Chapter 1287: Casual

Nana’s mischievous smile and gaze softened. Her voice became caring and authoritative like an elderly person addressing a child. “You’ve led a life of ignorance, but that’s your biggest blessing. It’s time. The three of you have played your games. You won this time. Come back.”

Nainai trembled. She couldn’t stop herself from walking forward.

“Don’t go!” Zhang Wei shouted, grabbing Nainai. “Don’t listen to her, Nainai! This is a trap! She’s lying to you!”

Nainai looked at Zhang Wei with tears running down her face. “So, so you were right. This...my fate lacks sovereignty...”

“I was joking!” Zhang Wei seized her shoulders. “Be confident, Nainai! You’re the empress! You’re one of us! One of the Nine Scions!”

“Zhang Wei.” Nainai shook her head with anguish. “Although... although you always teased me, I’m happy. I always think it would be great if I could blend in like you... But I... will never get to do that now.”

Zhang Wei Shook violently. Her words felt like a spear through his chest, pinning him to the ground.

Nainai walked around Zhang Wei and went up to Gao Yang. He looked at her with a calm, serious gaze. He found the revelation difficult to accept, but he had to.

“It’s okay, Nainai.” He extended a hand. “Fate has its plan.”

“Captain.” Nainai took his hand. “Thank you.”

Then they had no other words for each other.

Three seconds later, Nainai continued her walk forward.

Hong Xiaoxiao caught up with her, sobbing too hard to speak properly. “Don’t go, Nainai... Stay with us...”

Nainai shook her head. Her quiet gaze said all there was to say: there was no other choice for a projection other than returning to their master.

Hong Xiaoxiao stared at her, at a loss for words.

Nainai wiped the tears from her face, and with a forced smile, she reached out to tap Hong Xiaoxiao on the forehead. “Take this. It’s this...it’s Nainai’s remaining sovereign power.”

SHe injected Hong Xiaoxiao with all of her Talents and energy.

Hong Xiaoxiao bawled, throwing her arms around Nainai.

It was a long while later that Nainai extracted herself and continued her walk. She looked at the others with yearning, and they looked at her with the same reluctance.

She wished that she had woken up sooner. Then at least she would’ve had more time to bid them farewell. Unfortunately, her goodbye ended up rushed. Even in her last moment, she failed to have an Empress’s send-off and a grandiose epilogue. Instead, she was ushered off stage with only the cheap bouquet the staff had prepared, accompanied by discordant applause.

Lastly, Nainai’s eyes found Qing Ling in the group.

She jolted and looked away like she had been electrocuted. She ducked her head in sorrow and frustration, tears overflowing from her eyes despite her best effort.

“Nainai, come here,” Qing Ling ordered coldly.

Nainai stopped walking, her body shaking violently.

Clenching her teeth, she tried to walk up to Qing Ling, but she couldn’t. She couldn’t resist the command for her to return to Nana.

Nainai paled. Finally, she lifted her head and shouted in despair, “Who do you think you are, mortal?! You think I’m just going to go to you like a dog?! I don’t fear you! I’m just not petty enough to take you seriously! You’re not going to order me around from now on! You hear me?!”

“I’ll spare you this time! But never again!”

Expression impassive, Qing Ling walked up to Nainai.

Nainai shook as she cried out, “Don’t-don’t come any closer! Stop! Mortal, stop...”

Qing Ling came up to her, standing half a head taller. She looked down, grabbing Nainai’s hand and yanking her into an embrace, bending down slightly with her chin resting on her shoulder.

Nainai melted into the hug and held onto Qing Ling tightly, breaking down in tears. “I-I’m not going to be an empress anymore. I’m Nainai... Nainai of the Nine Scions... I don’t want to do... I want to stay with all of you...”

“Nainai,” Qing Ling reassured her with a quiet strength. “Don’t be scared. We have a proper goodbye, then we will see each other again.”

“Yeah, yeah...” Nainai blinked away her tears. She nodded vehemently. “It’s...it’s a promise.”

“Promise.”

Nainai let go before turning back to Nana.

Zhang Wei’s eyes reddened as they remained fixed on Nainai’s back. Clenching his fists, he hollered, “Zhang Wei of the Nine Scions, respectfully bidding Your Majesty farewell!”

Hong Xiaoxiao followed suit after a beat. “Hong Xiaoxiao of the Nine Scions, respectfully bidding Your Majesty farewell!”

“Liao Liao of the Nine Scions, respectfully bidding Your Majesty farewell!”

“Gregor of the Nine Scions, respectfully bidding Your Majesty farewell!”

“Genius of Li City, respectfully bidding Your Majesty farewell!”

“Farewell, Your Majesty!”

“Farewell! Farewell! Farewell!”

...

The tears Nainai had tried so hard to stop fell once more. She laughed and cried as she walked up to Nana, not looking back.

Nana sighed softly and said in a fond voice, “Alright. You’re making me out to be the bad guy. You chose to go to the Mist World. I didn’t force you.”

“Shut-shut up...” Nainai was beside herself. “I hate you... Hate you so much...”

“Alright, alright. It’s my fault, all my fault.” Nana gently put her arms around her and patted her head. “It’ll pass. It’ll all pass.”

Nana tightened her arms a little, and the girl in her embrace returned to her, vanishing. It was similar to how Gao Yang’s double returned to his main body.

Her eyes glinted as she digested the experience. “How nice.”

They stared at her silently, their eyes blazing with suppressed sorrow, frustration, and rage.

“Alright, let’s get to business.” Nana dispersed the room with a wave of her hand. A swivel chair was behind her. She plopped herself down with her legs tucked to her chest. With a hand scratching her foot, she conjured a lollipop with her other hand and put it into her mouth.

While sucking on the lollipop, she slurred, “Make yourself at home. Whatever you need, you can just get it here.”

She cocked her head and pointed at her temple. “Your wish will come true. You tried, right? Isn’t it easy?”

They remained silent.

The swivel chair moved forward on its own like a little toy car, bringing Nana to them. “Don’t just stand around. We’re going to be roommates from now on.”

No one bought her nonsense.

“Nana,” Chen Ying asked the question she wanted to ask the most, barely keeping her emotions from coloring her tone, “Why?”

“Huh?” Nana didn’t understand.

“Little Tian, Nana, and Ceruelan Dog.” Chen Ying stared at her. “Why turn them into living humans before taking their lives from them? Why are you so cruel?”

“Hm.” Nana pouted and took the lollipop out of her mouth. “It’s a little cruel, but they are me. Isn’t it my freedom to be cruel to myself?”

Chen Ying pursed her lips.

“Eh.” The girl broke into another mischievous smile. “Didn’t you always say that while the world is fake, love is real? Then it’s fine as long as that’s the case, right? Why are you so hung up on the details?”

Chen Ying lost it then. “Answer me properly!”

“Geez, calm down, or you’re gonna get wrinkles.”

Nana crossed her legs and gave it a good thought. “If I have to give you a reason, it’s for balance.”