What was my original intent?
Ah Yin's eyes were somewhat dazed.
In truth, she hadn't thought too much about it at the start.
As a hundred-thousand-year-old spirit beast, she only had two choices.
She could either take on human form and begin cultivation anew as a human spirit master.
Or she could continue to grow as a spirit beast, enduring tribulations until the next millennium—at which point she might face destruction.
In the end, Ah Yin chose to take human form and start a new life.
She couldn't clearly recall the reasons for her choice anymore.
Was it a longing for the human world? Or was it the fear of tribulations?
"...Curiosity. I was very curious about the other world. I wanted to see what human society looked like."
"And what experiences did you gain after you first stepped into the new world as a human?"
"My experiences at that time..."
Ah Yin fell into deep thought.
Back then, everything fascinated her.
The human world was so colorful, unlike the monotonous forest.
Delicious foods, beautiful clothing, entertaining performances, and all sorts of magical items.
Even though she wasn't particularly lively, she was still attracted by that vibrant life.
The spirituality and creativity of humans were far beyond what spirit beasts could achieve.
However...
Thinking back now, it seemed that there was only endless training, adventure, sparring with spirit masters, fighting with spirit beasts, then being hunted, and running away...
But she had already experienced enough of those things as a spirit beast.
Even as the rare Blue Silver Emperor, with the protection of her clan, it was impossible for her growth to be smooth in such an incredibly long journey.
Those things, in fact, were not interesting—at least to her now. Fighting and growing stronger were just small and superficial aspects of the human world.
Moreover, she had never been obsessed with gaining strength.
The reason she had never chosen to leave alone was because she had long been accustomed to following.
The inertia of her mind and a vague fear of the unknown kept her from daring to leave that comfort zone.
This also stemmed from her personality.
She had never been a person with strong opinions.
Just like Xiao Wu, another spirit beast in human form, who recklessly ventured into an academy full of spirit masters when she was still very young, without even attaching her first spirit ring.
But Ah Yin had lingered on the fringes for nearly twenty years before finally making up her mind, stepping cautiously into another mysterious realm with both anticipation and fear...
Seeing that she remained silent, the Blue Silver King seemed to understand the answer but did not continue the conversation.
It simply said, "You've probably forgotten those things from back then. What about the past few years? Do you feel genuinely happy as a human?"
Upon hearing this, Ah Yin snapped out of her daze and reflexively recalled her experiences over the past few years.
Her heart was instantly filled with mixed emotions.
All the people and events she had encountered over the years seemed to revolve around one person.
But it wasn't just about that one person.
The events she had experienced and the way she lived were completely different from twenty years ago...
The surprise and confusion she felt upon waking, the panic and worry after being forcibly bound to the Eternal Sword, the harmonious interactions in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Spring...
During this time, she witnessed the growth of that young boy, encountering many strange and incomprehensible situations.
However, that guy was clearly just a kid back then, yet he always pretended to be mature, constantly meddling in her affairs. But somehow, he always hit the mark, leaving her speechless.
Then, through his efforts, she even gained a "physical body." Although the structure of the body was very simple, it was still a surprising delight she had never dared to hope for.
After all, back then, she was nothing more than a prisoner trapped within a martial soul.
Although she didn't say much, she was actually deeply grateful to Su Cheng.
Later, she got the chance to explore Heaven Dou City, the largest and most prosperous city in the Heaven Dou Empire, on her own.
But at that time, she didn't really want to wander alone in such a vast and unfamiliar city.
Or maybe she did?
However, her ingrained habits and inertia—along with her desire to rely on someone—once again took over.
But this time, that person didn't give her the option to refuse, leaving her alone in Heaven Dou City.
As a result, she was surprised to find that things weren't as difficult as she had imagined, and she didn't feel the fear she once had.
It wasn't until much later that Ah Yin realized that it was because of the Eternal Sword.
Back then, no matter where she was, she could always feel a clear connection with the martial soul, and from that connection came a strong sense of security, knowing she could return to it anytime.
At some point, that Eternal Sword, which had initially been a prison, had gradually become a safe and comforting harbor.
So no matter what happened or where she went, even when she was deceived out of all her gold soul coins, she never truly panicked.
Later in Heaven Dou City, Ah Yin experienced many things, met many people, and was even taken in by a kind aunt for a while.
These experiences were things she had never encountered before...
Until that day, when everything changed.
Su Cheng's deceit, her own concealment, their separation, and being shut out of the Eternal Sword.
But fortunately, the misunderstandings were eventually cleared up.
In just a few short years, the emotions she had experienced, the highs and lows of her mood, were impossible to describe in just a few words.
"...Being human is really hard, but it's also really joyful," Ah Yin murmured softly with a smile.
"Life and death are but a moment, yet many things seem even heavier than life itself... Whether ordinary or extraordinary, everyone has their own life, their own happiness. I never understood that before..."
"It seems you already have your answer."
"Wha... what answer?"
Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted, and her smile froze on her face. She then blushed and stammered in response.
"Why do you remember the events of recent years so clearly, yet have only vague memories of the past? Don't you know which memories are more important? For you, two or three decades shouldn't be that long, right?"
"That's not the same thing!" Ah Yin reflexively retorted.
"Is that so? Then, in your heart, what kind of relationship do you think you have with Su Cheng?"
"Me and him..."
Hearing the Blue Silver King's question, Ah Yin's mind flashed with scenes of her losing control of her emotions, the outbursts, the promises they made when they parted, and the thoughts she couldn't shake off during these days.
She also suddenly recalled Su Cheng's embrace when they parted, and the overwhelming feeling of contentment and fulfillment in her heart.
Her face turned red, and her eyes avoided looking directly at anything. "I treat him like my little brother..."
"Though I know humans have an incredibly rich array of emotions, I can never truly empathize with you the same way," the Blue Silver King gently swayed its vines as if laughing. "But because of that, you don't have to feel embarrassed in front of me. After all, I watched you grow up."
"..." Ah Yin raised her elbow and lightly punched the tree trunk behind her, angrily scolding, "Don't make wild guesses. I'm not embarrassed!"
"Of course, you are always right." The Blue Silver King immediately corrected itself and continued, "Respected Queen, do you remember what I told you before? You should continue to pursue your original intent. Don't restrain yourself with human notions because, after all, humans are extremely changeable beings.
"Even humans themselves cannot always clearly define friendship, love, and family. Friendship might slowly transform into love, and love could eventually become familial affection with the passage of time. I think human emotions are indeed very complex.
"Friendship is long and mellow, love is passionate and selfless, and familial affection is deep and unconditional. These emotions aren't always singular in human interactions.
"My Queen, isn't this similar to that Hundred Flower Brew you were preparing the other day? I remember you carefully selected nearly a hundred ingredients to craft it."
At this point, the Blue Silver King's voice paused slightly, "Speaking of which, that fine wine—you made it specifically for him, didn't you?"
"I... I just wanted to try it myself."
"Is that so? I don't recall you ever liking that sort of thing."
"I learned it from the human world. I found it interesting."
"I see." The Blue Silver King didn't expose her lie, simply chuckling. "But when that gentleman arrives, Let him have a taste as well."
...
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