Wu Qiong walked in a daze. Before he entered the room, he saw a woman sitting there knitting. Her beauty was exceptional. She appeared to be around her mid thirties, yet her features were youthful.
"Son, the Yin clan is hosting a banquet. You must prepare yourself this evening."
She did not lift her gaze as she spoke leisurely.
"A banquet?" Wu Qiong replied.
"Yes. This is quite an important occasion. We must use such opportunities to strengthen our ties with the Yin clan. Other clans will also attend, so we must leave a good impression."
Wu Qiong did not probe any further. He bowed to his mother before walking out, though it was merely a formality.
He stepped into the courtyard and sighed, it's been a bit since he could finally catch a breather, his body had suffered tremendous trauma, but now however he felt rejuvenated. He gazed up at the sky,
"It felt ancient..."
Wu Qiong breathed out a mouthful of turbid air. As time passed, he walked around the Ming clan observing his surroundings, and before he knew it the time had come. He wore the clothes his mother had prepared for him and sat inside a litter. Occasionally he peeked through the window curtains as the sky gradually turned dark.
The distance between each clan was not that far and required only a couple of hours of travel. Wu Qiong eventually fell asleep, then instinctively jolted awake. Once again he found himself inside an enclosed space.
This time it was not empty. Instead, it carried an eerie feeling. Dark shadowy figures drifted around, as if this was a dream realm where shadows could not exist in the light.
Wu Qiong walked, but to what end? The steps could not be counted, for there was no destination, only darkness.
Murmurs could be heard. A melody accompanied them.
It was gentle, yet layered with a deep savor, like a musical composition that required the listener to cherish the work of its composer.
A flute.
Wu Qiong noticed one shadow that stood apart from the rest. It sat on a window with its left leg hanging down. Its appearance could not be identified.
Wu Qiong instinctively walked toward the melody.
Across the figure's face ran a detail along its mouth, where the edges curved upward.
A smile.
Before he realized it, the shadow waved its hand, and the dream realm dispersed.
"Ru Ming. You dozed off. We have arrived."
"Sorry, Mother. I had a small headache."
He thought to himself that although he could not properly put his thoughts into words, there was always a strange sense of familiarity he shared with it. The last time it appeared was during the third peak, when Wu Qiong came into contact with that strange wall.
However, one line remained especially clear in his memory.
"If you wish to awaken, you must kill those two who are pursuing you."
The big question was
"Since this is the past, it means it has already been determined, how can i act of my own volition? Wouldn't that change the timeline, no! I recall, the five prodigies.
It had also happend, prior, those major events occurred before i arrived. This means that the events are fixed but since this appears to be a dream, i replaced Ru Ming's consciousness i can only change small things such as expressions and speech, everything will happen eventually! someone must've acted just when Xuan Ren used his ability.
This is giving me the chance to gain insight though interactions, i must make use of this chance. Xuan Ren will most definitely try to kill me right after."
After a while they arrived in front of the gates. Coincidentally the gates opened and two figures walked out.
One was tall, perhaps around one hundred ninety five centimeters. He radiated a profound aura. Beside him stood a younger figure, almost like a smaller version of himself, enveloped by his shadow. The younger one did not look forward but instead kept his gaze lowered.
"My, my. Yin Yue, you have grown quite a lot. When was the last time I saw you and Yin Ren?"
Yin Yue replied with a smile. "Aunt Ruyi, you flatter me. It is obvious that I would take after my father. I have just turned eighteen today after all."
Wu Qiong thought to himself, I see. So the banquet has been arranged for Yin Yue. But who is the person beside him?
The shadow obscured his face, and Wu Qiong could not identify him. Who knew how he would react if he recognized him?
Ruyi responded, "Your father tells me that you are quite talented. How is your cultivation going? Have you received your father's guidance regarding the infamous split path?"
Yin Yue suddenly smiled, almost as if he had found something amusing. He paused before responding.
"The split path has run through our generation for millennia. Only the talented and the hardworking are qualified for such an ability. Today I hope I will receive my father's acknowledgement, that is if I can survive my fated trial."
Ruyi's eyes carried a trace of shock before returning to normal.
"I see. Yin Yue, you must be careful. Anyway, we should get going now. I am sure the others have already arrived."
After they walked past the gate, Yin Yue remained standing there without moving. His expression turned cold and his eyes drooped. He swung his hand and slapped Yin Ren.
"Foolish little brother. You dare not even follow our clan's procedures? Are you attempting to ruin our reputation? Why did Mother give birth to such useless trash like you?"
Yin Yue grabbed Yin Ren by the neck and whispered into his ear.
"I have never loved you. You are like an open wound, someone who drags others down. No matter how hard you try, you will never be me. Today you will watch me receive Father's acknowledgement and become the successor of the Yin clan."
Yin Ren did not respond. His eyes reflected no light. He simply looked toward the side.
"Quiet as always. Do not bother entering the banquet. I doubt anyone will notice your presence anyway."
Yin Yue pushed him aside with his right hand and walked back in. His face returned to warmth as he gestured toward the guests.
"Please, although it is my day, you are my guests."
Wu Qiong entered the Yin clan and immediately saw a bustling street. Colorful lights and decorations were everywhere.
"Please, please, come buy these treats. Today is our young master's birthday celebration. You will receive two for the price of one."
Vendors were everywhere. Smiles could be seen, and children ran through the streets.
Wu Qiong looked to his mother and she nodded. He went to visit the vendors and bought a few souvenirs.
He ate a small meat skewer and chewed on it.
"Excuse me, how much does this cost?"
Coincidentally another person asked the same question.
Wu Qiong turned his head.
It felt as if time had stopped.
He stood there gazing at one person. No one else could provoke such a reaction from him.
It was none other than Xing Er.
Wu Qiong was shocked, though the reason for that shock was the trace of guilt within his heart. It was a guilt he could never confess to her, his involvement in the death of Tian Li.
She looked beautiful. Her features were delicate and a flower pin rested in her hair. At this time most of the figures present were of the same age group.
Before the vendor could reply, Xing Er spoke.
"Ru Ming, you still will not give it up? I do not have any feelings for you."
However Wu Qiong simply turned his head and gave her some space.
Xing Er was baffled. It seemed that when Ru Ming was alive he had been deeply in love with her. Yet now the same person who would once do anything for her attention simply turned away.
"I…"
She lifted her right hand as if she wanted to say something, but then let it fall.
"What is this feeling forming in my heart?"
Wu Qiong held his chest and thought.
"I feel sorrow and sadness. It feels quite unfamiliar to me."
This feeling was a normal human emotion, yet in this world it almost seemed unfamiliar and distant.
Wu Qiong walked beside his mother and entered the Yin clan hall.
The clan grounds were divided into three sections.
The first belonged to the commoners and mortals. The second belonged to the aristocrats. The third belonged to the Yin clan themselves, whose image resembled divinity. Rarely did people see members of the Yin clan, much less the leader of the clan.
Many figures had gathered from different clans, even from outside this region. These regions were often interconnected, but what divided them was a vast empty space that made travel uncertain and dangerous. However each clan had its own methods of passing through.
Yin Yue entered with a smile as he greeted the guests. There was one particular youth he paid special attention to.
The youth wore black clothing and carried an ecstatic expression. His eyes were filled with delight.
"Xuan Ren, you have grown quite a lot. It will not be long before you inherit your family's cultivation." Yin Yue said as he rubbed Xuan Ren's head.
Xuan Ren replied, "Big Brother Yin Yue, today will be the grandest day of both your life and mine. I will be able to witness an encounter with the infamous Visionary with my own eyes."
"I will sever its head and give it to you as a prized possession. What do you think?" Yin Yue laughed.
"Yin Yue, that head must be bigger than me. You must not joke around." Xuan Ren replied playfully, understanding the intention behind the joke.
While speaking with Yin Yue, he suddenly noticed Ru Ming, who had just arrived. His eyes immediately lit up as he rushed over. He threw an arm around Ru Ming's neck and said,
"Ru Ming, you finally arrived. Look at all the beauties around here. Come, let us go talk to some of them."
Wu Qiong felt the terrifying aura within his grasp. Because of his previous encounters with Xuan Ren he instinctively sensed danger. Still, he swallowed his doubts and smiled back.
At this time Ru Ming and Xuan Ren had been best friends and often spent time together. Wu Qiong saw how comfortable Xuan Ren was around him, which meant that Ru Ming must have also been an energetic person who indulged in such jokes. So he acted accordingly, matching his demeanor.
"Xuan Ren, you are barely taller than the girls. They might laugh at you if you come any closer. Let me handle this instead."
"You little bastard. All right, all right. I see your intention." Xuan Ren laughed.
Wu Qiong had never really experienced romance. Although he understood the concept of passion on a surface level, he still had to follow through with his words so that no suspicion would arise.
"Hey, is that not Xing Er? Why not test your luck with her again?"
"No. I will choose someone else," Wu Qiong immediately refuted.
"Oh, all right. Suit yourself." Xuan Ren grabbed an apple and bit into it as he watched.
Wu Qiong approached a girl who stood alone, appearing to wait for someone. She wore a purple dress that reached down to her legs. In her right hand she held a fan with delicate fingers. Ornaments decorated her hair, and jewelry adorned her wrists and neck.
"That necklace. It appears to be the same as the one the vendor outside was selling. It seems you are not particularly fond of the value of material possessions."
She gently touched the necklace before replying.
"Yes. I liked the craftsmanship. Such objects composed of various gems simply have no value in of itself, it is people who actively pursue it. That is why value is subjective, yet also superficial."
"Is love superficial?" Wu Qiong asked.
"Love cannot be defined in such a way, because it exists beyond logic. That is my interpretation of it."
Wu Qiong felt intrigued and asked again.
"If love is not superficial, how do we distinguish between passion and loving a person as a means rather than as an end?"
" I…"
Before she could finish speaking, Wu Qiong gently held out her hand and replied,
"This bracelet is worthless, yet you would adore it right? Because the intention matters more in your eyes, you could choose to dispose of it aswell or keep it, i would never know."
"This..." She saw that Wu Qiong put it on her wrist, however he turned his head around.
Xuan Ren's attention had drifted elsewhere, so Wu Qiong stopped acting, though he remained somewhat intrigued by the conversation.
Another person witnessed this scene and her heart trembled. Something stirred inside her. A misunderstanding had begun to form, and jealousy rarely resolves misunderstanding, especially with the youth.
"Ru Ming, why have you changed so drastically?"
Perhaps she felt jealousy, or perhaps doubt regarding Ru Ming's actions.
Wu Qiong subconsciously kept his distance from her; he was afraid he might lose his composure. He had thought he had overcome his fears when he arrived in this world, but the emotions he felt now gripped his heart more tightly than ever. Since Tian Li's death, he had rarely allowed himself to dwell on it because of his circumstances, but now he felt as if his hands were covered in blood.
As his thoughts wandered, the complex feelings inside him intensified when he saw a young boy walking through the entrance of the main hall.
Tian Li!!
But the reason for his reaction was not only Tian Li, there was someone else as well.
"Tian Xue…"
Tian Li had always loved Xing'Er, but because of his reserved demeanor and his difficulty expressing his feelings, he had always watched her from afar. It was only that day, when he ran toward her, that Wu Qiong realized there had been much more to Tian Li than he had understood. As for Tian Xue, it seemed that Xing'Er liked him; ever since the day Wu Qiong arrived, the two of them had appeared to share a close relationship.
"Was I just tired and mistaken? Is Tian Xue really an enemy?"
Tian Xue greeted the guests around him and waved back at Wu Qiong from a distance. Wu Qiong caught Tian Xue's warm gaze and gentle smile, as if he could see straight through him, even though the body he wore was only Ru Ming's flesh.