Chapter 1307: Choice

Jiao San looked at the Reincarnation Palace Master, knowing that he was her father, and a myriad of emotions surged within her.

Only now were all the many confusions she had harbored over the years finally resolved. She understood why she had been able to receive the Palace Master's devoted guidance, why she had been granted abundant resources from the Reincarnation Palace, and why she had been able to cultivate smoothly, step by step, reaching where she was today without any major mishaps.

It turned out that she had never been an orphan without parents; she had a place of birth and a place to return to. Her father's love had always accompanied her growth.

At this thought, Jiao San's eyes reddened, and tears wet her cheeks.

Seeing this, Han Li was also slightly moved.

Even though his own daughter was right by his side, he could not acknowledge her. Ten or eight years might not mean much, but over thousands and tens of thousands of years, what kind of indescribable pain must that be?

“It is the same for you and Rushuang. I dared not have too much contact, for fear that Gu Huo Jin or Chen Tuan would find clues, which would instead harm you,” the Reincarnation Palace Master sighed and said to Han Li.

“Then why have you revealed all this now and forcibly stuffed Rushuang’s memories into Wan’er’s sea of consciousness?” Han Li had already believed what the Reincarnation Palace Master said, but he still could not help asking.

“Times have changed… I no longer need to hide. I believe that from this attack, you have also seen my strength. Once the hidden dangers within the Reincarnation Palace are eliminated, it will be time for me to take revenge on Gu Huo Jin. I imagine that with your nature of never lifting a finger without profit, you will only make up your mind after seeing the means of my Reincarnation Palace,” the Reincarnation Palace Master said, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

“Heh, a fine ‘joint campaign against the common enemy, a sincere invitation’… but you should not have involved Wan’er!” Han Li’s eyes were filled with undisguised anger as he sneered coldly.

Hearing this, the Reincarnation Palace Master suddenly frowned and could not help but retort angrily:

“She is my lawful wife, the mother of Jiuzhen… When I slay Gu Huo Jin and exterminate the Heavenly Court, I want her to witness it with her own eyes. I want her to know that the sacrifices back then were not in vain, that I have not let her down!”

“She is Nangong Wan, not Gan Rushuang. She is the one and only Nangong Wan,” Han Li said, glaring at him, word by word.

“What right do you have to contend with me? Throughout these endless years, my heart has held only Gan Rushuang, never forgetting her for a single moment. And you? Since you already have Zi Ling by your side, what does Nangong Wan mean to you as ‘the one and only’?” the Reincarnation Palace Master rebuked coldly.

Han Li’s face showed bitterness, and he had nothing to say.

Seeing this, the Reincarnation Palace Master’s expression eased slightly, and he said:

“For now, she only has additional memories of Rushuang; Nangong Wan’s memories remain. After she witnesses my defeat of Gu Huo Jin with her own eyes, I can retrieve the memories of Rushuang from her.”

“With the memories of two lifetimes weighing on her, what kind of pain must she be enduring? Whether to choose to be Gan Rushuang or to return to being Nangong Wan should not be decided by you, nor by me, but only by herself,” Han Li said slowly after hearing this.

“Then so be it. The divination of the Bu Tian Sect is no small matter. You and I, born at two different times, have interfered with the heavenly mechanism. You may have stolen a temporary chance at life, but once you advance to the peak of the Da Luo stage, you can no longer hide. Once Gu Huo Jin sets his sights on you, he will surely not tolerate you. Whether you choose to live in cowardly peace or join me to reverse the course of fate, you must decide for yourself,” the Reincarnation Palace Master nodded and said.

“With my current strength, it is difficult for me to participate in the struggle between you and the Time Dao Ancestor. I might fall before I even reach the peak of Da Luo,” Han Li said after a long silence.

Seeing this, Jiao San opened her mouth as if to persuade Han Li, but the Reincarnation Palace Master reached out and stopped her.

“Although our experiences differ, the hardships along the way are no different, and even our temperaments are largely the same. On the day my little sister married, I once returned to the village, but I did not show myself. At that time, I thought I had completely severed all ties with past worldly affairs and karmic bonds, and from then on, I would be a cultivator solely devoted to the Dao,” the Reincarnation Palace Master said slowly.

Listening to his words, Han Li’s gaze grew somewhat dazed. He too had once returned to the mountain village and witnessed his little sister stepping into the bridal sedan. At that moment, he had shared the same state of mind as the ‘Han Li’ before him, the same unwavering resolve to pursue the Dao.

As he thought, the Reincarnation Palace Master’s face suddenly became somewhat blurred.

They were originally supposed to be the same person, yet due to the laws of time and traversal, they seemed to have become two different people. But something in the unseen had guided him to still arrive in the True Immortal Realm and cultivate the laws of time.

For a moment, Han Li did not know how to view their relationship.

“I know it is hard for you to accept my existence all at once, but after all, I have walked through this life of yours. I know what kind of future awaits you. Although my existence may introduce many variables into your future, you also know what happened to Mi Luo. Back then, I urged him to join the Reincarnation Palace, but he stubbornly believed that hiding in a corner would bring safety… In other words, helping me is helping yourself,” the Reincarnation Palace Master said.

“Some things… I need to figure out on my own,” Han Li said after a long silence, his mind somewhat troubled.

“In that case, I will say no more. Let us see what Rushuang chooses when she awakens. If she is willing to go with you, I will not force her. But as you are now, are you capable of protecting her?” the Reincarnation Palace Master said.

“There is no need to wait. Now that Wan’er has been implicated because of you, even if I keep her by my side, I am afraid I cannot protect her. She… might be safer by your side,” Han Li shook his head and said.

“Very well,” the Reincarnation Palace Master said after a moment’s hesitation.

Han Li took a deep look at Nangong Wan in Jiao San’s arms. Seeing that her brows were still furrowed, a trace of reluctance flashed in his eyes. Then he turned and walked toward the hall’s exit.

“Didn’t you all come here to use the Six Paths Reincarnation Disk? Why not use it before leaving?” the Reincarnation Palace Master said.

Hearing this, Han Li stopped in his tracks and turned back.

“Jiuzhen, take your mother away first,” the Reincarnation Palace Master glanced at Jiao San and said.

“Yes, Father.” With a complex expression, Jiao San looked at the Palace Master, then at Han Li. She picked up Nangong Wan and turned to walk into the inner hall, leaving.

A barely noticeable hint of joy flashed in the Reincarnation Palace Master’s eyes, but it quickly vanished. With a wave of his hand, the dark red domain was withdrawn.

“Bring them in,” he said.

Han Li said nothing and sent a voice transmission to Ti Hun and Zi Ling.

By the time Zi Ling and the others appeared in the great hall, the ‘Han Li’ who transcended time and reincarnation had already donned his bamboo hat again, concealing all his aura, once more becoming the enigmatic Reincarnation Palace Master whom no one could recognize.

“Let’s go,” the Reincarnation Palace Master said indifferently, turning and walking toward the back hall.

Han Li nodded to the others but did not explain what had happened in the hall, only signaling them to follow.

Seeing that Han Li’s expression was somewhat grave, Zi Ling felt a bit worried. She stepped closer and followed behind him. Ti Hun also sensed something amiss but asked nothing.

Jin Tong called out “Uncle,” but when Han Li did not reply, a flicker of doubt passed through his eyes, and he followed as well.

Shi Chuankong, on the other hand, gazed deeply at the Reincarnation Palace Master’s back, feeling a sense of familiarity but unable to recall where he had seen him.

The group followed the Reincarnation Palace Master down a secret passage from the back hall, arriving at the open underground space.

At the center of the stone platform, they saw the enormous Reincarnation Disk suspended in mid-air and the dark red pool below.

“The Six Paths Reincarnation Disk is a secret treasure involving the laws of reincarnation. Using it not only consumes the laws of reincarnation but is also tied to the user’s fate. Not everyone can benefit from it. If one becomes immersed in it and entangled with past lives, they may even be burdened by reincarnation, causing their cultivation to regress instead of advance. Whether to use it or not, you must consider carefully yourselves,” the Reincarnation Palace Master said.

Hearing this, Zi Ling and the others frowned, hesitation flashing across their faces. Jin Tong, however, looked overjoyed.

“Past events are all in the past. I do not wish to be burdened by them. I will not use the Six Paths Reincarnation Disk,” Ti Hun suddenly stepped forward and spoke first.

Jin Tong and the others showed surprise.

The Reincarnation Palace Master looked silently at Ti Hun, a glint of approval flashing in his eyes behind the black veil.

“Thank you for your trouble, Palace Master,” Zi Ling said after a brief hesitation, her expression returning to normal as she stepped forward.

The Reincarnation Palace Master raised no objection, merely pointing to the pool beneath the Reincarnation Disk and saying indifferently, “Go in.”

Zi Ling walked to the edge of the pool, took a deep breath, lifted her skirt, and slowly stepped in.

The pool water was unexpectedly not very cold, and soon it reached her chest.

Zi Ling felt a blur before her eyes, and her consciousness gradually grew hazy. Then she fell asleep, her body tilting backward and floating on the surface of the pool.

The Reincarnation Palace Master clasped his hands before him, chanted an incantation, and pointed a finger at the Six Paths Reincarnation Disk from afar. A vast wave of reincarnation power spread out.

The Six Paths Reincarnation Disk whirred and spun, emitting a red beam of light that enveloped Zi Ling.

Then, Zi Ling’s body slowly sank into the pool.

…

After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, a series of dense bubbles suddenly rose from the pool. Zi Ling, who had been sleeping, abruptly woke up, burst out from beneath the water, and landed not far from the Six Paths Reincarnation Disk.

Soaked through, she stood still, her beautiful eyes unfocused, her pupils slightly contracted. She seemed to be staring at the ground, but her mind was clearly elsewhere.

Han Li flashed behind her, raised a hand, and gently pressed it on her shoulder.

“Zi Ling,” he called softly.

Zi Ling’s delicate body trembled slightly. She slowly raised her head to look at Han Li, as if seeing him for the first time. After carefully studying his face for a moment, her pupils gradually regained their focus.

“Han Li…”

After calling softly, she suddenly opened her arms and hugged Han Li, burying her face in his chest.

Han Li looked down at the person in his arms. Though his emotions were complex, he gently embraced her, stroking her shoulder again and again, offering her the gentlest comfort.

But Zi Ling’s clothes were completely soaked, clinging to her skin. As she leaned tightly against Han Li, she soon noticed something amiss. Her ears grew slightly warm, and she withdrew from Han Li’s embrace.

Then, a flash of light passed over her body, and all the moisture on her clothes evaporated completely.