It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists
Chapter 563: So, We Met Long Ago

At this moment, Mu Zhian was like a phantom, floating in mid-air.

The streets of Tianxuan City were sparsely populated, paper lanterns flickering to life one by one, as if everything was shrouded in a gray mist.

“Is this a dream? Or… did the battle in the Garden of Heavenly Harmony just now distort space and time, bringing me here by chance?”

Mu Zhian was filled with doubt, but seeing Shang Yanfei about to disappear at the end of the street, he collected his thoughts and followed her, walking along the long street.

Occasionally, pedestrians passed by, seemingly unaware of Mu Zhian’s presence, their shoulders passing right through him like phantoms.

It seems this really is a dream… Mu Zhian realized.

Just as this thought crossed his mind, he saw the woman in the raven-black, magnificent robe turn a corner and disappear into an alley.

Mu Zhian followed, but she was gone.

Although the pedestrians on both sides of the street chatted and laughed as they passed, Mu Zhian couldn’t understand their words, as if he didn’t belong in this world.

Just then, Mu Zhian faintly heard a boy’s gentle voice, “Don’t worry, Old Ren, the sister I mentioned is really not a bad person. If she were, she would have taken me away long ago. She’s a very beautiful fairy sister.”

A hint of helplessness laced the boy’s tone.

Although young, his mannerisms were elegant and polite, like a young master.

Yet, his small face still retained a childlike innocence, a perfect blend of cute and handsome.

“Although this old man also wants to believe Young Master’s words, your father instructed me to protect your safety no matter what before he left. So, allow me to accompany you to see this fairy sister you speak of.”

Beside the boy stood an elderly man in simple robes, looking at the boy with a smile, “Perhaps fairies do exist, but they’re not so easily encountered in Tianxuan City.”

The elder continued, “You are the young master of the Mu family. There are too many people in Tianxuan City who want to approach you with ulterior motives. Who knows if that woman who approached you for no reason has some hidden agenda.”

Old Ren… Mu Zhian’s eyes flickered, and he glanced at the small and frail-looking boy strangely.

Looking closely, wasn’t this boy the younger version of himself?

“She’s definitely a fairy, at least at Nascent Soul Realm, maybe even Soul Transformation Realm!”

Young Mu Zhian’s tone was certain as he frowned slightly, “Fine, since Old Ren doesn’t believe me, then I’ll take you to see her.”

After talking for a while, young Mu Zhian led Old Ren into a teahouse.

Mu Zhian followed closely behind, not bothering to hide himself. If this scene was an old movie or a memory, then he was an outsider, a mere spectator, unable to interfere.

The teahouse had five floors, each packed with people, the cacophony of conversations making his head spin.

But starting from the fourth floor, there were hardly any people, a stark contrast to the noise below.

Mu Zhian’s eyes flickered. He had been to this teahouse several times, but he didn’t seem to have any memories of it.

This was normal. One usually wouldn’t remember their childhood experiences unless they were particularly memorable.

“Strange, she usually waits for me here… Why isn’t she here today?”

Young Mu Zhian brought Old Ren to the fifth floor of the teahouse, but after looking around, he couldn’t find the woman, a hint of disappointment in his voice.

Old Ren chuckled, “If demonic cultivators didn’t dare enter Tianxuan City, this old man would suspect Young Master has been bewitched by some vixen, thinking about that woman all the time.”

Tianxuan City was close to the Two Polarities Sect. In the eyes of most Eastern Continent cultivators, demonic cultivators wouldn’t dare enter Tianxuan City, no matter what.

Young Mu Zhian frowned, “We had an appointment today. If she’s not here, something must have come up. I’m going to find her!”

He turned and went downstairs. Old Ren, reacting immediately, looked at the young master helplessly, then followed him out of the teahouse.

…

The sun began to set. Young Mu Zhian and Old Ren waited outside the city gates for almost half a day, until the nearby shops started closing, but the person they were waiting for never appeared.

“Young Master, it’s getting late, we should go back,” Old Ren said softly.

Young Mu Zhian gave the city gates one last, longing look, then turned and followed Old Ren back towards the Mu family residence.

At some point, Mu Zhian suddenly felt his perspective shift strangely, as if… he had suddenly become much shorter.

He subconsciously looked over and saw Old Ren beside him. He had somehow gone from being a ‘spectator’ to a ‘participant’ in this memory!

“Young Master, you still have two hours of meditation left today. But it’s getting late, and you’re still growing, it’s better to rest early today,” Old Ren said gently after bringing Mu Zhian back to a courtyard in the Mu residence.

Mu Zhian nodded slightly. After watching Old Ren leave, he looked down at his small hands, half their usual size, and his small body. He closed his eyes slightly, desperately trying to recall any related memories.

“Strange, when I was little, I was very close to someone, even calling her Fairy Sister…?”

“If there really was such a beautiful woman I met when I was young, why don’t I have any memories of her?”

Mu Zhian opened his eyes. He faintly heard a call from somewhere and followed the sound.

It led to a quiet and secluded room.

The sound came from his bedroom.

Mu Zhian slowly approached, pushed open the door, and saw a woman inside.

She wore a raven-black, magnificent robe, her long, fair legs crossed, a black Go piece between her fingers. Her long hair cascaded down, a few strands framing her face, giving her a lazy and seductive charm.

She casually raised her beautiful eyes, a smile playing on her lips, and said, “You’re late today, did you go on a date?”

“I’ve been looking for you all day. Old Ren thought I was bewitched by a vixen. Why did you come to the Mu residence yourself?”

Mu Zhian wanted to ask other questions, but these words tumbled out first.

Because this was his memory, and memories couldn’t be altered, only observed.

Shang Yanfei smiled and said, “Something came up today. I thought you might not be waiting for me at the teahouse anymore, so I came to the Mu residence to wait for you.”

Then, she naturally pushed the white Go pieces towards him. The two seemed to have played Go together many times before, skillfully picking up their pieces and starting the game.

Whether it was Mu Zhian’s superb Go skills or Shang Yanfei’s lack thereof, in less than fifteen minutes, her position on the board was clearly weakening.

However, when Mu Zhian pressed his advantage and placed another piece, Shang Yanfei didn’t make her next move, but simply rested her cheek on her hand, casually glanced at the board, and placed the black piece back in the box.

“Sister, you’re about to lose,” young Mu Zhian said seriously.

Shang Yanfei didn’t respond, but said calmly, “After I leave tonight, I won’t be coming to see you again for a while.”

Mu Zhian was stunned and subconsciously looked up at her, “Why?”

Shang Yanfei gazed into Mu Zhian’s eyes, not directly answering his question, “Although I’m leaving, someone else will come and protect you in my stead… In a sense, when you see her, it will be as if I’m still by your side.”

“What’s her name? Do I know her?” Mu Zhian asked instinctively.

Shang Yanfei pondered for a moment, then hummed softly in agreement, “She’s a very capable person… You’ve met before.”

“She will always be with you, watching you grow.”

“And then… in ten years, when you’ve grown up, you can see me again.”

Young Mu Zhian and Shang Yanfei’s memory continued to play, but Mu Zhian’s mind was racing.

Clearly, this was a memory from his past… He had met the Sect Master when he was little!

But perhaps events related to the Sect Master were later shielded from destiny, so he had no memory of it.

However, even if destiny was shielded, it didn’t mean this past event was completely erased.

At least… he did have this experience.

Sect Master Sister said someone would come and protect him afterward… That person must be Sister Mengrou.

That woman could truly foresee the future, knowing ten years in advance that Sister Mengrou would become his maid…

Just as Mu Zhian thought of this, he heard Shang Yanfei sigh softly.

“Sister, why are you sighing?” Mu Zhian asked.

“I won’t be able to see you for a long time after this, aren’t you sad?” she asked.

Her pale golden eyes held a hint of majesty, but more than that, an indescribable gentleness.

At first glance, this woman looked like a youthful twenty-something, but looking closer, she resembled a mature and beautiful woman, her voluptuous and sexy figure enough to make any younger man’s heart race. Combined with her mysterious older sister aura, she was a true heartbreaker.

Especially for the still-naive Mu Zhian.

And at this moment, she put down her Go piece and stood up.

Then, the woman slightly curtsied before Mu Zhian, gazing at his seemingly evasive eyes, and chuckled softly, “Let me give you a parting gift.”

“What gift?” Mu Zhian asked instinctively.

A faint, meaningful smile appeared on Shang Yanfei’s face, “A technique that can suppress all misfortune in the world, and shield destiny.”

“Do you want it?” she asked again softly, her beautiful eyes gazing at him with seemingly infinite charm.

Mu Zhian subconsciously glanced at her. Because of his height and Shang Yanfei bending down, he could just see the top of her dress. He almost couldn’t tear his gaze away.

“H-how…?” Seemingly noticing the playful glint in the woman’s eyes, Mu Zhian forced himself to look away and asked in a low voice.

“It’s simple.”

Shang Yanfei slowly closed her eyes. Under the candlelight, her breathtakingly beautiful face seemed to radiate an otherworldly glow. She gently pointed at her full, rosy lips.

Then, under Mu Zhian’s intense gaze, she opened her eyes slightly and said in a gentle, seductive voice:

“Kiss me.”

…

Boom!

As the kiss ended, a rumbling sound echoed through Mu Zhian’s mind.

He abruptly opened his eyes.

He was no longer in Tianxuan City, but back in the courtyard of the Garden of Heavenly Harmony.

The Eternal Celestial’s body seemed to be collapsing, then quickly reforming.

He had anticipated that his plan might not succeed, so he had taken precautions and now escaped using the forbidden object.

“Celestial, save me!”

Seeing the Eternal Celestial fleeing, Wang Jun abruptly turned and shouted.

However, the next moment, the Bronze Sword descended, as if severing the void itself.

Wang Jun’s eyes widened, her soul completely extinguished beneath the Bronze Sword.

This ancient being from the Immortal Forbidden Land clearly hadn’t expected to be completely annihilated on the very day she left her Forbidden Land.

Mu Zhian looked around in a daze, murmuring softly, “I’m back…?”

Just then, a gentle and concerned voice came from beside him.

“What’s wrong? You look a bit pale.”

Mu Zhian glanced at Yao Meng, gently shook his head, and said, “I’m fine, I just had a dream…”

However, before he could finish, Yao Meng said, “That wasn’t a dream, but the Eternal Celestial’s technique… It can create illusions, immersing people in their past memories. You were probably caught in his technique just now.”

As she spoke, she noticed Mu Zhian was stunned. He subconsciously looked up, gazing in the direction of Two Polarities Peak.

So, what he saw just now truly was a deep-seated memory, not a dream?

He had met Sect Master Sister before, even shared an unforgettable memory with her…

However, her existence was too special. Her appearance, and the things they experienced together, were ‘shielded’ from destiny.

Following Mu Zhian’s gaze, Yao Meng narrowed her eyes and murmured softly, “Related to her again?”

It went without saying that the ‘memory’ Mu Zhian was immersed in after being caught in the Eternal Celestial’s technique was likely related to Shang Yanfei.

“Mu Lang, are you alright?”

Just then, Bai Ruoxi, who had gone to chase after the Eternal Celestial, returned to the courtyard. Seeing Mu Zhian’s unusual expression, she immediately came to his side and asked with concern.

Mu Zhian: “I’m fine, it was just a dream, I’m okay now.”

Or rather, it was thanks to the Eternal Celestial that he remembered this long-forgotten memory.

He didn’t expect to have met Shang Yanfei back in Tianxuan City.

And he didn’t expect that Sect Master Sister had such… unique preferences…

Come to think of it, it wasn’t just the Sect Master, Yao Meng seemed to have similar XP… Why are the hobbies of these Dao Integration Realm experts so similar?

Recalling his body’s age being regressed by the Principles of Time in the Jade Pool Ancestral Land, and the subsequent events, Mu Zhian couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotion.

Then, he closed his eyes, recalling the memory and their conversation. After a while, Mu Zhian opened his eyes.

He suddenly said, “Can you accompany me to the Forbidden Land of Life?”

Bai Ruoxi was stunned, “You want to go to the Forbidden Land of Life, Mu Lang?”

Why would he suddenly want to go to the Forbidden Land of Life…? A puzzled look appeared in Yao Meng’s beautiful eyes.

Mu Zhian pondered for a moment, then smiled.

“If I have to say, it’s to take you to meet my family.”