Real....?

Jiang Chen poured out everything he was feeling—for the world to witness.

But there was no one to witness it.

No one… except her.

And if she was listening—then his world had listened.

Jiang Chen felt a wet sensation on his burning shoulders. Steam began to rise as the moisture evaporated upon contact with his overheated skin.

He looked down.

Tears.

Not his own—but hers.

Tears streamed down from Zi Xia's eyes, falling onto him, only to vanish in the heat.

His gaze moved from her tear-streaked cheeks to her eyes.

Clear, shimmering—like a lake reflecting the morning sun.

From those beautiful, sorrowful eyes, crystal-like tears fell.

It was mesmerizing.

But for Jiang Chen…

It was heartbreaking.

His trembling fingers, which had been resting on her right cheek, moved—softly caressing the flowing tears.

And then—

I... I am not in your delusion, my dear disciple.

Zi Xia's voice was soft, yet unwavering.

I am here. In reality. In your embrace… feeling your warmth.

The moment her voice reached his ears—his heart clenched.

It ached.

It burned.

Because for a moment—he had thought he had lost her forever.

Mas… ter….

Jiang Chen choked, his voice breaking.

Yes… this is our reality.

I exist here… I don't need to go anywhere.

I can stay… here… with you… forever.

Even…

Even if…

Even if this is a fake world… we can make it our new reality.

Yes… yes… haha…

He let out a shaky, broken laugh.

I am here, Master… and you are with me.

I don't care about anything else anymore.

Jiang Chen… calm down… I am real… I am not an illusion.

Zi Xia's voice was soft yet firm as she hugged him tightly from behind, whispering into his ear.

Her eyes were shut tightly—like she was clenching them shut.

Like she was suffering… from guilt?

I… understand, Master… you are here… with me… haha.

Jiang Chen let out a slightly broken laugh, but his body trembled.

His mind worked frantically, trying to force him to believe.

This is real.

Zi Xia is real.

She is here, holding him, comforting him.

But his heart screamed otherwise.

This is false.

Zi Xia is false.

This sensation is false.

And in the war between heart and mind—Jiang Chen's emotions swirled, creating a storm so fierce it threatened to shatter his very sanity.

It wasn't anyone's fault.

His mind was merely trying to protect him—to calm him down, to make him believe.

That this was real.

That she was alive.

Because if he didn't believe it, he would break.

But the mind was not all-knowing.

It did not know whether Zi Xia was real—or merely a hallucination conjured to shield him from despair.

And deep down, Jiang Chen knew it too.

The mind sometimes fabricated illusions to stop a person from making rash decisions.

To preserve them.

Yet, his heart refused to accept it.

Because he had seen her burn.

He had seen her disintegrate.

He had seen her die.

And now—she stood before him, whole.

It was impossible.

His mind told him that even if it was a delusion, falling into it was fine if it meant keeping himself from breaking.

But his heart rejected it.

It could not accept a fake Zi Xia.

To his heart, her memories were sacred.

A fabricated illusion of her was a betrayal.

Even if it meant his mental collapse.

Even if it led him to spiritual destruction.

Even if it resulted in his physical ruin.

His heart would never accept a world where Zi Xia was anything less than real.

That… was how much he cared for her.

Zi Xia looked at Jiang Chen's state…

Like a broken record stuck on repeat.

Like a man desperately clinging to a dream he knew would soon fade.

Her heart ached.

No matter how many times she told him, I am real.

He wasn't listening.

Or rather… he believed she was an illusion—yet he still couldn't let go.

Like a drowning man grasping at water.

Like he was… desperate.

Zi Xia sighed.

She had no choice but to…

~Slap~

Her left hand struck his cheek—softly.

Jiang Chen didn't even react.

Yes... I... am... here, he murmured, dazed.

Zi Xia's brows furrowed.

She raised her hand again—

~Slappp~

This time, hard.

Huh—?!

Jiang Chen's eyes snapped open wide.

His hand slowly left her cheek and touched his own—where a red palm mark had formed.

The force of the slap—

The sting on his skin—

And most importantly…

She had used spiritual energy.

Can an illusion use spiritual energy?

His heart thundered in his chest.

With a trembling hand, he reached forward…

Touched her cheek.

Cold.

Even as his body radiated burning spiritual energy—

Even as his power should have scorched anything it touched—

She was unaffected.

Just like…

Just like she was real.

He pinched her cheek.

~Ahh~

Zi Xia yelped, pulling back slightly.

Huh... Ma-Master... is it... really you...? I... I'm not in some delusion?

Zi Xia's expression twitched.

She grabbed his cheek—

And pinched it hard.

Ahh—!

Jiang Chen winced, his hands flying to his face.

Zi Xia huffed.

Hahh... how slow are you? she muttered.

Her arms coiled around his neck once more, pulling him close.

Jiang Chen, I am alive. I am right in front of you.

Stop calling me an illusion.

Can't you even recognize your own master?

Jiang Chen stood frozen.

His body stiff.

His mind blank.

His heart racing.

He was in shock.