Ha, Karma! – Chapter 84

Don’t be afraid, I am here.

The appearance of Ji Hanyan greatly surprised Chu Zhaoqiu and Fu Lianxue.

Someone they thought they would never see again had suddenly appeared, like an act of Heaven’s Will, an act… an act of Heaven’s Will that made them understand what kind of choice they were facing.

Ji Hanyan stood by the railing, the bright moon hanging in the sky behind her.

She was composed and serene, like an immortal descended from the Moon Palace.

Looking at the human and the yao¹ staring at each other before her, her tone was gentle, neither distant nor intimate: “It seems you have questions for me.”

Chu Zhaoqiu and Fu Lianxue both turned to look at her simultaneously, their expressions complex.

After a moment, Chu Zhaoqiu spoke first.

“Do you not remember me, or Master?”

“Who is Master?”

“Tianxuan Zhanglao² of the Taxian Sect³.”

“Ah…”

Expectation instantly filled the eyes of Chu Zhaoqiu and Fu Lianxue.

“I don’t remember,” Ji Hanyan said with a smile.

The two: “…”

Chu Zhaoqiu then listed several more people, all peers or elders they had known well back then.

The result, without exception, was that Ji Hanyan said she didn’t remember.

She hadn’t just forgotten them; it seemed she had forgotten everyone.

Could this be the price of achieving godhood?

But wasn’t this also a kind of cruelty to the old acquaintances left behind in the mortal world?

Fu Lianxue wore a mask, making her expression unreadable. Ji Hanyan could only see the expression of Chu Zhaoqiu beside her.

This young person’s face was filled with astonishment and dejection, suggesting a deep past connection with her, making it unacceptable that she had vanished from her memory.

Moreover, they knew her identity.

But she couldn’t remember, nor did she feel anything towards this Shimei⁴; she was no different from a stranger.

However, since she had come here today, it must be fated, arranged by Heaven’s Will, so she wasn’t in a hurry to leave.

“Little Friend⁵,” Ji Hanyan began, her voice still clear and gentle, “Let nature take its course.”

The kind immortal still offered a polite word of comfort.

Chu Zhaoqiu: “…”

The Shijie who had once treated her like a younger sister, who had been so incredibly good to her, had forgotten her completely⁶, and even comforted her with “Let nature take its course,” reacting blandly.

She couldn’t help but turn to look at Fu Lianxue.

Which meant, if she chose to achieve godhood, the Ji Hanyan of this moment would be the Fu Lianxue of the future in relation to her.

Fu Lianxue pulled down her mask.

When Ji Hanyan saw her face, her eyes remained placid⁷, as if looking at a stranger.

Back then, when Ji Hanyan first saw her on Wenxuan Peak, she had at least shown surprise…

She opened her mouth, then didn’t know what to say.

The person before her clearly still looked the same, her eyes holding a gentle smile.

But standing there, she had become so distant, seemingly very, very far away from them.

True, gods and humans belonged to two different worlds.

Fu Lianxue thought for a moment, then boldly asked, “Does becoming an immortal mean turning out like you?”

Ji Hanyan leaned against the railing, the night wind lifting her long hair. She curved her eyes slightly in the breeze and asked, “Like what?”

Chu Zhaoqiu: “…”

This felt even more familiar.

Ji Hanyan often used to smile and ask them questions like this back then.

Fu Lianxue said, “Like you, remembering nothing, forgetting family, friends, lover, everyone…”

But she heard Ji Hanyan ask in return, “Isn’t that good?”

Chu Zhaoqiu and Fu Lianxue were both stunned.

“What?” Fu Lianxue asked.

Ji Hanyan looked at them as if looking at two children.

Two… children very close to the clouds.

She suddenly understood why she had appeared here today.

She looked up at the night sky, then turned to look at the sea of lights in the bustling Zhou City, her voice soft, as if drifting on the wind: “Achieving godhood is a complete transformation⁸, and also a new beginning.”

Saying this, she looked back at them, her eyes full of compassion, her heart peaceful: “Forgetting is the best beginning.”

To become a god, one must first learn to let go, leaving the seven emotions and six desires of human life behind in the mortal realm, entering the new world without ties or worries.

In the new world, a god’s emotions also start anew, loving all living beings more fairly and justly.

Of course, there are gods unwilling to love the world’s people, but that is something that happens after achieving godhood.

At the very least, at the moment of choice, worldly affections have already been cast aside, truly transformed.

At this moment, Chu Zhaoqiu and Fu Lianxue finally understood Chu Zhaohua’s meaning.

Chu Zhaoqiu also finally understood why her grandmother encouraged her to resolve her heart’s knots.

Chu Zhaohua hoped she would achieve godhood.

Chu Zhaohua wanted her to be without ties or worries.

After resolving the knots in her heart, with no regrets remaining, she could naturally walk towards another world more calmly and easily.

Ji Hanyan looked at the silent human and yao, quietly raised two fingers, then lowered them again.

Gods perform miracles to bestow upon humans, protecting their people, but often do not allow themselves to exist in mortal memory, unless fate decrees it.

Heaven’s Will allowed them to meet here; it must be so she could help them contemplate and prepare for achieving godhood. Since that was the case, she wouldn’t erase this memory for them.

Not erasing the memory didn’t mean she could stay longer.

She curved her eyes slightly: “Meeting you today must be destined by Heaven’s Will. I hope you can carefully consider my words. I look forward to becoming fellow immortals with you in the future.”

“We shall meet again if fate allows.”

Her task was complete; the remaining choice was left for the two of them to make.

As her voice fell, a gust of wind suddenly blew from the east.

In an instant, Ji Hanyan under the moonlight merged with the wind, scattering freely towards the heavens.

In the blink of an eye, only a faint, gentle fragrance remained in the wind.

She came quickly and left quickly.

Leaving only Chu Zhaoqiu and Fu Lianxue standing there, looking at each other.

It was like a dream.

Chu Zhaoqiu walked to where Ji Hanyan had just stood, gently raising her hand. The wind passed through her fingers, carrying a faint scent.

A fragrant and very real dream.

Chu Zhaoqiu stared at her empty palm, silent.

At this moment, they finally understood why, in these long thousand years, she had never encountered the Ji Hanyan who had achieved godhood.

The one who chose to forget had a new beginning, but the ones forgotten, along with the past, remained where they were.

Achieving godhood was difficult, and also cruel.

But Heaven, at least, was generous.

It generously allowed them a glimpse of this future, giving them the chance to choose.

Fu Lianxue stood behind Chu Zhaoqiu, gazing at her lonely back.

If Chu Zhaoqiu hadn’t gone back to find Chu Zhaohua today, but had instead waited full of anticipation with her for fate’s opportunity to arrive… she dared not imagine how cruel the ending would have been.

But ascending through godhood was also the dream Chu Zhaoqiu had strived for over thousands of years…

Fu Lianxue pressed her lips together, wanting to call Chu Zhaoqiu’s name but suddenly not knowing how to begin.

Now, what would she choose…

“Lianxue,” she suddenly heard Chu Zhaoqiu say, “Let’s go home.”

Under the shimmering moonlight, her lover turned towards her, extending a hand: “Let’s go home.”

Fu Lianxue saw her brow furrow slightly and, without thinking, took her hand: “Okay, let’s go home.”

Her Zhaoqiu didn’t want to stay here, so they would go home.

Back to the place where it was just the two of them.

Along the way, Chu Zhaoqiu didn’t say a word, nor did she let go of Fu Lianxue’s hand.

Fu Lianxue knew her emotions were in turmoil and quietly accompanied her, not disturbing her.

On one side was her lover, on the other, the ideal she had pursued for a thousand years.

Choosing between the two would make anyone feel terrible.

And this was clearly different from being reborn with memories.

This was starting completely anew, past events wiped clean⁹, even the most deeply engraved love¹⁰ would be erased, like a newborn infant re-experiencing the world.

Chu Zhaoqiu would no longer be able to fall in love with her at first sight with existing affection; they would become strangers. This was terrifying and cruel.

She didn’t want to experience something like this… she didn’t.

Thinking this, she tightly gripped Chu Zhaoqiu’s hand, remaining silent.

After arriving home, Baobao was waiting for them at the door as usual.

It circled around their legs, rubbing its head against them, welcoming them home.

Fu Lianxue wasn’t in high spirits tonight and just patted it.

Chu Zhaoqiu also patted it, then picked it up, walked silently to the sofa, and sat down.

Fu Lianxue stood where she was, wanting badly to say something, yet not knowing what to say.

She didn’t like this atmosphere, but she could understand it.

Tangled and complex emotions entwined around her like vines.

Just then, she saw Chu Zhaoqiu reach out a hand towards her: “Lianxue, stay with me.”

Without a second thought, Fu Lianxue walked over and sat beside her, holding her in her arms: “Don’t be afraid, I am here.”

But she heard the person in her arms chuckle softly: “Lianxue, you seem to be the one who’s afraid.”

Fu Lianxue pouted: “What am I afraid of…”

Chu Zhaoqiu sat up to face her, tenderly stroking her cheek: “You’re afraid I’ll abandon everything here.”

This was like flipping a switch. Hearing this, Fu Lianxue finally stopped holding back.

“Yes, I’m afraid you’ll abandon everything here, afraid you’ll go become that high and mighty god I won’t see for thousands of years!

“But I also know achieving godhood is the ideal you’ve always pursued. Didn’t you cultivate so painstakingly just for this day? I love you, I should be happy for you that you can realize your ideal, but I can’t feel happy at all… We haven’t even been together that long!

“Why do these damn heavens¹¹ have to treat us like this?!”

As she spoke, she grew agitated, her eyes suddenly burning, as if Chu Zhaoqiu would abandon her past life and become the second Ji Hanyan in the next second.

At that moment, a gentle kiss landed near the corner of her eye.

“Then I won’t go.”

Fu Lianxue froze.

She watched Chu Zhaoqiu kiss the palm of her own hand, saw her gaze filled with tenderness as she looked at her, saying very firmly: “I won’t go. I want to stay here, stay by our Lianxue’s side.”

Tears shimmered in Fu Lianxue’s eyes, still dazed: “But didn’t you cultivate so hard just for this day…”

Chu Zhaoqiu smiled, then shook her head.

“I used to think so too, but your words later woke me up. I cultivated hard not to achieve godhood, but to be able to help more people. That makes me happy, that’s what I truly want.”

Being a demon hunter was to protect others from harm; being a guide for souls was to guide lost souls back to reincarnation; cultivation was to become better suited for these tasks.

From beginning to end, achieving godhood was never her ultimate goal; being able to help more people was.

The power and status of a god were certainly attractive, but if she had to trade everything she held incredibly precious nearby for it, then forget it.

She could still be a good demon hunter, a good guide for souls, relying on her own abilities without becoming a god.

—It wasn’t only gods who could protect humanity.

She grasped Fu Lianxue’s hand, holding tightly onto her most precious love, her eyes fixed on her: “So I’ve thought it through. I’m still better suited to being a mortal.

“Because I like it here, and I like Fu Lianxue.”

Compared to her Shijie, she had too many attachments.

She couldn’t bear to let go, couldn’t relinquish them, so she was destined not to become a god.

She didn’t need any new beginning either; she wanted to stay here, stay by Fu Lianxue’s side. This was the future she wanted.

Thinking carefully, apart from having a shorter lifespan, being human wasn’t so bad.

She smiled and said, “Although I can’t live forever, being with Lianxue, continuing to be a child of the Chu family, continuing to be a demon hunter—I’m very happy.”

Fu Lianxue’s eyes widened in pleasant surprise. After hearing her finish, she couldn’t resist poking her: “What do you mean can’t live forever, did you forget I still have a flower? You didn’t remember from the start, did you? Or did you think I only wanted to date you for three hundred years and then break up?”

Chu Zhaoqiu gently held her hand, composed: “Of course not, but the Longevity Flower is yours, it’s something incredibly precious. I can’t selfishly assume it must be used for me.”

A Charm Demon’s Longevity Flower was like a second life; it could bring the dead back to life or grant immortality.

Especially for a powerful Great Yao like Fu Lianxue with strong magic, the Longevity Flower’s effects were only greater, potentially even helping the Charm Demon advance their cultivation techniques and soar to new heights¹².

It was an incredibly precious thing for others and for the Charm Demon herself.

Therefore, who to give it to and how to use it was Fu Lianxue’s decision. She couldn’t just assume the flower was hers just because they were together; otherwise, it would be too disrespectful to the other party.

Fu Lianxue held her face, her eyes full of tenderness: “It’s good that you can think this way, but… I want to be with you forever even more.”

She had lived for so long, seen and experienced everything. Now, only one wish remained: to be happy with Chu Zhaoqiu.

They had been separated for a thousand years and had only just gotten together; how could they be satisfied with just a few short years together?

She wanted them to be together not just now, but also in the distant future.

She wanted to have a very, very long romance with her!

Hearing her say this, the smile on Chu Zhaoqiu’s lips deepened unconsciously: “Okay, we will be together forever. Through changing seas and fields¹³, never apart.”

“But let’s talk about the flower later.”

“Hm?”

“I’m only twenty-three now. Cultivators can live over three hundred years. I’m still far from death; we don’t need to rush to use the flower.”

“That’s true, you’re still a youngster…”

“Besides, what if I encounter some opportunity to extend my life before then? Then we wouldn’t need to waste your flower. Isn’t that better?”

“Oh, that makes sense too. Okay then, we’ll do as you say!”

Her lover’s figure reappeared in the blueprint of her future, and Fu Lianxue was happy again.

Chu Zhaoqiu smiled and helped her wipe away the tears from her eyes, her heart softening.

It was rare to see Fu Lianxue cry.

They loved each other so sincerely.

She truly couldn’t abandon this beautiful mortal world.

Chu Zhaoqiu blissfully hugged Fu Lianxue tightly.

She wouldn’t be able to be her Shijie’s fellow immortal, but she was much more willing to stay behind and be Fu Lianxue’s girlfriend.

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