When 'God' Decides To Start Over

Chapter 658 - 270: Seemingly True Yet False_3

"Tonight Bu’Er is inviting us for a drink; how about we chat later in the evening? I just arrived in the City of Love and want to explore a bit," Li Xiu expressed, feeling a bit puzzled.

The words of the Black Rider seemed somewhat contradictory. If the exit route from the City of Love was blocked, wouldn’t the inhabitants find it strange that he, an outsider, managed to arrive here?

Moreover, the Black Rider mentioned that he had been outside when he was young. But judging by his appearance, he seemed to be only in his twenties. Just how young could he have been? Certainly not a teenager?

Before Li Xiu could voice his doubts, the Black Rider said, "Bu’Er’s invitation for a drink is a must-go. How about this: wherever you want to go sightseeing, I’ll be your guide. We can go to Bu’Er’s place for drinks afterward."

"How could I impose?" Li Xiu responded.

"No need to be polite; I have nothing else to do anyway. Where do you want to go?" The Black Rider was quite enthusiastic.

"I’d like to see outside the city," Li Xiu said.

"What’s there to see outside the city? There’s no road out from the far side, and on the other side lies the Sea of Love, which is a bit dangerous and not easy to venture into." Black Rider pondered and added, "The other two sides are worth a visit; the scenery is quite nice."

The two of them returned to the city and headed for another gate that led to the Land of Love. Li Xiu recalled that in Black Death City, this direction would lead to a vast desert.

However, upon exiting the gate, instead of a desert, they saw a vast stretch of white mountain ranges.

"These are the White Jade Mountain Ranges connected to the Sea of Love. There are plenty of Gemstone Veins within the ranges, and many residents of the City of Love make a living mining them..." The Black Rider pointed to the endless series of white mountain ranges outside and said, "If you have time, I can take you to a mine; maybe you’ll find some gemstones to keep as a souvenir."

"Let’s save the mines for another day; I’d like to see the other side." Seeing the difference from the desert in Black Death City, Li Xiu wanted to see other places too.

Moreover, he didn’t know when the Godslayer Shrine might take him back; he wanted to understand this strange City of Love as much as possible.

On the way, Li Xiu asked the Black Rider, "Brother, how did the road between the City of Love and the outside world get cut off?"

The Black Rider laughed, "There used to be a dock over by the Sea of Love. To go out, one needed to take a big ship. But for some unknown reason, the ships stopped coming, and nobody could leave anymore."

"Can’t you leave by land?" Li Xiu inquired.

"It’s possible, just too dangerous. There are magical spirits everywhere outside; generally no one ventures out by land," explained the Black Rider.

In no time, they arrived at the last city gate.

This place corresponded to a gate in Black Death City that Li Xiu hadn’t gone through, and he didn’t know what lay outside it there.

However, this city gate was open, and looking out from here, there was a meadow filled with small flowers of various colors, and beyond the meadow was an expansive forest.

"This forest is called the Forest of Love Seed because Love Mushrooms grow there. If you have a girl you love, you can pick a Love Mushroom in the forest to give her. It’s our way of expressing love in the City of Love... Every year when the Love Mushrooms are in season, the annual Flame of Love Festival is held here... It’s a pity you missed it; the festival just ended not long ago... Otherwise, with your looks, some girls might have given you a Love Mushroom..." the Black Rider narrated various stories about the Forest of Love Seed.

The more Li Xiu observed, the more he felt that this place was indeed unlike Black Death City. After the Black Rider finished speaking, he asked Li Xiu, "What’s the situation outside now? Has the Celestial Emperor conquered Longevity Island?"

"The Demon Kingdom has been destroyed for a long time, and the Celestial Emperor’s whereabouts are unknown," Li Xiu answered truthfully.

It seemed that this place indeed had lost contact with the outside world; the Black Rider didn’t even know about the destruction of the Demon Kingdom.

"What? The Demon Kingdom was destroyed? Who could defeat the Celestial Emperor and destroy the Demon Kingdom?" The Black Rider was incredulous.

"I don’t know either," Li Xiu shook his head and said, "I only know that the present Celestial City is nothing but ruins."

"Could it be that Longevity Island defeated the Celestial Emperor... This is impossible... With the Celestial Sea as a constraint... How could Longevity Island defeat the Celestial Emperor..." The Black Rider grew more puzzled, as if suddenly remembering something, and looked at Li Xiu, asking, "When did the Demon Kingdom get destroyed?"

As Li Xiu was about to answer, he suddenly saw a girl in a long dress walking out from the city.

"Li Xiu, let me introduce you; this is my fiancée, Ka Duo’er. She’s the most beautiful girl in the city..." The Black Rider proudly introduced Li Xiu to the girl as he held her hand.

Li Xiu observed that Ka Duo’er was indeed beautiful, in no way inferior to Li Qingyi.

"Bu’Er is inviting everyone for drinks; the landlady is busy over there, let’s go help," Ka Duo’er said to the Black Rider, after greeting Li Xiu.

"Alright," the Black Rider said with a smile to Li Xiu, "Join us, and tell me more about the outside world."

The three of them returned to the city, and sure enough, they saw many tables and chairs set up in the plaza, with each table holding some fruits Li Xiu had never seen before.

The alluring and charismatic landlady was busy arranging bottles of wine on the tables.

"Landlady, we’ll help you," the Black Rider walked directly into the tavern and carried out a case of wine.

Li Xiu followed him into the tavern and found that its location corresponded exactly with where the Nether House was in Black Death City, once again stirring his curiosity.

Initially, the outdoor drink stand did not seem unusual to Li Xiu, but he hadn’t expected an indoor tavern, especially in the location of the Nether House.

As Li Xiu examined the tavern’s interior, he found the decor remarkably similar to the Nether House; the difference was the absence of bookshelves and books, with wine bottles placed everywhere instead.

"Take this case of wine out too." The landlady approached, lifting a case of wine and handing it to Li Xiu, her eyes seemingly enchanting as they looked at him.