When the Beautiful, Strong, and Tragic Meets the Unbeatable Protagonist | Chapter 63

Half a day ago.

Lin Ji and Meng Wanqiu landed together, forcefully breaking through the hidden secret realm behind the tree hole. Meng Wanqiu stood behind Lin Ji, and as soon as they entered, he quickly sealed the entrance of the tree hole with his spiritual power.

With a decisive motion, he cut his palm, letting his blood adhere to the barrier. Lin Ji turned around and hurried over, "Master, doing this will severely injure your vitality."

Meng Wanqiu's face turned pale, "I know. This barrier is connected to my life force; unless I die, it won't break from the inside."

But it doesn't restrict those outside from coming in, allowing the sect leader and others with the same source of spiritual power to find this place.

Lin Ji immediately understood Meng Wanqiu's intention; he wanted to resolve all issues within the secret realm without involving the outside world. If the secret realm collapsed and extended to the outside, they would be powerless to stop it, but they couldn't avoid trying their best.

Lin Ji also cut his palm, following suit. The master and disciple walked along a path, but the fog was thick, obscuring their view of what lay ahead.

They walked for a long time, and the path seemed to stretch infinitely, making it impossible to see the end. Lin Ji grew increasingly anxious, and Meng Wanqiu held him back, "We might have encountered a maze. Don't panic; think about how to break the formation."

At this point, things couldn't get much worse. Instead, Meng Wanqiu calmed down, his voice steadying Lin Ji's heart.

Taking a deep breath, they finally reached a fork in the road, but there were too many paths, and none of them seemed to lead anywhere. However, since it could be a maze, the forks weren't the most critical part; the direction was what mattered.

The two relied on the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams, continuously casting several formations to break the maze, and finally, the small paths disappeared.

But the next moment, they found themselves in another place, somewhat resembling the Guixu realm where Lin Ji had once stayed. The difference was that many fragments floated in the void.

For some reason, the Dust Viewing Mirror had shattered, but each mirror reflected different images.

The images showed various scenes. The master and disciple exchanged glances and transformed into streams of spiritual light, diving into different mirrors.

Lin Ji entered one of the shattered mirrors and saw ruins piled everywhere. The ground trembled, and from the remnants of the buildings, it was clear that the environment had once been a royal city before it collapsed.

He searched around but saw no one, so he quickly moved to another mirror, which showed a completely different scene, yet it trembled and collapsed just like the previous one.

Lin Ji had been here in his past life and knew that Haomiao Laozu, although not wandering the world, had relied on the Dust Viewing Realm to see the human world, using his profound spiritual power and cultivation to create different secret realms, almost replicating the most distinctive places in the Nine Provinces.

If Haomiao Laozu was trapped in the secret realm he had set up, then it must have been Lu Xiaobai who deliberately smashed the Dust Viewing Mirror at a critical moment, covering the original secret realm with different mirrors... only he could do that!

This meant that both Haomiao Laozu and Xiaobai could be in one of the mirrors; perhaps he was hiding and hadn't been discovered by the old ancestor.

Lin Ji finally calmed his mind, first sending the news he had discovered to Meng Wanqiu, then traversing through different mirrors, just like when he had broken through the secret realm into different domains, heading towards Lu Xiaobai.

He continuously moved through many different mirrors, the scenes having collapsed into ruins, showing how the outside world would be destroyed if Haomiao Laozu were to escape.

But Lin Ji had no time to lament; he kept searching for any sign of life, whether it was Xiaobai or the old ancestor, even the appearance of one would be good!

Finally, Lin Ji arrived at the farmland and houses where Lu Xiaobai had been before. Although there was some destruction here, it hadn't been completely ruined, indicating that the old ancestor was not far away!

Lin Ji searched around the house, almost digging three feet into the ground.

His mind was tense, and just as he confirmed he had found nothing, he suddenly heard an animal call.

Lin Ji paused, and from a corner of the roof, a small orange cat crawled out, shivering.

Lin Ji suspected he was also going mad and walked over to ask, "Do you know where your owner might be?"

After saying this, he felt ridiculous, but unexpectedly, the little yellow cat meowed at him twice.

Lin Ji's whole body shook as he saw the little yellow cat turn around and bite off a tuft of its yellow fur, meowing twice again.

With a glimmer of hope, Lin Ji took the cat fur and thought it would be better to put the little yellow cat into his storage bag as well; after all, it was one of the only two living beings in the tree hole secret realm.

Lin Ji continued to traverse, and he noticed the cat fur was blowing in a certain direction, so he hurriedly followed it.

Haomiao Laozu was different from the one outside who was pretending to be Lu Xiaobai.

What Lin Ji saw was a haggard old man, dragging his feet slowly, muttering something with his head down.

When he notified his master to arrive, Meng Wanqiu pulled him back to a concealed spot, signaling him to observe first.

Lin Ji anxiously watched, and after a long time, he finally heard the old man talking to himself:

"Seven hundred years, why can’t I ascend…"

"It’s one thing to not wait for the tribulation clouds for ascension, but why must I calculate my own demise? I’ve hidden for seven hundred years, yet I can’t escape fate…"

"If the existence of all things in the world is to head towards extinction, then what is the meaning of our existence?"

He raised his hand, "Why give me the hope of eternal life, only to shatter it with your own hands? Why let me be so close to ascension, yet I can’t break through no matter what!"

When Haomiao Laozu got angry, he raised his palm and smashed a certain area.

Then he began to repeat his words, mostly the same content. When he didn’t get an answer, he would destroy something.

After all, everything would disappear; what difference does it make when?

Suddenly, Haomiao Laozu smashed open the place where they were hiding, and the two quickly flew away to avoid it.

Thinking they would have to fight fiercely, the old ancestor instead revealed a longing gaze, as if he had finally found someone to listen to his ramblings.

"You tell me! What in this world is truly meaningful?"

The master and disciple exchanged glances; it was evident that if they answered in a way that displeased him, they would be the next to be smashed.

Meng Wanqiu asked, "Why do you think everything is meaningless?"

The old ancestor quickly repeated his previous questions.

Lin Ji countered, "But if you believe that everything in the world is meaningless, then living and dying, gaining and losing are no different. Why do you fear death and not dare to face your own end?"

Meng Wanqiu glanced at Lin Ji upon hearing this; A Ji was always straightforward, but wouldn’t this provoke the other party?

However, Lin Ji knew that Haomiao Laozu didn’t care about being offended; what mattered was whether he could touch his heart.

Sure enough, after pondering, Haomiao Laozu murmured, "Because, because I am unwilling! Just when I find the meaning of life, I am about to die!"

"I thought that only by ascending could I gain eternal time, and then the meaning of everything I do would never disappear!"

At this moment, black gas overflowed from his body, a sign of demonic possession.

Meng Wanqiu sighed, "Then what if after you ascend, you find that it is still meaningless?"

Haomiao Laozu became furious, "How could that be? At that time, I will surely find something meaningful!"

The two were shaken back a step, blood surging in their chests; it seemed that Haomiao Laozu's obsession was to ascend, fearing disappearance.

Lin Ji thought of something and quickly said, "Senior, you have watched countless scenes in the Dust Viewing Realm for hundreds of years, can’t you gain some insight?"

The old ancestor was stunned, "I have indeed seen countless joys and sorrows of the world, but no matter how splendid their lives are, they will ultimately return to nothingness."

Lin Ji continued, "Then you should also know that everything in the world has been done by someone. It is impossible for you to find something filled with novelty. May I boldly ask you, if you had eternal time, would you not also be living a life that others have lived? Even if you find something very novel, doing it for ten years, a hundred years, or even a thousand years, would you not grow tired? Once you stop, does that thing's meaning not disappear? Is that the result you want?"

Haomiao Laozu was stunned, constantly recalling Lin Ji's words, gradually being persuaded.

He slowly calmed down, just as the two were about to breathe a sigh of relief, the old ancestor suddenly became furious again: "So you mean that a person's life is utterly meaningless, then what is the meaning of all existence in the world!"

Lin Ji: "..."

The master and disciple resisted for a moment, and everything around them was destroyed.

Meng Wanqiu shouted, "That’s because you are wholeheartedly pursuing the Dao, living for the sake of living, avoiding the tribulations of the world, yet you have never truly integrated into the world. You think that if all people disappear, it would be meaningless, but in fact, every moment we live is about enjoying the present! Experiencing different things, generating different emotions and thoughts, this experience can be preserved as unforgettable memories as long as we are alive. Even if one day we die, there will still be descendants and loved ones to remember us."

He took out an ancient book from his storage bag and presented it to Haomiao Laozu with his spiritual power: "Including you. Please look, you have diligently cultivated for over seven hundred years, reaching the semi-immortal stage. Even if you have always avoided the world, there are still descendants who have recorded your life, teaching disciples to learn from your ambition to reach greater heights, admiring your profound realm."

Lin Ji also added, "Yes, senior, rather than being a dilettante, it’s better to look at the present. Not to mention your strength is hard to match in the world, but the things you have done in the secret realm, haven’t there been moments that touched you? These experiences and encounters are the meaning, yet you have destroyed the world you created with your own hands, which is no different from erasing the traces of your existence!"

"Just like my master and I have our own persistent things we want to do, we came here to retrieve the Dust Viewing Mirror that a disciple borrowed from you. Please return it to me!"

Lin Ji admitted he was anxious and had no time to discuss philosophy with others.

After a long time, the old ancestor seemed to be immobilized, completely subdued by them, pondering something.

The strange color in his pupils gradually faded, and he seemed to show signs of waking up. He looked around, and tears shimmered in his murky eyes.

Is existence itself meaning… Haomiao Laozu moved his steps, lovingly and regretfully reaching out to touch the secret realm he had personally turned into ruins.

Lin Ji's storage bag glowed, and the yellow cat quickly ran towards the old ancestor, rubbing against his robe and purring.

At that moment, the black gas on the old ancestor suddenly became frantic, shouting, "Kill them! What are you still hesitating for?"

The old ancestor's gaze suddenly sharpened, "What are you, to dare command me? You have no manners at all!"

Saying this, the great ascension cultivator forcefully shook off the demonic energy surrounding him.

He slightly raised his hand and grasped the demonic energy, transforming his palm into a fist, dissipating the black gas.

But his lifespan had already reached its end; after completing his last task, he sat cross-legged, holding the cat in his lap.

The old ancestor said, "Thank you for helping me break through the maze."

What he wanted to prove was that the Dao was experienced every moment, and that he, too, had significance in existence, and that was enough.

He looked at Lin Ji, "The person you are looking for is not here with me."

Haomiao Laozu said, the demonic energy fearing him dissipated, taking the opportunity to confuse his mind, luring him into demonic possession.

When Lu Xiaobai returned the Dust Viewing Mirror, he happened to encounter it; fortunately, the old ancestor's original will was resisting, and before he completely fell into demonic possession, he sent Lu Xiaobai away.

Haomiao Laozu had always been afraid of death, setting up teleportation arrays in every secret realm. With a single palm, he sent Lu Xiaobai into the teleportation array, sending him away.

But where the other end of the teleportation array led to was not fixed, not even he himself knew.

Generally speaking, the destination he leaned towards in his heart would naturally be the safest place in the world.

However, before Lu Xiaobai was thrown into the teleportation array, he had already half-fallen into demonic possession, unable to determine whether the teleportation array still represented his will and not the will of the demonic energy.

Including the one pretending to be Lu Xiaobai causing chaos and provoking the immortal sect, it might not even be his original will.

He was an old man nearing death, his soul unstable; it was also possible for the demonic energy to steal a part of his soul and disguise itself as him.

After Haomiao Laozu finished speaking, he entrusted the yellow cat to Meng Wanqiu and the others, looking at them stubbornly and pleadingly, "If possible, please remember me, having walked through this world."

Lin Ji held his hands, which were as dry as tree bark, "Not just us, future generations will remember you."

Hearing this, Haomiao Laozu felt comforted, slowly closing his eyes, and before he died, he no longer felt the previous anxiety and fear; his regrets drifted away with his last sigh.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to live, but his lifespan had ended, and ascension had become a delusion, powerless to change.

The only thing he could decide was to face the outcome calmly.

"..."

The sect leader and the elders finally arrived, witnessing the departure of the great ascension cultivator, all sighing.

Lin Ji quickly found the teleportation array nearby, discovering the jade pendant he had given to Lu Xiaobai.

But Lu Xiaobai's trace was lost again, this time without any clues.

Meng Wanqiu, disheveled, after sending off Haomiao Laozu in his own way, walked to Lin Ji's side, comforting him by holding his shoulder, "Although the old man doesn’t know where Xiaobai was sent, he saved Xiaobai's life, and there must be room for maneuver. Xiaobai is lucky and will be fine!"

"Don't lose heart; we will definitely find him!"

"He will be fine!"

Lin Ji looked at the pendant, then at Meng Wanqiu, his eyes filled with helplessness, "Master, but this pendant is what I gave to Xiaobai. Using his aura as a guide, as long as his spiritual power is still present, it will never fall off or be lost."

Meng Wanqiu was taken aback for a moment, then thought of something and continued to comfort him, "Is it possible that Xiaobai deliberately took it off as a marker, waiting for us to find it?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Ji's chaotic mind finally cleared a bit, and he managed to calm down.

Right, Xiaobai was always clever and would never just sit and wait.

At this moment, Lin Ji remembered the setting of the story; as the protagonist, Long Aotian wouldn’t be in life-threatening danger, but he recalled what Wen Ling had said about not being able to play with words, feeling extremely anxious.

Being safe was one thing, but Lin Ji was worried about Lu Xiaobai suffering.

The jade pendant in his hand, once separated from Lu Xiaobai, was like a mundane item, giving Lin Ji no reaction at all.

But Lin Ji quickly put away the pendant, forcing himself to pull himself together, standing up, "There’s no time to think too much; we must strive to find Xiaobai as soon as possible, the less danger he will be in."

Everyone left, and the secret realm in the cave was forever sealed.

The other immortal sects arrived late, some even waiting for others to charge in, learning the details from the sect leader, relieved that it was a false alarm.

But upon returning to Peifeng Sect, they immediately issued a bounty order for all cultivators in the cultivation world to search for people, mobilizing all disciples who could be sent out.

In this day and age, their sect actually had disciples disappearing out of thin air.

However, given the generous rewards offered by the elders of Peifeng Sect, even those who weren’t interested were eager to act for profit.

Not to mention those sect cultivators sheltered by Lu Xiaobai on Yuqiong Island, who also spontaneously gathered to search for him.

Across the Nine Provinces, various cultivators employed their unique secret techniques to search for Lu Xiaobai.

But still, there was no news of Lu Xiaobai.

Lin Ji summoned Wen Ling, pressing it for Lu Xiaobai's whereabouts.

Wen Ling darted around, floating far away, "I can only tell you that the protagonist will be fine."

"As for the rest, I can’t say. You will definitely find him in the end!"

Lin Ji: "…Then can you tell me if he is okay now? Is he injured? Is the place he is in dangerous?"

Wen Ling: "It’s hard to say if it’s good or bad, and saying it’s good is…"

Lin Ji almost punched it, and Wen Ling quickly dodged.

Lin Ji's eyes were red; he hadn’t slept since Lu Xiaobai went missing.

Every day he flew his sword to various places, searching through all the places they had walked together before.

He knew his personal strength was weak; Peifeng Sect had already issued a bounty across the Nine Provinces, and even mobilizing everyone couldn’t find him, indicating that Lu Xiaobai was in a place that couldn’t be easily reached.

Lin Ji suddenly recalled what the demonic energy incarnation of Haomiao Laozu had said about enjoying the offerings. What did it mean? The offerings of demonic energy… could it be the Demon Sect?

Immortals and demons cannot coexist; although the power gap is large now, both sides barely maintain a balance. Once that balance is broken, a war could easily break out.

His master and the sect leader couldn’t openly go to the Demon Sect to demand someone, as that would be tantamount to provoking them, and no sect could bear the consequences.

To find someone, he could only go as an individual, without dragging the sect down.

But if Xiaobai was indeed in the Demon Sect, falling into the hands of demonic cultivators, wouldn’t that be walking down the same path as in his previous life?

Lin Ji lowered his gaze, making a firm decision in an instant: at worst, he would break through the Demon Sect once more in this life; he would find Xiaobai!

The sect leader and elders had recently gathered at Luoxia Peak, all working hard for Lu Xiaobai's whereabouts. Lin Ji listened to their discussions and speculated on several outcomes.

"Now it can be roughly determined that the only places where one might be unable to find someone are two."

The lord analyzed rationally, and both Meng Wanqiu and Lin Ji remained silent.

"One is the ruins. However, most elders have not yet reached the time to enter, but there are some who volunteered to go, so we can only ask them."

Meng Wanqiu stood up and bowed, and the volunteering elders accepted the gesture, not wanting to make the other party feel worse.

"Among the younger generation, Feng Funian, Shen Che, Luo Xiang, and others also volunteered to go to the ruins to search for people."

But the problem was that Lu Xiaobai's life and death were uncertain; should the sect really send several outstanding disciples into danger?

Unless they provided each disciple with a high-quality teleportation artifact, so that if they found nothing or encountered danger, they could automatically teleport out of the ruins.

But the disciples only had the opportunity to go to the ruins once every hundred years; wouldn’t that be unfair to them?

"The second… never mind, let’s start by searching the ruins."

The second was the Demon Sect; those present had a sense of it, but no one could speak it out loud. As an immortal sect, it was impossible to trade with the Demon Sect, or they would not be able to stand in the righteous path, but how else could they find someone?

However, searching for someone was not a matter of priority but of time, and the atmosphere became tense.

At night, Lin Ji prepared everything to put into his storage jade pendant, picking up his life-bound sword and walking out.

He was ready to break into the Demon Sect, but before leaving, Lin Ji made one last visit to Lu Xiaobai's cave.

Walking in, countless memories surged to the forefront of his mind, filled with traces of Lu Xiaobai's life.

Lin Ji had been holding on for many days, but upon seeing these, he suddenly couldn’t hold back anymore.

He touched the things Lu Xiaobai had used, feeling as if he had lost all strength.

He sat in the place where Lu Xiaobai had once sat, imagining what he looked like while doing certain things.

Longing was silent.

Xiaobai, tell me, how can I find you?

Suddenly, the window was blown open by the wind, and the papers on the bookshelf flipped over, making a rustling sound.

Lin Ji closed his eyes, forcing himself to muster the energy to close the window.

Suddenly, the storage jade pendant glowed, and Lin Ji cast a spell, causing a shattered mirror to rise into the air.

Lin Ji was astonished. The Dust Viewing Mirror had shattered; he picked up one of the more intact fragments, holding onto it with the thought that it might still be useful.

Could it really be useful? Had the Dust Viewing Mirror, after hundreds of years of observation, developed a spirit?!

Hope surged in Lin Ji's heart: "Can you help me find an object with Lu Xiaobai's spiritual energy?"

The Dust Viewing Mirror shook, and suddenly a spiritual wind arose in the room, causing a certain book on the bookshelf to fall out.

Lin Ji hurriedly tried to open it, only to find that this ancient book had been sealed by Lu Xiaobai, making it impossible to open.

He remembered that Lu Xiaobai's favorite spells were: one was the cleaning spell, and the other was the fire incantation.

Personal seals were set according to one’s own will, usually combining preferences and daily habits, not too biased, but it was hard to say with Lu Xiaobai's personality.

Looking at the ancient book, aside from its yellowed and old color, the material was clean from the outside to the inside, clearly well cared for. He tried the cleaning spell once, and it worked successfully.

The ancient book finally opened, and pages flew up, unfolding before Lin Ji.

He grabbed one of the pages to look at, and it was unmistakably Lu Xiaobai's handwriting.

But the content left him frozen in place.

"During the secret realm competition, Junior Sister Luo Xiang was killed because of me… If I could do it again, I must… never repeat the mistakes of my past life…"

"If it weren’t for A Ji, I wouldn’t have discovered that my master was poisoned by a demon; no wonder in my past life he… If I had noticed earlier, perhaps… Thinking of this, the regret is unbearable, and I must take it as a warning."

Looking at the other pages, they corresponded to various event points from both past and present lives, all recorded by him.

Secret realms, ruins, Yuqiong Island… some things had changed, while others had not.

Lu Xiaobai had marked the time and methods for everything; it wasn’t that he couldn’t calculate, but he wanted to increase the probability of successfully changing the outcome.

To plan for everything, to strategize step by step, how much hardship must that have entailed?

This kind of suffering was not merely physical; it was more about mental and emotional toil.

Lin Ji seemed to see Lu Xiaobai late at night, hunched over his desk, writing while pondering the best solutions, different approaches to problems, and how to deal with all possible unexpected situations…

Lin Ji looked at the others, gripping a thick envelope. On the envelope, his name was written in bold!

Lin Ji quickly opened it, and inside were not letters addressed to him, but countless event points.

At first, Lin Ji couldn’t understand, but the more he read, the more familiar it became; Lu Xiaobai had almost recorded all their intersections from their past lives, especially focusing on the calculations of time.

He was backtracking.

Lin Ji kept reading until he finally came across familiar locations, names, and times.

He forgot that although Lu Xiaobai was Long Aotian, he wasn’t a god who knew everything, nor did he have the omniscient perspective described in the reviews.

There were always perspectives he didn’t know and needed to verify.

For example, the specific time when the Lin family was exterminated. In the book, it was merely a brief mention, a background detail glossed over.

Lu Xiaobai had experienced three worlds, and because he was the protagonist, he had walked through all the plots of the book.

Even if he had a photographic memory and a great memory, recalling a small segment that was glossed over and deducing the specific time it happened was no different from climbing to the sky.

The more information filled his mind, the more interference he faced.

At the very front, Lu Xiaobai had only marked one sentence:

"I still came a step too late…"

Lin Ji thought of his third uncle and mother, who had suddenly come back to life in this life.

He also recalled their first meeting in this life, which just happened to be not far from home.

Lu Xiaobai casually pointed, and Lin Ji went from the opposite direction, encountering Peifeng Sect.

Something dampened the letter paper.

He didn’t know how long it had been, Lin Ji's lips trembled, his voice very soft, as if afraid of disturbing something.

"What am I, to deserve such treatment from you?"

The remaining aura gathered in the mirror, and Lin Ji saw a scene from it.

It was as if he was re-examining their past relationship from Lu Xiaobai's perspective.

He saw Fengming Mountain, where Lu Xiaobai, without using his eyes, deduced his identity from other places.

In front of the mountain gate of Yunshang Immortal Sect, Lu Xiaobai looked at him, who had inadvertently helped him, with ambition and brilliance in his eyes.

During the ruins, their fists collided, full of vigor.

Their enmity turned to hatred.

And finally… Lu Xiaobai standing in front of the portrait of Ling Yun Zunzhe.

He tilted his head back, and Lin Ji couldn’t see his expression.

But he heard him say:

"Old man, I’ve decided to try again. I don’t believe that Lin Ji can never turn back in this life; I must find out the reason for his demonic possession."

"If you were alive, you might ask why I am so certain."

"When I was at my lowest, I suffered countless bullying and oppression; at that time, no one could look up to me. The more one thinks they are strong, the more they take pleasure in oppressing the weak."

"I really hated them; clearly, we were unrelated, yet because I was a mixed spiritual root, I had to endure endless humiliation. I truly wanted to trample those people underfoot every moment, even thought of killing them to relieve my hatred!"

Lu Xiaobai sighed, feeling relieved: "But I met you all. I realized that there are also people who are different."

"You taught me how to be a person, while Lin Ji taught me how to do things."

"I don’t believe that someone who would extend a helping hand to me at my most glorious time, who never takes advantage of others, and never looks down on others, could be fundamentally bad."

It is said that the most revealing times of a person's true nature are during their glory and downfall. Nothing can be certain, but Lu Xiaobai trusted his instincts.

He raised his sword, continuing to look at the portrait: "But rest assured, if Lin Ji harms the innocent, I will definitely kill him myself."

He turned and left with his sword.

This was probably the last thing that happened before Lu Xiaobai came to challenge him in their past life…

After a long time, Lin Ji raised his hand to wipe away the tears on his face, took out the jade pendant, and gathered the spiritual energy left behind by Lu Xiaobai within it.

There could be no more delays!

He restored the arrangement, and just as he was about to leave, Meng Wanqiu arrived: "A Ji, don’t be impulsive!"

From earlier, Meng Wanqiu had seen that Lin Ji's expression was very off; after searching for a while, he finally found him, fortunately arriving in time to stop him.

Lin Ji hurriedly stepped forward, "Master, I’m not being impulsive; I have a way to find Xiaobai!"

He took out the pendant that was glowing with spiritual light; with Lu Xiaobai's new spiritual energy, it could point out his whereabouts.

No matter where he was, he would do everything to bring him back!

Lu Xiaobai was not in the Demon Sect.

Lin Ji followed the place where the spiritual light was strongest, flying his sword all the way north, reaching the northernmost part of the Nine Provinces.

Lin Ji landed and searched around in the wind and snow, not daring to raise his hand to block his face, fearing he wouldn’t be able to see what lay ahead.

Lu Xiaobai had actually been teleported to the Snowfield Forbidden Land, the most dangerous place in the ruins.

But Lin Ji had searched all the way and hadn’t seen a single snow wolf; the bloodstains he saw had already been covered by ice and snow.

The light of the pendant in Lin Ji's hand dimmed; it lacked energy.

The Snowfield Forbidden Land was vast.

Yet a flash of inspiration struck Lin Ji's mind, and he headed in a certain direction based on his memory.

The pendant's light brightened again, and it grew increasingly bright.

Lin Ji found the cave where they had spent a long time in their past lives.

Before entering, he had already prepared himself to see any form of Lu Xiaobai, but his steps still hesitated, feeling a bit timid.

However, upon seeing the light emitted by the hidden light stone in the cave, Lin Ji almost ran towards it.

Lu Xiaobai had not fallen into demonic possession, had not lost his mind, and had not died; he was just resting against the stone wall.

His white clothes were stained with blood, and it was unclear whether it was his or that of a snow wolf.

Lu Xiaobai seemed to sense something, suddenly opening his eyes wide, gathering his spiritual power to be on guard, but when he saw Lin Ji standing in front of him, he froze.

Lu Xiaobai thought he was dreaming.

Until Lin Ji walked step by step to him, slowly crouching down to examine him, and upon seeing he was fine, he let out a heavy sigh of relief.

He hugged him, as if wanting to merge him into his very being.

Lu Xiaobai reached out to embrace him back, "How did you find me?"

Lin Ji took out the jade pendant.

Lu Xiaobai smiled, "You’ve had a hard time; I was forced to leave this item behind in a hurry, and didn’t infuse it with more spiritual energy. It must have been difficult to find me all the way."

Lin Ji choked up, "The moment I found it, it wasn’t difficult at all."

Lu Xiaobai noticed his red eyes and disheveled hair; the usually meticulous person had become unkempt, which startled him a bit.

Lu Xiaobai caressed his face, "I thought you would be confident and not worry too much about me. What do you think could happen to me?"

After all, he had lived two lives; if he were to be dealt with without a chance to fight back, wouldn’t that mean his past life was in vain?

Why did it seem like he had scared Lin Ji?

Lu Xiaobai casually recounted his recent experiences, explaining that he had cleared many of the snow wolves that wanted to attack him in the Snowfield Forbidden Land, and that other dangers were not really dangerous.

He had stayed for several days due to some other circumstances and couldn’t get out, and in this cursed place, he couldn’t contact them.

He said these things to comfort Lin Ji, but seeing him still tense and quiet, he knew it was of no use.

Lu Xiaobai could only try to relax him by stroking his hand and back.

But Lin Ji held his hand tightly, and after a long time, he asked, "Are you hurt anywhere?"

Lu Xiaobai shook his limbs, "Look, I’m fine. I just fought with the snow wolves for several days; I’m a bit tired."

Seeing him still pretending to be fine, Lin Ji forced a smile, "Then why don’t you just lie down and rest, bringing out the bedding and pillows?"

Lu Xiaobai replied, "I was in a hurry and didn’t have time to bring them."

Lin Ji lowered his gaze, "In the future, I will remind you."

Lu Xiaobai smiled, "Alright."

When Lin Ji looked up, he noticed that Lu Xiaobai's lips and the corners of his mouth were still stained with blood, and the relief he had just felt hung in the air again: "Where are you hurt? Didn’t you say you were fine?"

Lu Xiaobai instinctively raised his hand to wipe it away, "It’s nothing."

Just some internal injuries, unavoidable.

But Lin Ji grabbed his hand again, and Lu Xiaobai watched as he cupped his face, "I’ll help you."

Lin Ji's voice was like the melting snow of a frozen winter, bringing forth the coming of spring.

For the first time, Lu Xiaobai felt Lin Ji's gentleness.

Lin Ji's gaze gradually deepened as he held Lu Xiaobai's face and slowly leaned in.

He meticulously and earnestly kissed away the blood on Lu Xiaobai's lips, gently licking while also channeling spiritual energy into him.

Lu Xiaobai's eyes widened, clearly feeling the coolness pressed against his lips.

When their lips touched, it felt as if an iceberg could erupt with flames.

He sensed Lin Ji trembling all over, drops of liquid falling onto the back of his hand resting on his knee.

Lu Xiaobai slowly closed his eyes.