Douluo Dragon King: My strategy system is not right

Chapter 44: That year's regret finally became regret

"How... could you?"

Under Lin Ci's almost incredulous gaze, the not-so-handsome man slowly approached him.

He forced a faint smile: "Why, don't you recognize me?"

Lin Ci seemed to be somewhat receptive, but his tone was a little stiff: "Huo Yuhao, it's been a long time."

The man in front of him, who was not considered handsome, was none other than the legendary figure Huo Yuhao, the Spirit Ice Douluo who had single-handedly founded the Spirit Pagoda ten thousand years ago.

Lin Ci was a little puzzled: "But, why are you here?"

Huo Yuhao chuckled lightly, a hint of pride in his voice: "You've always been the one planning everything before, and now I'm finally getting to experience that feeling."

Lin Ci was a little speechless, but still reminded: "I remember that if we talk here, people outside will see us."

"Don't worry, with my mental power, I can naturally create a picture of our battle. Your teacher, who is at the Soul Emperor level, can't even see it."

After Huo Yuhao finished speaking, he teased, "Why, are you so cautious now? When we were together before, I remember you were very brave."

Lin Ci snorted coldly and glared at Huo Yuhao, "Stop talking nonsense and tell me why you are here."

Huo Yuhao smiled helplessly, "That's more like you used to be. In fact, after you disappeared, both Dong'er and I have been searching for you. However, there was no result. Before I ascended to the God Realm, I specifically left this wisp of my soul behind, just to continue searching for you on Douluo Continent. Later, the God Realm suffered an unexpected change, and this soul also remained on Douluo Continent. But a soul without an origin will eventually dissipate completely one day. In order to preserve this soul, I fell into a deep sleep. Later, I accidentally discovered this new technology developed by the Tang Sect, and my soul was stored in this virtual world. I just didn't expect that after searching the entire continent and unable to find you, I would meet you here again ten thousand years later."

Lin Ci nodded thoughtfully, but still asked, "How can you be sure it's me? Or rather, why are you still willing to believe that I still exist in this world?"

Huo Yuhao said confidently, "This isn't a simple matter. When you first entered here, I was already convinced of your appearance. It wasn't until you fought with Dong'er's avatar that I was truly certain. The look in Dong'er's eyes couldn't be faked."

After a pause, he added: "Besides, from what I know about you, you must still be here."

Lin Ci was startled for a moment, then turned his head away, as if not wanting Huo Yuhao to see his expression. "I didn't expect that after all this time, you've become so clever. Where did that dull, cowardly kid go?"

Huo Yuhao gently patted Lin Ci's shoulder. "We've known each other for so long. We grew up together, so we have some tacit understanding. Speaking of which, where have you been all these years? Why did you suddenly vanish without a trace? Even if I searched for you in the Divine Realm with my immense spiritual power, I couldn't find a single trace."

"It's a long story." Lin Ci sighed, with helplessness flashing in his eyes.

Huo Yuhao, however, was very open-minded. “It’s a long story, so let’s not get into it. Since we’re brothers, why don’t we chat for a bit and skip all that nonsense?”

Lin Ci smiled slightly, "Okay."

"Oh, by the way. The girl with you has a complicated identity, so you better be careful," Huo Yuhao reminded.

Lin Ci didn't care: "Don't worry, I know better than you."

"What? You know me so well, you won't abandon me again, right?" Huo Yuhao teased.

"What? How did I become a scumbag again?"

"Aren't you?" This successfully silenced Lin Cigan. True, he wasn't a good person. But if possible, he wanted to be with someone forever. Rather than chasing after everyone like a lapdog, only to fall back into the abyss and repeat this torturous process over and over again.

Huo Yuhao continued, "Dong'er loved you so much back then, but you deliberately avoided her. You never even saw her once until she returned to the God Realm."

Lin Ci was helpless: "You..."

Huo Yuhao interrupted, "Are you saying I don't understand again?"

At this moment, he became serious. "You didn't go to Poseidon that year, and she never chose anyone. Do you know? Since then, none of us has seen her smile, even though she loves to smile the most."

Lin Ci was unable to refute, but it was too late by then.

At that time, the favorability rating had dropped to 1%, seemingly due to the tug of fate, or the deliberate influence of the little punk. Lin Ci and the system both believed that the capture strategy was bound to fail, and there was no need to wait until Poseidon Fate to confess.

He was forced to start the next strategy mission. Previous strategy missions required a new body. But that time, it didn't need one because the strategy mission was to capture the Emperor Auspicious Beast King Qiu'er.

Later, Lin Ci left Shrek Academy and, with the system's help, began to pursue the Emperor Beast. Later, he learned that Wang Dong'er had no choice at Poseidon. But by then, it was too late. He had a new target, so he could only avoid her as much as possible.

Therefore, it was because of his deliberate intention that Huo Yuhao just said that Wang Donger never saw him again.

That was also the reason Lin Ci first questioned the system. Wang Dong'er's demeanor while searching for him was definitely not something that could be achieved with just a 1% favorability rating. Yet, the system remained adamant that it hadn't made a mistake.

In the end, it had to be this way. Because he had truly loved her, Lin Ci knew very well that he was destined to leave. Without the quest, there was no need to meet again. Otherwise, he would complete the quest while spending time with Wang Dong'er, and then finally leave this world resolutely.

She was the only one hurt.

Although he had already hurt her, he was unwilling to stab her in the heart again.

Seeing that Lin Ci had stopped talking, Huo Yuhao sighed softly, "I know you have your reasons. You've been precocious since childhood. If it weren't for you, I might have died in the Duke's Mansion long ago. I've always trusted you, and your foresight and ability to escape danger time and time again have convinced me that you're different from the rest of us. Just like how you've reappeared on Douluo Continent, and here again, after ten thousand years."

"So brother always believes in you."

Listening to his words, Lin Ci smiled. There was a feeling of seeing an old friend again in her smile, but more of it was bitterness.

That year, the proud girl eagerly waited for an opportunity to express her feelings. But she never got the chance.

Many years later, the girl looked back and did not blame the person who disappeared, but blamed herself more.

She blamed herself for not expressing her feelings earlier...

　So, did the system leave because Lin Ci failed to complete the strategy mission?

　　So, why did those who had completed the previous walkthroughs not receive any rewards when they came to Gu Yue, and why did the system give them all to the protagonist before leaving?

　　
　
(End of this chapter)