Reverend Half Insanity

Fang Zheng's eyes darken, like storm clouds gathering, ready to unleash their fury. Emotions churn within him—anger, shame, and a hatred so deep it threatens to consume him. His hands tremble, not from fear, but from the crushing weight of realization. His jaw clenches, teeth grinding together so hard it feels like they might shatter.

"Oh, Fang Yuan. Oh, Fang Yuan."

The words spill from his lips, low and venomous, each syllable dripping with bitterness. Memories flood his mind, vivid and unrelenting.

"In my past life, you destroyed everything. My career, my dreams, my family, my friends—every connection I ever had, every part of my life. You crushed it all under your heel, leaving nothing but ashes and pain. You stripped me of my pride, my dignity, and made me suffer more than I thought possible."

His voice trembles with the intensity of his emotions, each word a dagger aimed at the man he once created.

"I hated you with every fiber of my being. I hated myself for ever bringing you into existence. Even as I died, my last thoughts were curses, filled with bitterness and hate, all directed at you."

A bitter laugh escapes him, hollow and cold.

"And yet, even in death, I couldn't escape you."

His eyes narrow, the storm within him raging.

"I woke up in this terrible world—your world, a nightmare born from my own mistakes. But I swore it would be different this time. This time, I would be the one in control. The master of everything. You, and everyone else, would bow before me, trembling in fear."

His hands ball into fists, nails digging into his palms.

"But instead… you made me feel fear."

The admission burns like acid on his tongue.

"You made me weak. You took away my strength, left me helpless, drowning in terror. I, who should have ruled this world, was brought to my knees by the monster I created."

A bitter smile twists his lips, dark laughter bubbling up from deep within.

"How pathetic."

The laughter grows, echoing in the stillness, mocking and cruel.

"Ha… ha… ha."

His voice drops to a whisper, cold and deadly.

"Oh, Fang Yuan. You will pay for this."

The words are a promise, a vow etched in blood.

"For every wound you've given me, for every moment of pain, for every bit of suffering you made me endure, you will pay."

His eyes gleam with malice, the storm within him reaching its peak.

"I will return it all to you—ten times, a hundred times—until you know pain like you've never imagined. Until you drown in fear so deep that even death will seem like a relief."

His voice rises, each word a hammer strike.

"I will break you. Crush you. Make you understand what it means to be powerless."

A cold, calculating smile spreads across his face.

"Your suffering will be endless. A nightmare. So terrible that all who see you will tremble."

His gaze shifts to Fang Yuan's wound, watching the blood seep through the fabric. He studies it calmly, almost admiringly, like an artist examining their masterpiece.

"Not bad… a serious wound. But it's nothing. Just a small taste of what's coming. You will learn what true pain is. And when that day comes, Fang Yuan…"

His voice drops to a chilling whisper.

"You will beg for death. But I won't give it to you. Not until I've taken everything from you—just like you took everything from me."

The laughter returns, dark and unrelenting.

"Ha ha ha…"

Fang Zheng steps forward, his movements deliberate. He places a firm but gentle hand on Fang Yuan's shoulder, his dark eyes meeting Gu Xianer's. She clings to Fang Yuan, her face a storm of emotions—fear, worry, and something deeper, something she can't quite name. Fang Zheng tilts his head slightly, his lips curving into a soft, almost teasing smile.

"Gu Xianer, are you planning to let Fang Yuan die in your arms?" His voice is light, almost playful, but there's an edge to it, something unsettling lurking beneath the surface.

His expression shifts, the smile fading into feigned sadness. "Look at this… the blood was flowing, but now… oh no, it's already stopping. It's starting to clot." His tone is almost amused, yet the words carry a chilling weight.

Gu Xianer snaps back to reality, her eyes widening in panic. For a moment, she had forgotten everything—the world, the battle, even Fang Yuan's wound. His embrace had made her feel safe, warm, and happy.

But now—

"Brother! Brother, please—let me treat your wound first!" she pleads, her voice desperate. "Then you can hold me as much as you want!"

She tries to pull away, but Fang Yuan doesn't let go. His grip tightens, his body moving on instinct. His head rests against her, his breathing heavy and uneven, as if he's barely aware of what's happening.

As if some deep part of him is afraid to let her go—as if he's lost her before and almost lost her again.

"Brother, please!" Gu Xianer cries out again, tears streaming down her face. "Let me treat your wound first! After that, you can hold me all night if you want!"

But her words don't reach him.

She struggles, pushing against his arms, but he doesn't respond. It's as if his body refuses to let go, as if losing her would mean losing everything.

Fang Zheng watches, irritation flickering in his eyes. His fingers twitch slightly, nails digging into his palm.

"What's wrong with him? She was only going to get a small injury, and he saved her. But now he's badly hurt, and he doesn't even care. He's holding onto her like she's the only thing keeping him alive. As if he's going to die if he doesn't hold her!"

A dark, twisted smile spreads across Fang Zheng's face, his eyes gleaming with malice.

"This isn't the Fang Yuan who returned from the future, covered in the blood of thousands… I was wrong. This is his first time in the Gu World."

A quiet chuckle escapes him, his eyes narrowing with realization.

"His personality—it's not what I wrote. But now I see why. And the reason for this change?"

His gaze shifts to the girl clinging to Fang Yuan.

"It's her—Gu Xianer."

Memories rush through his mind—fragments of a past he inherited.

"She's a glutton, an idiot who eats without control. Her intelligence is laughable. She has no dignity, no respect. The people around her—her aunt, her uncle, even the servants—mock her. Scorn her. Take everything from her."

He scoffs.

"And Fang Yuan… as her brother, how could he just stand by and watch?"

A hollow laugh echoes in his mind.

"To protect her, to give her a happy childhood… he's thrown everything away. His strength. His pride. His very self."

A smirk creeps onto his lips.

"Once, he was a genius. A man with ambition. But because of that useless girl—barely worth the food she eats—he's become nothing. A joke. A servant that even servants look down on."

The smirk deepens.

"And that's exactly what I wanted."

He takes a slow breath, exhaling in satisfaction.

"His weakness is his love for her. His blind devotion. His care."

A brief pause. A moment of silence.

"That love has chained him. Made him weak. Killed the monster he could have become."

His pulse steadies. His thoughts sharpen.

"Now, Fang Yuan… you will pay."

His fingers press slightly into Fang Yuan's shoulder.

"I will use her—the one thing you love most—against you. All the suffering I endured creating you… you will feel it a hundred times over. No… a thousand."

The fire in his heart burns hotter.

"You think you're protecting her. You think you're keeping her safe. But all you've done… is given me the perfect way to destroy you."

Another pause. A chilling moment of realization.

Then—

"Your love for her will be your downfall. It is your greatest weakness."

His eyes darken, old memories creeping in. His voice drops to a whisper, filled with bitterness.

"I was once like you… loving my wife, my children… believing in them. And what did I get in return?"

His fingers tremble slightly.

"Betrayal."

A cold, empty laugh leaves his lips.

Then, with a sinister smile, he continues.

"It's perfect. I will use her as my pawn. I will push you into impossible choices. And I will watch you break… slowly."

He pauses, savoring the thought. His smirk stretches wider, more twisted.

"You will do anything to protect her. Ha ha ha… and that will be your end."

His voice drops to a whisper, but the malice remains.

"Because that… is what will destroy you."

He exhales, relishing the moment.

"By the time you realize it…"

A pause.

Then—

"It will already be too late."

A shiver of excitement runs through him. His breath quickens. His heart pounds with anticipation.

"Ha ha ha… just thinking about how I'll break you excites me."

His laughter rises, deep and menacing, echoing in the still air.

"Ha ha ha… Ha ha ha!"

After a long pause, Fang Zheng takes a deep breath and exhales slowly, his eyes narrowing as he plans his next move.

"Now, I'll play the role of the caring, loving little brother. The one who takes care of his big brother and little sister. It's the perfect way to control them. Ha ha ha."

With that, a gentle, concerned expression takes over his face. He walks toward Gu Xianer, who is still trying to break free from Fang Yuan's tight grip. His voice is soft, with a hint of fake worry:

"Gu Xianer, you don't need to worry. Let me apply the medicine. Your brother must be very worried about you."

Gu Xianer looks up at him, her eyes filled with tears. She nods gratefully.

"Thank you, Fang Zheng. I think Brother was just too worried. Please, hurry and apply the medicine. The ointment is on the dresser, on the table."

Fang Zheng nods, his smile staying in place. He walks over to the table, picks up the medicine, and returns to Gu Xianer.

"Don't worry. How could I do nothing when my big brother is in pain? I'll help you, Gu Xianer."

Gu Xianer watches closely, her gaze softening as Fang Zheng carefully applies the ointment to Fang Yuan's wounds. When he finishes, he looks at her, his eyes full of concern.

"It would be best if we move him to the bed first, then apply the medicine more thoroughly."

Gu Xianer nods, her worry deepening.

"You're right, but you've already applied the medicine. How about we move him to the bed? Afterward, you can leave once the light is off."

Fang Zheng's eyes gleam with approval, his smile widening.

"You're absolutely right. But there's a problem... The bed's wet."

Gu Xianer blinks, confused.

"What do we do about that?"

She quickly suggests, her voice gentle, "I'll sleep on the wet side, and Brother can sleep on the dry side."

Fang Zheng grins, but his tone shifts, now laced with subtle cunning.

"That's a good idea, but I have a better one. How about you both sleep with your heads on this side? That way, neither of you has to sleep on the wet spot, and only you, Gu Xianer, might feel a little damp on your legs."

Gu Xianer's face lights up with relief.

"That's a great idea. Okay, let's get him to the bed."

Together, they lift Fang Yuan and carefully move him to the bed. Despite their effort, Fang Yuan refuses to let go of Gu Xianer, holding her tightly even as they move him.

Once they've placed him on the bed, Gu Xianer sits beside him, her face flushed with exhaustion but grateful.

"Thank you so much, Fang Zheng. I'm really grateful to you. If you ever need anything from me, just ask, no matter how hard it is."

Fang Zheng gives her a sad smile, pretending to be hurt.

"How can you say such things to your own brother? I am your brother, aren't I?"

Gu Xianer looks panicked, her words rushing out.

"It's not like that!"

Fang Zheng gives a gentle, understanding smile, his voice warm.

"It's alright. I'm going now. I'll turn off the light for you."

With that, he steps back, his face soft and reassuring. He turns off the light and begins to leave, but as he walks toward the door, his mind drifts to darker thoughts.

"I'm feeling quite happy tonight. This young body… it feels so alive. This is what youth feels like. I'm going to enjoy this night with Shen Cui. Ha ha ha."

The door closes behind him, leaving only the faint echo of his dark laughter.

The room falls silent again, with only their breathing breaking the stillness. Fang Yuan holds Gu Xianer tight, as if the entire world is against him, seeking refuge and strength in her embrace. Gu Xianer, her confusion growing, can't comprehend what Fang Yuan is going through. Tears well up in her eyes, and she whispers softly, "Brother, please be safe. Please, sleep peacefully... tomorrow is the awakening..."

Before she can finish, Fang Yuan's grip tightens even more, sending a sharp pain through her body. She desperately tries to hide her discomfort, but the strain is clear. Her chest feels like it's being crushed under the pressure, the bones threatening to merge with his. She grits her teeth, holding back any sound, but the pain is unbearable.

In Fang Yuan's mind, a fierce battle for dominance rages on. Suddenly, the fighting stops. A chilling, emotionless voice, deep and dark, echoes through them, as if it's rising from the very depths of hell itself.

"How does it feel to be rejected by your own younger, naive self?!"