Chapter 41: Western Fantasy World (4)

Vina’s expression twisted for a moment before he coldly floated away. He faithfully followed Lin Yuetian’s instructions to “make himself scarier.” Although, in general, ghostly young women were considered the most frightening, Vina still put in enough effort to create quite an impact. Before long, chaos erupted in the wilderness campsite.

With Kason’s shout of, “Split up and run! I’ll distract it!” Joyce stumbled and fled—right in Lin Yuetian’s direction.

“You had a road to heaven and didn’t take it, yet you throw yourself into hell where there’s no gate,” the system commented.

Lin Yuetian proceeded to prove the accuracy of that statement with his actions.

Stepping out from behind a tree, he raised his wrist lightly, holding a newly purchased staff, and cast a Binding Spell with a simple flick.

“Wh-Who are you?!” Joyce was paralyzed, forced to watch helplessly as an Eastern-looking wizard, cloaked in a long, ankle-length robe with a hood, appeared before him. He had no idea that Lin Yuetian was the one whose bones had been taken to save him, but he could tell at a glance that this man meant no good.

Unbidden, countless tales of dark wizards and their terrifying magical experiments flooded Joyce’s mind. He was undoubtedly terrified.

“Take back everything they stole…” Lin Yuetian ignored him.

Joyce, like a fly caught in a spider’s web, could do nothing but widen his pitiful, innocent eyes. Lin Yuetian, however, had no intention of giving him even a shred of attention. Instead, he murmured to himself, repeating the mission’s objective, “Take back everything they stole… My bones were used to heal you, weren’t they? Without me, you would’ve already died from illness…”

“W-What do you mean?” Joyce’s lips trembled. “I don’t understand—please, I beg you, I was sick, but I never knew anything about this. Please…”

“You never knew?” Lin Yuetian was momentarily surprised, but it didn’t matter. He didn’t care. He had already made up his mind. “I really didn’t expect that. Too bad—nothing I can do about it. Now, hand over your life.”

With that, he extended his hand, his staff pointing directly at Joyce’s forehead.

The original body might not have been skilled in combat, but dealing with a completely immobilized person was hardly a challenge.

“This won’t hurt too much,” Lin Yuetian said gently. “…Probably. Just a guess.”

Joyce didn’t even have time to let out a full scream.

—

It was a dark night, with sparse stars in the sky.

Lin Yuetian was wiping his hands.

He did it meticulously, like someone with severe OCD, unwilling to leave even the slightest trace of dirt. He deliberately avoided using a cleaning spell, instead carefully wiping his fingers over and over.

Until the system finally snapped, “Enough already! There wasn’t even any blood! What’s with this Lady Macbeth act? I’ve never seen you show this much universal morality before.”

“You don’t understand—this is a magical world,” Lin Yuetian said seriously, wiping his hands a few more times. “If Joyce’s blood carried a curse, that would be a disaster.”

“Of course, it’s you,” the system muttered, unsure whether it was more disappointed or relieved. “Not a single shred of guilt.”

Lin Yuetian finished cleaning up and headed toward the direction where Vina had chased Kason. Still concealing his presence, he arrived to see Kason wielding a bone sword—an actual weapon capable of injuring Vina.

Lin Yuetian watched their battle for a while, appreciating the scene as if he were watching a high-budget AAA game cutscene. Once he’d had enough entertainment, he casually leaped down from the tree and cast a Fire Spell—aimed directly at Vina.

As a ghost, Vina was naturally terrified of light and fire magic. Struck by the attack, he let out a miserable wail, staring at Lin Yuetian in disbelief, as if asking, I followed your instructions exactly—why are you attacking me?

Lin Yuetian discreetly transmitted a few words to Vina while keeping up his act, his expression pale and anxious. The moment he landed, he grabbed Kason’s hand tightly, exclaiming, “That evil spirit is too strong! Don’t try to fight it—we have to run!”

Kason froze as if turned to stone. His first instinct was to hide the bone sword behind him.

Lin Yuetian caught that movement immediately and understood—so it was his own bones forged into that weapon.

Without reacting, he pulled Kason along and ran in a random direction. Kason, still disoriented from the sudden developments, didn’t resist and ended up being led deep into the forest.

“Phew… We should be safe now…” Lin Yuetian exhaled, patting his chest weakly as if calming himself.

“You… Why are you here?” Kason’s gaze was complicated.

“He’s not just here,” the system remarked. “He also just killed your secret crush.”

“…I missed you,” Lin Yuetian removed his hood and said softly. “Kason, I don’t blame you for what happened back then. Maybe I did once… but in the end, I could never forget you. When I happened to hear adventurers mentioning you in a tavern, I realized that no matter what, I wanted to see you again.”

He gave a sorrowful smile, his expression under the moonlight appearing delicately melancholic. “I’m glad I came… At least I could help you a little.”

Kason’s expression wavered. “Back then…”

“There’s no need to bring up the past,” Lin Yuetian interrupted. “I already said—I don’t blame you.”

His gaze grew tender as he looked at Kason. “Kason, let’s talk about the present… and the future. Okay?”

“…I think I’m going to puke,” the system said. “Where the hell did you learn such greasy lines? Bro, you need to upgrade your taste.”

Kason couldn’t help but lower his head, gazing at Lin Yuetian’s face—so innocent, so pure, even carrying a hint of timidity, just as he remembered.

He couldn’t lie to himself.

Back then, after Joyce was healed, he couldn’t resist going to find Lin Yuetian’s original body again. He wanted to apologize. He wanted to tell him that not all the words of love he had spoken were false.

But Lin Yuetian was already gone.

All these years, he had never truly been with Joyce. He had forged a part of Lin Yuetian’s bones into a longsword that never left his side. He had traveled across the continent, searching—not for anything, not for anyone else—but for Lin Yuetian.

In truth, his heart had changed long ago. He just hadn’t realized it back then.

“…After everything I did to you, why did you still save me?” Kason asked softly.

【Look, he’s moved,】 Lin Yuetian said to the system, proving that his sense of aesthetics was just fine.

【Then it seems everyone in this world needs to improve their taste,】 the system replied.

“Because I love you.”

Lin Yuetian returned his attention to Kason, maintaining his gentle and sincere expression.

“Kason, love doesn’t change. I loved you then, and I still love you now. When I came back this time, I knew that noble was still by your side—but I don’t care. I only want to ask you one thing: Did you ever love me? Even for a moment, just a little… did you ever love me?”

The answer came slowly.

After a long silence, Kason’s voice finally trembled as he said, “Yes, Lin. I loved you—both in the past and now. I have always loved you.”

Lin Yuetian nodded.

His tenderness was like a noose, impossible to untangle.

He said, “Do it.”

Vina’s translucent form suddenly emerged, and his hand slid across Kason’s throat.

The order Lin Yuetian had secretly given him earlier was to stay hidden and follow them quietly. And when Lin Yuetian gave the command—kill Kason immediately.

At the same time, Lin Yuetian raised his wand—casting a summoning spell.

The knight’s expression froze in that moment of confusion. He didn’t even have time to feel surprised.

An instant later, his handsome head flew high into the air.

Vina was a ghost; he wouldn’t stain himself with blood.

Lin Yuetian took half a step back, watching Kason’s body slowly collapse. He spoke with warmth:

“Really sorry about this, Kason—but this sword is also made from my bones. The bones you took from me, right?”

Magic surged through his hands. Lin Yuetian exerted a slight force—

And the legendary bone sword, sung about by bards for a hundred years, still carrying Kason’s lingering warmth—

Snapped in two.