Liu Buli shook his head.
If he could, he truly didn't want any telepathic connection with You Siqi regarding such matters.
But there were no "ifs" in this world.
So, upon hearing You Siqi's answer, he knew his guess was likely the reality.
After all, You Siqi was the creator of this world, and even things that hadn't happened yet were undoubtedly guided by the subconscious thoughts in You Siqi's mind.
And since You Siqi had given him such an answer, it essentially proved that his worst-case scenario guess was probably the correct one.
His mood became indescribable for a moment, and Liu Buli sighed deeply. He said, "This is for the best. At least we can reach a conclusion: he doesn't truly intend to bring his son back to teach him properly and groom him into the new Ghost King. Once we're sure of this, we won't have any more reservations about whatever we do next."
But before confirming this point, you didn't seem to have any reservations when dealing with these ghosts, did you?
You Siqi grumbled inwardly.
However, seeing Liu Buli's expression, he hesitated and didn't voice his thoughts. Instead, he changed the subject and said, "Although there wasn't an opportunity to write this part in the novel, if it were to be written, it would definitely be a massive conspiracy. In the beginning, the current Ghost King would use various means to make Lu Wuming believe that every action he took was for Lu Wuming's own good, solely to make Lu Wuming the new Ghost King. But once Lu Wuming let his guard down, he would consume Lu Wuming as a nutrient paste. After merging his flesh and blood, he would undoubtedly achieve greater power, becoming even more invincible."
He spoke with conviction.
The people around listened with their own thoughts.
Lu Wuming was the first to respond, pouting. He said, "I'm not as foolish as you think. I can distinguish between genuine kindness and false kindness; it's a simple matter."
"You can't say that. It's the current you who can distinguish. But the you in the novel wouldn't have the chance to see your master. If Shen Muzhi hadn't killed you, your development after encountering the Ghost King should have been like this," You Siqi argued logically.
Lu Wuming's intellect was limited, and being refuted like this, he was at a loss for words.
Instead, Shen Muzhi asked with some curiosity, "Brother Lu isn't weak. Why in the setting must he become a stepping stone for that Ghost King?"
"Because at this stage, the Ghost King is definitely stronger than him. And Lu Wuming has already been a boss once. If he were to be a boss again, readers would lose interest and find it boring," You Siqi explained. "So, the Ghost King absorbs his abilities to become stronger. This keeps readers engaged and makes it more troublesome for the protagonist to deal with, thus building anticipation."
His analysis, at first glance, seemed to have some merit.
But upon closer examination, it became clear that all the settings revolved around the protagonist. The so-called novelty was merely to have the protagonist challenge more enemies.
Realizing this, Shen Muzhi, as the protagonist, politely chose to remain silent.
Liu Buli, who also understood this point, let out a cold laugh and said, "There are no such convoluted reasons. To put it bluntly, you simply want to torment my disciple. Stop making up strange excuses."
As a true fan of Lu Wuming, Liu Buli's response didn't surprise You Siqi at all. He awkwardly tugged at the corner of his mouth, scratched his head, and tried to explain, "I'm just casually discussing one possibility based on the current situation. After all, a child born of a ghost and a human is rare. This child must have some special qualities that would make the Ghost King desire him, wouldn't you agree? Of course, if I had the chance to write it again, I promise I wouldn't write it like this. I swear, so..."
"So, you'd better shut up. The more you say, the more mistakes you'll make. I'm afraid that if you say something wrong, our little boat of friendship will completely capsize," Liu Buli stopped You Siqi from further explanation. He then stroked his chin and seriously considered what he had just said.
You Siqi was right.
A child born of a ghost and a human was almost impossible.
But since it had happened, it must have extraordinary qualities.
Lu Wuming had already proven this with his existence. And since the Ghost King so desperately wanted him, the only reason, as You Siqi said, might truly be to treat him as the best ingredient for his own advancement.
Thinking of this possibility, Liu Buli felt a wave of disgust.
However, there was no point in dwelling on it. So, he simply pulled Lu Wuming and walked towards the dead land ahead, saying as they walked, "I will not let this happen. Wuming, you must become stronger, and I will also strive to become stronger. Even if we are not as strong as him now, we will eventually have the strength to fight after we grow. Together, we will not lose."
As Liu Buli said this, he himself couldn't tell if he was comforting himself or Lu Wuming.
However, unlike his somber mood, Lu Wuming remained exceptionally calm. For him, the plot of a novel was just a novel. Moreover, this was a plot that hadn't even been written yet, so there was no need to agonize over it.
Upon hearing Liu Buli's words, he simply nodded as usual. Then, he clasped Liu Buli's hand, his actions conveying that he would stay by his side and not let him worry any further.
The name "dead land" was not entirely arbitrary. Because after they walked for a while, they found that the place was barren and empty. There were no plants, no trees, and no buildings. Only the whistling wind, and the increasingly heavy killing intent and resentment, proved that there were some unknown creatures nearby.
His heart rate gradually quickened, and Liu Buli cautiously observed their surroundings. After a few more steps, Lu Wuming stopped. He pursed his lips and said, "Master, they're here."