As he reached this conclusion, Lu Wuming had also seriously considered the matter. If that woman had, from the very beginning, raised him like a normal mother, educated him with all sorts of knowledge, and allowed him to live like a normal person. Then, at this point, if she had told him that he had an enemy he absolutely had to eliminate, would he have felt such deep-seated disgust and hatred for the Ghost King as he did now?
The moment the thought arose, Lu Wuming himself denied it. Even if he could have maintained his hatred, even if he had been willing to avenge his mother, the child raised that way would certainly not have lived a life filled only with despair and fear from beginning to end, as he had. In despair and fear, he had been unable to choose complete escape. So, to live a more normal life, he could only strive to become more ruthless, more insane. By then, even if that woman had given him no indication, he would have hated her and, by extension, the Ghost King.
What the woman wanted, from start to finish, was simply mutual destruction. Perhaps over the many years past, she had imagined countless scenarios of being brutally killed by Lu Wuming. Yet, she could still proceed with her plan, simply because death was not that important to her.
Putting himself in her shoes, if Liu Buli had been eaten in front of him, Lu Wuming was certain that, regardless of his ability, he would have found any means to perish with the perpetrator. Because even if they didn't perish together, his survival would have no value or meaning. The light of his world had already been extinguished; what was the point of him surviving alone?
The more he thought about it, the colder his spine felt, and the woman's words echoed in his mind. The woman had told him about his identity more than once, but unfortunately, she only knew that the beast who had harmed her was of the ghost race. She wasn't very clear about what kind of ghost he was. Perhaps if she had lived a little longer, she would have forced Lu Wuming to learn some killing techniques. Perhaps she had already placed herself as the first target, but that plague had simply given her no opportunity to implement her plan.
The complex emotions in his heart grew heavier, and Lu Wuming didn't know how to describe his current state of mind. He simply remained silent, no longer answering any of the Ghost King's questions. He leaned back into the corner of the palace. In that moment, he desperately longed for Liu Buli's voice. Even just hearing it once would suffice; he felt that if he couldn't hear the other's voice again, his already not-so-reliable mind might completely collapse.
His Master had told him more than once that he was not alone. So, if there was anything he couldn't figure out, any hurdle he couldn't overcome, he didn't need to bear it all by himself. However, even so, Lu Wuming worried that contacting Liu Buli too rashly might alert the Ghost King. Therefore, he maintained his usual state of closing his eyes to rest. After the Ghost King had spoken for a while and realized he was truly unwilling to respond, thus giving up the conversation out of boredom, Lu Wuming took two deep breaths and secretly recited the incantations Liu Buli had taught him during their last contact. Those were the incantations he remembered most clearly in his life.
Since he had already experienced one contact, there was no suspicion or doubt this time, unlike the previous occasion. Almost the instant Lu Wuming finished reciting the incantations, Liu Buli's familiar voice echoed in his mind. With his usual gentle smile, he said, "Wuming, are you missing me, or has something happened?"
This question was rather difficult to answer. Lu Wuming thought for a moment and replied, "I miss you, and something has indeed happened. I'm in a bad mood and want Master to comfort me." When facing Liu Buli, Lu Wuming would subconsciously act spoiled. Perhaps it was because he knew very well that no matter how spoiled he acted, Liu Buli would accept it all with a smile, then hold him, gently stroke his head, and say in a soft, endearing voice, "Good boy, Master will always be with you."
It was a pity that they were too far apart this time; even if Liu Buli had the heart, he couldn't reach him. He could only try to make his voice sound even gentler and said, "Wuming, tell me what happened? What made you so sad? Isn't your Master doing well? Could there be something else that upset you?"
When asking this question, Liu Buli himself found it a bit strange. Because, based on his understanding of Lu Wuming, the latter truly didn't care about anything else besides him. Since it was something he didn't care about, why would it make him sad? However, Lu Wuming did not disappoint him. He had contacted him precisely to pour out all his grievances. So, upon hearing Liu Buli's question, Lu Wuming didn't hesitate at all. He immediately recounted the conversation he had just had with the Ghost King and his own speculations. After finishing, he paused for a moment and added, "Actually, I've known for a long time that no one expected my birth. But I always felt that whether they expected it or not had little to do with me. Because as long as I lived, I could use my existence to slap their faces. No matter what they thought in their hearts, or whether they were willing or not, I just lived. But now I realize that precisely because I lived, I have only solidified my position as a pawn. I don't know how to describe this feeling, Master..."
"I understand what you mean, you don't need to say more." Liu Buli interrupted Lu Wuming, his heart also aching. He took two deep breaths and said, "No matter why you were born, or what those people think. But you are alive now, living for yourself and for me. Just remember this, and don't think about anything else."