Echoes of a Forgotten Life

Luo Chen suddenly shouted, "No way!"

His voice thundered through the hall, startling both Meng'er and the old man.

The old man's eyes widened. "Wha… What?" he stammered.

Luo Chen's gaze turned cold, burning with fury. "Let's exchange it," he said darkly. "This is the only thing I cannot accept."

The old man's voice trembled. "But… you've already given me your word…"

A heavy silence fell. The weight of regret pressed against Luo Chen's chest.

He looked down and whispered bitterly, "Once an immortal gives his word… how can he take it back?"

Luo Chen sighed deeply, eyes flickering with reluctant resolve. He glanced at Meng'er, then at the old man, who still looked as though a mountain had been lifted off his shoulders.

"How about this," Luo Chen said at last, his tone calmer but still carrying weight. "I'll take her as a registered disciple. But—" he raised a finger sternly, "don't call me 'Master.' Just call me 'Teacher.'"

The old man's face lit up with gratitude before Luo Chen even finished. Without hesitation, he reached behind him and pushed Meng'er forward.

"There, it's settled!" he said eagerly. "Come, girl—pay your respects to your teacher."

Caught off guard, Meng'er stumbled a step, then stiffened. Her lips pressed into a thin line as her pride and confusion waged war in her chest. She looked up at Luo Chen with a trace of defiance in her eyes.

Luo Chen, watching her expression, raised a hand and pressed it lightly to his forehead.

"Ah…" he muttered under his breath, "I really dug a hole for myself…"

Meng'er knelt slowly, her every movement filled with reluctance. She didn't want this. She didn't understand this man or his sudden outburst, nor did she believe he truly wanted her as a disciple.

But under the old man's sharp gaze and Luo Chen's quiet power, she had no choice.

In a soft voice, clipped and hesitant, she said, "Greetings… to the teacher."

Luo Chen looked down at her, the corners of his mouth twitching between a smirk and a sigh.

Perhaps fate was more playful than he'd expected.

The train slowed with a gentle screech, the hum of metal wheels softening as the city lights outside grew clearer.

A voice crackled through the speaker overhead:

"Dear travelers, we have arrived at Shanghai Station. Passengers disembarking here are advised to bring all personal belongings."

The cabin stirred with motion. Bags were lifted, voices murmured, and footsteps shuffled.

Luo Chen stood up quietly, his gaze steady as ever. He stepped off the train without a word, his long coat brushing against the platform breeze.

Meng'er and the old man followed close behind, their luggage in hand. Luo Chen was already walking away, blending into the crowd, when a voice called out behind him:

"Mr. Luo!"

Luo Chen paused.

The old man raised a hand and shouted with genuine warmth, "If you ever need anything… don't hesitate to contact us!"

Meng'er, standing beside him, flushed with embarrassment. Her voice was a hissed whisper laced with frustration.

"Grandpa…"

Luo Chen didn't turn around.

But slowly, from behind his back, he raised one hand—palm open, fingers slightly spread. A simple gesture. Quiet. Subtle.

And yet, it was enough.

The old man smiled. Meng'er looked down, unsure of what she felt.

Without another word, Luo Chen continued walking, disappearing into the sea of travelers under the lights of Shanghai.

As they walked out of the station into the bustling lights of Shanghai, Meng'er suddenly snapped, her voice low but annoyed:

"Grandpa!"

The old man glanced at her sideways, calm as ever.

"What are you yelling for?" he said with a huff. "I've told you many times—girls shouldn't be so high-profile outside. Watch your voice."

Meng'er rolled her eyes as they moved toward the roadside. "What is wrong with you today?" she asked, clearly frustrated. "With your position in Shanghai, so many well-known cultivators and talented elders have asked to take me as a disciple, but you refused all of them. And now suddenly you push me onto that kid?"

She stopped walking and faced him, hands on hips. "You don't even know him, Grandpa!"

The old man gave a small sigh, then casually flicked her on the forehead.

"Ow!" Meng'er winced, rubbing the spot.

"You silly girl," he said, shaking his head. "You know nothing. That 'kid' isn't someone ordinary. Let me tell you this—we're connected to a big shot this time."

Meng'er blinked. The irritation on her face gave way to confusion.

"Huh? What big shot? He looks like he's just a few years older than me."

The old man chuckled but didn't explain further.

"Some mountains look small… until you try to climb them," he muttered mysteriously.

Meng'er stared at him, completely baffled.

The old man turned to Meng'er, his tone serious.

"Meng'er, there are things you don't yet understand. Grandpa doesn't blame you, but you should remember the name I've mentioned before—Li Fengyuan."

Meng'er's eyes widened in shock. "You mean… Li Fengyuan, known as the 'White Dragon' in the Dragon Ranking?"

The old man nodded solemnly. "That's right. On the battlefield outside the country, he destroyed hundreds of armed groups with his bare hands. He's famous for his martial arts mastery."

Meng'er stood frozen for a moment, her mind racing with the implications of his words. She had heard of the legendary "White Dragon," but to hear him mentioned so casually by her grandpa was another matter entirely.

Meng'er stood there, stunned, processing the old man's words. Her voice trembled with disbelief as she asked, "What you mean is… That kid, he can become someone like Li Fengyuan?"

The old man flicked her on the head again, this time with a hint of amusement. "What 'that kid'! That's your teacher!" he scolded gently. "And I mean his strength… it's already on par with Li Fengyuan, if not beyond."

Meng'er's eyes widened even further, shock and confusion swirling in her gaze. "So… you're saying—" she stammered, her voice barely a whisper, "Luo Chen, here in Shanghai… he's already at that level?"

The old man nodded firmly. "Exactly. While Luo Chen is in Shanghai, you must do everything you can to win him over. His potential is immense."

Meng'er hesitated for a moment, her thoughts still in disarray, but the weight of the old man's words settled over her. She straightened her posture, resolve beginning to form in her heart.

"I get it," she said, her voice quieter but filled with determination.

Outside the station, Zhang Zhenyi and her mother stood beneath a shaded awning, watching the steady flow of people emerge from the gates.

Zhang Zhenyi's mother fanned herself impatiently.

"I've been waiting for five minutes already," she grumbled. "Why isn't he here yet? I've worked hard to maintain my skin. What if I get tanned out here, huh? Jeez."

Zhang Zhenyi scanned the crowd calmly. "He'll be here soon, don't worry," she replied, eyes searching for a familiar face.

Just then, Luo Chen stepped out into the light, blending with the stream of travelers. His gaze swept over the city skyline.

"Shanghai…" he murmured.

But in that moment, the present faded, giving way to a memory—bitter and sharp.

He remembered the cold pavement beneath him, the sting of fists crashing into his body. Dozens of bodyguards surrounded him. Blood poured from his mouth, and his breath trembled.

"Save… save me…" he had gasped, his voice cracking in the rain.

A well-dressed young master approached, a cruel smile on his face. Without a word, he placed his foot on Luo Chen's head, pinning it to the ground.

"Tch. Getting worse with each generation," he sneered. "But… before you die, you're becoming more interesting."

Pain. Humiliation. Rage.

Thunder cracked across the sky as rain poured down. Luo Chen's eyes widened, his screams echoing through the storm.

"AAH! AHHH!"

Snapping back from the haunting memory, Luo Chen clenched his fist tightly, veins pulsing beneath his skin. His aura turned cold, laced with a dark edge. In a low whisper, almost to himself, he muttered,

"It's… really nostalgic."

Just then, a cheerful voice broke the tension.

"Luo Chen! This way!" Zhang Zhenyi called, waving from the side.

Luo Chen relaxed his hand and turned, his expression neutral once again. Walking over, he greeted her with a faint smile.

"Zhang Zhenyi. Long time no see."

She leaned in slightly, nudging him with her elbow and muttering under her breath, "Say hello to my mom first."

Standing beside her, her mother gave Luo Chen a long, unimpressed look—her arms crossed, lips pursed.

Glaring at him, she muttered just loud enough to be heard,

"How can this poor boy be my daughter's choice? I really don't know what she sees in him. Compared to Mr. Han, this guy is ten thousand times worse in every way—appearance, background, everything."

Luo Chen heard every word. A flicker of amusement flashed in his eyes, but he swallowed it. Wearing a well-practiced, fake smile, he tilted his head slightly and said with forced politeness,

"Hello, Auntie."

She scoffed, exhaling a thin trail of smoke through her lips.

"What's so good about that? It's not good at all. Young people these days have no manners."

Zhang Zhenyi rolled her eyes, embarrassed, but Luo Chen simply smiled—like a sheep in appearance, but with a snake's patience behind his gaze.

Zhang Zhenyi's mother huffed dramatically, fanning herself with one hand.

"In order to wait for you, I've been standing in the sun for half a day," she snapped at Luo Chen. "You don't even know how to say hello the moment you see someone? Really?"

She let out an exaggerated sigh and shook her head.

"Wow. Hmph. What are you waiting for now? Get in the car and let's go home! The sun is killing me."

Zhang Zhenyi opened her mouth to speak, trying to ease the tension.

"Mom, he just—"

"Enough," her mother cut her off sharply. "Don't speak for him."

Luo Chen stood there, unfazed. His expression was calm—too calm. Like nothing could touch him. Then, without a word, he casually got into the car.

Zhang Zhenyi followed with a helpless glance, slipping in beside him as her mother took the front seat. As the engine started and the car pulled away, she leaned slightly toward Luo Chen and whispered,

"Why do I feel like… you've changed a lot? Is it just my imagination?"

Luo Chen didn't answer. His eyes were fixed on the road ahead.

Morning passed, and noon arrived.

The ride was quiet until her mother spoke again, her tone suddenly lighter—almost dreamy.

"Zhenyi, look. The houses here in Yu Garden are lovely. The view—mountains, rivers, it's all so beautiful." She sighed wistfully.

"I don't expect you to buy a villa here… Just get a duplex. You live upstairs, your father and I live downstairs. How perfect is that?"

Zhang Zhenyi tensed and stammered,

"M-Mom… the duplexes here are at least 70,000 per square foot…"

Her mother waved it off, as if money were just a minor inconvenience.

"So? Just work harder. Or… have that teacher of yours help you."

Zhang Zhenyi sank back in her seat, hiding her frustration. Meanwhile, Luo Chen's faint smirk went unnoticed.

As the car cruised through the streets, Zhang Zhenyi's mother glanced into the rearview mirror and noticed her daughter's silence. With a knowing smile, she said,

"70,000 per square foot isn't expensive. Tell him to work harder—don't you have faith in him?" She sighed dramatically, adding, "If not, just go mortgage a house in the southern suburbs. But make sure you don't tell anyone you're my daughter."

Zhang Zhenyi said nothing. She kept her gaze on her phone, scrolling through messages with a quiet frown, trying to ignore her mother's relentless chatter.

Her mother chuckled to herself, seemingly content with her own ideas. "Really, Zhenyi, if you just put in a little more effort, it wouldn't be hard at all."

Zhang Zhenyi didn't respond, her eyes fixed on her phone, but her thoughts seemed distant. She glanced up at Luo Chen in the rearview mirror, noticing that he hadn't moved much since they'd started the drive. He was staring out of the window, his face unreadable, as if lost in thought, detached from the conversation around him.

The car ride continued in silence, save for the soft hum of the engine and the occasional tap of Zhang Zhenyi's fingers on her phone screen.