However, things did not develop in the ambiguous direction Ji Hanyue had imagined.
At some point, she suddenly discovered with a hint of fear that her good disciple, Xu Fan, seemed to have become a little different.
In the past, Xu Fan always wore a faint smile. His whole demeanor was bright and positive. From time to time, he would run over to pay his respects, crack one or two playful jokes, and often made Ji Hanyue feel both helpless and a little amused.
But after she brought Fan’er back, the number of times he came to greet her clearly decreased. The gentle smile on his face disappeared as well.
When he had nothing to do, he would rather sit alone in his cave dwelling in a daze than come chat with her to relieve her boredom.
Seeing this, Ji Hanyue was both shocked and angry. She couldn’t help suspecting that something had gone wrong during the process of reviving Fan’er. So she immediately went into the Supreme Void Immortal Sect’s Scripture Pavilion to search for a solution, yet she found nothing no matter how hard she looked.
Even Ji Hanyue, as his master, could sense the enormous change in Xu Fan. How could Xu Fan, the person involved, not know?
But he was powerless to do anything about it.
The system’s voice sounded in Xu Fan’s mind, [Host, your current changes were caused by a portion of the poison from back then invading your divine consciousness. This is something neither the Nine Revolutions Fate-Tribulation Pill nor Ji Hanyue can resolve for you.]
The system continued: [Because it isn’t fatal, iit will only quietly alter some of your perceptions.]
Xu Fan knew the system was right, because he discovered with sudden surprise that he no longer wanted to go home.
That’s right—he didn’t really want to anymore.
Even though this was already the seventh life. Even though Ji Hanyue’s 100 favorability was only one last step away. Even though he had put in so much effort, even risking his life several times for it.
Yet he simply couldn’t muster any interest.
All his past memories were still clear in his mind, but he no longer had the desire to return to Blue Star.
Sensing his own changes, Xu Fan asked thoughtfully, “System, can I return to the way I was before?”
The system pondered for a moment. [Very difficult, unless the host suffers some major mental shock to counteract the poison’s influence on your perceptions.]
Xu Fan nodded slightly.
He was only asking. He had no intention of actually doing such a thing.
No longer needing to pursue Ji Hanyue, Xu Fan’s feelings toward her naturally changed as well.
If before there had been an unavoidable trace of complicated emotion, now it became purely the bond between master and disciple—without any impurities at all.
Xu Fan furrowed his brows, a look of contemplation appearing on his face for the first time. “System, I want to try living a real life that belongs to me.”
The system said nothing. It merely fell into silence.
Xu Fan began trying to live for himself, something he had never experienced in the previous six lives when he was burdened by fate.
He tried many new things.
For example, he deliberately did things that violated the sect’s rules.
And for example… he tried to freely love someone he truly liked.
…
Xu Fan fell in love.
The person was an outer sect disciple named Xianglan.
Xianglan was very ordinary. She had no profound cultivation, nor any stunning beauty. At a glance, she had nothing remarkable about her.
Such a plain woman could be seen everywhere in the Heavenly Cloud Realm, and within the Supreme Void Immortal Sect there were plenty of female disciples far more outstanding than her.
Yet Xu Fan chose her anyway—he even pursued her first.
Their meeting and acquaintance were extremely ordinary. There was no childhood sweetheart like in his first life, no life-and-death reliance like in his fourth life, and certainly no heroic rescue this life. There was only mutual care like ordinary people, and heartfelt conversations.
Looking at the delicate, fresh, and pretty girl before him, Xu Fan blushed and said softly, “Junior Sister Xianglan, I like you.”
Xianglan smiled sweetly, took Xu Fan’s hand on her own initiative, and said, “Hehe, Senior Brother Xu Fan, I like you too.”
Xu Fan: (^▽^)
Xu Fan’s cultivation aptitude was average, and Xianglan’s wasn’t much better. So the two rarely talked about cultivation. They talked more about other things—life, ideals, and the future.
Xu Fan was a little happy.
After all, because of the system, over seven lives, the number of times Xu Fan truly fell in love could be counted on one hand.
To say he felt absolutely nothing for his ex-girlfriends was impossible.
But because the system gave him limited time each life, Xu Fan always had to endure the heart-wrenching pain of saying goodbye to them in the end.
In the face of time, all suffering would become so insignificant.
That was what Xu Fan imagined they would use to comfort him, so he quickly let go of past attachments and wasn’t too worried that his ex-girlfriends would keep thinking about him.
But now it was different.
There was no time limit. He was no longer obsessed with returning to Blue Star. In an instant, everything became beautiful.
Xu Fan even began fantasizing about a wonderful married life with Xianglan—having two cute little kids, then taking Xianglan to live in seclusion in a small city, living properly like ordinary common people.
Of course, if someone really didn’t know their place, Xu Fan could also pretend to be weak and then reveal his powerful Golden Core Realm cultivation, beating the enemy until they fled in panic, earning the admiration of the common folk…
However, just as Xu Fan was immersed in these beautiful fantasies, Ji Hanyue suddenly appeared in his cave dwelling with a dark expression.
Seeing Ji Hanyue’s menacing look, Xu Fan’s heart tightened. He forced himself to speak, “Master, why didn’t you say anything in advance before coming to your disciple’s cave dwelling?”
Unexpectedly, upon hearing Xu Fan’s words, Ji Hanyue let out a cold laugh. Her voice, once as detached as if she didn’t belong to the mortal world, now carried a strange, mocking tone. “So it turns out, Fan’er, you still have your master in your heart?”
Ji Hanyue’s exquisite face was tinted with coldness. Under the swaying dim candlelight, she seemed to carry an indescribable, gloomy emotion. “I thought you had already forgotten about your master, and your heart only held that woman named Xianglan!”
Xu Fan slapped his forehead.
Crap—these past few days, he had been busy dating Xianglan and seemed to have forgotten to go pay his respects to his master.
Realizing this, Xu Fan quickly put on a flattering smile and said seriously, “Master, tomorrow I will definitely bring Xianglan and come pay respects to you on time.”
Ji Hanyue was startled upon hearing that.
A nameless sour bitterness surged in her heart, making it hard for her to control her emotions. Her voice turned icy, as if she wanted to kill someone. “Why are you bringing her?!”
Xu Fan was shocked. He instinctively took a few steps back, looking confused. “Your disciple… naturally wants Master to see your future daughter-in-law!”
Xu Fan couldn’t understand why Ji Hanyue’s reaction was so extreme.
Because in his view, neither of them had ever made anything explicit. It had always just been a pure master-disciple relationship.
Moreover, due to the taboo between them, Xu Fan had never once expressed any improper thoughts toward Ji Hanyue.
Even if, for various reasons, Ji Hanyue’s favorability toward him had reached a very high value before, it still hadn’t reached the standard for completion. By logic, Ji Hanyue shouldn’t be reacting like this.
Yet to his surprise, hearing Xu Fan say that only made Ji Hanyue even angrier. Her proud, snow-white chest heaved violently as she said with a frosty face, “Fan’er, your cultivation is low. You shouldn’t waste your energy on these childish romances!”
Ji Hanyue’s attitude was so forceful it felt almost unreasonable, and it vaguely carried a sour edge. “Things like marriage can be discussed later. Right now, Fan’er, you will cultivate properly for me. Don’t think about anything else!”
Hearing this, Xu Fan’s expression changed slightly, but he still remained respectful. “Master, even if you say that, every cultivator should have their own freedom.”
He deliberately emphasized the words “Master,” as if hinting at something. “Besides, your disciple is dull and foolish. In this lifetime, I may be destined to have no connection with the Great Dao. Master might as well grant your disciple this one wish!”
Ji Hanyue understood what Xu Fan was implying. Her mind, like a taut string, suddenly snapped, and she woke up in an instant.
That’s right!
She was only Fan’er’s master—what right did she have to interfere in his private matters of the heart?
But if that was the case… why couldn’t she stop herself from feeling sour bitterness?
Could it be that over these decades together… she had developed feelings she shouldn’t have toward Fan’er?!
The moment she realized this, a panic she couldn’t suppress flashed through Ji Hanyue’s heart. It instantly threw her into turmoil.
Without saying a single word, she turned and left Xu Fan’s cave dwelling.
Seeing Ji Hanyue’s flustered retreating figure, Xu Fan couldn’t help chuckling softly. “Now that Master has been awakened by this, she probably won’t be as obsessed as before.”
“Like this… it’s actually pretty good.”