Chapter 140: Awake
Chen Yin slowly opened his eyes.
His gaze, as if returning from a distant memory, settled on Fuyu. He sighed softly and chuckled wryly.
“…Your master truly has a twisted sense of humor.”
“Are you dissatisfied with the trial, Young Master?” Fuyu asked, a playful smile on her lips.
“Not exactly dissatisfied. But using one’s deepest memories as a trial is a bit… unsettling.”
Chen Yin didn’t dwell on it and asked, “Where are the others?”
“Still undergoing their trials.”
Fuyu held out her hand, the crystal orb in her palm shimmering with a kaleidoscope of colors.
Through the orb, Chen Yin could vaguely see Qingying and a younger version of Qingchen, dressed in tattered clothes, wandering the streets.
Nan Xiaoxiang’s trial, however, was strange. She seemed to be trapped in a dark, endless cave, tears streaming down her face.
…What could Nan Xiaoxiang’s inner demons be? Chen Yin was curious. “Can I see what their trials are like?”
“Of course not.” Fuyu looked at him with a smile.
Of course not. Chen Yin pouted.
But then he noticed another faint glow beside the two orbs.
“Huh?” He leaned closer and saw an unexpected figure.
…The middle-aged swordsman, Ye Huang.
He was lying beside a small hut by a lake, a young girl with her hair in buns sitting beside him, her head resting on his lap.
His gaze was gentle as he stroked the little girl’s hair.
“He’s here too?” Chen Yin was surprised.
“That man, Ye Huang, arrived before you. He began his trial half a day ago.”
Fuyu said slowly, “But it seems his trial will take a while longer.”
“Did I finish too quickly?” Chen Yin asked.
“Although there’s no precedent, I’d say you were quite fast, Young Master.”
Chen Yin smiled faintly, not out of pride, but simply turned his gaze back to the crystal orb.
…Everyone had things they clung to.
Among countless memories, some were so captivating that they could trap you, making you unwilling to wake up.
But once you chose to dwell in the past, you would lose sight of the future.
It was a simple truth, but when you were trapped in a dream so vivid and real, escaping its grasp was incredibly difficult.
Chen Yin had been able to break free because he had no lingering attachments to his past self.
He thought Qingying had a good chance of passing the trial. After witnessing the tragedy on Ephemeral Mountain, she should have come to terms with her brother’s death.
But he wasn’t sure about Nan Xiaoxiang. She had never revealed anything about her past.
The only thing he was certain of was that the swordsman…
…He wouldn’t pass the trial.
From the moment he saw the look in his eyes, Chen Yin had known.
He was the type who would gladly lose himself in the past, never wanting to wake up.
Of course, it was none of his business. Chen Yin didn’t care if he passed or failed.
He just turned to Fuyu and asked, “A slightly unrelated question.”
“If they fail the trial, will they be released safely?”
“Naturally.” Fuyu chuckled. “This formation isn’t meant to kill. If they can’t comprehend the opportunity within the allotted time, they’ll be sent back.”
“However…” She hesitated, her lips pressed together.
…I knew it. Chen Yin sighed.
“What’s the catch?”
“I won’t stop them from leaving, but I won’t help them either.”
Fuyu’s red lips parted slightly. “It’s up to them to figure out how to escape the icy plains outside.”
“That’s not helpful at all!”
Chen Yin was almost amused. The icy plains outside were a desolate wasteland, its freezing winds capable of nullifying spiritual energy. Leaving the formation would be a death sentence.
Fuyu’s eyes twinkled. “If you want me to make an exception and send them out, Young Master, it’s not impossible.”
“But you have to answer a question for me. If your answer is satisfactory, you can do whatever you want with this formation.”
Such a generous offer? Chen Yin stroked his chin. “Tell me more.”
“Young Master, do you know… what is the Dao?”
Upon hearing that question…
Chen Yin almost had a PTSD-induced heart attack.
“…Seriously?”
He suppressed a twitch in his lips. “I’m sick of that question after Ephemeral Mountain. Why are you asking me the same thing?”
“Can’t your master come up with a more original question? Why are you all so obsessed with the Dao?”
“A cultivator’s life is a pursuit of the Dao and immortality.”
Fuyu said with a smile, “Only by transcending the mundane can one achieve true freedom.”
Chen Yin pondered the question.
“Can I just give a random answer and see if it works?” He asked tentatively.
“Of course. Any answer is acceptable.”
“Then,” Chen Yin said seriously, “I think everyone who seeks the Dao is putting the cart before the horse.”
“Some believe that comprehending the Dao and achieving immortality requires abandoning all emotions and desires. I think that’s bullshit.”
“…The Heavenly Dao is the Human Dao. I shouldn’t be seeking the Dao at all.”
He looked at Fuyu and said, “If I am truly transcendent, then I am the Dao.”
Fuyu’s eyes lit up. She stared at him for a long time, then nodded slowly with a smile.
“The Heavenly Dao is the Human Dao… That is a satisfactory answer.”
“Perhaps… you are the kind of person my master was looking for.”
She bowed gracefully. “As promised, this formation is now yours to control.”
Chen Yin was stunned. That was it?
He had just given a random answer, and this formation spirit actually believed him.
He took the crystal orb, examined it, then turned to Fuyu and asked, “So can I see what their trials are like now?”
“Unfortunately, no.”
Fuyu said slowly, “I’ve given you control over the formation, but my master forbade anyone from observing the trial subjects’ inner demons. Not even I, the formation spirit, can do it, and neither can you.”
…Then what’s the point of giving me control of the formation if I can’t even use it? Chen Yin pouted.
“However, you can release your companions from their trials at any time, and I can send you all back to the outside world.”
“Then let’s do that.” Chen Yin glanced at Qingying, whose eyes were now red-rimmed, tears mixing with a faint smile. It seemed she was almost ready to break free.
As for Nan Xiaoxiang and that Ye Huang, they probably wouldn’t be able to escape even if their time ran out.
Chen Yin didn’t want to waste any more time. He released Qingying and Nan Xiaoxiang from their trials.
Back in reality, Qingying opened her eyes, her long eyelashes still damp with tears.
But her expression was calm, only a hint of sadness lingering in her eyes.
“You’re awake?” Chen Yin looked at her with a smile.
Qingying lowered her gaze and nodded slowly.
“Not bad. It seems you’ve come to terms with your brother’s death.”
“After all, I watched him leave.” She looked away, her voice soft. “There’s nothing left to hold onto.”
Chen Yin didn’t say anything more, just gently smoothed her hair. Qingying didn’t resist, allowing his intimate gesture.
Then, Chen Yin turned to Nan Xiaoxiang.
She was huddled in a corner, her body trembling, her eyes filled with pain and conflict.
She was still lost in thought, trapped in her inner demons.
“Alright, snap out of it.”
Chen Yin walked over and patted her head, his voice firm. “It was just a dream. Don’t take it seriously.”
Nan Xiaoxiang slowly came to her senses. As she realized it had all been an illusion, a deep sadness washed over her, and she buried her face in her hands.
Seeing her dejected demeanor, Chen Yin couldn’t help but be curious.
“What did you see, Miss Nan? You seemed so captivated by it.”
Nan Xiaoxiang bit her lip tightly, then shook her head weakly.
“…Thank you for waking me, Young Master Chen.”
“It seems this opportunity wasn’t meant for me.” She whispered sadly, hugging her knees.
Chen Yin noticed her tightly clenched fists but didn’t pry into her personal matters.
“Alright. Finally,”
Chen Yin turned to the crystal orb, where the last figure remained.
“Should we release this Ye Huang fellow?”
Ye Huang was sitting by a bed, his eyes filled with tenderness as he coaxed a little girl to sleep.
Qingying looked at the blurry image of Ye Huang in the orb and asked, “Is he trapped in the formation too?”
“Fuyu,” Chen Yin turned to the formation spirit, “If I use my authority to extend the trial indefinitely, can I trap him here forever?”
Fuyu nodded. “Yes.”
“Do you want to keep him here forever?” Qingying asked softly.
Chen Yin thought it wasn’t a bad idea.
Although he respected Ye Huang’s swordsmanship, they were on different paths. He had repeatedly tried to kill him, so there was no reason for him to show mercy.
But leaving him here to wither away seemed like a waste.
After a moment of contemplation, he said, “…Release him.”
“I still want to try and get some information from him about the person who sent him after us.”
Fuyu bowed respectfully and waved her hand over the orb. Ye Huang’s figure appeared, his eyes closed, a peaceful and gentle smile on his face.
…As if he was having a sweet dream he didn’t want to wake up from.
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