87 - The Divine Physician’s Overbearing Wife

Chapter 87 "Why is it impossible?" "With facts right in front of us," Yan Zhu Guang countered, "give me a reason to deny it. Can you find anyone else who fits all these conditions?" Uh... Host, you’re really putting me, your system, in a tough spot! "I... I can't, but I previously mentioned... Su Qian Er's soul is different from the female protagonist’s. In the last twenty missions, I've met the female protagonist, and her soul's aura was different..." "Can you really determine just by the soul aura?" Yan Zhu Guang replied, "Don't forget, 'Su Qian Er's' soul is unique and adapts extremely quickly to new bodies. Can you guarantee that the aura you sensed is 'Su Qian Er's' original, and not her new guise after she adapted to Su Qian Er’s body?" "Huh? Soul adaptation?" The system seemed baffled. Pausing, Yan Zhu Guang recollected the time when Su Qian Er was consuming the Heavenly Heart Lotus. The system had been summoned away by its higher-ups during this period. It was then that she and her senior sister discovered that Su Qian Er's soul had faced rejection. Recalling the events of that day, Yan Zhu Guang relayed them to the system. The system was taken aback, agape: "So, there was more to it..." No wonder the host has always suspected Su Qian Er's identity; her soul indeed is peculiar. Compelled, the system couldn't confidently assert that "Su Qian Er" wasn’t the female protagonist: "But... wasn't Su Qian Er reincarnated? How could she relate to the female protagonist of the parallel world if she's imbued with the reincarnation energy of this realm?" "What if, after the local Su Qian Er died, her memories were wiped, and she was reincarnated into the parallel world as Shen Wan Qing, and then, becoming the female protagonist in the cultivation world, she followed through her storyline only to meet an untimely death? What if that resonated with the death of this world’s Su Qian Er, bringing back part of Shen Wan Qing’s memories as the new Su Qian Er? Does that sound possible?" Pondering the relationships, the system found the host's reasoning increasingly plausible. Deciding to set aside these thoughts, the system focused on a pressing question: "Host, how are you so familiar with parallel universe theories?" Aren't you from the cultivation world? If you came from a world rife with information and wild imaginations, such conjectures wouldn't be surprising, but you’re supposed to be a native here, right? How could you be familiar with parallel universe theories? Could it be that the host deceived it from the start? The thought alone was terrifying. "You’re underestimating me," Yan Zhu Guang, irked by the system’s skepticism, retorted. "Parallel universes are an inevitable branch on the Great Dao of the Tree of Time. How could I not know?" The progression of time and the world's development filled with countless uncertainties. Every minor deviation might drastically alter the future trajectory, creating time nodes that foment numerous branches—these are the parallel universes. Laying these nodes and branches along the timeline forms the Tree of Time or, as Yan Zhu Guang called it, the Great Dao. The complex truths within the Tree of Time are an ultimate goal for cultivators to explore. For those residing amidst worldly illusions, parallel universe theories stem from hollow imaginations and whims, intangible and unverifiable. Yet, for the natives of the cultivation world, it’s a profound truth to be genuinely realized. Only after reaching a profoundly high realm do cultivators have the slim chance to perceive its true essence. This engagement means truly touching the existence of the Tree of Time, far from vague imaginings. Judging by the host's demeanor, it’s as though she's genuinely grasped this concept. The system found the host increasingly daunting. To know about the Tree of Time? The host’s previous life surely wasn’t a mere ordinary cultivator… Now more curious than ever about her past identity. Restraining itself but unable to resist, the system ventured a question to Yan Zhu Guang: "Host, could you shed some light on your past identity?" Yan Zhu Guang, her tone pregnant with meaning, replied, "If I revealed everything to you, what would be left for intrigue? Retaining some secrets makes things more interesting. Perhaps, you might try exploring on your own." The system, somewhat stumped, felt with its intelligence, it might never unravel the mystery. Concerned the candid host had made up her mind, knowing that no amount of pleading would sway her, the system subtly implored: "Host, could you at least give a hint?" Yan Zhu Guang gave it thought, leaving the system hanging as she whispered, "Do you think my fragmented soul appearing in the space rift was mere coincidence?" The system shuddered at her words. It encountered the host's fragmented soul by accident during its search for a twenty-first host, at a time when only a remnant of her soul was left, and she had lost consciousness. Smitten by the host’s beauty, it inadvertently neglected to scrutinize the lineage of this remnant soul and impulsively took her as the host, drawing her into this world. Later, when it sought to investigate the host again, she bore no more clues, leaving the matter unresolved. Was the host implying that her soul drifting into the spatial rift wasn't incidental but intentional? What kind of formidable figure must she have been in her previous life to wield powers capable of tearing through space? While conversing with the system, Yan Zhu Guang had already reached the Ice and Snow Cottage at Day Snow Peak with Yun Mi Xue and Su Qian Er. Leaving the system temporarily dulled by her cryptic remark, she concentrated on observing Su Qian Er’s demeanor. Su Qian Er’s disguising skills were not yet refined. Perhaps due to refining her sword flying arts, or because the preceding discussion had occupied much of her attention, she forgot to cloak herself, revealing her knowledge of the way to Day Snow Peak. She navigated straight to the Ice and Snow Cottage so adeptly, as if she'd treaded there countless times. In the story, Shen Wan Qing’s quarters at the Fenghua Celestial Sect were precisely the Ice and Snow Cottage. Not this existing one now, but a replica painstakingly restored by Gu Chen after Yun Mi Xue’s demise, where every detail matched this place identically. To ease Shen Wan Qing’s access without spiritual roots, Gu Chen had dispatched a few registered disciples to escort her up and down the mountain with sword-flying techniques, simultaneously serving as surveillance and protection. With this existing hypothesis, Su Qian Er unmistakably aligned with Shen Wan Qing. Closing her eyes briefly, Yan Zhu Guang cleared her miscellaneous thoughts. Inside the cottage, Yun Mi Xue ushered Su Qian Er in, where inevitably, they saw the remarkably exquisite Frost Crystal Fruit Tree. Yun Mi Xue intended to converse beneath the tree, but Su Qian Er declined: "May we talk inside? For as beautiful as snow scenes are, they ultimately seem cold." Perceiving her reluctance towards the sight, Yun Mi Xue kindly consented: "Very well." As the three sat within the hall, Yun Mi Xue sealed the door and closed the entire Ice and Snow Cottage. Detecting her actions, Su Qian Er grew increasingly uncertain about the ensuing discussion. After Yun Mi Xue completed preparations, Yan Zhu Guang immediately addressed the matter, "Su Qian Er, you aren’t of the Qiao family." Su Qian Er opened her mouth, contemplating a response, but closed it again. Having previously been told by Yun Mi Xue that the issue concerned her heritage, her rampant thoughts had suggested this possibility, so the revelation didn't much surprise her. When she heard Yan Zhu Guang say it aloud, she merely felt a sense of inevitable realization. Switching the topic slightly, she asked, "Sister Yan, is this a pretext to dissuade me from going to the Qiao family?" Yan Zhu Guang, acknowledging her tacit acceptance, clarified, "It's not about stopping you. In fact, I encourage your investigation, because the leaders of the branch family deserve justice." Su Qian Er's brow furrowed, "What on earth is going on?" Exchange glances with Yun Mi Xue, Yan Zhu Guang began the tale, "This goes back several decades..." Taking turns, Yan Zhu Guang and Yun Mi Xue narrated from the involvement of the former head of Fenghua Celestial Sect with Su You Mo Jun of the Blood Drop Devil Domain, disclosing Su Qian Er’s true lineage. When the name “Su You Mo Jun” first emerged, Su Qian Er's demeanor turned unusual. As the story progressed, her frown deepened, culminating in shock when informed of her heritage as the daughter of Su You Mo Jun and the former sect head. Displaying rare disquiet, she suddenly stood, toppling her chair with a loud crash. "Bang!" "Su Qian Er is the daughter of Su You Mo Jun?!" Her expression was an odd mix of distaste, panic, disbelief, and confusion: "How could this be..." Yan Zhu Guang, puzzled by her reaction, couldn't help but suspect Su Qian Er's surprise wasn’t rooted in hearing a stranger, but perhaps a familiar presence as her "mother", hinting at a deeper connection to Su You Mo Jun. Could her "Shen Wan Qing" hypothesis imply an acquaintance with Su You Mo Jun? "Could something have gone wrong?" the system finally asked after a long silence. "When the female protagonist traveled between worlds, the Demon Lord of the Blood Drop Demon Domain had already turned into the Blood Lotus, and Su You was dead, right?" Yan Zhu Guang said nothing in response to the system. Instead, she exchanged a perplexed glance with Yun Mi Xue, who then hesitantly asked, "Does Junior Sister Su know Su You Mo Jun?" The fact that the former sect master was killed by Su You Mo Jun was only revealed to the world after Su Qian Er and Yan Zhu Guang entered the Azure Tower. Su Qian Er had just emerged from it and presumably wouldn't have heard of this individual. Or, was there a past encounter between Su You Mo Jun and the current Su Qian Er? Drawn back by Yun Mi Xue’s question, Su Qian Er remembered her prior lapse. Clenching her palms, she shook her head, "No, I don't know her... are you not deceiving me?" Yan Zhu Guang replied, "Does Junior Sister Su really think that your unusual constitution, which hindered you from cultivating since childhood, is mere coincidence?" Struggling to remain composed, Su Qian Er trembled as she set her fallen chair upright, slowly sitting back down as if it took all her strength. When "Heavenly Restriction Physique" was mentioned, her escapism and skepticism shattered completely. "If remedies are useless," she inquired, "then what exactly were those elixirs you had me consume?" Yan Zhu Guang locked eyes with Su Qian Er: "Are you by any chance familiar with... Heavenly Heart Lotus seeds?" Understanding slowly dawned upon Su Qian Er. She opened her hand, staring at the crescent-shaped marks she'd made, then slowly curled her hand into a fist, tightening her grip as if grasping something intangible. "So... it's the Heavenly Heart Lotus seeds..." Watching her dazed expression, Yan Zhu Guang and Yun Mi Xue refrained from speaking further, allowing Su Qian Er to process everything herself. After some time, Su Qian Er queried, "If I am the daughter of the former sect master and Su You Mo Jun, why was I sent to the Qiao family?" Yan Zhu Guang and Yun Mi Xue exchanged another knowing glance—for what was to follow was truly the turning point of the revelation.