Chapter 1909 — 1909: Meng Lili

"What the hell? Who was that?"

The disciple who was with Meng Lili asked shortly after Yuan left.

Meng Lili shook her head and said, "I don't know, but he looked familiar, and he appeared to know me, too."

"He was probably just another admirer. You're a Core Disciple, so it's not weird."

Meng Lili looked in the direction Yuan had left and mumbled, "An admirer, huh?"

Meanwhile, after leaving, Yuan returned to his living quarters to ponder about what had just happened.

"Meng Lili is still alive in this timeline? So you're telling me that Meng Lili survived because Tian Yang doesn't exist in this world—even though she died before Tian Yang left the Bamboo Garden?"

Yuan was beginning to wonder if Tian Yang was truly a calamity who brought misfortune to others, as Huang Xiao Li and Meng Lili had survived because Tian Yang didn't exist in this world.

In the original timeline, Tian Yang remained unaware of the true culprit behind Meng Lili's death for a long time—only uncovering the truth far later, long after he had already freed Kulas from the Immortal Confinement Dungeon. And it happened only because he'd coincidentally encountered Bai Zhan.

"So she made it to Core Disciple, huh?" A smile appeared on Yuan's face.

The following day, Yuan went to visit Elder Sun even though she had told him to visit him next week, as he intended to spend his last few days in this world with her.

However, when Yuan arrived at the Immortal Sun Peak, he was met with an unexpected sight. Unlike usual, Elder Sun was not alone. Standing beside her, engaged in conversation, was a female disciple dressed in the Core Disciple's uniform.

Though her back was turned to him, obscuring her face, Yuan didn't need to see it to recognize her.

It was Meng Lili.

Realizing this, Yuan turned around, but before he could leave, Elder Sun noticed him and called out to him, "Xiao Yang? What are you doing?"

"Xiao Yang?"

Meng Lili turned to look at Yuan with interest.

"Hm? You're that disciple from yesterday. Don't tell me you followed me all the way here because you're an admirer of mine?"

"Admirer? What are you talking about? That's my disciple," Elder Sun said.

"What?! You accepted a disciple?! When?!" Meng Lili exclaimed, her face full of surprise.

"Not too long ago—right after you left the sect for your mission," Elder Sun said.

"Xiao Yang, come greet your senior apprentice-sister."

'Ha… whatever. If anything happens, the Sect Leader will take care of it.' Yuan sighed inwardly as he approached them.

"Hello, senior. My name is Xiao Yang." Yuan greeted Meng Lili a moment later.

"Hey, why did you run away yesterday?" Meng Lili wasted no time asking him, almost as if she was worried he might run away again.

"I wasn't running away," he quickly denied.

"Don't lie. You were definitely running away. Were you afraid of getting in trouble?"

"Why would he be in trouble?" Elder Sun asked.

"He was inside the center court," she explained.

Yuan shook his head, but instead of explaining with words, he showed the Core Disciple's medallion to her.

"What? When did you become a Core Disciple?" Elder Sun's eyes widened with surprise.

"Right after we returned from the Desolate Continent," he replied.

"Unbelievable… Do you even know what it means to rest? You're just like a certain someone I know," Elder Sun sighed.

Yuan's heart skipped a beat when Elder Sun almost mentioned Tian Yang.

'Is she purposefully not mentioning him by name because of what happened?' he wondered.

"So, what are you doing here?" Elder Sun then asked.

"Nothing much. I just wanted to spend some time with you."

"With me?" Elder Sun raised her eyebrows in a puzzled manner.

Yuan silently nodded.

"You came here not to train but to spend time? I don't remember you being this clingy," she teased.

"I'm entering seclusion soon," Yuan said.

"Is that so… How long?"

He shook his head. "I don't know."

"Then when are you going to enter seclusion?"

"In a week."

Meng Lili glanced between Yuan and Elder Sun, her gaze shifting back and forth for a brief moment. Then, with a soft smile, she said, "I'll leave you two alone."

Before Elder Sun could say anything, Meng Lili flew away.

"Who was that, anyway?" Yuan asked shortly afterward.

"Disciple Meng Lili. She's one of Elder Jing's disciples, and she'd recently returned to the sect from a mission," Elder Sun gave a brief explanation.

"This is the first time you're showing interest in another disciple. Don't tell me you're actually an admirer?" Elder Sun smiled in a teasing manner.

Yuan shook his head with a bittersweet smile, "It's only because you seem close with her—even though you're a loner."

"W-What?! A loner?! I am most certainly not a loner!" Elder Sun hastily refuted.

"Oh yeah? If you're not a loner, how come I never see you with anyone besides Elder Jing and myself?"

Elder Sun was left speechless for a moment before she responded, "I hang out with plenty of people! It's just that I only do that when you're not here!"

"Sure thing…"

Yuan and Elder Sun continued going back and forth. After a long conversation, Elder Sun said, "To tell you the truth, I am considering leaving the sect."

"What? Why?" Yuan's eyes widened after hearing this sudden confession.

"As you already know, I joined the sect to distance myself from my family. However, it's not as if I severed ties with them completely," Elder Sun explained, her tone calm yet laced with an underlying weight. "Eventually, I will have to return… and I feel like that that time is approaching."

"So you'll be gone by the time I emerge from my seclusion?"

She nodded.

"Possibly."

After a moment of silence, Yuan said, "If you're not here when I return, I'll go to where you are."

"Don't. It's too dangerous." Elder Sun quickly rejected.

"How so?"

"Even ignoring the fact that not just anyone can enter the Holy Continent, my family is special."

"No matter how special they are, I will figure out a way to see you again," Yuan casually said with a calm smile on his handsome face, leaving her momentarily speechless.