Lin Yan had stayed in this world for far too long, so long that she eventually forgot about her life in the present world.
After everyone she knew had departed, only Morris remained by her side.
When she felt the divine spark within her beginning to dissipate, she asked Morris if he was willing to leave with her. Unsurprisingly, Morris agreed.
Morris had been by her side for so many years. Although he remained handsome and young, his gaze filled with love for her also carried a profound weariness.
He must have been tired too. After all, Joey was long dead, and there were no dragons left in his clan that he recognized. Yet, he still lived.
Upon hearing his agreement, Lin Yan contacted the system and left the world. The moment she departed, Morris closed his eyes and left with her.
When Lin Yan opened her eyes again, there was no scenery before her, only a void.
Lin Yan raised her hand and found it to be ethereal, allowing her to see through her palm to the other side.
"You have arrived," a ethereal voice sounded from behind Lin Yan. Turning, she saw another translucent figure.
"System, what's going on? Where is this?" Lin Yan disliked events that exceeded her expectations, so she quickly contacted the system in her mind.
But the system, which had always been responsive, now remained silent.
"You don't need to contact that little thing. This is my Sea of Consciousness. Without my permission, it cannot enter." The figure seemed to know about the system's existence.
"Oh, then why have you brought me into your Sea of Consciousness?" On someone else's territory, Lin Yan could only first try to ascertain the other person's intentions.
Calming herself, Lin Yan now noticed the appearance of the woman before her. This was another beauty, as radiant as the moon in the sky, distant and aloof.
She wore ancient attire, but it didn't resemble any dynasty Lin Yan recognized. Her robes flowed gracefully, seamless and elegant, bringing to mind the word "xianxia" for Lin Yan.
Recalling the term "Sea of Consciousness" the woman had just mentioned, she had a rough idea of what kind of world she was in.
However, the system was created by the Main God and surpassed the three thousand worlds. Even after becoming a god in her previous world, she couldn't have removed the system from her mind like this.
How had this person separated them, and what did it have to do with her current mission?
"In your words, I am the tasker of your world, the original host." Although the woman was aloof, her attitude towards Lin Yan was quite gentle.
This was Lin Yan's first time meeting an original host face-to-face, a truly novel experience.
"This is the first time I've met my tasker. It's a pleasure to meet you, I am Lin Yan." Since the other woman was in ancient attire, Lin Yan performed a traditional bow.
"I am Tantai Wang Shu, the senior disciple sister of the Ling Xiao Sword Sect." She returned Lin Yan's bow.
"So, why did you insist on seeing me?" The original host knew her fate; many times, tasks were simply completed without such encounters. If not for this, her behavior could be construed as soul possession, and Lin Yan didn't believe this woman would be so gentle if that were the case.
"Because I wanted to see who would bear my fate." Her gaze towards Lin Yan held an apology.
"Initially, I was worried about implicating you, but seeing you brimming with merit now, I understand. This task is likely yours alone."
"Does that mean you are very aware of your own destiny?"
"Yes, but knowing it is of no use." Tantai Wang Shu's gaze drifted towards the void.
"Why is it of no use? Destiny can be changed," Lin Yan tried to persuade her, as at this moment, the woman appeared utterly despairing.
Though she didn't outwardly show it, the dark aura surrounding her thickened like smoke.
"It's useless," Tantai Wang Shu shook her head. "I've tried, many times, but it was all to no avail."
Although she practiced swordsmanship, her family had always excelled in astrology and divination. Their clan possessed a divine artifact capable of observing the past and future.
As the Tantai family had been wiped out, this divine artifact remained in her Sea of Consciousness, which in turn gave her opportunities to relive their experiences.
Perhaps it wasn't reliving, but rather countless possibilities calculated by that divine artifact.
She struggled and attempted to save herself, but it was futile. She simply couldn't break free from the shackles of fate.
Later, she discovered that this world was merely a book, a typical "harem protagonist" novel, and she was just a supporting female character, one who gave everything for the male protagonist, eventually becoming just another member of his harem.
This female character only appeared in the early part of the story; her presence faded later, existing only in the words of others. Yet, whenever she was mentioned, people spoke with regret.
But how could she, who bore the blood feud of her entire clan and was devoted to the Dao, abandon everything for a man? She even handed over the clan's divine artifact and later shared a husband with the daughter of her enemy.
She couldn't accept it, so she resisted time and again. However, each time she approached the male protagonist, she completely lost herself, only wanting to sacrifice for him.
Later, she could only flee from afar, yet due to various coincidences, they were brought together again. She felt herself split into two: one part brimming with adoration and wholeheartedly devoted to the male protagonist, the other clear-headed and in agony, wanting to escape it all.
So many times, she had completely despaired. She desperately wished to perish with them, but upon contact with the male protagonist, she couldn't control her body. Even hiring assassins couldn't stop him; he would always escape danger, even gaining more opportunities from it.
The feeling of watching herself act foolishly yet being powerless to stop it, she had had enough. So, when a voice from the heavens asked her if she wished to change things, if she wanted to entrust her mission, she agreed.
She knew this voice was incredibly powerful, and she knew the person who would take on this mission should also be capable. But she understood the torment of being bound by fate.
Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire. Therefore, she requested the voice to let her meet the person undertaking the mission and to give them some advice.
But now, it seemed she didn't need to. With so much merit surrounding her, the Lin Yan before her should be favored by the Heavenly Dao.
Perhaps not as much as the male protagonist, who was favored by the Heavenly Dao as its own son, but far better than others.
"You cannot break free from such a destiny?" Lin Yan recalled what the system had said before, why it sought taskers for such a seemingly simple mission.
"I belong to this world, and my fate is held in the hands of the Heavenly Dao. No matter how powerful I am, I cannot resist. Therefore, Lin Yan, I beg you, help me. I am willing to give everything I have. I hope you can help me escape this fate!"