Chapter 231: Even If He Dislikes Yu Zhao, He Never Thought She Would Die
This novel is translated and hosted only on Bcatranslation
“Big Brother, are you an immortal?”
“Big Brother, why are you lying here? Where’s your family?”
“Big Brother, I’m little Yue. From now on, you’re my brother.”
The crisp, childlike voice chirped incessantly in his ears.
Master Qing Yan felt no irritation—quite the opposite, he found himself liking this voice.
It stirred a faint sense of nostalgia within him, though he didn’t understand why.
This sensation of peace was rare and welcome. Since his injury, he hadn’t felt this lighthearted in a long time. He allowed his soul to sink deeper into this comfort, choosing not to question or resist it.
Suddenly, a searing pain tore through his Sea of Consciousness, wrenching him from the soothing haze.
To his shock, he discovered an unfamiliar soul lingering in his Sea of Consciousness.
“Who dares attempt to seize my body!”
His voice roared like crashing waves, unleashing a tempest within the sea of his mind. His soul took on a human form, hands clasped behind his back, his face etched with defiance.
“Hmph, impudent fool. How dare you play tricks before me?”
A crisp, cool voice pierced through the deafening noise like jade striking stone, rising above the chaos. A figure stepped out of the void, meeting Master Qing Yan in the stormy depths.
For a moment, they both froze.
“Daring heart demon! How dare you disrupt my Dao Heart!”
Master Qing Yan bellowed, all traces of earlier nonchalance gone from his expression. With a single step forward, his Sea of Consciousness churned, manifesting towering waves that surged toward the intruder with murderous intent.
The other figure hesitated, their eyes flickering momentarily, before sweeping their sleeves with a sharp motion. The monstrous waves dissipated into an illusion, leaving the sea as calm as before, as though the tempest had been a mere dream.
Master Qing Yan’s astonishment was palpable. His voice came out hoarse.
“Who… what exactly are you?”
“Qing Yan, since you recognize me, why not admit the truth?”
The intruder sneered.
“Lies! How could there be two Qing Yans in the cultivation world!”
Master Qing Yan denied vehemently, his gaze fixed on the figure that mirrored his own appearance and radiated the same essence.
“Besides, I would never wear black robes, nor would I be so feeble. You’re not me!”
Despite his firm words, unease coiled tightly around him, like vines squeezing the life out of their prey.
The other Qing Yan smirked with a curve identical to his own. “Do you think I ended up like this without help? It’s all thanks to your wonderful disciple.”
“Yu Zhao!” Master Qing Yan erupted in fury. “I knew she was a traitor, destined to betray me!”
“Shut up! Don’t you dare slander Zhao’er!”
“Zhao’er?”
Master Qing Yan’s eyes flickered with confusion, a rare sight.
Despite his reluctance, the intruder’s soul resonated with his own essence, capable of controlling his Sea of Consciousness—proof of their unbreakable connection.
Yet the intruder’s actions and words were entirely foreign to him. Their experiences seemed to diverge entirely from his own. For the moment, Master Qing Yan couldn’t discern whether this was truly another version of himself.
After a prolonged silence, he extended his hand, conjuring a glowing orb of rainbow light.
Without hesitation, the other Qing Yan manifested a similar orb from his form.
The two orbs intertwined in midair before settling into the other Qing Yan’s hand.
Master Qing Yan clenched his fingers tightly, and waves of memories poured into his Sea of Consciousness.
Finally, he was certain—the intruder’s soul was indeed another version of Master Qing Yan, from an alternate world.
Since the counterpart’s life events mirrored his exactly—from childhood to entering the Five Elements Dao Sect, becoming the youngest Soul Transformation Stage cultivator, and even burning his soul to fight three opponents simultaneously—every significant milestone matched perfectly.
Until the first divergence occurred, the trajectories of the two worlds began to shift.
In the other world, after Yu Zhao entered the Black Prison, she remained defiant and eventually collapsed in the prison, unconscious. Her disciples carried her back to Lone Moon Peak, marking her as selfish and foolish in everyone’s eyes.
Upon her release, Yu Zhao did not switch to cultivating the Path of Emotional Detachment. Instead, her personality became meek and timid, prioritizing her sect at every turn. However, her obedience failed to improve her situation. Instead, she was further vilified, gradually becoming the sect’s despised pariah.
Master Qing Yan frowned uncomfortably at this point. The Yu Zhao he knew had always been arrogant and overbearing, indifferent to others. When had she ever been servile and fearful?
Watching this version of Yu Zhao, submissive and timid, he felt no satisfaction—only growing irritation. How could such a spineless creature deserve to be his disciple? Even his rebellious student, who constantly infuriated him, was preferable!
Indeed, many shared his thoughts. The disciples who once fervently defended Yu Zhao treated the cowardly version of her with unbridled cruelty.
Fang Cheng Lang struck the sword from Yu Zhao’s hand with a single blow, declaring her unworthy of wielding it.
Lan Zi Yu broke the Purple Cloud Bamboo Flute he had once gifted her, condemning her as venomous and heartless.
Su Ming burned the pouch Yu Zhao had embroidered and forced her to kneel and slap herself under threat written on a wish paper.
Cui Jue tricked her into consuming a toxic pill that inflicted excruciating pain while he coldly watched her sob and plead.
Quan Ye, under the guise of sparring, inflicted severe injuries on her, leaving her body riddled with hidden ailments.
Unable to tolerate her anymore, Master Qing Yan expelled Yu Zhao from the sect. Finally, in a fit of rage, he drove his sword through her heart.
The sight of the sword piercing Yu Zhao’s chest jolted Master Qing Yan as he recalled Fang Cheng Lang kneeling in the grand hall, questioning whether killing Yu Zhao once wasn’t enough—did he intend to do it a second time?
It all became clear. Fang Cheng Lang had been referring to this very lifetime.
He had indeed killed Yu Zhao.
No.
It wasn’t him.
It was the “Master Qing Yan” from the opposing world.
Not him.
Though he disliked Yu Zhao, he had never thought of taking her life. He simply wanted her to be less abrasive, less sharp-tongued and defiant. However, when faced with the broken and spiritless version of Yu Zhao, he found himself equally resistant.
If he had to choose, he preferred the version before him, slightly more tolerable. At least she retained her dignity and self-respect, refusing to let others trample on her.
The other Yu Zhao, devoid of her strength and spirit, was nothing more than a hollow shell—a disgrace to the name he had personally given her. Her fate of betrayal and abandonment was well deserved.
As Master Qing Yan prepared to delve further into the memories, the opposing “Master Qing Yan” suddenly erupted in rage.
“How dare you insult Zhao’er, calling her an ungrateful, selfish wretch! Are you trying to destroy her?!”
Without dodging, Master Qing Yan raised his hand to block the other’s attack.
“Your soul force is weaker than mine,” he said calmly.
In other words, the opposing “Master Qing Yan” was no match for him.
“You shouldn’t have harmed her! Haven’t you remembered yet? She is the reincarnation of Shui Qing Yue!”
“Shui… Qing… Yue…” Master Qing Yan murmured the name, a gaping void tearing through his chest as if his heart had been carved out. Cold winds swept through, leaving him shivering.
“Yes, Shui Qing Yue! Your sister! She lured the enemy away to protect you, sacrificing herself! After you were separated, she searched for you for decades, and yet you completely forgot her. Worse, you’ve hurt her again! You deserve death!”