You Are Not a Fish, How Can You Know the Joy of Fish?

On the wide corridor outside the 118th floor of the Illusory Realm Palace, a full kilometer wide, thousands of people gathered, staring in disbelief at the black-haired, black-clad man. Those who had served Illusory Spirit King for years, always by her side, knew exactly how terrifying Illusory Spirit King was. Almost no one believed Hong could pass through the Eighteen Illusions of Love and Desire.

Even Illusory Spirit King herself couldn't believe it!

“Impossible!” Illusory Spirit King stared at the man before her, numerous thoughts flashing through her mind before quickly settling. “To think that someone willing to die for love could actually pass through the Eighteen Illusions of Love and Desire.” Illusory Spirit King looked at Hong, a strange light flickering in her purple eyes. “You surprise me.”

“Love is nothing to fear. Immerse yourself in it, enjoy it,” Hong said. “A truly wonderful feeling blossoms in the heart—that is love.”

Illusory Spirit King watched Hong, scrutinizing him.

“Now I understand why Qingqing was so smitten with you at first sight.” Illusory Spirit King nodded, then turned to the black-winged man. “Busheka, take Luo Feng and Hong to see Qingqing.”

“Yes, Master!” the black-winged man respectfully replied.

“Mm.” With a whoosh, Illusory Spirit King vanished into thin air.

Once Illusory Spirit King departed, a lively clamor immediately erupted in the corridor. Thousands of enchanting spirit maidens around them quietly pointed at Hong and Luo Feng, whispering amongst themselves, seemingly very interested and attentive to the two.

“Please follow me,” the black-winged man said with a smile, looking at Hong and Luo Feng.

“And congratulations on passing through the Eighteen Illusions of Love and Desire. I doubt many of us here believed you would succeed,” the black-winged man chuckled.

“It was a struggle for me to pass through; these Eighteen Illusions of Love and Desire are indeed terrifying,” Hong admitted.

“Of course. How could an illusion set by my Master be anything less?”

The black-winged man led the way, with Luo Feng and Hong walking side-by-side.

“Big Brother, congratulations,” Luo Feng transmitted, a mischievous grin on his face. “Congratulations on being able to be with Sister-in-law forever now.”

“Heh heh.” Hong’s face was wreathed in smiles.

“Big Brother, how were the Eighteen Illusions of Love and Desire? I was so worried just now,” Luo Feng transmitted.

“The illusions were powerful, but they posed no threat to me,” Hong transmitted.

A flicker of surprise crossed Luo Feng’s eyes. “What? No threat? But I saw you getting more and more tired, slower and slower with each layer, looking like you were struggling immensely. This…”

“It was an act.”

Hong glanced at Luo Feng and transmitted, “Illusory Spirit King was watching outside, and she personally set up these Eighteen Illusions of Love and Desire. If I had breezed through layer after layer with ease, where would she put her face? For her, the esteemed Illusory Spirit King, to have her eighteen illusions swiftly broken by a mere Universe-level junior—that would be utterly humiliating.”

“If I had broken through too quickly and easily, in her shame and anger, she might have immediately altered the subsequent illusions of love and desire midway through my challenge,” Hong transmitted. “It would be incredibly easy for her to make me fail, for instance, by directly using a soul attack to make me die or fail within the illusion.”

“If she had secretly intervened, who here would have noticed?”

“Even you, if you saw me die in the illusion, would only think I failed to pass, right?” Hong looked at Luo Feng.

Luo Feng was startled.

Indeed.

“So, I had to play on Illusory Spirit King’s psychology, making her feel as if I was on the verge of failure, struggling immensely… and finally breaking through in a rather disheveled state. That way, my objective would be achieved,” Hong said with a smile, looking at Luo Feng.

Luo Feng nodded.

Indeed.

Big Brother had been acting the entire time, and his performance had truly made even Luo Feng incredibly tense, as if Big Brother was about to collapse. Each layer of the illusion seemed harder and took longer than the last.

So, it was all an act.

“Strength is important, but sometimes, you also need to combine it with other factors to achieve the best results,” Hong transmitted.

“But Big Brother, these Illusions of Love and Desire… Illusory Spirit King said they encompassed all aspects of love and desire… how could you find it so easy?” Luo Feng asked, puzzled. Big Brother was clearly a man deeply in love, willing to challenge this without knowing the full details of the Eighteen Illusions of Love and Desire, all for Ji Qing.

How could such a person easily pass through the Illusions of Love and Desire?

Love and desire…

After all, it’s a very complex desire; how many heroes and powerful figures have been deeply entangled in love?

“In our Huaxia, there’s a saying: ‘When you first look at mountains, they are mountains; when you first look at rivers, they are rivers. Then, when you look at mountains, they are no longer mountains; when you look at rivers, they are no longer rivers. Finally, when you look at mountains again, they are mountains; when you look at rivers again, they are rivers,’” Hong transmitted. “Someone who hasn’t experienced love naturally believes love is simply love. But those who truly experience it will find love incredibly complex… like looking at flowers through a fog, everything hazy and dreamlike, impossible to see clearly. Love becomes infinitely complex in their eyes because their emotional experiences reveal its intricacies. At this stage, mountains are no longer mountains, and rivers are no longer rivers.”

“Only by experiencing the mortal world, studying human hearts, and discerning the myriad emotional entanglements within, can one finally see the true face of love.”

“One has already reached the stage of returning to simplicity.”

“My understanding of love and desire has become incredibly clear; I see through its essence. I know what I want, what I can die for. I know what temptations I can resist. All of this, I have come to understand in my heart,” Hong transmitted, smiling at Luo Feng. “At this point, mountains are still mountains. Rivers are still rivers. Love… before someone of such a realm, it is already completely transparent.”

Luo Feng’s eyes lit up.

He understood somewhat.

“It’s not that those deeply immersed in love and desire are truly unable to extricate themselves,” Hong said with a faint smile. “You are not a fish, how can you know the joy of fish?”

“Only those who truly see through love and desire understand that immersing oneself in it… is the Great Dao. To forbid love and desire, that is to go against one’s true heart,” Hong stated. “Everything I do, I follow my true heart. Some things must be done, some must not. Some things, even knowing they pose a mortal threat, must still be done.”

Luo Feng nodded slightly.

While conversing with Big Brother, Luo Feng followed the black-winged man, Busheka, towards Ji Qing’s residence.

…

Whoosh!

Illusory Spirit King, clad in colorful robes, appeared before the quiet pavilion.

“Your Excellency.” The two spirit maidens guarding the pavilion were startled upon seeing Illusory Spirit King and immediately bowed respectfully.

“Mm.”

Illusory Spirit King pushed the door open and entered the pavilion.

Inside the pavilion, the short-haired woman, who had been standing by the window gazing outside, immediately turned to the door. Upon seeing Illusory Spirit King, she bowed respectfully. “Master.”

“You must have received the news that the junior named Hong has passed through the Eighteen Illusions of Love and Desire I set,” Illusory Spirit King said, looking at her disciple, Ji Qing.

Ji Qing was an exceptionally talented disciple.

She was arguably the most outstanding among all her disciples, and Illusory Spirit King genuinely cherished her.

“Yes, Qingqing knows. Thank you, Master, for showing mercy,” Ji Qing said, bowing respectfully and gratefully.

“Hmph!”

Illusory Spirit King snorted coldly, then sat on a nearby chair and looked at Ji Qing. “Qingqing, I did not show him mercy. It’s just that this Hong, whom you favor, truly exceeded my expectations. To think he could actually pass through the Eighteen Illusions of Love and Desire.”

Upon hearing this, a blush and a hint of pride appeared on the short-haired woman’s face.

“I said,”

“Once he passed through the Eighteen Illusions of Love and Desire, I would not obstruct you, nor would I expel you from my tutelage. Whether you two entwine in love and have children, or part ways, or anything else, I will not interfere,” Illusory Spirit King said, looking at the short-haired woman.

“Qingqing thanks Master,” the short-haired woman’s eyes lit up.

“However, there are some things I must tell you beforehand.” Illusory Spirit King tapped her finger in mid-air, and a screen appeared, displaying a book. “This is my…”

A conversation ensued.

…

A moment later, footsteps and faint murmurs could be heard from outside the pavilion. In the distance along the corridor outside, the black-winged man, Hong, and Luo Feng walked at the forefront, followed by a large crowd of maidens—all enchanting spirit maidens—who were clearly there to watch the spectacle.

“Luo Feng, Hong, this is Ji Qing’s residence,” the black-winged man, Busheka, said, pointing towards the quiet and beautiful pavilion ahead.

“Oh?”

Hong’s eyes lit up, and his gaze fell upon the pavilion. He immediately walked towards it.

Luo Feng and the black-winged man followed behind Hong.

“Creak!”

The pavilion door opened, and a short-haired woman stepped out.

“Hm?” Luo Feng looked at the woman. Although he had seen pictures of Ji Qing from his searches on the Virtual Universe Network, when he saw her in person, Luo Feng noticed something different about her. She was quite tall, yet her figure was perfectly proportioned.

Her short, ear-length hair gave her a valiant and spirited appearance.

The expression in her brows clearly indicated a decisive, resolute, and independent woman. In short… she exuded the aura of a strong, capable woman. Yet, in her eyes, there seemed to be a spring of water, welling up as she looked at Hong, as if she were on the verge of tears.

“You’re so foolish,” the short-haired woman said softly, looking at Hong.

Hong merely smiled faintly.

The short-haired woman rushed forward, embracing Hong tightly, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face.

Many of the enchanting spirit maidens watching from afar smiled, and Luo Feng also watched the scene with a smile.

“Don’t take such risks; it’s not worth it,” Ji Qing murmured, holding Hong tightly.

Hong gently stroked Ji Qing’s hair. Then they separated, their eyes meeting.

“Everything is over now. All the obstacles have vanished like smoke,” Hong said, smiling at Ji Qing.

Whoosh!

Ji Qing suddenly let go of Hong’s hand and continuously stepped back.

“Qingqing.” Hong’s brows furrowed.

“I’m sorry, it’s not worth it,” Ji Qing said, looking at Hong. “Please leave. Just consider me a memory of yours. Go.”

Hong’s expression changed.

Luo Feng, watching the scene from the side, was also stunned. What was going on? Big Brother had gone to such lengths to finally get Illusory Spirit King to stop interfering, but now Ji Qing herself was saying such things?

“Qingqing!” Hong stared at Ji Qing, trying to discern from her eyes… if she had been subjected to hypnosis, mind-control, or some other secret technique.