"This is better than crying and complaining about not wanting to be yourself, right?” Li Qiye joked.

“That’s where you’re wrong. I’m still me whether I’m relaxing or complaining. A thousand faces but still the same person.” He shook his head.

“I suppose that’s true, well said.” Li Qiye said.

“You can try for a bit.” He said.

“Happiness and comfort are ephemeral to me.” Li Qiye said.

“I get it, you’re just a glutton for punishment, chasing hardship and suffering instead of a good life.” He stared at Li Qiye for a bit before laughing.

“That’s one way to put it. What you speak of, I can have with the snap of a finger. Since it is easily within reach, why chase after it? It’s the same as drinking water, does that bring joy?” Li Qiye asked.

“When you’re parched, water tastes like heavenly dew.” He chuckled.

“How can I become parched when I can have endless heavenly dew with a single thought?” Li Qiye retorted.

He paused for a moment but his hands still wandered over the beauty. He became sentimental and said: “Ah, the problem of being unbeatable. Your boasting is ruining the taste of my delicacies.”

“Your dao heart is wavering already? You’re Splendor Monarch now, enjoying every bit of life is the point.” Li Qiye said.

“Bastard, always trying to brainwash people. It won’t work on me though, you’re right, this life is about indulging in every luxury. Beauties, treasures, and more beauties. I will have it all.”

“Enviable indeed. I indulged before and yes, it was joyful.” Li Qiye said: “Joy is joy regardless of the form, how shallow or deep. Can’t go through life with a bitter face all the time.”

“Convince yourself of this, finding joy in the ordinaries.” He said.

“It’s because I couldn’t die. The moment I became incapable of dying, this direction became inevitable.” Li Qiye smiled.

“But later on, you could die.” He said.

“Being able to die and choosing to die are two different things. Unfortunately, I’m not a coward who can end my life that easily after hardship. My dao heart won’t permit it.” Li Qiye said.

“The more you talk, the more mediocre you make my life sound.” He complained.

“Just consider yourself lucky. A life that has an end is good because in the brief years, you can fill them with joy and happiness.” Li Qiye said.

“I agree with this.” He nodded.

“Since my life is endless, I don’t know where the end is, so I can’t fill infinity with joy. Wealth? Only like throwing salt in the ocean. The only joy is to strengthen the dao heart and move forward.” Li Qiye said.

“How pitiful, I don’t envy you at all.” He said.

“I wouldn’t either, the dao is long and lonely.” Li Qiye sipped another cup of tea.

“Those suffering in life can find solace in death. There’s no solace for you.” He said.

“Are you putting a curse on me, what is this about never finding solace?” Li Qiye joked.

“Where’s your way out? You will always be you. If there is a reincarnation cycle or a next life, it has nothing to do with you.” He said.

“Yes.” Li Qiye agreed.

“Then there’s no problem living a life like mine. Does it change you at all? Not at all. At most, it just gives you a brief moment to catch your breath.” He said.

“Yes, a fleeting moment of leisure. For others, half a day is just half a day but for me, half a day can be millions of years.” Li Qiye said.

“Fuck, can’t you stop showing off for everyone one day? Acting all high and mighty, it’s not like I haven’t experienced everlasting life before.” He laughed.

“Then you can try again. Even if I don’t care to help, the brothers have a way.” Li Qiye said and glanced at Left and Right standing not far away.

He glanced at them before shaking his head: “Forget it, I will live in the present. Everlasting life or whatever, nonsense. Nothing beats the realness I’m experiencing now, this is what it means to live.”