After The Death Escape and Ascension, The Male Protagonist of Long Aotian Went Crazy - Chapter 16

“You still remember me?”

Would the Two Rites Floating Life Formation affect the past?

Wei Shizhou’s understanding of it was crude; he wasn’t sure.

The past had already happened—so why would young Shi Hua still remember him?

The girl nodded gently, her gaze fixed on the little pig mask on his face. She suddenly let out a giggle:

“Little Immortal, why are you still wearing this mask? Do all immortals have this sort of strange hobby?”

“Hm?”

Wei Shizhou was baffled. Instinctively, he reached up and touched his mask.

“What’s wrong with my mask?”

The girl just smiled without answering, then held up a small mirror to him.

The reflection of a pink little pig mask stared back at Wei Shizhou.

Wei Shizhou: …

So he had shown himself to young Shi Hua twice now—both times with this silly pink pig mask on his face?

“Little Immortal, I remembered every word you told me.”

Wei Shizhou returned to his senses and asked, “What words?”

Her face bloomed with a radiant smile.

“About my master! Little Immortal said I would take a very powerful master. I did it!”

Her master was indeed the strongest—and also the gentlest.

Wei Shizhou’s lips curved faintly; her joy was infectious.

“Yes, you’ve done well, little Shi Hua.”

He studied her carefully.

The little girl had grown. The childish roundness had faded from her face; her slightly arched brows and bright eyes seemed to hold sunlight within them. Every smile, every movement sparkled so dazzlingly that it was impossible to look away.

Unlike the Shi Hua he knew, young Shi Hua was like the rising sun in the sky—burning bright, radiant, attracting everyone’s eyes.

Xu Yu Immortal Venerable, on the other hand, carried the world in her heart, her expression always serene, showing no trace of other emotions. She was like a tool—going wherever she was needed.

Wei Shizhou suddenly felt his emotions hard to describe.

How could a single person change so much?

“Little Immortal.”

Her voice was soft, almost like a lover’s whisper, flowing gently and melodiously.

Wei Shizhou found himself caught in her bright, lively gaze.

“Little Immortal… you came from the future, didn’t you?”

He froze. “Why do you say that?”

A pale flush rose on her cheeks as her eyes curved confidently.

“Because you told me I would have a great master. But I was frail, and my master delayed the initiation for a few days to nurse me back to health before I could formally apprentice.”

“These past days, I read through the sect’s ancient records and learned there are arts that can send people to the past—or to the future. At that time, I thought, perhaps Little Immortal is…”

She suddenly leaned closer. Her breathtaking features enlarged before his eyes, every detail crystal clear.

A faint fragrance lingered between them.

It was hers.

Wei Shizhou held his breath unconsciously.

Too close!

“Little Immortal, what will I be like in the future? Will my body be healed?”

His whole body stiffened, and he turned his gaze aside uncomfortably.

“Ahem… in the future, you are healed, and you become the most powerful person in the cultivation world.”

But afterward, consumed by jealousy and resentment, you walked down a path of no return…

Faced with her hopeful eyes, he found himself unable to say it aloud.

“Really?!”

Her smile grew even brighter.

Step by step, she closed the distance, forcing him back until his body pressed against a tree trunk.

Wei Shizhou panicked slightly. “W-what are you doing?”

Her slender white fingertip brushed across his cheek, leaving trails of warmth behind.

Her eyes gleamed with playful mischief.

The reflection of his pink pig mask danced in her pupils.

Beneath the mask, his eyes showed nothing but nervous panic, forced into meeting hers.

He saw her soft pink lips move:

“Even though I can’t see Little Immortal’s full face, I’m sure you must be very beautiful. I’ll definitely meet you again in the future, won’t I? You mustn’t let some other female cultivator steal you away. Wait for me to find you, okay?”

“Uh—huh?”

Wei Shizhou’s mind went blank.

What did that mean—did it mean what he thought it meant?

Young Shi Hua was teasing him? She had taken a liking to him?!

The skin exposed outside his robe flushed crimson instantly.

She burst into laughter, letting the flustered Wei Shizhou off the hook. Taking a few steps back, she gazed at him merrily.

But then—

Clang.

The sword in her hand dropped.

Her body trembled, too weak to hold it anymore.

Wei Shizhou panicked and instinctively reached out to steady her.

But she spoke a chilling line instead.

“Little Immortal, you should go out now.”

The words, abrupt and cryptic, made Wei Shizhou’s heart jolt.

No wonder she was Xu Yu Immortal Venerable—her intelligence was unmatched.

Though this was her past self, she could already sense the truth.

With a frail, near-collapsing body, she still wore a radiant smile.

“Little Immortal, since you came from the future, I suppose this place is just a memory of some time in the past. Once you leave… who knows if I’ll even remember any of it…”

She coughed, frowning.

Wei Shizhou was struck with realization.

Why was her body so weak?

In the future, Shi Hua would be invincible. Why was she like this in the past?

She did not want to elaborate.

“Since Little Immortal made it this far… forget it. These are memories neither she nor I wish to revisit. She doesn’t want to mention them, and I don’t want to say them either… Little Immortal, go.”

“You…”

Wei Shizhou’s heart was in chaos. It felt as though he’d just been teased mercilessly, only for the culprit to escape scot-free.

Damn it—this wicked woman, even in the past, still toyed with him!

He didn’t even know what he was feeling anymore.

He only knew that her dazzling, radiant smile shouldn’t vanish from here.

Wei Shizhou wanted to grab hold of her, even knowing it was impossible.

The mirror world was collapsing.

The ground beneath him split apart, his body falling rapidly, darkness swallowing him whole.

At the edge of the cracking space, she kept smiling at him. In the dark void, she was like the morning sun, chasing away his surrounding shadows.

“Little Immortal, it’s a promise—you’re not allowed to fall for any other female cultivator. Wait for me to find you.”

Wei Shizhou was stunned.

She was like a blazing flame, crashing into his tranquil heart-lake, stirring up stormy waves—then cruelly pushing him away.

Every smile, every jest of hers—so vivid, so alive.

Wei Shizhou knew he would remember it forever.

He would remember her radiant pride and brilliance.

The Two Rites Floating Life Formation shattered.

Shi Hua opened her eyes calmly.

Her expression was as usual—flat, without a trace of emotion.

Sensing a searing gaze on her, she turned and met Wei Shizhou’s eyes in confusion.

He quickly masked his disappointment, grinning cheekily:

“Immortal Venerable, you’re out!”

Her gaze was frosty.

“The matter of the Two Rites Floating Life Formation—I’ll question you about it when we return.”

For now, they had to resolve Hua Jinning’s situation.

Wei Shizhou looked at her—the Shi Hua who emerged from the mirror was cold and detached, nothing like the vibrant girl within. It was as though they were two completely different people.

Young Shi Hua had said she might not remember what happened after leaving the mirror.

So Shi Hua truly remembered nothing?

Wei Shizhou looked up at her.

Her profile was icy and merciless, her brows faintly furrowed.

She really didn’t remember!

Unfair! She teased him, then turned around and pretended nothing happened?!

Wei Shizhou ground his teeth. He was the only one stewing over it, while the person herself was utterly oblivious. This hateful woman!

Aaaaagh!

Shi Hua glanced at him impassively.

The boy’s face was flushed red as he glared at nothing in particular, full of dissatisfaction.

A flicker of confusion crossed her pale eyes.

Had she forgotten something again?

Forget it. First, deal with the matter at hand.

“Senior Sister!”

The protective barrier outside trembled.

Chi Qingxuan broke through it and entered. Seeing several people still trapped in the formation, he quickly noticed the yin-yang sigils beneath their feet.

He immediately recognized the formation.

Coincidentally, his master had once taught him how to break this very array.

Chi Qingxuan glanced at the two who were awake, then stomped lightly.

A burst of azure spiritual energy exploded, weaving into the array lines and spreading until the entire formation was encased.

Crack.

The Two Rites Floating Life Formation shattered.

Fortunately, the caster wasn’t strong; otherwise, even he might not have been able to break it.

With the array broken, everyone awoke from their mirror illusions—except for Hua Jinning, who remained trapped, unable to wake.

Because she was stuck in the array, the barrier outside had weakened, allowing Chi Qingxuan to enter so easily.

He frowned with worry.

“Qingxuan, is there a way?”

Qingxuan stared for a moment, then shook his head.

“The Two Rites Floating Life Formation is broken, but since Palace Master Hua still refuses to awaken, any external interference will only harm both sides.”

If this dragged on, Hua Jinning’s soul would be trapped in the illusion until it dissipated completely.

Chi Qingxuan could not allow her to die.

His gaze hardened.

“Then I’ll go in to save her!”

“No!” Qingxuan stopped him. “Palace Master Hua is trapped in her most unforgettable memory—the memory most likely to breed heart-demons. Except for the caster, anyone else who enters will be bound by the array, unable to act.”

In other words—only Wei Shizhou could enter.

All eyes turned toward him.

Wei Shizhou blinked innocently.

He only did this to protect himself, okay?

【Immortal Venerable, the mission has failed.】

Chi Qingxuan’s appearance marked the end of this plot node. The mission wasn’t completed.

Shi Hua didn’t care about that now.

The system muttered sulkily:

【Aside from the male lead, the female lead can also enter and leave freely. Immortal Venerable… I’ll help you recover your body, so you can go in.】

“Really?”

【Mn.】

The system sounded less than pleased.

But Shi Hua couldn’t worry about that.

Before coming here, Yun Yao had asked her to save Hua Jinning. Since she had agreed, she would see it through.

“I will go in.”

Her backlash had already recovered, and her spiritual energy fully restored. Shi Hua looked around at the others.

“Wei Shizhou and Xi Yan will go with me—they can.”

That, the others could understand. Shi Hua could enter, Wei Shizhou as the caster too.

But why could Qin Xiyan?

Shi Hua turned directly to her.

“Xi Yan, do you trust me?”

That small thread of doubt in Qin Xiyan’s heart vanished instantly beneath Shi Hua’s steady gaze.

She nodded firmly.

“Disciple trusts Immortal Venerable.”

Qingxuan confirmed she wasn’t joking. Knowing Shi Hua’s character, she would never gamble with lives in such a moment.

“Very well. You three will go. We’ll stand guard.”

Bixu Palace still needed someone to preside over matters.

Chi Qingxuan knew he had to remain, so he gave Shi Hua a reassuring nod.

But just before she entered, Shi Hua suddenly said:

“Junior Brother, I’ll need to borrow something from you this time.”

A wisp of spiritual power pierced into Chi Qingxuan’s brow.

Something was imprinted and taken away.

Realizing what she was doing, his face changed.

“Senior Sister, no—you can’t—”

But Shi Hua had already closed her eyes, stepping into Hua Jinning’s illusion.

Knowing what she intended, Chi Qingxuan’s heart sank into panic. He looked helplessly toward Qingxuan.

Even Qingxuan didn’t know what to say.

Xie An and Xie Wanmian exchanged bewildered glances.

The three entered the mirror realm in their soul forms.

Unlike the last time Wei Shizhou came in, this time the people within could not see them.

Wei Shizhou sneaked a glance at Shi Hua, trying to confirm if she truly remembered nothing.

Her expression was still cold as ice.

His heart sank with disappointment he couldn’t quite explain.

Qin Xiyan glanced around.

“This looks like… Xuan Yin Immortal Sect?”

Familiar, but not quite the same.

Shi Hua had lived in the sect for millions of years; she knew it more than anyone.

She confirmed Qin Xiyan’s suspicion.

Yes—it was Xuan Yin Immortal Sect centuries ago.

The very year the Hua sisters first joined the sect—the beginning of everything.

It seemed Hua Jinning was trapped, endlessly replaying those memories, refusing to awaken to reality.

Shi Hua sighed soundlessly.

She crushed the spiritual thread she had taken from Chi Qingxuan’s brow, watching as its fragmented lights drifted and scattered through the air.

“No need to act. Just watch a story.”

Once the story ended, it would be time to awaken.