Kael crouched down and looked at Xiangling seriously.
"It's not your fault, Xiangling. I've never blamed you. This was my own choice. I wanted to protect my family. Do you think I was wrong?"
Xiangling sobbed. "No... you weren't."
"Right. So how can you say you caused my death? I don't regret my decision. No matter how many times it happens, I'll make the same choice—to protect you."
"Xiangling, don't let my resolve become a joke."
"I'm sorry... Brother... I'm sorry..." Xiangling cried. "I shouldn't have said that! It's those bad people's fault! They took advantage of your love for me..."
Kael gently patted Xiangling's head. "It's okay. As long as you know it's not your fault, that's enough. As for those people, they'll get what they deserve. You just need to focus on improving your cooking skills. Don't think about anything else."
"Brother, don't worry. I won't let you down!"
Seeing that Xiangling was gradually recovering, Kael smiled. "Of course. I believe in you."
Kael stood up and looked at Keqing, who had been staring at him without blinking.
Xiangling was taken care of. Now, only Keqing remained.
Thinking about how to convince Keqing, Kael felt it would be extremely difficult.
Keqing was too smart.
No matter what he said, she would see through his intentions.
And her feelings for him were too deep. That kind of obsession couldn't be changed with just a few words.
"Keqing..."
Just as Kael was about to say something, the door to Wanmin suddenly opened.
A familiar figure sneaked in.
She tiptoed along the wall, only to find three pairs of eyes staring at her.
Xiangling frowned, her voice filled with anger. "Hu Tao, what are you doing here? Didn't we say Wanmin isn't welcome to you anymore?"
Caught red-handed, Hu Tao didn't feel embarrassed at all. She said confidently, "I'm here to fulfill my duty as the Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor! I came to check on Kael's condition! You've been with him for a day. You must have realized by now that he's a monster! The best solution is to let me... Huh?"
"My brother has woken up! He's not a monster like you said! He's fine now! You don't need to come back anymore!"
Kael, feeling Hu Tao's gaze on him, felt a bit awkward.
He had naively thought the system would truly let him resurrect and had confidently made a promise to Hu Tao.
Who knew the system would be so cruel, making him resurrect as a monster?
Hu Tao scanned Kael's body and quickly noticed something was off.
She was certain that Kael's body had died completely and was only being driven by Karma.
But now, Kael's body was still filled with deathly energy, yet his eyes were lively, filled with emotion.
Combined with Xiangling's words, she quickly figured out what had happened.
Kael had never left. He had returned to his body!!!
"Kael! You dare break our contract..."
"Wait!" Kael quickly interrupted Hu Tao. "I can explain!"
Hu Tao rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Then explain now. Let's see how you're going to talk your way out of this!"
------
Kael glanced awkwardly at Keqing and Xiangling beside him.
There were some things he didn't want them to know.
But with Hu Tao standing there, glaring at him, ready to send him away if he didn't explain, the situation was at a standstill.
Kael had no choice but to say, "Hu Tao, let's talk in the backyard."
Keqing and Xiangling both looked disapproving.
Hu Tao had attacked Kael yesterday. In their eyes, letting the two of them be alone together was extremely dangerous.
"Kael, is there something you can't let us know?"
"This is something I promised Hu Tao. It involves her privacy, so it's not convenient to discuss it here."
Hu Tao let out a small "tsk" beside him.
Kael pretended not to hear it and just looked at Xiangling and Keqing with determination.
Seeing his expression, the two reluctantly agreed.
After losing and regaining something, people only cherish it more.
They couldn't refuse any of Kael's requests now.
Kael and Hu Tao walked to the backyard.
Hu Tao glanced at Kael. "How's the pain? It's bad, isn't it?"
Kael could only smile bitterly.
The pain he had felt when he first transferred over was something he never wanted to experience again.
"Do you know why your soul can still return to this body?"
Hu Tao became very serious whenever she talked about her area of expertise.
"It's because your body is now just a shell. Any spirit can control it, as long as they can withstand the burning of Karma."
"The Karma on your body is not only corroding your body but also your soul. If you were alive, your living soul would gradually be devoured, and you would lose your mind, descending into madness. But now you're a dead soul. Do you know what the price is?!"
"You'll be annihilated, never to reincarnate."
"I can already see that your soul is very weak. At most, you have a dozen hours left before you dissipate in this body."
Kael was surprised after hearing Hu Tao's words.
He only had enough Attribute Points left for a dozen hours of Sensory Mode. Had Hu Tao figured that out too?
The system's calculations were really meticulous. Even the remaining time for Sensory Mode had been accounted for in the Life Simulation.
The setting that his soul was weak and could only appear for a dozen hours was very reasonable.
"Clang."
Kael and Hu Tao turned to see Chef Mao standing not far away, looking at them in shock. On the ground were the shattered pieces of a bowl and plate.
Oh no!
Kael had stopped Xiangling and Keqing, but he hadn't expected Chef Mao to finish cooking so quickly.
He must have been bringing the food out when he passed by and overheard their conversation.
Chef Mao's whole body was trembling, his lips quivering as he asked, "Kael... is what Hu Tao said true?"
Seeing Chef Mao's expression, Kael couldn't bear to look at him directly.
In this Life Simulation, he really only had a dozen hours left.
He had originally planned to say goodbye to everyone in a gentler way, but he hadn't expected Chef Mao to overhear his conversation with Hu Tao.
Seeing Kael avoid his gaze, Chef Mao knew Hu Tao was telling the truth.
With red eyes, he rushed over, wanting to grab Kael's hands and ask for an explanation, but Kael sidestepped to avoid him.
It was then that Chef Mao realized that ever since Kael had woken up, he had been avoiding physical contact.
There must be something wrong with him!
Chef Mao quickly reached out again.
Kael hadn't expected Chef Mao to keep trying after he dodged, and he couldn't avoid it in time. His hands were tightly grasped.
A sharp pain shot through his palms, and Chef Mao's vision went black as he collapsed to his knees.
Kael quickly broke free from Chef Mao's grip and took a few steps back.
"Dad!"
Kael looked at Chef Mao anxiously.
Chef Mao, unlike Xiangling, didn't have a Vision.
He was just an ordinary person.
Kael was worried that the Karma would cause irreversible damage to Chef Mao.
He wanted to go over and help Chef Mao up, but the way Chef Mao had rushed at him without hesitation had left him shaken.
He was caught in a dilemma.
Seeing Kael's pleading look, Hu Tao sighed and walked over to help Chef Mao up.
"Chef Mao, you should... Huh?"
Chef Mao, still on his knees, refused to get up.
He tightly grasped Hu Tao's hand, looking up at her with tears streaming down his face as he begged:
"Director Hu, I was wrong. You were right. I shouldn't have forced Kael to stay in this world. It's all my fault. I made it so he couldn't even leave in peace... It's all my fault... Please save Kael... He's a good child. He shouldn't have to suffer like this... Please save him. Don't let his soul be annihilated... Don't let him suffer anymore..."
After saying this, he kowtowed to Hu Tao several times. "Please... I beg you..."
"Dad! Get up first..."
Seeing Chef Mao like this, Kael felt heartbroken.
"Chef Mao, don't worry. Maintaining the laws of life and death is my job. Even if you hadn't asked, I would have sent Kael on his way."
Hu Tao forcefully helped Chef Mao to his feet and then looked at Kael. "What do you plan to do?"
Seeing Chef Mao's pain, Kael could only sigh.
"At the very least, let me eat the meal Dad made before I go."
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