Chapter 1335: Life and Death Together

An unknown void.

The Reincarnation Palace Master, clad in a black robe and wearing a bamboo hat, stood on a floating cliff. Before him floated a void light mirror the size of an ordinary bronze mirror, within which light flickered and figures seemed to move.

Upon closer inspection, one could see that the figures in the mirror were none other than Han Li and Nangong Wan. The Reincarnation Palace Master had been watching this scene all along.

Not far behind him stood seven or eight figures, the foremost of whom was also dressed in a black robe, but with his head, neck, and arms tightly wrapped in bandages—none other than Yuan Chunfeng of the Patch Heaven Sect.

At this moment, Yuan Chunfeng stepped forward and came to stand behind the Reincarnation Palace Master.

"Palace Master, when Nangong Wan left the Netherworld and was captured by the Heavenly Court, I had already foreseen it through divination. Why did you not intervene, but instead let her be taken by the Heavenly Court and used as leverage?" Yuan Chunfeng asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Nangong Wan's temperament is no different from Ru Shuang's, and now that she has many of Ru Shuang's memories, her character has become even more stubborn. Once she decides on something, she won't change. Unless I forcibly detain her, I cannot keep her," the Reincarnation Palace Master said casually, glancing at him.

"If that's the case, we could have acted when she was being pursued," Yuan Chunfeng said again.

"Doing this serves two purposes. On one hand, it lets Han Li see that the Heavenly Court acts without scruples. Today, Nangong Wan was implicated because of me; in the future, she may well be implicated because of him. There's no escape," the Reincarnation Palace Master said indifferently.

"His Dao conflicts with that of the Time Dao Ancestor, so the Heavenly Court will surely not tolerate him. Given Gu Huo Jin's style, he would indeed implicate an entire clan and spare no one close to him," Yuan Chunfeng said after a moment's thought.

"Beyond that, I also wanted to lull the Heavenly Court. They have searched for me for millions of years without being able to force me to appear. Now that this incident has occurred, I have finally 'lost some composure,' and they will think I intend to abandon my plans and confront them head-on," the Reincarnation Palace Master said with a flicker in his eyes and a sneer.

"But this method is ultimately too risky. If Nangong Wan is actually sent to the Heavenly Court, things will become difficult," Yuan Chunfeng said after a moment of silence.

"Feng Qingshui is a fool, but his superior is not. Your Patch Heaven Sect knows to bet on both sides; how could he offend my Reincarnation Palace to death? So he will surely have Feng Qingshui detain her temporarily," the Reincarnation Palace Master said calmly.

"Even so, if Nangong Wan meets with an accident during the pursuit..." Yuan Chunfeng said.

"Didn't you already divine the outcome of the pursuit? If an accident occurs, shouldn't the responsibility be yours?" The Reincarnation Palace Master turned his head slightly to look at Yuan Chunfeng.

Hearing this, Yuan Chunfeng stiffened, feeling a chill run down his spine.

After a pause, the Reincarnation Palace Master suddenly laughed: "With me watching over her, how could an accident happen?"

"Of course," Yuan Chunfeng nodded and said.

The Reincarnation Palace Master withdrew his gaze and looked back at Han Li and Nangong Wan in the mirror.

"Palace Master, will this method really spur Han Li to make up his mind to fight the Heavenly Court alongside us?" Yuan Chunfeng asked, his eyes flickering as he too looked at Han Li.

"No one in this world understands him better than I do. A dragon has its reverse scales; touch them and you die. Nangong Wan is Han Li's reverse scale. Now that his cultivation has skyrocketed, he won't let this go. Eh..."

Before the Reincarnation Palace Master could finish, he let out a soft exclamation.

Immediately after, Han Li in the void light mirror suddenly turned his gaze and stared straight at the Reincarnation Palace Master outside the mirror. The next moment, a strange light flared, and the void light mirror exploded.

Everyone except the Reincarnation Palace Master, including Yuan Chunfeng, was startled by this sudden turn of events.

"Palace Master, this is..." Yuan Chunfeng asked tentatively.

"Nothing. He discovered my surveillance... Hmph, he even erased the Reincarnation mark I left on Nangong Wan," the Reincarnation Palace Master said with a light laugh, casually.

"If so, won't he guess that you allowed this to happen? Won't he resent you?" Yuan Chunfeng asked.

"Perhaps, but the outcome will be the same," the Reincarnation Palace Master said with a smile, seemingly unconcerned.

...

Somewhere in the Dragon Abyss Immortal Domain, in a wild primeval forest.

Beneath a hundred-zhang-tall parasol tree, Han Li and Nangong Wan stood facing each other.

"What's wrong?" Nangong Wan asked, a strange expression on her face.

They had originally planned to head directly to the Qingyuan Continent and use the teleportation array there to go straight to the Central Immortal Domain. But for some reason, when they passed this place, Han Li had brought her down into this forest.

Han Li did not answer her immediately. Instead, he looked around carefully, finally fixing his gaze on a uniquely shaped gray-white rock not far behind him.

A gray-white moth was perched on that rock, its four wings fluttering slightly, never flying away.

"Hmph, first withered grass, then a sea fish, then a spirit sparrow, and now a moth. You've been following us all the way—aren't you tired of it?" Han Li's gaze sharpened as he gave a cold snort.

The next moment, a crystalline light shot from his eyes, and the gray-white moth burst apart, scattering into a cloud of ash.

Nangong Wan was startled and was about to ask when her brow furrowed.

"Why does that moth have fluctuations of the Reincarnation Law?" Nangong Wan asked in confusion.

"It's the Reincarnation Palace Master's doing," Han Li said.

With that, he focused his gaze and examined Nangong Wan carefully, then raised a hand and reached toward the back of her neck.

Nangong Wan offered no resistance, obediently leaning her head toward him.

Han Li's palm rested on the back of her neck, and a faint golden light glowed warmly in his palm.

Nangong Wan felt a slight burning sensation, but it passed quickly.

"Did he leave a mark on me?" Nangong Wan asked, frowning slightly after Han Li withdrew his hand.

"Like the moth just now, it was likely a means left by the Reincarnation Palace Master to protect you. If Feng Qingshui tried to harm you, he could use these means to arrive instantly. But now that I'm by your side, these are no longer necessary," Han Li said with a smile.

Hearing this, Nangong Wan felt a warmth in her heart, a gentle smile blooming on her face. "There's no need to dwell on the past. What matters is that we are together."

"But there are always those who won't let us have peace," Han Li sighed.

"Let's leave this place, go back to the Spirit Realm, back to the Human Realm, even to another realm—anywhere away from this trouble," Nangong Wan said, taking Han Li's hand.

"It's useless. Over the years, I always thought I was living according to my own will, no matter how hard, always following my own path. But the further I go, the more I realize that the influence of heavenly fate is truly omnipresent," Han Li said with a bitter smile, gently stroking the hair hanging by Nangong Wan's ear.

"The heavenly Dao has no fixed course; how can there be any true fate? If there is fate, I would thank it for bringing you to me," Nangong Wan shook her head and said.

"That... is indeed something to thank," Han Li paused, then said with a smile.

Nangong Wan's eyes curved as she laughed along with him.

"Now that I am at the peak of the Great Luo stage, I can increasingly feel the conflict between my Dao and that of the Time Dao Ancestor. I can vaguely see the flow of the River of Time. The Time Dao Ancestor is like a deity governing that river, while I am like a thief digging channels, trying to divert its course," Han Li said slowly.

"If you can sense it, then he..." Nangong Wan said, somewhat alarmed.

"The Time Dao Ancestor must have sensed it too. The great Daos in this world seem countless, but as one progresses, all laws return to one, and in the end, one must walk a single-plank bridge. If lucky, the bridge is empty; if not, it's a narrow encounter, and I have no way to avoid it," Han Li said, his gaze firm.

Feeling Han Li's grip on her hand unconsciously tighten, Nangong Wan knew his mind was made up, so she stopped trying to persuade him.

"Since you've decided to face it head-on, even if I can't help much, I will advance and retreat with you, staying by your side," Nangong Wan said calmly, but with determination in her eyes.

"No. Going to the Heavenly Court is like walking into a den of wolves and tigers—every step fraught with danger. I can't let you take that risk," Han Li quickly shook his head.

"Listen to me... In Gan Rushuang's memories, I once fought against Gu Huo Jin with him. We failed, but in those memories, I have no regrets. This time, I want to go with you. If we lose, I'll accompany you to the end; if we win, I want to witness that moment with my own eyes," Nangong Wan said, holding Han Li's arms and looking at him solemnly.

Han Li nodded slightly, looking into Nangong Wan's determined eyes. He sighed inwardly, unable to utter the words of refusal.

"After this incident, it seems I can't feel at ease leaving you anywhere," Han Li said.

"Perhaps the most dangerous place is the safest. If I'm by your side, you can truly be at ease and fight without reservation," Nangong Wan said with a smile.

"If you insist on coming with me, then after entering the Central Immortal Domain, unless necessary, you must stay inside the Flower Branch Space and not come out," Han Li said, his expression turning serious.

"Alright, I promise you," Nangong Wan nodded firmly.

Han Li's expression relaxed slightly. He held Nangong Wan's shoulders and gazed at her beautiful face, suddenly feeling as if an era had passed.

"What are you looking at?" Nangong Wan's ears grew slightly warm as she averted her gaze and said softly.