The Black Book: Seven Deadly Sins-Chapter 63: Heart Demon

Without hesitation, he lifted his foot and stepped over, after a violent sense of weightlessness and dizziness, Zhu Haomiao's foot touched the ground, and he had to stagger a bit to steady himself.

"Zhu Haomiao, duration of absence: 23 hours."

Hearing the announcement in his ear, Zhu Haomiao raised his head somewhat blankly, looked around at the modern decor, and inexplicably felt a sense of disillusionment and unreality.

Is it the butterfly dreaming of Zhuang Zhou or Zhuang Zhou dreaming of the butterfly?

Which side is real after all?!

As if waking from an ancient dream, Zhu Haomiao shook his head, taking a long time to gradually clear his thoughts.

Meanwhile, Zhu Haomiao experienced the feeling of being [Lost] firsthand.

Only about ten days of experience made him awaken as if from a dream. Those who stayed in the High Heavenly Position Illusion Realm for years, decades, or nearly a century, how shocked would they be at the moment they come out?

In an instant, a word popped into Zhu Haomiao's mind.

Like a world apart!

In a physical sense, like a world apart!

No wonder [Dao Heart] is the standard for measuring a Transcendent's "endurance" in the Illusion Realm.

Without a strong and stable self-recognition anchor, the spirit is easily assimilated by the Illusion Realm over long years, eventually forgetting it is a creature in reality...

He slapped his cheeks forcefully, wiped his face, and Zhu Haomiao slowly walked out of the [Boundary Pass] building.

On the way back from HQ to his dormitory, the moment he opened the door, he saw a fluffy white cute creature rushing to his feet, clawing at his pants with a whimpering sound trying to climb up.

"Ji ji ji~"

Zhu Haomiao: "..."

It took him two seconds to remember he had a pet, and the young man quickly picked up Diao Chan, holding it in his arms, stroking its fluffy, soft fur, the confusion and unreal feeling in his heart gradually faded away.

It was like waking up from a hazy dream, Zhu Haomiao completely shrugged off the aftereffects of the Illusion Realm, his slightly vacant, dazed eyes regained clarity.

"According to real-time, I've been gone for less than 24 hours, what are you calling out for?"

Rubbing Diao Chan's little head, Zhu Haomiao laughed and scolded, but when he saw the oil paper bags scattered all over the floor, his smile instantly froze.

Could it be...

Opening the fridge and seeing it was empty, Zhu Haomiao's eyes gradually became sharp, lowering his gaze to meet Diao Chan's big eyes in his arms.

Seemingly aware of his owner's dangerous gaze, Diao Chan innocently looked up at him with crystal-clear eyes, splaying open its soft belly trying to awaken some fatherly love.

"Ying ying ying~"

"I prepared a month's worth of reserve food for you, and you ate it all in one day?!!"

Faced with his owner's fierce scolding, Diao Chan blinked its watery big eyes, tilting its head cutely.

"Ji?"

I'm just a silly little sandy ferret; I don't understand what you're saying.

Seeing its adorable and sly demeanor, Zhu Haomiao felt both angry and amused, finally, he could only vigorously rub its head to vent.

He buried his face in its soft belly inhaling a couple of breaths before feeling satisfied enough to toss the pet back onto the bed.

Vaguely, Zhu Haomiao realized that keeping a pet not only relaxed him but also helped with his real-world self-awareness anchor.

Thoughtfully watching Diao Chan happily scamper around the bed, Zhu Haomiao chuckled and shook his head, picking up a broom to clean the scattered garbage bags all over the floor.

"In the future, after you finish eating, you need to throw the wrappers into the trash, okay?"

While cleaning and advising, Diao Chan stared blankly at him, seemingly unsure, blinking its eyes cluelessly.

"Ji ji~"

It was just a casual comment, not expecting it to truly understand, Zhu Haomiao tidied up the mess, picking up his phone from the pillow.

But just upon unlocking the screen, the young man suddenly froze.

Wait, I remember putting the phone on the bedside table before I left yesterday!

Moreover... it didn't seem like I plugged it in for charging...

Seeing the charger cable connected to the phone, Zhu Haomiao frowned, instinctively looking at Diao Chan beside him.

Could it be...

But watching that fool chasing its tail, spinning crazily on the bed, Zhu Haomiao snickered self-deprecatingly.

In the Illusion Realm, nearly ten days have passed, maybe I remembered wrong...

After all, no matter how human-like Diao Chan is, it surely can't charge a phone, right?

Just then, the phone in his hand vibrated, and seeing the caller ID, Zhu Haomiao pursed his lips in conflicted reluctance and answered the call unwillingly.

"Hi, Senior Sister."

"Haha, I just knew you'd come back! How was your first time entering the Illusion Realm?"

"Uh... not bad."

"Then, how about coming out for lunch?"

"Uh... I have something to do..."

"What's that?"

"..."

"Don't avoid it, face the difficulties courageously!"

"Huh?"

What do you mean by saying something so abrupt?

"Avoidance becomes a thorn buried in the [Dao Heart], might even develop into a Heart Demon in the end, to ascend to the Divine Throne, one must eradicate all spiritual hidden dangers, making Dao Heart seamless and flawless!"

"..."

"Uh... I'm talking about you, not myself!"

"Senior Sister, you actually don't need to explain."

"..."

"Anyway, come out for lunch! Same old place! Hurry up!"

Hearing Ye Wan Ning's frustrated hang-up, Zhu Haomiao scratched his head troubledly.

It seems that although that incident left no physical injuries on Senior Sister, it left an indelible shadow on her spiritual level.

If not faced squarely, overcome, and conquered, I'm afraid her [Dao Heart] would have a crack that can never be healed!

But... how easy is it to defeat [Pride]?

Even I can't overcome it!

Just resisting it, I've already done my utmost!

Zhu Haomiao hasn't forgotten that in that incident, the out-of-control [Pride] was only restrained because his flesh couldn't bear it.

The records of the [Book of Black] afterward also confirmed this point.

Not controlling or commanding, merely opposing [Pride], made his [Dao Heart] grow by a full 100 points!

Sigh...

Letting out a helpless long sigh, realizing the trouble he caused for Senior Sister, Zhu Haomiao completely gave up on avoiding it.

Let things take their course naturally... Cheer up!

Encouraging himself inwardly, Zhu Haomiao simply tidied up, preparing to get up and go out, when suddenly he felt something tugging at his sleeve.

Looking down, he saw Diao Chan, tearful, looking up at him pitifully, like an abandoned little beast whimpering aggrievedly.

"Umm~~"

Though knowing full well this little guy was partly acting, Zhu Haomiao couldn't harden his heart, only helplessly opening his chest pocket. freёweɓnovel.com

"Come in!"

"Ji!"

The little critter instantly became lively and cheerful, climbing up along his arm, skillfully burrowing into the boy's shirt pocket, poking out a tiny head to curiously peek outside.