From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 53 The Promise Under the Stars

“I…” I took a deep breath, and a certain thought became clearer and clearer in my mind, “I just wanted to say that the moonlight is beautiful tonight.”

Wen Chen paused for a moment, then a gentle smile appeared on his lips: "Yes, it's beautiful." He looked up at the night sky, his gaze deep and distant, "It reminds me of some things from the past."

"What kind of thing is it?" I asked curiously.

Wen Chen was silent for a moment, then took my hand and said, "Come with me."

He led me through a bamboo forest to a secluded valley. In the valley lay a clear lake, and beside the lake stood a simple wooden cabin. Moonlight streamed down, adding a touch of dreamlike beauty to this tranquil space.

"Where is this...?" I looked at Wen Chen in confusion.

“My secret base when I was a child.” Wen Chen pointed to the wooden house, his tone tinged with nostalgia. “Back then, I was always regarded as the hope of the family and was forced to cultivate every day. I hardly had any time for myself. Only here could I temporarily let go of all the pressure and be my true self.”

He walked to the lakeside and gently stroked a smooth stone, as if he were recalling something.

“I often come here alone, talk to the lake, and make wishes to the stars.” His voice was soft, but it carried a strange sadness. “Back then, my biggest wish was to live freely and not be bound by anyone.”

My heart skipped a beat, as if I could see a lonely boy silently enduring everything in a quiet valley.

"What happened next?" I couldn't help but ask.

Wen Chen turned to look at me, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes: "Later, I met my master, who brought me into the world of cultivation and made me understand that true freedom is not about escaping, but about having enough power to protect everything you want to protect."

He paused, then said with a firm gaze, "Yao'er, I hope you understand that I am not a perfect person. I also have my own past and my own weaknesses. But I will do everything I can to protect you and make you happy."

I listened quietly, my heart filled with emotion. I had never seen Wen Chen so candid, nor had I ever felt his inner world so deeply.

“Wen Chen…” I called his name softly.

"Ok?"

"Actually..." I bit my lip, hesitating whether or not to tell him my secret.

"What's wrong?" Wen Chen looked at me with concern.

Under the moonlight, I took a deep breath and finally made up my mind... "Actually, I..."

"Actually, I'm not from this world." I took a deep breath and finally revealed this secret that had been buried in my heart for so long.

Wen Chen didn't show any surprise; she just looked at me quietly, her eyes gentle and understanding. "I know."

"You know?" I looked up in surprise. Had he already discovered something?

“I had my suspicions from the first time you used those strange spells,” Wen Chen chuckled. “However, no matter where you come from, you are the Xiao Yao I know, and that’s enough.”

His words were like the warm spring sun, dispelling the last trace of unease in my heart. I told him about my time travel experience and my longing for my family without reservation. When I got emotional, my eyes welled up with tears.

Wen Chen gently pulled me into his arms, enveloping me in his warm embrace. "From now on, I'm your family." His voice was deep and firm, like a promise, deeply imprinted in my heart.

As night deepened, we nestled together, gazing at the starry sky, sharing our deepest secrets. In that moment, I felt an immense sense of peace and tranquility, as if all the world's troubles were irrelevant to us.

In the distance, Madam Chu and Fairy Lin stood side by side under the shade of a tree, watching us embrace by the lake.

"Ah, I never expected that the usually aloof Immortal Venerable would have such a gentle side." Madam Chu sighed softly, her tone tinged with envy.

Fairy Lin smiled slightly, a hint of relief in her eyes. "Yes, it seems we all misjudged her. Miss Xiao Yao is indeed extraordinary; only she could melt the Immortal Venerable's cold heart."

Madam Chu turned to look at Fairy Lin and teased, "What, you're not planning to continue competing? I heard that you used to have a crush on the Immortal Venerable."

Lin Xianzi blushed and said reproachfully, "Sister Chu, you're teasing me again! I've already let it go. Seeing them so happy now, I'm happy for them too."

Looking at Lin Xianzi's sincere smile, Madam Chu felt gratified for her. It seems that time truly can change a person; only by letting go of attachments can one find true happiness.

"Alright, it's getting late, we should head back." Madam Chu took Lin Xianzi's hand and turned to leave.

Just then, a gust of cold wind suddenly swept in, accompanied by a chilling voice...

"My Lord Immortal, your good days are over!"

The sudden sound startled both Wen Chen and me. Turning around, we saw a dark figure standing in the night, its face obscured, but the malice in the voice was clearly discernible.

"Who are you, and why are you acting so suspiciously?" Wen Chen asked coldly, shielding me behind him as his spiritual energy surged, ready for battle.

The dark figure let out a cold laugh: "I'm here to take your lives!" Before the words were finished, the dark figure transformed into a cloud of black mist and attacked us. Wen Chen met it head-on without hesitation. The two fought fiercely in the air, their spiritual energies clashing. In an instant, the wind and clouds changed color, and the earth shook.

I watched Wen Chen with worry, but I couldn't intervene in the battle. Suddenly, I felt a chill down my spine. I turned around and saw another dark figure appear behind me, holding a gleaming dagger, lunging at me.

I gasped in surprise, instinctively trying to dodge, but it was too late. In the nick of time, a figure appeared in front of me, a dagger piercing his shoulder, blood instantly staining his clothes.

"Brother Fang!" I recognized the person who had come; it was Master Fang! What was he doing here?

"How are you?" I asked anxiously, wanting to check his injuries, but was gently pushed away by Master Fang.

"I'm fine, just a minor injury." Fang, forcing a smile despite the pain, asked, "But you, are you alright?"

I shook my head, my heart filled with both gratitude and worry. Master Fang had risked his life to save me!

"Don't worry, I'm fine." Master Fang seemed to have read my thoughts and comforted me. "It seems that Wen Chen has run into trouble."

I looked up and saw that although Wen Chen was powerful, his opponent seemed to have been prepared, and for a time the two were evenly matched.

"Let's go help him!" I said, and was about to step forward, but was stopped by Master Fang.

"You stay here to take care of Master Fang, I'll go help Wen Chen."

Wen Chen's voice sounded behind me. I turned around and saw that he had already defeated his opponent and returned to my side. He glanced at Master Fang, a hint of gratitude flashing in his eyes, and then said to me, "Let's go."

I helped Master Fang up and followed Wen Chen back to his cave. Wen Chen personally treated Master Fang's injuries, while I assisted him, my heart filled with gratitude and guilt.

"Thanks to you this time, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable," Wen Chen said while bandaging Fang Daxia's wounds.

Master Fang smiled and said, "It was nothing, no need to mention it."

"If you hadn't arrived in time, I'm afraid..." I can't imagine what I would have encountered without Master Fang.

"Alright, it's all in the past." Wen Chen gently held my hand and gave me a comforting look. "Now, the most important thing is to recover from your injuries."

I nodded, but my heart remained unsettled for a long time.

Meanwhile, in the Immortal Sect's dungeon, Sect Leader Qin was imprisoned in a dark and damp corner. He had once been full of vigor, but now he was emaciated and looked utterly wretched.

"How could this happen? How could this happen?" Sect Leader Qin muttered to himself, his eyes filled with regret and despair. He never imagined that everything he had meticulously planned would end like this.

"I was wrong, I was really wrong..." Sect Leader Qin closed his eyes in anguish, two lines of tears sliding down his wrinkled cheeks. He finally understood that he had been wrong all along. He had been blinded by hatred, willing to pay any price for revenge, but in the end, he had only harmed himself and others.

"If I could do it all over again, I would never be so stubborn again..." Sect Leader Qin said in a low voice, his tone filled with regret and longing.

"Clap."

A drop of water dripped from the stone wall, startling Master Qin, who was immersed in remorse. He opened his eyes, looked at the dark and damp environment before him, and a sudden surge of hope welled up in his heart.

"No, I can't give up like this!" Sect Leader Qin clenched his fists, his eyes flashing with determination. "I still have a chance. I must repent and make up for the mistakes I made!"

In the stillness of the night, Fang Daxia was fast asleep. I went outside, gazing at the starry sky, my mind filled with countless thoughts. Wen Chen walked to my side, following my gaze. In the night sky, the stars twinkled, as if telling ancient legends… A cool night breeze brushed my cheeks, carrying a sweet floral fragrance. I looked at the countless stars, like sparkling diamonds adorning the boundless night. Wen Chen stood beside me, his gaze gentle and profound, reflecting the starlight, as if containing the entire universe.

“Yao’er,” Wen Chen’s voice was deep and magnetic, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor, “Before I met you, I never imagined that there could be such a radiant light in my life.”

I turned to look at him; his gaze was focused and earnest, warming my heart. I had never doubted Wen Chen's feelings for me; his love, like the countless stars in the sky, was eternal and steadfast.

"Wen Chen," I called his name softly, my voice choked with emotion, "thank you for appearing in my life and bringing me light and hope."

Wen Chen reached out and pulled me into his arms. His embrace was warm and broad, making me feel incredibly safe and secure.

"Yao'er, let's work hard together, okay?" Wen Chen whispered in my ear, "Let's cultivate together, break through together, pursue higher realms together, and never be apart."

I closed my eyes, feeling his warmth and heartbeat, my heart filled with happiness and emotion.

“Okay,” I whispered, but my voice was incredibly firm, “We’ll be together, never to be apart.”

Just then, a paper crane flew in from afar and landed in my hand. I opened it and found it was a letter without a signature. I wondered, who would send me a letter at this time?

"What's wrong?" Wen Chen asked with concern when he noticed my unusual expression.

“A letter,” I handed him, “I don’t know who sent it.”

Wen Chen took the letter, opened it, and began to read it carefully. As his gaze swept across the contents of the letter line by line, his brows gradually furrowed.

"What's wrong?" A sense of unease rose within me. "What did the letter say?"

Wen Chen didn't answer, but handed me the letter and said, "Read it yourself."

I took the letter and quickly glanced through it. The contents of the letter shocked me, and my face instantly turned pale.

Wen Chen grabbed my hand; his palm was icy cold, conveying his unease and fear.

"Yao'er, don't be afraid," Wen Chen's voice trembled slightly, "We will handle it, we definitely will..."

Before he could finish speaking, my gaze was drawn to the last sentence on the letter.

"It is about to awaken..."