That was the tenderness and lingering affection that belonged uniquely to Xie Buchen.

There was a faint hoarseness in his voice, for after days of fleeing without rest day or night, he had finally fallen ill and remained unconscious for three full days, only awakening in the depths of this night.

His eyes also carried a tranquility that could submerge all worldly splendor, gazing at her, his heart and eyes filled entirely with her, waiting for her answer.

And at this moment, Jian Chou’s entire body was rigid.

She could barely distinguish where exactly she was, who she was seeing, or what she was experiencing.

A boat traveling on the river, swaying with the current.

Yet Jian Chou’s emotions were like violent waves upon the vast sea, surging and turbulent.

“Will you agree, or will you refuse?”

A mocking voice rang out from the void, falling into Jian Chou’s ears.

She stood there rigidly, unmoving.

Yinguo Daojun couldn’t help but laugh, yet it wasn’t the gentle laugh of an ordinary woman, but rather carried a frank boldness: “The beginning of misfortune, the start of hatred… If you were given another chance to choose, would you agree or refuse? This is your real past that you cannot face…”

“The Six Doors of Cause and Effect truly are wonderful things, are they not?”

…

Jian Chou still did not speak.

She gazed fixedly at Xie Buchen standing before her, his gaunt cheeks, his brows that carried a touch of cold severity, seeming to have been touched by frost due to the sudden events of recent days, yet his gaze was gently warm.

She remembered that it was precisely this gaze at this moment, above the river’s scattered waves of light, that made her finally surrender, from then on never to part from him in life or death, sharing weal and woe.

Who had promised her a lifetime of growing old together?

Now there was only a heart full of vengeance and a chest full of hatred!

Standing before Xie Buchen, standing on this swaying small boat, the moon in the sky shone upon both of them.

Perhaps because of her strange silence, perhaps because of the unusual expression on her face, Xie Buchen at the boat’s edge seemed somewhat worried about her and couldn’t help but take a step toward her.

In his usually calm eyes, a rare uncertainty appeared, and there was even a fragility of hope that might be shattered.

He seemed somewhat afraid.

Afraid of receiving a negative answer from Jian Chou’s lips.

“Once we settle down, we’ll change our names and go into hiding, no longer wandering from place to place. From now on, you and I will be each other’s only family. We’ll have children, and slowly our hair will turn completely white…”

His voice was calm, gentle, and deep, very much like the sound of waves upon the river.

Each word clear and distinct.

Xie Buchen walked toward her, grasping her cold hands and slowly rubbing them, as if trying to warm them, but in the next moment he seemed to realize that his own hands were equally cold, having just emerged from the river water.

Thus, all his movements suddenly stiffened, and he shook his head with a smile, seeming to laugh at himself for this rare moment of inconsideration.

In that instant, the smile illuminated his entire pale face.

Jian Chou’s heart suddenly trembled…

How familiar it was.

She blinked, seeming to feel something hidden beneath her eyes, or as if she were contemplating something.

Finally, Jian Chou also smiled softly, like a sigh: “Have children…”

Slowly closing her eyes, the night still had such, such length.

…

Outside Kunwu’s main peak, all those still watching the scenes on the wooden doors were suddenly confused.

“What place is that?”

“Who is that person?”

“It’s too blurry… can’t see clearly.”

Scattered discussions arose around the Cloud Sea Plaza.

Hengxu Zhenren said nothing.

Fudao Shanren watched that wooden door with an expression of unprecedented gravity, the door that Jian Chou had entered.

“Girl Jian Chou…”

“Worried?”

Hearing this utterance, Hengxu Zhenren finally spoke to ask.

Fudao Shanren glanced at him and snorted coldly: “I’m afraid the most worried person is not me.”

There was meaning behind his words.

This was not the Fudao he was familiar with.

But they… had indeed begun to grow distant long ago.

Hengxu Zhenren made no reply, only directing his gaze toward the ten-zhang-high giant door, where a blurry moon seemed embedded with rough edges, with fishing fires and traveling boats floating on the river water, all indistinct and shadowy.

All the observers could only see scenes that seemed shrouded in mist, completely unclear, and could only vaguely guess from these images what was happening or what kind of people they had encountered.

And Jian Chou stood on this small boat.

Before her appeared a tall, slender man. Everyone could see his figure, but few could guess his identity.

Only a few people in Kunwu Sect felt a vague familiarity, yet didn’t dare believe it: after all, how could the current rising star of Yashan’s new generation’s foremost person have any connection with Kunwu’s most talented true disciple Xie Buchen in recent years?

Perhaps…

Was Jian Chou seeing the future?

Below, Wu Duan, the third disciple under Hengxu Zhenren, couldn’t help but furrow his brows in confusion.

Those who had encountered Xie Buchen might have that vague feeling, but those who hadn’t naturally had no way to speculate.

From the very beginning, they had been watching Jian Chou.

After all, among all the Doors of Right and Wrong and Cause and Effect, no one else’s door was as “shocking” as Jian Chou’s.

The moment that terrifying sword scar appeared, nearly all eyes in the venue turned toward Jian Chou’s direction.

It was just unexpected that the third trial wasn’t like in the Empty Sea, where they could clearly see all the scenes inside.

The scenes after the trial participants entered the doors all became blurred, perhaps because Fudao Shanren didn’t want these new generation disciples’ weaknesses exposed before everyone, which made sense both emotionally and rationally.

But the more half-concealed it was, the more it aroused people’s interest.

Just like at this moment, everyone couldn’t help but wonder: this female cultivator who had only become Yashan’s Grand Master Uncle in the past two years, what kind of inner world did she possess, what had she experienced, and who was that man who had grasped her hand?

Unfortunately, there were no further developments for a long time.

Quite a few people were also watching the situations of others.

Six trial participants entered six Doors of Right and Wrong and Cause and Effect, presenting completely different scenes to everyone.

Northeast, Zuoliu.

The dragon tendon wrapped around his wrist had directly transformed into a dragon soaring out, plunging into the endless void.

Zuoliu still held that blue booklet in his hand, with a nearly worn-out writing brush still clenched between his teeth, somewhat bewildered and not yet understanding what had happened.

Where were the promised phantom bodies?

He blinked in confusion.

Just as he was about to continue forward, he suddenly found golden light after golden light appearing before his eyes, mixed with wisps of dark ink energy that were being drawn away.

“Hey hey hey what the hell is this!”

The dark ink energy was simply like wisps of eerie ghostly aura.

Zuoliu wasn’t very brave, and in just an instant he was nearly frightened to the ground, but in the next moment, his eyes widened: “My goodness!”

A wisp of ink energy flew out from his blue booklet, condensing in the void, and in an instant transformed into a living person.

Moreover, it was someone Zuoliu had seen before!

A white-haired old man, serious and unsmiling, yet with a red bulbous nose from drinking, and a very high hairline that suggested baldness wasn’t far off.

Just seeing this person at first glance, Zuoliu recognized him: “Elder Zhang Ming, the Guardian Elder of Wangjiang Tower, the 6,896th person I admire!”

“Whoosh.”

Another wisp of ink energy flew out, and a name disappeared from the blue booklet.

This time, what condensed was a Daoist nun wearing plain-colored robes, somewhat plump, with an air of a resentful woman that made her seem difficult to get along with.

Zuoliu exclaimed again: “Fairy Furong of Tianxue Tower! The 9,975th person I admire!”

…

Wisp after wisp of ink energy flew out, name after name disappeared, and one living cultivator after another appeared…

In just a few breaths, the entire void was like a temple filled with countless clay and wooden statues, with countless people of completely different expressions and forms appearing. They were all people who had reluctantly written their names in his blue booklet after Zuoliu’s persistent pestering, all people Zuoliu admired to the extreme!

“Phantom bodies, you’re my phantom bodies, right!”

Looking around, there were people densely packed everywhere, an array of at least a hundred cultivators!

Heavens, this was incredible!

Zuoliu touched the muscles of a burly man before him, almost having the urge to close his eyes and enjoy: “Strong man, my phantom body…”

“Bang!”

A fist the size of a sandbag landed on Zuoliu’s face the instant he leaned into the burly man’s embrace.

“Pah!”

Blood immediately spurted out, along with two white teeth mixed in the crimson blood, accompanied by Zuoliu’s pained grimace as he was thrown to the ground, the entire person directly knocked down by this punch.

The burly man kept a cold expression, looking at Zuoliu with nearly disgusted eyes, slowly retracting his fist.

Zuoliu was stunned: “Aren’t you my phantom bodies…”

This completely matched what Fudao Shanren had said before – these were the things he cared about most in his heart, these people were all those he most admired.

Why…

Why would his “phantom bodies” actually hit him?

He was completely confused!

Zuoliu refused to believe it, rolling up from the ground and directly walking toward an old grandmother nearby who was leaning on a walking stick and looked exceptionally kind: “Granny Shou, this junior Zuo—”

“Crack!”

The round head of the walking stick struck his kneecap the instant Zuoliu’s words left his mouth, producing a terrifying sound that made one’s heart tremble.

Immediately after came Zuoliu’s pig-like screams: “Owwww my kneecap!!!”

He knelt down directly, wailing miserably.

Unfortunately, the hundred or so people, crowded together like dumplings in a pot around this void, surrounding him, were all completely indifferent to his screams.

…

Northwest, Jiang Wenchao.

The moment that lawless, constant, and indefinite dragon vein plunged into chaos, the towering hall of Tongling Pavilion finally appeared before Jiang Wenchao.

“Baoyi Hall?”

Seeming surprised by what he saw, he frowned, and in that instant, couldn’t help but step forward.

Thus, the scene in the great hall immediately became clear.

The sect’s masters, each more serious than the last, sat coldly in the great hall, all their icy gazes focused on one figure.

That was a young man kneeling prostrate in the center of the hall, wearing a maple-red robe, yet no longer giving off the passionate feeling of former days.

He had a young face.

The glory of genius had now completely faded from him, leaving only endless panic.

He looked up helplessly toward the great hall, hoping to find even a tiny bit of hope in everyone’s expressions.

But there was none.

None at all.

Everyone looked at him with coldness and disappointment that seemed carved from the same mold, or perhaps they were already too lazy to look…

In that instant, Jiang Wenchao suddenly stiffened all over, quietly clenching his fists.

The masters seated in the great hall seemed to suddenly sense Jiang Wenchao’s thoughts, abruptly turning their heads, their cold gazes falling upon him…

Due west, Xiao Jin.

“Watermelons…”

“So many watermelons, heavens!”

…

It was simply an ocean of watermelons, with emerald green rinds and patterns of varying shades, giving a jade-like impression.

Xiao Jin entered the Door of Right and Wrong and Cause and Effect and found himself in a vast melon field. He charged out without hesitation, hugging this melon, patting that melon, his face showing an expression of happiness so intense he seemed ready to faint.

“The happiest thing in the world is being a hardworking melon farmer!”

Southwest, Young Master Ruhua.

“I have never seen such a shameless person!”

“Come on, let’s fight!”

“Eat meat with big mouthfuls, drink wine from big bowls, this is how a good man should be!”

“My strength could lift mountains, my spirit covers the world…”

…

On the ground paved with white bones, burly men one after another burst from the earth, as if they had been planted and grown from the ground, patting Young Master Ruhua’s shoulders and leaving dirty handprints on his flower-embroidered clothes.

Ugly and sinewy muscles without any aesthetic appeal;

Pervasive and slightly sour body odor with no attraction whatsoever;

Full beards, yellowed-brown teeth, black nose hair about to poke out, and bad breath spewing forth when they opened their mouths…

…

No matter which aspect, all were unbearable!

The beautiful flowers embroidered on his robes, after being marked by those palm prints, fearfully and disgustedly retracted their petals, so a flower that had been in full bloom became a tightly closed bud again on Young Master Ruhua’s garment.

Each petal closed tightly like a fortress, protecting itself desperately inside.

In the blink of an eye, there wasn’t a single blooming flower left on his magnificent garment.

Countless hands belonging to stinking men continued reaching toward him.

The small flower pinched between his fingers finally snapped, instantly withering in Young Master Ruhua’s grasp.

In that moment…

His graceful and languid face finally darkened: “Filthy men like mud…”

His five fingers clenched tight, then spread wide!

Young Master Ruhua raised his hand and delivered a slap, directly sending the group of burly men flying!

“What an uncomfortable Door of Right and Wrong and Cause and Effect!”

Southeast, Xia Houshe.

“From now on, you shall be the emperor of all weapons, the master of all arms!”

“No one in the world will be your friend anymore, all under heaven are your enemies!”

“You no longer need these people, no longer need false friends. You alone can traverse the Nineteen Continents…”

…

In the endless void echoed a voice both majestic and arrogant, mixed with the clashing sounds of shackles, particularly eerie.

Xia Houshe stood atop the clouds, each cloud a strange crimson red.

On the desolate plains below, withered yellow grass stretched to the horizon, the cold broken stems trembling in the wind.

Grave after grave stood on the plains, each grave a dusty weapon, waiting for someone to dig up the grave, pry open the coffin, and let them see daylight once more…

This was a scene he was extremely familiar with.

Xia Houshe walked a few steps on the clouds, yet his mind recalled something else.

“Hmph, let that monster stay aside!”

“It’s him, it’s him, he’s the one causing trouble!”

“Monster, get out!”

…

Countless curses, reproaches, mockeries…

“Tsk.”

But so what?

Today, he had already become the strongest among the new generation of Fengmo Sword Sect, with limitless prospects. Who would dare stand before him and speak such insolent words?

If there were any, he would surely twist their necks.

So what if all under heaven were his enemies?

How many people envied lonely strength.

Amid Xia Houshe’s sneering laughter, he took a step forward, about to descend to that plain.

But at this very instant, a gentle white light flew out from the endless red clouds, slowly stopping before him—a round, snow-white pearl…

…

Everyone’s experiences were different, and no one knew what these scenes actually meant.

They might be real, they might be illusory, they might be the positive side of the trial participants, or they might be their negative side, they might be what they most desired, or they might be what they most feared.

And for Jian Chou, everything already had an answer.

That was what she should have faced but was unwilling to face—

The past.

“Agree to him, and it will be an endless sea of suffering, infinite hell, pain and torment. You’ve already endured it once, do you want to repeat the same mistakes?”

Yinguo Daojun’s laughter seemed to be right beside her ear.

Yet Jian Chou seemed not to hear it.

Jian Chou, let us marry.

Yes.

This had been her answer back then.

She had thought that from then on, happiness would come, that she possessed everything all women in the world dreamed of…

But reality told her she had merely opened the door to misfortune, allowing calamity to descend upon herself.

Endless memories flashed through her mind, yet Jian Chou’s face showed no trace of abnormality.

“Sigh, weak woman, your heart hesitates… Are you ultimately a hero, or a coward?”

…

Still Yinguo Daojun’s voice, yet Jian Chou found her somewhat annoying.

Weak woman?

Where exactly had she given her such an impression?

On Jian Chou’s face full of sorrow, a smile suddenly appeared, an indescribable smile, as if directed at that Yinguo Daojun somewhere unknown, and also as if directed at Xie Buchen standing before her, slowly curving upward.

She gripped his cold hand in return, gazing at his face touched by wind and frost, and only parted her lips to say: “Yes.”

Yes, let us marry.

“You’re insane!”

Yinguo Daojun could hardly believe Jian Chou’s choice.

Endless karmic fire suddenly surged from the man in the dark green robe before her, instantly engulfing Jian Chou.

She couldn’t see Xie Buchen’s expression clearly in the great fire, even his outline was blurred.

On the entire river surface, the scattered fishing fires all expanded, instantly turning this river into a hell of karmic fire!

The moon in the sky turned blood red!

Yet Jian Chou’s face showed no trace of pain, remaining calm and stern.

“Weak?”

“From where does the Daojun derive this misunderstanding, thinking me a coward?”

“…”

Yinguo Daojun was suddenly stunned.

The endless karmic fire danced wildly, trying to drag her down and burn her to nothing.

The flesh on Jian Chou’s body seemed about to be corroded, yet from her bones, a layer of faint azure lotus spiritual fire emerged, defending against the outside.

“This is merely my past, my past choice, my past answer, everything I once experienced. In agreeing to him at that moment, my heart was ultimately joyful…”

“To deny the past is to deny the past me.”

“Without yesterday’s answer, how could there be today’s Jian Chou?”

Even if the past was too painful to recall, there was no need to avoid it.

She could not change her past, but she could still control her future.