Chapter 2669: Forgetting Everything

“But Sect Master Yan got nothing out of that encounter,” Zu An pointed out.

“Nothing? Just sensing that universal deity’s power is a huge benefit. Yan Xuehen said herself that her cultivation speed is much faster than before,” Mi Li lazily replied.

“Are there any disadvantages to this?” Zu An was still worried.

“There are. Under that universal deity’s influence, Sect Master Yan may lose her human emotions and forget many things. There might come a day when she forgets about you too,” Mi Li gloated.

“What?!” Zu An was horrified. “Are there any solutions?”

“What solutions can I possibly have? This is a universal deity’s dao influence. If I could interfere in that, I’d be a universal deity too.” Mi Li rolled her eyes.

There was a long moment of silence before Zu An raised his head to look at Mi Li. “Does that mean I can only save her if I become a universal deity?”

“Perhaps.” Mi Li sounded unsure. She looked at him playfully. “Despite your carefree attitude, you go all out whenever something involves your lovers. Do you think it’s that easy to become a universal deity?”

“Humans ought to have something to work toward,” Zu An replied.

Mi Li stared at him in a daze before snapping out of it. “That’s a good attitude. I believe you’ll eventually succeed one day.”

Zu An eyed her skeptically. “Are you keeping something from me?”

“What could I be keeping from you?” Mi Li yawned. “You interrupted my sleep. I’m going back into hibernation. Don’t disturb me if there isn’t anything important.” She disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Zu An frowned. He felt there was something amiss about Mi Li’s earlier expression, but there was nothing he could do when the other party refused to speak.

“What’s wrong, Ah Zu?” Yan Xuehen called out.

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

“You were in a daze earlier. Did you figure out which universal deity I met?” Yan Xuehen asked nervously.

After some thought, Zu An decided to reveal some information. “I don’t know that universal deity’s name, but he appears to be a formidable being You probably caught his attention because his dao aligns with the Absolute Dispassion you're pursuing...”

He shared what he had just heard from Mi Li. Yan Xuehen was a top-notch expert and had a strong dao heart. Rather than concealing things from her, it would be better to give her a heads up so she could prepare herself in advance.

“You’re saying I might start forgetting things...” Yan Xuehen’s face paled. Despite pursuing Absolute Dispassion, she was seeking only to forget some human emotions, not to relinquish all her emotions, bonds, and memories.

“These side effects might only start to show as you advance further in that universal deity’s dao,” Zu An explained.

Yan Xuehen was silent for a long while before letting out a sigh. “What’s the point of becoming strong if I have to forget everything? Can’t I pursue a different dao from that universal deity?”

“We don’t know enough about universal deities to know the implications. Don’t worry too much for now. On the whole, this is good news for you. Let’s go with the flow and see how it goes for now.” Zu An patted her hand and consoled her.

“How can this be good news? At this rate, I’ll forget about Chuyan and you...” Yan Xuehen’s face reddened as soon as she blurted those words out.

Zu An was overjoyed. He embraced her and said, “I didn’t know big sister Yan cared so much about me.”

“You’re overthinking it.” Yan Xuehen tried to push him aside out of embarrassment.

But Zu An held her tightly. “Stay close to me. You might get sucked in by the Netherworld otherwise.”

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

“Nonsense! We’re already out of the Netherworld,” Yan Xuehen grumbled.

Zu An belatedly realized they were currently flying above the sea. He calmly replied, “You’re still in your soul form. The slightest carelessness may result in the dissipation of your soul. We might be out of the Netherworld, but you still shouldn’t let your guard down.”

Yan Xuehen bit her lips and held her tongue, allowing Zu An to hug her as he pleased. But when she felt his breathing against her neck, she couldn’t bear it anymore and complained, “Stop staying so close to me.”

Zu An sighed. “You might forget me in the future. I’m afraid I might lose you if I stray further.”

Yan Xuehen’s heart softened. She also feared this situation.

But if I can forget everything, perhaps I can put an end to this ill-fated entanglement...

Her attention was quickly drawn back to the present. “Where do you think you’re touching?!”

“I don’t want to lose you.” Zu An made her anger dissipate with a single line.

There was a long silence before Yan Xuehen replied, “Me neither.”

After hearing her true feelings, Zu An couldn’t hold himself back anymore and sealed her lips.

Yan Xuehen’s body stiffened, but it soon fell limp. A ridiculous thought flashed across her mind.

Chuyan told me to take care of him. Does this count too?

But she was more concerned about something else.

If I’m going to forget everything in the future, I should cherish every day I have with him.

Jolts washed over her like relentless waves. She was taken aback. “Why does it feel so intense...”

“Souls are more sensitive,” Zu An explained.

“How would you know...” The truth dawned on Yan Xuehen as soon as she asked the question.

He must have done this with other women before!

You have successfully trolled Yan Xuehen for +22... +22... +22...

But her fury was swiftly quelled by his tenderness.

Zu An took her to the clouds. It was freezing up there, but cultivators of their level were impervious to the cold. On top of that, the warmth radiating from Zu An’s body made Yan Xuehen feel sluggish.

“How beautiful!”

“How beautiful...”

The two of them remarked in unison.

Yan Xuehen was startled. Her remark was directed at the starry sky, but Zu An’s remark appeared to be directed at her. Unbeknownst to her, Zu An had unfastened her robe.

She clutched her belly and crossed her legs out of embarrassment. With the starry night sky reflected in her eyes, she whispered, “Only two more times.”

Zu An nearly burst into laughter. He hadn’t expected her to be keeping count, though he knew that she was the kind of person who couldn’t put down her pride unless given a legitimate excuse.

“Alright.” Needless to say, he wouldn’t argue about the validity of their agreement right now.

Yan Xuehen tightly embraced the man before her while staring at the stars in a daze. Somehow, she felt bolder than usual. The rules and restrictions she usually imposed on herself faded away. Her cheeks reddened like peach blossoms. With a wave of her hand, she wrapped them in a layer of fog.

Zu An was surprised. “Aren’t you blocking the beautiful night sky?”

“It feels weird to do it in the wild...” Yan Xuehen’s voice grew meeker with each word. She knew it was unlikely for others to bump into them at this altitude, but she felt insecure.

Zu An agreed with her.

Who knows if there are entities in the sky looking at us?

So, he wove the clouds together to form a miniature world around them.

Yan Xuehen was surprised by the familiar scenery. “It’s the White Jade Sect!” Even her room had been reconstructed in full.

“Would you feel more comfortable being in your room?” Zu An asked with a tender smile.

Yan Xuehen felt embarrassed.

You’re making me more nervous with this atmosphere.

But she knew he meant well, so she chose not to say anything to dampen the mood.

Zu An also projected his soul and walked over to her side.

Yan Xuehen felt her head spin.

This fellow has no sense of shame. I was wearing clothes when I projected my soul, but he...

“Since you don’t want to be in your room, let’s head to the White Jade Sect’s other landmarks,” Zu An said with a mischievous laugh. He lifted her and carried her to the square in front of the sect hall.