Chapter 318: Only Possibility 6 (Parody Conclusion)

After attempting to alter various destinies, Xue Meng and Little Torch Dragon finally realized something:

Mo Ran might not be gay, but in his long life, he would inevitably encounter someone named Chu Wanning and fall in love with them.

"So, instead of exhausting ourselves introducing girls to Mo Ran, we might as well just eliminate Chu Wanning altogether," Little Torch Dragon concluded their mission succinctly.

"Or, we could simply give Chu Wanning a sex change," Xue Meng added.

"Or, give Mo Ran one."

"After all, fate has its way of playing tricks. No matter how many female characters there are in the game, Mo Ran will still end up with Chu Wanning in the end."

Faced with this harmonious duo of cultivation world employees, Director Jiang Xi's expression turned gloomy. With one hand propping up his cheek and the other flipping through a thick stack of mission reports, he read through the detailed listings of Mo Ran's various romantic subplots with female leads. Without exception, they all culminated in Mo Ran being united with Chu Wanning. For more chapters, visit https://m.biqugetv.com/ or https://www.biqugetv.com/.

"I used to think this was a multiple-ending romance simulation game," Xue Meng's expression wasn't much better than Jiang Xi's. "I never expected it to be an old-fashioned, single-ending RPG. Have you played 'Chinese Paladin 1', Director Jiang? Even in... I can't remember if it was 1998 or 2001, but anyway, even that ancient computer game had a hidden ending for Ling Yueyu."

With a disheartened bite of his lower lip, he continued, "I think Mo Ran's life is worse than 'Chinese Paladin 1' from 1998. He doesn't even have a hidden ending."

The young man stood before Director Jiang's desk with his arms crossed, incessantly voicing his grievances, while Director Jiang remained silent, his gaze sweeping over the reports of failed conquests. His brows knitted tighter and tighter.

"In truth, there's no need to confine ourselves to Mo Ran's current life," Jiang Xi finally lifted his thin eyelids. "Have you tried exploring his other reincarnation timelines?"

"I've tried it," Xue Meng said. "The Republican era timeline, the future timeline... I've tried them all. Flip a few pages back and see for yourself."

Indeed, in the latter part of the report, it appended possibilities for the female leads in other reincarnation storylines to be conquered.

"The Republican Era storyline is the most disheartening," Little Torch Dragon interjected. "We simulated a journey back to the Republican Era, where Mo Ran was the young master of a wealthy family. From a young age, his father had arranged a childhood betrothal for him with the daughter of a local prominent family, intending to wed her upon her coming of age."

Jiang Xi: "Oh? Isn't that great?"

Little Torch Dragon couldn't help but chuckle through his tears. "What's so good about it? Before that girl even came of age, Mo Ran ran away from home to join the Nationalist Party and declared he wanted freedom, not an arranged marriage."

"And then?"

And then came the wars, first against the wokou pirates, then the civil war. During the civil war, he was sent to spy on the opposing faction." Xue Meng sighed, taking up the narrative and assisting Jiang Xi in flipping through the thick mission book to the page about the Republic of China era. "Look here, at this photograph. This kid wore his sheep's clothing so convincingly, not a hint of warlord about him. Right? So, everything was going well initially."

Jiang Xi had more or less guessed what would come next. He wasn't the least bit surprised as he asked coolly, "So how did Chu Wanning appear this time?"

"Let's not talk about it," Xue Meng said with annoyance, waving his hand. "He was the captain of the squad where Mo Ran was infiltrating. During an ambush, Mo Ran got shot and bled profusely, losing consciousness. It was Captain Chu who carried this Nationalist spy on his back through mountains of corpses and seas of blood to reach the safety of their trench."

"..."

The Little Torch Dragon murmured, "Chu Wanning nearly lost his own life just to save that guy."

Jiang Xi sighed. "So when Mo Ran woke up, he defected from the Nationalists and stopped being an infiltrator, fully committing himself to Chu Wanning's side."

He didn't even use any interrogative words, as if he could see through the years, the smoke of war, and the creases on his skin, the transformation Mo Ran had undergone back then.

"Yes," Xue Meng rolled his eyes. "They fell in love again. They rejected the excellent female comrades the organization tried to set them up with. They fought side by side, lay in the same trench gazing at the stars while holding their guns. They made bullet necklaces to wear, and after liberation, they lived in the same courtyard, becoming two 'bachelors' who captivated countless young women. These two 'bachelors' would make dumplings together, ride a Phoenix bicycle for a countryside outing, go to a photo studio for colored portraits, and even buy a bag of malt sugar at the department store to enjoy wrapped in brown paper."

With rapid-fire delivery, Xue Meng recounted these honey-colored anecdotes from the past. Despite the speed at which he spoke, the scenes unfolded like fleeting meteors in Jiang Xi's mind.

Pale blue smoke from gunpowder lingered, and dirty, tattered uniforms were visible.

In a trench forged from blood and mud, two young men leaned against each other during their night watch. Their dark eyes were framed by fluttering lashes, dusted with starlight from the wilderness. In the distant horizon, a soldier played a harmonica, the melody drifting away and vanishing into the twilight mist.

There was no battle that night, only a hint of smoky residue in the fog, testament to the upheavals of time.

"Eventually, they reached their seventies and eighties," Xue Meng said with a dry tone. After the lovey-dovey phase had passed, his speech returned to its normal pace. "Then came the calamity that started in the year Sixty-Six, but even that couldn't separate those two stubborn old men."

He finished his story.

The scent of their love lingered until death, and even death couldn't truly turn the page.

Jiang Xi was silent for a long while. In the end, he put down the report, looking somewhat troubled as he pressed the temples on the side of his head.

It was said that couples were like birds in the same tree, flying apart when disaster struck.

But if even the Ten Years' Catastrophe couldn't tear these two old bones apart, Jiang Xi didn't know how likely it was to force a girl on Mo Ran to make him straight.

Or perhaps Mo Ran wasn't gay to begin with?

Maybe there was just someone named Chu Wanning who could never be absent from his life, from his destiny. That was all.

As the workday ended, the cultivation bureau employees left the office building one by one, the background music being 'Going Home,' a favorite of the previous Southern Palace Bureau Chief.

Some of them dwell permanently in the cultivation world, able to leisurely ride their swords back home. Others have adapted to life among mortals, coexisting with those in modern society who no longer strongly believe in spirits, demons, or immortals. These individuals must conceal their supernatural abilities, commuting by bus or subway, or driving, into the nascent nightlife.

"I don't think there's any point in lingering here," Jiang Xi said, his back turned to Xue Meng and Little Torch Dragon as he stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, observing the bustling traffic below.

Finally, he added, "Forget it."

Xue Meng was momentarily puzzled and responded with an inquisitive "Hm?"

Jiang Xi crossed his arms and turned half his face back to look at him. "What I mean is, your mission is over."

In any case, no matter how many times they tested it, the outcome of the game would remain the same.

There was no point in repeating the experiment until the cultivation world devised a new approach.

"Let's head back home."

This was the first time Xue Meng had failed a mission.

Upon hearing Jiang Xi's words, although he knew it wasn't his fault, he still felt a twinge of unease.

He subconsciously rubbed the carpet with the tip of his shoe, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "I still have a question."

By now, Jiang Xi had fully turned around. He leaned against the spotless windowpane, raising his eyelashes slightly. "Go ahead."

Xue Meng took a deep breath. "I saw his childhood in the simulator. I think he should be about my age."

"So?"

"...So why don't we just find him and ask if he's willing to participate in the experiment?"

Jiang Xi fell silent for a moment before scoffing. "Genetic experiments are very dangerous. In this day and age, do you still think the cultivation world is as chaotic and ignorant as it was in your history lessons? ...We wouldn't just use any free person for such things."

"..."

"Even if that person is the Butterfly-Bone Beauty Xi," Jiang Xi said. "Wake up, kid. The era of survival of the fittest is long gone."

Under the cold white light of the director's office, Xue Meng's face seemed to flush slightly.

He mumbled, "...That's not what I meant... I just... I just don't know..."

Jiang Xi began sorting through the documents, stealing another glance at the new intern as he worked. "I know you didn't mean it that way. But let me remind you, no matter who your father is – kid, no matter how outstanding you were in school, how many scholarships you've won, or how many times your mom polished that good boy trophy to sparkle on the bookshelf."

Xue Meng's face reddened further, initially due to embarrassment but now more out of anger.

"I don't care how well you performed under Director Nangong, how many stamps you've affixed, or how many projects you've approved."

Jiang Xi ignored Xue Meng's fury, locking the documents away in his drawer. With slender fingers, he adjusted the deep green silk tie around his neck, concluding, "There's still much you have to learn here."

The authoritative director strode past Xue Meng with long legs, dismissing their encounter nonchalantly.

Xue Meng trembled with rage, finally losing his composure. "Jiang Xi!!!"

Jiang Xi paused only briefly at the office door before turning back to purse his lips at the young man. "Remember to turn off the lights."

"..."

It was already past seven in the evening.

The last light in the cultivation bureau building flickered out.

Lately, there were no wars or urgent construction projects demanding overtime. Everyone had their own place to return to.

They met with friends, went on dates with lovers. Husbands and wives cuddled on the couch, munching popcorn as they watched the flickering blue light of the television screen. Tall, strapping young men donned aprons to help their parents prepare dinner.

Each of them had somewhere to be.

Though Jiang Xi was a scoundrel, he wasn't wrong. No era was ever perfect, nor was any age spotless. But compared to the past, their present was far better. It had been too long since those tumultuous times when order constantly crumbled and reformed.

So long that many deeds and names had faded away in the river of time. So long that countless souls had swirled through space and time, experiencing life after life, death after death.

So long that you were no longer who you once were, and neither was I.

Yet, we were still together.

Youth would fade, flesh would decay, and life would ultimately succumb to time. But those whose souls intertwined would be granted new flesh by time itself. The undying obsession that survived the cycle of rebirth would be embraced by their beloved, again and again, throughout their endless lives.

Eternal entanglements, lifetime after lifetime.

Xue Meng bid farewell to Little Torch Dragon and stepped out of the building.

The sky was gloomy, layered with heavy, leaden clouds. He noticed delicate snowflakes drifting down from the night sky, sprinkling upon the opulent world below.

Without an umbrella, he pulled up his collar and hurried toward the nearest bus stop, fog emanating from his breath as it dissipated around his nose and mouth.

Around him, within this city veiled by the heavens, countless destinies were intertwining in this world —

The old man at Master Li's Fried Dumplings was counting his earnings for the day. Known for his honesty, his business had been thriving, and he chuckled as he counted his cash, planning to buy the ancient Sword Techniques compilation he had long coveted during his days off. He enjoyed reading such enigmatic books, even though they seemed eccentric, yet surprisingly captivating.

Miss Luo would turn twenty-six in a few hours. Freshly graduated with a master's degree in forestry, she hailed a taxi to celebrate her birthday at a nightclub in the city center. Unbeknownst to her, at the party organized by her best friend, she would encounter her childhood neighbor, the brotherly figure she had not seen in years, and find the love she was fated to have.

Amid the glittering lights and vibrant hues of the casino, the proprietress, Mrs. Sun, with her brightly painted nails, smiled as she watched guests wager their fortunes. Money truly was wonderful.

In a bridal shop, a young woman surnamed Ye and her fiancé were seated, earnestly debating the placement of a single pearl on their wedding gown for the past half-hour. It seemed like the most critical issue in the world revolved around that tiny pearl. Once it was settled, all their vexing problems would somehow be resolved. How infuriatingly affectionate these two were, with the placement of a pearl on the wedding dress being their only source of distress.

Didn't they realize that just three blocks away were two individuals very much alive in this era — Mo Ran and Chu Wanning?

They were not illusions in a simulator, a game, or a task for Xue Meng.

It was abundantly clear, without a doubt, that they would still be together in this life.

Yet at this very moment, they were bickering over a trivial matter. It all started when Mo Ran wanted to watch a romantic film featuring the popular actor Xun Fengruo at the cinema, while Chu Wanning preferred an action movie starring martial arts superstar Zhen Congming.

"Can't you watch something more manly and exhilarating?" Chu Wanning narrowed his eyes dangerously at his handsome boyfriend, who was half a head taller than him, yet he didn't lose any of his own intimidating presence.

If not for his long eyelashes fluttering like flower petals under the streetlight, he would have appeared even fiercer.

"Every time we go to the movies, it's either comedies or romances. Listen to this title," Chu Wanning ground out through gritted teeth, "'Husky and His White Cat Master'—are you brain-dead? This is an animated film, right? Does the poster say 'suitable for preschoolers'?"

Mo Ran looked pitifully at his angry lover, several times wanting to defend the equally pitiful "Husky and His White Cat Master," but ultimately swallowing his words in defeat.

"I can no longer endure your aesthetic in dramatics."

"..."

"I told you last time that "Teletubbies vs. Voldemort" and "Captain America vs. Balabala" have exceeded my lower limit. I will never, never, never accompany you to the cinema to watch such crap again.Film." Chu Wanning seemed to have been holding back for a long time and reached the critical point. His thin lips opened and closed to express angry condemnations. Those condemnations even seemed illogical because of his hot head. "I am a policeman, Mo Ran.Even if you take off your uniform and get off duty, you're still a police officer. I can't let you lose your IQ... Why are you looking at me like this?"

"..."

"Do you really think that just by staring at me like this, I'd accompany you to watch 'Husky and His White Cat Shifu'? Come on, you're in your twenties. Imagine standing at the ticket counter and asking the attendant, 'Could you please give me two tickets for 'Husky and His White Cat Shifu'?' Don't you find that embarrassing?"

Mo Ran's dark eyes gazed at him, and as he looked, he suddenly felt a bit wronged.

He rarely protested, "My colleague told me it's not an animated film. Although I'm not sure if it's good, I promise you, it's really a serious romance movie..."

Chu Wanning finally erupted completely, "No decent movie would have such a foolish title!"

"..."

With that, Chu Wanning strode forward in a huff, but after two steps, he noticed Mo Ran hadn't followed, but was instead standing still, staring at him. This made Chu Wanning even more furious, and he repeated forcefully, "There isn't!"

Mo Ran bit his lip and continued to stare at him silently.

Their conflict unfolded just like that. If Director Jiang Xi of the cultivation administration witnessed this scene, he would surely sigh, thinking, Look, how idle and uninteresting must people in modern society be? How foolish and hopeless must these love-struck idiots be? Why do they need to watch a movie together? Can't they each buy their own tickets and meet up again after the film ends? Are they little schoolgirls who hold hands even when going to the bathroom during class breaks?

—That's exactly what Jiang Xi would think. After all, he was a great and cold, cunning, and clever director.

At that moment, Chu Wanning walked silently with his hands in the pockets of his black woolen coat, looking cool and distant, ignoring his boyfriend's attempts to hold his hand several times.

" WANNING..."

"..."

"Alright, slow down. Let's discuss this more..."

"..."

"I promise you, it won't be any worse than 'Teletubbies vs. Voldemort'," Mo Ran muttered softly, his words muffled. "And I don't think 'Teletubbies vs. Voldemort' was as terrible as you say... I'm even looking forward to watching 'Giant Girl Hagrid' next year..."

Unfortunately, Chu Wanning overheard the last sentence. He turned back, startled and somewhat panicked. "What did you say? Don't even— forget it." Shaking his head, he tried to erase the nightmare of a title from his mind. His Adam's apple bobbed. "Don't repeat it. I didn't hear anything."

"..." Mo Ran continued to pout in distress.

Chu Wanning strode ahead, his trench coat billowing behind him. He was at a loss for words. Really, every time he thought he had a deep understanding of Mo Ran's terrible taste in movies, Mo Ran would introduce him to an even worse one.

Mo Ran followed closely behind, just one step away.

They walked like this for a while longer. Finally, Mo Ran mustered up the courage to persuade Chu Wanning again. "How about... how about we decide by playing rock-paper-scissors?... Or draw straws... or roll dice..."

His voice faded as he paused, something catching his peripheral vision.

An idea struck him.

"..."

"Hey, Chu Wanning!"

Finally, the handsome and tall boyfriend of Chu Wanning paused by the roadside. Under the dim streetlight, he lifted his finger to point at a vendor on his right side who was calling out, "Baked sweet potatoes, selling baked sweet potatoes..."

"Hey, Chu Wanning," he repeated.

"..." Chu Wanning ignored him.

"Officer Chu," he bit his lip, a hint of a smile in his eyes.

He knew Chu Wanning well, aware of what the man enjoyed eating and how he preferred to be addressed.

They had known each other for far too long.

Sure enough, Chu Wanning turned his head but didn't fully turn around. He only faced half of his face sideways, keeping his hands still in the pocket of his windbreaker. With his chin slightly raised, he narrowed his long, dense eyelashes as he gazed at the man under the streetlight.

The man met his gaze, as expected, but still lowered his head to chuckle quietly. Then, he seemed at a loss, carefully choosing his words before settling on an incredibly simple phrase.

He took off his hat and scratched his head. "Do you want to eat it or not?"

"..."

"It's a winter sweet potato," he said with a smile. "Your favorite."

"..."

"And I see this one has a white center. You like the ones with white centers, they're not easy to find. So eat one, won't you? Don't be angry anymore."

Chu Wanning's expression finally softened, no longer as stiff as a block of ice that had frozen overnight in the northern winter. He stood for a moment before turning around with slightly puffed cheeks. He walked towards Mo Ran, speaking calmly and nonchalantly, as if he wasn't affected by the temptation at all. "No, I want to eat four."

"Alright, alright," his handsome boyfriend said, looking at him with a mix of helplessness and amusement. Really, he used to be like a fierce, untamed leopard, but these years, he had grown softer under his influence, sometimes even behaving like a baring-teeth and grinning little white cat. He really did have such illusions.

Mo Ran chuckled. "Fine, four it is. But will you still have room for dinner after eating that many...?"

"Don't underestimate my stomach. This is just an appetizer."

"Alright then, enjoy your snack first. After you finish, we'll have dinner and then head to watch Zhen Congming's film..."

Chu Wanning took the steaming white-fleshed sweet potato and took a bite, suppressing the smile threatening to betray him at the corners of his lips. He shrugged nonchalantly, "Reading 'Husky and His White Cat Shifu' would be fine too."

Mo Ran's eyes lit up instantly. "Really?!"

"Mm. I'll indulge in foolishness with you one more time."

Mo Ran's voice instantly brightened, like a fizzy tablet dissolving in water, filling the air with a joyous and sweet effervescence that bubbled up, transforming the entire atmosphere into a honeyed delight.

He was drowning in sweetness.

"You're so wonderful!"

"..."

"Well, then, about the next installment of 'Handsome Girl Hagrid'..."

"You're not even going to think about it..."

On the snow-covered street, two sets of footprints moved forward, gradually merging, side by side, very close together.

At a crossroads, Xue Meng, already seated on a bus with headphones on, absentmindedly watched the bustling crowd outside the window, the shimmering neon lights reflecting in his dark eyes. He yawned, oblivious to a pair of young men walking by on the sidewalk, engaged in a heated argument about "Beauty Girl Hagrid."

The green light signaled, and the bus started moving.

They passed each other by, Xue Meng softly humming the tune from his headphones. His singing was off-key, but who could deny him the joy of humming just because he wasn't a skilled singer?

Mom had just messaged him, saying that Dad had returned from his business trip, and tonight's dinner would feature his favorite boiled fish and spicy saliva chicken.

Nothing could stop him from humming now, not even the end of the world or a flood. He had to finish that boiled fish first.

Their lives were filled with countless possibilities – different careers, origins, life paths, preferences, loves, and hates. Perhaps their appearances would also differ slightly due to various reasons. But the cycle of reincarnation couldn't alter Xue Meng's affection for boiled fish, nor could it change Chu Wanning's love for sweets, or Mo Ran's adoration for those red oil wontons. These things remained constant.

Ultimately, their stories could only lead to one conclusion.

It was the compromise of the vast cosmic will towards insignificant lives, towards the futile efforts of a mayfly shaking a tree, or a man chasing the sun.

After all those trials and tribulations.

They would eventually be reunited with the ones they loved.

They would ultimately find their way back to the arms of their beloved.

-- The End of Extra Chapter "The Only Possibility" --