In the Yin Yang Love Querying Valley, Li Zhexian took control of the proceedings.
"The path of cultivation is long, the road of the Dao endless. How precious are lovers, close friends, and those who walk beside you."
His voice was gentle, tinged with a faint smile.
"I hope that when you reach the peak—or even step into higher dimensions—and suddenly look back, or awaken at midnight from a dream, the ones beside you are still those you once knew, and your eyes hold no regret."
"The Yin Yang Love Querying Valley questions love, and knocks upon the heart."
Huo Yuhao and the others nodded solemnly.
Even though Xu Sanshi and the rest did not yet know the origins of the white-robed youth—
seeing Huo Yuhao's deep respect for him, and witnessing his unfathomable methods with their own eyes, had already filled them with awe.
"Zhang Lexuan. Ma Xiaotao."
Li Zhexian asked directly:
"Do you harbor feelings for Huo Yuhao?"
He disliked beating around the bush.
If one followed the original storyline—
the so-called trials set by that God King Tang: forcing Huo Yuhao to forgive his irresponsible father, staging love triangles where they fought each other, even absurd brotherly kisses…
It was hard to imagine such "trials" came from the hand of a God King.
That was not questioning love.
It was closer to manipulation for amusement.
This blunt question startled Zhang Lexuan and Ma Xiaotao at first. Then faint blushes rose upon their cheeks.
"…Yes."
There was no hesitation, no coyness. They nodded frankly, their gazes clear and sincere.
Seeing this—
Huo Yuhao's ears reddened, embarrassment and helplessness surfacing on his face.
Xu Sanshi, He Caitou, Jiang Nannan, and Xiao Xiao exchanged glances, their hearts tightening slightly.
As Huo Yuhao's close friends—
they themselves could not say which of these two outstanding women ought to be chosen.
Li Zhexian smiled and nodded, a trace of interest flashing across his handsome face.
"What you cherish—"
"Is it Huo Yuhao's pure-hearted nature, or are you enamored of his talent?"
The moment these words fell—
even Huo Yuhao's own breathing stalled.
Zhang Lexuan and Ma Xiaotao parted their lips, yet did not answer immediately.
They could not deny—
that Huo Yuhao's astonishing, unparalleled talent inspired admiration.
But they could also say with certainty—
that the boy's goodness, forged through suffering yet untainted by it, moved their hearts just as deeply.
Lonely and bitter since childhood, tempered through growth in the Extreme North...
Even after gaining great power, he never lost himself, and he treated Elder Mu with the filial piety of a biological son
If Huo Yuhao possessed talent but lacked integrity—
they would never have fallen for him.
"I…"
Just as Zhang Lexuan and Ma Xiaotao were about to speak, Li Zhexian flicked his sleeve.
"The mortal world rolls on endlessly. Since your hearts are not yet fully clear, then enter the mortal world… and personally walk a path within it."
The Sword Intent of the Mortal World—Faith of All Living Beings—descended once more.
The three figures quietly vanished from their platforms, drawn into the boundless "red dust" formed by sword intent.
Before the eyes of Xu Sanshi and the others, the lake surface rippled. A light screen slowly unfolded, revealing entirely different mortal scenes.
Within the screen—
was a life utterly unlike reality.
Huo Yuhao was no longer the peerless genius who shook the continent, but merely an ordinary, poor youth of mediocre talent.
His Spirit Eyes Martial Soul was not used for conquest, but focused instead on crafting exquisite soul tools.
He fell in love with the Inner Court's senior sister, Zhang Lexuan, drawing jealousy and provocation from many—yet she quelled them all.
Even when staying up late into the night researching soul tools—
he always remembered that his senior sister loved grilled fish, and would deliberately choose the freshest at the marketplace.
Their days held no earth-shattering waves—
but were warm as lamplight, gentle and enduring.
Next door to them lived Ma Xiaotao.
In this lifetime, Huo Yuhao did not possess Ultimate Ice, yet through ingenuity he crafted soul tools capable of containing ice attributes, easing her torment from evil fire again and again.
In the "red dust," a fleeting moment equaled a year in the human world.
Within the circulating sword intent, the three lived through lifetime after lifetime.
Sometimes he remained with Zhang Lexuan.
Sometimes he stood side by side with Ma Xiaotao.
Of course, life was not always smooth—there were quarrels, and sharp words spoken in anger.
Yet never did resentment last overnight.
Perhaps Huo Yuhao would silently prepare freshly grilled food and offer it over.
Or Zhang Lexuan / Ma Xiaotao, understanding his financial struggles, would seek out more suitable soul tool materials for him.
…
One hour passed.
No one knew how many lifetimes they had lived through.
The sun had quietly slanted westward, and the rippling lake was dyed with a faint warm gold.
Ping!
The light screen shattered softly.
The mortal world dissolved like smoke.
Huo Yuhao, Zhang Lexuan, and Ma Xiaotao slowly opened their eyes, a trace of daze flashing through them at first—
then they looked at one another.
An indescribable complexity lingered in their gazes.
"As you have seen."
Li Zhexian reclined in a sandalwood chair, smiling.
"Even without world-shaking talent, you would still fall for one another."
"This love is not false."
His tone shifted slightly.
"There are three of you. As for how you choose in the future, and how you get along… that ultimately depends on yourselves."
"Though perhaps three isn't quite accurate."
Li Zhexian cast Huo Yuhao a meaningful glance.
To be fair—
Huo Yuhao's romantic ties were hardly few.
Even along the original trajectory, though it was said he stayed only with Wang Dong—
how many hearts the boy had truly stirred was known only to himself.
Not to mention those before him.
In the Sun Moon Empire, there was still Ju Zi.
Having lived a second life—if the entanglements remained unresolved, would that not make the rebirth meaningless?
At that moment—
Wang Dong's platform slowly rose.
Since entering the Yin Yang Love Querying Valley—or rather, since last night—she had remained silent.
Li Zhexian's gaze could pierce through all illusion.
He said:
"Do you believe you are Wang Dong, or Tang Wutong?"
The instant those words fell—
the color drained from Wang Dong's face.
She looked up at the white-robed youth in disbelief.
Then—
tears cascaded down like broken pearls.
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"
"Huo Yuhao… I'm sorry… I didn't know… you bore so much for me…"
"I'm sorry…"
She sobbed uncontrollably, repeating her apologies.
As she spoke, she clutched her head in anguish, her beautiful face twisting slightly with the struggle.
The two streams of memory within her mind were clashing wildly once again.
At times she was sorrowful and desolate—
at others, an unconscious trace of pride surfaced.
"Wang Dong…"
Seeing her in such pain, Huo Yuhao felt dull waves of ache in his own heart.
Through the shimmering curtain of waterlight—
Wang Dong gazed at him miserably, her teeth biting her lower lip until tiny beads of blood seeped out.
"Huo Yuhao… I am Wang Dong…"
"If I had known earlier… that knowing me would make your future so difficult… I would never have approached you…"
Huo Yuhao saw that tearful, anguished face reflected in his eyes, and his own vision gradually blurred.
Li Zhexian sighed.
"Wang Dong, I will give you two choices."
"First—I erase your memories of Huo Yuhao. From then on, you will be Tang Wutong, daughter of the God King."
"Second—I separate Wang Dong and Tang Wutong, making you two independent individuals."
Huo Yuhao abruptly lifted his head.
Wang Dong's breathing grew rapid as well.
But then—
she seemed to think of something. Suppressing her sobs, she asked in a trembling voice:
"May I ask you…"
"If I stay with Huo Yuhao… will he still, like in those memories… suffer so greatly because of me?"
Her eyes shimmered with tears.
"If fate cannot be changed… then I would rather let him forget me…"
"But please… allow me to keep my memories of him…"
Tears slid down silently, yet every word she spoke was clear.
."It is I, Wang Dong, who lacks the fortune; it is not he, Huo Yuhao, who is not a good person."