A flash of white light blinded Ye Ran. She couldn’t open her eyes.
When the light faded, she found herself still on the mountain near the cave.
But her body seemed out of control—immobile, invisible even.
She had become a mere consciousness, observing everything as a spectator.
Ye Ran didn’t know what Lingxu was plotting. But one thing was certain: his intentions were not good.
Just as she tried to break free, a small figure appeared in her sight.
She froze, staring in disbelief.
It was a younger version of herself!
Why was she here? Was this an illusion?
As the small figure approached, Ye Ran realized it wasn’t an illusion. The younger her was in a spiritual state, as if her soul had wandered here under some influence.
As the child moved forward, Ye Ran’s perspective followed.
Soon, the girl reached a river. A man lay in the water, his blood staining it red.
Ye Ran’s view stopped. She couldn’t see his face, only the child approaching cautiously.
“Big brother, are you alright?”
A childish voice called out.
The man stirred, slowly sitting up.
“Not really.”
The familiar voice made Ye Ran’s heart skip. She looked closely.
The man sitting up was Lu Li.
He was covered in wounds, barely clinging to life.
Ye Ran grew anxious. Then she noticed something off.
This Lu Li had black hair and radiated a dark, dangerous aura.
This wasn’t the Lu Li she knew.
Or rather, this was Lu Li from centuries ago—right after his battle with the surviving forces of the Lu family.
But what was she doing here, in this spiritual form?
Watching the small child by the river, Ye Ran’s thoughts drifted.
She remembered that when she was four, she had fallen gravely ill. Her grandmother had called a Daoist, who said her soul had wandered elsewhere.
After a ritual to retrieve it, she recovered.
She had never believed that story. Now it seemed it was all true—her soul had traveled to Lu Li’s world.
No wonder the system had chosen her. She and Lu Li had crossed paths long ago.
But this Lu Li didn’t trust her.
Ye Ran could see clearly: though his lips smiled, his eyes held no warmth.
The four-year-old Ye Ran understood nothing. Hearing that he was unwell, she stepped closer in concern.
“Big brother, does it hurt a lot?”
“Yes. It hurts a lot.”
As he spoke, Lu Li drifted closer to the bank. The child edged forward. When he reached out, she took his finger and blew gently on his wound.
“A blow makes it better.”
The warmth made Lu Li pause. He looked at the earnest child. His other hand, rising from the water, lowered.
Then he caught her hand. A flash of spiritual energy passed, and the dark aura around him receded slightly.
“So you’re a spirit.”
He let go and lay back in the water.
“Go away, little thing. Don’t disturb my dying.”
He submerged his head.
In that battle, he had killed them all, but his body was near collapse. Centuries of endless ambushes and pursuits had exhausted him.
He only wanted to lie there and wait for his life to fade.
But that wish was not to be.
Lu Li’s ears had barely found silence when a splash sounded. A small hand grabbed his arm, trying to pull him out.
“Big brother, don’t die!”
The child’s tearful voice made Lu Li frown. He had only wanted peace.
He opened his eyes, intending to drive her away. But meeting her tear-filled gaze, he froze, forgetting to react.
He could tell sincerity from pretense.
This was the first time someone had truly shed tears for him.
As he hesitated, the child slipped and fell into the river. Water rushed over her head. Her grip on his arm loosened.
Watching the small figure being swept away, Lu Li instinctively reached out and pulled her back.
Once steady, the child didn’t seem frightened by her near drowning. Still tearful, she clung to his sleeve, trying to drag him out.
“Big brother, get up.”
Her tearful face stirred an inexplicable unease in Lu Li.
He finally gave in and sat up.
“Stop crying.”
His tone was awkward—he wasn’t good at comforting others. But it worked.
“Then will you still die, big brother?”
“No.”
Rubbing his aching head, Lu Li carried the child to the bank, then climbed out himself and walked into the forest.
But he soon noticed a small figure following him.
“Don’t follow me. Go back to your—”
He stopped mid-sentence, as if struck by an idea. He crouched and beckoned to Ye Ran.
“Little one, come here. I have a gift for you.”
“Okay!”
Children couldn’t resist gifts. The little girl toddled over quickly.
When she reached him, Lu Li extended his hand.
Though she didn’t know what he was doing, she obediently placed her hand in his.
She flinched at the cold touch, but Lu Li held on. A wisp of azure flame passed from his palm into hers.
At that moment, his wounds reopened. Blood trickled from his mouth.
But Lu Li seemed unconcerned. A look of satisfaction crossed his eyes.
He would give the Blazing Spirit to this spirit from another world. Then even if he died, no one would ever claim it.
“Big brother, what’s wrong? I don’t want this gift!”
The child’s crying broke his thoughts.
Looking up, he saw tears streaming down her face as she struggled to pull away.
The excitement in his eyes faded. He sighed and let go.
It was useless. An ordinary person couldn’t bear the Blazing Spirit.
“Stop crying. I’m fine.”
His tone was resigned. He moved to wipe her tears, but she beat him to it, using her small hands to clean the blood from his mouth.
Then the small figure collapsed against him, her body growing hot, her cheeks flushing.
Regret filled Lu Li. He had stopped in time, but the Blazing Spirit had still affected her.
He carried her deeper into the forest.
He brought her to a lake. In its center bloomed a golden lotus.
Setting her down, he flew over the lake to take the lotus.
Before he could reach it, a dragon burst from the water, jaws wide.
As its sharp teeth neared, Lu Li turned and drove his sword into its mouth.
The blade pierced its skull. The massive body crashed down, sending up a spray of water.
When it sank, Lu Li was already back with the lotus. He pressed it into the child’s body.
The lotus could suppress the Blazing Spirit. Lu Li had come here for it after the battle, but when he collapsed into the lake, he had lost the will to live. He let the spirit consume his broken body.
Now, though he no longer wanted to die, he gave the lotus to the child without hesitation.
Her color returned. A faint fragrance emanated from her.
That scent soothed even the Blazing Spirit inside Lu Li.
He looked down at her, then carried her to a cave.
Inside, he lit a fire and sat down with the child.
She finally woke. Seeing him weakly leaning against the wall, her small face filled with concern again.
“Big brother, are you alright?”
“I’m fine. I’ll be better after some rest.”
Lu Li wasn’t lying. Though he had given away the lotus, the child’s fragrance still calmed the Blazing Spirit.
It would simply take longer to recover than if he had used the lotus directly.
“Then rest well, big brother. I’ll stay here and watch over you.”
With that, the child sat obediently beside Lu Li, though her big eyes kept stealing worried glances at him.
Only when his breathing grew steady did she relax.
In the unfamiliar place, she was still a little afraid. She looked at the darkening sky outside the cave and quietly inched closer to Lu Li, leaning her small body against his side.
When Lu Li woke, he looked down to see the child sleeping soundly, clutching his arm.
Perhaps because she was in a good mood, the fragrance emanating from her was especially rich, causing even Lu Li’s furrowed brow to ease.
“Big brother, you’re awake!”
Soon the child woke too. The moment she met his gaze, her eyes lit up.
“Yes.”
In a good mood, Lu Li’s lips curled into a small smile.
The child leaned in and studied him carefully, then asked tentatively, “Then will you still die, big brother?”
“No.”
Still in good spirits, Lu Li reached out and patted her head.
But the next moment, the child’s body began to fade.
“Big brother, what’s happening to me?”
Terrified, her voice trembled. A flicker of disappointment crossed Lu Li’s eyes. He slid his hand down and pinched her cheek.
“It’s time for you to go back, little one.”
As his voice faded, her body grew more transparent, finally vanishing before him.
The moment the child disappeared, Ye Ran found herself no longer a spectator. She could move. Delighted, she ran toward Lu Li.
“Senior brother!”
Her voice was filled with emotion. But when she reached him, she stopped, uncertainty in her eyes.
She had almost forgotten—this was Lu Li from centuries ago. He wouldn’t recognize her grown self.
“Are you hurt?”
To her surprise, Lu Li stepped forward and pulled her into his arms.
His sudden gesture shocked her. She looked up to see his expression soft and warm—nothing like the cold figure by the river.
He had broken free of control and remembered everything.
“I’m fine.”
Overjoyed, Ye Ran leaned in and kissed his cheek.
But when he moved to kiss her back, she stepped away and looked around.
“Where are we? How can it replay events from centuries ago?”
“We’re inside the Reflection Mirror. It can replay past events. Lingxu chose this moment—my weakest—to try and take the Blazing Spirit.”
Lu Li led her out of the cave. Ye Ran’s heart sank.
“Then we should hide and find a way out.”
“It’s too late. They’re already here.”
As he spoke, Lingxu and his men surrounded them.
Seeing Lu Li covered in blood, Lingxu’s greed deepened.
“I didn’t expect you to remember everything inside the mirror. But so what? You’re at your weakest now. Let’s see how you escape!”
“Weak as I am, it’s enough to deal with you.”
Lu Li pulled Ye Ran behind him and drew his sword.
But Lingxu only smirked.
“Don’t celebrate too soon.”
He slowly raised his hand. A red glow appeared in his palm.
At the same time, Ye Ran, standing behind Lu Li, lost control of her body. She raised her sword and drove it toward him.
She tried to warn him, but no words came.
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