Nie Li, after meeting with the Lingyun Sect, decided to proceed with transfers from nearby righteous sects one after another, which would alert the Demon God Sect. I advised him to wait for more martial ancestors to form, but he claimed to have everything planned. Yu Yan approached him about venturing into the tiny world with my assistance. As sect master, he summoned me and asked about my methods to shield the knowledge of unsealing and the aura of divine treasures until it is gathered.
"I can help you. That's all you need to know. Gather your friends from the tiny world. I'll handle the rest. Do you have plans to visit the Heavenly Note Sect soon?"
"No..why would you ask that?." Looking at his confused expression, I felt the changes I did began to manifest on him.
"I'll meet with the hierarchs not in seclusion and arrange a gathering with every righteous sect. I've already sent resources to people from the tiny world in each sect, and they'll have enough influence to bring everyone together. It's time to let them prepare for the Demon God Sect and enemies beyond..." He spoke in half-truths, perhaps thinking there was no need for me to know the enemy details yet.
"Then I'll go there before the meeting to see Xiao Ning. Currently we're not the weakest ~ they are. Considering our sect's recent movements and the appearance of unknown martial ancestors, the Demon God Sect will exploit that. If an attack comes, it will hit them first. I'll need some of your martial ancestors for assistance."
"You just need a way to meet her and make it appear official, don't you? If you hadn't refused the deputy position, I would have made you one instead of both Gu Bei and Li Xingyun. What about it? Do you want to be one? I can make you Deputy Sect Leader for external relations in addition to your elder position."
"Yes. Whatever works."
"Goddess Yu Yan, please step outside. I need to speak with him privately."
She left.
"Tao, are you aware of what happened here a few days ago?"
"What happened?"
"Our subordinate sect, Lingyun Sect, came here. Their young master asked for Long Yuyin's hand in marriage."
"What about it?" I asked, confused about his direction.
"Why do you still have that stoic expression? Aren't you interested in knowing what happened?"
"If you don't tell me, how would I know?"
"She told them, 'If you're serious... then maybe we can talk.'"
Silence.
It seemed she wanted to move past her previous experience with me.
"And your point in telling me this is..."
"I thought you two were together, her calling you master and all. This is Long Yuyin we're talking about. She was actually willing to consider marriage with a random stranger."
"No not in that relationship. Yes, she asked me to teach her combat, but our relationship stays there, as you know."
"Then you should check if she's alright. She seemed very upset even before that conversation. For some reason, I got the feeling she was looking at me uncomfortably too."
"No thanks. Her family will handle her mood changes and troubles. Do you have any plans for the Heavenly Note Sect? "
" .... On second thought, I'm coming. It would be best if we could bring them to our side."
It seemed he had returned to his scheming nature from the story.
Time passed.
Heavenly sound sect
We arrived at the Heavenly Note Sect. For some reason, Long Yuyin also accompanied us, though she maintained distance whether talking or flying together. Besides them, the team included Yu Yan and several other martial ancestors from the Sky Origin Clan and sect members. We arrived later than depicted in the story. My ladies here had been complaining that I was altering the future into unknown territory just by this delay.
The changes I had set in motion were massive. Both ladies now knew the story well, so Ye Ziyun explained to the current Sect Master Nangong Xianyin that she didn't intend to follow the no-marriage rules, instead showing capable subordinates they had prepared. Similarly, Xiao Ning added that she was engaged to someone. The pills they received came from their friends at Divine Feather Sect, and they truthfully reported that Divine Feather Sect was gaining strength.
If the Demon God Sect attacked the weakest sect, it would be theirs rather than others. So over the past months, considerable changes and investments had been made. I sent a sacred elixir to them, which was given to Sect Master Nangong Xianyin. The scouting and intelligence department received new additions. Important places like the soul hall and gathering areas were well protected. Based on Ye Ziyun and Xiao Ning's knowledge from their months in the Temporal Demon Spirit Book, new formations were drawn.
The arrogant and jealous young master Xiu Ming from Phaseless Sect had come, but his business was concluded before our late arrival. We were warmly welcomed since Nangong Xianyin already possessed some information, knowing the other party was here to negotiate. Nie Li received the Myriad Ancestral Sword fragments. His need was that it would help conceal divine artifacts with its aura, and unseal the Tiny world.
Since his friends from other sects had already been helped with pills, it was easy to use Heavenly Note Sect to call an immediate meeting with all sects by sending martial ancestor realm cultivators to deliver elixirs in exchange for the sword fragments directly.
Xiao Ning and Ye Ziyun
Both ladies first observed Nie Li very carefully from discrepancy in his aura and presence and way of body control. Anything to reveal what they were looking for..
( You were joking with me, I almost thought you made him a woman. ) Ye Ziyun exclaimed through the soul corridor connecting the three of us, flustered.
( Well I already informed you before it was a joke. You were the one initially instructing me to do that, Ye Ziyun even after I leave.) I continued, looking at Xiao Ning staring at Ye Ziyun and me in disbelief while former grew flustered.
( Ziyun's suggestion would have been a harmless prank if I did it to him. He will return as his cultivation catches up with martial ancestor realm or found transformation techniques in temporal demon spirit book first or his memory.)
( It was in a moment of weakness that I said that... you shameless person, why do you need to emphasize that was my idea every-time? ) Ye Ziyun protested through the soul corridor.
( Weakness? Weak my ass. You were too dominant for me to even say no to what you did to me.) Ye Ziyun almost threw a punch at my side.
( Does he know about us?) Ye Ziyun asked. (No. I was planning on revealing our relationship actually.)
Seeing Ziyun and Ning were with me the whole time, Long Yuyin and Nie Li had second thoughts. Now within their sect under heavy scrutiny while having male disciples come over, heavenly note sect disciples were supposed to act with propriety. But that wasn't in Ziyun's dictionary as her hands were reaching out to hold my shoulders or hands all the while.
After becoming intimate, both women are unlike before, as if their personality was replaced by someone else. For the better of-course.
Later after confirming Nie Li's situation, the topic changed to their own. Both were busy explaining about phase-less sect young master who came here earlier. Apparently on a chance meeting with Ye Ziyun, he felt since she was a sect master candidate, there is no chance for her but asked for the interests of Xiao Ning directly. Well Ziyun already informed of her engagement, but when he said,
' Young girl in love huh? What future will she have if she follows an unknown person from small world? Only with backing and resources of powerful families of the divine sects such talented lady can bring out her maximum potential if she were to step out of heavenly note sect.' acting all dignified and saying in others best interest, Ye Ziyun got defensive.
First of all, the stance of families bring their full power? They are peak dao dragon realms currently. Very powerful individuals in an sect, or in draconic ruins entirely. When coming here, the families in power did tried to recruit them, but their talent was enough for their complaints to be heard by the sect and give them protection and space.
Now that they have reached near the peak of cultivation in draconic ruins, they still need to humor them by selecting life partners from them? For any other woman, it must be a stair to peak but for them, its just confinement.
' Is that so?; then young master Xiu Ming shouldn't worry, he is not a nobody. I am also his women. No offense but you don't hold a candle to him.' That's was heard by sect master and close associates. After letting him of a little enraged, mentioning I am a martial ancestor level. She revealed my name and affiliation.
Nangong Xianyin
Which is why Nangong Xianyin currently interrupted our communication and came to us after discussion with Nie Li. The place we were in currently is not in main hall, but in one of the side halls. " So you are the one who stole the heart of two girls.."
" Sect master Nangong, you word it poorly, we mutually stole each other's hearts. From Tiny world itself, our bond was strong. It just bore fruit recently."
" Then are you not aware of the sect's rule regarding marriage with partners?"
I looked at the two girls beside me, and eyed back, " These two must have already compensated with you with trained followers and sacred elixers to compensate what sect provided them - a safe space to grow? As for their talents and techniques originally had, I believe they were sufficient to reach this height on their own albeit with some extra steps. So what seems to be the problem?"
" So you have planned all this before coming here? We received the 'compensation', but the point is not that, but this precedent of breaking rules and getting away with it..Rules were established in first place by our founder."
" Then Ms. Nangong Xianyin, please explain what they are for? How they benefit your sect? Are the graceful techniques you practice unusable for men? No they can learn. This rules only restricted your sect in growth. Aside from migrants from small realms, are there any new born disciples in here? Human resource is a kind of power, sect leader especially in a fight against Demon God Sect. Yin and yang can come together to do the greater good always."
" You...Isn't the fact that founder established is enough??" She said with some anger.
" Rationally they bring no benefit. The rules were only established by someone powerful on a whim. Given my power I can also go outside and form a small sect with the rule, only men are allowed and no one will question me...holding onto them bear no fruits in the end."
She sighed. " Why must you take two of them away? " I felt deja vu this sort of questions were exactly what were asked to Nie Li. " You heard her ladies..anyone wish to stay?" I turn to the two behind me, who also felt the same sense of deja Vu from the story they read. " Forgive us. I am his fiancee" " I love him, master. Please don't bear to separate. "
" Forget it. you are free to leave. "
Confrontation with Nie Li
I sensed someone approaching as Nangong Xianyin departed. I chose to let events unfold naturally.
Earlier, during her meeting with Nie Li, the sect master of Divine Feather Sect, Nangong Xianyin had mentioned Ye Ziyun's recent declaration of love ~ how she had publicly announced her feelings for me in front of Xiu Ming from the Phaseless Divine Sect. The news had struck Nie Li like lightning from a clear sky, a shock that transcended lifetimes. More than that, as sect master of sect where I came from he was shamelessly asked for compensation again by Nangong Xianyin.
Now, having overheard our conversation from the shadows, he approached with the expression of a man utterly betrayed. Ye Ziyun, also sensed him and when I turned to look, she was already standing directly in front of me.
"Met any fancy woman in our sect?" she asked with a teasing smile.
I quickly erected a sound-concealing array around us, reacting to the sudden tension.
"Ye Ziyun..."
"I met one, but it seems she has taken interest in someone else." Nie Li's voice cut through the air as he stepped forward, his expression coldly indifferent. "I heard what you said from your sect master, but I didn't fully believe it. Now I've heard it again with my own ears."
His voice carried an eerie flatness despite the weight of his words. "Tian Chi Tao... you let me call you brother. You knew my past. And yet ~ you took her?"
"Well, things happen. It wasn't intentional..."
"No need for him to explain." Ye Ziyun stepped forward, her voice firm. "Yes, I do love him."
Nie Li's emotions began to surface, his aura pressing against us. "I revealed myself to you ~ my reincarnation, how I loved you in the past. I protected Glory City, your home. I tried every means to gain your approval. The techniques I taught, the resources we shared among friends, even leading everyone to the Nether Lord's trial that brought us all here. Now I've achieved the position of sect master of Divine Feather Sect. So much accomplished for peace ~ what do I lack? why won't you give me a chance?"
I raised a hand to interrupt. "Let me stop you right there. Most of what you mentioned were goals you set for yourself, not for her. The version of Ye Ziyun you knew is dead, just like who you once were. Besides, we met Xiao Yu and learned about the trial before you revealed anything. Don't think of it as your benevolence."
"Then where were you in the first life? Long dead? Your existence here is because of me," Nie Li argued, his voice rising.
"Dear, you have no idea.... Don't take credit for things beyond your understanding."
Seeing our argument escalating nowhere, Ziyun interjected. "I know you had a past life history with me, but you said it yourself ~ just after Glory City was destroyed, we were together and I died trying to protect you. You worded it nicely, but I can understand if you really think it over. In that moment of helplessness, I was alone and you were with me, so I resorted to that sort of comfort in the midst of despair. Loneliness.
"In this new life, as grateful as I am for your help with Glory City, he has done more. Just like you, he defended the city during the demon beast horde attack under multiple black gold rank beasts. He killed Ye Han, my adopted brother when he planned to reveal news to Wugui family about glory city and eliminated sacred family heir and many dark guild members. He laid protective arrays outside the city. He rescued my father from two certain death situations. He trained me and gave me knowledge. I had a crush on him before we even sat in Holy Orchid Institute. The situation has changed completely."
I turned to her, surprised. "Wait, I didn't know that last part."
She suddenly became shy, turning toward me. "I'll tell you later."
Nie Li's spiritual pressure surged, enough to crack the ground beneath his feet, but under my control it felt like nothing more than a gentle breeze. "Tian Chi Tao... all this time ~ from Glory City to the Divine Feather Sect, you had plenty of opportunities to reveal this, and you hid it from me? I had to learn about it by coincidence. You already had Xiao Ning'er! Why... why did you take her too?"
His face twisted with grief and rage.
I raised my hand again. "Before I answer, please be honest ~ what you're experiencing now, does it come from expectations based on your past life, or actual love for her as you are now?"
He took a moment to respond, but the reply lacked the previous tone in his voice. "Of course it's both. I am the same person."
"Then please understand ~ she is not the same. I don't know if you're acting on the emotions of a ghost or genuine feelings."
Ziyun stepped forward again, her gaze unwavering. "You don't need to accuse him. He truly didn't know until ten, maybe twelve months ago. We reconnected again and later met in the outside world, and I confessed to him.
"Back then, I thought he had feelings for me despite pursuing Xiao Ning'er ~ but he didn't. He thought I had fallen for you because of our past life connection. He never assumed I loved him."
Seeing him confused she continued,
" It wasn't until I confronted him directly ~ until I made it clear that I've only ever seen you as a friend, a comrade in struggle ~ that things happened between us."
Nie Li stood silent, breathing hard. He didn't argue, but his jaw tightened. So it's because I didn't take enough initiative? She loved him enough to confess first? What happened to him in the first life? And what's happening to me? The memory is clear, but the pain feels distant. I should rage, scream ~ but I don't feel the need to. It's as if this doesn't matter to me. Is my anger too a fake?
The emotional tampering I had performed left him with only echoes of what he should have felt.
The horror of his own apathy slowly dawned on him. "I can't bring myself to hate any of you for some reason... but I feel like I should." He whispered the words, then suddenly space-shifted toward me in an attempt to tackle me. I simply sent him back to his starting position without effort.
"Nie Li, ... be rational. We are an entire great realm apart. I can't bring myself to let you harm me either."
Ye Ziyun stepped protectively in front of me, drawing snow elemental energy in hand. "I won't let you hurt him again."
Nie Li's eyes widened. This was the first time she had moved against him.
His voice broke. "You... would fight me?"
Her response was cold and resolute. "If you force me to. I fought for him to like me, not the other way around. Please understand that. Don't try to bring your dead past into my current life."
"Was it all meaningless?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
Xiao Ning, who had remained silent during the exchange, finally spoke. "Let go, Nie Li. If you set the meaning of your life to just being with her, then yes ~ it is meaningless. But based on your ambitions until now, I believe you have greater plans."
He turned away without dramatics, his footsteps strangely light, as if he was already fading from the world.
A message arrived a short while later: "Mr. Tian Chi Tao, your elder position and deputy role in the sect are relieved, as is your position in the demon league."
Unexpected Revelations
Two days passed with no further response from him. During this time, Ye Ziyun revealed what she had meant about having a crush on me from the beginning. It all started with pizza and better ice creams in the Tiny World. Yes, you heard correctly ~ I had introduced those innovations. As a member of the city enforcer's family, it had been easy for her to learn about the person behind all those new culinary delights, and the new bake ovens, derived flavors, and seasonings.
Ziyun learned about it from her father, then somehow discovered the other strategies I had implemented ~ advertisements, market strategies, and even the story books I had written for children out of fun and boredom. She was sort of a fan girl for me. She even told me she had approached me once to say hello. Honestly, if I didn't have perfect memory, I wouldn't have remembered the kid who appeared like a boy, said hello, and disappeared before I even noticed, during one of the family gatherings.
Coming back to the present, Long Yuyin approached me asking what had happened to Nie Li as she received news about the changes to my position and standing.
"His past life lover rejected him."
"What does that have to do with you? Don't tell me your other self was his past life lover."
"Why are you so fixated on my identity? No, it's someone else, and that girl has currently declared her love for me in front of him."
"Ye Ziyun?"
"You figured it out? Yes, she is. Turns out she had a crush on me before I even reached ten years old. She confessed nearly a year ago. I kept it private. Now he knows."
" 10 years old? huh?...." She had a glint in his eyes but covered and quickly added, "Then I will withdraw our Profound Note League from the demon league faction."
"Ours? It's yours, my disciple. I don't want to engage in petty behavior like that. Honestly, even if he stripped away my sect affiliation, I would have left and stayed with the girls. But it seems there's no time to relax anytime soon." I said while focusing my attention in a particular direction.