Ruthless Heaven's Will; Hopeful Mundane World! . . .
Jun Yinglian's frustration intensified as she dwelled on it, but then her anger dissipated suddenly. Yet, she still couldn't regain her composure.
In the young man's eyes, she discerned tenderness, love, guilt, affection, pain, sorrow, happiness...almost every conceivable emotion lay in those deep eyes.
They were a pair of resolute eyes!
Shocked, she abruptly halted her forward rush.
- Hooo! -
Simultaneously, the hawk landed about ten meters ahead of her like an arrow. It cooed and flapped its wings as though it were reveling in having caught up with Jun Yinglian, a preeminent cultivator in the world.
Eun Xiao disembarked from the hawk with gentle movements.
He affectionately patted Hawky's head.
The hawk nodded and, after a few sounds, soared back into the sky.
"You don't need me to stay. Alright. There's a vast mountain over there. I should go check if there's anything valuable..."
Eun Xiao stood in front of Jun Yinglian, overcome with myriad emotions. It felt like an eternity since they last saw each other, and his lips began to quiver.
Jun Yinglian frowned and inquired, "Are you Young Lord Cha? What do you want? Is something amiss that required you to urgently chase after me? Didn't I make everything clear back there?"
While she no longer harbored anger, she avoided mentioning the name Cha Eun Xiao, which was identical to that of the Xiao Monarch. She only addressed him as Young Lord Cha or Cha Nantian's son.
For Jun Yinglian, the name Cha Eun Xiao belonged to one person alone!
Given that Xiao Monarch was no longer alive, the name should vanish along with him!
No one should share the same name.
"There is indeed something I need to discuss with you, Fairy," Cha Eun Xiao said, taking a deep breath to steady himself.
"Go on," Jun Yinglian responded indifferently, her tone sounding as if she wished to drive everyone away.
Cha Eun Xiao gave a bitter smile and continued, "Lian...Fairy Jun, have you ever heard a poem?"
Jun Yinglian remained silent, her expression still distant. She seemed disinterested in the conversation.
Cha Eun Xiao went on, "It's a poem..."
"Ruthless heaven's will promises no flat and smooth life path; In this hopeful mundane world, I would like to be lost in my own madness. I regret that I let you be solitary; If there is a next life, I promise I will accompany you to travel the world."
Cha Eun Xiao raised his head and fixed his gaze on Jun Yinglian. His voice quivered as he spoke. "Fairy Jun, have you heard of this poem?"
Heard of it? She was familiar with it to her core.
As Cha Eun Xiao began reciting the first line, Jun Yinglian started to tremble. She gazed up at Cha Eun Xiao's face, and by the time he finished, her eyes were red and teary.
She quivered like a fragile flower about to wither in a rainstorm, her lips paling as tears welled up in her eyes. "Who are you?"
"Who am I?" Cha Eun Xiao smiled bitterly. "Fairy Jun, how many people do you think know this poem?"
With trembling lips and without uttering a word, Jun Yinglian contemplated the two parts of the poem.
Many knew the latter part, which she had framed and hung on the wall of her room. She used to recite it every day.
Numerous individuals in Sky Ice Palace, including her fellow disciples, servants, and friends like Bing Xinyue, were acquainted with the latter two lines.
However, only two people were privy to the first part: Jun Yinglian herself and Xiao Monarch.
Xiao Monarch, Cha Eun Xiao!
Jun Yinglian had etched the first part of the poem into her memory, and she never intended to forget it. This part held far more significance for her than the latter.
It elucidated why Cha Eun Xiao had rejected her.
'Ruthless heaven's will promises no flat and smooth life path.'
Indeed, heaven showed no mercy. While everyone had the opportunity to embark on a flat and smooth path, only one in a billion could remain on it throughout life. Those already on a path had to exert their utmost efforts to persevere on the road to heaven's nature.
'In this hopeful mundane world, I would like to be lost in my own madness.'
It signified that Xiao Monarch had harbored feelings for her because they were both mere mortals in the mundane world. Nevertheless, he had chosen solitude as it was the only way to progress along the path to heaven's nature.
'I regret that I let you be solitary.'
His choice had shattered her heart.
'If there is a next life, I promise I will accompany you to travel the world.'
This was his heartfelt apology, an assurance of something that could never come to pass.
Cha Eun Xiao gazed at Jun Yinglian sentimentally.
Jun Yinglian took a deep breath and, suddenly, her eyes filled with sharp killing intent. "Who are you?"
"Who am I?" Cha Eun Xiao smiled wryly. "I am Cha Eun Xiao."
"I know your name...I am asking who you are!" Jun Yinglian's aura emanated a deadly cold qi. Her exquisite hand rested on the hilt of her sword, her eyes gleaming with icy lights.
In reality, she had no need to use a sword to eliminate a Dao Origin Stage novice, but her rage had driven her to grasp the sword.
In her heart, this Cha Eun Xiao was not the Cha Eun Xiao she had known. There were certain matters that this new Cha Eun Xiao must never discover!
"Even though you bear his name, you are not him!" She seethed with anger in her heart.
"Don't you recognize me, even after hearing my words? I am Cha Eun Xiao!" Cha Eun Xiao locked eyes with Jun Yinglian. "Xiao Monarch, Cha Eun Xiao!"
Jun Yinglian gave a cold, sardonic laugh.
Two months ago, she might have been inclined to trust him. The poem was a secret held solely by Xiao Monarch and herself—a definitive proof indeed. However, her perspective had shifted.
After encountering the false Xiao Monarch's deceitful performances, she had come to understand that these individuals could mimic Xiao Monarch's voice, countenance, emotions, expressions, behaviors, even his martial arts. Despite knowing Xiao Monarch better than anyone, she had nearly been fooled. Now, she couldn't help but believe that someone had an intimate understanding of Xiao Monarch.
And now there was another.
For some unknown reason, this young man was familiar with the poem. Perhaps someone in Sky Ice Palace had overheard it during a dream conversation between Jun Yinglian and Cha Eun Xiao. It was conceivable.
Although she appeared puzzled in her gaze, her eyes concealed an unyielding surge of killing intent that was unstoppable.