Chapter 45 Part 3
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
Chapter 45: Unification!!! (3)
Perhaps, this isn’t An Lan at all—perhaps it’s the internal demon that was born in her heart at some point.
But…
“That’s not right either.”
The system had clearly stated that her soul was a pure land, one that couldn’t be tainted by any internal demon.
If there’s no problem with her, then the only conclusion left is that An Lan is the one with the problem.
An Lan is escaping reality!
Thinking about it left Bai Lian feeling somewhat confused.
After all, An Lan is the Immortal Heavenly Lord—how could she be so easily bound by deceptive gentleness?
Sitting at the table, Bai Lian wore a solemn expression.
Things couldn’t continue like this. Evasion couldn’t solve anything.
She had to make her master take her seriously.
Bai Lian decided to give her all to persuade An Lan, even if it meant revealing her true identity as Bai Lian—not the “past” Bai Lian, but the real one.
Evening.
An Lan, who had just returned from outside, immediately sensed something was off.
She nervously approached Bai Lian and asked, “What happened, my dear?”
“Shifu.”
Bai Lian gestured for An Lan to sit.
She didn’t want to play around anymore.
Without hesitation, she went straight to the point.
“Am I a substitute for you?”
The question hit hard and fast.
An Lan’s mouth parted slightly, as though she had lost her soul.
She felt an uncomfortable ache deep within her and couldn’t find her words for a long time.
“Why do you say that?”
Her voice was flustered, and she grabbed the teapot, accidentally spilling some tea onto the table as she poured.
Bai Lian spoke slowly, her voice firm.
“Until now, I still remember the scene when Shifu and I first met. I also remember the words you said when you embraced me.”
An Lan understood immediately.
She realized that Bai Lian was an exceptionally intelligent person, always able to find the perfect moment to break through when a crisis arose.
At that time, An Lan had only planned to meet Bai Lian and then leave. So, she had expressed her guilt to her without hesitation.
She thought Bai Lian had forgotten, but to her surprise, she remembered everything clearly.
How could she explain herself?
In An Lan’s heart, there was both sadness and joy.
The fact that Bai Lian remembered this meant that she truly cared about her.
That was enough for An Lan.
Bai Lian spoke again, her voice tinged with understanding.
“Shifu, what you’ve done all these years is to make up for your past regrets, right?”
An Lan hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded.
“You’ve figured it out,” she said, pausing.
She quickly added, as though fearing Bai Lian would misunderstand her.
“This matter is somewhat complicated, but one thing is for sure—Bai Lian is Bai Lian, and no one can replace you.”
“I know.”
Bai Lian interrupted her, the words coming out quickly.
In that instant, Bai Lian saw an opportunity.
Anyway, An Lan would forget “her” afterward, so why not seize this chance to push An Lan toward the truth of her own identity?
She forced a smile and asked, “Master, what kind of person is that Bai Lian you’re so concerned about?”
An Lan faltered for a moment, at a loss for words.
She unconsciously compared the “outer” Bai Lian with the “real” Bai Lian.
“Compared to you…”
She’s even more aloof.
She’s more rebellious.
She prefers to put on airs.
She enjoys playing the field.
“She deceived me, and sometimes she even contradicts me…”
Hey!
Bai Lian couldn’t help but glare at An Lan.
An Lan didn’t notice her subtle reaction and continued scolding, though her lips curled up in a faint smile.
It was like she was scolding while laughing.
Then, the conversation took an unexpected turn.
“She also has her merits…”
She’s warm inside, cold outside.
She has strong opinions.
She stands up for the people she cares about, even if she’s unsure of the outcome.
She’s very caring and exudes an extraordinary charm.
She often tells white lies out of kindness.
“She would even travel to dangerous places to search for medicine, going thousands of miles for me.”
Bai Lian is Bai Lian, not the Heavenly Lord’s lance.
An Lan reexamined the Bai Lian in front of her.
It was at that moment that she understood something.
She wasn’t someone who was naturally good at caring for others.
If there had been no previous apathy, no prior friction, there would have been no regret.
Without regret, she wouldn’t have developed this fascination with Bai Lian.
If she couldn’t see Bai Lian in her eyes, how could she build a bridge to connect with her?
Actions always have consequences.
It was regret that paved the way for this moment!
By removing the regret, she would erase the root cause from the past.
“Shifu.”
“Hmm?”
An Lan reached into her pocket and pulled out the “Future Diary.”
“Look.”
She handed it to Bai Lian without hesitation.
Without further ado, Bai Lian opened it.
Every plan had been marked with a red “achieved” except for the last one.
[January 28]
[Achieve the great harmony of life with Bai Lian.]
Bai Lian blinked, speechless.
Her head felt like it had been struck by a hurricane or waves, leaving her blank.
The silence was deafening.
Bai Lian gently closed the diary, her hands trembling slightly.
She looked at An Lan and said, “Shifu. Do it?”
An Lan shook her head, a soft smile on her lips.
Using her finger, she directed a flame, and in an instant, the diary turned to ashes.
“Is it because of that Bai Lian?”
“Hmm.”
That Bai Lian is one of a kind!
“I understand.”
Bai Lian smiled, her face radiating happiness.
This smile was probably the brightest she had ever shown.
It wasn’t just a facade.
For the first time, An Lan’s words didn’t feel like mere politeness.
“I like you from the bottom of my heart.”
At last, the only obstacle standing before Bai Lian was the Master’s restraint.
She wanted to grow stronger—strong enough to defeat all enemies!
Her longing for strength was more intense than ever before.
An Lan asked softly, “Are you disappointed?”
Bai Lian shook her head.
“No, because she is the real me, and she needs you more, Master.”
An Lan stood, looking down at Bai Lian.
She reached out, stroking Bai Lian’s head.
Although Bai Lian was taller now, the position of sitting allowed An Lan to reach her.
“I’m leaving.”
“Hmm.”
An Lan embraced Bai Lian tightly.
“Thank you.”
Her voice was soft, gentle—but it shattered the world around them.
When An Lan’s figure was erased, the world that had fulfilled its mission shattered like glass.
The world fell into chaos.
Bai Lian floated in the midst of it, but this time, she wasn’t confused.
Past, present, future.
When the chaos first began, it shone on Bai Lian, and a mysterious aura rose from her body.
That was the Way of the Great Tao, the [Field]!
In another world,
An Lan didn’t leave immediately after the Past Stele was removed.
“Writing a diary means there’s a beginning and an end.”
Her soul slowly enveloped Bai Lian’s, intertwining them as one—you in me, and me in you.
The winter night ushered in a spring breeze.
Bai Lian drifted into a long dream.
It must have been because of reading that diary.
In the dream, they achieved the great harmony of life.
When midnight arrived, Bai Lian broke through the insurmountable barrier and reached the Transcendency Stage.