7: Going away

Meng Yun's face was pale, but coupled with the fresh bloodstains at the corner of his mouth, it gave him a sickly, enchanting appearance.

"What... what's wrong with me?" Meng Yun couldn't believe it, staring blankly at his blood-stained hands.

He didn't vomit anything, as if something inside him yearned urgently to devour what he had eaten.

"You're next!"

Suddenly, Meng Yun remembered Martial Universe Qiankun's words.

It turned out that this wasn't a helpless roar in the throes of death, but the devil tolling the bell of his downfall.

Perhaps, he had already been infected by something unspeakable…

Meng Yun stood in silence for a long time, then slowly rose.

In the pitch-black night, he clearly saw the entire world covered in dense, red threads.

Enchanting, eerie, terrifying, despairing.

Meng Yun waved his hand, and these threads actually danced with his movements.

A certain realization resonated in Meng Yun's heart.

"You have discovered the truth of the world."

"A certain obscure existence has sealed the world with overwhelming red threads. The growth limit of all living beings is restricted; the ultimate point for mortals is the peak of the Post-Heaven Realm."

"Only by becoming its believer is it possible to enjoy its grace and glimpse the opportunity of the Pre-Heaven Realm."

"And you have already become half of its believer."

Meng Yun washed up, returned to bed, and closed his eyes. Only by closing his eyes could he not see the tangible threads between heaven and earth.

"Heh, I didn't expect this Simulator session to lead to a fallen ending…"

"Since that's the case, then the marriage with Wu Yinyao also…"

Meng Yun gave a helpless, bitter smile, muttering to himself.

He decided to diligently search for a way to save himself. If it didn't work, he would kill himself before he completely became a demon.

Of course, before he died, he had to return Wu Yinyao her freedom and purity.

Meng Yun never forgot that his Simulator system was called the "Universal Salvation Simulator."

If one day he truly fell and became a mass murderer, what would happen if he didn't receive even a second of life reward after the simulation ended?

That would be truly dying amidst hope and despair!

"You begin to search for a way to save yourself and record the pattern of your consumption of blood food."

"You eat at least once a week."

"Half a month later, your kitchen staff discover that fresh meat inexplicably decreases. They report to you, and you reward and reassure them, stating there is no need to worry."

"Even though you possess unparalleled wisdom and are skilled in Qimen Dunjia, you have not found any method to stop your degeneration."

"One month later, you eat blood food at least once every five days. All your kitchen staff become vigilant. Although they received your reassurance, they still begin to guard against the incident of decreasing ingredients."

"One month later, you dismiss all your kitchen staff and compensate them with a huge severance package. You begin to hire people to purchase fresh meat."

"You no longer eat normally. You begin to eat blood food every three days."

"You feel your consciousness starting to become chaotic. At certain times of the day, you can hear an inexplicable whisper from some existence. Your sanity has decreased."

"You suddenly realize that you can no longer save yourself; you cannot go back."

"You should immediately break off your engagement with Wu Yinyao while you still have your sanity."

"But you inexplicably keep procrastinating."

In a blink of an eye, it was late November, and the weather was already very cold.

Only three months remained until the third day of the third month next year, the wedding day of Meng Yun and Wu Yinyao.

"Sir, look what I brought you!" Wu Yinyao, dressed in a fox fur coat, looked fluffy and made Meng Yun slightly dazed.

Beautiful.

"What did you bring?" Meng Yun subtly wiped the corner of his mouth. Having just indulged in raw meat that morning, he felt the guilt of a thief.

"Ta-da! Drunken Immortal Chicken!" The small lotus leaf-wrapped package was placed on the table by Wu Yinyao, crispy and glistening with oil, its aroma wafting.

In the past, he would have certainly had his eyes light up and devoured it with gusto. But now, Meng Yun only felt nauseous and repulsed.

Seeing Meng Yun's lack of appetite, Wu Yinyao's heart clenched:

"Sir, are you feeling unwell?"

She glanced over and saw a booklet spread out on the table.

It read "Four-Five Plan"…

Wu Yinyao's eyes trembled: "Sir, if you're not feeling well, don't write anymore!"

Meng Yun lightly coughed and smiled, shaking his head.

Whether he admitted it or not, Meng Yun could clearly perceive that his current sanity simply couldn't support his proper intelligence.

To put it simply, the voltage was too low, and the appliance couldn't be powered.

Not to mention compared to himself from a few years ago who could effortlessly draft three five-year plans, he couldn't even compare to himself in the last simulation who only knew how to blindly charge forward.

The Four-Five Plan was only half-written.

Even so, if nothing unexpected happened, it would be enough to protect Wu Yinyao for twenty years.

But in this world, accidents could happen at any time.

"Yinyao, haven't you always called me Sir? Today, Sir will impart a secret technique to you." Meng Yun looked at Wu Yinyao, his expression calm: "This technique is called Qimen Dunjia."

"Qimen Dunjia?" Wu Yinyao tilted her head in confusion: "Is it stronger than Luo Mian's Martial Dao Pre-Heaven Realm?"

"Stronger." Meng Yun slowly nodded, then began to teach.

If she mastered it, it would be enough to protect her for a lifetime of peace, and even if the world underwent great changes, she could still survive in it.

At that time, Meng Yun could also leave with peace of mind.

"You have taught the divination aspect of Qimen Dunjia, and Wu Yinyao has learned it."

"One day later, you taught the Heaven's Secret Concealment aspect of Qimen Dunjia, and Wu Yinyao has learned it."

"One day later, you taught the Qi Observation technique of Qimen Dunjia, and Wu Yinyao has learned it."

"Rest today."

"One day later…"

"Sir, is there anything else to teach?" A week later, Wu Yinyao shook her head and blinked, sitting by the table.

Meng Yun: "…"

"You have graduated. I have nothing left to teach." Meng Yun finished speaking, then sternly admonished her: "But you must remember, no matter what secret technique, it can only be activated once every three days, otherwise you will suffer a backlash."

Meng Yun had quite a bit of experience with this.

"Yes, student has noted it down!" Wu Yinyao nodded obediently.

"Strangely, ever since Wu Yinyao learned the Qi Observation technique, every three days, you would sense a faint, almost imperceptible gaze, as if it saw you completely from the inside out."

"Until one time you woke up, and your 'little brother' was hard as iron, the sensation of being watched arrived unexpectedly and then instantly faded. For several days thereafter, this sensation of being watched did not return."

"You, realizing it belatedly, let out a wry laugh."

"To prevent Wu Yinyao from discovering your secret consumption of raw meat, you began to activate the Heaven's Secret Concealment aspect of Qimen Dunjia during your meals, blocking all prying eyes and concealing yourself."

"You found that activating Heaven's Secret Concealment made you feel completely relaxed. You began to frequently activate Heaven's Secret Concealment."

"Overuse has weakened you, and the consequence is an even more rapid progression of your demonic transformation."

"You hear of strange disappearance cases in the city."

"You vow to force yourself not to use Heaven's Secret Concealment except for eating, so you begin to look forward to eating."

"Now, you need to eat blood food every day."

Another month passed in a flash, and it was mid-December.

Meng Yun had not left his house for a long time. He slowly woke up, pushed open the window, and found the courtyard covered in thin snow.

Autumn had passed and winter had arrived; the power of time made Meng Yun's expression slightly dazed.

"Winter has arrived." Meng Yun, who had gradually been marginalized by the imperial court, became increasingly ignorant of external affairs.

"Sir, Sir!" Outside the door, Wu Yinyao, with a joyful skip, came to visit again.

Meng Yun quickly looked around, confirmed there was no exposed fresh meat in the house, and then opened the door expressionlessly.

"Princess, the wedding day is approaching. According to etiquette, it is not appropriate for us to meet at this time," Meng Yun said indifferently.

Wu Yinyao, who was delighted to see Meng Yun, was unaware of the detachment in his words at the moment. She forcibly squeezed past Meng Yun, who was blocking the door, and slipped into the room.

"It's still warm inside…" Wu Yinyao rubbed her small hands.

"Princess, you are of noble birth, and you should still mind your image…" Meng Yun continued to advise.

Wu Yinyao's expression finally changed slightly. She said with a hint of petulance: "Oh, Meng Yun, usually you call me Yinyao so happily, but now, at the very end, you're becoming reserved!"

"I insist on staying here, what can you do to me?" Wu Yinyao, like a sulking young woman, sat down with her arms crossed and warmed herself by the small brazier.

Whenever she referred to herself as "this Princess," Meng Yun would always give her face.

It had always been this way.

"Princess, you are too willful."