Chapter 1761 — Chapter 1761 Tan Songyun's Decision

Tan Songyun recalled every moment of the year she had spent with Tian Kai—the emotions that had consumed her, the warmth of his presence, and the touch of his fingers on her body.

Then, she remembered the countless rumors she had heard about Tian Kai over tens of thousands of years, along with the hatred and anger that had festered within her. While the year she had spent with Tian Kai had been filled with joy, she couldn't simply cast aside the anguish and betrayal that had consumed her for thousands of years, as if it had never existed.

Even if the rumors were untrue and Tian Kai was innocent, the anguish Tan Songyun had endured was undeniably real and couldn't simply be dismissed.

'Tian Kai was innocent…? Then what have I been doing all these years? What am I doing with my life now?'

After a very long moment of silence, Tan Songyun suddenly smacked herself in the face and shook it off.

"Even after tens of thousands of years of feeling betrayed, it is undeniable that I still love Tian Kai to a certain extent, and if it turns out that all of the rumors I've heard about him are false, I will atone for my crimes."

"However, there's no way for me to confirm your words as of this moment, and I am no longer foolish enough to believe everything I hear. Therefore, I am going to follow and watch you to confirm it."

"You're going to follow me?" Yuan's eyes widened at her words.

"What's with that look? You don't want me to? Are you afraid I might expose the real you?" Tan Songyun frowned.

"No… that's not it. Didn't you hear me? I am currently being hunted by the Celestial Emperor. I also have many enemies. If you stay with me, I cannot guarantee your safety."

"So what? Even if I die in the process, I will not have any regrets—except that I won't be able to find out the truth."

Yuan rubbed his eyes and sighed, "I will also be traversing dangerous places."

"This won't be my first time visiting someplace dangerous."

Seeing how stubborn Tan Songyun was acting, Yuan said, "Fine, you can follow me, but the moment I deem you as a burden, I'll immediately leave you behind."

"Like you did back then?" Tan Songyun sneered.

"..."

"Even if you follow me, how will you determine what I said is true or false?" Yuan then asked.

"That's not something you need to know," she said.

Yuan removed the formation shortly after and called Xi Meili back.

"Well, since you're going to be following us, we might as well do an introduction," said Yuan.

"You may know me as Tian Kai, but my name now is Yuan. Are you aware of the existence of players?"

"Players… you mean the Outsiders?"

Yuan nodded and said, "I am one of them, as I was reborn in that world."

"You claim to have reincarnated, but why would you still retain Tian Kai's memories? As far as I know, those who reincarnate lose all memories of their past lives," Tan Songyun asked, her tone filled with doubt.

"My case is a little special. Also, not everyone forgets their memories. There are special techniques out there that help people regain their lost memories," Yuan explained.

Xi Meili introduced herself next, "My name is Xi Meili, and I am a real dragon. My bloodline is also royalty."

Tan Songyun's eyes widened, and she asked, "How are you related to the Xi Family in the upper heavens?"

"I don't know since I came from the Ancient Dragon City."

"Ancient Dragon City…? Never heard of that place."

"Anyway, I am Tan Songyun, and my relationship with Tian Kai here is—"

Tan Songyun gave Xi Meili a brief explanation of the situation, leaving her bewildered by the sheer strangeness of the events that unfolded.

"Um… me saying this probably won't mean anything at this point, but there is simply no way these rumors about Yuan are true. If you spend even a little time with him, you'd understand what I mean," said Xi Meili.

"..."

Tan Songyun narrowed her eyes at Xi Meili for a moment before asking, "What is your relationship with Tian Kai, anyway?"

"Once again, Tian Kai is dead. I am now Yuan."

"We're traveling companions," said Xi Meili.

"Just traveling companions?"

"For now, yes…"

"For now?" Tan Songyun raised an eyebrow.

"A-anyway, now that we've acquired the second Ancient Seal, what are we going to do next?" Xi Meili turned to look at Yuan, clearly trying to change the subject.

Yuan pondered for a moment before summoning Yin and Yang.

"Can you two figure out where the other two seals are?" Yuan asked them.

"We'll try," they responded simultaneously before disappearing into thin air.

Tan Songyun then asked, "Why didn't you ask the Dragon King where the other holders are?"

"Because even the holders themselves are unaware of the identities of the other holders," Yuan explained.

"By the way, how far have you managed to ascend, Zither Goddess?" Yuan then asked her.

"Can you stop calling me by that nickname? I don't like it."

"If you stop calling me Tian Kai. Ah, I almost forgot. Yuan is my real name. I currently go by Xiao Yang. Also, how should I address you if not Zither Goddess?"

"Anything but Zither Goddess. I no longer qualify for such a title."

"Then how about I continue addressing you as Lady Tan?"

"Do as you please. And I've reached all the way to the Supreme Heaven."

"The Ninth Heaven? That's impressive. Well, since we're trying to reach the Seventh Heaven as soon as possible, we might as well ascend to the Sixth Heaven now," said Yuan.

"Already? This will be your quickest back-to-back ascension yet!" Xi Meili said, her voice filled with excitement.

He nodded, "I want to regain my body as soon as possible, after all."

"Your body?" Tan Songyun inquired.

"It's a little complicated, but this body is merely constructed from a part of my soul," he explained. "In order to come to the Nine Heavens with my real body, I need to reach the Seventh Heaven."