Everyone shook their heads.
No one knew.
"The only way now is to quickly wake up Chu Xian, and then we can know the whole story." Yan Hua tentatively felt Chu Xian's pulse: "It's getting weaker and weaker, and it's trembling all the time."
It must be from pain.
"I will tame the Hui Guang Mirror as quickly as possible," Qi Yu said as she stood up, sitting down cross-legged with Si Qing.
Yan Hua, Chen Xi, and Jin Yan exchanged glances.
The three of them pointed their palms towards Qi Yu and Si Qing, setting up a barrier for them to prevent the Hui Guang Mirror from escaping during the process.
After the barrier was set up, Qi Yu and Si Qing used their spiritual sense to probe into the Hui Guang Mirror.
The Hui Guang Mirror was a rare sacred artifact, on par with the Yan Zhen Mirror.
As soon as Qi Yu and Si Qing entered the Hui Guang Mirror, they were separated by its spell.
"Si Qing?!" Qi Yu realized that after probing into the Hui Guang Mirror with her spiritual sense, Si Qing was no longer by her side, and the scenery before her changed from a vast expanse of white to the appearance of the Nine Heavens.
Qi Yu looked up and found herself standing inside the South Heavenly Gate.
Immortals passing by waved to her.
Qi Yu stood there, bewildered.
Why was she in the Nine Heavens?
"Do you regret it?" A long-haired girl in white, who looked very cute, suddenly appeared before her: "I am the Hui Guang Mirror. I know you want to form a contract with me, but have you heard that the Hui Guang Mirror can not only heal but also grant a wish to the strong."
"What do you mean..." Qi Yu stood there blankly.
"It means that if you want to save that little dragon cub outside, it's not necessarily the only way to form a contract with me," the Hui Guang Mirror raised its hand: "You can make a wish to return to the time before Ling Ru's soul possession."
"This way, Chu Xian won't be injured, your fate won't be changed, and everything will be as beautiful as possible."
"What you're talking about is the method of reversing time," Qi Yu said in a low voice: "And I don't need it now. My brother and I appearing in the mirror this time is just to form a contract with you. Release my brother."
"Don't be nervous, Si Qing is just sleeping. As for the conditions I mentioned, how do you know you really don't need it?" The Hui Guang Mirror met Qi Yu's gaze: "Without the experiences and memories of your previous life, could you really refuse a happy life?"
"Of course I can refuse," Qi Yu looked directly into the Hui Guang Mirror's eyes.
The Hui Guang Mirror suddenly reached out to her, and a sand timer appeared in its palm: "I don't believe you. You hate Li Yu and Yu Zhen now only because of these experiences. If nothing had happened, Yu Zhen and Li Yu would be kind and loving parents like An Nuo and Shao Feng, and you would still be the daughter of the Flowing Yu High God and the Qilin Saint Lord. How could you refuse your originally brilliant destiny?"
"If you don't believe me, then try it. When the order of the world is reordered and everything begins anew, before the sand timer finishes dripping, can you regain your memories, escape my illusion, and find your memories."
"What if I can do it?" Qi Yu asked.
"If you can, we will form a contract," the Hui Guang Mirror said, adding: "If you can't... you will pay with all your cultivation."
Outside the Hui Guang Mirror.
The Dragon King of the West Sea watched this scene in the mirror and couldn't help but tremble in his heart. He then turned to Shao Feng: "The conditions of the Hui Guang Mirror are too harsh. The human heart cannot be tested. If Yu Zhen and Li Yu were good parents, and nothing had happened, how could Qi Yu, without memories, refuse such a good background and family? Shao Feng, An Nuo, I can give my life, and Qi Yu doesn't need to do this."
Yan Hua, Chen Xi, Jin Yan, and Yu Yuan all frowned.
An Nuo and Shao Feng pursed their lips, and Feng Mingqi looked solemn.
The Queen of the West Sea looked at the Hui Guang Mirror with teary eyes.
Inside the mirror.
The Hui Guang Mirror looked at Qi Yu, who was about to answer, and suddenly spoke:
"Before you agree, you'd better think carefully about whether you want to do this."
"Is Chu Xian really worth it?"
"Qi Yu, this isn't the first time you've done something like this."
"Don't you remember the hell of the previous life?"
The Hui Guang Mirror looked at Qi Yu and said seductively: "At that time, Li Yu and Yu Zhen were still your parents. Even they were like that. The Dragon King and Queen of the West Sea and Chu Xian are not even your blood relatives, at most they are distant relatives."
"Are you sure you want to agree to my conditions for Chu Xian, just an ordinary friend?"
Qi Yu fell silent.
"You're always like this, never considering yourself," the Hui Guang Mirror placed its hands on her face: "After all, why take such a risk for Chu Xian? Just investigate. I wish for everything to return to its origin, and forget all the experiences you have now. Wouldn't that also save Chu Xian? And in that way, without Ling Ru's soul possession, from birth, you would be the daughter of both the Qilin Saint Lord and the Flowing Yu High God, with a noble status. Isn't that better than anything?"
Qi Yu raised her eyes to meet the Hui Guang Mirror's: "I refuse to make a wish. I want to aim for a contract and gamble with you. I bet that I can regain my memories and escape your illusion."
The Hui Guang Mirror was silent for a moment, then handed the sand timer to Qi Yu:
"As you wish."
The moment Qi Yu reached out to take the sand timer, a white light suddenly illuminated the surroundings, and a ball of energy engulfed Qi Yu and the sand timer together.
When Qi Yu opened her eyes again, she found herself sitting on a rocking chair by the Yaochi, holding a sand timer in her arms.
Qi Yu sat up in confusion, finding her mind blank.
"Ling Ru, Ling Ru, my darling, why are you here?" Yu Zhen, wearing a High God's immortal robe, walked over and took her hand: "Si Qing has been waiting for you for a long time. It's time to cultivate."
"Ling Ru... are you calling me?" Qi Yu raised her eyes blankly.
"Yes, who else would I be calling?" Yu Zhen smiled: "You are Ling Ru, the precious daughter of me and your father, the Qilin Saint Lord, my only little princess."
Qi Yu lowered her eyes: "Is that so."
"Of course," Yu Zhen smiled back at Qi Yu: "As long as you are obedient, you will always be my and your father's treasure."
"And what if I'm not obedient?" Qi Yu looked up.
"How could our Ling Ru not be obedient?" Yu Zhen squatted down and picked her up: "You are a girl, you will definitely be obedient. You will listen to your mother, take care of your brother, and be a sensible sister, right?"
These seemingly gentle words pricked Qi Yu like thorns, making her frown.
She looked back, gazing at her reflection in the Yaochi, her expression turning cold.
For some reason, everything felt so unfamiliar.
The following days were peaceful.
Qi Yu cultivated with Yu Zhen and Si Qing. Yu Zhen and Li Yu would praise her with smiles, letting her give up the practice ground to Si Qing after a few simple sessions, and then personally guide him.
Li Yu would take Qi Yu and Si Qing to ride in a Qilin carriage.
The people of the Qilin tribe bowed to Si Qing, Li Yu, and Yu Zhen.
Qi Yu, held by Yu Zhen, watched silently.
The sand in the sand timer dripped quickly.
Time also passed quickly.
The Hui Guang Mirror watched Qi Yu, trapped in the illusion but showing no outward emotion, frown little by little.
It manipulated the time within the illusion, making time flow rapidly, causing Yu Zhen, Li Yu, and Si Qing in the illusion to be punished for their crimes, and the Heavenly Emperor in the illusion to question Qi Yu again: "If you want to save your parents and brother, you must sacrifice yourself. Ling Ru, are you willing?"
Qi Yu looked up: "I am willing."
Everyone outside the mirror slapped their thighs.
"You lost, you lost. You said you were willing, that means you lost." The Hui Guang Mirror suddenly appeared and withdrew the illusion: "Qi Yu, look, you are willing to go this far. You really think this kind of life is better, don't you?"
"You're wrong," Qi Yu looked at the Hui Guang Mirror: "I regained my memories not long after you set up the illusion. This time I answered 'willing' because you lost."
The Hui Guang Mirror was stunned for a moment, not understanding: "What do you mean? Since you regained your memories long ago, why are you so calm and without any emotional fluctuation? Since you regained your memories long ago, why did you agree at the last moment?"
"Because I once said that even if I had to do it all over again, I would make the same choice," Qi Yu looked at the Hui Guang Mirror: "Not for Yu Zhen and Li Yu, but for Si Qing."
"I will protect him even if it means death."
The Hui Guang Mirror fell silent.
It looked at Qi Yu, took a deep breath, and extended its arms to Qi Yu: "Ah, this is so annoying, so annoying. Fine, I agree. Let's form a contract. But let's be clear beforehand, I only agree to a three-year living contract, not a death contract."
"Yes, I know," Qi Yu agreed verbally, then unhesitatingly formed a death contract.
By the time the Hui Guang Mirror realized what was happening, it was too late.
"You actually broke your promise!" The Hui Guang Mirror looked like it had been tricked, shocked and saddened.
Qi Yu slowly tidied her sleeves: "Sorry, because I'm a rather rotten person, I never keep my word."
"How could you do this?" The Hui Guang Mirror was very wronged: "I kept my word."
"Little friend Hui Guang Mirror, the world is very complicated," Qi Yu raised an eyebrow: "You are so naive, what if you are deceived by others in the future? Rather than being deceived by others later, it's better to be deceived by me. At least I won't do anything bad to you. After this is done, except for when I need you, you can go wherever you want."
The Hui Guang Mirror still looked heartbroken.
Qi Yu tempted it: "Think about it, although you were free before, you were roughing it. Mirrors need maintenance, but you were always living hand to mouth. If you form a contract with me now, not only will you be free, but you'll also have food and drink. I can make a golden shell for you. Isn't that a good deal?"
A golden protective shell!
This was something every mirror longed for.
"Then you'll keep your word," the Hui Guang Mirror, clearly having forgotten that it had already been tricked into a death contract by Qi Yu, became happy again.
Seeing that she had appeased it, Qi Yu ignored it, broke the restriction, and left the Hui Guang Mirror's world.
In the real world, Si Qing had already woken up first within the barrier.
Yan Hua and the others quickly removed the barrier when they saw Qi Yu wake up.
Qi Yu's mind was focused on saving Chu Xian, and she had no intention of chatting. After coming out, she stood up, took out the Hui Guang Mirror, and shone it on Chu Xian.
Instantly, a golden light shone brightly, and Chu Xian was lifted by a force. His surrounding dragon scales were all retracted, and finally, like a magnificent satin, they returned to Chu Xian's body.
Looking at the sacred scene before her, Qi Yu held her breath.
Soon, Chu Xian was slowly lowered.
The Dragon King and Queen of the West Sea nervously leaned forward.
Soon, Chu Xian slowly opened his eyes.