Zhu Xian: They've all been reborn

He was completely dumbfounded!

His eyes widened, his mouth slightly open, staring at the magnified, incomparably handsome face before him, his mind completely blank.

Only that one word remained, echoing wildly.

father?

Who?

Are you calling me?

When did I get such a big son?

Still that tall?

So handsome?

He instinctively took a step back, almost tripping over the bluestone behind him, and stammered, "You, you... what did you call me?! No! I didn't! You've mistaken me for someone else!"

The tall man seemed puzzled by his reaction, tilted his head, his glassy eyes filled with confusion, and took another step forward, as if he wanted to call out again.

"Bang!"

A crisp, light sound, tinged with both helplessness and amusement.

It was the masked woman who raised her hand, curled her fingers, and tapped the tall man's forehead lightly.

"Don't be silly." The woman's voice was still clear and melodious, but it carried a hint of helpless indulgence. "How many times have I told you not to do this?"

The tall man covered his forehead, pouted aggrievedly, and obediently retreated behind the woman like a large dog being scolded by its owner.

She stopped speaking, but her glassy eyes were still fixed on Jiang Xiaochuan, filled with the unwavering conviction that "you are my father."

Jiang Xiaochuan was still in shock. He looked at the tall, aggrieved-looking man, then at the masked woman, and his mind was completely blank.

What... what on earth is going on?!

The masked woman seemed to sense his embarrassment and confusion, and a barely perceptible smile flashed across her eyes.

She bowed slightly, her voice gentle: "Please don't be offended, young master. He... is simple-minded and sometimes mistakes people for others. I'm sorry you were frightened."

"N-nothing..." Jiang Xiaochuan replied dryly, while inwardly he was furiously complaining:

Simple-minded?

Mistaken identity?

Can you really mistake someone else for your father?

Also, what is this woman's background?

Who is this man?

They don't look like ordinary people at all!

Could he also be a cultivator?

But I can't sense any aura at all!

And that strange fragrance...

"Young master seems to be preoccupied." The masked woman showed no intention of leaving. Instead, she walked to the large blue stone where Jiang Xiaochuan had been sitting, sat down naturally, and patted the spot next to her.

"If you don't mind, would you like to talk to me? Some things are easier to say to a stranger."

Her demeanor was composed and natural, exuding an irresistible charm.

Looking into her clear, deep eyes that seemed to encompass everything, and recalling the tangled mess in his own heart, Jiang Xiaochuan, almost as if possessed, actually walked over and sat down a short distance away from her.

The river flows gently, and the willow branches sway lightly.

The hustle and bustle of the city in the distance seemed to be shut out, leaving only this peaceful world and the mysterious, yet inexplicably reassuring, veiled woman beside him.

Jiang Xiaochuan remained silent for a while, looking at the flowing river, before finally speaking slowly.

He didn't mention being reborn or his past life; he only said that he was an ordinary Qingyun disciple who, due to some twists of fate, was liked by several... outstanding women.

He himself was confused, unable to distinguish between feelings, and didn't know how to make a choice, feeling that he had let them down.

I also feel sorry for my senior sister who I grew up with. My mind is in turmoil and I feel very guilty, so I ran away to clear my head.

He spoke vaguely and evasively, but the veiled woman listened intently.

She nodded gently from time to time, her exposed eyes always looking at him calmly and attentively, without asking any questions about the details.

He didn't show any surprise or disdain, but just listened quietly.

After he finished speaking, the woman slowly opened her mouth, her voice ethereal and melodious, carrying a comforting power:

"Why must you be so hard on yourself, young master?"

In matters of the heart, there is no right or wrong, nor is there a first or last order.

The heart's desires and the heart's longings are often beyond human control. You didn't intentionally provoke them; it was simply...fate.

She paused, her gaze drifting to the distant city walls, a hint of melancholy in her voice:

"Love in this world can be as fiery as fire, as gentle as a flowing stream, as obsessive as madness, or as silent as waiting."

You must have something special about you to win their hearts.

There is no need to panic or rush into making a choice.

Time will tell.

Go with the flow, cherish every sincere gesture, but... don't force yourself, and don't make decisions against your conscience out of guilt.

That's unfair to everyone.

Her words, though lacking in flowery language, struck a chord with Jiang Xiaochuan.

As he listened, the tangled mess in his mind seemed to be gently untangled by a tender yet strong hand. Although it was still not completely clear, at least it was no longer so tense and suffocating.

"Young lady...you know so much," Jiang Xiaochuan said sincerely, his gaze towards the woman filled with curiosity and admiration.

This woman spoke with extraordinary eloquence and possessed an exceptional demeanor; she was definitely not an ordinary person.

The veiled woman smiled slightly, her eyes sparkling: "Having lived a long time and seen much, one naturally understands. Young master, you are still young and have a long road ahead of you; there's no need to trap yourself in a temporary predicament."

The two of them sat on the bluestone by the river, chatting idly.

The woman seemed to have unique insights into many things, was very knowledgeable, and spoke in a witty and gentle manner. As Jiang Xiaochuan listened, he gradually forgot his troubles and was even occasionally amused by her words.

He felt very comfortable chatting with this woman, as if he were facing a wise and tolerant elder (although she looked and sounded very young). He could confide in her without any burden and gain inspiration and comfort from her words.

The setting sun had already dipped westward, dyeing the sky a brilliant orange-red and scattering a layer of shattered gold across the river.

The shadows of the willow branches were stretched very long.

Jiang Xiaochuan looked at the sky and was surprised to realize how much time had passed. He quickly stood up and bowed to the veiled woman: "Thank you for your understanding, young lady. After hearing your words, I feel... much better."

The veiled woman also stood up, her moon-white skirt fluttering gently in the evening breeze.

She looked at Jiang Xiaochuan, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes again, and said gently, "It's good that I can help you, young master. If you still have worries in your heart in the future, you can come to Heyang City to find me."

Jiang Xiaochuan was taken aback: "Looking for you? You live in Heyang City? How am I supposed to find you?"

The veiled woman chuckled softly, her laughter like the gentle tinkling of silver bells, carrying a mysterious and ethereal quality: "Those destined to meet will meet again."

That same phrase again.

Jiang Xiaochuan thought to himself, why do these experts always like to speak in riddles?

But he nodded, thanked him again, and then turned to leave.

After walking a few steps, he suddenly realized that he hadn't asked her name or offered to treat her to a meal to thank her after chatting for so long, which was really impolite. He quickly turned around, intending to call her back.

However, the bluestone by the river and under the willow trees were empty.

Only the drooping willow branches swayed gently in the evening breeze, and the water rippled with the afterglow of the setting sun.

Where are the masked woman and the tall man now?

It was as if they had never existed, and everything that had just happened was merely a hallucination born from his distress.

Jiang Xiaochuan stood there, the evening breeze blowing through his slightly disheveled hair, bringing with it the cool dampness of the river and the lively atmosphere of the distant city.

He blinked, then rubbed his eyes.

Really... gone?

He walked quickly back to the bluestone and looked around, but there was indeed no trace of him.

That strange, lingering fragrance dissipated in the evening breeze, leaving no trace.

Could it be... a deity?

Or perhaps, it is a senior with unbelievably high cultivation level, playing around in the mortal world?

He stood there, lost in thought.

The slight relief I felt from the conversation was now tinged with a faint, strange sense of loss.

Who exactly is that woman? And what about that tall man who calls him "father"?

Can't figure it out.

Forget it, I don't want to.

Anyway, meeting by chance might just be a matter of "fate".

He shook his head, keeping this strange encounter to himself. He glanced at the sky and decided it was time to find Zeng Shushu or find a place to stay.

He turned and walked toward the direction where the lights in Heyang City were gradually lighting up.

Not far behind him, in a dim corner where the shadows of the city wall and the dense shade of weeping willows intertwined, two pairs of eyes were quietly watching his departing figure.

The veiled woman (Linglong) gently removed her veil, revealing a stunningly beautiful face that could eclipse the sun and moon, yet carried an expression of timeless vicissitudes and compassion.

She watched Jiang Xiaochuan's figure disappear around the street corner, her clear, glassy eyes swirling with complex and indescribable emotions.

Longing, tenderness, a touch of bitterness, and a deep, unmistakable love.

"Mother," the tall beast god beside her (who had now suppressed all his ferocity and looked like a pure, innocent child) said softly, his voice filled with confusion and grievance.

"Why won't you let me acknowledge him as my father? He's clearly my father! He tastes the same! He feels the same!"

Linglong raised her hand and gently stroked the Beast God's soft hair (although he was tall and strong, he still looked like a child in front of her), her voice soft yet carrying an undeniable authority:

"Not yet."

He remembers nothing.

We... arrived too early, or perhaps... just in time.

We can't scare him, but we also can't...interfere too much.

She gazed in the direction where Jiang Xiaochuan had disappeared, her starlight dimming slightly, and murmured softly, as if speaking to the Beast God, or perhaps to herself:

"This life seems... to be more chaotic than the previous one."

Those girls... never mind, as long as he is safe and happy, that's all that matters.

"Let's... take it slow."

The Beast God nodded as if he understood, then suddenly perked up, a pure smile spreading across his handsome face: "Mother, that was a really clever trick! Father will definitely remember you! The way he looked at you just now was the same way he used to look at Mother!"

Linglong's face flushed slightly, and she gave him a reproachful look, but did not deny it.

She put her veil back on, concealing her stunning beauty and the hidden, determined glint in her eyes.

"Let's go. We... should settle down too." She took the Beast God's hand, and the two of them, like ink merging into water, silently disappeared into the deepening twilight and the shadows of the city walls, leaving no trace.