"Path to success…" Lo Jik's voice echoed in a dark space. He walked over the unending stretch of platform covered by heavy fog and mist. Despite the inability to peer beyond this dream-like haze, he knew it was the right path. His unconsciously recalled the mention of this particular phrase in
<<<>>>
Ren Zu could not save his eldest son, Verdant Great Sun. He committed a great blunder at the final juncture of resurrection and was swept away by Reverse Flow River back into Luo Po Valley.
His eldest daughter, Desolate Ancient Moon, heard of this and wanted to rescue her father.
However, one must have the help of Courage Gu and Faith Gu to enter the Life and Death Door.
But these Gu were with her father Ren Zu.
Desolate Ancient Moon was unable to enter the Life and Death Door. She wanted to rescue Ren Zu but had no means to do so, so she asked sought Cognition Gu Worm's guidance.
Cognition Gu gave her two methods.
The first method was to enter Space Cave, then open the space door to directly move to Ren Zu's side. She could then use the Space Cave to escape Life and Death Door. However, this method could only rescue Ren Zu's soul and could not resurrect him.
The second method was to climb to the peak of Cheng Bai Mountain and find the one and only Success Gu. As long as she made a wish to Success Gu, she could rescue Ren Zu and allow him to successfully resurrect.
Desolate Ancient Moon already knew about Space Cave's existence, but she had no idea how to find it. Moreover, to let her father truly resurrect, she had to go to Cheng Bai Mountain.
Cheng Bai Mountain was not tall and was like a mound. It was peculiar as it was made from millions and millions of pebbles.
These 'pebbles' were actually Failure Gu. And there was only one Success Gu, at the peak of Cheng Bai Mountain.
Desolate Ancient Moon walked to the foot of the mountain and began to ascend the mountain.
Her movement woke up Love Gu who was sleeping nearby.
Love Gu was very angry at having its sleep disturbed and wanted to take revenge against Desolate Ancient Moon. It used its unique power to awaken a piece of stone.
The stone gained life because of Love Gu and became a Rockman.
The Rockman was tall and mighty, his body filled with gold, silver, copper and iron, looking very dazzling and gorgeous.
After the Rockman was born, the first thing he saw was Desolate Ancient Moon. Her shocking beauty immediately conquered his heart.
He started following behind Desolate Ancient Moon, and as he looked at her fair back view, his heart was filled with love.
Finally, he could not endure it anymore and ran past Desolate Ancient Moon and blocked her, shouting loudly: "Beautiful lady, your appearance is so dazzling, your body is so elegant and your temperament is so noble. The very first moment I saw you, I was subdued by you. You are my love, please accept my love for you!"
The Rockman's physique was huge, completely blocking Desolate Ancient Moon's path.
Desolate Ancient Moon slightly furrowed her brows and sized up the Rockman before speaking coldly: "Love, what is that thing? You want me to accept your love, but where is it?"
The Rockman immediately took off the iron pieces from his body and offered them to Desolate Ancient Moon: "Beautiful lady, this is my firmness. I give it all to you, this is my love."
Desolate Ancient Moon disappointedly shook her head. She had no interest in these iron pieces.
The Rockman was dazed before taking out the copper pieces from his body and piling them above the iron pieces: "Beautiful lady, this is my obstinance. I give it all to you because this is my love."
Desolate Ancient Moon impatiently said: "Please move away, I have no interest in love, I need to rescue my father."
The Rockman panicked seeing that the goddess of his heart was unmoved. He kneeled down and made up his mind, taking out all the silver pieces in his body and piling them above the copper pieces: "Beautiful lady, this is my dignity. I give it all to you, this will prove my love for you, right?"
Desolate Ancient Moon's furrowed brows deepened: "Listen, I don't have time to waste with you."
The Rockman became more anxious and took out all the gold pieces in his body and put them above the silver pieces: "Beautiful lady, this is my self-confidence. I give it all to you, they represent my love for you."
Desolate Ancient Moon heaved a deep sigh: "Rockman, to express your love for me, you gave up your firmness, put down your obstinance, lost your dignity and even gave up your self-confidence. However, what I see is a very ugly Rockman. Get up, I cannot accept your love, I have more important things to do."
After losing his gold, silver, copper and iron decorations, the Rockman looked very small and weak, even appearing comical. It lost all the beauty and might it had before.
The Rockman wept and begged Desolate Ancient Moon: "Then, how can I obtain your love?"
Desolate Ancient Moon was anxious, but the Rockman kept on kneeling on the ground. She thought of an idea and changed her expression to show a smile: "Rockman, since you love me, take out your real heart for me to see."
The Rockman opened his chest without any hesitation and offered his scarlet heart to Desolate Ancient Moon.
Desolate Ancient Moon took the heart and immediately kept it.
The Rockman then said: "Now, I can obtain your love, right?"
Desolate Ancient Moon shook her head: "Even if you offer your heart, it cannot exchange for my love."
The Rockman was panicking seeing Desolate Ancient Moon had stored his heart away. He said: "Heartless woman, your cold-heartedness has made me despair. Since I can't obtain your love, then please give back my heart. Without my heart, I will die."
But Desolate Ancient Moon did not return the heart and watched as he slowly died.
"Why? I love you so much, why are you killing me!" The Rockman shouted before his death.
Desolate Ancient Moon looked at him with pity, but her voice was tranquil: "Rockman, I did not want to kill you. But you blocked my path to success."
<<<>>>
Lo Jik stopped walking when he noticed a change in the mist. Mo Yan's figure materialized before him through the mist. He couldn't help but smile broadly.
"I'm sorry, Mo Yan. That day in the refinement hall… I was unaware of many things."
Mo Yan remained silent. The injuries on her body healed as he spoke.
"But that is all I can apologize for."
Once the bite marks on her face healed, Mo Yan smiled.
"Why would I ever be angry?" Mo Yan was more compassionate the previous time because she was acutely aware of his weaknesses. But she no longer sensed anything remotely similar from Lo Jik, prompting her to reveal her nonchalance. "It's not like you assassinated my grandfather."
Lo Jik's smile widened.
"Who told him to horde that many resources? But I made it painless."
"You're lucky I'm dead or you would have visited the Door of Life and Death."
Lo Jik chuckled.
"I have no doubt about that. But had you stayed alive, I wouldn't have touched Gu Yue Mo Chen. If you'd survived the tide… If I revealed my true strength earlier, you might have remained alive. But I never let you become my burden."
Mo Yan understood what he meant. Wouldn't Lo Jik start considering Mo Yan a burden if he was forced to endure everyone's suspicion by revealing his rank 3 battle strength early on.
"Would you change anything about it? My fate, I mean."
Mo Yan inquired as she averted her gaze.
"I was destined to die, Lo Jik. Even if you intervened, it would merely delay the inevitable—"
"In a heartbeat." Lo Jik's firm voice cut through Mo Yan's words as she looked at him with an emotional gaze.
He chuckled.
"The more ability I gain, the greater my desires grow. Accepting your fate was never part of my desires. I'd defy everything holy and divine in a heartbeat to have you by my side, Sister Mo Yan. Or did you forget what I wanted?" He winked. "I never wanted your money. I only wanted someone like Sister Mo by my side."
Mo Yan thinned her lips before tears streaked down her cheeks.
"I understand now, Yan'er. I love you."
Lo Jik watched Mo Yan's figure become translucent.
"Not more than me, you slutty asshole!"
Her voice was filled with laughter as Lo Jik also scoffed with a smile.
He moved ahead calmly before another specter obstructed his path.
Unlike Mo Yan, she was naked.
"Well, of course I was," Shen Cui muttered blandly. Her hands were behind her back as she kept huffing with slight annoyance.
"You wanted to leave me, didn't you?" She asked crudely without her usual coyness.
"As long as you remained a mortal, yes," Lo Jik answered honestly.
"Because I was weak…" Shen Cui's gaze dimmed.
"No. Because I was the weak one."
Shen Cui hummed before looking at him expectantly.
"So?" She poked. "Don't you have things to apologize to me for?"
Lo Jik blinked before shrugging.
"Nope."
"What?! You used me and you won't even apologize? What about filling my head with all those sweet nothings knowing full well about my marriage? Why didn't you just snatch me from Fang Zheng?!"
Lo Jik laughed loudly.
"Because we were in Southern Border and not Northern Plains. Hahaha. And I earned greatly because of your marriage. Why would I ever apologize for that?"
Shen Cui frowned deeply, looking furious.
"You toyed with my heart!"
"Until the day you stepped into my bed naked, I did."
Lo Jik admitted frivolously.
"But you were a stubborn one, Cui'er. Truly. I respect you… if we forget your lacking character."
"What do you mean?"
"You were unfaithful."
"You started it!"
"Well, yes." Lo Jik grinned as he crossed his arms. "But all of you know by now I'm what you would call a manwhore."
"Then someone of your lacking character should have no issues with me!" Shen Cui similarly crossed her arms, tapping her slender foot impatiently.
"Hmm. Agreed. I wouldn't take more than a moment to snatch you, Shen Cui. I promise."
Shen Cui paused before sighing. The joy from earlier banter vanished as she shook her head.
"You cannot, Master. We died. Look at what happened with Ren Zu when he tried to achieve all his wishes. He became insane."
"A life without wishes… a life without ambition and craziness… what is it if not insanity?" Lo Jik smiled widely.
"If living the most interesting life leads to insanity, let me be the first to experience its joy. As long as I live, I will work hard to become more able and skillful until my desires take no more than a thought to be fulfilled."
"And that includes you, Shen Cui."
She began to vanish, her eyes wide at his composed declaration.
"You're mine."
He walked forward as a foul demon obstructed his path.
"Fuck off, you motherfucker!"
Lo Jik hissed as Bai Ning Bing disappeared with loud laughter.
"Your tits were even more massive as a woman, Lo Jik. You should have stayed like that."
The white-haired devil derided as Lo Jik rolled his eyes and moved ahead.
His heart was almost clear.
Love?
To think he already knew what it was… to think it was so surreal.
There was never a need to act.
He stopped soon again. His path was obstructed by Bai Lin and his son.
Lo Jik opened his mouth to say something before falling silent.
Couldn't they already feel everything? Couldn't they hear his determination drumming through his chest.
Could they not perceive his wretched intentions?
How could they not sense his defiance?
"Everything is possible."
He spoke softly. Today, he was unworthy of learning his son's name.
But tomorrow?
Worthy?
There was only one path to achieve that state.
Only one path could lead Lo Jik to achieve all his desires, to become truly insane and defy all forms of fate and heavenly regulations.
The Path to Success.
Bai Lin and his son quietly disappeared as Lo Jik showered in their approval and appreciation.
He continued walking forward without feeling tired. Every step forced him to recollect the past. His memories and emotions were no longer tampered.
"And only you would go that far for me. Only you would fuck over my emotions before realizing how much of a cosmic blunder it was to do so. Always impatient and rushing to form conclusions, eh?"
Lo Jik looked thinner and less toned. No.
He was Williams.
Before him stood a dark-skinned, golden-eyed woman, whose naturally curly dark hair reached her shoulders.
His words made the woman scratch the back of her head.
"Give me a break, I was dying back then and felt worried for you."
She was Nina.
"Worried?" Lo Jik sneered as overwhelming emotions threatened to burst through his chest. "And why would you be worried? You carelessly stepped in front of that holy blade! Use your brain for once and try stepping out of the range."
"I was deescalating the situation!" Nina snorted.
"And ended up deescalating your lifespan. Good work."
"Fuck off!"
Lo Jik thinned his lips before shaking his head.
"That thing… what was it?" He referred to Little Williams.
"I think… it was the rest of your negative emotions and some memories related to everyone you lost over your lives in both the world, before and after meeting me."
"And that happened because of you, right?" Lo Jik inquired.
Nina nodded.
"I was forced to reveal my trait."
"Also, my trait." Nina confirmed his suspicions.
"And the fact our make out was broadcasted into every priest's and nun's head?" Lo Jik demanded.
"Same thing. My trait," Nina lowered her head, feeling embarrassed.
"So?"
"So? What?" Nina snorted. "I ain't telling you jack shit, you lying piece of shit! You adulterer!"
"It must be something embarrassing, eh?" Lo Jik's grin instead widened and grew malicious.
"N- No!" Nina refuted.
"Nina." Lo Jik stepped forward. "I love you."
"Stop!"
Nina pouted and stepped back.
"I truly love you!"
"I said, stop!" Nina flushed. She was not an apparition like the specters he communicated with before.
"Hehe, you taught me all about it. You gotta bear responsibility, Ninny."
"Shove it, Willy!"
"Oh, I will."
Lo Jik husked as he approached Nina. He felt free for the first time for a long, long, long time!
"You have a snake rushing up your ass in the real world," Nina complained and dodged Lo Jik's hug. "Get out and save yourself!"
"Not before I force you!"
"You promised you won't!" Nina squeaked and shouted as their figures flickered everywhere.
Indeed, Lo Jik's body moved instinctively in the real world. His practice with the killer move profound enough to use it with his remaining modified thoughts. However, he would soon run out of thoughts and become defenseless.
But that didn't stop Lo Jik.
"Got you!"
"Hyaah!"
Nina let out an ostentatiously frightful scream before giggling and hugging Lo Jik back.
"You're such a mess, Silly Oaf!"
"Whose fault do you think it was?"
"Oh, I was just trying to help." Nina pouted.
"So?" Lo Jik let out a contented sigh before letting her go. "How are you here?"
"My trait…" Nina blushed. "It… I was able to study my own trait in this state for a long time. It's called Lover's Nine Wishes."
"Pfft!"
"Shut up!" Nina squirmed. "Don't laugh, asshole."
She snorted and continued softly.
"It's a trait that fulfills nine wishes related to the user and the one person they love romantically."
Lo Jik blinked before exhaling.
"That sounds very potent, Ninny. So, your trait allowed you to travel to this world with me?"
She nodded slowly as Lo Jik blinked and fell silent.
"Wait. That broadcast of our make out…"
"I wished the whole world to know I now loved someone…" Nina's face was crimson red as she wanted the ground to swallow her. "The trait then broadcasted our kiss to everyone in the church's city."
"The admission about my trait…" Lo Jik grew dazed.
"Remember? You dared me to find out about your trait? That was my second wish. But I didn't even know I awakened my trait at the time. I think kissing you or someone I had feelings for was the trigger to awaken my trait."
Lo Jik spoke flatly.
"And my emotions being fucked up?"
"I hoped you'd move on." Nina sighed dramatically. "Losing me was sure to fuck you up."
"What about coming to this world?"
Nina grumbled.
"My fourth wish. I wanted us to stay together forever. But how my trait fulfills the wishes are not up to my discretion. So, my soul was fused with my trait, which latched onto you."
"I have two traits?!" Lo Jik's eyelids twitched.
"No. You have your trait. I have my trait."
Nina shook her head.
"So… that second aperture was also…"
"My fifth wish. I wanted to experience this world with you."
Lo Jik fell silent.
"And that strange Hope Gu Worm as my vital gu?"
"That's not due to the trait. Well, partly?" Nina shrugged. "Our traits attracted that gu worm. Before you ask, no. My trait didn't increase its rank. Even I'm confused about it."
"And my divine capacity?"
"That's just the body, I think." Nina shook her head. "All I can say it isn't because of my trait."
Lo Jik's expression grew dark. "What about the aptitude of both the apertures being forcefully synchronized?"
Nina coughed softly.
"I wanted us to grow together. So what? Sue me."
Lo Jik couldn't help but consider two other strange events in his life.
"Remember when that bear killed me? How did I remember that event? Did I travel back in time? And what about those dark clouds of rejection whenever I absorb essence from primeval stones?"
Nina frowned deeply as she hissed distastefully.
"Some shit wanted to invade your body like a parasite when you absorbed your first primeval stone. That's about the same time I wished to protect you and experience this world with you. Becoming part of this trait elevated my senses and I was able to detect it, but I only know the same things as you and cannot ascertain the origins of those dark clouds. All I know is that primeval stones are filled with that shit and I'll be damned if I let it get inside you."
Lo Jik smirked as Nina rolled her eyes.
"As for that bear… we did die. That's when I wished to save you. Again, my trait affects the two of us, but how it achieves said effect is not up to me. We only remember that event because of my last wish. I sensed our memories were tampered after we experienced that time travel which just wasn't acceptable to me."
"Wait… last wish?"
Lo Jik gaped.
"LAST?!"
Lover's Nine Wishes.
Only nine wishes.
Lo Jik counted all of Nina's wishes before staring at her speechlessly.
"In my defense, I didn't even know its name until two years ago. As I said, it took time to understand my trait even if I already used up all my wishes." Nina defended herself.
Lo Jik had many things to say but he could only smile at the end. The dark clouds of bewilderment were already pierced through by rays of shining clarity. He didn't have to act. Of course, he would still act his ass off when it came to benefits. However, before Nina? He didn't need to. He could let go of the weight bearing on his shoulders and be free.
"I'm glad I could still meet you, Nina."
"So…" Nina played with her hair. "Do I get some of your promises or are you fully devoted to gals of this world?"
Lo Jik slowly took to a knee, smiling warmly.
"Ask away, my fair princess."
Nina looked at herself before frowning.
"I'm brown, you pretentious son of a bitch."
Lo Jik chuckled.
"Then ask away, you human-shaped piece of shit."
Nina paused before giggling loudly.
"What else would I want? Come here!"
Lo Jik grinned and walked over before holding Nina by the waist.
"Hmm."
Nina purred in satisfaction as she rested her head on his broad chest. "I love you even more, my beefcake."
"And I love you, too. Nina… thank you. Truly. Thank you for watching over me."
"I told you, hot stuff. You're a mess without me."
"Like you're any better when I'm not around."
Lo Jik snickered as the mist inside his heart completely disappeared. Blinding light showered them as they closed their eyes, feeling each other's breath on their lips before leaning down.
***
Alternate Title: Gu Yue Mo Chen Rolling in his Grave Right Now; Gu Yue Mo Chen's Unfilial Descendant; The Rizzler is Complete; Gu Yue Lo Jik Becomes Unstoppable; A Lo Jik Without Confusion is a Blight for the Gu World; Path to Success and Insanity; Lo Jik's Vows; Bai Ning Bing Watching Lo Jik Become More Interesting: Absolute Cinema; Lo Jik with Others: Oh, Dear. Oh, Dear *Lo Jik with Bai Ning Bing: You Fucking Donkey*; Racist Lo Jik?; Potent Trait; Two Traits; Nina; The Sun Priestess; Lo Jik's Deceased Lover's Honest Reaction While Watching Him Flirt with Nina:…; Nine Wishes Used Up; Demons Without Character Indeed; A Rizzler with Complete Understanding of the Self and Love; Newfound Clarity; Resolving Internal Issues
***
A/N: Huff! So, this should clear most of the mysteries (I was keeping a count, yes.) Lover's Nine Wishes wasn't going to originally have any limits. Instead, I planned to make it a type of trait that allowed the user to make nine wishes every nine years. However, doing so, the effects of the earlier wishes would disappear. But such a trait is truly too op in the gu world. Of the many mysteries, we resolved that the second aperture, the synchronized aptitude change, surviving the bear, remembering the future, and the ability to expel heaven's will from the body came from Nina's traits. And yes, Nina will also get a greater role in the future, but that isn't an immediate thing. Lo Jik himself needs to find a way to re-establish communication with her again after this moment. We also established the partial reason for Lo Jik's internal confusion. Yes, partial.
Now, only a few mysteries remain. First, the Hope Gu. Second, the source of specters (I mean, we know. But Lo Jik doesn't.) Third, the source of the external emotions that fucked him up, forcing him to descend into insanity in the real world (again, we know. But Lo Jik doesn't.)
As for Divine Capacity. There really is no strange origins. It's just the gu world's version of mutation, like those individuals with divine strength and whatnot. I just thought having a divine capacity would be cool, cause why not.
This way, Nina's trait is already used, but isn't useless. Lo Jik is already at a higher stage due to all these benefits, especially the second aperture. Its agency is already established since the beginning, and I won't need to fret over balancing it with the gu verse. We can keep cooking with Lo Jik's smutchievements and take over the gu world with the power of smut.
***
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