The Yellow-Haired Villain in Soaring Phoenix’s Novels Also Desires Happiness

Chapter 76, Whisper of the God of Love (End)

The afterglow of the setting sun stretched the shadows long.

In the small fishing village, which had almost turned to ruins, Mu En held An Ning’s shovel, finding a spot where the sunlight was best, digging fresh soil, scoop by scoop.

A pit quickly took shape; having dug about half a meter deep, Mu En stopped his movements.

Because it was enough.

He stepped aside, and An walked forward, cradling the head of Eluka in her hands.

Eluka’s eyes were tightly closed, as if she had fallen into a deep slumber.

A slight curve was drawn at the corner of her mouth.

It seemed she had received a satisfactory answer, so when she left, there was not much regret left behind.

An gently placed her head into the pit, then used her hands to cover it with soil, scoop by scoop.

This time, Mu En did not help; instead, he leaned against the shovel, watching the distant sunset while listening to An’s whispers.

“I’m sorry, I can’t find anyone to be buried with you.”

An lowered her eyelids, her expression somewhat sorrowful.

When the evil god personally descended, all flesh and blood turned into food for Him, leaving not even a scrap behind.

In the end, An could only bring Eluka back to this now deserted little fishing village for burial.

It could be considered going home, right?

The beautiful head gradually became covered by soil.

An placed the last scoop of earth on the small grave, then with a thought, a metallic tombstone stood upright above it.

An reached out, wanting to write something on it, but hesitated for a long time, unable to write even a single word.

Write Eluka’s grave? That felt too lonely.

Write the name of this little fishing village? But beneath the grave soil, there was nothing but the girl’s head.

“Forget it.”

Mu En gazed at the sunset, softly saying:

“Tragedies don’t need to be remembered.”

“Is that so?”

An’s expression was somewhat dazed as she withdrew her hand.

“Then let’s go with what the young master says.”

In the silent fishing village, there was no trace of life left.

An stood gazing at the blank tombstone for a long, long time, as if she were deeply contemplating something.

Only when she was certain that she could not find the answer to her questions did she, with a hint of trepidation, cautiously ask:

“Master.”

“Hmm?”

“Am I wrong?”

“Wrong? What do you mean?”

“About my love.”

Love is possession.

Love is to gain everything from the one you love.

Love is to be forever together with the one you love.

Love is ruthless.

Not long ago, she understood it this way.

This is love—

What a beautiful love!

Yet, seeing Eluka’s monstrous form, desperate to devour the one she loved, An felt as if she were looking into a mirror.

The reflection in the mirror, like that monster, whispered of love, so ugly.

It made one wonder, is that nauseating thing truly love?

“Master, is my love wrong?”

“Perhaps.”

Mu En nodded, then shook his head.

“Or perhaps, you simply mistake possessiveness for love.”

“Possessiveness?”

“The desire born from a frantic need to own something.”

Mu En said:

“Possessiveness often stems from the derivatives of love; it resembles love closely, though there is an essential difference between the two, making it easy to confuse them.”

“Are you saying that I have… confused possessiveness with love?”

“I don’t know.”

Mu En spoke softly:

“Everyone has different thoughts in their hearts; only one can truly discern whether what lies within is love or possessiveness.”

“Yet it is precisely myself that is the hardest to distinguish.”

An let out a self-deprecating laugh.

An turned to look at Mu En’s profile, that handsome face, outlined by the silhouette of the setting sun, drew lines that made one’s heart race and cheeks flush, making it impossible to resist the urge to pull that face into an embrace.

In that moment, was it love in the heart, or was it possessiveness?

“What exactly is love?”

This question, which was originally the simplest for An, suddenly transformed overnight into the greatest dilemma in the world.

But perhaps, if I change my perspective, I might understand it better.

Thinking of this, An couldn’t help but feel a bit shy.

“Young Master, I remember you said something before.”

“Mm, what did I say?”

“You said…”

An’s cheeks flushed slightly as she spoke softly:

“That we could date as a normal couple.”

“It seems I did say that.”

Mu En suddenly recalled that it was something he had said to reassure An while he was in prison.

But why was An bringing this up all of a sudden?

Mu En furrowed his brow slightly, realizing that things were not simple.

“Since you said that, can we start over?”

“Starting over means…”

“Just like ordinary people, becoming an ordinary couple.”

Dating.

Getting married.

Even having children.

To explore what true love really is.

“I see, I think I understand what you mean.”

Mu En nodded, seemingly blinded by the setting sun, he stepped back a few paces inconspicuously.

“But just to be safe, I still have to ask—are you going to take me back to the Duke’s residence next?”

“Of course.”

An nodded vigorously, speaking shyly:

“I grew up in the Duke’s residence as well; it was my only home… Of course, I don’t intend to become the mistress of the Duke’s household or anything like that. I will still serve the young master as his personal maid, but while serving him, is it possible to…”

The girl shyly turned her head back, her flushed cheeks full of beautiful expectations for the future.

To manage a little nest of love with the young master in the Duke’s residence, to do this and that embarrassing thing, and perhaps even have a dozen or twenty children… just thinking about it makes one…

Swish—

An heard the howling wind.

In that moment of turning back, An saw the young master’s cold face, and—

A shovel.

Before she could react further, accompanied by a dull sound, An only showed a hint of astonishment before her vision went dark and she collapsed to the ground.

“Hmph, wicked woman.”

Looking at An, who had fainted on the ground, Mu En smirked, his lips curling into a wicked smile:

“Did you really think you could trick me back to the Duke’s residence for some confinement play? Am I that easy to deceive?”

“How could a Saint Seiya fall in the same place twice!”

From noble mtl dot com

“The Duke’s residence? Not even a dog would return there!”

The dim light of the sky reflected the man’s arrogant laughter.

A pair of affectionate waterbirds hid in the grass by the lake, quietly casting glances at the man standing alone against the cold wind.

Filled with pity.

……

……

“Where is this…”

An awoke from her faintness, her eyes landing on a familiar ceiling.

“Head maid, you’re awake.”

The girl waiting by the bedside leaned down in surprise:

“How do you feel? Is there anything wrong with your body?”

“Nor?”

Looking at the girl in a maid outfit before her, An’s eyes revealed a hint of confusion.

“What are you doing here, and… right, where is the young master?”

An suddenly sat up, looking around. “Where is the young master?”

“This is the Duke’s residence, of course, I’m here.”

Nor blinked, hesitating as she spoke:

“As for the young master… after he brought you back, he changed his clothes and hurriedly left.”

When it came to this, Noel couldn’t help but feel a bit flushed, muttering, “How could the young master wear such shameless clothes? Has he learned bad habits outside?”

“The young master has left?”

An’s eyes widened in disbelief, then she exclaimed angrily, “Why didn’t you stop him!”

“But he’s the young master; how could we stop him?”

Noel said with a pained expression, “Besides, the young master said he was going to school, and we had no reason to stop him.”

“Is… is that so?”

An lay back down on the bed, dejected.

She wasn’t wrong; if the young master really wanted to leave, how could ordinary maids stop him?

“Then… I’ll take my leave first. Head maid, you should rest.”

Noel bowed and hurriedly excused herself.

She felt that the head maid was acting strangely; it was better to slip away for now.

…

After Noel left.

An got up alone and walked to the window.

She gazed out at the scenery.

In the manor, the maids were busy trimming the greenery, shaping it into various pleasing forms.

Yet even so, An felt that this vast duke’s residence had suddenly turned desolate.

“Has he really run away, the young master?”

“And to the St. Maria Academy, where outsiders are forbidden to enter. How cunning, young master.”

An leaned her head against the window, staring far, far away.

Unfortunately, she could no longer see the person she longed to see.

“I will not give up.”

An pressed her fingers against the glass and suddenly clawed down.

The sound was jarring, her fingers leaving fierce marks on the glass.

“No matter where you run, young master, I will bring you back, and then…

Stay by my side forever, never to part again.”

In An’s eyes, this intense obsession surfaced, just as it always had.

“But…”

An slowly crouched down.

In the gap where her hair fell, her dignified and delicate face turned as red as a ripe apple.

—

It was the shyness of a young girl, mingled with worry.

No longer was there darkness flowing, only the pure beauty of a clear spring.

“I seem to have no way to hurt the young master now, what should I do?”

……

……

“I love you, young master.”

……

……

【Jealousy Progress: 100%】

【Fixed progress reached, fate interference has been activated】

【Partial memory blurring has been completed】

【……】

【Please continue to struggle, Mu En Campbell】

……

……

(End of this volume)

PS: This volume has finally come to an end, a cause for celebration, a cause for celebration.

Perhaps some clever and handsome readers might ask why it’s handled this way, why Mu En and An can’t be affectionate in the Duke’s residence?

Of course, it would be wonderful, but that would inevitably lead to An’s solo pure love route.

And this is a harem novel.

I know many readers enjoy this kind of story, but we can’t let Mu En languish in the Duke’s residence or truly return to the countryside to farm; he must step out.

Only by stepping out can the plot develop, and he can meet more beautiful girls.

An’s role won’t be diminished; she is one of the female leads.

Moreover, I want An to retain a suitable touch of the yandere; that makes her even cuter, doesn’t it?

The next volume will still be exciting.

Thank you once again.

See you.