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Also, once again, I have launched a Patreon account for SLS! If you want advance chapters, and have money to spare, do think about it ^_^!

Cecil finally spotted a book that she was interested in reading. It seemed to be about rare diseases and herbs, a diary written by a travelling healer that roamed the mortal realm. 

It was incredible that Kiba managed to collect a book like that. 

She tip-toed, reaching for the book at the top of the shelf. However, her fingers only managed to graze past the book, unable to grasp it. 

A shadow loomed over her at that moment and she noticed the person leaning in, the sleeves of their kimono brushing against hers. Their hand reached out to take the book she was aiming for, and she spun back, seeing a handsome ash blonde-haired man gazing down at her, his eyes appearing gentle. 

“If it’s not training, it’s dancing,” Xue took a few steps closer, raising an eyebrow. “If it’s neither of them, it’s reading about medicine.” 

Cecil found herself cornered against the bookshelves, taking a step back. 

Xue leaned in, lightly placing his hand beside her head while the other balanced the book on his palm. 

“Why are you so...hardworking?” 

Zasiok: “She always is.” 

Alric: “I wo-wonder why Cecil is always like this…” 

Kai: “She definitely picked up this habit back in the academy.” 

Leonaut: “Kiss her!” 

The soul fragments were speechless at Leonaut, except for Isleif.

Shin: “...what’s...wrong with red hair?” 

Shin was referring to Isleif, who was standing at the side, smirking and chuckling to himself. He rubbed at his lips tentatively, pecking at his fingers with a smile. 

Kai: “Crazy red-haired fella.”

Leonaut: “Xue, let us kiss her again--mmph!” 

Zasiok: “You idiot, if you do that again, he’s going to--” 

Xue switched off the connection, wanting nothing more than to relish in his “alone” time with Cecil. 

Cecil, unbeknownst to the soul fragments wanting to kiss her again, smiled at Xue. “What’s wrong with being that way?” 

“You are too hardworking,” Xue leaned in further, lifting the book and tapping it lightly on her nose. “To the point where you are sacrificing your own well-being.” 

Cecil looked away guiltily. 

She could not deny that she was losing sleep and skipping meals, due to this bad habit of hers. 

He stretched out his finger, tilting her head to look back at him. “If you continue on being like this, I’ll burn every single book.” 

Cecil gasped, snatching the book from his hands. 

“You can’t!”

She ducked down, escaping from Xue and heading towards the round, wooden table and chairs situated at the centre of the library. 

Seeing her figure dashing off, Xue smiled to himself and followed after her. 

“Burning down all the books,” Cecil frowned, settling down on the chair. “How could you joke about that?”

Xue sat opposite her, opening up his hand and greenish-white flames started licking at his palm. “I wasn’t joking, Cecil.” 

“...”

She was stunned speechless. 

“The books didn’t do anything wrong!” 

“If they are making you lose sleep and skip meals too, I’ll burn them without a second thought.” 

“Okay, okay!” Cecil placed the book down, smiling nervously. “I’ll sleep well and eat well from now on!” 

“You said so yourself.” 

“I swear,” She nodded vigorously. “I swear upon my life.”

“No need to use your life.” Xue smiled, resting his chin on his palm. 

“...” Cecil paused, furrowing her eyebrows. “...why does it feel like you tricked me into saying those words?” 

“Hmm?” Xue tilted his head, still smiling. 

She smiled in disbelief, shaking her head and she picked up the book from the table, flipping it open. A moment later, Cecil was immersed in reading the book and the library was filled with the sounds of pages being flipped, and the soft breathing from the two. 

Xue sat opposite her silently, laying his head down on his arms as he admired her beautiful countenance. Whether it was the soft sunlight shining at her through the windows, or the way her long eyelashes fluttered or the slight smile that adorned her plump, pink lips. 

Everything about her was beautiful. 

Xue felt that could spend his entire life just like this, looking at her. 

Swearing upon your life? 

No need. 

His grey eyes were brimming with affection.

“I’ll be here to take care of you the entire time,” he whispered to himself. “I swear upon my life.” 

***

Three weeks had passed, and they finally boarded the ship, fully furnished and repaired. Just like Kiba had promised them, they were well-supplied too. 

It was an uneventful three days trip across the sea. Other than training and Yun briefing them, there was nothing else they could do other than wait. 

“I see it, I see it!” Hana exclaimed excitedly, spinning around to look at K'xug. “La-land, ho!”

Hana sounded like she wanted to cry without tears. 

Kiyae laughed at the adorable sight of Hana, patting her head. 

K'xug watched Kiyae with wary eyes. Meanwhile, Hana obediently allowed herself to be patted.

They could finally see a small silhouette of the island. 

It would take them a few more hours to reach there. 

It had been three long days for Hana. 

Day after day, she had to swallow down the pills. Day after day, she had to suffer with the light-headedness that plagued her. However, it was either that or constantly vomiting and feeling queasy. 

“This island that we are going to, what is the town called?” Cecil questioned. 

“Turchino.”

Cecil paused.

“Hey, Yun! Come over for a sec!” Haru hollered. 

Yun excused himself from the group. 

Cecil found the name of the town somewhat familiar, and she knew it had to be from the novel. However, her mind could not properly recall its details anymore. 

I should have written down the details of the novel somewhere. 

Cecil sighed internally, lamenting on this mistake of hers. 

Having been in this world for over a year as Cecil Lan, the details of the novel were drifting further and further away. Moreover, due to her presence here, there were changes happening all over the novel. 

Now, Cecil felt as if the knowledge she had from reading the novel multiple times was becoming useless. The characters were changing, new people were popping up here and there. The lines of who was right or wrong was becoming blurry. 

She was discovering more about this world as well, and information that was never revealed in the novel. 

It was a real world, with real people. 

Cecil had long unknowingly started treating this world she had been transmigrated into as such. 

Thus, the novel and its details were slowly slipping from her mind. She had immersed herself into her role as Cecil Lan and the world itself. 

Moreover, right now…

She had someone here that she devoted her heart to. 

Cecil felt a hand wrapping around hers, and she tilted her head up. The soft waves crashed against the ship, and the smell of the sea wafted past her nose. 

“What are you thinking so deeply about?” Xue questioned softly. 

“No, it’s nothing much, just…” she hesitated, smiling slightly. “The name of the town, I feel like I have heard it somewhere before.”
 
“Is that so?” 

Xue looked out at the sea, his eyes fixated on the town they were approaching. 

There was a beeping noise in her head. 

[ A soul fragment of Xue is located there. ]

[ Have you forgotten? ] 

Cecil frowned, before she widened her eyes in realisation. 

“Xue, by chance...do you feel a soul of yours over at that island?” Cecil asked, lowering her voice. 

“As expected, you knew,” Xue looked back at her, nodding. “Something pulling us towards that town.”

“...mhm.” Cecil nodded. 

Turchino…

Soul fragment…

She gasped softly to herself. 

“You...you were right, AI500. I have forgotten.” 

[ Even after reading the novel so many times, you have forgotten? ]

[ Tsk tsk, how forgetful~ ]

“...” 

“Sometimes I doubt whether you are a system. You sound more like an actual person.” 

[ … ]

[ I am simply configured in such a way~ ]

Cecil snorted to herself. 

AI500 being an actual person…

How can that be? 

This system heartlessly threw her into this world without giving her any preparation. No matter how many times she vehemently denied being transmigrated here, she was still thrown inside. 

Forget it. 

No point holding grudges now. 

Cecil glanced towards Xue, Hana, K’xug and the others. She smiled to herself, shaking her head. 

Being part of this world and the people here. 

I am glad. 

“Cecil.” Xue called out, squeezing her hand slightly. 

“Hmm?” 

“This soul fragment doesn’t seem to be the one we encountered last time,” Xue furrowed his eyebrows. “Whether he is fighting for the other souls or a cooperative one, I have no idea which side they are on, so…” 

“You are telling me to be careful,” Cecil finished his words. “I got it, I’ll be careful.”

Xue paused, blinking once and he smiled at Cecil. 

“Oi, fellas! Be prepared to land soon!” Haru hollered, standing at the upper deck. “We’ll be cutting through the coast and the forest to the town!”

Yun and Haru did not plan to dock their ship at the town, mainly because they only had a single ship that was well-equipped with many supplies. If this ship were to be burnt down or destroyed into pieces, in this continent where it is surrounded by water, they were as good as stranded. 

Hence, they docked their ship at the coast.

***

Since they were only here to gather information, Ryo decided to stay behind and protect the ship. They could never tell what might happen after all, if there was no one here to guard the ship. 

...and also mostly because Ryo just wanted to sleep and skip the boring process of gathering information. 

Yun stayed behind as well, along with the other crewmates that Kiba had stationed on the ship. He did not trust Ryo alone on the ship, and neither did he trust Kiyae or Haru to look after Ryo properly. 

Knowing them, they would join Ryo in either drinking, brawling or sleeping. 

Thus, the people sent out to compile information were Cecil and the others, along with Haru and Kiyae. If Ephert decided to send people to attack them with the same enchanted weapons, Xue and K’xug had the best chance at stopping them. 

“The first person to find is him, isn’t it?” Haru stretched his limbs, scratching at his head. 

“Yes, find him.” Yun nodded. “He is still the best person we have on our side.” 

“How long has it been since we saw him?” Kiyae smiled to herself. 

“Three months?” Ryo yawned, waving to them. “I’m going back to sleep now.” 

Ryo sat down, lying against the face and started to snore away. 

“Who are you guys talking about?” Hana tilted her head, asking the four of them. 

“Ah, we’ll tell you along the way,” Haru gestured at them, leaping off the ship. “Come on, let’s go.” 

Kiyae hopped off the ship as well. 

The others followed along. 

“We’ll be waiting here,” Yun glanced down from the ship, cupping his hands around his mouth. “Take as much time as you need.” 

They waved goodbye to one another, stepping into the forest to head into the town. 

***

The journey through the forest to the town was a short one. 

After all, the island wasn’t too big and the town and its people occupied the majority of the island. 

Along the way, as Haru had said, he started to explain to them the mysterious person they were supposed to meet in the town. 

“Seeing that this is the first time you have been on our continent, me and the captain will be your guide here” Kiyae winked. “You see, Turchino, this town, is rather infamous in this continent.” 

“Infamous?” Cecil blinked. “For what?” 

“The auction house,” Haru shrugged. “And the red light district.” 

Cecil almost choked her saliva.

K’xug and Xue widened their eyes. 

Hana gasped, covering her mouth. 

“A place of pleasure,” Kiyae laughed. “That’s what Turchino is infamous for.” 

“It has never changed since my father’s time,” Haru put his hands behind his head, ducking from a branch. “And it has only gotten worse after Ephert came along.” 

The auction house was originally a place that sold expensive things or rare treasures, with the occasional items that borderlines as contraband. However, the lines between right and wrong were actually grey, and the security in every continent can never fully reach everywhere. 

With Ephert’s influence over the continent, whether forcibly or voluntarily, the auction house over the recent years had started to sell things or treasures that were no longer simple treasures or objects. Illegal items did not only range from non-living objects, but to living things as well. 

“There is only so much lord Kiba can do in the auction house with our people and resources.” Kiyae lowered her eyes, taking a stick and tapping it lightly against the tree trunk. 

“Forget it, it’ll all be over soon,” Haru waved it off. “We’ll be out of here as soon as we can.” 

“Who is the person the two of you plan to meet?” Xue questioned. 

His soul fragment was here in this town, and it could be anybody. An important figure or a passer-by, he needed to check. 

“The person that we are meeting, and our ally, is the person at the centre of the red light district,” Haru added on. “The owner of the brothel, or this town, Himura Tsurugi.” 

“Himura Tsurugi,” Hana pronounced the name, spitting out her tongue. “Such a long name.” 

K’xug nodded. 

It is indeed a mouthful. 

In the heavenly and demon realm, all of them have short names. Hence, Hana and K’xug were not accustomed to such long names. 

“They have a strange tradition in this town with its brothel. Whoever who takes over the ownership of the brothel, inherits its name as well. Himura is the name of the brothel, and the owner’s given name is Tsurugi.” Haru explained. 

“To make things easier, everyone calls him “Owner” or “Rugi”. It’ll be easier to call him Rugi for all of you.” Kiyae suggested. 

On the other hand, once Cecil heard the name of the owner of this town and its brothel, she halted abruptly. 

Noticing her sudden movement, Xue stopped behind her and placed his hand around her waist, tilting his head. 

“Cecil? What’s wrong?” 

“It’s…it’s him…” she stuttered out, glancing up at Xue. “Himura Tsurugi, it’s him.” 

Xue frowned. “My soul fragment?” 

“Yes, another soul fragment...” Cecil answered distractedly. 

Xue deepened his frown.

They said he was an owner of a brothel. 

He tightened his grasp around her waist. 

“Cecil.” 

“...mhmm?” 

“Stay away from him.” 

“Even if you don’t say it,” she nodded vigorously, sounding uneasy. “I will do that.” 

Xue raised his eyebrows. 

Why does she look so nervous? 

Their conversation was interrupted soon enough. 

“Hey, you two lovebirds, stop lagging behind and hurry!” Haru turned his head and hollered at the two of them. 

Cecil felt awkward and extricated herself from Xue, jogging forward. Xue followed behind her, an inscrutable look in his eyes. 

Hana giggled. 

K’xug shook his head with a smile. 

“I wonder how many cuties I’ll meet at the brothel.” Kiyae sighed to herself, smiling. 

Haru grimaced at her. 

Cecil bit on her lower lip. 

Himura Tsurugi, or also known as Rugi was one of the more popular soul fragments in the novel. It was mostly because of one reason. 

He was the most seductive side of Xue. 

Fatally charming and sexy in every manner. 

Whereas now, both her and Xue had requited love. The soul fragments were slowly losing their feelings for Hana, the original female lead of the novel and liking her instead. After all, at the end of the day, they were all Xue. 

If Xue liked Cecil, they would all naturally end up liking Cecil too. 

Moreover, it seemed as if the world was pulling them together too. Cecil would always meet the soul fragments first, and that’s when their attraction would start. 

Rugi was fatally charming in the novel, and he would naturally charm the person he held affection for without hesitation. 

That person, in the novel, was Hana. 

Under the influence of dark magic clashing with his light magic, and his evil soul fragments, Xue grew jealous and killed Rugi without a second thought. 

In his last moments, Rugi was still essentially a good person and a good soul fragment. Seeing him die like this, it was heart-aching for the readers. The last few words he spoke to Xue were piercing, and triggered Xue to go further down the depressing spiral of hopelessness. 
 
Nevertheless, the current Xue was completely different from the one in the novel but Cecil still did not want them to meet on bad terms. 

Under any circumstance, she should not meet Rugi first. 

There was also a small thought within Cecil, who knew that if she were to meet the fatally seductive side of Xue, her heart would never have an easy time. 

“Yes, I should stay close to everyone,” Cecil nodded in determination. “Stay and never stray.” 

***

《 start 》

Does this make you happy? 

Rugi had one knee on the ground, coughing out blood as he wiped his lips. His sea-green eyes staring at the red-haired woman crouching at the corner, covering her ears. 

She peeked a glance over, and Rugi gave her a comforting smile. 

She stiffened, looking away. 

A spear came into view, and Rugi looked up. 

What a meaningless question. 

Is it? Your voice is shaking. 

...shut up.

Rugi smiled wryly at Xue. 

Does it make you happy? Seeing the one you love being this afraid of you? 

Xue’s face twitched in anger. 

Shut up. 

You may have her by your side, but she is truly not by your side. Not her heart, or the person itself. 

Shut up! 

You can kill me, if it makes you happy...but I know it won’t.

Xue lifted his spear, throwing it at Rugi and planning to impale him. 

Rugi closed his eyes in defeat. In his very last few moments, he uttered a few words that rattled Xue to the core. 

Why have you become like this, Xue? No, not you--but we. 

Rugi looked up and smiled for the last time, just before the spear impaled his chest. Crimson red liquid dribbled down his lips, and his sea-green eyes glazed over. 

Blood splattered all over Xue’s face and the person in front of him collapsed to the floor.

...you are a part of me, just a part of me. 

Xue’s voice trembled slightly as he responded, a marble hovering over his palm.

On his face, he wore the most disconcerted look on his face. 

-- Path to the Supreme God

《 stop 》