Chapter 151: Lonely as Snow

And Wan Wenzhong, the person who caused her sister Zhou Jing’s death, was naturally the best choice. His new girlfriend Xu Kou also meant that Wan Wenzhong had betrayed Zhou Jing. So this innocent girl, without knowing why, became the first real victim.

Zhou Ling and Zhou Jing grew up together in this world. Their relationship as sisters was very close. Zhou Jing’s death had a devastating impact on Zhou Ling. She found it hard to accept and even ended up completely reshaping a new Zhou Jing in her own memories.

This Memory Remolding was a special ability that Zhou Ling brought out from Mountain Peak Village. It had nothing to do with her identity as a Mystic Scholar. But unexpectedly, obtaining a Mysterious Tool further strengthened this ability. In her speculation, Lü Yang probably used her special ability to create so many people in this Jinda Hotel Mysterious Domain.

Han Cheng and Liu Yin went without saying. Zhou Ling knew them extremely well, to the point where it was engraved in her heart. And Liu Hui had her memories completely invaded by Zhou Ling. As for the hotel guests, like Zhang Haoran and others, it was mostly because Zhou Ling had frequently visited the hotel over the past few days. With her super memory, she stored these guests in her mind, and they were also recreated by Lü Yang as background actors.

It was absolutely impossible for Wan Wenzhong to have coincidentally stayed at Jinda Hotel last night. He was entirely a product of Zhou Ling’s Memory Remolding.

Zhou Ling used her Memory Remolding ability to create a virtual sister, Zhou Jing. She even left a considerable space in her own soul for this virtual sister to make her appear more real and complete. But this led to a severe split in her personality. After the kind Zhou Jing was recreated, she continuously tried to stop her sister’s hatred and revenge. However, in the end, the hateful and cruel side of Zhou Ling’s heart still prevailed.

Thus, a series of revenge killings followed…

Revenge against Wan Wenzhong’s new girlfriend Xu Kou was certain. The goal was to make Wan Wenzhong, who caused Zhou Jing’s death, suffer. And she could also use this to humiliate him in every possible way.

On the surface, revenge against Han Cheng’s girlfriend Yun Zhao seemed to be because Zhou Ling wanted to punish Han Cheng for being unfaithful. In reality, Han Cheng was not as unfaithful as Zhou Ling thought. Although his relationship with Yun Zhao was not public, their feelings for each other were strong. Han Cheng’s so-called unfaithfulness was, at most, just some work-related socializing.

The deepest reason for Zhou Ling’s hatred toward Han Cheng and her hostility toward Yun Zhao was that Han Cheng had always ignored Zhou Ling. He was her first love, a first love spanning two lifetimes. She searched hard and finally came to his side in this life, watching over him, gazing at him, but he always looked past her…

Zhou Ling’s first love was Han Cheng. But after the so-called ‘former Xiao Ling’ died, and after she brutally killed Yun Zhao, she should have completely let go of that feeling. Then, she wholeheartedly wanted to be with Liu Yin.

During these two years of being together, although she felt Liu Yin’s care while she was hurt by Han Cheng, Liu Yin, because of Xiao Bei, had always treated her with respect. This made Zhou Ling, who was already in a bad mood and had constant setbacks in relationships, become even more twisted.

When Zhou Ling tried to get closer to Liu Yin and advance their relationship, Liu Yin told her how much he loved Xiao Bei and similar things. So, Xiao Bei, without knowing why, also became a victim of the Death Livestream.

The so-called scumbags Han Cheng and Liu Yin were different from Wan Wenzhong. It had nothing to do with whether they were loyal in their relationships. The deepest reason was that they ignored Zhou Ling. And for her own so-called sense of justice, Zhou Ling pinned the label of disloyalty on them. Then she watched them cry in pain and beg bitterly in front of her to get psychological compensation for being ignored.

Yi Ya and Lü Yang were innocent, very innocent. They purely suffered unexpected disasters because of Zhou Ling’s sudden decision. If Lü Yang had not reacted so intensely that night when Liu Yin threatened Yi Ya and her family, perhaps Zhou Ling would not have chosen to target Yi Ya.

But no matter the reason, it could not be an excuse for Zhou Ling’s violence. Just like when a boy fails to pursue a girl, no matter the reason, he should not pour oil and light a fire on her.

This was not justice. It was despicable brutality driven by extreme selfishness!

…

“Let Yi Ya go. This is the only Path of Survival in this Mysterious Domain.” Lü Yang pointed the handgun at Zhou Ling’s head, his voice unusually weak and tired.

“Do you think I would believe you? I already figured out the Path of Survival for this Mysterious Domain long ago. Of course, if you choose to kill me and give up on Xiao Ya, the final winner will still be you.” Zhou Ling looked at Lü Yang with a mocking expression.

“Tell me, what do I need to do for you to let Xiao Ya go?” Although Lü Yang still pointed the handgun at Zhou Ling, all killing intent and courage had left his eyes. Only helplessness and despair remained.

Since meeting Lü Yang, this was the second time Zhou Ling saw such pure helplessness and despair in him. The last time was in the Mute Old Man’s courtyard at Donkey Head Mountain, when he tore at Liu Hui’s face and almost saw through her identity.

But that time, he quickly pulled himself together. This time, however, he had been completely and thoroughly defeated by her. The only thing keeping him from admitting defeat was Yi Ya.

Zhou Ling was increasingly suspecting that she might not have developed feelings for this man solely because of Liu Hui’s obsession. The determination and persistence in his eyes had deeply moved her back in the previous Mysterious Domain. In her view, she and he were the same kind of people. They should have been close friends, not enemies.

Having completely crushed Lü Yang’s will to hold on, Zhou Ling felt no sense of victory in her heart at this moment, only deep loss.

It was like finally completing an extremely favorite computer game. Everything was about to end after finishing all levels. And once completely finished, she might never find such an exciting and beloved game again.

Life was lonely as snow from then on.

“You created the Mysterious Domain. You set the rules. You decided the Path of Survival. You tell me what you should do to save Yi Ya!?” Zhou Ling glared fiercely at Lü Yang. In her view, it wasn’t she who killed Lü Yang, but he himself pushed himself into this hopeless situation.

This Mysterious Domain could only have the following three outcomes.

Lü Yang killed Zhou Ling and lost Yi Ya forever.

Zhou Ling killed Lü Yang and killed Yi Ya.

Zhou Ling killed Lü Yang and let Yi Ya go.

No matter what, the two of them could never be together again.

Zhou Ling’s speculation about the Path of Survival in this Mysterious Domain also used the method of role replacement. She put herself in his shoes, thinking that if she were Lü Yang, when he created a Mysterious Domain and pulled his enemy and himself into this independent Mysterious Domain, what would he most want to do?

Kill the other person.

According to the principle of equivalence in the Mysterious Domain, the other person’s Path of Survival would naturally be to kill the creator.

So, with Zhou Ling’s intelligence and Lü Yang’s previous attitude, she had long deduced the Path of Survival for this Mysterious Domain. Although she really did not want to kill Lü Yang now, everything had gone beyond her control. It was his own clever arrangement.

And Zhou Ling would absolutely never choose to sacrifice herself to help Lü Yang and Yi Ya. So, only the three results above were possible.

Lü Yang put down the handgun and looked quietly at Zhou Ling. There was no light in his eyes, like a dying person.

“Actually, whether it was Liu Yin or Han Cheng, they each had one chance to save the girlfriend they claimed to love so much. But they all gave up.”

“I simply don’t believe a man can give his life for a woman. Unless you prove it to me, use your life to exchange for Yi Ya’s life… This is your only chance to save the girlfriend you claim you would do anything for.” Zhou Ling softened her tone and announced the final outcome.

The game had finally reached the final stage.

Whether Lü Yang put down the gun or not, Zhou Ling never cared. She knew he didn’t dare shoot her. Putting down the gun or not was just an attitude. It was a symbol of whether his inner persistence could still hold on.

In fact, Zhou Ling had long believed that Lü Yang was likely the only man truly willing to give his life for his girlfriend. His courage and persistence in the Eerie Domain of Lutou Mountain had already proven this.

Everything was really about to end.

Life was indeed lonely as snow.

The feeling of always being the winner, always being in control, wasn’t as good as she imagined.

“Tell me how to make the exchange. If I can be sure Xiao Ya is safe, I will naturally give my life to you, to do with as you please.” Lü Yang answered Zhou Ling calmly.

“Xiao Ya is confined in the Interstitial Space. According to the rules, I cannot bring the Interstitial Space into the Mysterious Domain… Unless… Never mind. I can promise you that after you die, I will give Xiao Ya freedom. But don’t expect me to free Xiao Ya first and then take your life. You only have this chance to save Xiao Ya. This is a gamble. You have no other choice, unless you don’t really want to sacrifice your life to save hers!” Zhou Ling flatly refused Lü Yang’s request.

In Zhou Ling’s view, men’s false feelings and grand promises were the most unreliable. Even if they talked beautifully, when it really came to life and death, whether they could actually do it was another matter. She had already verified this with Wan Wenzhong, Liu Yin, and Han Cheng one after another.

Only someone who willingly and without regard for consequences first gave his own life to save his girlfriend’s life was sincere and trustworthy. Before testing Lü Yang on this point, she already had an answer in her heart. She knew what Lü Yang would choose. Everything she was doing now was just pointlessly delaying the end of this game.

“Unless what? How can you summon the Interstitial Space in the Mysterious Domain? I know you must have a way.” Lü Yang asked Zhou Ling.