Chapter 2768 - 1875: Change and Constancy

Chapter 2768: Chapter 1875: Change and Constancy

It murmurs in the darkness.

It roars in the void.

Lies are its curtain, imagination is its reality.

Reality is twisted, ideals overturned, justice and evil, truth and fallacy all spin and change in a flicker, with no unity, no certainty; Chaos itself is an eternally changing existence. Everything in this world is changing, no one can resist change, and no one can stop it.

However, that smear of gold pierced through the ambiguous veil of chaos, the light reflecting hope, pain, and dreams in those golden pupils melting away like the first snow, scattered. Everything returns to the cold reality, no hope, no wisdom, as if the world has returned to its original state.

This Crystal Maze should not be like this; it tears apart expectations and goals, turning them into madness and despair. Nearly every moment, this maze changes its rules, track, and path under the grand vision of Cunning Deception, leaving no trace to follow.

Mortals entering it will only become trapped in eternal fog.

But she will not.

Where that golden gaze touches, the laws of chaos quietly disperse, and harsh reality coldly covers them, like a child desperately explaining to a parent how many combinations can result in four, only to be met with a severe slap.

Children shouldn’t think too much, just write 2+2=4.

This shouldn’t be like this!

This should be like this!

The Weaver raises its head, two mouths emitting angry growls and cunning laughter.

Everything is ruined!

Everything is according to plan!

She shouldn’t have come here!

She should have come here!

This isn’t the ending we wanted!

This is the ending we wanted!

Mary continues to advance.

The demons have disappeared without a trace, replaced by incessant chatter. The voices come from all directions, echoing in Mary’s ears.

You can never go back, you can’t get out of this maze. Accept reality, you haven’t even realized you’ve lost your way.

Maybe you should turn around and try a different direction?

Mary admits the voice has a point; she indeed doesn’t know where this path leads, as the voice suggested, maybe she took the wrong way, perhaps there’s no exit here. But... it doesn’t matter, at least it’s a path, and it’s one she chose, so she will walk it to the end.

Mr. Duanmu is the same; he never looks back, never stops; he’s always focused on the goal, forging forward.

Mary knows that sometimes for Duanmu Huai, other methods might be better, but... that’s not his decision.

So, she doesn’t stop but keeps going.

However, that voice doesn’t relent either.

Even if you return to him, what then? You’re just one among many women beside him, perhaps valued relatively higher, but can you tolerate sharing the same man with others? You deserve better, not to choose such a guy.

Indeed, Mary inwardly agrees.

The love she desires is of a gentleman, a man who adores her, like the protagonists in novels, deeply passionate, gallant, and lovingly bonded—not like a man like Duanmu Huai, who is rough, wild, lacks romantic sense, and knows nothing of etiquette.

But she’s decided.

That’s just your wishful thinking!

The scream is deafening, shaking Mary’s inner depths.

You know he doesn’t mean that; he just wishes for you to be his helper, not proposing to you! Perhaps for him, it’s merely a position, and you’re suitable for it, that’s all! Are you willing to endure just this? You should tell him what you desire, not simply act as his echo!

I’m quite accustomed to this lifestyle, at least for now, what it will be like later is a matter for later.

Mary suddenly remembers Frieren, who once narrated her life to Mary, that thousand-year-old Elf Mage, spending most of her time doing the same things, studying magic, picking herbs, occasionally slaying the Demon Clan. To Frieren, the thousand years haven’t changed her much; she was like this before, and remains so now, perhaps will be the same in the future.

Mary greatly admires Frieren’s calm and indifferent attitude towards life, and somewhat longs for it.

Because it represents that some things remain unchanged despite the passage of time.

Like now, she enjoys following Duanmu Huai, observing his battles, recording it all, then compiling it into a book one day. Perhaps one day she’ll tire of it, but not now.

Stubborn!

The voice screams and roars.

Nothing is immutable, the world is always changing, and you cannot be an exception! Eventually, you will give up everything you have clung to!

Mary stopped.

It’s not that she was moved by these words, but at this moment, Mary suddenly remembered a joke Mr. Duanmu once told her.

"You say nothing is immutable?"

That’s right, everything in the universe is constantly changing, at all times, everywhere, without exception!

"Then, could this itself be a kind of constancy?"

Mary curiously voiced her inner question.

"You say the universe is constantly changing, doesn’t that also represent the universe’s eternal and unchanging characteristic?"

.........

Silence.

"Ah, sorry, I just suddenly remembered a joke Mr. Duanmu told me..."

———————!

A terrifying roar and scream suddenly erupted, and in the next moment, the Crystal Maze before Mary’s eyes completely shattered.

"Ahhhhhhhhhh—————!"

A piercing scream erupted from the speakers, causing everyone to instinctively cover their ears. The sound was deafening, heart-wrenching, like a bird’s behind being run through with a thorny Wolf Fang Club.

"Damn, what’s going on? Sounds so awful? Haunted or something?"

Duanmu Huai lowered his hands from his ears and glared discontentedly at the speaker. The piercing scream was echoing throughout the confined school building, like a ghost in the void. Just then, an unexpected scene unfolded — the steel panels that had sealed off the entire building rose up, once again revealing the outside scenery to everyone. The blockade had been lifted, replaced by shouts and roars from outside.

"What’s going on here?"

Everyone was bewildered by the scene.

"We still haven’t found the culprit?"

"Whatever’s going on, let’s just get out of here first!"

Duanmu Huai didn’t care what was happening. Although he didn’t know what had just occurred, he could hear a kind of breakdown in the speaker’s voice, akin to discovering that a son raised for decades wasn’t actually his. At least that was good news for him, whether it was good news for Cunning Deception wasn’t Duanmu’s concern, as to it, both good and bad changes were the same.

Led by Duanmu Huai, everyone quickly reached the first floor and dashed out of the school building’s entrance — along the way, those armed thugs also rushed over. However, they were obviously no match for Duanmu Huai. Facing these preparatory course students, Duanmu Huai showed no mercy, waving his hands and sending all who dared to stand in his way flying. It was like an angry bull charging all obstacles in its path. When the group burst through the school’s doors and reached the plaza, all that remained were unconscious, fallen students.

"Quick, we must leave here!"

Xue Ranqian Sha urged the students desperately.

"Keep going, everyone, just pass through here, and we’ll be out of the school! Then we’ll be safe!"

But as she finished speaking, she saw Duanmu Huai abruptly stop, turn, and land a heavy punch on Xue Ranqian Sha’s face.

"Boom!!"

She never expected Duanmu Huai to strike her, taking the punch squarely before being hurled back, crashing heavily to the ground.

"Teacher?"

Seeing this scene, the other students were stunned, at a loss for words. They couldn’t understand the situation before them or why the two class instructors suddenly clashed without warning. However, Duanmu Huai had no interest in answering their questions. He simply clenched his fists and marched forward, staring down at Xue Ranqian Sha lying on the ground.

"Get up, bitch, this punch won’t kill you — although I would like that."

Upon hearing Duanmu Huai’s words, Xue Ranqian Sha stood up, her face unscathed, as if Duanmu Huai’s punch capable of breaking through a wall had no effect. She touched her cheek and stared at Duanmu Huai.

"I’m really surprised, how did you discover me?"

"Not surprised."

Duanmu Huai shrugged.

"Your twisted sense of humor is always like this, I’m a bit tired of it. Isn’t it just about flip-flopping between hope and despair for your amusement? I can even guess that once they exit the school, they’ll face only despair, right."

"Yes... and no."

Xue Ranqian Sha smiled slightly, gazing at Duanmu Huai.

"I originally intended for you to witness the truth of this world yourself, but unfortunately, it seems you don’t plan to give me that chance."

"I don’t care about whatever crappy truth of this world."

Duanmu Huai shrugged, then clenched his fists.

"I’m just here to beat you up."

"Brutal, stubborn, stupid."

Xue Ranqian Sha shook her head.

"But your pet is quite interesting..."

As she spoke, Xue Ranqian Sha’s body began to twist and transform, and soon, a giant Two-Headed Bird appeared before Duanmu Huai.

"You cannot destroy my master! Everything is according to plan!"

The Two-Headed Bird raised its Magic Wand, pointing at Duanmu Huai.

"And your destiny has already been decided!"