Chapter 0188

Chapter 188: Chen Ling’er: I Became the Ultimate Simp!

The pressure from the giant beast was so terrifying that it far surpassed the Life and Death Realm; it was a force Chen Ling’er could never resist. By common sense, a creature of this level should not appear here, yet fate played a cruel joke and brought it right to her.

She panicked to the limit and reached toward the Mountain Ghost beside her as she cried: “Save me!”

The Mountain Ghost smiled like a sly little fox and pointed at the beast as she said: “Good… that is your first wish.”

Her voice turned cold as she declared: “I will trade one thousand years of your lifespan for its death!”

At once, the giant beast aged at a speed visible to the eye, then burst apart into fragments. Chen Ling’er’s spirit trembled as she stared in disbelief. What kind of method was this? To spend someone else’s lifespan to make another die was like wielding the very rules of the world. It felt unfair beyond reason.

The Mountain Ghost’s gentle voice floated over as she said: “Your first wish has been granted.”

She added in a soft tone: “The price is this… from today on, you can never see Zhou Tong again.”

The words struck Chen Ling’er like a hammer to the skull, filling her with absolute terror. She collapsed to her knees and begged through tears as she said: “No… I don’t want to lose my junior brother! Please… change the price!”

The Mountain Ghost shook her head and replied: “No. Once a price is paid, it cannot be changed. You still have two wishes.”

Hope flashed in Chen Ling’er’s eyes as she said quickly: “Then my second wish is to remove the cost of the last wish.”

The Mountain Ghost stared at her as if she had expected this and said: “Very well, it is granted. You may see him again, but you can never touch him. If you do, you will suffer the pain of a thousand arrows through the heart.”

Chen Ling’er shivered all over as she blurted: “How could you!”

The Mountain Ghost spoke mildly as she asked: “You still have one last wish. Do you want me to remove that new cost for you?”

Chen Ling’er shook her head at once; in the Mountain Ghost’s tone she heard open mockery. She knew the Mountain Ghost was toying with her, yet she had no power to resist and could only be played with. Despair pressed on her until she blurted out the question itself as she said: “Why are you targeting me?”

The Mountain Ghost’s eyes glinted as she asked: “Is that your third wish?”

Chen Ling’er flinched and answered at once: “No… it isn’t.” She looked up with pleading hope and asked: “Can you make my junior brother change his heart and love me again?”

The Mountain Ghost could not hold back a laugh and said: “I’m sorry. All your value is not enough to grant that wish.”

The words stabbed Chen Ling’er’s heart like an icy blade. She felt as if the sky had collapsed; the world turned dim. She sat on the ground, empty and lost. After a long time, she slowly lifted her head, stubbornness and resolve hardening her eyes as she said: “If that’s the case, then let my junior brother live a smooth life for the rest of his days, free of disaster and worry.”

As soon as she spoke, her strength left her and her gaze dulled. She knew her debt would not be paid so easily. At least this could lighten her guilt a little.

Even the Mountain Ghost paused in surprise, then a trace of a true smile touched her lips as she said: “I’m sorry. That wish cannot be granted either.”

Chen Ling’er stared and demanded: “Why!”

The Mountain Ghost’s answer came flat and firm as she said: “Because my King would feel ashamed.”

Lightning seemed to strike Chen Ling’er as she whispered: “Your King? You mean my junior brother!”

The Mountain Ghost nodded and said: “Yes. He is the King of the Mountain Ghosts. Ten years ago, you people took him from my side and even bullied him. I will make you pay the price.”

Her calm words shook Chen Ling’er even harder. The Mountain Ghost then offered coolly as she said: “If you truly want to make it up to my King, I can make your third wish for you. But the price is that you must sink into the Realm of Despair and repay your sins.”

Chen Ling’er swallowed and asked in a trembling voice as she said: “I… I agree… can you tell me what wish you will make?”

The Mountain Ghost answered without hesitation as she said: “I will use the price you pay to grant protection to my clan’s Princess Consort.”

Chen Ling’er jolted as if struck, her eyes going wide as she shouted: “Who is the Princess Consort?”

The Mountain Ghost swept her hand, and an image of Zhang Chu Qiao appeared in the air as she said: “She is one of our Princess Consorts. Her fate has long been tied to the King, and together they have birthed a mysterious manifestation. Giving her protection is the same as giving the King protection.”

Chen Ling’er’s face twisted, and a raw wail tore from her throat as she said: “Why are you so cruel? You make me pay to help my rival. You make me watch the one I love find perfect happiness with her. Why torture me like this!”

The Mountain Ghost’s face stayed blank as she said: “You can refuse. Besides, you know very well you don’t even count as the Princess Consort’s rival.”

She understood Humans all too well. Once a Human falls into being a simp, they will throw away all limits to pour everything into the one they are chasing, as if self-created emotion could comfort them, as if they could pretend: [See, he still needs me. I am still useful.] But in truth, the world runs just fine without any single person in it.

In the Mountain Ghost’s eyes, Chen Ling’er now fit the definition of a simp in every way. To turn someone who toyed with another’s feelings into a simp was the Mountain Ghost’s chosen punishment for her.

The Mountain Ghost’s tone pressed forward as she asked: “Have you decided?”

Chen Ling’er closed her eyes, then opened them with a weak, aching smile as she said: “I have… I agree to your wish.”

Light flared. The Mountain Ghost formed hand seals and sent out the same light-seal Huang Chen had used, banishing Chen Ling’er into the Realm of Despair as she said: “Atone. You still have a bit of conscience. I hope you can wash away your sins and come out alive.”

She clapped once, and a spray of starlight full of rich auspicious energy flew off into the distance. Her voice carried like a blessing as she said: “May the Princess Consort see all with clarity, act without hindrance, and be joined with my King forever, never to part.”

…

Zhou Tong streaked through the dark second layer wreathed in light, moving at top speed. Dealing with Tang Qi had cost him too much time. Others should already be trapped in illusions; he had to save them fast. Even a little delay could lead to serious consequences.

His brow tingled as he suddenly sensed familiar presences, and he sped up as he said: “Found them!”

He arrived and froze at the sight before him. Members of the Upper Clarity Sect and the Blood God Sect were prostrating toward the First Senior Sister, bowing with genuine devotion as they chanted: “Long live Lord Zhang Chu Qiao!” and “Lord Zhang Chu Qiao is second under heaven!”

The First Senior Sister saw Zhou Tong and rushed over to leap into his arms as she said: “Rise, all of you… number one is here!”

She hooked her arms around his neck and grinned as she said: “Hurry and praise me. I pulled them out of the secret realm’s illusions.”

Zhou Tong chuckled as he teased her, saying: “Senior sister is number one under heaven!”

She squinted at him and corrected with a playful huff as she said: “Number two.”

Then she kissed his cheek and whispered in delight as she said: “I’ll tell you a secret. Somehow a new memory appeared in my mind. There is an Emperor Armament hidden on this floor!”

Zhou Tong’s voice cracked in shock as he exclaimed: “What!”