Chapter 2379: Previous Home
Chapter 2379: Previous Home
The two continued on in the same manner; Lu Yin at the front with Zhi Yi following behind. They made their way towards the center of Food Paradise, to a place that had wine bottles scattered all over it, as well as steaming dishes placed atop a blooming flower.
As Lu Yin approached the wine bottles, a memory appeared. In it, many people were sitting in a circle, laughing, drinking, and talking loudly. He looked over in one direction, towards where Eldest Sister had been sitting. "Little Seven, drink less. You’re supposed to be visiting the bridal chamber tonight."
Lu Yin looked to the side, which was where Second Brother had sat. "Elder Sister, our Little Seven’s all grown up! We won't be needed in the future."
"Second Brother, don't be ridiculous! Little Seven, come over here. Fourth Sister will drink with you."
"Fourth Sister, slow down a bit! Don't forget, there are other people in your family waiting to comfort you."
"It's not like you can only marry one, Little Seven. Take Long Xi with you."
"I got it recorded, haha! Play it for Bai Xian'er right now! Fourth Sister, she’s always disliked you."
"Old Five, you’re asking to die! Don’t start family conflicts."
"Little Seven, don't talk to me about Qiming. I can see his star has dimmed. The child is so pitiful."
"Who forced that kid to always provoke me? Actually, why doesn't he bother you?"
"Little Seven, it’d be best if you talk to him, and don’t let him annoy me. Third Brother will put him in the ground! No, I’ll toss him into the wheat circle! We won’t have to even think about him for ten years."
"Who- who dares to insult me, the Seven Heroes’ eighth member, Tu Qiming? Boss, someone just insulted me!"
"Hahahaha."
"Hahahaha."
Everyone had been sitting in a circle, laughing happily while drinking, celebrating, and offering their blessings. Lu Yin clenched his fists. At some point in time, his eyes had turned bloodshot. This particular memory appeared like a snapshot in his mind. It was exceptionally clear, and he could still remember what everyone had said, what they had worn, what they had done, and even the specific blessings that they had offered him. It was a warm memory, filled with family and friends. At that time, he had had family, siblings, and even a lover.
However, everything after that memory shattered, and the clear picture disappeared. There was nothing at all left.
When Lu Yin returned to his senses, he only saw empty wine bottles scattered across the ground. Where were the people? Where had everyone gone?
Lu Yin sat down. This had been his seat.
Zhi Yi watched Lu Yin from the distance as he sat down on the ground. For some reason, he was giving off an aura of extreme loneliness right now. This loneliness did not bother Zhi Yi, but she could tell that, no matter how many people might walk by, this loneliness would not be driven away. It was also clear that Lu Yin had visited this island before and that something had happened in this particular place.
Zhi Yi had visited this location on the island before, and when she had first seen all the empty wine bottles scattered across the ground, she had initially believed that there were still people on the island. She had been very wary for quite some time, but she had never found anyone.
Lu Yin spent an entire day sitting amidst the empty wine bottles. He did not move at all. He was reminiscing, trying to recall more of his lost memories of the past, memories of the happy times. Unfortunately, while he could remember certain people, he could not get them back.
The old servant who had died in Lu Yin’s arms had said that Lu Xiaoxuan had left certain important things in Food Paradise, but Lu Yin could not remember anything.
"Have you explored this entire island?" Lu Yin suddenly asked.
After a moment, Zhi Yi replied, "Well, I've been here for decades, so I've seen the whole place."
"What else have you found?"
"This whole place is nothing but food. There isn’t anything else."
Lu Yin stopped talking.
"Oh, right. Someone occasionally stops by and talks to me, but she always reaches out to me. I can’t contact her at all." Zhi Yi suddenly remembered something. "The last time she visited and spoke to me was ten years ago."
Lu Yin turned around and fixed a very intense stare onto Zhi Yi. "Who is it?"
"She said that her name was Bai Xian'er."
Lu Yin abruptly appeared right in front of Zhi Yi, his speed so fast that Zhi Yi could not even react. She was badly startled—just what level had Lu Yin’s cultivation reached? Other than eating, Zhi Yi had spent all of her time on the island cultivating, and given the abundant stellular energy, it had felt like an ideal location for secluded training. She had already become an Envoy, so why did she feel as powerless as a child before Lu Yin?
"Take me to find her," Lu Yin commanded.
Zhi Yi was stunned, and she frowned. "Lu Yin, I'm not your minion! I only approached you like that because I haven't seen anyone for so long, and because I can't find any way out of here. I-"
She was not even able to finish her sentence when her mind suddenly trembled. A long-forgotten pressure enveloped her, and it felt as though the sky was collapsing. The entire island started shaking. The pressure was so intense that she struggled to even breathe, and she was forced to crouch on the ground, unable to resist at all.
She could not believe what she was feeling, as she had only ever felt such an intense pressure from Semi-Progenitors. Not even the Sixth Mainland’s most powerful imprints had ever given her this much pressure, and it was a massive shock to feel such a sensation from Lu Yin. Zhi Yi could do nothing but stare at the ground, as she was unable to do so much as raise her head. She had the distinct feeling that, if she raised her head, she would die.
"Take me to find her," Lu Yin ordered again, and after he spoke, all of the pressure instantly vanished.
The tremendous pressure came and went so quickly that Zhi Yi actually coughed up blood. The abrupt disappearance of the pressure had placed too much strain on her body. Her hands fell onto the ground, and she slowly looked up. For the first time since seeing him again, Zhi Yi stared at Lu Yin with fear. She was afraid of someone from her own generation, someone who had once needed to cooperate with others just to survive a fight against her.
When had she last seen him? ZENITH. However, even if Lu Yin had revealed the God of Death’s power during the last battle of ZENITH and completely overwhelmed every other finalist, his power had not been enough to make Zhi Yi feel such instinctive fear. Why did he give off such an overwhelmingly terrifying aura now?
Lu Yin calmly looked down at the woman. Zhi Yi wiped the bit of blood from the corner of her mouth and shakily said, "I'll take you there."
Lu Yin looked back up and stared off into the distance. He was no longer worried about Zhi Yi.
She had once been one of the Sixth Mainland’s Daosource Three Skies, and her endless Vitality Qi had been extremely difficult to deal with. However, the once monstrous opponent had become as fragile as a piece of paper before Lu Yin’s current strength. What was there to fear from her?
Zhi Yi slowly rose to her feet. She let out another cough and then started walking in a specific direction.
She had not felt any pain or suffered any injuries for literal decades. She had forgotten what pain felt like. Ironically, the last time she had suffered pain had also been at Lu Yin’s hand.
Zhi Yi was desperate to ask about what had happened in the Fifth Mainland, but given what had just happened, she felt too frightened to speak up. It was clear that the gap between them was larger than what she could understand.
Zhi Yi did not move quickly, though Lu Yin did not try to rush her. He was still thinking about various things.
What did the fact that Bai Xian'er spoke to Zhi Yi in Food Paradise mean? It meant that Bai Xian’er knew where Food Paradise had fallen and that she could visit the place.
When it came to Bai Xian'er, Lu Yin could only think of bad things. If she was able to enter and leave Food Paradise at will, then where was she at the moment?
At this thought, Lu Yin immediately grew wary, and he prepared to utilize the runes from the Champions’ Stage at any moment. God of Flames’ figurine appeared on his shoulder, and beneath his clothes, Wielder-realm battle force spread upwards from his hand. He was ready to strike at any moment.
Zhi Yi led Lu Yin to an exquisite wooden house that stood in the depths of Food Paradise. Well, it was not actually a wooden house, but rather a house made of water. The building’s materials looked exactly like water, but it was actually as sturdy as wood. Fish swam within the water that made up the house, giving the place a beautiful and elegant appearance.
A fence ran around the water house. There should have been some animals within the fenced-in area, and there was even a large vegetable garden behind the house. The entire place looked amazingly peaceful and relaxing.
A short distance away stood a waterfall, and a colorful drink fell down the cascade. Fish were constantly swimming, trying to climb the waterfall, as if they were trying to leap over the dragon's gate.
The cliffs on either side of the waterfall were covered with fruit trees, and not only did the trees bear various fruits, but their branches also held other delicacies, sauces, and even meat.
As Lu Yin stared at the scene before him, his pupils fluctuated, and another image appeared in his mind. He saw a beautiful face with a delighted smile, and eyes that were filled with love as they stared at him. He was seeing Bai Xian'er.
This was where he and Bai Xian'er had lived.
"I met her inside that house," Zhi Yi said, standing still.
Lu Yin slowly walked forward. He raised a hand and placed it on the fence. This action felt like it had been done countless times before, and it brought him feelings of happiness and comfort. He pushed his way through the fence and looked to the sides. Rabbits and cats had been raised in this place, as well as dogs and even hedgehogs. He could almost see a smiling, beautiful woman squatting on the ground and feeding the animals.
Lu Yin’s head suddenly snapped to the side to look at the forest. It felt like someone should come out from that direction.
There had been a colorful deer, and whenever he returned to this place, that colorful deer had run out from the woods and bumped into his arms, eager to see him.
This was the house that had belonged exclusively to Lu Yin and Bai Xian'er. Aside from entertaining a few of his brothers and sisters, not even members of the Lu family had ever visited this place. Lu Yin could very clearly remember that detail.
Taking a deep breath, Lu Yin stepped forward again and approached the house. He opened the door and looked around.
The first room was quite small, and the furniture perfectly matched his memories from the bygone years. He was certain that he was looking at the same wooden bed, the same dresser, and the same table. This was a very, very familiar place, and as soon as Lu Yin stepped through the door, he had felt the urge to spend the rest of his life in this house.
This had been his home. At this moment, Lu Yin could also remember why he had promised Bai Xian'er to move Food Paradise next to the Lu Sanctum; it had been because of this house.
After getting married, this house was supposed to be their home, not the Lu Sanctum. That was why Lu Yin’s family had agreed to move Food Paradise to the Higher Realm, and it was also why Bai Xian'er had requested the move. Lu Yin could remember Bai Xian’er’s exact appearance when she had eagerly and excitedly suggested the move.
"Brother Xiaoxuan, let's not care about the rest of the world in the future, alright? I just want to stay on Food Paradise in our little home. The universe might be vast and impressive, but that’s not what I want." That was what Bai Xian'er had said at that time.
Lu Yin clenched his fists as he remembered everything. Bai Xian’er had been the one who said those words. She had been the one who had suggested moving Food Paradise to the Higher Realm, but everything had been fake. Saying that she had wanted to stay in this house in Food Paradise, saying that she had wanted to leave the rest of the universe and live a humble life—all of it had been an act.
There was a bang, and the water house was shattered. Everything nearby was blasted away by a surge of Lu Yin's powerful aura.
Zhi Yi reflexively stepped back, and she stared at Lu Yin as though she were looking at a psychopath.
As she stared on, Lu Yin was panting heavily, his eyes completely bloodshot. It was clear that he was suppressing some powerful memory or emotion.
At this moment, something vibrated inside the nightstand. Somehow, the nightstand had not been destroyed.
Lu Yin looked over and saw a communication crystal.
He took a deep breath and answered the incoming call. An image of Bai Xian'er appeared.
Lu Yin stared at her.
She looked at Lu Yin. "Brother Xiaoxuan, what are your thoughts?"
Lu Yin glared at Bai Xian'er. "You were the one who suggested that we move Food Paradise next to the Lu Sanctum. You planned out everything that happened back then!"
Bai Xian'er was taken aback. "Master Shan and the others didn't already tell you? I thought that you already knew."
"How are they? Eldest Sister?" Lu Yin demanded.
Bai Xian'er’s innocent eyes stared at Lu Yin. "They’re all dead."
Lu Yin's eyes grew fierce, and a boundless killing intent billowed up within his eyes. "I will make you pay for what you’ve done!"
Bai Xian'er smiled. "Would you like to dance again? I'll wait for you. By the way, Brother Xiaoxuan, some of your things were left under the bed. Not even I could learn it, so I’ll give it back to you."
She looked around at the background of the image, taking in the destruction. "It seems that you are truly angry, seeing as how you even destroyed your house that I had managed to save.”
"Oh." Bai Xian'er suddenly grew solemn as she looked back at Lu Yin. "You’re going to need to speed up your cultivation. If I manage to become a Progenitor first, it’s just possible that you’ll die."
With that, the image vanished.