Zhou Yuan was beginning to suspect that the body of water was a dumping ground.

"Stop fishing, the meat is ready, let’s eat," said Zhou Yuan, who certainly didn’t want to fish all night.

"Don’t rush, we need patience," Chen Guangxi responded in a calm voice, maintaining his fishing. He seemed to have fully immersed himself in the role, inexplicably embodying a harmony between heaven and man.

Suddenly, she felt the fishing line entangled with something; she pulled hard and dragged up a mirror as tall as a person, its surface as new and shiny as ever.

"Huh?" Zhou Yuan sensed a strange aura from the ancient mirror, emitting a cold and ominous feeling.

Chen Guangxi stood the mirror up on the boat, examining it. Suddenly, she frowned as she saw a pale hand appear in the reflection, clawing at the edge of the boat.

The hand was cold, pale, devoid of color, exuding a terrible stillness of death.

Chen Guangxi turned her head to look, and there was nothing at the edge of the boat. Looking back at the mirror, the ghastly pale hand had also disappeared.

"Tch, malevolent energy, caught a Ghost Mirror."

Chen Guangxi certainly didn’t doubt her vision; it was clear this was a Ghost Mirror.

In front of Zhou Yuan, detailed information about the Ghost Mirror appeared.

[Name: Hallucinogenic Ghost Mirror]

[Quality: Excellent]

[Effect: 1. Mentally suggest to humans who have looked in the mirror to gradually reduce their sanity, causing them to see numerous hallucinations until they go mad, ultimately leading them to brutally murder those around them and commit suicide. 2. Issue a mental suggestion to protect itself from damage. 3. The Ghost Mirror traps the souls of the humans who die because of it, turning them into Fierce Ghosts.]

[Note 1: Mirror, mirror, tell me, who is the saddest woman to die in the world?]

[Note 2: Where’s my mirror? Who the fuck stole my mirror?]

Zhou Yuan’s expression grew peculiar, that second note was so strange...

"You take it," Chen Guangxi said, uninterested in the Ghost Mirror.

Zhou Yuan had no qualms about taking it, promptly selling it to earn twenty thousand Star Coins. The Ghost Mirror wasn’t very useful to him; he could produce illusions and mental suggestions himself—and with his current Rank and cultivation, he was utterly immune to the Ghost Mirror’s abnormal effects.

"Stop fishing, let’s eat."

"No way, I must catch something good," Chen Guangxi refused to believe she couldn’t catch something useful tonight.

Shortly, the fishing rod moved again. This time she caught a scroll of scripture, emitting a hazy glow, unspoiled by the water, clearly something extraordinary.

"Oh, oh, oh, finally something good!" Chen Guangxi couldn’t help but raise her voice in excitement.

Zhou Yuan looked at the cover of the scripture, which was written in ancient East Continent characters: Supreme Bliss Union Scripture.

Chen Guangxi: "..."

Zhou Yuan nodded thoughtfully, "Indeed a good thing."

This scripture was of perfect quality, such that it could be considered a treasure in some sects.

Chen Guangxi flipped through it; it wasn’t some Evil Cultivation Technique but a Dual Cultivation Skill of the Mystical Sect’s right path, which contained many mysteries of cultivation that could hasten both practitioners’ progress by leaps and bounds.

Hmm... a double entendre.

"Good stuff, really good stuff..." Zhou Yuan marveled at the Dual Cultivation Atlas, which was filled with illustrations and detailed annotations.

"That’s enough," said Chen Guangxi with a snap as she closed the Cultivation Technique, "Let’s eat!"

Not only did the table boast roasted meats, but also thick soups, melons and fruits, as well as exquisite wines.

The meat wasn’t the ordinary fare of pork, mutton, or beef, but rather that of mystical beasts with transcendent properties, infused with vibrant life essence and complemented by seasoning mixtures. A single bite would tantalize your appetite.

"This is ’Immortal Drunk,’ a drink that would leave even immortals tipsy. It’s one of the top delicacies from the Wine God Association. Give it a try."

Chen Guangxi poured a glass of amber liquid for Zhou Yuan and then picked up his own, clinking it robustly with Zhou Yuan’s.

"Cheers!"

Zhou Yuan drank heartily, his eyes widening in surprise. The wine was so sweet it almost made him swallow his tongue, as if it contained all the sweetness in the world.

"How is it?" Chen Guangxi, lips reddened by the fine wine, asked with a smile.

"Superb," Zhou Yuan praised without skimping on the compliment.

Under the glow of the candlelight, they chatted and laughed, eating their fill.

Time seemed to slow down, pausing its steps under the firelight here.

As the evening progressed, the atmosphere gradually became more intoxicating.

Zhou Yuan, flushed with wine, gazed absentmindedly at the resplendent face across from him under the soft candlelight. Her usually casual ponytail had come undone, her hair spreading out lazily. Her cheeks were flushed like that of someone drunk, and her brilliant golden eyes appeared slightly glazed, exhibiting a charm all their own.

"What’s wrong?" Chen Guangxi asked.

After a moment of silence, Zhou Yuan earnestly said, "Guangxi, I should have said these things to you a long time ago... Back then, I ran away because I lacked the courage to face my feelings and the confidence to maintain them. More than that, I was afraid of losing you.

You told me to figure out my feelings before finding you. I admit, at that time, I wasn’t ready. But now, I think I’ve figured it out."

He sat up straight, his gaze warm and firm, and with unprecedented seriousness, he voiced his deepest inner truth, "I like you, Guangxi. I always have, since the moment we met.

Would you... spend your life with me?"

In the ensuing silence, only the sounds of burning wood and sizzling meat could be heard.

Long afterward, Chen Guangxi touched her heated cheeks, letting out a laugh tinged with emotion, "Really, you’re making me blush."

"So..." Zhou Yuan looked at her nervously, "are you willing?"

Chen Guangxi propped her cheek with her hand, studying Zhou Yuan’s expression, a smile curling at the corner of her lips, "Didn’t you already know the answer?"

Indeed, the answer had been revealed long ago.

If she had no interest, would they still be sitting together on this boat now?

Chen Guangxi extended her delicate hand, and Zhou Yuan, understanding the silent communication, took it. Then, their fingers intertwined and clasped tightly.

"You..." Chen Guangxi began to say something, but the next moment, her lips were sealed with a fervent kiss. The clean yet rich fragrance of the wine invaded her space, ravaging boldly, stealing her breath and even her soul.

A jolt of electricity exploded instantly, spreading throughout her body. Chen Guangxi’s eyes widened, her golden pupils trembling as she uttered a muffled sound that seemed like a warning. Her other hand pushed against Zhou Yuan’s chest, but the strength that could move mountains and fill seas had become so feeble.

She could only gradually sink into intoxication, her body going limp.

After a long while, the two parted, panting for air, their minds utterly blank.

Zhou Yuan could swear he hadn’t intended to kiss her so forcefully, but his emotions got the better of him, and in a moment of haze, he plunged in.

Chen Guangxi’s hair was a mess, and as she caught her breath she said, "I only gave you permission to hold hands, not to go French. You’ve gone a bit too far."

Although she sounded somewhat annoyed, her voice was soft, inciting Zhou Yuan’s desire to experience it again.

And so he did just that.

"That’s enough from you."

Much later, Chen Guangxi wiped her lips, "Can’t you be a little more restrained?"

"I can’t restrain myself at all," Zhou Yuan embraced her waist, "I just want to be intimate with you."

"Don’t get carried away, okay? Let’s stop here for today," Chen Guangxi warned. She was still somewhat modest and didn’t want to rush things.

"Mmm... I’ll just hold you."

"Then... okay." Having just experienced it, Chen Guangxi, too, was starting to enjoy the feeling of an embrace.

And so, the two held each other as they slept.

...

The next day, early morning.

The small boat gently rocked, returning to the shore.

Zhou Yuan walked slowly, hand in hand with Chen Guangxi, radiating pure contentment, as if he could almost soar into the sky with joy.

A happy spirit reflects in one’s energy; even his Spiritual Power Realm had made a slight breakthrough.

They found a teahouse for breakfast, and soon after sitting down, a sudden breeze blew in, and an empty seat was now occupied by a figure.

It was Ye Wushuang.