Chapter 41: The Human Heart

“What story?” Hearing Li Si say this, the original owner was immediately puzzled.

“Do you believe in a dreamlike world where almost everyone has books to read and food to eat?” Li Si’s eyes revealed a nostalgic look.

“Everyone has food to eat, everyone has books to read?” Hearing Li Si say this, as if hearing some fantastical tale, the original owner’s eyes revealed a shocked expression. He blurted out, “How is that possible? It’s absolutely impossible!”

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

Actually, he didn’t want to tell this to others, but since it was the original owner, it was fine to talk about it.

After all, he was occupying the original owner’s body. Even if he didn’t say anything, the original owner would have guessed something, so it was better to be frank.

The original owner frowned, pondered for a moment, still finding it hard to believe, and asked, “Then how is this achievable?”

“Let me tell you,” Li Si smiled, then proceeded to explain movable type printing and the method of using improved rice varieties to plant two seasons of rice.

As for hybrid rice and printing machines, Li Si decided not to mention them, fearing it would be too much for him to accept. These things were truly fantastical for this world.

After listening, the original owner felt as if his ears were ringing, as if a whole new world had opened up. He couldn’t help but murmur, “How could it be, how could it be.”

Then Li Si and the original owner discussed various technologies and ideas from the original world, sitting together drinking wine and chatting.

Li Si would take a sip of wine and toss the gourd to the original owner, who would drink and toss it back. So amid their lively discussion, a gourd was thrown back and forth between two identical people, occasionally accompanied by hearty laughter, creating a strangely harmonious atmosphere.

The original owner also asked Li Si how he came to this world. Li Si answered truthfully, while also vaguely mentioning some of his abilities.

He also talked about the things he encountered in this world, such as being entangled with the Beheaded Ghost, the fox spirit mourning in the market, and the events at the Zhang mansion.

The original owner also spoke about how, after his death, when controlled by the ghost creature, he couldn’t resist wanting to eat children but went to catch animals to eat instead. At the same time, Li Si learned that when he was reborn, there were two ghost creatures in his home: one was the original owner, under his bed, and the other was the ghost creature that killed the original owner, hanging from the ceiling beam – a Hanging Ghost.

The white shadow Li Si had seen on his phone in his previous life was the Hanging Ghost on the ceiling beam.

This Hanging Ghost had actually followed the original owner home early on and had been hanging on the ceiling beam.

Fortunately, he had decisively exchanged for the protective charm at that time, and the Hanging Ghost on the ceiling beam liked to torment people, so he was able to escape with his life.

When the original owner told him this, he suddenly felt chills down his spine. He also suddenly thought of the rainwater he drank on the first night…

Li Si immediately shook off this thought, forcing himself not to think about it, and continued chatting with the original owner.

This conversation lasted from noon until dusk. During this time, Li Si also felt hungry and ate some dry rations while continuing to talk with the original owner.

This conversation made the original owner extremely yearn for the world Li Si described, and at the same time, he was shocked by Li Si’s novel ideas.

Meanwhile, Li Si was also impressed by the original owner’s aspirations and his mindset of being concerned about the inherent worries of the world.

That line “How to ponder the world, hot blood reflects on the cold river” was exactly what the original owner thought and felt.

“What do you think of the current situation in this world?” the original owner then asked Li Si, his eyes revealing an expectant look.

“This world has low productivity, rigid class structure, a slave system that arbitrarily disposes of human life, and monsters and ghosts causing havoc everywhere,” Li Si shook his head and sighed, “This is a world where people can struggle to survive, yet can’t really live.”

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

“I’ll do what I can,” Li Si shrugged, saying helplessly.

He was just an ordinary person, what could he do? Being able to enlighten nearby children was already his limit.

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

Then he chuckled lightly and stood up, saying, “I didn’t expect to have such a good conversation with you, but I have to go now.”

“Then go. We’ll meet again if fate allows,” Li Si smiled, waving to the Formless Ghost Li Si.

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll go eat people after I leave?” the original owner turned to look at Li Si, his eyes narrowing slightly, suddenly asking.

“I don’t believe you will,” Li Si shook his head, saying confidently.

“Why don’t you believe it? I’m a ghost after all,” the original owner laughed bitterly, saying helplessly.

“You’re a good person. If you were going to eat people, you would have done it already,” Li Si took a sip of realgar wine, then said casually.

“I’m not a person,” the original owner smiled slightly, then suddenly paused, saying meaningfully, “I’ll leave future matters to you.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll live well on your behalf,” Li Si didn’t even turn his head, too lazy to look at him, his heart aching for the 78 soul points he had lost.

But he didn’t regret it. He wouldn’t kill the original owner, after all, the original owner hadn’t done anything wrong, and he still had a human heart even after becoming a ghost creature, which was rare and precious.

“Be very careful of the ghost that controlled me. She’s always waiting for you,” the original owner warned.

“Mm, understood. You should go now,” Li Si didn’t even want to bother with him. He had previously hinted at contracting with him, but was refused, so he was feeling a bit irritated.

“Take care,” the original owner said, then slowly approached Li Si from behind.

When Li Si felt something was wrong and turned around, he saw the Formless Ghost Li Si transform into a pale flame rushing towards him.

“I just want to live honestly as a human, not become an evil ghost that always wants to eat people like now,” the original owner’s voice came from the pale flame as it rushed towards Li Si.

After saying this, hearty laughter came from the pale flame, extremely bold. It directly impacted Li Si’s chest.

“Live well on my behalf. I entrust future matters to you,” the last words came out as the pale flame dissipated into nothingness.

“Killed low-level ghost creature—Formless Ghost, gained 78 soul points.”

Seeing the pale flame dissipate, Li Si opened his mouth, his expression becoming dull, saying in disbelief, “Dead?”

“How could you die?” Li Si stood there dazed, unable to come to terms with it for a moment.

This was the person he understood best, the only one he could tell everything to, arguably his only confidant in this world.

This was also the most virtuous person he had ever seen, which was why he didn’t mind telling him about some of his special aspects.

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

But this person just left like this, using the ability of his protective charm to commit suicide.

At the same time, Li Si also understood clearly. Someone like the original owner would not be content to be a ghost creature that always wanted to eat people. He had devoted himself to cultivating virtue and self-improvement, how could he tolerate such a thing?

Moreover, death might have been a release for the original owner. He had never really experienced warmth since coming to this world, the only warmth being that… false and bizarre warmth from his parents.

Perhaps for him, coming to this world was a mistake in itself.