The improved female villains regained their memories.

She laughed, a laugh tinged with madness, like a venomous snake slithering and hissing: "Someone has been acting since birth in an attempt to change another, and in the end, they ruin everything for her. That's not something an apology can make up for."

"...What do you want me to do?"

"Very good, very good. That statement shows some responsibility. It's not about apologizing, but about expressing it through actions. Not bad."

She approached step by step, almost touching Yang Pingsheng, the hot wind blowing against his ear, but the words she spoke were vicious.

"You deserve to die, Yang Pingsheng."

"Just like that, you appear in someone's life and keep weaving beautiful dreams for them."

"It's called redemption, but in the end it brings endless nightmares."

"You are the executor, the executioner, and the guide."

"Would killing you be the only way to get rid of all this?"

Yang Pingsheng looked up, and the person in front of him no longer smiled. His eyes stared at him silently, as cold as a venomous snake.

The umbrella tilted completely towards Yang Pingsheng, his white clothes became stained with filth, and the holy goddess was soaked to the bone, looking like a drowned rat.

She finally revealed her true self to Yang Pingsheng, no longer the controlling and sickly girl from the rainy night of twelve, but the far more evil and insidious Song Panning.

At this moment, her face was also wet with raindrops, glistening and translucent, making it impossible to distinguish or see clearly.

A chilling murderous aura mingled with affection. Yang Pingsheng stared at her, somewhat bewildered, before finally avoiding her gaze.

"...You avoided me. Let me think...are you afraid of dying?"

The goddess tilted her head, her mouth opening and closing like a robot, and said:

"Or are you afraid that if you die, the female villains who have returned will go crazy?"

"If that's the case, what kind of feelings are you having?"

"Redemption? Escape? Saving the world?"

"I want to know what you think."

Yang Pingsheng subconsciously looked at her. Her broken, watery eyes were no longer cold, but pleading: "Yang Pingsheng, what are you thinking?"

"I……"

Something seemed to have stopped in the air.

Song Panning spoke, enunciating each word clearly:

"What are you running away from, what are you hiding from?"

Why are you afraid to answer my question directly?

"Yang Pingsheng, do you really want to save me?"

"If that's the case, why don't you dare look me in the eye?"

"No...no..." Yang Pingsheng suddenly realized something, his pupils contracted sharply, his lips parted slightly, unable to utter a single word.

Tick.

“Ping Sheng.” Listening to the sound of raindrops hitting the umbrella, Song Panning’s expression suddenly softened. She said softly, “Do you remember when you entered my Four Seasons Formation? I said that you were a little different from others.”

"Your darkness is gone."

"In other words, it's impossible for me to see your evil side. People have both good and evil sides. Even the kindest person will harbor malice in their heart."

"Goodwill is a tree that grows vigorously upward, while malice is the soil that nourishes it."

"Where has your soil gone in your life?"

“So.” Yang Pingsheng heard Song Panning’s straightforward and unreserved voice.

"Is it that woman named Jiang Shiyu?"

"Was it her who stole your soil?"

Do not……

That's not how it works...

No one is taking away my land; it is simply that I must follow this way of life.

Rainwater cascaded down the stone steps, and Song Panning's words pierced his memories from long ago, memories that predated the system.

"As expected, you saw my memories regarding that formation."

Yang Pingsheng looked at Song Panning. Although the rain was blocked by the umbrella, his vision was still blurry.

Damn system, it's not enough to screw it over a thousand times.

Even though I have lived through nine lifetimes and a long time has passed, the memories of that time are becoming clearer and clearer.

He could not forget it, kept it firmly in his heart, and took it as his creed.

“You know…”

“Yes.” Song Panning laughed again, tilting her head back to show off her snow-white neck. “Goddesses and their followers shouldn’t have secrets from each other, should they?”

"How could you..."

"Angry? Furious? Or something else? Now that I know, are you going to kill me to silence me?"

"..."

"Sure."

Song Panning simply put down her umbrella, smiled, and opened her arms to him.

"If you want to kill me, then come at me."

“I have been corrupted by human will, and even my soul has become your shape. If you want to kill me, I will never resist.”

"I love you so much, so I would never hurt you."

She stood in the rain, her smile filled with satisfaction and joy.

“We are all the same kind of lonely souls, hiding our inner secrets and facing the world with pretense. How could I possibly hurt someone like you?” she said.

A schemer hiding in the shadows, presenting a disguise.

A madman who follows the creed of the dead and never deviates from it.

Yang Pingsheng looked at Song Panning in disbelief.

"you……"

"Loving someone is a resonance of souls. Do you think I would be like those brainless women around you, desperately trying to keep you by my side?"

Song Panning smiled, reached out, and stroked Yang Pingsheng's cheek.

"No, I won't do that, because I will make you unable to live without me from the bottom of your heart."

"You are so lonely, so good at pretending, and only I can understand that."

"Grow up for me, grow into the best version of ourselves, and then smile. When that time comes, I will stop the rain and let the sun shine as it should."

The cool skin felt like snake scales to the touch.

Song Panning's voice rang out, but it was somewhat muffled in the rain.

"Let's treat everything from before as a dream. The way you presented yourself in order to uphold your beliefs is time for you to change. Not for me, but for yourself. Heh, I love you so much, so I hope you become a better person."

"The truth you want to know, I have it here."

"I will tell you the truth about the human chess game, the truth about the protagonists and antagonists."

"If you want to know what to do next, that's okay, I'll tell you too."

"Follow my pace, change, grow, and become better."

"Then..." Song Panning's cold, damp palm landed on Yang Pingsheng's hand, gently grasping it, carrying both blessing and curse.

"I can never leave you again."

"Eternal life, forever."

-------

Faced with Wen Shihan's words, Yang Pingsheng remained silent for a long time.

Firstly, his vocal cords were damaged; secondly, the situation was complicated; and thirdly, with Dionysus relentlessly pursuing him, he found it difficult to spend time explaining.

He simply patted Wen Shihan gently to comfort her, hoping she could calm down for a while.

"You two, you're not getting away. Leave your lives behind!!" From behind, the God of Wine, his eyes bloodshot, approached.

He actually abandoned most of his defenses against the sword spirit, leaving only a small portion of his mind to defend against being pulled into the dream world, and using the rest to focus on hunting down Yang Pingsheng.

[Since I'm bound to be affected by the Sword Soul Heart anyway, I might as well let go and let it completely transform me into a killing god!!]

Dionysus had made up his mind and moved even faster, closing the distance to Yang Pingsheng to just a few steps.

With the path ahead narrow, Yang Pingsheng had to carry Wen Shihan while also guarding against the Sword Soul Heart, so he couldn't move very fast.

"Gotcha! Die!" Dionysus had arrived behind him, his eyes gleaming, and threw a punch.

Yang Pingsheng turned around and exchanged a punch.

The stone fell, and Dionysus staggered back three steps. Unable to stand steadily, and with the added force, his grip on Wen Shihan loosened.

Wen Shihan immediately understood the situation. He turned around, landed, and stood between the two.

"It seems I was right. My brother has been hiding a lot from me. I thought he truly believed me and was willing to be completely trusting of me..."

Her eyes were a little downcast, but her tone suddenly brightened: "But it's okay, I will fully support whatever my brother wants to do."

"Brother, if you want to climb higher, if you want the heart of the sword, then go."

"Xiaohan will never be a burden to you."

She gave Yang Pingsheng one last, affectionate look before lunging at the God of Wine.

"!?"

Caught off guard, Dionysus was grabbed by the waist and thrown backward.

"You crazy girl, if you want to die, I'll grant your wish!"

Stimulated by the Sword Soul Heart, the God of Wine's murderous intent surged, and he repeatedly struck Wen Shihan's abdomen with his knees.