Chapter 258: Wine and Meat

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    Things have escalated.

    Su Daji had been powerful but not beyond his ability to deal with. That was the conclusion Liu Jin came to after their first few exchanges. Subduing her without doing any serious harm to Su Ans body had seemed, while not easy, at least somewhat feasible.

    Now, Liu Jins aura flares violently as he produces countless snakes to fight Su Dajis foxes. Their creations cancel each other out as multiple explosions rock the room, but the difference is made known when Su Daji bursts through the smoke. Her claws get within mere inches of his face before a burst of [Ground Contraction] carries Liu Jin to safety.

    Su Daji gives chase. Their forms blur across the room as they destroy everything in their path. Floors, walls, ceiling. Not a single surface is left untouched. Scales grow over Liu Jins neck and take over half his face as he chains movement technique after movement technique. His right pupil is becoming narrower by the second, a sign of how much Qi Liu Jin is forcing through his body.

    Even so, it is his blood, and not Su Dajis, that keeps being spilled. While Su Dajis power is what he could expect from someone in the Earth Realm, the Curse of the Earth Realm seems to have no hold on her.

    In plain terms, she is much faster than him.

    As Liu Jin is metaphorically and literally backed into a corner, his aura burns white and poisonous Qi spills forth. It spreads throughout the room, not only halting Su Dajis attack but also forcing her to step back several paces.

    You have gotten much better with Poison Qi, Boss, Su Daji says as she looks at the poison with wary eyes. Her aura rises, trying to force it back. Maybe a little too much. People wont trust you if you can make poison so easily, you know?

    Unfortunately, I am aware of that, Liu Jin replies, using the lull in their fight to heal his wounds. You have also grown much since we last met.

    I have not grown stronger. I am regaining power, Su Daji says. There is a difference.

    Nevertheless, the body you are housed in belongs to Su An, Liu Jin says. For you to gain power, Su Ans body must grow strong. That is why it doesnt make much sense for you to be free from the Curse of the Earth Realm.

    Su Daji leans forward. Wisps of aura above her head twitch in a manner that makes him think of fox ears. Oh?

    A child of Nuwa. That is what you call humans, right? In that case, Su An should count as one, and by default, the current you should as well. As much as you might have changed Su Ans body, your Qi does not feel demonic.

    And youre suddenly an expert on demons? Dont be so presumptuous, Boss. Su Daji crosses her arms. Besides, thats not what youre really asking, right? You feel more like a demon than I do, so why am I free and youre not. Thats what youre really curious about, right Boss?

    Liu Jin frowns.

    Su Daji smiles.

    The part of me that is Su An feels really good right now, Su Daji informs him. Youre usually hard to read, so it feels really nice to have the upper hand for once.

    And what does the Su Daji side of you feel?

    Amused that you think making time like this will help you figure out a solution, Su Daji says as she snaps her fingers.

    Purple flames appear around her and drift lazily across the air. They make a curious sound as they move. It almost sounds like wailing. As if the flames were lost souls trying to find their way.

    Su Daji smirks and moves further back, but her flames move forward. Liu Jin immediately reinforces his aura in preparation for another explosion, but that is not what happens when they make contact with his poison. The purple flames merely drift through the poisonous air, no different from clouds carried by the wind.

    And yet, the poison field he created around himself slowly shrinks while the purple flames grow in size.

    I see, Liu Jin says, pouring more poison Qi into his aura. Youre using Yin Qi fashioned to look like flames to devour my technique.

    Foxfire, Su Daji says proudly. I am impressed you understood it so quickly, Boss.

    My girlfriend encountered a technique like it before, Liu Jin says. Yours seems more advanced.

    You joined with Little Xiao Shuang after Eastern Port City fell?

    I have not.

    Su Daji stares at him.

    Boss, you have become a sinful man.

    You are having entirely too much fun with this.

    Su Daji laughs, but not because he has actually succeeded in distracting her. That she can play along and laugh shows how comfortable she is with how the fight is going. Her flames keep eating his Poison Qi. Even if he makes more, he will only succeed in tiring himself out.

    The crack of thunder wipes the smile from Su Dajis face. Gold, brilliant lightning spreads throughout the room, multiple tendrils separating like the branches of a tree.

    Liu Jin makes a fist.

    Purple flashes.

    The foxfire detonates, breaking apart the walls and bringing down the ceiling. Liu Jin creates a snake construct around himself for protection. From the beginning, Su Dajis foxfire had been unstable. It had to be, or else it wouldnt have been able to drain his technique so effectively. The introduction of another, stronger power had been all that was needed to tilt the balance.

    Why must you be so reckless at the oddest times?! Su Daji shouts as she pushes a large piece of the rubble away. Her clothes are singed from the explosion, but that is the extent of the visible damage. Most likely, she has already regenerated from any injuries. Its always the same with you, Boss. Everyone who meets you thinks youre so smart and mature, and then you do something stupid!

    She whistles to call forth more foxes. Their forms glow with foxfire.

    I was trying to be gentle. I was going to drain your power bit by bit.

    What is he doing?

    Liu Jin immediately blurs back, finally remembering he could have used movement techniques the entire time. Skills hed refined for years suddenly come back to his head, and he cannot believe hed lost sight of them.

    Lightning spreads and annihilates the tigers. Liu Jin spits the chunk of flesh hed been about to swallow and glares at the woman in the lake of wine.

    Aw, youd noticed. She pouts. I guess it really is all I can do right now. Although noticing wont help you next time.

    He senses the truth of her words. All around the forest, there are more creatures awaiting him, but they are not the problem.

    It is this entire world.

    Is this meant to be a game?

    It is meant to be a party, Su Daji says, drinking from her cup. Youre supposed to enjoy yourself. Indulge. As a man. As a beast. It does not matter as long as you do.

    Lake of Wine and Forest of Meat. In the forest, he fights beasts and becomes a beast. If he steps into the lake, hell probably lose sight of himself in a different way.

    Youre putting it together, but it is already too late, child. You are in my world, Su Daji tells him. Why torture yourself when I offer you release? Is that not what everyone wants? Freedom to indulge in their vices? Enter the lake and drink with me. Or dont. Either way, the result will be the same. You will indulge and, in doing so, become a pet of mine.

    So this is what you are, Liu Jin says. I wondered what sort of creature would cling to life so recklessly.

    Being such as the Storm Dragon and Nine-Headed Snake God chose to pass on, leaving behind nothing but shadows of themselves that could guide or empower those they deemed worthy. However, the spirit before him is different. She chose to cling to life so fiercely that she would take someone elses body.

    Only now that he is in her soul does Liu Jin understand how significant that choice is. Su Dajis soul will grow strong, while Su Ans will wither and die. However, that does not mean Su Daji will return to how she was. That path is forever lost to her. She has forever changed by taking pieces of Su Ans soul into her own, effectively becoming a different person. What sort of thing could motivate someone to do that to themselves?

    Liu Jin knows the answer now.

    Pleasure and nothing else.

    That is what Su Dajis soul tells him. It is the unfailing principle that has guided her and given birth to the Lake of Wine and Forest of Meat. This is a place of indulgence. It is her way of life turned into a weapon. It invites him to lay down his reason and enjoy himself, attempting to overwrite all that he is until nothing remains.

    Disappointed? Spare me the lectures. I do not care for the judgment of the miserable, Su Daji tells him.

    I am dissatisfied, not miserable, Liu Jin says. And I am dissatisfied because the pleasure I seek to indulge in is nowhere to be found. Not here.

    His Qi rises. He does not know if this will work, yet what else is there to do now but try?

    The world quivers.

    Oh? What is this? Some last desperate attempt?

    The force of Su Dajis soul rises, seeking to squash his own.

    She recoils. A flicker of worry finally appears on her face.

    What in the world?

    The sky breaks.

    Liu Jin smiles sadly.

    I am not sure. Not yet.

    Stop it! She yells, suddenly struggling to remain standing as fierce waves rock her boat. Do you have any idea what youre doing?

    The earth quakes. The beasts flee. The grass withers.

    If you do this, it wont be just me you harm! Su Daji yells at him. The girls soul is already weak! You will break her!

    Maybe but at least shell be free of you.

    Su Daji goes for this throat, reaching the coast in the blink of an eye. Shes still not fast enough. Liu Jin digs deep into himself and focuses on a single word.

    Hollow.

    Su Dajis soul drowns in blackness.

    ~~~

    Liu Jin looks at Su Dajis fallen form for several seconds. She is still breathing. Save for the injuries she received during their fight, there is nothing wrong with her.

    Not with her body.

    Wordlessly, Liu Jin takes her in his arms.

    ~~~