Chapter 436

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Chapter 436: What Does “Life Mentor” Mean?

Judy crouched down and cupped a handful of seawater in her hands, bringing it to her lips. She tasted it with her tongue.

“It doesn’t taste like anything,” she remarked. “It doesn’t even seem like water.”

“It’s energy,” Bai Wei replied. “The human stomach can’t digest ether directly.”

“So, what exactly is this place?” Judy asked, looking around.

“I already told you, it’s Broken Paradise.”

“This doesn’t feel like paradise,” Judy countered. “It’s too empty. Paradise should have lush green grass, endless fruit trees, and angels singing and dancing all around.”

“Are the angels you’re referring to the real ones?” Bai Wei raised an eyebrow.

“What if they aren’t the real ones?” Judy teased.

“Then let’s go to hell, where there’s a cute demon.”

“You talk so convincingly, Mr. Devil. Have you seen it? Or are you the cute demon working in hell?” Judy smirked.

“Doesn’t exist,” Bai Wei replied casually.

Judy walked further into Broken Paradise, observing the strange landscape. “This scenery is really odd, but it’s starting to remind me of something I’ve read about in the news…”

She paused, suddenly realizing something. “Could it really be the Gray Tide disaster?”

Bai Wei glanced at her, a confident smile on his face. “Your reflexes are a bit slow. Yes, that’s it.”

Judy was taken aback, her mind racing to understand the significance of his words. Her expression froze as she tried to process the information.

“Mr. Devil always finds ways to surprise people,” Judy muttered, still in shock. “Although for me, it’s more like being frightened.”

“If you’re scared, you can turn back immediately,” Bai Wei offered without hesitation.

“No,” Judy replied, her curiosity piqued. “I actually want to see what’s happening here. I’ve heard that Capesh and Hope were involved, and it sounds complicated…”

“It is indeed complicated,” Bai Wei said with a chuckle. “Even the Sacred Religion got involved, along with the followers of the evil god. But that was all in the past.”

“It seems like Capesh and Hope managed to escape safely because of you, Mr. Devil,” Judy remarked.

“I don’t deny it,” Bai Wei said, his tone neither confirming nor denying her statement.

“You obtained something that even the Sacred Religion couldn’t. It’s a huge secret. Should I trust you with this knowledge?” Judy asked. “Aren’t you worried I might betray you?”

“I never think about that,” Bai Wei responded, his voice calm.

Judy furrowed her brow in confusion. “You don’t think about it?”

Bai Wei turned to her, his eyes piercing. “Would you?”

Judy looked up at the azure sky and replied softly, “No, I wouldn’t.”

“The person who can take me to heaven on New Year’s Eve, the one who takes care of my feelings so well… I can’t bear to be without you,” Judy continued, her voice tinged with emotion. “If I can’t see you again, I’ll feel lonely.” She paused, then corrected herself. “Not unable to see you again, but unable to hear you again… Mr. Devil has so many secrets. Maybe not meeting with me isn’t such a bad thing.”

“You’re still at a sensitive age,” Bai Wei said with a slight smile. “You think too much. Let me take you out to relax.”

Judy sighed, shaking her head. “At least my mother would never think of taking me out to relax. She would only scream about how ‘I was born to sacrifice myself for the family.’ She doesn’t care about my feelings at all.” She sighed again. “People show their true selves in comparison. Mr. Devil may say harsh things, but when it matters, you’re always patient. Even when you want to use someone, you do it openly, not through manipulation or force.”

“Being human, respecting each other is the bridge to communication,” Bai Wei responded thoughtfully.

Judy looked away, a hint of self-deprecation in her voice. “Being a woman, I don’t even get respect from my own mother.” She shrugged. “So, when someone is even a little nice to me, I can’t help but want to get closer. I really need some way to release stress.”

Bai Wei nodded in agreement. “Perhaps there are other ways.”

“What?” Judy asked, curious.

Before he could answer, a strange screech echoed from the ground. A chameleon-like monster leapt from the rocks, launching an attack.

Judy reacted quickly, thanks to Bai Wei’s warning. She swung her sleeve, summoning a blazing sword. The space around her folded, revealing two sword edges. The monster’s remains hit the ground and vanished.

“The swallow returns to its original form,” Bai Wei observed. “Being able to use it suddenly shows that your understanding of space has reached a new level.”

“What was that?” Judy asked cautiously, still on edge.

“Trash,” Bai Wei waved his hand dismissively. “It’s the tongue coating fossil of a Dawn Dragon. Just trash.”

“Dawn Dragon?” Judy repeated, intrigued.

“An ancient dragon,” Bai Wei explained nonchalantly. “A rare breed among dragons. When a dragon’s egg is infected by the bloodline of an outer god, it gives birth to this unique species. There are thousands of such remains scattered across Broken Paradise, and some of them might even drop valuable items.”

“So, this is what you mean by ‘picking up trash’?” Judy asked, a hint of humor in her voice. “Turns out it’s ancient, mysterious remnants.”

“It’s residue,” Bai Wei corrected her. “This isn’t like a gacha game or opening blind boxes. I can only say it’s picking up trash in a wasteland world. But instead of wallowing in self-pity, battling monsters and discovering treasures here can help relieve stress.”

Judy hesitated, but couldn’t deny his point. Chopping down enemies seemed like a great way to vent her frustration. It was similar to buying a punching bag or adopting a pet to relieve mental pressure.

“I just want to take a walk and chat by the seaside,” Judy replied, trying to ease the tension. “It’s the first day of the new year, and I don’t feel like fighting monsters or wielding a sword. Honestly, I’d rather just stay home, feeling lazy…”

“No… you want to practice swordsmanship,” Bai Wei said, his voice smooth. He placed a hand on her shoulder from behind. “You’re feeling down now. You’re angry and sad. You want to express your frustration with the unfairness of the world, even though you don’t know exactly what you’re angry about. So, you turn your sadness and anger into power, wanting to cut and chop something.”

Judy regretted letting her fragile side show. She shouldn’t have appeared so melancholic. She just wanted to take a peaceful walk by the seaside, but now she was wielding a sword, forced into action. Bai Wei’s approach was undeniably intense, but it was effective. If there’s too much pressure, release it. If you’ve accumulated enough, release it. Fighting monsters is the ultimate solution.

If you still feel unhappy, it’s because you haven’t worked enough, haven’t written enough exam papers. Judy sighed deeply, feeling restless and melancholic. But she couldn’t find an outlet to vent her emotions.

Judy took a deep breath. “Where’s the next one?”

Bai Wei’s response was almost cruel. “180 meters ahead.”

Judy dragged the heavy sword, thinking, “Just chop away! It’s the first day of the new year, and I’m going on a killing spree. I don’t care anymore! Forget love and family. I am the queen. I can be happy all by myself!”

She kept swinging her sword, striking again and again until her hands were numb and her magic exhausted. After she killed a Hellfire Elephant, she collapsed on the ground, completely drained. Her clothes were burnt, and her skin was exposed, looking like a wrecked warship. If she were a commander, she’d be immediately sent to rest.

Bai Wei, unfazed, said, “Let’s call it a day. You got a bit carried away there in the second half. You need to understand the importance of work-life balance.”

Judy’s eyes were bloodshot, her emotions simmering, but she couldn’t speak. She only gasped for air. His words, though, made her cheeks flush with embarrassment. Had she really gotten obsessed? She barely had time to think of anything else in the heat of the moment.

Suddenly, the dying Hellfire Elephant made one last effort. It unleashed a war stomp, crashing into the ground. Judy, exhausted, barely managed to roll out of the way.

In that moment, a golden light appeared, and a golden sword descended from the sky, striking down and killing the Hellfire Elephant. The figure of a person stood in the faint glow, speaking over his shoulder to the bloodied remnants of the battle.

“Work and rest are important, but don’t relax too much either.”

Judy blinked, startled. “Are you a devil?”

A deep red crystal fell to the ground in front of her, glowing with an inner flame.

She picked it up, and suddenly everything spun. In the blink of an eye, she found herself back at the entrance of her apartment, clinging to the doorknob.

The devil’s voice echoed softly in her mind.

“This is the Hellfire. Once you start to accept and become familiar with its energy, you can condense the Hellfire Engraving.”

“If you feel you’re too weak to resist your mother or your family, it’s because you’re not strong enough yet.”

“As long as you continue to grow stronger, all the problems you face right now can be easily solved.”

“Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, focus on self-improvement. If you have the will, I’ll help you.”

“Consider this Hellfire crystal a New Year’s gift for you.”

“Happy New Year, Judy Selvicer.”

The voice faded as the horizon brightened, signaling the arrival of dawn. The night’s challenges had passed.

Judy gazed at the Hellfire crystal in her hand, feeling a mix of awe and irritation. A precious item from the underworld, given to her just like that.

“Cunning devil…” she muttered, frustration creeping into her voice. “You’re only interested in my body and my underwear.”

He had infiltrated her life, her world, her very existence. The casual “Happy New Year” was enough to make her blood boil.

Now even her soul felt manipulated. What could she possibly offer as a sacrifice?

She walked into her apartment, opened the shower, and let the hot water wash away the blood and dirt from her skin.

Her fingers brushed over her skin, feeling the lingering sensations. There was no warmth, just a hollow sensation. She closed her eyes, her cheeks flushing involuntarily.

It was the first day of the new year. Perhaps it was better not to…

But her tired body and mental pressure after the fight were too much. She needed release.

As she lay in the bathtub, her fingers tracing down her abdomen, she closed her eyes. Her slender neck arched, her body trembling, a strange tingling sensation spreading down her spine.

She felt like she was on fire.