"Jiang Chen..." As Zi Xia was about to say something, the emotions of pity and sadness in her voice were evident. Jiang Chen felt good—good for his predecessor—because at least someone in this world had believed in him. But at the same time, he also felt that his predecessor had been truly unlucky. He had died without ever knowing that someone cared for him.
Jiang Chen thought to himself, You were not alone, predecessor. At least someone cared for you. But what's the point of this care when you're already dead? So instead of you, I'll take it. Don't worry—I'll make sure not to go down your path of foolishness.
Feeling that he might be safe here, he let out a sigh and, getting down on one knee like a prince about to propose to a princess, took Zi Xia's hand in his. He wasn't actually proposing, of course. He just wanted to feel the softness of her hand, which was like a sponge. Jiang Chen felt good, then looked into Zi Xia's eyes.
Her gaze was fixed on their intertwined hands.
Jiang Chen thought, Is she angry? Nah… there's no reaction on her face. Maybe she's just stunned. Yeah, that must be it. But I need to continue—for my survival.
Looking into her eyes, Jiang Chen smiled slightly, his expression carrying a trace of pain. He said, "Don't look at me with pity. I did everything I thought was right. This is just life, and I don't regret anything, even if there were consequences that led to..." His voice trembled slightly.
"But I don't believe everything is bad. At least I got to see you. I have always harbored a single regret in my life, even when I was struggling.
Whenever I saw you in the past, I... I… thought of apologizing to you—for rejecting you in front of the whole sect, for disrespecting you. But every time I saw you, I thought you hated me. I… I… didn't have the guts. Or maybe… I just didn't want to…"
"Shh, I understand…" Zi Xia said with a gentle smile.
Jiang Chen's face filled with shock, but soon he smiled as well. "Even when I was dying, the only thought in my mind was of you. The regret I faced in my life, the wrong choices I made—everything was related to you. I thought of you that much… I think the gods must have pitied me. They sent me here to see you. Or am I dreaming? Is this the afterlife…?"
By the end, Jiang Chen was questioning himself, unsure if this was all an illusion.
"Wait… wait… what do you mean, you were dying?"
Zi Xia's voice turned cold as she gripped Jiang Chen's hand tightly.
His hand started to hurt, but he kept his smile.
"Ahh, I don't know how, but when I was cooking a fish, suddenly a pain struck me—an agonizing pain. My body started turning purple. It hurt like hell, but…"
"Wait—how were you dying just from cooking??"
"Ahh… because of the pill I ate before running from here. It was given to me by Master, so I didn't think much about it," Jiang Chen said with a pained smile.
"WHAAATTT? THAT BITCH…!"
Zi Xia's voice was loud as she yelled, but thanks to the many formations, no sound leaked out.
"I can't believe it… She did this to her own disciple… This… this…" Even Zi Xia was at a loss for words.
Jiang Chen, seeing her reaction, thought, Well, the pill was given by Master to heal my injuries, but it got replaced. Ahh, I don't know… or I don't care.
"Maybe she didn't know it was a poison pill," Jiang Chen said with a small smile.
"Even now, you're defending her? Are you that dumb?" Zi Xia said, narrowing her eyes.
"No… no… no, I'm not defending her. I… I… maybe I was just hopeful. I am sorry," Jiang Chen said, slightly bowing.
Seeing his state, she sighed and said, "Okay, calm down. Your mind is disturbed."
Jiang Chen took a deep breath and exhaled, calming his nerves, then finally asked what had been lingering in his mind.
"Elder, did you know I was coming here?"
He had a feeling she knew about his arrival.
"Ahh… you see… yeaaahhh," Zi Xia said, avoiding his gaze.
"How?" Jiang Chen asked. He was genuinely curious. How did she know?
She sighed and said, "Well, some time ago, a blue transparent board-like thing suddenly appeared in my vision. It asked me, What is it you desire?
I thought about what it was. After using all my powers to probe it, I didn't find anything, so I decided to test what it could do. I told it my desires," Zi Xia said, still avoiding Jiang Chen's eyes.
Jiang Chen's eyes narrowed as he listened.
In his mind, he was yelling, System, you fcker! Is it you?! Aren't you MY system? Why can others see you? And what the fck is this 'What is it you desire?' Are you having a god complex?!
"So… what did you say to that blue thing?"
Jiang Chen asked cautiously. Knowing he had to fulfill her desires, he was slightly nervous. After all, she was too powerful. What could she possibly not obtain?
And if it was something even she couldn't get…
He shouldn't even try.
"Well… you… see… my desires…" Zi Xia started saying while still avoiding his gaze.