When it comes to Tianwaitian, aside from Pei Chen, who currently refuses to meet anyone, Shang Can can actually think of someone who understands Tianwaitian even better.
Although Shang Can has traveled to Tianwaitian for studies twice, she cannot claim to know much about it. With so many mysteries surrounding this place, she should be trying to find that person to inquire, but she never actually thought to put that idea into practice, since that person, whether in terms of identity or character, is not someone who could easily get along with her.
“Really showing your true colors, Shang Can.”
The uninvited Ghost King, Nan Shuang, brazenly sat across from Shang Can, seemingly oblivious to her gloomy expression. In a good mood, she poured a cup of tea for her and said, “You came back and didn’t even tell us. If I hadn’t heard that Yun Zhongjun has a partner and came to see the excitement, I might have really been kept in the dark.”
Not touching the full teacup in front of her, Shang Can rubbed her aching temples, feeling that every time she saw this person, there was never any good news. After hesitating with her words, she finally gave up halfway and asked, “… Has the news about the partner spread among the cultivators?”
“Yes,” Nan Shuang nodded with a smile. “It’s causing quite a stir.”
Although Chu Ming had mentioned that the disciple might not be able to keep this matter under wraps, the news had spread faster than Shang Can expected. She turned to look at Yun Duan, who showed no reaction upon hearing the news, and decided to keep this matter aside for later private discussion. Instead, she focused on resolving the current trouble: “Why are you here? There are probably many cultivators looking for Yun Zhongjun right now. If someone sees the Ghost King entering Yun Zhongjun’s house—”
She stretched out her words slightly, her brows furrowing seriously as she added, “Let me say this first: I will intervene before causing trouble for Duan’er.”
In response to Shang Can’s somewhat dangerous statement, Nan Shuang chuckled and waved her hand nonchalantly. “You’re quite frank. Fine, fine. Anyway, we have no old ties; it’s normal that I can’t compete with your dear partner.”
Her words danced around the nature of their relationship, but she showed no intention of leaving. Shang Can sighed and asked straightforwardly, “What, do you think being the Ghost King is boring?”
“It is quite boring,” Nan Shuang replied cheerfully, seemingly unaware of Shang Can’s intention to dismiss her. “You probably don’t know yet, but the passage between the Ghost Realm and the Cultivation World hasn’t been sealed up yet. Our ghost tribe almost treats the Cultivation World as a second home now, and we’re all thriving. As the Ghost King, I have little to manage—oh, speaking of which, I haven’t thanked you for opening the passage back then.”
Her tone was quite exaggerated, and before Shang Can could react, the quietly seated Yun Duan spoke up, her tone calm. “No need to be modest. While the passage isn’t fully sealed yet, the current ghost tribe’s invasion is far less severe than it was back then. The overall attack feels quite mild; aside from a small number of out-of-control groups, very few innocent civilians are harmed.”
Once Yun Duan finished speaking, Shang Can responded to Nan Shuang, “Back then, I just wanted to retrieve the Dao Heart Lotus Seed that was sealed in the passage’s barrier. I was prepared for the possibility of causing innocent lives to be lost and becoming a sinner throughout history when breaking the barrier—but I must say, I truly didn’t expect you to be a rather rational ghost; I should actually thank you, as you saved me from having many deaths on my conscience.”
Hearing the two of them exchange a few words, Nan Shuang had a strange expression. Ultimately, she just curled her lips and said disinterestedly, “If I had known, I would have let them kill more people; maybe then we could see your beautiful look of guilt and regret.”
Shang Can ignored her and shifted the topic. “It’s been almost three years since I broke the barrier. Putting aside the time Pei Chen served as the acting sect leader, the new acting sect leader has also taken office for a while now. Why hasn’t Tianwaitian sealed the passage yet?”
Nan Shuang snickered, shaking her head a few times. When she spoke again, her voice was full of mockery. “You still can’t figure this out?”
“The method to seal the passage can only be known by Tianwaitian,” Nan Shuang leaned her head on one hand and raised an eyebrow towards Yun Duan. “In the years since the barrier was broken, Tianwaitian’s status in the Cultivation World has risen tremendously. Now even your Qingyu is almost being overshadowed; if it weren’t for the presence of someone like Yun Zhongjun, they might have been pushed even further down.”
“The ghost tribe’s offensive isn’t strong because I selfishly want to stay in the Cultivation World for a while longer, hence the deliberate stalemate. Although I have no such intentions… but perhaps this also suits Tianwaitian’s wishes.”
As she spoke, she slowly lowered her gaze, seemingly bored as she turned her teacup in her hands. “A controlled ghost tribe, a suitably timed crisis, and the most important position in the Cultivation World—how could Tianwaitian easily give up such a favorable state? Don’t genuinely think of them as some high-minded sect that questions Dao without personal motives.”
Not expecting her to speak so mercilessly about the sect she once belonged to, Shang Can was momentarily stunned. After a beat, she replied, “… Are you saying Tianwaitian is doing this on purpose? But…”
Seeing that she hesitated for quite a while and didn’t continue with her sentence, Nan Shuang let out a huff, sighing, “The once fearsome Shang Can truly has a good and upright heart. You don’t really think everyone in the world is like you, do you?”
“At this point, I don’t remember much about those things in Tianwaitian, but what I do remember feels like speaking ill of the sect.” She frowned slightly, a rare heavy expression appearing on her face. “Although I know you must have a bad impression of me, I have to say I don’t consider myself much like a Tianwaitian cultivator; after all, I live quite selfishly—simply put, if you were to pick from Tianwaitian, I’d probably be the side you’d prefer. Ah, come to think of it, if we were in Tianwaitian, we’d be considered a mutual attraction, right?”
Almost dropping her teacup in shock at Nan Shuang’s outrageous statements, Shang Can gasped, realizing that Nan Shuang seemed to be quite serious. She found herself at a loss for how to respond. She instinctively looked at Yun Duan, only to find her partner’s expression had turned serious, her icy gaze quietly fixed on Nan Shuang as she coldly said, “What do you mean by that?”
As Yun Duan’s expression cooled, Nan Shuang perked up, narrowing her eyes with interest and saying with a smile, “Don’t be angry, Yun Zhongjun. I’m just speaking objectively. After all, based on the way Tianwaitian cultivates its disciples, Shang Can probably wouldn’t like it.”
“What Tianwaitian wants are those fanatical disciples who put the sect first in their hearts.” Nan Shuang looked at Shang Can, who still seemed unsettled, and conversed warmly, “You see, haven’t you already met a typical example? But the way that person has become a half-ghost is quite interesting; perhaps having been bound by that layer for too long when alive, they dare to reveal their selfishness only after dying.”
She emphasized the word “selfishness” with a peculiar tone, her gaze lingering on Shang Can’s face. Shang Can felt a surge of irritation rising within her, almost igniting her anger. She knocked on the table unceremoniously, and Nan Shuang decided to cut it short, saying softly, “You might not know this, but that Qinglian Lake in Tianwaitian, which is also the medium for asking about one’s heart, has a different arrangement from all the mediums in the Cultivation World.”
“I can’t explain why, but when you ask about your heart there, it feels as if you’re being turned inside out and examined thoroughly.”
Nan Shuang frowned in disgust and uttered a familiar phrase: “After a few times, those with slightly weaker wills might even have their selfishness washed away, saying ‘Everything is for Tianwaitian’—I’ve seen quite a few who only say that.”
A displeasing memory of Qin Yi from years ago resurfaced in Shang Can’s mind, making her feel somewhat annoyed. She interjected, “Aren’t you like that, then?”
“Of course not.” Nan Shuang raised her voice as if offended. “Besides the fact that I never liked staying in Tianwaitian, haven’t you seen what kind of person I am since you met me?”
Shang Can thought for a moment and replied expressionlessly, “You’re someone full of selfishness.”
Nan Shuang chuckled and nodded cheerfully, “I like that description.”
Then began Nan Shuang’s idle chatter about past trivial matters. Shang Can listened silently, feeling that even though she hadn’t directly asked Nan Shuang about her doubts regarding Tianwaitian, the latter had revealed a lot of information on her own. But before long, Nan Shuang’s topic shifted back to teasing their relationship, looking at them with a sly grin, “How’s the newlywed life?”
Not wanting to engage with someone who clearly used such wording to provoke a reaction, Shang Can was thinking about how to change the topic when Yun Duan suddenly countered with a question, “Where’s Yuan Ge? Why didn’t she come with you today?”
Nan Shuang paused, raising an eyebrow thoughtfully at Yun Duan with an intriguing smile. “I thought Yun Zhongjun wouldn’t care about such matters.”
However, Shang Can quickly caught on to Yun Duan’s implied meaning and furrowed her brows tightly, asking, “… Did she have something come up, or did you just not bring her?”
The person in front of her had a history, and after a moment of confusion, she realized it and chuckled. “You think I abandoned her?”
“…” Seeing her reaction didn’t seem to indicate that was the case, Shang Can felt slightly relieved and slowly said, “You’ve done that before.”
The notoriously troublesome Nan Shuang seemed unfazed and explained with an air of being wronged, “It’s not my fault. She hasn’t been around these past two days. I heard there’s some confidential matter the Flower Demon Clan needs to discuss… Your friend, the Demon Lord, should be there too. Just ask around, and you’ll find out.”
Shang Can and Yun Duan exchanged glances, both appearing relieved. Wan Shao had indeed been gone for several days, but she hadn’t told Shang Can where she was going. Shang Can only knew that when Wan Shao left, she had a serious and strange expression. When questioned, she hesitated and finally sighed, saying, “I received a rather bizarre message. It seems too unbelievable; let me confirm it first before I tell you.”
Thus, Shang Can didn’t press further at the time, thinking it might be related to the issues between the Bi Luo and Huang Quan. Now, learning it was about matters within the Flower Demon Clan was indeed curious, and she couldn’t help but wonder what had happened.
Although she was concerned about this, hearing that Yuan Ge hadn’t been bullied was reassuring. Shang Can liked Yuan Ge and didn’t want to see the bright and lively Flower Demon fall into the same fate as Pei Chen. Nan Shuang clearly sensed her thoughts and, instead of complaining, smiled and said, “Rather than worrying about me betraying her, it’s more certain that you should be concerned about when I might fulfill my obsession and reincarnate.”
With her saying that, Shang Can became curious and asked, “So what was your obsession that led you to become a member of the Ghost Clan?”
“I don’t know.” To her surprise, Nan Shuang shook her head vigorously, then stared at Shang Can for a while, slowly continuing, “When I first became part of the Ghost Clan, I thought my obsession was to see your Tian Huo once more.”
“But after that battle in the Ghost Realm, I still couldn’t see the end of the Wangchuan River. Then I lost track of what I was actually clinging to.”
She smiled as she spoke, showing no hint of concern or confusion over her lack of knowledge regarding her obsession. For a moment, she resembled the carefree Nan Shuang Shang Can had first met, though a sense of inexplicable peace gradually surfaced on her face. When she spoke again, her tone was very relaxed, as if making a joke: “Maybe I just want to be with Yuan Ge for life, who knows?”
Her departure was sudden and decisive. Nan Shuang turned to look at Shang Can, who had perfunctorily seen her off a few steps to the door, and then glanced at Yun Duan, who hadn’t followed but had been watching them intently. She couldn’t help but smile slightly and abruptly asked, “Is there something about Tianwaitian that you care about?”
Seeing Shang Can show some surprise, Nan Shuang chuckled and said, “I noticed you were particularly attentive when I was talking about Tianwaitian today, so I guessed you had some thoughts on it.”
“If you ask me, that place is very treacherous; it’s better to steer clear of it,” Nan Shuang paused, uncharacteristically serious, her tone darkening significantly. “…But I see you can’t avoid it.”
She glanced around casually, then softly continued, “How long do you think it will be until the cultivators find out your identity?”
“The news that Yun Zhongjun lives here hasn’t spread yet, but you didn’t conceal it when you returned. It’s only a matter of time before someone notices,” Nan Shuang tapped the heavy courtyard door. “There’s no wall that doesn’t let the wind through. Your Dao companion, with the flawless immortal body, is already a subject of attention. You are a notably famous person; this door won’t stop those cultivators eager to dig deep. Once your identity is discovered, Tianwaitian will likely be the first to come looking for trouble.”
It was rare for her to worry about something. However, the person opposite her didn’t respond for a long time, leading Nan Shuang to think that Shang Can might not realize the seriousness of the situation. Just as she was about to seize the opportunity to adopt the rare role of a concerned elder, she finally heard Shang Can speak slowly.
“It sounds as if no one would come looking for trouble if my identity didn’t get exposed,” Shang Can said lightly, a hint of defiance glimmering in her clear eyes. “As for Tianwaitian… who knows who will find trouble with whom first?”
“I’ve thought a lot about this recently. I realized I don’t want to live my life disguised under a false identity, nor do I want to burden myself with a life of hiding my true self. No matter how much it feels like a fantastical dream, I just want to be open about my love for Duan’er. I want to tell everyone that Shang Can and Yun Duan love each other and will never be separated.”
“If the world is disinterested in my identity, then that would be fortunate.”
“But, since my past is laid bare and it’s an unchangeable fact… well, even if the sky were to fall, Duan’er is already my Dao companion,” Shang Can lowered her gaze, speaking with a complex smile, “Since I’m already such a fortunate person, wanting to be even luckier… shouldn’t attract divine punishment.”
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