"Second Sister, you're finally awake!" Bai Lian couldn't hide her joy. "Is there any discomfort? Don't hold back if there is."
"I'm fine..." Bai Siyao wiped the sweat from her forehead.
Bai Lian turned to her younger brother and commanded, "Go, ask the esteemed Master Changling to come and take a look. Be polite, and show proper respect."
Bai Xing gave a quick nod and rushed off.
Before long, Master Changling entered with Yue Yunqiao and Huo Chongxiao.
He appeared to be in his thirties, with a gentle and refined appearance. His light apricot-colored Daoist robe was perfectly tailored, exactly as Bai Siyao remembered.
"Senior." Bai Lian rose to greet him with respectful formality.
Master Changling nodded with a smile. He first examined Bai Siyao's complexion, then took her pulse, and finally nodded again. "Very good. The demonic heart is intact; her life is saved."
Hearing this, everyone was overjoyed.
Yue Yunqiao, unable to contain herself, asked, "Master, does this mean we can return to Danxia Palace now? You promised to vouch for Sister Bai."
Master Changling chuckled, "You're in quite a rush, aren't you? Can't wait a moment longer?"
"I miss home!" Yue Yunqiao pouted playfully.
Master Changling turned to Bai Siyao and asked, "How are you feeling? Are you adjusting to the demonic energy? Can you still cast spells?"
Bai Siyao nodded, raising her hand to perform a simple fire-gathering spell.
A black fireball formed in her palm, starkly contrasting with her unusually pale skin.
"Your Jade Tempered Body is indeed extraordinary," Master Changling marveled before instructing, "You all, step outside."
Yue Yunqiao was confused. "What's Master going to do? Can't I stay?"
Before she could finish, Huo Chongxiao whisked her away. "Why so many questions? Master has his reasons."
Bai Lian glanced between Master Changling and his disciples before reluctantly leaving with her brother.
With a wave of Master Changling's sleeve, the door slammed shut with a bang, and a soundproof barrier sealed off any potential eavesdropping.
"Do you know why I've kept you here alone?" Master Changling asked, smiling at the young girl before him.
Bai Siyao answered softly, "Senior wishes to ask about what happened at Withered Leaf Lodge."
"Smart." Master Changling nodded in approval. "This matter is far too unusual. The four of them only have half the story. I need to hear from you, the one who experienced it."
Bai Siyao bit her lip and lowered her head, nervously fidgeting with her hands.
Master Changling opened his hand, conjuring the Yin-Yang Umbrella. "At that time, you were captured by Bai Zhong'an, and he used this umbrella to absorb demonic energy. How did you manage to reverse the flow?"
Bai Siyao looked up briefly and replied, "This is my mother's keepsake."
Master Changling's brows furrowed.
Bai Siyao continued, "My great-uncle assumed I didn't remember, but my mother taught me how to use it."
"You know the Gu family's secret techniques?"
Bai Siyao nodded. "My mother was the last descendant of the Gu family. Fearing that the methods would be lost, she taught them all to me. As I've grown older, the techniques sealed in my mind have gradually unlocked."
"I see." Master Changling slowly nodded, solving the biggest mystery in his heart. "So you knew from the beginning that your great-uncle was hiding something."
"Yes. Young Master Huo said he notified the sect, and I thought they would arrive in time." She hesitated for a moment. "After all, he was my great-uncle, and I was afraid I might be wrong."
With that cleared up, Master Changling moved on to the next question. "How did you know Bai Zhong'an would use you as the core of the formation? What if he hadn't? Wouldn't your efforts have been wasted?"
Bai Siyao shook her head. "I didn't know for sure. I just thought that transitioning from Daoist cultivation to demonic cultivation would be extremely difficult. As a blood relative of the Gu family and the rightful heir to the Yin-Yang Umbrella, he would want to keep me alive in case something unexpected happened. That would be my opportunity."
"So it seems you were quite fortunate."
"Yes, if he had drained Sister Yue and the others first, there wouldn't have been anything I could do." Bai Siyao raised her head. "Young Master Huo said he crushed the communication talisman. I thought, Senior, that you would arrive quickly, so I wouldn't have to act unnecessarily."
Her pure gaze made Master Changling feel a little embarrassed. This was indeed his oversight. He hadn't expected to be outmaneuvered by a mere Golden Core cultivator. The maze formation had disrupted the talisman, and it took him a while to realize something was wrong.
In hindsight, he owed this young girl a debt of gratitude; otherwise, both of his disciples might have been lost.
"Alright, take a good rest. Although you've reached the Golden Core stage, the power isn't entirely your own. It will take time to fully control it. I have a technique here. First, gather all the demonic energy within your body."
Master Changling recited the spell twice, ensuring Bai Siyao memorized it, then handed the Yin-Yang Umbrella back to her. "Since this was your mother's keepsake, I'll return it to you."
"Thank you, Senior." Bai Siyao took it and softly expressed her gratitude.
Seeing her timid demeanor, Master Changling quickly offered a warm smile to show kindness before leaving.
Yue Yunqiao and the others immediately gathered around. "Master, how's Sister Bai?"
"She's fine. Don't worry," Master Changling reassured them. "Her cultivation level is a bit unstable right now, and she'll need time to solidify it. You should all leave for now and avoid disturbing her."
Yue Yunqiao and Bai Lian both had many things they wanted to say, but with Master Changling's instructions, they reluctantly departed.
Bai Lian called out, "Second Sister, we're leaving for now. Rest well, and we'll visit you tomorrow."
"Got it, Big Sister," Bai Siyao responded through the door.
Once the room was quiet, Bai Siyao let out a deep breath and leaned weakly against the bed.
She had always known that playing the obedient girl would work with Master Changling. With a disciple like Yue Yunqiao, he couldn't help but be softer toward young girls.
After sitting in a daze for a while, Bai Siyao pushed her emotions aside and focused on her current situation.
Master Changling's arrival had brought her confusion about this small world to a peak.
He was exactly like the Master Changling from her memories, and his cultivation was unquestionably real. But if such a powerful Nascent Soul cultivator existed, why hadn't he intervened earlier in the whole ordeal? And she had devoured her great-uncle's demonic heart, resolving a long-standing emotional burden from her youth. By all logic, she should be able to leave now. So where was the flaw?
As she pondered, a strange sensation came over her, and she froze.
Reaching into her robes, she slowly pulled out a small, ancient-looking mirror.
Though its spiritual light had faded, it was unmistakably the Reincarnation Mirror.
Bai Siyao's expression shifted dramatically.
This wasn't right! There was only one Reincarnation Mirror in existence. Since it was in the outer world, it shouldn't be here!
Her mind raced through the events of the past few days.
The Bai family, just as she remembered it; the lifelike people in the market; her great-uncle, whom she'd never doubted before; the powerless Reincarnation Mirror with no spiritual light!
She understood now.
To move mountains, to defy heaven and fate…
So that's what it meant! This world was real! She had returned to her youth! But had she awakened too late...