Perhaps There's Some Hidden Reason, Deceiving Herself
Perhaps There’s Some Hidden Reason, Deceiving Herself
In Xiao Ruoyin’s view, the biggest reason this young Source Master before her was acting so displeased was that he and Gu Changge were close in age.
Asking a proud and arrogant Source Master to work for someone around his own age—
Anyone would feel disgruntled, feeling they’d been looked down upon.
However, Xiao Ruoyin felt that as long as she explained things properly, he should be able to come around.
Looking across the entire Beyond today, who wouldn’t want to cling tightly to Gu Changge’s thigh and serve him?
Faced with Xiao Ruoyin’s earnest persuasion, Jiang Chen’s expression grew increasingly ugly, his clenched fists creaking audibly.
He truly never expected to see the goddess of his past standing before him, painstakingly explaining things, urging him to go serve his greatest enemy.
This filled Jiang Chen’s heart with fury, even disappointment, and even self-mockery.
However, Jiang Chen quickly calmed down afterward.
At this moment, he couldn’t blame Xiao Ruoyin.
Because he knew Xiao Ruoyin understood nothing of Gu Changge’s true face.
She also had no idea how Gu Changge had once ordered them all to be exterminated without mercy.
“Miss, you needn’t say more. I understand your kind intentions.”
“But I’m used to a carefree life. I don’t like serving others.”
Jiang Chen shook his head in polite refusal.
Xiao Ruoyin was somewhat stunned. “Do you know whose recruitment you’re turning down?”
She could hardly believe it. Faced with Gu Changge’s recruitment, Jiang Chen wasn’t moved in the slightest.
He had even refused so decisively, without giving it a second thought.
“To be honest with you, Miss, that Young Master Gu you speak of and I actually have quite a few grievances between us.”
“So no matter how much you try to persuade me, it’s useless,” Jiang Chen said calmly.
Xiao Ruoyin hadn’t expected Jiang Chen to say such a thing and found it hard to believe.
As for the supposed grievances with Gu Changge, she didn’t dwell on it, merely assuming it was an excuse Jiang Chen had come up with to refuse.
“In that case, forget it.” Xiao Ruoyin sighed inwardly. She had thought this was a sure thing, yet it had failed.
She didn’t know how she would explain this to Gu Changge when she returned.
After all, she had promised Gu Changge that she would help him.
Seeing Xiao Ruoyin about to turn and leave, Jiang Chen’s gaze flickered, and he suddenly said, “Miss, please wait. I actually have a few things I’d like to say to you in private.”
“If you don’t mind, it will only take a moment of your time.”
Xiao Ruoyin’s brows furrowed slightly, but she wasn’t worried that Jiang Chen harbored ill intentions.
So after thinking it over, she had the few fellow disciples behind her go out first and wait outside, then said to Jiang Chen, “Whatever you want to say to me, say it here.”
A smile once again appeared on Jiang Chen’s face. Then he took a deep breath, and immediately a layer of hazy clear light swept across his features.
Then a series of cracking sounds of shifting bones rang out across his entire body, and his whole person began to change at a speed visible to the naked eye, quickly transforming into a completely different appearance.
“You... you’re Jiang Chen?”
Xiao Ruoyin was still somewhat startled by his actions, not understanding why he would do this.
But the next moment, when she clearly saw the face before her,
her entire person was stunned, utterly astonished and incredulous.
Wasn’t this delicate, familiar face that of Jiang Chen, one of her old friends?
“Jiang Chen, why did you look like that before?”
Xiao Ruoyin asked with delighted surprise, her expression brimming with joy.
Jiang Chen and the others could be considered her rare friends in this world.
To actually run into Jiang Chen here in Kunwu City made her quite happy.
Jiang Chen’s expression was complicated. “If I were to explain all of this, it would be a rather long story.”
“No rush, you can tell me slowly. I have plenty of time. No wonder you looked somewhat familiar to me.”
Xiao Ruoyin said with a smile.
She immediately understood why, back at the Stone-Gambling Stall, Jiang Chen had offered to give her that Blood King Ginseng.
“Right, how did you become a Source Master? Did you have some other fortuitous encounter? I remember that none of you tested with any cultivation talent back then. Young Master Gu said he had already settled you all properly, so I was reassured.”
“But why are you unwilling to serve Young Master Gu? And you said there are grievances between you.”
Without waiting for Jiang Chen to answer, she remembered another matter and couldn’t help asking curiously.
The status of a Source Master was extremely revered in the current Beyond.
Across the many ancient epochs, there had only been a handful of famous Source Masters.
Thinking of this, Xiao Ruoyin couldn’t help but feel genuinely happy for Jiang Chen.
“I’ll explain all these things to you slowly in a moment, including everything that happened after we parted ways.”
A trace of hatred flashed through Jiang Chen’s eyes before he spoke calmly.
These things were a long story, but to Jiang Chen, they felt as vivid as yesterday, the many scenes still fresh in his mind.
Xiao Ruoyin nodded, somewhat curious.
She felt that Jiang Chen had changed quite a bit compared to before, with an added gloominess about him.
“Back then, Gu Changge was lying to you. From the very beginning, when he released us from prison, he harbored ill intentions.”
“Those talent-testing stone steles had all been secretly tampered with by him, so apart from you, none of the rest of us could test with any talent.”
“That way, he could logically drive us away and put your mind at ease.”
“Gu Changge is merely wearing a mask of hypocrisy... The real him is crueler and colder than anyone...”
Jiang Chen spoke slowly, his tone unhurried, recounting one by one the many things that had happened during this period.
From after they parted with Xiao Ruoyin, being hunted down and exterminated by subordinates Gu Changge dispatched, to everything that happened afterward in the Taixu Divine Tomb—he recounted it all in exhaustive detail.
“What...”
“How is that possible...”
Hearing these words, Xiao Ruoyin was first stunned, then her body trembled slightly, her eyes widening in disbelief, feeling her head buzzing.
She had been cultivating all this time in the Skyward Schloss, occasionally hearing many of Gu Changge’s deeds from her fellow disciples or Elders.
So her impression of Gu Changge had always been that of a gentle, jade-like man, an elegant and graceful young master, untouched by the dust of the mundane world, like a banished immortal. Her conversations and interactions with Gu Changge had also seemed perfectly normal and harmonious.
But hearing these words from Jiang Chen’s mouth left her entire person frozen, her face turning slightly pale.
If everything Jiang Chen said was true, then just how terrifying was Gu Changge?
The side he showed before her was merely the tip of the iceberg—or was it all just a disguise?
This made Xiao Ruoyin unable to suppress a slight shiver, realizing she seemed to have thought of Gu Changge far too simply.
“Is everything you said true?”
Xiao Ruoyin asked in a trembling voice, trying hard to calm herself down.
She felt that Jiang Chen couldn’t possibly be deceiving her at a time like this.
“Every word is true. We’ve known each other for so many years—do you think I would lie to you?”
Jiang Chen shook his head. “Our old classmates, including Niu Tian and the others, their fates are still unknown. But they probably didn’t have my luck. They may have long since turned into piles of dry bones.”
Please send flowers
Xiao Ruoyin’s face went pale, her body swayed, and she nearly lost her footing.
She suddenly remembered Gu Changge’s tenderness last night—how he had been gentle as jade, immortal-like and divinely handsome, so perfect that one couldn’t find a single flaw.
If Jiang Chen hadn’t told her personally, she simply couldn’t have believed that Gu Changge had hidden himself so deeply.
“So, Ruoyin, leave Kunwu City with me. We’ll find a remote place to cultivate, and once our cultivation succeeds, we’ll go find Gu Changge and avenge Niu Tian and the others.”
“You have to understand, Gu Changge couldn’t possibly treat you well for no reason. He must have some ulterior motive toward you.”
Jiang Chen’s expression gradually grew serious.
He didn’t directly tell Xiao Ruoyin that she was the reincarnation of the High Priestess of Destiny.
But he knew that the reason Gu Changge treated Xiao Ruoyin this way was definitely related to her reincarnated identity.
At such a critical juncture, he naturally couldn’t let Xiao Ruoyin fall into a pit of fire.
“Jiang Chen, I can’t leave with you. I’m now a disciple of the Skyward Schloss.”
“I think... what you said, even if it’s true, Young Master Gu must have had some hidden reason or justification.”
............
Hearing these words, Xiao Ruoyin fell silent for a moment, then firmly shook her head in refusal.
She knew that once she left Kunwu City with Jiang Chen, the enemy she would face afterward would be Gu Changge.
Just thinking about it made her scalp tingle, seized by uncontrollable fear.
Moreover, she didn’t want to give up everything she now had.
If she left Kunwu City with Jiang Chen, what would happen to her Shifu, her sect, and her future?
As long as she pretended not to know about these things and peacefully remained Gu Changge’s woman, she could still enjoy her revered status, never lacking cultivation techniques, never lacking cultivation resources...
How could she bear to give up such a life?
“What...”
Jiang Chen had been full of expectation. He had thought that after telling Xiao Ruoyin all this, she would understand Gu Changge’s malice and leave with him.
But he never imagined that Xiao Ruoyin would refuse so cleanly and decisively.
She even said that Gu Changge had his hidden reasons. This made his head explode with a buzz, even going somewhat blank, utterly incredulous.
“Ruoyin, are you serious? You clearly know Gu Changge harbors ill intentions toward you, yet you still won’t leave?”
“Can you really bear to let Niu Tian and the others die with their eyes open? Gu Changge is the great enemy who killed them.” Jiang Chen’s face paled slightly, his voice filled with grief and shock.
He felt that Xiao Ruoyin had changed, no longer the Xiao Ruoyin he once knew.
She could actually remain indifferent after learning of Niu Tian and the others’ deaths, with no intention whatsoever of avenging them.
Just how well had Gu Changge treated her, to be worth all this?
“I understand everything you’ve said, but you need to give me some time. I believe Young Master Gu must have had his reasons. In my impression, he’s not that kind of person.”
Xiao Ruoyin shook her head, her words gradually growing resolute.
These words of hers were spoken both for Jiang Chen to hear and to deceive herself.
Moreover, she knew very well that if she didn’t say this, Jiang Chen would very likely resort to forceful measures and take her away.
“You...”
Jiang Chen’s face was full of grief and disbelief, feeling his heart ache terribly.
In his view, the current Xiao Ruoyin was simply obstinate and unenlightened, refusing to shed tears until she saw the coffin.
What was so good about that Gu Changge, to be worth all this from her?
This filled him with rage, feeling that she was already terminally ill, beyond cure. Fan.