Chapter Ten: Reborn as the Eldest Daughter of an Immortal Sect

The Golden Lion gathered sinister force in its paw, while the lioness, seeing that the outcome was certain, sat aside, calmly licking her own paw. Bai Ruo had already abandoned all hope, letting her body fall freely.

Suddenly, a surge of even more powerful spiritual energy rippled through the air, gathering with such intensity that the sky turned dim, and the earth darkened.

Bai Ruo felt a pair of hands encircle her waist, holding her tightly and bringing her safely to the ground. She opened her tightly shut eyes, and a pair of gentle, almond-shaped eyes met her gaze. Their garments intertwined, fluttering together in the wind.

“Chong Li…”

A melody from a jade flute rose with the wind, carrying a murderous aura; flowers fell, branches broke, and all the beasts bowed in reverence.

The Golden Lion, so fierce before, now cowered on the ground, trembling, not daring even to lift its head to look at Chong Li.

“This trial is now over.” With a wave of his hand in the void, Chong Li cast a spell, and a formation appeared on the ground.

Huai Ze led the others to step into the formation first.

Baili Ce, dragging the unconscious Shen Miao, glanced at Bai Ruo and Chong Li: So, your heart was already elsewhere. It was never meant to be me.

Chong Li still held Bai Ruo close, and for reasons she could not explain, she did not dare to move, allowing herself to remain in his arms.

[Master, I feel something calling to me!]

“Shall we... not go out?” Bai Ruo looked up at Chong Li with wide, bewildered eyes.

“With me, you are the lotus.”

…So, what does that mean? What are you trying to say???

“It’s nothing. Wait a moment,” Chong Li said, helplessly tapping her nose.

Lotus’s eyes widened at him, her gaze clearly questioning, “Are we really this close?”

Chong Li gathered a droplet of blood Bai Ruo had shed during the battle from her clothing using his spiritual power. The tiny bead of blood, under his control, floated steadily toward the back of the Golden Lion.

A rumbling crash echoed—a fissure split open the land of the sinister domain.

“What is this?”

With Bai Ruo in his arms, Chong Li stepped on the wind and descended directly into the chasm. Once below, he set her down.

“Go ahead. There is something here that belongs to you.”

When Bai Ruo turned to find him again, Chong Li was already gone.

[Master, hurry! It’s just ahead, quickly!]

Winding through twists and turns, she finally arrived at a space that looked crafted by human hands. In the center stood a lotus pond, the blossoms in full glory, exuding a delicate fragrance.

[Master, in the center of the pond!]

Bai Ruo inspected the area—no traps.

Should she try her blood?

The thought surfaced unbidden, startling Lotus—could it be, if she offered her blood, something would indeed happen?

[Master, try it! I feel it will work!]

With no other choice, she decided to give it a try.

Biting her fingertip, she let drops of crimson blood fall into the lotus pool. The pink petals, stained with red, became even more enchanting.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

A cracking sound. A stone slowly surfaced from the water, upon which lay a white crystal.

[Master! It’s inside the crystal! Quickly, your blood!]

As her blood dripped onto the crystal, it began to glow red, the white slowly consumed by scarlet. A black lotus petal rose, spreading a cool, captivating fragrance through the air.

Without thinking, she reached out. The petal settled in her palm. A beam of white light shot from Bai Ruo’s brow, falling onto the petal. Suddenly, a surge of strange yet familiar memories flooded her mind:

Mist curled around the lotus pond, blossoms in full bloom, swaying gracefully. A little girl, hair tied in twin buns, skipped by the water, her jade-like feet peeking from beneath her pink dress, charming and delicate, leaving a lotus blooming with every step.

A figure in dark robes approached, a folding fan in hand, his face obscured by white mist, but the curve of his lips was faintly visible. He gently pulled the girl to him, sliding a jade bracelet onto her wrist—its carved lotus motif vivid and lifelike.

…

She could not hear what they said, but the feeling was as if she herself had lived it.

Bai Ruo slowly opened her eyes. The black lotus petal was now settled in her spiritual consciousness.

Lost in thought, she barely heard Little Rascal’s frantic shouts in her mind. Regaining her senses, she retraced her steps toward the exit.

Chong Li waited quietly, toying with his jade flute.

Dimly, Bai Ruo felt that the figure in her memory resembled Chong Li, yet his face remained obscured. They had never truly interacted, but Chong Li grasped her right hand, and in an instant, they exited the Glass Secret Realm together.

Outside, Huai Ze and the others had been anxiously waiting, eyes wide as if trying to uncover some hidden story in the way Chong Li held Bai Ruo’s hand. He looked at Chong Li, then at Bai Ruo, again and again…

In truth, Bai Ruo had not meant to hold on, but Chong Li’s grip was too firm; she could not break free.

Before the eyes of all, Chong Li took Bai Ruo and soared away on the wind.

The focus gone, those in the square returned to eating, drinking, and dispersing, each to their own affairs.

Baili Ce, upon leaving the secret realm, brought Shen Miao for healing at once. Otherwise, if she had seen this scene, who knows what she might have thought.

But rumors, as if sprouting wings, spread from person to person, eventually reaching Baili Ce’s ears. The tale went something like this:

Senior Sister Bai Ruo’s heart has changed—she’s fallen for the mysterious Chong Li, whose age is beyond reckoning. The two are a perfect match!

Chong Li treats Bai Ruo with special tenderness; it’s said they have already pledged themselves to one another!

And thanks to Huai Ze’s chattering, there was an even juicier version:

Chong Li descended from the heavens to rescue Senior Sister Bai Ruo. To repay his kindness, she has sworn her life to him!

All sorts of stories flew through the immortal sect, becoming fodder for the disciples’ idle gossip.

As for the parties involved, they were not unaware, but in a rare moment of harmony, neither responded, letting the rumors spread as they pleased.