Faraway Immortal

Yang Xin was a younger sister of Yang Lin, who was also the granddaughter of the Supreme Elder. Unlike his brother, who treats Wang Zi a servant, she treats him like her own brother. That's why, when he saw her tears, he couldn't contain his happiness.

She looked at him and spoke in a confused voice.

"You lost?"

Looking into her concerned gaze, he replied, "Yeah, when I went on a mission, I was attacked by a mud tarantula that was cleverly hidden beneath the surface. After defeating it by sheer luck, I was on my way back to the sect when I suddenly slipped from the cliff and fell into the river."

As she processed his story, her complexion paled, and she began searching his body for any signs of injury, her hands trembling slightly as she touched his skin. 

"Are there any inner injuries you have?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.

After careful examination, she couldn't find any visible wounds, which only deepened her concern. He sighed, feeling the weight of her apprehension, and gently patted her on the head, trying to reassure her.

"I did get poisoned, but now I'm cured. An unknown immortal found me and took care of my wounds. Not only did he heal me, but he also taught me many things about cultivation and the world beyond our own. Then, just as suddenly as he appeared, he vanished, and I had to climb my way back to the sect over several days."

As he recounted this fabricated tale, her eyes widened in astonishment. The mere mention of immortals, a concept that made her heart race, stirred her innermost emotions.

To encounter an immortal was akin to meeting a deity, and the notion that he had crossed paths with one filled her with a mix of awe and envy.

For a moment, she pondered his words, then nodded decisively. Clasping her hands into his, she pulled him forward. 

"First, we must inform Brother Yang and Grandfather; they have been deeply worried about you."

"He is worried about me?" he asked, genuinely surprised.

The thought that Yang Lin, who had always viewed him as a mere servant, would concern himself with his well-being was bewildering. Yang Lin was known as a minor villain in the novel, a character who started as an antagonist but eventually became a brother-in-arms to the protagonist. The Supreme Elder had even protected the protagonist from other villains, leading to his eventual death. But still, he couldn't fathom why Yang Lin would fret over him.

'To think they worried about me…'

His thoughts drifted as Yang Xin guided him toward the house at the inner court. The Moon Sword Sect was divided into a four-section outer court, where those at the body purification stage began their cultivation, diligently honing their physical abilities and laying the foundation for their future progress. Here, the air was thick with determination, as aspiring disciples practiced their stances and forms, their movements sharp and focused, each one striving to break through their limitations.

The inner court, on the other hand, was a sanctuary reserved for those who had reached the Spirit Purification Stage, a place where the atmosphere shimmered with a sense of serenity and unyielding strength.

As they walked, he admired the lush gardens that adorned the path, filled with vibrant flowers and ancient trees that whispered secrets of the past. The sound of flowing water from a nearby stream added a soothing melody to the ambiance, creating a sharp contrast. The core disciples, those who had achieved the formidable Core Formation Stage, resided in the main court, where the air buzzed with the energy.

Yet, it was the Legacy disciples, the elite few who were deemed to possess extraordinary potential. These individuals were granted access to the Sect Master Quarters, a place shrouded in mystery and privilege, where they received personalized teachings from the most esteemed masters of the sect.

Wang Zi, standing before her, was merely an outer court disciple, while his junior sister had already ascended to the inner court at the tender age of fifteen. With her astounding talent, she had surpassed her older brother, who entered the Spirit Purification Stage at eighteen and was celebrated as a genius.

As memories flooded back to him, the door swung open, revealing Yang Lin. His sugar-brown hair mirrored that of Yang Xin, and his caramel irises reflected a striking resemblance. He bore a handsome face, though not quite as striking as Wang Zi's.

Yang Lin's expression shifted to irritation as he regarded Yang Xin. 

"What do you want, Xin'er?" he asked, his tone sharp.

Without a word, she turned her gaze to Wang Zi, who was met with Yang Lin's shocked stare. In an instant, Yang Lin leaped forward and embraced him tightly, as if he were a long-lost brother returned from war.

Wang Zi was taken aback, momentarily speechless. Instinctively, he placed a gentle hand on Yang Lin's back, but as soon as he realized the warmth of their embrace, Yang Lin quickly withdrew, embarrassment creeping across his features.

"Scoff... So where have you been?" Yang Lin demanded, his softness now replaced by a cold demeanor, an aura emanating from him that filled the space with tension.

Wang Zi sighed internally, feeling a mixture of amusement and irritation. 'If you want to act all tough, at least don't hug me like that first.'

"Junior Wang Zi greets Senior," he said, clasping his hands together and bowing respectfully without raising his head. He recounted the same tale he had shared with Yang Xin, watching as Yang Lin's eyes widened in disbelief at the mention of immortals. 

"So that's why we couldn't find anything about you except for your worn-out shirt by the riverside two months ago," Yang Lin muttered, his expression shifting to one of concern.

Two months? The realization hit Wang Zi like a bolt of lightning. He had spent what felt like just an hour in that Fairy Tears Pond, yet the passage of time had been so distorted that two entire months had slipped away. He looked into Yang Lin's eyes, noticing the sorrow and relief swirling within as he processed the news of Wang Zi's survival.

"Enough for today. You should go home and rest. I'll report to the elders about your disappearance. As your senior, I won't abandon anyone," Yang Lin said firmly, reclaiming his authoritative tone.

As Wang Zi prepared to leave, Yang Lin added, "The Supreme Elder is in closed cultivation, so when he emerges, make sure to tell him your whole story."

Wang Zi nodded, expressing his gratitude before bidding farewell. Yang Xin, still holding his hand, walked alongside him, her fingers intertwined with his as she spoke.

"B-Brother W-Wang," she stuttered, embarrassment flushing her cheeks.

Concern etched on his face, he asked, "Are you alright? You look like you're sick."

Without thinking, he placed his forehead against hers to gauge her temperature. The contact sent a jolt of warmth through Yang Xin, causing her to push him away in surprise, her strength betraying her as he stood firm like a boulder, unyielding.

"Brother Wang, I'm sorry!" she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of panic and embarrassment as she bowed her head.

Wang Zi, quick to reassure her, pulled her back up gently, smiling. "It's okay, I wasn't hurt."

Seeing his comforting smile, Yang Xin felt her worries dissipate, but a sudden question struck her without warning.

"Brother Wang, did you break through?" 

Caught off guard, he nodded and leaned closer, whispering into her ear, "To the Sixth Stage Of Body Purification Stage."

At his words, she froze, her eyes wide in disbelief. 

"??" Her reaction drew a chuckle from him, and he playfully urged, "Let's go, Junior Sister Xin."

Her name snapped her back to reality, and she immediately clasped her hands together, her excitement overwhelming her. "Is that the immortal helped you break through?"

Wang Zi merely smiled, a hint of mystery dancing in his eyes as they made their way toward the outer sect court. Disciple after disciple halted their activities, turning to stare at Wang Zi, their expressions a mix of astonishment and reverence as if witnessing a ghost.

After dropping him off at his house, Yang Xin said her goodbyes and departed, leaving Wang Zi alone to take in the familiar surroundings. Inside, he observed the simple yet functional layout—a single bed on his left, a sturdy table with drawers in front, and a wardrobe filled with his outer robes.

He quickly washed himself in the bathroom and dressed in a crisp white robe lined with black. As he looked at his reflection, he felt a wave of satisfaction wash over him, realizing he truly belonged to this world of cultivation.

As the sun began to set, casting golden-orange hues across the sky, he stepped outside, only to find an unwelcome visitor waiting for him.

With black locks dancing in the evening wind and crimson irises that shone like a blood moon, the figure before him radiated an aura that rivaled even the greatest of heavenly emperors.

"Wang Zi," the figure spoke, his voice calm yet laced with tension.

"How are you still alive?" 

Wang Zi's expression hardened as he regarded the person before him, his handsome face gradually scowling at the challenge presented.

Looking at Long Wu, the protagonist of this world—the one destined to become an entity that even gods would fear—Wang Zi smirked, an air of confidence enveloping him. 

"Isn't that Long Wu?" he replied, his tone dripping with arrogance, ready to face whatever fate awaited him in this unexpected reunion.