Li Zhan gazed at Ovid and said, “I do not know how that person can find this world. I am even less aware of that person’s motive.”

For an immortal to acknowledge their helplessness is a far and few between.

Ovid turned his head toward the teacup once again. The tea had cooled down, causing the black tea to resemble a beautiful lake of blood.

Li Zhan smiled and said, “I can guarantee that Cai Hua and I will at least support you.”

“Even if your existence is something sinister, Cai Hua has accepted you as his disciple. Since I’m his wife, his decision are also my decisions, my decisions are also his decisions. If you really are found by a world’s representative, we will at least passively hide you somewhere.”

Ovid fell silent, then asked, “What should I do?”

Li Zhan replied, “There are a few manuals out there that can hide your presence. After sending Anna away, master those manuals, bury your name and disappear from sight. Cai Hua told me you like stars, right? It won’t be a painful matter to peacefully spent the rest of your long life studying them.”

Li Zhan then said regretfully, “That way, you can prolong the amount of life you have on this world. The world’s representatives are strange creatures and will inevitably find you.”

Ovid felt Li Zhan’s idea was very agreeable, he wasn’t a person who sought fame in the first place. But still, he said, “But waiting for my death to arrive isn’t proper. Can’t they ignore my existence?”

This question was incredibly childish and naive. If Li Zhan hadn’t lived for so long and see countless things, the conversation would have ended here or miserably later.

Moreover, Ovid is her disciple in-law. This status assured that no matter Ovid does, she would treat him as well as her she would treat her future child.

So, Li Zhan gave a full explanation, “People fear what they don’t understand… while the world isn’t a person, the concept still applies. As a foreigner, you are the least understood creature in existence.”

“Will… the world’s representatives hunt me down because of such a reason?”

Ovid’s next question was equally childish and naive as his first. Perhaps even more so.

Even more so, Li Zhan still patiently gave him an answer.

“I’m not certain about the natural world, but if a foreign ant enters another colony, no matter what, that ant is bound to die.”

“Why?”

“That’s just the natural way of the world. It is fate.”

Ovid fell silent.

Glafx’s last words before he died under Ovid’s word was about fate. The owner of ‘North Weave’ had also mentioned fate before.

This world unquestionably has some form of divine existence, but no know truly understands that being. But still, it is infinitely revered for it can determine fate.

“Is it really so powerful to determine fate?” he muttered to himself.

Li Zhan stared into Ovid’s eyes and said gently, “The world is a strange creature, but it is definitely able to control fate. With such an omnipotent presence, no matter how strong one becomes, it’s impossible to defy the natural world. At best, it can be negotiated with.”

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“Can I negotiate with it?”

“The world wouldn’t dare. People who are old are the most afraid of death, and the natural world is the oldest being alive. Even if you don’t pose a threat, it’s still cautious.”

“It’s the most pragmatic of all beings. Since it wants you dead, the most you can do is to delay it. It is fate.”

“I don’t like to live this way.”

Li Zhan replied slowly, “But it’s the only way to live.”

Ovid stood up and bowed, he said, “Teacher’s wife, then I earnestly request you to kill me.”

Li Zhan calmly gazed back. She said, “No, I will not kill you.”

“Why?”

“Would you kill your own child?”

Ovid remained no more. He turned and walked through Li Zhan’s door. Before he left the room, he said quietly, “How would I know?”

Gazing at the closed door, Li Zhan sighed with exhaustion. “Your whole existence is a scheme by the architect of the plot, please understanding I cannot interfere with fate. I urge you to disappear; that would be a kindness to yourself, and to the world.”

Ovid could hear these words through the door, but he continued to his room.

He sipped from the long cold cup of tea. It was quite bitter, he thought to himself.

---

After a set of footsteps disappeared, another can be heard in the hallway.

Moments after Ovid had left, Anna entered the room and stood at the window where Li Zhan had been previously.

Li Zhan sighed and said, “These matters, I have already contacted Cai Hua. He is currently absorbing the everlasting flower, and cannot take action.”

“I know that you think it’s not enough, but my husband’s life and death depends on it.”

Anna thought for a moment, but in the end, said nothing.

Li Zhan did not pour Anna a cup of tea since the relationship between the two is more foreign. She asked, “What kind of person do you think Ovid is?”

Five days ago, Ovid had asked Anna what kind of person Julia is, how strange is it that Anna would be asked what kind of person Ovid is?

Perhaps only Julia could tell Anna’s mood. Her curious eyes were as bright as when Ovid and her had first met, but now it contains a hint of serenity.

The voice that responded to Li Zhan’s question was very innocent, but also extremely confident.

“Ovid is a restraint person. Every step she (he) takes is thought over too carefully.”

Upon hearing this, Li Zhan was slightly surprised, she knew that Ovid and Anna had a close bond. Very few would earnestly criticise those dear to them to an acquaintance.

Of course, when Li Zhan thought over her impression of Ovid, from their meeting in Gael’s tomb to the discussion they had just then, she found that Anna’s evaluation was incredibly accurate.

“But still, Ovid’s heart is very pure. As pure as yours in fact. I hope the two of you would continue to remain so in this very vulgar world.”

Li Zhan sighed, then requested, “When you return to the capital and reunite with Julia, use every means possible to let the two meet. If not even your sister can help him, then no one can.”

“My father and she have a good relationship. I don’t expect it to convince Julia, but it should complement your identity.”

Anna said nothing and only gave off a smile.

Her smile was very brilliant, like a kid who got praised by their parents for scoring all ‘A’s on a test. The smile was also very stubborn.

But she asked, “What if Ovid doesn’t agree?”

Li Zhan met her gaze and answered emotionlessly, “If it comes to that, I would help you. I’m sure you can also borrow Irene’s strength.”

Anna looked back and said, “That architect of the plan should be Ovid’s mother.”

Li Zhan replied, “I know.”

Anna’s smile rose, she ended the conversation. “Then when that time comes, I will rely on you.”

---

Returning to his room, Ovid sat down at the table and gazed at the endless stacks of paper before him. Strangely, it did not give him a sense of tranquillity as it usually would.

He’s thought continued to linger on Li Zhan’s last words - I urge you to disappear; that would be a kindness to yourself, and to the world.

He was aware it was the best solution she could come up with, so he did not blame her. Still, he felt if this was the kindest the world can be to him, the world must be very harsh.

Staring at the quill pen under the sun, his straight posture collapsed.

His relationship with his mother had always been a strange topic. He would always say; mother said this, and mother told me not to do this, but he never spoke of the actual woman. He had been solely raised by her alone and almost worshipped her with the same fanatism as some of the cultists had to their gods in this world.

He knew that he was a strange person who isn’t even afraid of death. Naturally, his mother who raised him single-handed had to be an even more remarkable.

As it turned out, it seemed that his mother can some intentions for him in this world. Though Ovid was absolutely confident that his death had nothing to do with her, his idea toward his mother continues to grow clouder and clouder. He had stayed on life support for three months before he had died. Was she spending this time preparing his soul for the new world?

His mother is the greatest pressure in his mind. Even if all the saints confronted him head-on, he would be less afraid.

This was because everything he is was based on her. His interest in astronomy was inspired by her. His solitary attitude was a byproduct. His habit of folding the sheets so that all four corners perfectly align was a habit he had gained from watching her.

But now, it may be possible that she had viewed him as something completely disposable.

If he could not trust his mother, who can he trust in? Even a normal person would despair after such realisation.

Ovid wasn’t a machine or an AI, he is at most a sheltered individual who found himself in a completely foreign environment. How could he be truly that different from a normal person?