Reality and Fantasy
“Why protect Feng Haochen? He’s a mere cultivator. He’s not worthy of being your shifu.”
Lie Shang and company had been sent reeling. Feng Haochen predicted Mu Yu would lose control. Mu Yu had him restrained. Feng Haochen performed a series of hand seals, shooting a white light into Mu Yu’s head.
Mu Yu saw various memories flash before his eyes. A stabbing pain accompanied the memories. Mu Yu’s painful howl chained everyone down. There was no other life around. Mu Yu saw people inside clouds. They were people looking at him from their own perspectives. There were scenes he had never seen before in the clouds.
An inferno swallowed a village. A child in said inferno wailed. The child’s parents were fading in the flames. When the all hope was seemingly lost, Shi Dengtian swept in and hauled the child over using spiritual energy. Looking friendly, he remarked, “You’re a lucky kid. You were forged in life and death. I’ll take you in as my disciple… Let’s call you Mu Yu.”
The clouds switched around and displayed a new vision.
The infant had turned ten and began his quest to swordplay mastery at Pill Cauldron Sect. Shi Dengtian mentored him from the side, praising his grasp on the swordplay. Shi Minghui was his junior who adored him. The Mu Yu watching the scene was exasperated to see that, though.
The clouds switched around and displayed a new vision.
Mu Yu was the main protagonist in the new vision. The clouds entering his head sent hallucinations. He fell for Tian Ran at first sight but kept his feelings hidden. As they went through perilous adventures at Third Continent together, their bonds strengthened.
“Brother Mu Yu, I like you,” Tian Ran confessed from Mu Yu’s chest.
Mu Yu laughed and kissed Tian Ran on her forehead, freezing time.
Mu Yu switched frames again. Qiao Xue and Mu Yu coincidentally bumped into each other. Unlike her prideful version, she was meek and cute. Her history was written as a pitiful daughter of a massacred family on the run. She gradually developed feelings for him as he helped her on numerous occasions. One day, she mustered up the courage to convey her feelings.
“Sorry, Qiao Xue, but I like Tian Ran,” Mu Yu sincerely expressed.
“You never gave me a chance. Not even in dreams?” Qiao Xue’s eyes were red.
“I’m sorry.” Mu Yu looked away.
“I understand.” Qiao Xue left, biting on her bottom lip.
Honestly, Mu Yu was aware of his affection for Qiao Xue.
The scene switched to a dark house, where five people sat at a table.
Mu Yu had his eyes on Qiao Xue, but she paid him no need. He wanted to make it up to her but didn’t know how.
“We must unite to defeat the illusionist. The five of us together can defeat him,” asserted Cheng Yan, earning Lie Shang and Xiang Nan’s approval.
Mu Yu was then transported to a boulevard. Someone blocked his path as he was strolling and thinking about Qiao Xue. He questioned, “Who are you?”
“I am Feng Haochen, an illusionist.”
“You’re the one First Brother has been talking about?” Mu Yu heaved his sword. “It’s my duty to slay you.”
“Two girls like you, yet you broke one’s heart. You loathe yourself and feel guilty. I can give you an opportunity,” offered Feng Haochen, forgiving Mu Yu’s lack of courtesy.
“What’s that?”
“I can remove your current memories for the meantime so that you can restart life. If you still have feelings for Tian Ran after you regain your memories, then your choice is correct.”
“Why should I accept the offer?”
“Don’t you wish to give Qiao Xue an opportunity in your alternative life?”
Recalling Qiao Xue’s melancholic countenance, Mu Yu replied, “All right, I accept. However, I want to see Qiao Xue first in the dream.”
“Sure. Relax yourself. Your dream will start from Dustfallen Mountain.”
Life restarted at Dustfallen Sect. Feng Haochen was Mu Yu’s esteemed teacher. Feng Haochen didn’t do as he promised and set the course so that Mu Yu would meet Tian Ran again. He overwrote everything, turning Shi Dengtian and Mu Yu’s former allies into his enemies. He experienced life at Third Heaven, then travelled to Second Heaven via Pill Cauldron Sect’s formation. Finally, he was back to the valley dark herb grew.
Tian Ran knocked on Mu Yu’s head to wake him up. He was unable to distinguish between reality and the dream world. He had two sets of conflicting memories. Either way, he was insistent he should protect Feng Haochen, and Shi Dengtian was his nemesis.
Mu Yu felt his head splitting. As he found himself, the elemental demon energy residing in him dissipated, and his violent urges subsided. Still, his mind was jumbled. Neither of the memories made him any happier.
Perhaps who Mu Yu fell for was of no importance to Feng Haochen. Maybe Feng Haochen was only interested in fabricating a reality for his own agenda. Feng Haochen’s calculations went awry as he underestimated Mu Yu’s power.
Mu Yu stared at his four former friends. His gaze stopped on Qiao Xue. He still felt divided about her.
Boom! Thunder clapped, and cold rain drenched Mu Yu. He was mentally stuck.
Xiaoshuai waddled out of Mu Yu’s shirt and covered his head with his tail. He patted Mu Yu on the face and queried, “Mu Yu, what are you just sitting in the rain for?”
“Xiaoshuai?”
Mu Yu finally separated fiction from non-fiction.
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