Chapter 41: The Human Heart

“What story?” Hearing Li Si say that, the original owner immediately felt somewhat puzzled.

“Do you believe there is a dreamlike world where almost everyone can study and almost everyone has enough food to eat?” A nostalgic look appeared in Li Si’s eyes.

“Everyone has food to eat, everyone can study?” When the original owner heard Li Si say this, it was as if he had heard some fantastical fairy tale. Shock appeared in his eyes, and he blurted out, “How is that possible? Absolutely impossible!”

“Is that so? You think it’s impossible?” Li Si smiled.

Actually, he did not want to tell other people about this matter, but since it was the original owner, there was no harm in talking about it.

After all, he himself was occupying the original owner’s body. Even if he said nothing, the original owner would have his suspicions, so it was better to be open about it.

The original owner frowned and pondered for a moment. Still finding it difficult to believe, he asked, “Then how could such a thing be achieved?”

“Then let me tell you.” Li Si smiled. Afterward, he explained movable type printing and the method of improving rice varieties and using those superior varieties to grow two rice harvests a year.

As for hybrid rice and printing presses, Li Si did not plan to mention them. He was afraid the original owner would not be able to accept them. To this world, those things were truly unbelievable fantasies.

After listening, the original owner felt as though thunder had exploded in his ears, as if a completely new world had opened before him. In the end, he could only mutter repeatedly, “So it can be done this way, so it can be done this way.”

Afterward, Li Si and the original owner discussed all kinds of technologies and ideas from that original world. Sitting together, they drank wine and chatted.

Every time Li Si took a drink, he tossed the gourd to the original owner. After drinking, the original owner tossed it back. Thus, amid their lively conversation, a single wine gourd flew back and forth between two identical people. From time to time, bursts of laughter rang out. Strangely enough, it created a peculiar sense of harmony.

The original owner also asked Li Si how he had come to this world. Li Si answered truthfully and subtly mentioned some of his special abilities as well.

He also spoke of the things he had encountered in this world, such as being haunted by the Decapitated Ghost, as well as the fox that had wailed at a funeral procession in the marketplace, and the events at the Zhang Residence.

The original owner also spoke about how, after his death and being controlled by a ghost creature, he had been unable to resist the urge to eat children and had instead caught animals to eat.

At the same time, Li Si learned that when he had been reborn, there had actually been two ghost creatures in his home. One was the original owner, beneath his bed. The other was the ghost creature that had killed the original owner. It had been hanging from the roof beam the entire time, a hanging ghost.

The hanging ghost on the roof beam was the white figure Li Si had seen while using his phone in his previous life.

That hanging ghost had actually followed the original owner home long ago and had been hanging from the beam all along.

Fortunately, he had decisively exchanged for a Protective Talisman at the time. Combined with the fact that the hanging ghost enjoyed tormenting people, he had managed to escape with his life.

When the original owner told him this, Li Si immediately felt his scalp go numb. He suddenly remembered the rainwater he had drunk on the first night...

Li Si immediately forced that matter from his mind, refusing to think about it further, and continued chatting with the original owner.

This conversation lasted from noon until dusk. During that time, Li Si felt hungry, so he ate some dry rations and continued their discussion.

This long conversation made the original owner yearn deeply for the world Li Si described, while also leaving him astonished by Li Si’s novel ideas.

At the same time, Li Si was deeply impressed by the original owner’s aspirations and his mindset of worrying about the suffering of the world before worrying about his own concerns.

The line, “How can one contemplate the world? Let hot blood illuminate the frozen river,” perfectly reflected the original owner’s thoughts and ideals.

“What do you think of the current state of this world?” the original owner asked. Expectation shone in his eyes.

“This world has low productivity, rigid social classes, and a system of servitude that casually determines people’s life and death. On top of that, demons, monsters, and ghosts run rampant everywhere.” Li Si shook his head and sighed. “It is a world where people can barely struggle on living, yet cannot truly live.”

“Have you ever thought about doing something to help this world?” the original owner asked.

“I’ll do whatever I can.” Li Si shrugged helplessly.

He was only an ordinary person. What could he really do? Being able to teach the nearby children basic literacy was already his limit.

The original owner gave him a meaningful look and then nodded slightly.

Then he chuckled softly, stood up, and said, “I didn’t expect us to get along so well. But now it’s time for me to leave.”

“Then go ahead. If fate allows, we’ll meet again.” Li Si smiled and waved at the Formless Ghost Li Si.

“Aren’t you afraid that after I leave, I’ll go eat people?” The original owner turned around to look at Li Si, narrowing his eyes slightly as he suddenly asked.

“I don’t believe it.” Li Si shook his head and answered firmly.

“Why not? I’m a ghost.” The original owner gave a bitter smile.

“You’re a good person. If you were going to eat people, you would have done so long ago.” Li Si took a sip of realgar wine and replied casually.

“I’m not a person.” The original owner smiled faintly. Then he paused and said meaningfully, “Everything from now on is in your hands.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll live well in your place.” Without even turning his head, Li Si answered lazily. Inwardly, he still felt heartache over the loss of 78 soul points.

But he did not regret it.

He would never kill the original owner. After all, the original owner had done nothing wrong. Even after becoming a ghost creature, he had still retained a human heart. That was something rare and precious.

“You must be careful of the ghost controlling me. She’s been waiting for you all this time,” the original owner warned.

“Mm, I understand. Hurry up and leave already.” Li Si did not even want to pay attention to him. Earlier, he had indirectly tried to persuade him into making a contract, but had been rejected, leaving him somewhat irritated.

“Take care of yourself.” The original owner spoke those words, but then slowly approached Li Si from behind.

When Li Si sensed that something was wrong and turned around, he saw the Formless Ghost Li Si transform into a pale flame and charge straight toward him.

“I only wanted to be an upright human being, not a vicious ghost that constantly wants to eat people.” The original owner’s voice came from within the pale flame as it rushed toward Li Si.

After saying this, hearty laughter erupted from within the pale flame. It was bold and unrestrained.

Then it slammed directly into Li Si’s chest.

“Live well in my place. I’ll leave everything to you from now on.”

As those final words echoed out, the pale flame vanished without a trace.

“Low-level ghost creature killed, Formless Ghost. Obtained 78 soul points.”

After watching the pale flame disappear, Li Si opened his mouth. His expression became blank as he said in disbelief, “Dead?”

“How could you die?”

Li Si stood there in a daze, unable to recover his senses for a long time.

This was the person who understood him best.

This was also the person to whom he could tell absolutely everything.

One could say he was Li Si’s only true confidant in this world.

He was also the most noble and virtuous person Li Si had ever met.

That was why Li Si had not cared about revealing some of his secrets to him.

Because Li Si was the one who understood the original owner best.

Yet now, this person had left just like that.

Using the power of his Protective Talisman, he had committed suicide.

At the same time, Li Si finally understood.

A person like the original owner could never willingly remain a ghost creature that constantly craved human flesh. He had devoted himself to cultivating virtue and perfecting his character. How could he tolerate such a thing?

Moreover, death might have been a form of release for him.

Since arriving in this world, he had scarcely received any warmth. The only warmth he had ever known had come from his parents, that false and unsettling warmth.

Perhaps, for him, coming into this world had been a mistake from the very beginning.