Zu An accepted Pei Mianman’s request. He'd previously been worried about bothering Chu Chuyan, fearing that she would be in greater pain if she woke up, but from their previous interaction, he'd learned that she was happy to wake up and chat with people she knew.
Yun Jianyue also spoke up. “I’ll join you.”
Pei Mianman looked at her questioningly, causing her face to heat up. I can’t say that we’re all sisters, right? It’ll help to dampen the blow if we at least get familiar with each other.
Yun Jianyue wasn't afraid of Chu Chuyan, but considering the latter’s special standing, she wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble. To keep Pei Mianman from thinking too much, she explained, “I’d like to see the legendary Bridge of Oblivion.”
Zu An chuckled in his heart. I didn’t expect big sister Yun to have such an adorable side to her.
The two ladies initially had their minds occupied, but they soon found themselves awed by the Netherworld’s scenery.
“I’d never have expected the legendary Netherworld to be our playground.” Yun Jianyue turned to Zu An. This fellow is extraordinary. No wonder he has so many women charmed. At this point, she suddenly glared at Zu An and asked, “Ah Zu, do you have an affair with that ice sculpture?”
It was much more discreet to communicate via souls, so there was no need to worry about Pei Mianman overhearing them.
Zu An sighed. “Would you believe me if I said no?”
“Of course not!” Yun Jianyue harrumphed. You’d obviously cover up for that ice sculpture if there’s something between the two of you.
“See. Why bother asking me if you won’t believe me?” Zu An sighed.
“Looks like there really is something between you two!” Yun Jianyue sneered.
“There isn’t.”
“I’m sure of it!”
“There isn’t.”
...
This argument continued until they reached the Bridge of Oblivion.
The two ladies, despite having gone through a lot, were taken aback. The Oblivion River’s blood-tinged yellow river emanated a bloodthirsty aura that made their souls tremble even from a far distance away. They wouldn’t want to approach it even if no one told them about the Oblivion River’s traits.
Taking a closer look, they saw countless warped faces in the water. Those were the vengeful spirits cursed to suffer in the Oblivion River for eternity. But sitting at the center of this terrifying river of death was a sacred lotus flower. A beautiful figure could be vaguely spotted amid its iridescent lights, adding some vibrancy to the oppressive scene.
“Chuyan is too pitiful.” Pei Mianman bit her lips. She'd already heard about Chu Chuyan’s condition, but the shock of witnessing it in person still left her feeling melancholic.
Even Yun Jianyue, who was accustomed to seeing mountains of corpses and rivers of blood, fell silent. She felt a tinge of regret. Did we go too far plotting against them in the last two days? That ice sculpture is hateful, but her disciple is innocent.
Zu An gently called out to Chu Chuyan. The lotus flower in the Oblivion River blossomed, and its seven-colored divine light gradually expanded. The beauty lying within opened her eyes.
“Ah Zu!” Chu Chuyan was overjoyed to see Zu An. She hadn’t expected them to reunite so quickly.
“Chuyan!” Zu An noticed the joy in her eyes and thought that he should visit her more often.
Chu Chuyan noticed his company and embarrassedly called out, “Sect Master Yun, Manman...” Would they mistake my interaction with Ah Zu as a declaration of dominance?
Yun JIanyue nodded in acknowledgment.
Pei Mianman excitedly called out, “Chuyan!”
She tried to dash to Chu Chuyan’s side. Horrified, Zu An stopped and warned her, “You mustn’t get afflicted by the Oblivion River, or else it’ll wash away your memories and turn you into one of its countless vengeful spirits.”
Chu Chuyan offered the same warning too.
Pei Mianman remarked hoarsely, “Chuyan, you've really suffered.”
She was close friends with Chu Chuyan. While she'd initially had ulterior motives for approaching her, they became friends after years of company. The knowledge that her best friend had to stay in a place like this for a thousand years filled her with irrepressible sorrow.
Chu Chuyan smiled. “Manman, don’t worry about me. I’m protected by the Pure World Icelotus, and Zu An is taking care of me too. It’s not as bad as you think.”
Chu Chuyan’s consolation only made Pei Mianman feel even more melancholic.
Yun Jianyue tugged Zu An’s sleeves and said, “Why don’t we let them chat in private?”
She could have used this opportunity to express concern and forge closer ties with Chu Chuyan, but her pride wouldn’t let her do so. There were no ties between them on the surface, so if she proactively approached Chu Chuyan, it would make her seem like the weaker one.
Zu An could also tell that Chu Chuyan and Pei Mianman had many things to talk about, and their presence here was a hindrance, so he imbued Pei Mianman’s soul with a portion of his energy to protect her before taking Yun Jianyue elsewhere.
After those two departed, Chu Chuyan asked teasingly, “Manman, isn’t Ah Zu caring?”
Pei Mianman’s face reddened. It was inappropriate of her to get together with Zu An, considering that he was her best friend’s man. “Chuyan, I...”
Chu Chuyan raised a hand to stop her apology. “Manman, do you think I’d be concerned about this after everything I've been through?”
Pei Mianman thought that made sense. It was the same for her too. The Myriad Worlds were so humongous that such social propriety just felt insignificant in comparison. “Chuyan, I was being narrow-minded.”
Chu Chuyan smiled. They exchanged some pleasantries before she suddenly asked, “I heard Ah Zu met someone known as the Goddess of Wu Mountain in their previous life. Is that your previous incarnation?”
“That thing makes me feel so stifled. I don’t remember anything about my previous life. It feels like Ah Zu had another relationship behind my back, but that person is somehow ‘me’, so I can’t get mad at that...” Pei Mianman began venting to Chu Chuyan. It felt as if they had returned to their old times in Brightmoon City, when they would spill their hearts to each other.
...
A while later, Pei Mianman suddenly remembered her reason for coming here and asked, “Chuyan, what kind of person do you think your master is?”
Chu Chuyan was taken aback, but she replied with a smile, “My master is a wonderful person. If not for her, my life would have gone down a different path. The world thinks that she’s a lofty ice immortal incapable of human emotions, but I know my master is full of feelings. It’s just that she's sealed away her heart for her cultivation, which makes her appear cold to others.”
Pei Mianman hadn’t expected Chu Chuyan to have such an evaluation of her master. She further probed, “Do you think your master would fall in love with a man?”
“Under normal circumstances, no, but there’s no way to say for certain when it comes to feelings.” Chu Chuyan’s clear eyes seemed to peer right into the truth.
Pei Mianman hesitantly asked, “What kind of man do you think could catch your master’s eye?”
“Someone like Ah Zu,” Chu Chuyan replied.
Pei Mianman was flabbergasted. “You already know about it?”