Chapter 072: No, She Refused to Admit It

The key point is, it wouldn’t do any good even if she tried! Surrounded by such powerful figures, she had no place to speak. Yan Shu rubbed her chest and sat down again. It didn’t matter—after all, the one being stabbed through the heart wasn’t truly her. The first time is unfamiliar, the second time she would react far less.

What she hadn’t anticipated was that the woman sought her approval because she intended to extract her memories! Fortunately, back when the Sect Master of Xuantian Sect—her master—first learned of her origins, he had used a secret technique to shield her mind as a precaution. Unless someone used a soul-searching spell or their cultivation far surpassed her master’s, no one could see anything but memories of Yan Shu as a native, untouched by inner demons.

The woman showed little real interest in Yan Shu’s memories; after extracting a brief segment related to Xiao Jihan, she waved her slender hand, and the second illusion began.

In a blink, the scene shifted, and the Supreme Peak appeared before them. Xiao Jihan set foot on the peak, when suddenly a little girl with braided hair ran up to him gleefully, wrapped her arms around his leg, and looked up with a radiant smile: “Daddy, you’re finally back! Mommy’s cooking again!”

Cooking?

Xiao Jihan stared blankly at the little girl clinging to him. In her features, he could faintly discern his own reflection.

Was this… his child?

He frowned, feeling as though he had forgotten something vital. Yet the little girl had already taken his hand, skipping ahead, chattering as she went: “Daddy, you’re back at just the right time. Please don’t let Mommy ruin the kitchen again! Spirit rice is rare and precious, and if she keeps wasting it, you’ll have to borrow from the uncles again this month!”

At her words, Xiao Jihan’s ears flushed slightly. Was he truly this incompetent? Could he not even afford to buy spirit rice for his own child, reduced to borrowing just to feed his family?

He felt lost. Surely he wasn’t that useless… But looking at the lively, adorable girl who seemed a miniature version of himself, he fell silent.

As he pondered, the little girl tugged him to the kitchen door, cheerfully calling inside, “Mommy, Daddy’s back!”

Within the kitchen, a woman busied herself at the stove. Hearing the child, she turned, her face lighting up with a smile. With a cleansing spell, she came over to him joyfully.

Seeing her familiar face, Xiao Jihan frowned. “Master?”

‘Yan Shu’ came to his side, pouting playfully as she glared at him and lightly thumped his chest. “How many times have I asked you not to call me ‘Master’? I never taught you anything anyway. When you call me that, it feels like I’m robbing the cradle.”

Yan Shu: ...

That’s definitely not her! She wasn’t nearly so flirtatious, nor so affected!

As if reading her mind, the woman beside her turned and said, “This illusion is called Heart’s Inquiry. It uses a person’s memories as its foundation—every scene is drawn from memory, and every character is a reflection of your true self.”

“It’s called Heart’s Inquiry because everything here, the scenes, the people, are all derived from reality. Those within the illusion might think they’ve forgotten something, but will soon accept their roles. Every choice, every word, comes from the heart.”

Yan Shu: ...

So, if she truly were with Xiao Jihan as in the illusion, and they had a child together, she’d be just as flirtatious and affected as her illusionary self? No, she refused to believe it.

The woman gave her a knowing smile. “Why are you so conflicted? This trial isn’t meant for you. Just watch how your excellent disciple will choose.”

Yan Shu was a little confused. “Where’s the point of choice in this illusion?”

“To succumb, or to break free,” the woman replied, her smile fading as she gazed at the vision before them. “He cultivates the Path of Ruthlessness. To reach its pinnacle, he must ultimately kill his wife to attain enlightenment. Time flows differently here—when you two are not interacting, years may pass in a moment.”

“Consider this illusion a real world. You’re living real lives here, and soon he’ll reach the threshold of ascension. To ascend on the Path of Ruthlessness, he must kill his wife to prove his Dao. Watch and see—will he choose to kill you and ascend, or remain, walking to the end at your side?”

Yan Shu was at a loss for words.

In the original novel, it was never stated that Xiao Jihan cultivated the Path of Ruthlessness; that was only her own guess. Yet the woman had taken it as truth, and, spurred by some inexplicable sense of rivalry, had crafted this Heart’s Inquiry illusion.

She hesitated, then asked, “Fair lady, you promised me that whatever he chooses in this illusion, you will let him go, right?”

The woman gave a soft snort. “I may be a demon cultivator, but I keep my word. I said I’d release him, and so I will.”

Xiao Jihan was also a man of his word—he’d once promised not to kill her, yet in the end had pierced her heart with his sword. But at this moment, she had no other recourse but to trust the woman before her. It was just like knowing that Xiao Jihan might, just as he had in the trial of passion, choose to kill her again, yet after leaving, she would still have to tread carefully around him, always trying to win his favor.

Ah, woman—her name shouldn’t be Yan Shu, but Humility.

The power of the Heart’s Inquiry illusion was truly extraordinary. Xiao Jihan quickly accepted the reality that he was partnered with ‘Yan Shu’ and that they had a child together.

Hearing ‘Yan Shu’ quip about robbing the cradle, his lips curled in a faint smile, though he quickly suppressed it. He glanced toward the kitchen. “Shuer, what are you preparing that’s frightened Yu’er so?”

At his words, ‘Yan Shu’ shot the little girl clinging to Xiao Jihan a glare, pouting in displeasure. “Just an ordinary meal. This time I promise it’ll be cooked through. She’s just making a fuss!”

Yu’er hurriedly tugged his sleeve, her small face earnest. “Daddy, save me! Mommy’s food is always either raw or burnt. Yu’er has suffered for days already!”

At this, ‘Yan Shu’ huffed, grabbed Yu’er by the collar, and set her aside, snorting, “Your daddy is mine—don’t think of stealing him from me!”

Yu’er, undeterred, tried to cling to Xiao Jihan’s leg again, only to be lifted away once more by ‘Yan Shu’.

They glared fiercely at each other—one big, one small—neither willing to back down. Watching their little contest, Xiao Jihan smiled helplessly, shook his head, rolled up his sleeves, cast a cleansing spell, and strode into the kitchen. “Let me do it.”