"I am not your mother."
After Yino’s shocking question, Changli first wiped the tea from the corner of her lips, took a deep breath, and then spoke with a serious expression.
In those few seconds of awkward silence, Changli had actually considered a lot.
Her position was complicated.
She knew Yino was a special existence from outside of destiny, so from the bottom of her heart, she wanted to help him.
However, before answering, she had to consider the position of her other self on the other tiline.
That’s right.
As soon as Changli observed Yino’s Remnant Immortal cultivation, she had grown deeply suspicious of this entire world.
There were two suspicious points.
First, Yino did not belong to this tiline.
Second, the history of the Divine Abyss Gate and the Liuli Sect had already been changed by Yino.
Factoring in the identity of the girl nad Ruoning beside him, Changli easily deduced that they both ca from the world one hundred years in the future, because Ruoning was the fated heroine of the Liuli Sect who would also only be born a hundred years later.
Following the clue of Ruoning and Yino’s current age, Changli could boldly guess that they were currently inside so Illusion Realm.
With this, both suspicious points were explained.
Taking it a step further, this world’s Changli was likely just a remnant image from the Illusion Realm.
Thinking of this, Changli couldn’t help but find it slightly amusing.
She had always been one of the few beings in this world who could grasp the future.
Over the years, Changli had already used the Art of Heavenly Divination to simulate billions of future tilines in her mind.
So, even though this Changli was just a remnant image, and her mory was reverted to a hundred years prior, she already knew all the people and events of the future by heart.
This had beco a bug in the Illusion Realm.
After clarifying this, Changli had to reconsider her relationship with Yino.
She knew Yino’s fate in those billions of cycles, because of his mother, he was fated to be a useless young master, his innate talent undeveloped and his bloodline sealed. He would beco debauched, rebellious, and vile, ultimately dying at the hands of a heroine or protagonist from the Wuji Sect.
Correct. That was the Yino from her mories.
But the problem was, this Yino who had traversed from the future was completely different from the one in the billions of tilines she had simulated.
This was Changli’s information gap.
Conversely, Yino also had a significant information gap about her.
For example... he was clearly familiar with the Dragon Palace garden, and his eyes showed a deep connection to the real-world Changli, yet strangely, Yino didn’t even know his own origin.
His gaze... he truly suspected she might be his mother.
After resolving Yino’s question, Changli leaned forward, bringing her face closer.
Yino sat up straight. Changli stared at him for a mont, then spoke aningfully, "Yino, in the real world, what kind of relationship did you and I develop?"
This ti, it was Yino’s turn to be on pins and needles.
He really wanted to say...
In the real world, forget coming to the Dragon Palace, he’d never even seen Changli in person!
The only reason he knew this pavilion was from playing the ga.
But now Changli was convinced they had a deep relationship. He couldn’t just tell her the truth, could he?
"Um... let think, it’s a bit complicated..." Yino covered his face, slumping on the table with a constipated look. Being stared at by Changli made his face burn.
This embarrassed expression was acting to stall for ti.
But this blushing expression, which didn’t look like an act, only confused the beauty across the table more.
"Complicated?"
"It’s... it’s like this. First, I have a good relationship with my auntie... Then, I beca friends with a girl nad Nina... and... and then, Jiang Nina brought to see you, National Advisor." Yino tried to smooth things over based on his storyline.
But as Changli listened, her thoughtful expression began to crack.
"You... beca friends with Nina?"
"Yes, that’s right." Yino pursed his lips and nodded seriously.
Changli’s eyebrow twitched, her gaze growing more suspicious. She opened her moist red lips, as if to say sothing, but in the end, she just pressed them together and nodded.
"So, I recruited you?"
"Exactly."
"You’re Nina’s friend. No wonder you’re familiar with this place." Changli sighed, leaning back in her chair, relieved.
This ti, Yino sat up again and asked tentatively, "I have one more private question."
"Hmm..."
Just hearing the word private, Changli felt inexplicably tense. She clenched her legs together under her dress, her brows knitting. "Go on."
"I want to know, who is my mother?"
This ti, Changli was prepared. She wasn’t drinking, so she wouldn’t choke.
"Sorry, no comnt."
"Then let ask a different question. Setting aside your official title, how should I address you?"
"Stop imagining things. You and I do not share a single drop of blood." Changli took a sip of tea, set the cup down, and shook her head with a small laugh.
"Is that so..."
Hearing this, the tension in Yino’s brow suddenly relaxed. He let out a silent sigh, his eyes flashing with a hint of disappointnt.
But this, too, was seen by Changli.
"What, are you disappointed you’re not related to ?"
"A little..."
"No need to be discouraged. I shouldn’t ddle in your mother’s affairs. When you return to the real world and the ti is right, the real will tell you the answer."
Seeing the boy pouting unhappily, Changli smiled, her eyes inadvertently revealing a gentle and doting affection.
The truth was, in her billions of simulations, she had never truly cared about Yino.
He was a stillborn.
His very existence was a mistake.
So, after billions of cycles, Changli had long grown numb to Yino’s death.
She had tried to save him, but it was useless. After a while, she stopped caring, she had more important things to do than waste her divination cycles on a useless pawn destined to die.
However... that didn’t an Changli felt no pity for this poor child.
His mother, Ilya, had been Changli’s most prized disciple. Now, her disciple’s little cub had unexpectedly broken free from destiny and cultivated to this point. How could she, who was old enough to be his grand-master, not have a soft spot for him?
So... Changli figured her real self must have a good reason for not telling Yino the truth.
"Alright, the Illusion Realm is beginning to collapse."
"Let’s end the topic of your origins here."
"Next, do you have any questions about the Illusion Realm itself?"
"For example... aren’t you curious about what really happened to the Liuli Sect at this point in history?"
"Or perhaps... do you want to know the secret to clearing this illusion, and how many treasures and secrets are hidden in the Liuli Divine Palace at the end?"
At this, Changli couldn’t help but smile proudly.
She couldn’t tell him the big secrets, but when it ca to her disciple’s son, she was more than happy to help him out.
Forget strategy guides. If she could, Changli wouldn’t mind opening the Dragon Palace treasury and letting Yino pick a few top-tier items to go beat Jing Chen.
"No guide necessary. I’ve already looted this illusion, and I can handle the final Jing Chen remnant shadow with one hand."
"As for the truth of history, Dia already gave the spoilers. She asked you, National Advisor, to end her life... I know you were following orders and would never kill an innocent person otherwise." Yino waved his hand, casually discussing the plot while unintentionally flashing the seven-colored diamond ring on his sleeve at Changli.
Instantly, Changli’s smile froze.
She nodded silently, thinking to herself that this little cub really had guts. Even his casual confidence was just like his mother’s arrogant pride...
"National Advisor, can I confirm one last ti... Xinyao and I don’t have any blood relationship, right?"
"No, you don’t..." Changli nodded instinctively.
But a mont later, she realized. Her eyes widened. "Wait, why don’t you look disappointed this ti?"
"Ah... I’m not? That’s... really sad..." Yino pouted, starting to act.
Changli’s expression grew even stranger.
She wanted to know more, but rembering she was just a remnant image, she swallowed her questions.
Crack!
A small piece of the night sky shattered like glass.
Changli looked up, knowing the illusion was about to collapse.
Yino knew it too. They both understood the illusion’s structure, so they fell into a mutual silence.
Yet, the real mysteries they wanted to ask... neither could answer truthfully.
"It seems we must part here."
As more of the sky shattered, Changli poured one last cup of tea and raised it to the young man.
Ti ticked by.
But as they sat, drinking, the air was exceptionally quiet.
Gradually... the shattering wasn’t just the sky, but the lake, and even the beauty across the table.
Yino watched her, so many questions in his heart, but now... nothing to say.
"Actually..."
Changli’s body was half-gone. But at the last mont, she bit her lip, and spoke.
"When you go back, you don’t need to look at with such fear."
"I don’t know what the real did to you..."
"But even without a blood relation, I’m not as strict or harsh as you imagine."
"At least... not to you."
"When you get out, you can co to the Dragon Palace more often. Be a little thicker-skinned. Just kneel and ask to be your master... Don’t be afraid of annoying ..."
"Maybe... that aloof of that ti, all alone in a foreign land... maybe she’s a little lonely deep down?"
.....
....
"National Advisor, why are you suddenly so tense? Are you worried about sothing?"
On Jinglan Peak, Chaerin asked curiously.
Changli snapped out of her thoughts. She followed Chaerin’s gaze and noticed her fingers were gripping her teacup so hard they were trembling.
At this, Changli waved her hand dismissively. "Staring at the heavens for too long... one naturally feels... unsettled."
"Are you still worried about Yino’s safety?"
"Everything is under control, why worry?" Changli raised her eyebrow, her expression still unconcerned.
"Truly not worried?" Chaerin probed.
"Hah... Nina already gave him a jade talisman. If he’s truly trapped, I can shatter the void of that illusion with a single strike."
Saying this, Changli seed to be reassuring herself. She huffed, nodded, and took a breath.
But Chaerin saw it all. She glanced at the two other won (the white-robed beauty and the Spirit Kite girl) who had gathered in the courtyard to wait with Changli.
"It seems quite a few girls are worried about Yino..." Chaerin smiled. She seed to have no doubt about who would erge victorious.
.....
"So... I should just shalessly go to the Dragon Palace and hug Changli’s thigh and beg her to be my master?"
In front of the final gate of the Liuli Divine Palace, Yino replayed the illusion-Changli’s aningful words.
It was a strange feeling, like a rebellious runaway kid suddenly hearing a heartfelt speech from his parents.
But what made Yino feel guilty was that he had lied to the illusion. He’d never t the real Changli!
"Anyway, it’s a good idea to boost my courage."
"She gave the advice herself. How could she trick ?"
"Who understands how to raise Changli’s affection score better than Changli herself?"
"This is... this is the gospel!"
"I have to write this down in my little notebook."
Yino took out his notebook and copied down Changli’s words.
After that, he summoned his allies, one butterfly girl and two fox girls.
With everyone assembled, the final gate of the Liuli Divine Palace finally opened.
"AHAHAHAHA.... HE YINO!!!"
"You actually broke destiny! I respect you as a warrior!"
"But this Illusion Realm was created by my soul and Dia’s!"
"Here, I am the one true king who controls the laws of all things!"
"No matter how talented you are, you will die today!"
On the throne, the black remnant shadow wiped his longsword, clad in demonic armor ford from the Demon Abyss, he had been waiting for this final battle.
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