Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Eight: The Promise of 2009

Things from his previous life...

Actually, Chen Nuo didn't particularly adhere to any rule like "a transmigrator must not reveal they are a transmigrator" or "a reincarnator must not reveal they are reincarnated."

He trusted Lu Xixi. Even telling this woman his greatest secret wouldn't actually cause him any trouble. I believe Lu Xixi is definitely a trustworthy person.

But if it weren't directly related to Lu Xixi herself, Chen Nuo, after some thought, could have openly told her about his experiences from a past life.

But not right now. Not at this moment.

Because the "past life" Lu Xixi asked about was connected to her.

And most importantly...

In his previous life, Lu Xixi had died.

Moreover, Lu Xixi's death in that past life could be said to have some inexplicable, indirect connection to Chen Nuo.

Originally, Chen Nuo had thought that by staying away from Lu Xixi in this life, he might prevent the tragic circumstances of her death from his previous life.

But now, the two of them were entangled once more, and had even cheerfully spent the entire night together.

This complicated matters immensely.

Lu Xixi's death in the previous life was a complex affair.

It was so complex that, unlike Firefly, Hummingbird, or Lan Mei and the others, their backgrounds didn't have clear temporal coordinates or landmark events.

Lu Xixi's death was far more intricate!

It wasn't as if Chen Nuo could just tell Lu Xixi, "Based on my knowledge of your past life, certain events will lead to your death. Therefore, you must now avoid doing specific things, avoid going to particular places, and avoid certain people..."

It wasn't that simple!

Furthermore, the butterfly effect was a factor.

Once many things were altered, it became impossible to predict the outcome.

Even if Chen Nuo knew what actions led to Lu Xixi's death in the previous life, telling her now, "There's something you shouldn't do, or you'll die," wouldn't necessarily solve the problem.

Most people might think that would be the solution.

Wrong!!!

There's a very famous psychological experiment: the red button theory.

What's it about?

You place a person in a room and tell them, "There's a red button in this room. You absolutely must not press it. Disaster will occur if you do!"

Most people would confidently claim, "Then I definitely won't press it!!!"

Wrong again!

According to experimental results, most participants eventually couldn't resist pressing the button!

Even knowing the button was dangerous and would lead to disaster.

So, the human psyche is truly a complex thing.

Chen Nuo didn't mind telling Lu Xixi the secret of his rebirth.

But not now.

Only after the underlying threat to Lu Xixi's life was completely eliminated.

Her life was at stake; he dared not take the slightest risk.

This was definitely not a "let's try it and see" situation.

If, by some chance, this 'trial' led to Lu Xixi's death again... Who would be responsible?

Let's use an analogy.

Imagine you know that tomorrow morning, on your way out, you'll trip and fall while walking.

You want to prevent this.

So, what should you do?

Stay home?

It's possible that even if you stay home, you might trip and fall there instead.

The logical approach is to find the cause of the fall and then eliminate it.

There are many reasons for falling.

Some simple, easily conceived reasons: perhaps your shoes were too slippery; perhaps someone had thrown a banana peel on the ground; perhaps you were distracted while walking.

Some slightly more complex reasons: perhaps a medical condition caused muscle paralysis; perhaps a certain event caused mental distress.

Then, the deeper causes become: What medical condition led to the muscle paralysis?

And what exactly happened to cause the person's mental distress?

Okay, then keep digging!

The cause of the disease leading to muscle paralysis... could it be a latent problem from an illness years ago? Then how could that illness from years ago have been prevented?

Or else.

Perhaps the person tripped because they encountered an ex-lover on the street, triggering the painful memories of a past breakup, leading to mental turmoil and the fall. How to avoid that? Go back several years and prevent yourself from falling in love with that person?

Now, another problem arises.

Falling in love with someone and entering a relationship largely stems from your upbringing, the education you received, and the environment you grew up in. These factors shape your values, and ultimately, you just prefer that type of person!

So, what now?

Pursuing even deeper causes... makes the problem even more immense!

In this example,

The fall is the "effect," and the reason for the fall is the "cause."

Only by finding the true "cause" can the "effect" potentially be avoided.

And Lu Xixi's death was far, far more complex than merely avoiding a fall!

Chen Nuo was silent.

Lu Xixi waited.

After a moment, Lu Xixi looked at Chen Nuo with a teasing smile, "What, spinning another tale?"

"No," Chen Nuo shook his head.

Finally, he slowly said, "If I told you that all of this might be from a very long and complicated dream I once had—would you believe me?"

Lu Xixi gazed into Chen Nuo's eyes. The man's expression was sincere, but... it held a hint of insistence.

Lu Xixi understood instantly: Chen Nuo didn't want to say.

So, Lu Xixi didn't press further—this was perhaps the biggest difference between a woman like Lu Xixi and most other women.

"Tell me when you feel you can," she said.

"...Okay," Chen Nuo nodded. "I promise you."

"Can you give me a rough timeframe?"

Chen Nuo thought carefully. "2009. That's the latest... Of course, it might be sooner if many things are resolved smoothly.

"But, it definitely won't be later than 2009. I will surely tell you everything by then."

Anyone else hearing this would probably have flipped out.

It was 2001 now!

You're postponing it for eight years?

What's the deal? Are you planning a war of resistance?

But Lu Xixi, with her sharp perception, sensed that the man's attitude was serious! He definitely wasn't joking or trying to be evasive.

So.

"...Alright! I'll wait."

The topic was thus closed.

Although they hadn't been entangled for long in this lifetime, a wondrous, unspoken understanding existed between them.

It wasn't until noon that the pair finally got out of bed.

After they both freshened up, Chen Nuo called to have new clothes delivered.

"How many days will you be in RB?" Chen Nuo asked Lu Xixi while they were eating.

Lu Xixi tilted her head, thinking. "I should be leaving tomorrow."

"So soon?"

"Mhmm," Lu Xixi smiled, reaching out to pinch the back of Chen Nuo's hand. "I still have some matters to attend to in London; I've already made appointments."

Chen Nuo thought for a moment. "Challenging the Blade Knights?" (Chapter 69)

Lu Xixi puffed her cheeks, looking a little annoyed. "Those guys offended me. I have to teach them a lesson."

Chen Nuo had heard about this incident in his previous life. Nothing unexpected had happened, and it had become one of the Star Sky Empress's most distinguished achievements.

So he nodded. "Alright, but don't be too harsh. The members of the Blade Knights are just a bit rigid in their thinking; they aren't actually bad people."

"Mhmm," Lu Xixi nodded, "Then, I'm also planning to settle scores with the Wizard. That fellow went to Jinling City to make trouble for us; we can't just let it slide."

This made Chen Nuo frown.

In his previous life, there wasn't deep animosity between the Empress and the Wizard, nor had any overly fierce showdowns erupted.

"The Wizard went to Jinling looking for me. It actually has nothing to do with you."

"It has something to do with me now," Lu Xixi said with a smile.

"I'll handle it myself," Chen Nuo shook his head. "My strength should soon grow to a level where I can confront the Wizard. I'll settle this score myself.

"Besides, that sly old Wizard, having been injured this time, has surely gone into hiding. You'll likely have a hard time finding him."

"I know," Lu Xixi said, a bit reluctantly, "If I can't find him, I'll just go make trouble for the Cultivator Association. The monk can run, but the temple can't hide.

"The boss has sinned, so his underlings take some heat. Is there a problem with that?"

"No problem at all," Chen Nuo said with a wry smile.

Alright, he wouldn't try to persuade her further. With the Wizard in hiding, Lu Xixi shouldn't have any issues dealing with the other members of the Cultivator Association.

Lu Xixi thought for a moment, then got up, went to the desk for paper and a pen, and returned to the dining table. She wrote down a name and a phone number.

"Yoshihito Kaneno?" Chen Nuo looked at the name on the paper.

"Mhmm," Lu Xixi nodded, "He also helped me find you so quickly this time."

After a pause, Lu Xixi explained, "I met this person when I was undertaking a commission in RB previously. He owes me a very, very significant favor, and he's also trustworthy."

Chen Nuo nodded with a smile.

Probably someone in a role similar to a Gold Digger.

Although the Star Sky Empress never had her own team or organization, always traversing the Underground World as a lone wolf...

But being a lone wolf didn't mean she was truly a commander without any support.

Setting Little Candy aside.

The Star Sky Empress lived so lavishly; where did the money come from?

After all, she owns luxurious homes and manors in many parts of the world.

She even owns a castle in Britain.

To maintain such a lifestyle, she naturally had her ways of generating income.

Unlike organizations such as The Abyss, or Yama from his previous life, she hadn't assembled her own team and companions. However, it wasn't surprising for her to have cultivated a few individuals in roles similar to Gold Diggers.

"I won't pry into exactly what you're doing in Tokyo. I know you're very smart and quick-witted. You're a cunning one; you'd never let yourself get into danger. I'm generally reassured about you.

"However... just in case, and I mean just in case, if you run into some trouble and need some help, you can contact this Yoshihito Kaneno."

Chen Nuo smiled, glanced at the phone number, and committed it to memory.

After all, it was a kind gesture from his wife, and it wouldn't be right to refuse it.

That day, the young man and woman, having finally broken through the critical point in their relationship, completely opened their hearts and enjoyed a sweet time together.

Like the vast majority of lovers in the world, they simply shut out everything else, immersing themselves in their own world.

They didn't just indulge in bed, though. During the daytime, they went out and walked the streets of Tokyo. Like any ordinary couple, they held hands and leisurely strolled through Tokyo's most bustling avenues.

Chen Nuo even bought Lu Xixi a hat, and Lu Xixi bought Chen Nuo a pair of sunglasses.

In the afternoon, they also went to see a movie—the 2001 blockbuster, *Pearl Harbor*.

After walking out of the cinema, both of them simultaneously started cursing loudly.

"Horrible movie, utterly trashy!!"

"That female lead was too much of a bitch, wasn't she? Thinking the male lead was dead, she just jumped into bed with the other guy?!"

"Exactly! And they call that brotherhood! What kind of brother sleeps with his buddy's woman right after he supposedly died?"

After heartily cursing it out, they went to eat some Oden, then returned to the hotel…

That night was, once again, filled with passionate encounters.

Lu Xixi seemed extremely emotional, clutching Chen Nuo tightly like an octopus. In the final moments, her fingernails nearly tore the skin on his back.

In fact, beneath the seemingly sweet and happy exterior of the day, a particular topic loomed. Both of them were cautiously avoiding and hiding from it!

In the morning, Chen Nuo saw Lu Xixi off at the airport. Kaneno Yoshihito had arranged a private jet to take Lu Xixi back to London.

"I'm going back to handle a few things, plus two commissions Little Candy has already finalized. Um..."

Lu Xixi hugged Chen Nuo, her expression just like that of a young girl experiencing love for the first time, snuggling in Chen Nuo's embrace. "After I finish handling them, it should be around August. Then I'll go to Jinling to find you."

"Okay," Chen Nuo smiled.

"In the future, I'll tell Little Candy not to take on so many commissions for me."

"She'd likely be very unhappy."

"I don't care!" Lu Xixi said, brandishing her claws playfully.

"...Would you dare say that to her face?"

"I wouldn't dare!" Lu Xixi replied, completely unabashed.

Chen Nuo watched the plane take off and disappear into the sky.

Meanwhile, inside the aircraft cabin, sitting by the window, Lu Xixi rested her chin on her hand, slightly lost in thought…

He said 2009... So, does that mean I'm going to die in 2009...?

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