Looking at the Immortal Herb exuding a fatal allure, and then at Li Yifei's deep eyes, Ye Lingling's heart was in an internal struggle.
Ultimately, the desire to become stronger overcame everything.
She extended her slightly trembling hand and accepted the Immortal Herb that could change her life.
...
After obtaining the consent of Ye Lingling's parents, Li Yifei directly took her back to the villa in Sunset Forest.
After settling Ye Lingling and instructing Dugu Yan to look after her, he opened the Chat Group.
His finger glided over one shining avatar after another, finally stopping on a somewhat plain name.
[Wind Blows and Rain Beats].
He directly initiated a private chat.
[Li Yifei: Are you ready? I'm coming to pick you up.]
In a remote, hidden valley within the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest.
The beautiful female Soul guarding a Blue Silver Grass was stunned when she saw this message.
[Wind Blows and Rain Beats: You...]
Her thoughts were somewhat sluggish.
[Li Yifei: Little Rabbit has been safely delivered, and some minor matters have been handled. Now, it's your turn.]
[Wind Blows and Rain Beats:...Thank you!]
These two words carried all of Ah Yin's current feelings.
In the villa, under the curious gazes of Dugu Yan, Zhu Zhuqing, Zhu Zhuyun, Xiao Wu, and the newly arrived Ye Lingling, Li Yifei took out a scroll shimmering with spatial light.
Group Member Teleportation Scroll!
"I'll be back shortly."
Before his voice faded, his figure instantly vanished in a soft glow.
The next second.
Li Yifei's figure appeared inside a secluded cave.
And in the center of the cave, he saw that woman.
Or rather, that woman's Soul.
She wore a simple linen dress, her figure gaunt, her sea-blue long hair had lost its luster, and her once breathtakingly beautiful face was now only filled with numbness and emptiness.
She just knelt quietly before an ordinary-looking Blue Silver Grass, day after day, year after year.
Seeing this scene, even Li Yifei, with a heart as firm as iron, couldn't help but feel a touch of emotion.
He didn't say any superfluous words, walking directly to her and extending his hand.
"This is not your resting place."
His voice broke the eternal silence of the valley.
"Come with me, I will help you fully revive, let you witness the Transmigrator's end with your own eyes, and then give you a brand new start."
Ah Yin slowly raised her head, her empty eyes focusing on the man before her.
It was he who ended the nightmare Tang Hao brought upon her.
Now, he had come to pick her up.
The numb lake of her heart finally rippled with a faint wave called "hope."
She looked at the hand extended towards her, hesitated for a moment, and finally gently placed her illusory hand upon it.
Light flashed again.
Time and space shifted.
When Ah Yin opened her eyes again, she was no longer in that lonely cave.
Instead, it was a vibrant villa.
As Ah Yin's figure solidified in the light, the air in the villa seemed to freeze for a moment.
Her sea-blue long hair was dull, her beautiful face showed no trace of color, only the numbness left by long solitude. Her illusory body seemed as if a gust of wind could scatter it.
Dugu Yan and the others unconsciously slowed their breathing.
Is this the legendary Ten Thousand Year Blue Silver Emperor?
Compared to the gentle and graceful appearance in the Chat Group photo, she looked more like a specimen drained of all life force, leaving only a heartbreaking silhouette.
Ah Yin's eyes were empty, staring blankly at everything before her.
The warm sunlight, the fresh scent of plants, and these living, vibrant girls before her... all of it was a world apart from the cold, dead cave in her memory.
It had been too long.
She had been too long without feeling the aura of "life."
Just then, a small figure ran out from the crowd and stopped in front of her.
It was Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu didn't speak, just stared fixedly at her.
In those clear eyes, there was no pity, no compassion, only the purest closeness and sorrow, stemming from a fellow kind.
As a Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast who had taken human form, she understood the profound loneliness and despair in Ah Yin's bones better than anyone.
Those were unhealable scars left after being betrayed by the human world and hurt by her closest kin.
Xiao Wu reached out, cautiously wanting to touch Ah Yin, yet afraid that her impulsiveness might startle this fragile Soul.
Her hand stopped in mid-air.
Ah Yin's gaze finally focused from its blankness, falling upon Xiao Wu.
She saw those familiar, pure eyes belonging to a Spirit Beast.
And she also saw that... kindness, untainted by any Impurities.
The lake of her heart, numb for countless years, was gently touched by this gaze, stirring a barely perceptible ripple.
Her illusory fingers moved slightly, and finally, gently, rested on Xiao Wu's hand.
Having no physical form, it passed right through.
But in that instant, the Souls of two Ten Thousand Year Soul Beasts seemed to transcend time and space, completing a silent exchange.
"From now on, this is your home."
Xiao Wu's voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable sincerity.
Ah Yin's eyes unexpectedly reddened.
An illusory tear slid from the corner of her eye, dissipating into nothingness in mid-air.
"Alright, stop standing around."
Li Yifei's voice broke the slightly melancholic atmosphere. He stepped forward, naturally putting his arm around Ah Yin's illusory shoulder, leading her to the stone table in the courtyard.
This action of his made the women present ponder various thoughts.
A hint of understanding flashed in Dugu Yan's eyes, the Zhu Zhuqing sisters lowered their heads, and the newly arrived Ye Lingling nervously clenched the qi luo tulip in her hand.
Only Xiao Wu remained her innocent and carefree self.
"Let me introduce you." Li Yifei pointed at Ah Yin and said to everyone, "This is Ah Yin, you can call her Sister Yin. She is currently in a Soul state, and I will find a way to fully revive her."
Then, he introduced everyone to Ah Yin one by one.
"This is Dugu Yan, my... well, my housekeeper."
Dugu Yan's face flushed, and she playfully glared at him, but still offered Ah Yin a friendly smile.
"This is Xiao Wu, you've already met."
"Zhu Zhuqing, Zhu Zhuyun, sisters."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded politely, while Zhu Zhuyun respectfully bowed: "Hello, Sister Yin, I am the Master's apostle."
The word "Master" made Ah Yin's gaze subtly sharpen, and a hint of inquiry entered her eyes as she looked at Li Yifei.
"This is Ye Lingling, a Nine Heart Begonia Spirit Master, and a key figure in our upcoming plan."
Ye Lingling stood up somewhat awkwardly, and quietly said hello.
Ah Yin's gaze swept over each person, imprinting their appearances and auras in her mind.