Chapter ( 38 )
Xin Lan sat in the relaxation room, feeling down. Everything that had happened in the past few days felt like a dream to her. The situation had changed so quickly and unexpectedly that she was struggling to accept it all.
When Zhen Chen arrived, she immediately ran into his arms and burst into tears. Zhen Chen sat her down on a chair and asked, "What happened? Tell me."
Xin Lan explained everything to him.
"After we got back, Sister Xue Yin explained everything to me. I finally understood and was able to start cultivating. Yuan Yuan helped us a lot. But then, a few days later, Yuan Yuan got a message from her master. They said she needed to return immediately because the leaders of the Asura Planet urgently needed her. Yuan Yuan told her master about Auntie Susu and Sister Xue Yin, and her master said he would take responsibility and arrange for Sister Xue Yin to meet her father. He said there was no need to worry because Sister Xue Yin's father and Yuan Yuan's master were like brothers. He told us to trust them and follow them. Yuan Yuan also reassured me not to worry and took Sister Xue Yin and Auntie Susu with her. Sister Xue Yin told me to stay here and wait for you to return. She left this for you. I... I was alone here, waiting for you... I... I still can't believe all of this is happening."
Zhen Chen comforted her. "They'll both be fine. And now, Sister Xin Lan, you can cultivate too. I'll help you become even stronger."
Xin Lan looked at Zhen Chen and said, "I... I don't need to become stronger. I... I..."
She stared deeply at Zhen Chen, then hesitated and changed the subject. "What did Sister Xue Yin say to you?"
Zhen Chen shook his head as he looked at the phone in his hand. Then, he disappeared, leaving only the small communication plate on the sofa.
When Zhen Chen entered the communication plate, he opened the phone. It wasn't locked. Inside, there was a video recorded by Yu Xue Yin herself.
"Zhen Chen, first of all, I want to apologize. I couldn't leave my mother alone on another planet, even if my father is there. The time I spent with you was short, but it was the happiest time of my life. Even if you're angry at me for leaving, please don't forget me. I'll do my best to come back as soon as I can. I have to go now. Yuan Yuan and her master's group also need to return urgently. I love you, Zhen Chen. Tata... Wait for me to come back."
The video ended. Zhen Chen was still in shock. Zi Mo stood beside him, shaking his head. He patted Zhen Chen's shoulder and said, "She won't come back. The human organizations on the Asura Planet won't let go of someone as talented as her. It's better not to hope too much."
Zhen Chen understood what Zi Mo meant. He also knew that Yuan Yuan looked down on him. If that was the case, the organization that accepted Yu Xue Yin would likely look down on him too. In the eyes of the humans there, even though Zhen Chen and Yu Xue Yin were both humans, they weren't considered equals. Zhen Chen sighed and handed the phone to Zi Mo.
"Keep this for me. When I'm lazy and not cultivating, remind me, Zi Mo... I need to go out now. I have to plan what to do next... I also have to think about Sister Xin Lan."
Zhen Chen then left. Zi Mo watched Zhen Chen's back, smiling as he muttered, "They don't know yet. You're actually a terrifying candidate with immense potential."
---
At that moment, red lights began to flash from the center of the formation, and a void mark appeared in the sky above the tower, creating a large crack. Zi Mo was startled and quickly tried to regain control of the formation.
However, the formation was no longer under his control. The information formation inside the formation had activated on its own and was directly connecting to the central formation through the void. But soon, the situation stabilized. The void closed, and the mark disappeared.
When Zi Mo regained control of the formation, he immediately checked it. He found that Zhen Chen's candidate information and the records of his evolving ancient sky-blue dragon bloodline had been automatically sent to the central formation under its control.
Zi Mo was shocked. Why had the central formation taken control? Was it searching for information to summon the candidate? Zi Mo quickly contacted Zhen Chen.
"Zhen Chen, something bad has happened. A clan is preparing to summon you. I don't know which one, but they've found you. Once the central formation makes a decision, they can summon you at any time."
---
When Zhen Chen reappeared, Xin Lan looked at him intently. Zhen Chen smiled and asked, "Sister Xin Lan, what are you planning to do now? Tell me."
Xin Lan didn't answer. Instead, she asked a question.
"Were you and Sister Xue Yin together? When did it start? And why didn't I know...? I... I didn't know...? Tell me, Zhen Chen... I... I've loved you since we were kids... When did you and Sister Xue Yin become lovers...? How did someone like Sister Xue Yin fall in love with you...? Why did you fall for her...? I was always by your side... How did this happen...? Tell me... How did this happen...? Wah..."
Xin Lan couldn't hold back anymore. Tears streamed down her face as she pounded Zhen Chen's chest, crying uncontrollably.
Zhen Chen, on the other hand, was completely stunned. He had never seen Xin Lan, who was usually cheerful and playful, act so emotionally vulnerable before.
Xin Lan's usual behavior was always lively and playful. She wasn't the type to cry and throw a tantrum like a child. But now, she looked like a five-year-old girl throwing a fit because she lost her favorite toy.
Zhen Chen hugged her tightly and didn't say anything. He let her cry and vent her emotions. She needed time to calm down. Zhen Chen realized that there was a side to women he couldn't understand.
Then, he heard Zi Mo's panicked voice. After hearing Zi Mo's explanation, Zhen Chen trembled. His mind was in chaos, and sweat dripped from his forehead. This was something he couldn't handle, and his thoughts went blank.
What should they do...?
How would they face this...?
He couldn't do anything.
Zhen Chen looked down at Xin Lan. She was still crying in his arms, her face buried in his chest. As he looked at her, his thoughts drifted back to the past.
When he was young, he fell off his bike and hit his head on a rock, cutting his forehead. His mother screamed in panic, but Xin Lan carried him on her back and ran to the clinic. Even as the doctor treated his wound, he saw Xin Lan crying. Later, she bought him ice cream and joked that the pain would be gone by tomorrow.
When he was in middle school, his father forced him to take martial arts classes, and Xin Lan joined him. When his grandmother passed away and he was devastated, Xin Lan was there for him. In truth, Xin Lan had been a significant part of his life, always by his side. A deep, indescribable pain welled up in Zhen Chen's heart.
Would he have to leave the girl who had always cared for him so much?
Would he have to abandon the girl who had always been so attached to him?
Zhen Chen shook his head gently. He contacted Zi Mo and said, "Send both of us into the communication plate."
---
Zhen Chen and Xin Lan appeared in the main hall of the tower. Xin Lan, who had been crying, suddenly noticed the change in her surroundings and looked around.
She found herself in a vast hall with a large crystal pillar. Zhen Chen looked at her and said, "This is inside my candidate communication plate. You know about it now."
Xin Lan nodded and asked, "Why did you bring me here? To make me cultivate? Hmph, I don't want to cultivate right now."
Zhen Chen looked deeply into her eyes and said, "Xin Lan, listen carefully."
She looked up at him in surprise. He had called her by her name, and his expression was unusually serious.
"You've always been so good to me. I don't want to leave you. I haven't done anything for you yet. But the formation was taken over earlier. I don't know when they'll summon me. That's why you need to cultivate. I'll arrange the resources for you. I don't want you to cultivate to become stronger; I want you to live long enough to wait for me to return... If they summon me, no matter how many years it takes, I'll become the strongest and come back to you... Whether it takes ten years, a hundred years, or even a thousand years, I'll work hard and come back to see you."