Chapter 90 Prayer (Grand Finale)

Chapter 90: Entreaty (Grand Finale)

Jiang Wang was listless the entire day.

He had no energy for anything.

He didn't want to eat or drink, and didn't even have the heart to tease Da Huang and Xiao Hei anymore.

It wasn't until evening that Xiao Yan personally brought over a meal and gently patted his back.

Jiang Wang emerged from under the covers, glanced drowsily at the food on the small table, and muttered faintly.

"Not hungry."

He wasn't really sleepy either; it was just that too many things were weighing on his mind, with no one to confide in and no way to process them.

They could only become a heavy stone pressing on his chest, constantly tormenting him.

Seeing that Jiang Wang still had no intention of eating, Xiao Yan was getting frantic.

Going a whole day without food wasn't right. Jiang Wang was already thin; his body couldn't handle it.

"Ah Wang, get up and eat. Tell me what you want, and I'll go find it for you."

Hearing this, Jiang Wang perked up and sat up.

"What if I said I want to eat mermaid flesh from the South Sea? Would you find that for me too?"

Anyone could tell Jiang Wang was joking.

Not to mention the vast distance from Zhaojing to the South Sea, mermaids were merely creatures of legend.

Jiang Wang's words were pure fantasy.

Yet Xiao Yan seemed to take it seriously.

He stood up, as if to leave, but was grabbed by the arm and pulled back by Jiang Wang.

"Where are you going?"

"To send people to the South Sea to find a mermaid."

Xiao Yan's words only made things worse, truly infuriating Jiang Wang.

Jiang Wang cursed for the first time.

"Xiao Yan! You idiot!"

Wu Zhong, who had been standing outside the door on duty, nearly dropped the tea in his hands, spilling it everywhere.

Th-this... even if Lord Jiang is in favor, he can't be so brazen as to speak such insolence!

Not only did he call the Emperor by his name directly, but he also called the Emperor an idiot to his face.

Wouldn't His Majesty be furious?!

However, Xiao Yan himself didn't seem to care at all.

Compared to being scolded, Jiang Wang's outburst actually made him happier.

Jiang Wang had been listless all day, and he too had been distracted.

But now, seeing Jiang Wang full of vitality and scolding him truly put his mind somewhat at ease.

This was Jiang Wang, the Jiang Wang he knew.

Seeing Xiao Yan like this made Jiang Wang even angrier than before.

He leaned forward, his right hand grabbing Xiao Yan's collar, their heads close, eyes holding only each other's reflection.

"Want me to eat?" His left hand, however, secretly gripped Xiao Yan's wrist. "Then tell me first how you got this wound."

Xiao Yan's body stiffened for an instant, his pupils slightly dilating before returning to normal the next moment.

Normally, Jiang Wang probably wouldn't have noticed these subtle, abnormal movements of Xiao Yan's.

But now they were so close; Jiang Wang would detect the slightest hint of anything off.

There was definitely a problem here.

Jiang Wang pulled open the sleeve hiding the wound, which had now healed, leaving only a faint scar.

Xiao Yan was uncharacteristically hesitant.

"It... it was from an accidental bump."

Yeah, right.

This wound was so neat; it clearly looked like it was made by a knife.

And who in the entire world would dare to draw a knife on the Emperor? It must have been Xiao Yan himself.

"Why did you hurt yourself?"

Jiang Wang pressed on, his tone almost aggressive.

"What did Master Abbot tell you?"

Xiao Yan remained silent, offering Jiang Wang nothing.

At this moment, Xiao Yan was like a gourd with its mouth sawn off.

Jiang Wang must have figured something out.

His heart was shattering bit by bit; he was even pleading humbly in his heart for Jiang Wang to skip this topic.

He was still deluding himself, thinking that by saying nothing, he could escape Jiang Wang's interrogation this time.

But Jiang Wang wasn't a fool either.

Lying in bed all day wasn't entirely wasted; while his body was still, his mind had been working the whole time.

He wasn't exactly familiar with Master Abbot; their interactions could even be counted on one hand.

So, the only time was when he followed Xiao Yan to Longquan Temple for the purification ritual.

That day, because he had to complete the system tasks, he had climbed up and down until he was panting and exhausted, his mind only on devouring food.

But now, thinking back, the words Master Abbot said to him at noon seemed a bit strange.

"Life is but a fleeting journey, and you, Patron, are a stranger in a strange land. Please, have some more."

A stranger in a strange land?

A thought flashed through Jiang Wang's mind as he seized upon this phrase.

He'd initially thought the Abbot merely recognized that he wasn't from Zhaojing, but had hailed from a nearby small town.

Now, it seemed to mean something more.

They say Buddhism teaches cause and effect and reincarnation. Did this so-called "stranger in a strange land" mean the Abbot had already seen through it?

That he wasn't from this era at all.

At this thought, a cold sweat instantly broke out all over Jiang Wang's body.

He thought he'd hidden it well enough, never expecting someone to have seen through him long ago.

And this time, perhaps...

Did Master Abbot give Xiao Yan some counsel?

Jiang Wang pinged the system that was still here and asked if that was possible.

The system had originally planned to depart three days after he woke up, but some hiccup came up, and it was still here.

"Of course it's possible," the system's answer was affirmative. "As the medium for your transmigration, it's highly likely that Master Abbot also knows a thing or two."

"Like what? What would he say to Xiao Yan?"

Did he directly tell Xiao Yan his identity? Tell Xiao Yan that the soul in this 'Jiang Wang' body wasn't the original? Or did he tell Xiao Yan he was a total outsider?

Various possibilities swirled in Jiang Wang's mind as he tried to pin down the most likely scenario.

However, it was also possible he said all of it.

Yet... if Xiao Yan knew he was an outsider, why didn't he punish him? Instead, he was so kind to him after he woke up.

Indulging his every whim, even ready to hand over the Great Jing Dynasty to him...

Jiang Wang couldn't make head or tail of it, but the system, for once, played the role of a good person.

"Host, I know a bit about this, too. Actually... besides your own choice to stay here, you also rely on a little outside push."

"Outside push?"

He was the only modern person in the Great Jing Dynasty. Jiang Wang had no idea what other outside help he could have had.

Wait, Master Abbot knew his true identity.

Perhaps Master Abbot told Xiao Yan his identity, and Xiao Yan became the so-called 'outside push' for him to stay.

Xiao Yan also wanted him to stay.

Then that wound...

"...Was it blood?" Jiang Wang's voice trembled as he spoke. "It was Xiao Yan's blood."

Xiao Yan's blood was the outside push that prompted him to stay.

The system remained silent, but the blue fluorescent light in the darkness scrolled rapidly, seemingly affirming Jiang Wang's speculation.

Then, everything seemed to make sense.

Xiao Yan's kindness after he woke up was all out of guilt.

Xiao Yan saw himself as selfish and despicable, using that blood to trap Jiang Wang here, cutting him off from home.

He wanted to make it up to Jiang Wang.

He wanted to tear out his own heart and offer it to Jiang Wang.

He wanted to pour everything he had into being good to Jiang Wang.

But what Xiao Yan didn't know was that staying wasn't a one-sided choice.

He *wanted* to stay.

A soft chuckle escaped Jiang Wang's lips. He looked up at Xiao Yan, who was feigning composure, and was almost sure his guess from earlier that day was right.

"Xiao Yan, you know everything, don't you?" Jiang Wang's voice was soft. "You know I'm not from here."

Xiao Yan, who remained unflinching even in the face of life and death, was now uncharacteristically flustered.

His breathing suddenly became heavy, his lungs feeling stuffed with water-soaked cotton, each breath an immense effort.

"Is that why you're so good to me? Because you used some trick to keep me here?"

Xiao Yan didn't speak, merely lowering his head, not daring to meet Jiang Wang's eyes. Yet his hand gripped Jiang Wang's tightly, not letting go, instead holding on even more firmly.

"You don't have to do this, Xiao Yan."

Jiang Wang pried open Xiao Yan's fingers, one by one, from his wrist, repeating, "You don't have to do this, you don't have to be so good to me."

But Xiao Yan's heart shattered completely with Jiang Wang's actions.

Jiang Wang knew the whole truth. Jiang Wang despised him now. Jiang Wang didn't plan to keep him anymore.

Jiang Wang had discovered the dark side he had so carefully hidden.

An intense bitterness spread from his heart to every limb and bone. His throat tightened; he tried to swallow but only felt a dry ache.

He wanted to beg Jiang Wang for a little more time, that he could change.

He only pleaded that Jiang Wang wouldn't leave.

But when he looked up, he found Jiang Wang was already in tears.

Jiang Wang knelt beside him and gently kissed his lips.

And the hand Jiang Wang had pried open earlier was now intertwined with his own, fingers laced together.

This time, it was Jiang Wang who forcefully placed his palm into Xiao Yan's hand, like two perfectly fitting puzzle pieces.

The skin of their palms pressed together without a single gap. Jiang Wang could even feel the thin calluses and fine lines on Xiao Yan's palm.

Warmth transmitted from their palms, flowing up their arms and into their hearts.

"Xiao Yan, you don't have to be so good to me. I chose to stay willingly."

Jiang Wang's fingers applied a little more pressure, forcing Xiao Yan to look at him.

"I'll say it again."

"I choose, for you, to stay."

"Do you see?"

There's no need to feel guilty for your little selfish thoughts, nor do you have to go along with me on everything.

It's just because you're you.

At this moment, Xiao Yan seemed like a child, his eyes wide with confusion as if he didn't understand what Jiang Wang was saying.

After a moment, he finally seemed to accept the weight of those few short words.

He clasped Jiang Wang's hand in return, the rush of blood in his ears drowning out everything around him.

Xiao Yan carefully verified the meaning behind Jiang Wang's words.

"So... you're not leaving?"

Even though it had been said so many times, Jiang Wang showed no sign of annoyance, just patiently said again.

"No. I'll stay with you forever."

Having received Jiang Wang's promise, Xiao Yan finally felt all his tension melt away.

All his previous wariness and fear of loss vanished in this moment.

His heart settled firmly in his chest, taking root within his body.

A smile blossomed in his eyes, like a small stone dropped into the deep pool of his gaze, rippling outward in circles, even the corners of his eyes curving with joy.

He opened his mouth to say something, but only pressed his lips together more tightly.

All the surging emotions resolved into the softest of sighs.

"Yes."

Xiao Yan's reddened eyes betrayed his emotion, but no tears fell—only a shimmering layer of moisture.

He drew Jiang Wang into his arms, holding him with utmost care and reverence, his cheek nuzzling against Jiang Wang's earlobe.

Xiao Yan's voice was low and hoarse.

"Once spoken, you can't take it back."

Jiang Wang chuckled softly. "Of course. When have I ever gone back on my word?"

The two embraced, their fingers laced tightly together, all barriers between them vanished completely.

They were each other's support, each other's strength.

And so it had always been.

—End of Main Story

Author's Note:

The main story ends here. What remains are the sweet extra chapters!

Here's a little extra scene!

Transmigration Administration. The two of them watched the screen displaying the image of the embracing, tearful figures.

Agent 165 asked, "Boss, is it really okay for Jiang Wang to stay here like this?"

001 replied, "He has his own destiny. Staying here is his best choice, and also the best choice for the people of the Great Jing Dynasty."

001 knew that only at this moment was his mission truly and completely fulfilled.

The Great Jing Dynasty did not fall. In that era, it continued to flow within the long river of history.