Chapter 348: Ansu Doesn't Want to Change

Ansu slowly opened his eyes.

Sunlight filtered through the crimson clouds, shrouding the makeshift camp in a gloomy, oppressive atmosphere.

He sat cross-legged inside his tent, staring through the flap at the cultists busy preparing for departure. After a brief daze, he slowly regained his sense of reality.

He was back... back to four days ago.

Ansu subconsciously looked down at his wrists.

His wrists were completely clean, devoid of that hideous, crimson eye-shaped mark.

And, of course, there were no cold magic-suppressing handcuffs...

As he pondered, a system prompt popped up.

【Reality】

【Radiant Calendar, October 8, 625, 8:02 AM】

【Commentary: Tragic news, it's a total party wipe ending...】

【Due to the world being at the critical point of a major crisis... Please choose: Should Celia inherit the memories and combat experience of this simulation?】

【Yes / No】

Ansu stared blankly at the two options, falling into deep thought.

If it were before, he wouldn't have even considered choosing 【Yes】, but now...

Honestly, he had been thoroughly exasperated by the darkened Celia just now. For many moments, he had genuinely wanted her to synchronize her memories too, just so she could see how ridiculous she was when she went mad...

Especially in this run of the simulation, where Celia had basically become the kill leader...

However...

Ansu hovered over 【Yes】 for a moment before ultimately moving away.

Once he opened that door, Celia would find out about some unbelievable things, and everything in the future would become extremely uncontrollable.

The current status quo between them... he didn't want to change it.

He didn't want to change it in the future either!

As he was thinking, the curtain of the tent was suddenly lifted from the outside.

“Ansu? What's wrong? The team is waiting to set off—”

Ansu's body instantly tensed up.

Celia blinked, a trace of confusion appearing on her face. “Why such a big reaction?”

She let go of the curtain and walked inside, squatting down on her knees in front of him. Looking down at him slightly, her eyes were filled with confusion.

“What's wrong? Am I... really that scary?”

“Of course not,” Ansu replied with a smile, shaking his head.

But his gaze subconsciously avoided her eyes.

“Liar!”

Celia pursed her lips, simply sitting cross-legged opposite him and leaning her face in so close that his eyes had nowhere else to look.

“Ansu!”

“What on earth is on your mind that you can't even tell me?”

Ansu stared into her eyes.

Those beautiful eyes were right in front of him—clear, concerned, and completely unguarded.

This was the real Celia... not the cold witch who stood high on the hill, staring vacantly as she obliterated everything, and certainly not the blackened version of her who would ruthlessly kill Vera.

It was the fault of the Filthy Heart. Its corruptive influence had stirred up the darkest fears and obsessions buried deep within her heart.

But...

This simulation had confirmed to him that Celia actually already knew.

She knew that her hypnosis had been nothing but a joke from the very beginning.

She must have known since that day in the cave, but from that day until now, she had never exposed it, nor had she ever lost control...

This also meant that those madnesses were already hidden in the deepest depths of her soul.

As long as the conditions were met, they would sprout one day, and she would eventually turn into that state again...

“It was a prophetic dream,” Ansu finally spoke slowly, explaining to her.

“The kind you already know about... the ability to foresee danger. I saw some rather grim futures. We will encounter major setbacks on this trip.”

Celia listened very attentively. She had always known that Ansu could obtain key information from his 'prophetic dreams' to avoid countless dangers.

But this time was different.

The way he looked at her seemed to hide highly complex emotions. It was very strange.

“We can't look for the Filthy Heart according to the original plan anymore. If we go deeper into the blood mist, we will only end up completely lost. If we can't find a solution...” Ansu explained, letting out a helpless sigh. “Four days from now, our entire team will be wiped out.”

“Wiped out?” Celia's eyes widened in surprise. “Who is it? Who could be powerful enough to wipe us all out?”

“Well...” Ansu stared at the “kill leader” in front of him and muttered, “I'll tell you in a bit. For now, let's notify the team outside to call off the scheduled exploration plan.”

Celia fell silent for a few seconds, then nodded gently.

Just as she was about to leave, she asked softly, “Did you only dream about... the team?”

Ansu was taken aback. “Hmm?”

Celia leaned in slightly. “Nothing... about us? Did something happen between us?”

“No.”

Celia just looked at him quietly, asking no further.

However, in those deep eyes, the concern slowly faded, replaced by a faint hint of disappointment.

The tent fell silent for a moment. Red sunlight leaked through the gaps in the tent's roof, casting a hazy beam of light between the two of them, with specks of dust drifting slowly within the illumination.

Feeling her gaze, something in Ansu's heart was gently stirred.

He really didn't want to confess, nor did he want to expose himself. He didn't want to drag out those unspeakable secrets and old accounts to lay them bare before her.

He didn't dare pop that thin bubble, either. He didn't want to face the real Celia.

Ansu had to admit his own selfishness. He was actually very selfish; he didn't love her as deeply as she loved him.

His own heart was actually more closed off than hers.

“Alright, I understand,” Celia spoke first, forcing her lips to curve into a gentle smile. “I'll go inform the other elders and Danielle's group...”

But in the next second, her figure paused. Turning back, her smile suddenly carried a trace of foxy playfulness.

“When you say there isn't, it means there is.”

“Ansu is being dishonest... but I won't force you. You're allowed to have your own little secrets~”

“I don't have any secrets,” Ansu said with a laugh.

Celia curled her lip and rolled her eyes at him.

No means yes.

Ansu raised a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath. “Um... prophetic dreams take a toll on my energy. I'll need to go into seclusion for a bit...”

“Is there anything you need me to do?” Celia asked with concern.

Ansu looked at her. “I need all the maps of the South, as well as all relevant files and intelligence on this expedition. The more detailed, the better.”

Before long, Celia returned carrying several rolls of yellowed parchment maps, some dossiers on southern towns, and the cult's intelligence summary, placing them gently on the low table inside his tent.

Leaning over the desk, Ansu traced the winding lines on the maps with his fingertips while quickly scribbling notes, completely lost in his focus.

Celia didn't disturb him further, quietly slipping away.

...