Chapter 43 Remnants of the Past "You must know that I love you, and you must love me in return..."

Qiao Yanshen turned around, his breathing suddenly slowed, and his eyes were filled with astonishment.

The person before me was dressed in white, her clothes simple and elegant. Her long hair was like ink splashed out, thick and pure, cool to the touch, almost enough to imagine the smoothness and coldness that would come through my fingertips.

The deep blue hair ribbon fluttered, but it couldn't compare to the pair of light blue eyes that had entered Qiao Yanshen's field of vision even earlier.

How could anyone in the world be born with such eyes, clearer than any body of water, like a lake where sunlight shines down and the bottom is clearly visible, eyes that seem to overflow when slightly narrowed?

Its glass-like transparency, which should have shattered at the slightest touch, subverts any delicate impression with its tranquility, transforming the lake into a vast, unshakeable sea.

These eyes shouldn't cry, for the sorrow within is already enough, like an inexhaustible ocean, and even the ripples they evoke a stinging pain.

The familiar face was finally revealed, no longer veiled by mist. A silvery-blue light swept across her fair, snow-white cheeks. She smiled as she looked at Qiao Yanshen, the soft voice she had used when she called out to him still lingering in the young man's heart.

The only bright spot was a bright red feather that hung beside her cheek and was made into an earring.

Qiao Yanshen suddenly lost all vigilance. She stared intently at the face of the woman in white before her, sighing softly, and said:

"So similar."

If there were a mirror here, it would reflect the two people's faces almost identical, like twin sisters.

But in the end, it's only similar, and therefore there are still many subtle differences. The eyebrows, the curve of the lips when smiling, the direction of the dark hair...

Like playing a spot-the-difference game, Qiao Yanshen carefully observed and compared the other person with himself one by one, and finally took her hand and rolled up her sleeve.

The woman did not resist and continued to smile. Seeing that Qiao Yanshen was looking for the small mole that looked like an ink dot when she compared the two wrists, she said gently, "It belongs to you alone."

Qiao Yanshen blinked, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, and met her gaze.

It was strange, why did she feel so at ease—as if the other person had transcended all human relationships, merged into her very being, and was a part of her soul.

"Because..." The woman's smile remained, but her voice softened, revealing a layer of bitterness.

She sighed.

"Those were her tears, which, through reincarnation, eventually became a mark on your hand."

Perhaps because time had stopped flowing in this space, Qiao Yanshen also felt that her words slowed down, and everything became extremely slow.

Therefore, the pain caused by hearing her words came very slowly and was extremely cold, gradually engulfing her heart, making every breath she took difficult and icy.

"Who sheds tears, and who... always makes my heart ache when they are mentioned?"

The pain reached its peak and began to subside, but the process was agonizing, subjecting her to another heart-wrenching tremor. Blood could not be pumped out, and the spasms were futile. Qiao Yan bit her lip, her nose stung, and tears welled up before she could hold back, spilling uncontrollably from her eyes.

The warm liquid slid down, startling her for a moment—she could cry too. So many grievances and confusions welled up inside her, transforming into tangible tears.

Seeing her tears, the woman lowered her eyes slightly, a look of guilt welling up in them. She stepped forward, raised her sleeve to wipe away Qiao Yanshen's tears, and whispered, "It's my fault. I was heartbroken, I couldn't control my grief, and you shed tears and blood, and are still trapped in this world... It's my fault, I couldn't let go of everything in Luochuan and forget everything."

Qiao Yanshen raised her hand, her fingertips touching the back of the other's hand, lightly resting on it. The coldness spread out, and only then did she realize that the woman had no warmth at all, like a skeleton that had been sleeping for thousands of years under a frozen river.

She remained silent, letting the other person wipe away her tears. At first, she bit her lip and held back her tears, but when her vision blurred, she stopped trying and let the tears flow more and more, making her cheeks wetter and wetter with each wipe. The tears glistened and burned her eyes, like ice breaking and the lake water pouring out endlessly.

Even so, those icy hands never stopped. When the fingertips gently brushed against the corner of her eye, the coldness made her blink involuntarily, and all her words were swallowed by sobs. The woman sighed again and said, "Yan Shen, I have so much to tell you, but Heaven is watching us. The truth, the past, you can only find it yourself."

Qiao Yanshen forced back his sobs, managing to squeeze out, "Spying...?"

“He has been watching us ever since we came here. If I reveal everything, I fear it will bring you utter destruction in an instant.”

The woman's palm gently touched her cheek, stroking it lightly.

"Because you are the only variable in her life. But I have one more thing to say, which is that you don't necessarily have to be that variable. Before becoming anyone else, you must first be yourself and belong to yourself. You don't need to save anyone. You come from the world and are also a part of the world. I don't want to see you separate yourself and become the one who pulls chestnuts out of the fire."

The tears finally stopped, and Qiao Yan closed her eyes tightly. "What you said was too vague; I don't understand its meaning. With my current cultivation level, how can I save the world? There are so many cultivators in the world, but how many can truly achieve the Dao Heart and slay all evil?"

“I know you can do it,” the woman chuckled, “because I have seen the world through your eyes since you can remember. I know you have never said you would give up, even if it meant suffering a thousand times more.”

"Why can you see me, and why do you always hide yourself from me, only showing yourself now?"

The woman withdrew her hand, and in a moment the watermarks on it dried, revealing her long sleeves once again as white as clouds. She turned around and slowly took a step forward.

"Because I am a part of you, existing in your soul."

Qiao Yanshen followed her, and the surrounding clouds and mist changed, magically disappearing to reveal a colorful scene. In a normal performance, the curtain would be drawn, the actors would be in place, and the lighting would need to be adjusted several times before it was perfect. However, the ways of the world are unpredictable, bringing the past clouds and mist back to the present, flowing past her eyes once again.

“I was also in a daze before, and when I woke up in another world, I forgot a lot. Even when I saw you in my dream, I only remembered that I was going to teach you cultivation, but I forgot the reason.”

The woman walked ahead, surrounded by memories—Qiao Yanshen's memories. So many, many memories—from her childhood, from her adolescence, the most recent ones vivid, thus more colorful. The past was somewhat hazy, and she was someone who didn't want to look back.

She saw children trapped indoors watching the snow, and outside the window, children playing with lanterns breathing on the glass and drawing various doodles. Her life, planned out for her, was smooth sailing, which also made her life pale and devoid of any unexpected color, like a delicate glass shell.

Qiao Yanshen silently turned his head away, no longer looking at the memories surfacing from the depths of his memory.

She finally understood her current situation—perilous yet full of unexpected changes, like finding joy amidst hardship, ultimately granting Qiao Yanshen a chance to be open and honest. But dreams are always the most fragile; she had to go back, her family was waiting, and she couldn't afford not to.

The woman looked in the direction she had just been looking, and her brows furrowed as if some complicated emotions were welling up inside her, but she quickly relaxed. "I understand how you feel. Back then, the River Goddess wouldn't let me go out either, and told me to stay underwater."

Qiao Yanshen then recalled the sound of flowing water in his dream, and the boy huddled in a small house, so bored that his mouth tasted bitter.

"But perhaps it is different in the end, because I drowned by accident back then, and the river took pity on my youth and left me to be cared for by the river goddess. Instead of going downstream, I am left between life and death, and need to rest for a long time to replenish my lost soul. That is why the river goddess does not allow me to go out until I have replenished my soul."

Qiao Yanshen asked in astonishment, "Those are your memories? — You are the one who came up from the river?"

She nodded gently and continued, "It's yours too. Yan Shen, I am a part of you."

Overwhelmed by a jumble of thoughts, Qiao Yanshen felt a sudden headache and pressed his hand to his temples. "But why are you grieving over... Zhuque's death? Is this why I came here?"

The relationship was finally clear, but she couldn't be sure where this strange soul came from or when it entered her body.

“We were close friends, Yan Shen. The departure of a close friend...it is inevitable to grieve.”

When the words "close friend" were mentioned, the woman's voice lowered slightly, and she gave a self-deprecating laugh.

She raised her hand and waved it slightly, and the scene changed. When Qiao Yanshen looked at it again, it was no longer a modern scene, but an ancient village with fragrant grass.

On the path, a black-haired boy in red walked ahead, appearing like a bright flame in the eyes of those behind him.

Then, as if she was about to be questioned, she turned her head, her high ponytail swinging in the air, and a pair of bright red eyes looked over.

All the vibrant colors of the world paled in comparison to her, except for the bright red dot on her forehead, which rivaled her beauty.

The woman in white, off-screen, tilted her head slightly, looking at the boy in the illusion with tenderness in her eyes, and then sighed softly when she realized that this was just a past phantom.

Seeing her gaze, Qiao Yanshen had only one thought in his mind—

That's a lie.

How could someone with such a look in their eyes be a close friend? How could they possibly be a close friend?

“I know you still want to ask me... what my identity is. I have already made it very clear, and you already have the answer in your heart, Yan Shen.”

As the puzzle was gradually completed, she always felt that the most crucial piece was missing.

By the way, why is there this life? If the past life hadn't ended, how could we have come to this life?

"And the person beside you... the divine fire recognizes its master, but her soul is flawed, so it's inevitable that she'll reject it. That fire was forged through the trials of the Nine Heavens, and it won't easily submit; it's extremely stubborn." The woman pursed her lips, as if recalling something, and smiled helplessly, "Just like her."

How can I go back?

"If you want to know the answer, then go to Luochuan to find it. You have forgotten something extremely important, which is the reason why you came into this world, and also the reason why Heaven discovered you."

The Way of Heaven.

It's the way of Heaven again. The deception on the steps is the way of Heaven, and the tribulation of lightning is also the way of Heaven.

Now, it is the will of Heaven that summoned her.

A sudden impulse arose in Qiao Yanshen's heart. She thought, if Heaven insists on this way, what if she refuses to comply? Just as the person beside her said, if she is regarded as a pawn, then she might as well overturn the chessboard.

At this point in her thoughts, she finally remembered the perilous situation she was in.

"Leaving Summer..."

Hearing her call, the woman turned around, and the surrounding scenery instantly dimmed, as if sinking into deep water, leaving only pitch black.

They stood in the boundless night sky, gradually drawing closer.

"Let me do it this time."

After she finished speaking, the woman took a few steps forward, reached out and hugged Qiao Yanshen. Her cool and deep aura enveloped him, clearly as cold as ice, yet it made Qiao Yanshen feel as safe as a fish returning to the deep sea.

The boy nestled in her arms, slowly closed his eyes, and softly asked, "If I truly lift the restrictions of the Heavenly Dao in the future, will I still see you?"

She heard that gentle voice reply, "No, as you gradually become whole, I will also disappear."

The woman hugged her tightly, their dark hair intertwined, their warmth mingling.

"But in other words, I am also becoming you. Please don't forget, Yanshen, every step you take closer to your true self, every bit more complete you become, makes me happier. You have to find your own path and walk it yourself, but I will accompany you. Every moment you become yourself, I sincerely wish you well and cheer for you."

The two parted slightly, and the woman's lips touched her forehead. From that moment on, the gap between their souls closed a little more.

The surrounding darkness gradually collapsed, and the figure of the person they were relying on slowly blurred and faded. A bright silver-blue light shone, silencing all movement and extinguishing the burning divine fire.

The woman with black hair, standing in the woods, lowered her head and turned away after only glancing at the unconscious boy behind her.

In the blink of an eye, the Rainblade Sword was drawn.

With a light and graceful sword strike, spiritual energy flowed like rain, yet its fine threads nourished all living beings, resonating with the origin of the five elements, and completely dissipating the several swiftly descending bolts of lightning.

The final words echoed in Qiao Yanshen's ears.

"You must know that I love you, and you must also love yourself. You must be happy."

The illusion finally vanished, and the scent of the forest returned. The wind was gentle, but unlike the person's hands, it could not wipe away the boy's tears.

Qiao Yanshen regained consciousness, letting tears stream down her face. She put away the rain-soaked weapon, knelt down beside the boy, gently pulled him into her arms, and only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming he was alright. Then she looked up at the boundless sky.

A resolute look flashed in those eyes that were usually calm and still.

She was going to the Upper Realm to find Luo Chuan.

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Author's Note: This chapter may seem a bit confusing, but details will be added in later chapters.

Because my senior sister is someone who finds it difficult to express her needs, and her core emotional needs are actually very low, which is largely related to her past upbringing.

So her past self (this is uncertain) is encouraging her and giving her the strength to embrace her present self.

This was also to make the subsequent tug-of-war between the two more interesting... (The truth will be revealed later)