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The wind whispered through the ruins, gradually dispersing the acrid smoke that hung in the air.
Fang Li and Orphelia stood in silence, their gazes locked on one another.
Surrounding them, the men in black suits— clearly members of the local underworld— lay sprawled on the ground, clutching their throats, convulsing, and emitting pained groans.
It appeared these thugs had sinister intentions toward Orphelia, planning to ambush her, but they had been ruthlessly defeated by the strongest Strega.
This young girl, known as the "Ereshkigal," excelled at manipulating toxic miasma, and conjuring this hellish scene was no challenge for her.
Naturally, both Fang Li and Orphelia regarded the aftermath with indifference.
Even the 'Cats,' who had been leading the way, completely ignored the scene and silently vanished from sight.
Thus, aside from Fang Li and Orphelia, only the moaning gangsters remained on the ground.
Fang Li regarded Orphelia with calmness in his eyes while Orphelia looked back at Fang Li, her expression tinged with sadness.
That was all there was.
Neither of them spoke.
It was unclear how long this silence lasted.
Eventually, Orphelia finally broke the stillness.
"Why..." Her voice was filled with heart-wrenching sadness and pity.
With such a tone, Orphelia's first question to Fang Li was simple yet profound.
"Why do you have such calm eyes?"
From Fang Li's gaze, Orphelia could perceive a deeper essence.
"That is the precious gaze of someone who completely disregards life, viewing all things as equal endings, as if only focusing on death, completely denying any meaning beyond that," Orphelia spoke softly but her voice was laced with pain.
"Why do you ignore the meaning of life like this?"
This was both a question and an accusation.
It was the fundamental reason why Orphelia felt they could never coexist.
In response, Fang Li simply gazed at Orphelia and replied indifferently.
"And you? Why do you wear such a sorrowful expression?"
Just as Orphelia could see through Fang Li's essence, he could also see through hers.
"That is the gaze of precious beliefs being shattered by oneself, where even in helplessness, one can only take away the most cherished things, endlessly repeating the cycle of guilt and remorse, giving up everything and no longer seeking redemption."
In stark contrast to Orphelia's heart-wrenching voice, Fang Li's tone was chillingly calm.
"The strongest Strega who manipulates poisonous miasma, you must have been using this ability to take away the things you cherish, right?"
"And that thing, is it the precious life you speak of?"
Yes.
This was the reason why Fang Li and Orphelia could not coexist.
Though it was their first meeting, Fang Li and Orphelia instantly saw through each other's essence as if looking into a mirror.
Both realized that the person before them was the complete opposite of themselves, an existence that could never be understood.
Fang Li was indifferent to death, able to view the end of all lives equally.
Orphelia cherished life but could only helplessly take away the things she valued most, bringing them to an end.
Both were capable of bestowing equal death upon life.
However, Fang Li would not waver in this regard.
Orphelia, on the other hand, was constantly suffering, struggling, feeling guilt and sadness, lingering in the abyss.
This completely different essence led both Fang Li and Orphelia to the same conclusion even during their first encounter.
They absolutely could not coexist with the person before them.
This was the first encounter between Fang Li and Orphelia and this encounter brought both of them an unprecedented experience.
It was a feeling that had been hard to come by before.
This feeling was called disgust.
Thus, Orphelia gently lowered her eyelids, and a voice filled with pity slowly emerged from her lips.
"I hate you..."
Because the things she cherished most, she could only take away with such pain, while the person before her never held any emotions about it, treating life as if it were nothing.
Fang Li lightly replied,
"I also hate you..."
Because Fang Li was never bound by fate; if fate attempted to bind him, he would obliterate it, resolutely refusing to give up everything like the person before him due to helplessness.
Thus, this was the worst first meeting.
Realizing this, Fang Li and Orphelia found they had nothing left to say to each other.
If there was anything left, it was merely a sense of lament.
"Someone told me that you are a highly threatening person, and I came to confirm it myself," Orphelia spoke softly.
"Now, I believe it."
This was Orphelia's sentiment.
And the person who had informed Orphelia was likely Dirk.
As for Fang Li, he also had a sentiment.
"Someone told me that you are someone who can be compared to my Master, which piqued my curiosity, so I went out of my way to let you come find me." Fang Li stated bluntly.
"Now, I regret it."
This was Fang Li's sentiment.
Had he known he would hate this Strega so much, he would not have taken an interest in her.
The reason was simple.
"Since ancient times, those who need to be saved are always hopeful girls."
"And you have no value for salvation."
Because this young girl had long since given up all hope, relinquishing everything.
Like a flower that had already wilted, if there was no possibility of blooming again, no amount of nurturing would help.
Especially for someone like Fang Li, who did as he pleased, it was even more so.
After all, once, Emilia had also intended to keep her distance from Fang Li to avoid dragging him into disputes.
At that time, Fang Li had actively created distance, only because Emilia wished for it.
Now it was the same.
Since the girl before him had abandoned everything, Fang Li saw no need to pick up what others had discarded.
"And the only thing you haven't abandoned is that sadness."
"How hypocritical."
Such words, which could be described as cruel rather than heartless, came from Fang Li's lips.
Orphelia bore it all and declared,
"This is my fate."
In one sentence, she expressed the dead ashes and sorrow within her heart.
"My fate was long ago predetermined."
Orphelia, with a face that looked like she might cry, made this declaration.
"No one can shatter it."
(End Of This Chapter)