Chapter 56: Rushing into her senior brother's arms, a torrent of mixed emotions surged forth...

If Ao Hao had already been possessed by Yun Zhishui, then the pills he refined... Jun Lintian dared not think any further.

Given Yun Zhishui's hatred for his junior sister, how could the pills be without problems?

Did my junior sister notice anything unusual at the time?

Has the elixir already dissolved in her body, or... has it planted some dangerous seed?

In the center of the open space, Ao Hao stopped moving, stiffly turning his head, his deep-set eyes staring intently at the churning miasma ahead, a low "hoarse" sound escaping his throat:

"Not enough, still not enough... This body's aptitude is too poor... It can't withstand it..."

"The Way of Alchemy, the Way of the Sword, are both paths. Plunder...fusion..."

"System, mission... eliminate... the disruptor..."

"Master... Liu... Ying..."

He pronounced the last three words extremely slowly, his hoarse voice filled with a twisted longing.

Jun Lintian hid in the shadows, his eyes turning completely cold.

It really was him. Yun Zhishui.

Does he also have a system?

Jun Lintian recalled Xuanji Zi's experience and the methods by which the Dan Sect Master suppressed him at every turn.

Does Yun Zhishui also possess some similar ability?

In a flash, Jun Lintian forcibly suppressed the urge to immediately kill this person.

He was alone, and although his system had been interfered with by his junior sister, it hadn't completely disappeared. His opponent's current strength was unclear, and he wasn't entirely confident in his ability to act at this moment.

More importantly, my junior sister has been taking the pills for a long time. If there are any hidden dangers, we need to find out the root cause and find a way to resolve them. Killing "Ao Hao" rashly may cut off the clues.

He retreated silently.

Just before Jun Lintian's figure was about to completely blend into the shadows of the bamboo forest, Ao Hao, who was standing stiffly in the center of the clearing, suddenly turned his head 180 degrees in an extremely strange way, and his dark eyes looked accurately at the direction where Jun Lintian was hiding!

His lips slowly parted, revealing a stiff and terrifying smile.

"I've found... you..."

"The Myriad Manifestations Sect's...insects..."

The hoarse, breathy sound drifted clearly on the night breeze.

Jun Lintian's heart tightened. Without hesitation, he drew his Qingming Sword half an inch from its sheath. A sword aura, condensed to its extreme, was not aimed at his opponent, but at the ground behind him!

"boom!"

Dust mixed with bamboo leaves flew around, briefly obscuring the view.

At the same time, Jun Lintian pushed his movement technique to its limit, transforming into an elusive streak of light, and flew towards the outer perimeter of the Dan Sect without hesitation.

Behind them came the eerie sound of the miasma churning violently, and Ao Hao's sharp, long howl.

The Dan Sect has indeed become a place of trouble.

The hidden dangers surrounding my junior sister are more troublesome than I imagined.

Jun Lintian's expression was ashen and iron-like. He increased his sword speed by three points, having already made up his mind.

-

"I can show you where they came from." Seeing that Shi Liuying's attitude toward cooperation was not clear, the old man from the bookstore prepared to use some drastic measures.

Shi Liuying was startled, feeling the surrounding "qi" and golden runes suddenly begin to spin.

The next moment, a feeling of weightlessness came over me, and bizarre colors flashed by before my eyes.

"Bang!"

It wasn't a real impact sound, but rather a dull thud as if something had landed.

Shi Liuying shook her slightly dizzy head and steadied herself.

Then, she froze.

The scene before me was completely unfamiliar.

Beneath our feet was a hard, flat, blackish-gray "road" with white stripes, wide enough for dozens of spirited steeds to run side by side.

On both sides of the road are rows of towering houses, their smooth surfaces reflecting the dazzling sunlight.

Some rectangular hearses that could run on their own and make a roaring sound sped along the road, so fast that they dazzled her.

There was a strange smell in the air, neither like spiritual energy nor miasma, but a mixture of dust, metal, and some unfamiliar fragrance.

The noise was even more chaotic, with booming sounds, beeping sounds, and the indistinct clamor of the crowd all merging into a huge wave of sound, assaulting her eardrums, which were used to a quiet environment for meditation.

What frustrates her most is that she has become shorter!

No, it's shrunk!

The light blue dress she was wearing had been replaced by a short-sleeved shirt and shorts of similar texture but with a strange design, and the Spirit Sword had also disappeared.

A six- or seven-year-old human child stood blankly at the edge of the sidewalk, completely out of place in this vast, noisy, and bizarre world.

"Beep—!!!"

A sharp, piercing screech almost shattered eardrums.

Shi Liuying turned her head in shock and saw a huge black hearse that had come to a stop less than three feet in front of her.

The car window rolled down, revealing a handsome face with furrowed brows, radiating impatience and a sense of "I guess I'm just unlucky."

It's Senior Brother Chongcang!

But it wasn't the Chong Cang she knew...

This "Chong Cang" was dressed in a sharp black outfit made of expensive material, his hair was neatly combed, and he exuded an aura of "keep away, strangers, and don't bother me, even if you know me."

He was holding a small square device to his ear, and said irritably into it, "...Okay, Mom, I know, I'll talk about it next time. You want me to go on a blind date? Forget about it."

He deftly pressed the small square button, casually stuffed it into his pocket, and muttered under his breath, "From halfway around the world, what right do they have to tell me what to do?"

Clearly, that phone call had made him feel even worse.

Then, as if just remembering that there was an obstacle standing in front of the car, he turned his gaze back to Shi Liuying.

Chong Cang looked the little kid up and down, who was standing blankly in the middle of the road and almost got hit by him. His brows furrowed even more, and his tone was not very friendly: "Kid, are you alright? My car didn't hit you. The dashcam is recording."

He pointed to a spot in front of the car: "Trying to stage an accident and extort money? You've got the wrong idea."

Shi Liuying didn't speak, but just looked up at him blankly.

That face was indeed Senior Brother Chongcang, but his eyes, his tone, and his aura were so unfamiliar that they made her feel uneasy.

He wasn't the Elder Chongcang who would patiently teach her cultivation knowledge in class.

Seeing that she was just staring blankly at him with red eyes and no words, Chong Cang became even more impatient: "Are you scared out of your wits?"

He looked around at the bustling street: "Where are your parents? Are they lost?"

He clearly didn't want to cause trouble, but he couldn't bring himself to actually leave a child who looked like a lost toddler in the middle of the road.

He rubbed his temples in frustration, pushed open the car door and got out, his movements decisive: "Alright, stop standing here. The car is in the way. Come with me, we're calling the police, and we'll wait for them to come and find your family."

His tone was harsh, and he had little patience to coax a child, but he still reached out to protect her, signaling Shi Liuying to follow.

Then he led her across the street and into a cake shop on the other side.

The shop was quiet, with soothing music playing.

Chong Cang waved to the clerk who came to greet him, ordered a coffee, and then went straight to a seat by the window. He opened his notebook and started typing rapidly, seemingly getting right into work.

He simply told Shi Liuying, "Sit down and don't wander off. The police will be here soon."

Then he ignored her, as if she were just a minor nuisance who needed temporary accommodation.

Shi Liuying silently climbed onto the chair opposite him, which was a bit too high for her, her short legs dangling in the air.

She didn't look at Chong Cang, but her gaze was drawn to a busy figure behind the glass counter.

The person was wearing a clean apron, with their long hair loosely tied up. They were looking down and skillfully applying a layer of milky white ointment to a round, fluffy object.

Her profile was gentle, her expression focused, and a natural, warm smile played on her lips.

It's Senior Sister Rong Yan!

Shi Liuying's heart skipped a beat.

She unconsciously slid off the chair, stood on tiptoe, and leaned over the cold glass counter, gazing longingly inside.

Rong Yan seemed to notice the focused gaze, looked up, and saw the little girl outside the glass.

Her eyes were red, like those of an abandoned little animal.

Rong Yan paused for a moment, then smiled and put down the tools in her hand.

She turned around and took a small piece of cake decorated with bright red strawberries from the refrigerator next to her. She put it in a small paper plate, walked around the counter, walked to Shi Liuying, squatted down, and handed her the cake. Her voice was gentle: "Little girl, are you hungry? Here, have this. Don't be afraid, the police will come to help you find your mom and dad soon."

Shi Liuying took the small paper plate, which was still cool to the touch. Looking at the bright red strawberries and delicate cream on it, she looked up at Rong Yan's gentle, smiling eyes, which were completely unfamiliar to her. Suddenly, her nose stung with tears.

She picked up the small spoon next to her, scooped out a little bit of cake, and put it in her mouth.

sweet.

It's the taste of my memories.

It was the taste of Senior Sister Rong Yan, who finally succeeded in making it after countless attempts to destroy the alchemy furnace. She excitedly handed it to her, saying, "Little Firefly, try it! This little cake is absolutely delicious and can even boost your cultivation."

Exactly the same.

This bite of cake was more impactful than anything the director of the Transmigration Bureau had ever said.

It told her so truthfully: the gentle and kind cake decorator sister in front of her was really the same Rong Yan, who could make delicious food, was energetic and quick, used her ghostly aura to investigate everything, and said she loved her the most.

Shi Liuying glanced at Rong Yan, then lowered her eyes.

But now... she doesn't recognize herself.

My heart felt like it was being gripped by an invisible hand, squeezed tightly into a cramped, dark corner.

A strange sense of loss surged up, but it was firmly blocked in my chest, with no outlet for its release.

She had only experienced this kind of sadness, as if she had been stripped of the world and stood alone outside the crowd, a very long time ago, when her grandfather's coffin was closed.

Shi Liuying lowered her head, gripping the small spoon tightly until her knuckles turned white, desperately trying to hold back the increasingly hot tears welling up in her eyes.

Not long after, a police car pulled up outside the store.

A policewoman in a crisp uniform with a neat ponytail walked in.

She has a pair of very bright eyes with a natural affinity. When her gaze swept across the store and landed on Shi Liuying, her expression softened naturally.

Shi Liuying put down the cake.

It's Senior Sister Chi Yang...

Chong Cang, dressed in a suit, stood up: "It's her, she's lost."

Chi Yang walked up to Shi Liuying, squatted down, and looked her in the eye: "Little friend, do you need help?"

Her voice was clear and gentle: "Don't be afraid, I'm a police officer. Tell me your name? Where do you live? Where are your parents?"

Shi Liuying looked at her, opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

What could she say? That I am Shi Liuying from the cultivation world, and that you are all my senior brothers and sisters but you don't recognize me?

She remained silent.

Another head popped out of the police car outside the store.

He was a young man wearing a flashy shirt and with his hair styled in a very fashionable way.

With a slightly cynical look on his face, he peered curiously into the store through the car window.

Seeing Shi Liuying's red eyes, he grinned, revealing a slightly silly but bright smile, and called out, "Hey, little sister, why are you crying? Who bullied you? Tell your brother, and your brother will help you... Ouch!"

Before he could finish speaking, he seemed to be pushed back down by someone in the car.

But Shi Liuying recognized him clearly; it was Senior Brother Shen Hanzhou.

Chi Yang glanced back at the police car with a helpless look, shook her head, and continued to patiently guide Shi Liuying: "How about we go to the car with your sister first? It's safe there, and we can talk slowly."

She was gently lifted up by Chi Yang, feeling the reliable aura of this world, looking at Rong Yan smiling and gesturing to her in the shop, the boisterous Shen Hanzhou outside the window, and Chong Cang across the street, who, though impatient, still led her away from the road...

The surging emotions that had been weighing on my chest finally broke through the floodgates.

Shi Liuying buried her face in the crook of her neck, her voice muffled. She said sincerely, "...You guys are so kind."

The senior students were very kind people, which is why they showed her so much kindness even before they knew her.

Just then, a low-profile but sleek black sedan quietly pulled up behind the police car.

The car door opened, and a tall, aloof man stepped out.

He was handsome with a calm gaze, holding a small cube in his hand that was the same style as Chong Cang's but a different color, as he ended the call.

He was asked by a friend abroad to pick up his friend's troublesome younger brother from the police station on his way.

Unexpectedly, I saw my friend's younger brother's flamboyant appearance halfway there.

His gaze shifted, and he saw a little girl with red, swollen eyes.

As if possessed, he pushed open the door of the cake shop and went inside.

Chi Yang was about to leave with Shi Liuying in her arms when she came face to face with the man who was coming in.

Jun Lintian nodded politely to Chi Yang, but his gaze fell directly on Shi Liuying's face in her arms.

He leaned down slightly, his voice as gentle and clear as ever, yet carrying a hint of inquiry that he himself was unaware of, and asked softly, "Little friend, have we... met somewhere before?"

In that instant, Shi Liuying felt the world spinning.

The lights, aromas, and voices of the cake shop, Chi Yang's warm embrace, Rong Yan's concerned gaze, Chen Hanzhou's funny face outside the window, the soft sound of Chong Cang typing on the keyboard, and Jun Lintian's gentle face that was both familiar and unfamiliar... everything quickly faded, distorted, and dissipated.

"Whoosh—!"

It felt like falling from an extremely high place, or like being suddenly pulled back.

As her feet touched solid ground, Shi Liuying caught a whiff of old books and a faint dusty scent, along with the freshness of grass and trees after the rain.

She staggered for a moment, then regained her balance.

Before me was no longer a bustling, unfamiliar street, but the familiar, dilapidated, and quiet Sword Sect Library.

Moonlight streamed through the window lattice, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

The night breeze rustled the bamboo leaves.

Beneath that gnarled ancient tree, a figure in a green robe had been standing silently for an unknown period of time.

The moonlight outlined his tall, bamboo-like silhouette, and his robes fluttered gently in the breeze.

As if sensing something, he slowly turned around, his gentle and calm eyes, carrying a hint of barely perceptible worry, quietly gazing at her.

Just like countless times when I waited in the courtyard for her to finish practicing a set of sword techniques.

The complex emotions trapped in the cramped corner shattered the hard wall and surged out in an instant.

Shi Liuying's vision blurred instantly as she desperately lunged toward the figure.

"Senior brother—!"

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Author's note: This is the final chapter. The entire text is approximately 300,000 words long.

There's also a random red envelope in this chapter. Thank you for reading, dear reader! [pat on the head]