Shen Yuan soon reached the mat, standing still and thinking about what to do next. He knew hesitation would be useless no matter for how long he would drag it out.
He sat down on the mat in Lotus position, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.
The moment his eyes fully closed, the darkness around him stirred as it slowly inched its way closer to Shen Yuan.
Shen Yuan could feel something trying to infiltrate his soul, but he was powerless to do anything about it as even Yue Lan or his bloodline wasn’t reacting.
So he calmed down and silently started meditating. Soon, his consciousness began to skip away as the darkness engulfed his body.
The eerie void faded, replaced by a familiar scene that warmed his heart. He found himself standing in front of a familiar house.
His heart skipped a beat as he heard the voices of his mother Zhen Yi, and his sister Shen Yuechan coming from inside the house.
Without thinking for even a second longer, he stepped forward to reach the door of his house. He opened the gate and came inside to be greeted with the familiar sight of his mother cooking food while humming a tune softly and his sister watching TV.
The interior of the house was the same as he remembered from all those years ago.
“Brother! You are back.” Shen Yuechan’s cheerful voice sounded from the table as she ran up to him, hugging him tightly.
“Mother made your favorite food today.” She happily told him as she led him forward.
Shen Yuan blinked, momentarily stunned as he didn’t know what was happening around him. Everything felt so real, so vivid that he was having a hard time verifying if this was the trial I or if he was just having a really long dream.
He looked around, not missing a detail, “is this real?” He muttered under his breath as his eyes scanned for even a minor flaw.
Shen Yuechan tilted her head and asked, “Did you say something, big bro?”
Shen Yuan came out of his thoughts and replied with a gentle tone, “Ah I didn’t say anything.”
Just then Zhen Yi’s voice sounded from the kitchen, “Ready the plates kids, food is coming.” She brought out a table full of food as she looked at Shen Yuan and Shen Yuechan.
“Go and wash your hands before you sit down.” She started setting up the table while Shen Yuechan dragged Shen Yuan to wash his hands.
They soon came out of the washroom after washing their hands. Shen Yuan sat on the table while Shen Yuechan sat on his right.
Zhen Yi also came and sat down together with them, “Let’s eat.” she gently spoke.
Shen Yuan and Shen Yuechan nodded and started eating. As soon as Shen Yuan took the first bite, his eyes became misty as he really missed the taste of her mother’s cooking. He continued eating without stopping until he had finished everything.
Shen Yuechan and Zhen Yi didn’t find anything amiss in it as they also soon finished their food.
Days continued passing like this as Shen Yuan lived his life comfortably, going to college then doing part-time jobs, then coming home and eating and playing with Zhen Yi and Shen Yuechan.
He seemed like he almost forgot for what purpose he came here. All of his memories about the cultivation world started becoming blurry.
One day, as Shen Yuan was returning home after work, he saw her–his childhood friend, Yin Yue. She smiled at Shen Yuan after seeing him walk towards her, her eyes filled with warmth and affection.
“Yuan, have you finished your work? Do you mind going with me for a walk if you are free now” she asked, her voice soft like the moonlight.
Shen Yuan looked at her for a second before agreeing, he followed her down the familiar path of the city until they left it and came to a riverside.
They walked side by side comfortably, basking in the sunlight until she stopped and stared at Shen Yuan, “Yuan, do you ever feel like this is where you belong? A simple, peaceful life with your family and those you love?”
Shen Yuan smiled and just as he was about to agree, something tugged on his heart as he paused, his eyes gaining slight clarity before they got clouded with the vibrant color of this world, “Yes, I am content with this life.”
He smiled gently toward her, making Yin Yue smile brightly as well. They continued walking together in the evening sun as they held hands together and went back towards their home.
Life continued to pass peacefully for him as he soon got a job inside a major company. Shen Yuan soon married Yin Yue after that, they lived a quiet blissful life together, surrounded by his family.
He continued enjoying his days like this until one day, he woke up from his sleep and stood up, he went to the window to look out.
Yin Yue, dressed in her light pink lingerie, woke up as well. She smiled gently looking at Shen Yuan as she also came close to the window.
Shen Yuan turned around to look at the beautiful sight of her, he brought her close and hugged her as he murmured in a soft voice, “Time for me to leave has come.”
Yin Yue rested her head on his chest and asked in a soft voice, “When did you realize?”
Shen Yuan smiled lightly and caressed her back, “When you asked me about what type of life I wanted all those years ago. I just wanted to experience this dream for longer.”
Yin Yue shook her head and berated him in a soft tone, “You idiot! Do you even have any idea how dangerous this was? If you become fully immersed in this reality, you won’t be able to leave, no matter what happens.”
Shen Yuan smiled gently and caressed her cheek, “What can I say? I really don’t want to leave you, Mom, and little sis behind, this is really a hard decision. I have been trying to leave the illusion for decades but couldn’t do it each time due to my reluctance to part with you all.”
Yin Yue smiled brightly and asked, “Then, are you willing to stay behind in this dream with me for an eternity?”
Shen Yuan’s eyes showed a hint of struggle for a brief moment before they regained clarity as he shook his head with a slight smile, “This Pagoda is really something, it even managed to copy nearly all of your personality. I really don’t want to leave this dream, but some things need to be done sigh.”
Before Yin Yue could reply, the world around them started crumbling and Yin Yue gently left his embrace as she smiled brightly at him and said in a soft voice “Don’t forget me.”
Even the crumbling of the world itself paused for a second as she spoke, making Shen Yuan look at her in a daze but he soon returned to himself as he smiled gently.
In the end, this was the last thing she said before the world crumbled down all around him.
