The Fortuitous One’s Heart-Wrenching Pain — What Happened During This Time

In the wide-open grounds, divine radiance surged forth, immortal light swirled, and all manner of immortal mountains glittered brilliantly, flowing with colorful mist—an utterly mystical sight.

Many living beings gathered nearby, all from the various clans of the Immortal Ancient, yet they remained quiet, their expressions respectful as they stood behind Gu Changge, not daring to speak out of turn.

“Mm-hm, Gu gongzi, I won’t let you down.”

Hearing Gu Changge’s words, Xiao Ruoyin took a deep breath and inexplicably calmed down considerably.

Her gaze fixed upon the immortal stone before her. It looked crystalline and translucent, with a misty haze flowing within it, as though it could liquefy at any moment.

Anyone could feel the terrifying energy contained within this immortal stone.

Gu Changge still wore a faint smile, though the depths of his eyes remained utterly without ripple, as indifferent as ever.

The Nihility Destiny Physique—the strength of this constitution lay in its ethereal nothingness. It did not exist within any fate ordained by the Heavenly Path, and its traces were impossible to find.

Gu Changge surmised that if he let Xiao Ruoyin leave, she would soon be discovered by cultivators of other Dao lineages and brought back to their sects. Anyone with a discerning eye could see how extraordinary her aptitude was.

While they might not instantly recognize what kind of physique Xiao Ruoyin possessed, seeing that her talent was formidable would pose no problem at all.

The cultivation techniques and resources he had mentioned would pose no difficulty for Xiao Ruoyin whatsoever—she simply didn’t know it yet herself.

With her aptitude, who knew how many sects would want to take her as a disciple and impart their techniques to her.

“The day the Nihility Destiny Physique reaches completion is also the day the Source of Destiny ripens...”

Gu Changge’s smile remained gentle and flawless, leaving no fault to be found.

His gaze fell upon her. Seeing Xiao Ruoyin standing there at a loss, he spoke warmly, “Just place your hand on the Test Stone. Red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, violet—seven colors. The deeper the color, the better the aptitude. If one has no aptitude, the Test Stone will show no reaction at all.”

Hearing this, Xiao Ruoyin nodded and understood. She hesitated no longer, and nervously placed her jade-like hand upon the Test Stone before her.

Weng!!

The moment her palm touched it, the entire Test Stone suddenly emitted a humming, trembling sound.

Immediately after, a blinding radiance burst forth from it.

First came a flame-like red, then orange, yellow, green... In almost an instant, the entire Test Stone was dyed in seven colors, its divine brilliance dazzling and resplendent, a breathtakingly gorgeous sight.

“What? It’s actually that strong?”

“A full seven colors... sss... this talent...”

“How long has it been since we’ve seen such aptitude? Even when Yan Yu xiaojie was tested back then, it was no more than this!”

“Too terrifying. If this young lady had begun cultivating earlier, she might already be like Yan Yu xiaojie—a Sacred Realm expert by now.”

This scene instantly shocked the surrounding clans of the Immortal Ancient.

Everyone couldn’t help but widen their eyes in utter astonishment, casting envious gazes toward Xiao Ruoyin and sighing in admiration one after another.

“Did I succeed?”

Xiao Ruoyin herself was stunned by the scene before her, taking a long while to come back to her senses. Judging from the words of the people nearby, her talent should be quite strong?

A surge of joy, excitement, and elation filled her heart.

Though she disliked making a fuss over things, at this moment she couldn’t help but feel overwhelming delight.

At the very beginning, Xiao Ruoyin had only hoped that she could possess the talent to cultivate—she had never imagined her talent would be anything special. She was, in truth, someone easily contented.

Now it seemed this was an unexpected blessing.

“Gu gongzi, Ruoyin didn’t disappoint you, did she?”

Then, Xiao Ruoyin looked toward Gu Changge, an unusual emotion flickering in her eyes as she asked with a sigh of relief.

She hadn’t even expected that this joy was something she wanted to share first with Gu Changge—this benefactor she had only known for a single day.

“How could I be disappointed? With talent like yours, I’m too happy for you to feel anything else,” Gu Changge said with a smile.

“Mm-hm, but I still have to thank Gu gongzi for giving me this opportunity.” Xiao Ruoyin nodded, her mood more relaxed and joyful than ever before.

“Your talent surpasses that of many prodigies. Given time, if you cultivate diligently and catch up from behind, you won’t be any weaker than them,” Gu Changge said with another smile.

“In a little while, I’ll find you a shifu. From then on, you can follow her in your cultivation.”

At this point, Gu Changge planned to send a message summoning Yan Ji to come here.

He had heard some time ago that she was entering seclusion, likely attempting to break through to the Perfect Prodigy realm. Having her watch over Xiao Ruoyin and teach her along the way would be quite fitting.

Yan Ji counted as one of his confidantes. Gu Changge felt at ease entrusting many matters to her.

“Mm-hm, alright. Sorry to trouble you, Gu gongzi,” Xiao Ruoyin nodded.

By now, she harbored not the slightest doubt toward Gu Changge—she didn’t even worry about what kind of person the shifu he found for her would be.

“It’s no trouble at all. With talent like yours, anywhere else, people would be fighting tooth and nail over you. Consider this me finding a good seedling for the power behind me,”

Gu Changge said with a smile, his bearing transcendent, every word carrying a charm that won hearts.

“Mm-hm, I’ll definitely cultivate hard, and someday I’ll have the chance to repay Gu gongzi’s kindness.” Xiao Ruoyin was moved in her heart.

At the same time, she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly—how could there be such a perfect man in this world? Not just his appearance, temperament, and speech, but even his character was so flawless that no fault could be found.

“Then from now on I’ll be cultivating with that shifu... will I still be able to see Gu gongzi?”

But at that moment, Xiao Ruoyin suddenly remembered something important. Staring at Gu Changge with eyes tinged pink, she couldn’t help but ask.

Though the question sounded somewhat bold, it was her genuine thought. It wasn’t that she harbored any designs on Gu Changge—she just felt that being able to see him would put her heart at ease.

Xiao Ruoyin had already subconsciously come to regard Gu Changge as someone reliable.

In this mysterious, bizarre world, with no one to depend on, suddenly encountering a benefactor like Gu Changge, she instinctively wanted to hold on to him tightly.

Gu Changge smiled. “Of course you’ll be able to see me. I can see you’re already impatient—why don’t I impart a cultivation mantra to you right now?”

“Really?” Delight welled up in Xiao Ruoyin’s eyes. “Thank you, Gu gongzi.”

In her view, cultivation mantras and the like should be closely guarded secrets, never passed on to outsiders.

“Of course it’s true.” As Gu Changge spoke, he pressed a finger to the center of her brow.

In a daze, Xiao Ruoyin saw an incomparably ancient and complex cultivation mantra slowly unfurl before her eyes, each character shining like a star, dazzling and brilliant.

“So this is a cultivation mantra?” she couldn’t help but murmur, a familiar feeling welling up in her heart.

As if long, long ago, she had once felt this same ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sensation.

Soon after, seeing that Xiao Ruoyin had finished her moment of enlightenment,

Gu Changge’s smile carried a deeper meaning as he led her toward the dungeon, intending to release her group of companions as previously agreed.

This cultivation mantra, naturally, was not so simple. In time, Xiao Ruoyin would come to understand.

...

Meanwhile, in the dim and gloomy dungeon, Jiang Chen slowly regained consciousness, but his body felt as though it had been crushed beneath a massive boulder—every cell, every inch of flesh and blood, every piece of his organs felt shattered.

The piercing pain made him gasp involuntarily, his face turning deathly pale as cold sweat streamed down.

“Ah Chen, how are you? Are you alright?”

Beside him, Niu Tian asked with a face full of concern upon seeing him wake.

“I’m fine, my body just hurts a bit. Right—where’s Ruoyin? Did something happen to her?”

Jiang Chen shook his head at the question.

But soon, he reacted, lifting his head to look around, searching the dungeon for Xiao Ruoyin’s figure. Yet apart from his group of companions, she was nowhere to be seen.

At once, his heart skipped a beat, and that uneasy, worried feeling grew ever stronger.

“Ruoyin was taken away and hasn’t come back yet. But Ruoyin is blessed by fortune—she should be fine. You don’t need to worry too much about her,” Niu Tian comforted him.

Jiang Chen fell silent for a while, unease and anger flashing through his eyes.

But in the end, he restrained himself. He still couldn’t forget that suffocating feeling from before, that terror of facing death itself.

“How long was I unconscious?” Jiang Chen asked again.

“About half a day,” Niu Tian said.

“Half a day...” Jiang Chen murmured the two words, heartache flashing through his eyes. That meant Xiao Ruoyin had been taken away for half a day since he ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lost consciousness.

In this half a day, who knew what could have happened? A weak woman like her—if she encountered danger, crying out to heaven with no answer, crying out to earth with no response—what would she do then?

“Jiang Chen, you don’t need to worry about Xiao Ruoyin either. She obviously knew about this transmigration all along, and she even understands this world’s language. Yet she never told us much about it. Who’s to say her being taken away wasn’t her leaving this place? Maybe that whole act back then was just a show for us.”

At this moment, a woman spoke up. She was fashionably dressed, with delicate light makeup on her face.

However, having been imprisoned for quite some time, she looked somewhat bedraggled, though her fairly pretty features were still evident.

Her name was Wang Ning, and she was also a classmate of Jiang Chen, Niu Tian, and the others.

However, she didn’t get along with Xiao Ruoyin. Because of her decent looks, people at school called her Goddess Wang, and she had no shortage of simps.

She held quite an interest in Jiang Chen, but since Jiang Chen was devoted solely to Xiao Ruoyin, she opposed Xiao Ruoyin at every turn.

Though her words carried a sarcastic edge, they struck a chord in many hearts, and everyone fell silent.

After all, before this, Xiao Ruoyin had never mentioned to them that she knew this world’s language, and this archaeological expedition had been Xiao Ruoyin’s own invitation in the first place.

“Wang Ning, don’t say things like that. Ruoyin must have her own difficulties for doing this. We’re all classmates—isn’t it going too far to badmouth her behind her back like this?”

Hearing this, Jiang Chen frowned, displeased in his heart.

“What bad things did I say? Is anything I said wrong? Xiao Ruoyin has probably caught that white-robed man’s fancy and already left this godforsaken place, living it up with fine food and drink—why would she still care about us?”

“Jiang Chen, what’s the point of you defending Xiao Ruoyin like this? She never took you seriously at all. Believe it or not, that cold, untouchable Goddess Xiao in your eyes is keeping that white-robed man company right now—who knows what they’re doing together...”

It had to be said, Wang Ning’s words were vicious, utterly merciless, every word cutting straight to the heart.

Not only did Jiang Chen’s expression change, even Niu Tian and the others turned pale. None of them had expected Wang Ning to say something like that.

But thinking it over, it made sense. They had already reached a life-or-death juncture—none of them even knew if they’d live to see tomorrow.

At a time like this, who still cared about saving face? The masks were torn off completely.

Her words also plunged everyone into silence. Xiao Ruoyin’s fate was unknown, but weren’t they in the exact same boat?

“Wang Ning, just shut up already. Nobody thinks you’re mute if you don’t talk.”

Niu Tian glared viciously at Wang Ning, his tone fierce.

Wang Ning was still somewhat afraid of Niu Tian, so she huffed and said no more.

Jiang Chen’s face was gloomy, his fists clenched tight, and for a moment he didn’t know what to say.

Deep down, he still refused to believe Xiao Ruoyin would abandon them to their deaths, and he felt she must have her own difficulties.

But Wang Ning’s words left him deeply unsettled. He even began to worry—if things really were as she said, how was he supposed to face Xiao Ruoyin?

“Ah Chen, don’t overthink it. Don’t you know what kind of person School Belle Xiao is? Even if she wanted to hurt us, there’s no way she’d hurt you.”

Seeing Jiang Chen’s poor complexion, Niu Tian hurried to console him, though in his heart he was actually a little worried too—that what Wang Ning said might come true.

Hearing this, Jiang Chen’s expression eased slightly, but he still remained silent, not saying a word.

And just as everyone was speculating wildly, the sound of footsteps suddenly came from outside the dungeon.

“Someone’s coming.”

A gleam instantly appeared in Jiang Chen’s eyes as he rose from where he sat. Seeing this, the others all stood up one after another.

Outside the dungeon, a man and two women could be seen approaching.

The one in the lead had a tall, slender figure and a face of unmatched, refined handsomeness. His hair shimmered like crystalline ink, brilliant divine radiance flowing around him, sleeves fluttering—like a banished immortal walking the mortal world, transcendent and otherworldly.

At his side walked a woman in a white dress, her face flawless without makeup, her features breathtakingly beautiful, black hair cascading down, her legs straight and long, radiating an indescribable beauty.

The two walked in front, and they actually looked quite well-matched, like a perfect pair of jade.

“Xiao Ruoyin?”

“Ruoyin?”

For a moment, Jiang Chen, Niu Tian, and the others were all dumbstruck, hardly able to believe what they were seeing. They almost thought their eyes were playing tricks on them, that it was an illusion.

The woman in white was, naturally, none other than Xiao Ruoyin, who had been taken away.

And now that she was back, not only had she changed clothes, even her complexion and bearing were far better than before—like a flower in a secluded valley, blooming once more with renewed vitality.

What on earth had happened? Doubt rose in everyone’s hearts.

Jiang Chen especially, his face slightly pale.

He thought of what Wang Ning had just said, and his fists clenched involuntarily. Even as his nails dug deep into his palms, he was completely unaware of it.

He stared fixedly at Xiao Ruoyin, wanting her to give him an explanation. Why had things suddenly turned out like this? Hadn’t she been taken away?

How was it that in the blink of an eye, she was standing here safe and sound?

But Xiao Ruoyin only glanced at Jiang Chen once and offered no explanation.

Gu Changge swept his gaze over everyone in the dungeon one by one, pausing briefly on Jiang Chen. Everyone felt a terrifying pressure crash toward them, leaving them deeply uneasy and tense, their backs drenched in cold sweat.

“Master, should they all be released?”

At that moment, Hei Yanyu asked respectfully from behind Gu Changge.

Gu Changge nodded and said indifferently, “Release them all.”

Hearing this, Hei Yanyu didn’t hesitate. Her jade hand waved directly through the air before her.

Weng!!

The next instant, a dazzling radiance flashed through the void, and the black iron chains before the dungeon snapped in response, clattering heavily to the ground.

The dungeon gates swung wide open in an instant.

Jiang Chen, Niu Tian, Wang Ning, and the others watched this scene in confusion. The other party had suddenly broken the chains—were they planning to let them go?

At this thought, many of them couldn’t help showing delight, growing excited and thrilled.

“Everyone’s fine now. Gu-gongzi said he would spare everyone. Everything before was actually a misunderstanding.”

Xiao Ruoyin stepped forward, her expression calm, and explained in the language of their world.

“Goddess Xiao, what exactly is going on here?” one man couldn’t help asking, deeply puzzled.

“It’s a long story. I’ll explain it to you all when there’s a chance. For now, everyone is safe and can leave this place.”

Xiao Ruoyin’s gaze lingered on Jiang Chen’s face for a moment, but she didn’t say much more. She only told everyone that they were all safe now and would no longer be locked up in the dungeon.

“Really? That’s wonderful! It must have been Goddess Xiao who saved us. I told you all—Goddess Xiao is beautiful and kind-hearted. How could she possibly forget us just because she’s risen in the world?” The man who had spoken earlier was full of delighted surprise.

When she heard the words “risen in the world,” a trace of awkwardness flashed across Xiao Ruoyin’s face.

But she couldn’t refute it either. If she hadn’t met Gu Changge, her benefactor, she never would have set foot on the path of cultivation and would still be a prisoner.

To say she had risen in the world—well, that wasn’t wrong.

“It’s all thanks to Goddess Xiao. Otherwise, who knows how much longer we’d have been locked up.”

After confirming the news was true, everyone was naturally wild with joy. Those who had harbored complaints and dissatisfaction toward Xiao Ruoyin before now let it all vanish like smoke.

In this world, what could possibly compare to one’s own life?

“That’s right. Without Goddess Xiao, how could we have been saved? I wonder who it was just now badmouthing Goddess Xiao behind her back, saying she didn’t care whether we lived or died...”

One man shot a sarcastic glance at the unpleasant-looking Wang Ning, mimicking her earlier tone as he spoke.

Wang Ning’s expression was extremely ugly. She had never expected Xiao Ruoyin to actually come back and save them—this was completely beyond her expectations.

“Was I wrong in what I said? Do you really think Xiao Ruoyin is that kind-hearted? Saving your lives is nothing more than a trivial, effortless matter for her now.”

But Wang Ning wasn’t willing to be mocked like this either. She quickly shot back, sneering and refusing to show any gratitude.

She refused to believe nothing had happened between Xiao Ruoyin and that white-robed man. Otherwise, why would he let them go for no reason at all?

“Wang Ning, what nonsense are you spouting? Ruoyin kindly saved us, and you’re still making wild suspicions?” Niu Tian frowned, his face showing displeasure as he cut her off.

Toward the tall, burly Niu Tian, Wang Ning was still quite wary. She knew he wasn’t the type to hold back just because she was a woman.

So she gave a cold snort and shut her mouth.

“Ruoyin, that’s just Wang Ning’s personality. Don’t stoop to her level. Thank you for saving us—we’ll repay you when we get the chance.”

Niu Tian glanced at Jiang Chen, who stood ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠silently to the side without a word, then put on an honest, simple smile as he spoke to Xiao Ruoyin.

Because of Jiang Chen and Xiao Ruoyin’s relationship, he was actually fairly familiar with her.

“It’s nothing.”

Hearing this, Xiao Ruoyin shook her head. She knew Jiang Chen, Niu Tian, Wang Ning, and the others had misunderstood.

But explaining now might keep Gu Changge, who was waiting outside the dungeon, waiting too long. So she stayed silent, planning to explain to them later when there was time.

“Ah Chen, are you okay? You have to trust School Belle Xiao. Don’t you know what kind of person she is?”

Niu Tian sighed and said in a low voice.

“I know. I believe in Ruoyin.” Hearing this, Jiang Chen forced out a smile, as if he had figured it out. He understood Xiao Ruoyin’s difficulties, so he didn’t want her painstaking efforts to go to waste.

But even as he said this, his eyes remained fixed on Xiao Ruoyin, as if waiting for her to give him an explanation.

As for Gu Changge outside the dungeon, Jiang Chen chose to ignore him, pretending not to see him.

He had already experienced Gu Changge’s terror before and knew how frightening he was. At a time like this, it was best not to provoke him.

Xiao Ruoyin smiled faintly at him and said, “I’ll explain everything to you all in a bit.”

After that, Xiao Ruoyin led Jiang Chen and the others out of the dungeon. Gu Changge walked in front, his expression perfectly calm, showing no intention of paying them any attention.

And Jiang Chen’s group, knowing the difference in status, couldn’t possibly expect the other party to care about them. Being able to leave alive was already the greatest fortune.

Though Niu Tian and the others were extremely curious about what had happened during Xiao Ruoyin’s absence from the dungeon, they didn’t dare ask too much.

It was clear that the current Xiao Ruoyin seemed completely different from before.

From the respectful expressions of the guards stationed outside the dungeon toward her, it was obvious her status had undergone an earth-shaking transformation.

This filled everyone with envy, but Jiang Chen felt his mouth go dry, a bitter taste rising within.

The unease and worry in his heart grew ever stronger.

Why, in the blink of an eye, had Xiao Ruoyin’s status changed so drastically? It made him feel as though he and Xiao Ruoyin were no longer people of the same world.

Especially when he saw Xiao Ruoyin walking side by side with Gu Changge, a smile on her face as if she were chatting with him about something, her faintly rosy eyes glittering with star-like light.

In Jiang Chen’s eyes, that was the look of reverence and admiration.

The feeling cut his heart like a knife. He could only keep comforting himself inwardly—that this was an expression Xiao Ruoyin was deliberately faking, just to please that white-robed man so she could rescue them all.

“Gu-gongzi, I’d like to say a few words to my companions.”

Soon, when they reached a complex of palace buildings, Xiao Ruoyin spoke with a trace of nervousness on her face.

“Go ahead. I won’t disturb you.”

“Actually, you don’t need to ask me about things like this.” Gu Changge said with a smile, carrying an otherworldly grace that was intoxicating to behold, appearing ever more gentle and refined.

Receiving Gu Changge’s permission, Xiao Ruoyin softly murmured her assent, her face showing some happiness.

She didn’t know why she needed Gu Changge’s permission either. In her view, it was simply an instinctive act.

Soon, Gu Changge and Hei Yanyu departed, showing no intention of interfering.

“Master...” Hei Yanyu looked at Gu Changge with some confusion, hesitating to speak. She truly couldn’t understand Gu Changge’s actions or his attitude toward Xiao Ruoyin.

In her view, although Xiao Ruoyin’s talent was strong, it was far from reaching the level that would make Gu Changge care this much.

Moreover, she considered herself somewhat familiar with Gu Changge’s temperament. She knew he was absolutely the cold and heartless type, someone who would never do anything that brought him no benefit.

For Gu Changge to spend such effort on something this tedious and time-wasting could only mean that this woman named Xiao Ruoyin served some other purpose for him.

“You needn’t concern yourself with it. Just keep an eye on their movements.” The smile faded from Gu Changge’s face, his expression returning to calm indifference as he spoke lightly.

“Yes.” Hei Yanyu relaxed and answered respectfully.

Honestly, seeing how well Gu Changge treated that Xiao Ruoyin earlier, she had even felt a bit jealous. Why couldn’t she receive such treatment?

But now it seemed Gu Changge simply had other schemes in mind.

This made Hei Yanyu feel considerably more ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠balanced inside.