Chapter 1000: Chapter 573: Not Husband and Wife (Double-Length)

If it’s uncertain, then there’s no need to overthink it. The important thing is to focus on what’s necessary.

The main thing... what was it again? Oh yes... the Wushan Goddess...

Raising her head to gaze afar, the landscape filled with water pavilions, flying eaves of buildings, lush timber, and elegant scenery covered the mountain path, resembling an Immortal’s private estate, making one couldn’t help but exclaim.

"What a magnificent Immortal Mountain."

Taiyi couldn’t help but ask:

"Is the Wushan Goddess inside there?"

Yin Weiyin supported Chen Yi as they walked forward, uninterrupted. When she heard the question, she turned her head, pressing her lips into a gentle smile.

With a meaningful tone, she said:

"Who knows, maybe... she really is up there."

......

As the spiritual energy swirled around, stone steps ascended straight from the base of the mountain, white jade-like stairs inlaid with patterns, and along the way, Everlasting Lamps exhaled smoke, with surrounding trees adorned in layers of silk.

The scenery along the way was pleasing, everywhere exuded beautiful Immortal Light, and in the distance loomed a plum forest with lingering blossoms, truly an abode for Immortals.

The fact that the Wushan Goddess resides here is not surprising, one might say, just as a phoenix wouldn’t roost far from a phoenix tree, such a Goddess would only dwell here alone.

Taiyi enjoyed the scenery along the way, intending to stay vigilant, yet under the gentle landscape, any caution dissolved.

Glancing sideways, the female crown walking alongside Chen Yi made them seem like an Immortal Couple, each step exuding unique immortal allure, wandering and ethereal. The more she looked, the more envious she became, and also felt... something strange in her heart.

Clearly, she and Chen Yi were also a couple... how could it be like this? Wait... are they really a couple? His every action didn’t seem to treat her as a genuine wife.

At that moment, Chen Yi turned his head, and Taiyi hurriedly looked away, not daring to meet his gaze.

Chen Yi furrowed his brows; this was the third time Donggong Ruoshu looked at him. Did he have something evil on him?

He shrugged his shoulders, really, if there was something evil, it would most likely be hiding in the cauldron’s Old Saintess.

The mountain path underfoot was crooked, covered with moss, and most of the steps had missing corners, leading the way upward along the mountain path.

Looking up, ruins of dilapidation, broken walls, and crumbling remnants were what met the eyes.

The highest palace was old, with broken doors and windows, cracked walls, appearing abandoned for an untold length of time, full of desolation, never visited by anyone.

Whose dream is this, so... decrepit?

Or could it be that no one is dreaming? Is this the sight at the innermost of the tower?

Chen Yi couldn’t help but doubt whether the so-called Wushan Goddess was really there. Now, not even a shadow could be seen, yet as they’ve been walking, he had a faint feeling of being watched, like a needle on his back.

But, discounting the Old Saintess, there were clearly only him and Donggong Ruoshu here...

She walked ahead, quickening her steps, restraining herself from glancing back.

Yet, he and Yin Weiyin seemed truly suited for each other, while she felt like... an extra third person...

She could only shift her gaze, looking up and afar,

The Immortal Palace remained unchanged.

......

As they continued walking, Chen Yi’s pace involuntarily slowed down.

The surroundings brightened slightly compared to before; an unseen glow seemed to illuminate, and the distant broken palace appeared somewhat elevated, a glimpse showed a momentary scene of pavilions and terraces, sculpted railings and painted buildings of an Immortal Palace, but with another blink, it was still the same ruins.

Chen Yi composed himself, using his Heavenly Eye to observe, noticing no changes.

Was he overly tense in his nerves, how did he mistakenly envision this place as an Immortal Palace?

Oddly, the term "split personality" came to his mind.

He didn’t even know what triggered the thought, suddenly thinking of it, quite laughable really, yet regardless of how the term is applied, it doesn’t pertain to himself.

Finally reaching the broken palace, Chen Yi took a deep breath, slowly searching for clues, while Donggong Ruoshu obediently followed him as before.

The sights were all ordinary, no remarkable features stood out, the dilapidation remained as such; not entirely devoid of notable elements, but many things had lost their spiritual energy, indistinguishable from mundane items.

How long had it been, still without any findings, Chen Yi glanced around, feeling that everything was too normal, so normal... just like any other ordinary ruins.

Yet, such a place isn’t supposed to be so normal.

Where exactly is the source, and where is that Wushan Goddess hiding?

Taiyi watched as Yin Weiyin comforted the gradually agitated Chen Yi, her beauty akin to a celestial entity, her grace unparalleled, in stark comparison to herself... inevitably inducing feelings of inadequacy.

She glanced downward, noticing that apart from being more well-endowed, there was nothing she could compare with, yet merely being more endowed doesn’t guarantee more affection.

Throughout the journey, Chen Yi’s spirit wasn’t on this Immortal Palace, instead fixated on Yin Weiyin, while as for herself... she seemed just like a transparent person.

Fortunately, the First Lady understood how to soothe hearts, prompting Chen Yi to offer a few comforting words, to glance at her a few times.

But deep within, still... so bitter and sour.

Taiyi refrained from dwelling on it further, surveying the surroundings, suddenly noticing from behind a screen, a group of maidens emerged, varied in shape, swirling into the Immortal Palace in a cascade of gowns, leading both of them deeper into the palace.

Before Taiyi could react to what transpired, she hastily sped up to follow along.

They passed through countless beautiful landscapes, arrived at the peak from a winding path, where a lake surface mirrored like a mirror.

"That’s Mirror Lake, it’s said you can see whom one’s heart loves the most." A maiden said with a coquettish smile.

Upon hearing this, Taiyi’s curiosity piqued; whether the statement held truth was uncertain, but seeing Yin Weiyin inquire about it, the maidens all laughed lightly, affirming it as true.

She remained skeptical, wishing to test it herself, so she cautiously leaned her face over the clear lake.

Reflected was... Chen Yi’s face, the shimmering ripples during that moment spoke volumes more than any word could convey.

Taiyi was stunned for a long time, during which Chen Yi also stepped forward, leaning his face towards the lake.

Yin Weiyin’s stunning visage was cast upon the clear lake.

As it should have been anticipated, inherently so, amid the sparse water plants swaying across the lake’s rippling lights, reflected that countenance again and again, seemingly rippling right into Taiyi’s soul.

Indeed, the one he truly loved wasn’t her.

Yet for some unknown reason,

she suddenly felt an urge to cry, as if hoping for something, although uncertain of its origin, its emergence.

......

Chen Yi didn’t know how long he’d been searching, still unable to find many noteworthy clues.

Even when reaching the peak and glancing at that mirror-like clear lake surface, the outcome was identical.

Somewhat dazedly, as if mistaken by illusion, Chen Yi couldn’t tell if his imagination was too active, as the broken silhouettes of the palace seemed to sketch out an Immortal Palace in his vision.

Assuming it wasn’t an optical illusion,

whose dream is this, really?

"Old thing, you found nothing either?" Chen Yi asked softly.

"Couldn’t find, truly couldn’t find, I accompanied you in probing, it shouldn’t be this way, unless..." The Old Saintess’s tone was extremely uncertain, fearing to lead one astray. "I’m afraid to speak impulsively..."

"Just speak your mind, determining it, is for me to do."

"Alright... unless, that Wushan Goddess... hasn’t fallen into a dream realm at all, but remained aware all along." The Old Saintess slowly articulated.

Chen Yi raised an eyebrow slightly.

If that is the truth, truly a thorny problem it poses.

Before thoughts could settle, his clothing’s hem behind him was tugged.

It was Donggong Ruoshu.

Chen Yi turned around, about to respond with a smile, when she reacted first.

"Actually..." she paused, tentatively asking, "We aren’t truly a couple, are we?"

Chen Yi slightly arched an eyebrow. Where had he slipped up, or was it that the unknown entity was too keen? His expression remained gentle, laughingly responding, "What are you imagining? How could we not be a couple?"

"Certainly not." Her tone was exceptionally certain, "You... you look into my eyes... without love."

Love?

Chen Yi paused internally, not expecting such a word to spring from her mouth.

"It just isn’t there. You do care about me, that’s true, but it’s just care, nothing more, not liking or love." She continued, "Don’t lie to me, I’m quite perceptive."

Sensitive... could the thing inhabiting Miss Donggong’s body... possess a kind of sharp sensitivity?

Nevertheless, with the words spoken to this point, there was no longer any need to hide.

Furthermore, having failed to find clues all along, perhaps...

Chen Yi’s expression gradually sobered, after a moment of contemplation remarked, "Indeed, we aren’t husband and wife, but are good friends, nonetheless."

She appeared bewildered, yet visibly paled, aware of the deceit, her lips gradually losing their color, it was long before she forcefully uttered a word,

"Mmm."

In that quiet acknowledgment, lay much heartache.