The thick fog gradually dispersed, and the cultivators immersed in various illusions finally began to wake up sporadically. Most had confused expressions, still unable to break free from the recent illusions.
When Ye Ye was awakened, his first action was to search for Bai Li Chang Yue. He eventually found the sleeping Chang Yue under a tree, with Bai Li Ge Lin crouching beside her. He hurriedly approached and asked, “Why can’t she be woken up?”
Bai Li Ge Lin’s face was pale, and she remained silent, taking a step back as if in fear.
Ye Ye looked at her in bewilderment, noticing her face was as white as paper. He became even more perplexed. Looking down at Chang Yue again, although her eyes were tightly shut, her face was full of grief-stricken expressions, with thin tears streaming down her eyelashes.
Both surprised and heartbroken, he gently held Bai Li Chang Yue close. What had she experienced in the illusion? Why was she crying? Chang Yue had always been a strong and self-reliant person. Even when the three of them were wandering as children, being pursued and nearly killed, covered in blood, she had never cried.
Bai Li Ge Lin felt her whole body trembling. Upon seeing Chang Yue’s expression and tears, she became too afraid to wake her.
What did her sister see in the illusion? Would she finally discover her secret? The thing she feared most in her heart wasn’t Ye Ye’s indifference, but her sister finally understanding everything. If she became wary and guarded because of this, or even disliked her, or worse, said she would give up Ye Ye for her sake, she would rather never have been born into this world.
She watched Ye Ye pat Chang Yue awake, but she couldn’t convince herself to go over. Instead, she retreated several steps in panic, accidentally bumping into someone. She jumped up like a startled bird.
Lu Li grabbed her but quickly let go. Following her gaze, he saw Ye Ye holding hands and gazing at another woman who looked very similar to Ge Lin. He was inwardly shocked. Wasn’t that man Bai Li Ge Lin’s lover?
Suddenly, he felt Bai Li Ge Lin throw herself into his arms. This shock was even more extraordinary. She was shaking violently in his embrace, begging him in an incomparably humble voice, “Hold me, please, hold me!”
Lu Li felt it was utterly absurd. What was she doing? Using him as a shield? Anger rose within him, and he wanted to push her away forcefully, but his chest was already wet with her tears. His expression complex, he looked down at her hair, at once furious to the extreme, then resentful to the extreme, and then vaguely feeling happy.
He slowly opened his arms and sheltered her in his embrace.
Why did he have to have such a spirited, perfect beautiful dream? Here, where nothing had even begun, he had already lost completely.
“Ye Ye, Chang Yue!”
Li Fei had been searching for a long time and finally found them. Suddenly seeing Lu Li tightly embracing Ge Lin, she paused for a moment. She carefully walked around them towards Ye Ye and the others. Ye Ye was holding Bai Li Chang Yue tightly, the two whispering, not knowing what they were saying.
Li Fei stopped not far from them. Ye Ye soon noticed her and waved. She smiled and walked over. Ye Ye said with a smile, “This silly girl, even now she hasn’t found anyone to team up with. She’s been wandering around here for a long time. If it weren’t for the sudden appearance of that beast, we probably wouldn’t have met even by the end of the trial.”
Li Fei saw that Bai Li Chang Yue’s eyes were a bit red, probably having experienced something unpleasant in the illusion. She was about to speak when she heard Chang Yue ask, “Where’s Ge Lin?”
She suddenly felt very awkward, not knowing what to say. Bai Li Chang Yue had already heard faint sobbing sounds and saw Lu Li and Ge Lin embracing tightly not far away. She was somewhat surprised but more thoughtful.
Suddenly, there was a whooshing sound overhead. Lei Xiuyuan appeared on a cloud from somewhere, saying softly, “The others are starting to wake up. We should withdraw first. Staying too long might be dangerous.”
Ye Ye helped Bai Li Chang Yue up. Seeing everyone’s expressions were off, with Ji Tongzhou’s eyes red, Lu Li frowning while holding Ge Lin, Li Fei gazing into the distance without a word, and Lei Xiuyuan with a gloomy expression and dark eyes, Ye Ye was puzzled but didn’t feel it was right to ask, so he pretended not to notice.
At this moment, no one had the mood to think about the sudden disappearance of the mirage beast. Everyone was immersed in the recent dream-like illusion. Even after flying back to the outer ring of small islands, no one spoke. The sky had darkened, and countless stars filled the sky, as numerous as their current thoughts.
Seeing the atmosphere was too gloomy, Ye Ye smiled and said, “It was just an illusion, all fake. Why dwell on it?”
In his illusion, he had not only restored the Kingdom of Gao Lu and destroyed the Dragon Throne but also became a great hero and immortal, growing old hand in hand with Chang Yue. These were all his deepest desires hidden in his heart. In the illusion, all his wishes came true, and then everything was destroyed before his eyes, causing unbearable pain. Upon waking, he realized it was all a dream and felt relieved.
The words “all fake” fell heavily on everyone’s hearts like stones. Both Lu Li and Ji Tongzhou’s expressions changed.
Bai Li Ge Lin was still leaning against Lu Li’s chest. He suddenly pushed her away, not looking at her shocked expression, and said in a low voice, “… Enough, right?”
Ge Lin forced a smile: “Senior Brother Lu, I’m sorry, and thank you.”
Sorry? Thank you. Lu Li almost wanted to laugh coldly. Why say sorry now?
Her willfulness wasn’t evil, frivolous, or indulgent, nor was it weak pleading. It was her coming and going as she pleased, leaving others in a mess, and then lightly saying sorry and walking away as if they had never met.
Perhaps he couldn’t blame her, only himself. It was he who willingly fell into the illusion, becoming infatuated with a bundle of illusory past. All the bitterness and karmic obstacles were his own.
Lu Li suddenly turned around, feeling he couldn’t stay any longer. If he didn’t leave, he would go crazy.
Bai Li Ge Lin stared at his departing figure and let out a long, low sigh.
“Ge Lin.” Bai Li Chang Yue suddenly called her calmly from behind.
Bai Li Ge Lin flinched, taking a long time to slowly turn around. She forced a smile and said, “Sister, what is it?”
Bai Li Chang Yue looked at her quietly: “Come with me for a moment. I have something to say.”
Perhaps what was meant to come would always come. Bai Li Ge Lin took a deep breath. She felt a deep sorrow in her heart, but this sorrow made her become composed. She turned back with a faint smile: “What is it?”
She affectionately linked arms with Chang Yue.
Bai Li Chang Yue pulled her to a deserted spot on the beach, held her shoulders, and they sat together on a rock by the sea. Bai Li Chang Yue didn’t speak for a very long time. Around them, there were only the faint sounds of sea breeze and waves.
“Ge Lin.” Chang Yue suddenly spoke softly but with a hint of a smile in her voice. “Since you were little, you would always cling to things you liked, showing it very obviously. You used to always cling to Ye Ye, but then suddenly left. I should have noticed earlier.”
Bai Li Ge Lin laughed, “Sister, what are you saying? If Senior Brother Lu hears this, he’ll be angry. There’s nothing between Ye Ye and me!”
Bai Li Chang Yue shook her head, her voice very soft, “Just now in the illusion, nothing happened. I just relived my current life, but I always felt like something was missing. I’ve always been thinking about my affairs, seems like I overlooked something. Later, I saw you crying alone, not to me, but to Ye Ye. I suddenly understood.”
Ge Lin was still smiling: “Can you stop talking nonsense, sister?”
Bai Li Chang Yue said softly: “Your heartbeat suddenly quickened. You’re nervous. I’m right, aren’t I?”
Bai Li Ge Lin smiled sadly, no longer able to hide it. How would she be treated? Would she be completely excluded from this family?
“Sister,” she said softly, “You seem smart, but you’re quite muddle-headed. You always act with a kind of lonely courage. When we were young, you protected me from being bullied, but more often, I was the one taking care of you. I was always worried that Ye Ye couldn’t take good care of you, but I worried for nothing. He takes very good care of you, much better than before. You no longer need me to take care of you.”
The next moment, she was suddenly held tightly in Chang Yue’s arms. Chang Yue’s voice was choked with sobs, slightly trembling: “I’m sorry, Ge Lin. I’ve been such an unworthy sister. I was always focused on my affairs, always thinking you were still young. I can’t believe it’s only now that I understand. It’s my fault that you came to the East Sea alone and suffered so much.”
A long-lost warmth slowly rose in Bai Li Ge Lin’s heart. She said gently, “It’s quite nice here. I’ve always loved seeing new scenery since I was young. There are so many fun places in the East Sea. I think it’s better than the Central Plains.”
Chang Yue held her tightly, large tears wetting the rose on her braid. Bai Li Ge Lin put her arm around her shoulder, gently stroking her back, and said softly, “Sister, don’t worry. I stopped liking Ye Ye long ago. I have someone I like now. Who still remembers those childhood things?”
Chang Yue closed her eyes and shook her head. After a long while, she said, “Ge Lin, I’m your sister. Lying to me is useless. Liking him is not a sin. It’s not worth you leaving so far away.”
Bai Li Ge Lin felt a sting in her nose. She laughed lightly, “Then do you still want me?”
Chang Yue thumped her on the head: “What are you saying? We will always be sisters. No matter where you are, you will miss me, and I will miss you. Nothing can cut that bond, especially not Ye Ye.”
Bai Li Ge Lin’s vision blurred. She opened her mouth, wanting to laugh, but tears fell instead. The familiar scent of her sister filled the entire world. Since childhood, she had always been nurtured and protected by this scent. After their family was destroyed, it was because of her sister that she could continue to smile. She would never forget this scent until she died.
This was her home. She would always belong to this family. No words could make her feel happier than these. Years of inner conflict suddenly vanished. She could only hug Chang Yue and cry, not remembering how long she cried until her voice became hoarse.
Bai Li Chang Yue wiped away her tears, held her face, and looked at her. With a rare playfulness, she smiled, “Your eyes are swollen from crying, silly child. It’s not worth it for that fool. Ye Ye is quite stupid.”
Bai Li Ge Lin laughed with a “chi” sound, her voice hoarse, with a hint of coquettishness: “Who said I was crying for him? I’m just too happy.”
“Six years after entering the sect, we’ll be free to leave,” Bai Li Chang Yue said, helping her tie up her messy long hair. “I’ll come to see you often in the future.”
Bai Li Ge Lin nestled on her shoulder and nodded vigorously.