Chapter 90: The Dust Settles Down

The space on the other side of the hall rippled slightly, and a slightly staggering figure rushed in—it was Gu Zhinan. His robes were torn in several places, and his face was pale, clearly indicating that he had also experienced a fierce battle in the maze.

"Grandmaster Uncle! Li Sheng!" Gu Zhinan was shocked to see the two embracing, especially Yin Li Sheng's miserable state and Fu Yun Shu's unusually weak aura. "What's going on with you two?"

His gaze then fell on the "Concentric Pact" jade slip on the ground, its light now dimmed, and he instantly understood something, his expression becoming even more solemn.

“Shaoyu has been destroyed,” Fu Yunshu raised his head, his eyes weary. “We’ve also obtained the Heart-to-Heart Pact. We can’t stay here any longer. With the core of the maze destroyed, the entire Demon Emperor’s Palace may collapse. We must leave immediately.”

Gu Zhinan nodded emphatically without saying a word. He stepped forward to help him up.

Fu Yunshu shook his head and insisted on carrying Yin Lisheng on his back himself.

"Walk."

Qingyuan Sect, the once quiet Tingxue Peak is now crowded with people.

Ning Xuexi was inside the house doing her best to save Yin Lisheng, while Ye Xiuzhu and the others were pacing anxiously outside.

"We just revived one, and now another one has collapsed. Is our Qingyuan Sect having a run of bad luck lately?" Ye Xiuzhu sighed.

Song Wenzhuo has woken up, but he is still quite weak, so Fu Yunshu won't let him come over.

"What do you mean 'fallen down'? Don't say such discouraging things!" Ji Yuanbai glared angrily at Ye Xiuzhu.

Ye Xiuzhu begged for mercy repeatedly. At this moment, Ning Xuexi pushed open the door and came out.

Everyone looked at her expectantly, but she shook her head. "I'm sorry, I can't find the reason."

Ning Xuexi's words were like a bucket of ice water, extinguishing the hope that had just been ignited in everyone's eyes.

"Can't find the reason?" Wen Xun's voice tightened. "Junior Sister Ning, what do you mean? Li Sheng, he..."

“Although his physical injuries are severe, with the power of my Danfeng, the spiritual medicines treasured by the sect, and the Heart-to-Heart Pact, it is not impossible for him to recover in time,” Ning Xuexi said with a furrowed brow and an unprecedentedly solemn expression. “The real problem is his soul.”

“His spiritual fluctuations are extremely weak and are dissipating.” She carefully chose her words.

Ning Xuexi looked at Fu Yunshu, who stood silently to the side, his expression dejected but his back still straight, her eyes filled with apology and helplessness: "Grandmaster Uncle, I... I'm sorry."

Fu Yunshu's face was expressionless, but his usually aloof eyes were now shrouded in an impenetrable fog. He clenched his fist gently, his fingertips icy cold.

"I understand," his voice was calm, so calm it sent a chill down one's spine. "Thank you for your hard work, Xuexi. Take good care of his health."

After saying that, he turned around and walked out without saying a word.

"Grandmaster Uncle, where are you going?" Wen Xun couldn't help but ask.

Fu Yunshu continued walking: "Tianji Pavilion."

Tianji Pavilion, Star Gazing Platform.

The night wind howled, fluttering Lu Yanci's wide Taoist robe. He stood with his hands behind his back, gazing up at the star-studded night sky even though he couldn't see, as if he had already anticipated Fu Yunshu's arrival.

"You've come." Lu Yanci didn't turn around, his voice carrying a hint of understanding, "It's for Yin Lisheng."

Fu Yunshu stopped behind him, the night wind ruffling his frosty white hair. He didn't beat around the bush, going straight to the point: "How can we save him?"

Lu Yanci did not immediately answer Fu Yunshu's question, but instead asked a completely unrelated question:

"Immortal Venerable Huaiwei, the Heavenly Dao seal on your body has been mostly lifted, hasn't it?"

Fu Yunshu's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.

"So what if it is?" Fu Yunshu's tone remained unchanged. When Yin Lisheng killed Shao Yu, due to the laws of Heaven, his cultivation had reached that level, and the seal on Fu Yunshu's body was naturally gone.

Lu Yanci smiled, a smile full of meaning: "You did not belong to this world. Now that your shackles have been removed, why not go back?"

His voice seemed to carry a certain allure, “There are no such conflicts there, no such agonizing separations and pains. You can get rid of all the responsibilities and constraints that come with the identity of ‘Fu Yunshu’ and start anew.”

Lu Yanci took a step closer, his gaze intense: "You came from another world and endured the suffering of ninety-nine reincarnations, wasn't it all for the sake of returning? If you're willing, I can help you completely sever your last connection with this world and send you home."

go home.

What a distant and unfamiliar word.

Fu Yunshu fell silent. The night breeze swept across the observatory, bringing the coolness of the distant mountains and the scent of grass and trees. Involuntarily, images of his previous life surfaced in his mind: a technologically advanced, orderly, yet cold and dull world, devoid of spiritual power, the Qingyuan Sect, and... Yin Lisheng.

Only the daily grind and loneliness.

Then, more images flooded my mind.

It is Yin Lisheng's unwavering wait on the snowy peak for twenty years, it is the dusty little beggar with stubborn eyes when they first met, it is the one she raised herself, watching him gradually shed his immaturity and become tall and outstanding, but whose eyes have always been clear and sincere, focused only on her lover.

It was the clumsy confession and passionate kiss under the peach tree, the solemn introduction and promise in front of the ancestral hall, and the wet, reluctant eyes of a dog at parting.

go back?

Returning to a world without Yin Lisheng and the Qingyuan Sect members? What difference would that make from forcibly tearing his soul out?

Fu Yunshu reincarnated ninety-nine times, and was lonely for ninety-nine lifetimes, before finally finding his own ray of light and the person he wanted to hold tightly in his hands in this life.

Now, to ask him to give up this light and return to his former coldness and loneliness? Absolutely not!

Fu Yunshu slowly raised her eyes and looked at Lu Yanci. Those eyes, which always seemed cold and aloof, were now burning with an unyielding flame.

“This is my home,” he began, his voice soft but each word carrying immense weight.

"Wherever Qingyuan Sect is, wherever Yin Lisheng is, that is where my home is."

"I will never leave."

Lu Yanci stared at him intently for a long time. The smile on his face gradually faded, replaced by a complex expression that mixed regret, understanding, and a hint of admiration.

He sighed softly, "I understand."

"Then, let's return to the original question." Lu Yanci's expression turned solemn again, "How to save Yin Lisheng?"

He paused, then lowered his voice: "Peak Master Ning's diagnosis is correct. Yin Lisheng's problem is not in his physical body, but in his soul."

"To feed one's body to the sword and invoke the laws of Heaven to kill the Demon Emperor Shao Yu is a forbidden technique that is almost a suicidal act. Even when Master Chi Du left this technique behind, he did not think that this person could survive."

"Once this technique is activated, the caster's soul essence will be irreversibly burned as fuel in the process of invoking and enduring the power of the laws."

Lu Yanci looked at Fu Yunshu with a heavy gaze: "His soul, in order to kill Shao Yu, has... almost burned out."

"It's like an oil lamp, the oil is about to run out and the wick is burnt out. You forcefully pour new, strong oil into the lamp and even use secret methods to keep that tiny flame from going out. But to make this lamp shine again, what's missing is not oil, but that burnt, unique 'wick'."

Fu Yunshu's body swayed almost imperceptibly.

“So,” he heard his own voice hoarsely, “how am I supposed to find his 'wick'?”

"Actually, if he still had the luck of the Heavenly Dao, that is, the protagonist's halo, then this matter would be very easy to handle. The chosen one of destiny will not die even if he goes to the gates of hell. Unfortunately, his luck is gone."

“However, this world doesn’t only have a male protagonist, there’s also a female protagonist,” Lu Yanci said, looking toward the door. “Miss Duan, please come in.”

As Lu Yanci finished speaking, the side door of the observatory was gently pushed open, and a slender figure slowly walked in.

It's Duan Xuan.

Compared to the collapse and despair she felt when Chu Yu died more than a year ago, she seemed much calmer now, though a lingering sadness and weariness remained between her brows. She wore a simple dress, no makeup, and her eyes were slightly red, clearly indicating that she had cried before coming.

She walked to Lu Yanci's side, bowed deeply to Fu Yunshu, her voice somewhat hoarse, yet carrying an unusual firmness: "Immortal Venerable Huaiwei."

Fu Yunshu looked at her, his gaze calm and unwavering. He felt no ill will towards Duan Xuan, but he wasn't particularly close to her either. Although Chu Yu's affair was a conspiracy by the demon race, it was ultimately her own fault.

“Miss Duan.” Fu Yunshu nodded slightly.

Duan Xuan straightened up, took a deep breath, and looked directly at Fu Yunshu, as if she had made up her mind: "Sect Master Lu has told me about Senior Brother Yin and his destiny."

She paused, her eyes reddening again, but her voice became clearer: "My senior sister did many wrong things, killed many people, and lied to me. I know she deserved to die, but... but she was, after all, the senior sister I had called for so many years, one of my closest relatives. The debt she owed, I... I don't know how to repay it."

Her gaze drifted into the distance, as if she saw that gentle, smiling figure who always protected her from behind, and tears silently streamed down her face.

“I can’t atone for all her sins, but Senior Brother Yin became like this to save people and kill the Demon Emperor. He shouldn’t have to bear all this,” Duan Xuan wiped away her tears, her eyes becoming firm again. “Pavilion Master Lu said that I have the luck of a ‘female lead’. If this luck can save Senior Brother Yin, I am willing to give it to him.”

She looked at Fu Yunshu, her gaze clear and resolute: "Consider this the last thing I do for my senior sister, and the only compensation I can make. Please grant my request, Immortal Venerable."

Fu Yunshu's heartstrings were gently plucked. He hadn't expected this seemingly fragile girl to make such a decision. Giving up her own destiny meant that her future path of cultivation might become more arduous, opportunities fewer, and she might even encounter more accidents and dangers. This was no easy task.

"Miss Duan, have you thought this through?" Fu Yunshu asked in a deep voice. "The transfer of your destiny is no small matter; it will have a huge impact on you."

“I’ve thought it through,” Duan Xuan nodded without hesitation, a slight smile of relief appearing on her face. “This luck is not something I care about. If I can use it to bring back someone who should have a bright future, it’s better than letting it stay on me for nothing.”

Looking at the determined young woman before him, Fu Yunshu felt a mix of emotions. There was gratitude, admiration, and a touch of reluctance, but he knew this might be the only hope to awaken Yin Lisheng.

"Thank you, Miss Duan." Fu Yunshu bowed deeply to Duan Xuan. This bow was for Yin Lisheng.

Duan Xuan quickly stepped aside and waved her hands repeatedly, saying, "Immortal Venerable, you flatter me. This... this is what I should do."

Three days later, Tingxuefeng.

The night was as dark as ink, and the moonlight, like quicksilver spilling onto the ground, enveloped the entire Tingxue Peak in a soft glow. Countless stars shone brightly, seemingly within reach.

A clearing has been cleared beneath the peach tree at the summit. An extremely complex silver magic circle is drawn on the ground, with runes flowing and faintly echoing the stars in the sky. Two futons are placed at the center of the magic circle.

Yin Lisheng was carefully carried by Fu Yunshu and placed on one of the prayer mats. He was still unconscious, pale, and breathing weakly, but after several days of careful care from Ning Xuexi and continuous nourishment with spiritual energy by Fu Yunshu, his physical condition had stabilized considerably.

Duan Xuan sat on the futon opposite him, her expression calm, even with a hint of relief and tranquility.

Fu Yunshu, Lu Yanci, Ning Xuexi, Wen Xun, Ji Yuanbai, Du Zhun, Gu Zhinan, Song Wenzhuo, Yan Nanqiu, and Yan Shuangwan all arrived, standing outside the magic array and watching with solemn expressions.

Lu Yanci stood at the center of the formation, holding an ancient astrolabe in his hand, his expression solemn. He nodded to Fu Yunshu.

Fu Yunshu took a deep breath, retreated to the outside of the formation, and stared intently at Yin Lisheng in the formation, his heart feeling as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand.

"It's starting." Lu Yanci shouted in a low voice, and the star chart in his hand shone brightly.

As the incantation resounded, the silver magic circle on the ground suddenly lit up, drawing down the moonlight and starlight from the sky, transforming them into countless fine silver threads of light that enveloped Duan Xuan and Yin Lisheng.

Duan Xuan's body trembled slightly, her brows furrowed, and a look of pain appeared on her face. She could feel something invisible, yet incredibly important, being slowly drawn out of her body. But she gritted her teeth and didn't make a sound.

Lu Yanci's expression was solemn, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. The "Shifting Stars and Changing Fortune" technique was extremely taxing on mental energy and cultivation.

He carefully guided the pale golden, mist-like power of fortune extracted from Duan Xuan, channeling it through the magic array towards Yin Lisheng on the other side.

The golden light entered Yin Lisheng's brow, merging into his dormant sea of ​​consciousness and dim soul.

At first, there was not much of a reaction.

But as more and more fortune flowed in, Yin Lisheng's almost blank sea of ​​consciousness seemed to be injected with some kind of "activity." The faint, almost extinguished flame of his soul, nourished by the pure and boundless fortune, began to sway slightly, seemingly...lightening a little bit?

Fu Yunshu's heart was in his throat, his eyes glued to the magic array. The spiritual energy within a hundred miles was drawn in, slowly rotating around the array.

Duan Xuan's face grew increasingly pale, her body began to tremble slightly, and her breath rapidly weakened. The process of stripping away her life force had clearly placed a tremendous burden on her. Ning Xuexi nervously gripped the medicine bottle in her hand, ready to rush forward and provide assistance at any moment.

Finally, as the last wisp of pale golden aura drifted out from Duan Xuan's head, entered the magic array, and transformed before flowing into Yin Lisheng's body, Lu Yanci suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, and the star chart in his hand dimmed abruptly. He staggered a step, but was caught in time by Wen Xun beside him.

"It's a success..." Lu Yanci said weakly, his face as pale as paper, clearly indicating that he had suffered great losses.

Duan Xuan's body went limp and she fainted. Ning Xuexi quickly caught her and fed her a pill.

All eyes were focused on Yin Lisheng, who was still sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed.

Tension, anticipation, trepidation... all sorts of emotions intertwined in the air, almost solidifying into a tangible form.

Time passed by, and all was quiet except for the sound of the wind and the rustling of the bamboo forest in the distance.

Just as unease began to rise in everyone's hearts—

Yin Lisheng's long eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly.

It was extremely slight, yet it made Fu Yunshu, who had been staring intently at him, suddenly stop his heart from beating for a second.

After a moment, beneath those tightly closed eyelids, the eyeballs seemed to move slightly.

Then, under the watchful eyes of everyone, those eyes that had been closed for so long slowly opened.

At first, Yin Lisheng's eyes were empty and blank, and he felt unfamiliar with everything around him.

His gaze swept aimlessly over the crowd surrounding him, over the familiar peach tree, over the cold moonlight, and finally... landed on the white-clad figure standing at the very front, staring at him intently, his eyes churning with a complex mix of emotions—ecstasy, lingering fear, and heartache.

—Fu Yunshu.

As those three words silently passed through my mind, a faint light seemed to ignite deep within those empty, bewildered eyes, gradually gathering and slowly restoring their luster.

His lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but he only managed to utter a faint whisper.

Fu Yunshu could no longer restrain himself and stepped into the magic array, embracing the person tightly.

"Li Sheng...do you still recognize me?"

Yin Lisheng stared at him intently. In her eyes, which were gradually regaining their clarity, she saw Fu Yunshu's haggard yet still handsome face, and the deep affection and panic that were almost overflowing in his eyes.

After a long silence, a few extremely hoarse, faint yet incredibly clear words escaped from his chapped lips:

“I recognize you. You are… Master… the one I love.”

"Master, shall we get married?"

"good."

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Author's note: The first side story is about a wedding.

Please, while I'm at it, also promote pre-orders [I'm begging you].