The thick fog gradually dispersed, and a few of the cultivators who had been lost in various illusions began to wake up sporadically, most of them looking dazed, still trapped in the visions they had just experienced.
After being roused, Ye Ye's first action was to search for Baili Changyue. He finally found her asleep under a tree, with Baili Gelin crouched beside her. He hurried over and asked, "Why haven't you woken her up?"
Baili Gelin's face was deathly pale, and she remained silent, taking a fearful step back.
Ye Ye stared at her in astonishment, noticing how ashen her complexion was. His confusion deepened as he looked down at Changyue. Though her eyes were closed, her face was filled with an expression of utter sorrow, with two thin streams of tears flowing steadily down her lashes.
Shocked and heartbroken, he gently pulled Baili Changyue into a tight embrace. What had she experienced in the illusion? Why was she crying? Changyue had always been strong-willed and self-reliant. Even during their childhood, when the three of them were wandering and being hunted down, covered in blood and on the brink of death, she had never shed a tear.
Baili Gelin felt her entire body trembling. The moment she saw Changyue's expression and tears, she had been too terrified to wake her.
What had her sister seen in the illusion? Had she finally discovered her secret? The thing she feared most wasn't Ye Ye's indifference—it was her sister finally learning the truth. If Changyue became wary, guarded, or even despised her because of it, or worse, if she decided to give up Ye Ye for her sake, she would rather never have been born.
As she watched Ye Ye gently wake her sister, she couldn't bring herself to approach them. Instead, she retreated several steps in panic, only to bump into someone unexpectedly. She jumped like a startled bird.
Lu Li caught her, but quickly released her. Following her gaze, he saw Ye Ye standing hand in hand with another girl who bore a striking resemblance to Ge Lin. His heart skipped a beat—wasn't that man Baili Gelin's lover?
Suddenly, Baili Gelin threw herself into his arms. His shock turned to utter disbelief as she trembled violently against him, pleading in a voice filled with desperate humility, "Hold me, please, just hold me!"
Lu Li found the situation utterly absurd. What was she doing? Using him as a shield? Anger surged within him, and he wanted to push her away forcefully, but the front of his robe was already soaked with her tears. His expression darkened as he looked down at her hair, torn between fury, resentment, and an inexplicable flicker of joy.
Slowly, he opened his arms and sheltered her within his embrace.
Why had he been given such a triumphant, flawless dream? Nothing had even begun here, yet he had already lost completely.
"Ye Ye, Changyue!"
Li Fei had been searching for a long time before finally spotting them. She paused in surprise upon seeing Lu Li holding Ge Lin tightly. Carefully avoiding them, she approached Ye Ye and the others. Ye Ye was embracing Baili Changyue, the two whispering softly to each other.
Li Fei stopped a short distance away. Ye Ye soon noticed her and waved. She walked over with a smile, and Ye Ye chuckled, "This fool still hasn't found a team and has been wandering around alone for ages. If it weren't for that Ferocious beast appearing suddenly, we might not have met until the trial ended."Li Fei noticed Baili Changyue's eyes were slightly red, likely having experienced something unpleasant in the illusion as well. Just as she was about to speak, Changyue asked, "Where's Ge Lin?"
She immediately felt at a loss, unsure how to respond. Baili Changyue had already heard faint sobbing and spotted Lu Li and Ge Lin embracing tightly not far away. She looked startled, but more than that, pensive.
Suddenly, the sound of rushing wind came from above as Lei Xiuyuan descended on a cloud from somewhere, saying quietly, "The others are starting to wake up. We should withdraw now. Lingering too long may invite unforeseen trouble."
Ye Ye helped Baili Changyue to her feet, noticing the strange expressions on everyone's faces. Ji Tongzhou's eyes were bloodshot, Lu Li held Ge Lin with a deep frown, Li Fei gazed into the distance without a word, and Lei Xiuyuan remained expressionless, his gaze dark and brooding. Though puzzled, Ye Ye refrained from asking and pretended not to notice.
At this moment, no one was in the mood to think about the sudden disappearance of the Mirage Dragon. Each was lost in the illusions they had just experienced. Even after flying out of the inner sea and returning to the small islands of the outer circle, not a single person spoke. Night had fallen, and the sky was filled with countless stars—as numerous as the thoughts weighing on their hearts.
Ye Ye, finding the atmosphere unbearably heavy, forced a smile and said, "It was just an illusion, all fake. Why dwell on it?"
In his illusion, he had not only restored Gaul Country and destroyed Long Mingzuo but also become a renowned Celestial hero, spending his life hand in hand with Changyue. These were the deepest desires he usually kept buried in his heart. In the illusion, everything he wished for had come true—only to be shattered before his eyes, leaving him in agony. Waking up to realize it was all a dream brought him a strange sense of relief.
The words "all fake" struck the others like a heavy stone. Lu Li and Ji Tongzhou's expressions darkened.
Baili Gelin still leaned against Lu Li when he suddenly pushed her away, avoiding her startled gaze as he muttered, "...Enough already?"
Ge Lin managed a weak smile. "Senior Brother Lu, I'm sorry. And... thank you."
Sorry? Thank you? Lu Li almost wanted to laugh bitterly. Why apologize now?
Her willfulness wasn't the frivolous, indulgent kind, nor was it the pitiful pleading of weakness. It was the way she came and went as she pleased, leaving others in disarray before tossing out a careless "sorry" and walking away as if they'd never met.
Perhaps he couldn't blame her—only himself. He had willingly fallen into the illusion, losing himself in a mirage of the past. All the suffering and torment were his own doing.
Lu Li turned abruptly, feeling he couldn't stay any longer. If he didn't leave now, he might truly lose his mind.
Baili Gelin watched his retreating figure in silence before letting out a long, quiet sigh.
"Ge Lin." Baili Changyue suddenly called her name calmly from behind.
Ge Lin flinched, taking a moment before slowly turning around. She forced a smile. "Sis, what is it?"
Baili Changyue looked at her quietly. "Come with me. There's something I want to say."
Perhaps what was coming had always been inevitable. Baili Gelin took a deep breath, feeling a profound sorrow—yet this sorrow strangely steadied her. She turned back with a faint smile. "What is it?"
Then she warmly linked arms with Changyue.Baili Changyue pulled her to a secluded spot on the beach, holding her by the shoulders as they both sat on the rocks by the shore. For a long, long time, Changyue said nothing, the only sounds around them the gentle whispers of the sea breeze and the lapping waves.
"Ge Lin," Changyue suddenly spoke softly, a hint of amusement in her voice. "Since we were little, you've always clung tightly to the things you liked, making it so obvious. You used to pester Ye Ye all the time, then suddenly left. I should have noticed it sooner."
Baili Gelin laughed heartily. "Sis, what are you talking about? If Brother Lu hears this, he’ll be furious! What could there possibly be between me and Ye Ye?"
Baili Changyue shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "Earlier, in the illusion, nothing much happened—it just replayed my life as it is now. But I felt like something was missing. I’ve always been so focused on myself, as if I’ve overlooked something. Then, I saw you crying alone—not for me, but for Ye Ye. And suddenly, I understood."
Gelin was still laughing. "Stop talking nonsense, okay, sis?"
Changyue murmured, "Your heartbeat just sped up. You’re nervous. I hit the mark, didn’t I?"
Baili Gelin gave a bitter smile. She could no longer hide it. How would she be treated now? Would she be completely cast out of this family?
"Sis," she said softly, "you may seem clever, but you’re actually quite oblivious. You always push forward with sheer stubbornness. When we were kids, you protected me from bullies, but more often than not, it was me taking care of you. I used to worry that Ye Ye wouldn’t look after you well enough, but I needn’t have. He’s done a far better job than I ever did. You don’t need me to take care of you anymore."
The next moment, she was suddenly pulled into a tight embrace by Changyue, whose voice trembled with suppressed sobs. "I’m sorry, Ge Lin. I’ve been such a failure as your sister. I’ve always been wrapped up in my own affairs, always thinking you were still a child. It took me until now to realize. It’s my fault you had to come all the way to the Eastern Sea alone and suffer so much."
A long-lost warmth slowly rose in Baili Gelin’s heart. "It’s nice here," she said gently. "I’ve always loved seeing new sights, and there are so many fascinating places in the Eastern Sea. In fact, I think it’s better than the Central Land."
Changyue held her tightly, her large teardrops dampening the roses in Gelin’s braid. Gelin wrapped an arm around her sister’s shoulders, gently stroking her back. "Sis, don’t worry. I stopped liking Ye Ye a long time ago. I’ve got someone else I like now. Who even remembers those childhood things?"
Changyue closed her eyes and shook her head. After a long pause, she said, "Ge Lin, I’m your sister. Lying to me is pointless. Liking him isn’t a crime—it wasn’t worth you leaving so far behind."
Gelin’s nose stung with unshed tears. She chuckled softly. "So... do you still want me?"
Changyue thumped her lightly on the head. "What kind of question is that? We’ll always be sisters. No matter where we are, you’ll miss me, and I’ll miss you. Nothing can ever change that—not even Ye Ye."
Gelin’s vision blurred. She tried to laugh, but tears spilled over instead. The familiar scent of her sister enveloped her, the same fragrance that had protected and comforted her since childhood. Even after their family was torn apart, it was because of her sister that she could still smile. This scent—she would never forget it, not even in death.This was her home, and she would always belong here. No words could have made her happier. The knot in her heart that had lingered for years suddenly dissolved, and she could only cling to Chang Yue and cry endlessly, losing track of how long she wept until her voice grew hoarse.
Baili Changyue wiped away her tears, cupped her face, and gave a rare playful smile. "Your eyes are all swollen from crying, silly girl. That fool isn’t worth it—Ye Ye is actually quite stupid."
Baili Gelin let out a choked laugh, her voice raspy but carrying a hint of a whine. "Who said I was crying for him? I’m just too happy."
"After six years of joining the sect, we’ll be free to leave whenever we want." Baili Changyue smoothed her disheveled hair and pinned it up. "I’ll come visit you often from now on."
Baili Gelin nestled against her shoulder and nodded firmly.
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