"If Yun Nishang sought to sever Karma, only to become increasingly entangled, losing herself and ultimately being forced into Soul Burial Rebirth... then Feng Zhuyue should have realized by now that Karma is simply Karma. Whether through Reincarnation or rebirth, it ultimately cannot be changed. As for...
Tang Henghe's existence is rather pitiable. Originally, her Karma wasn't particularly terrible, but after her Reincarnation and rebirth, she ended up forging with you what is publicly acknowledged as the most dreadful Wu Dao Karma in all the heavens and earth."
As Ye Tianlan spoke these words, Gu Qingfeng faintly sensed she was alluding to something. Sure enough, she was talking about the three women linked to him by Karma: Yun Nishang, Feng Zhuyue, and Tang Henghe.
What truly surprised Gu Qingfeng was this: he already knew Yun Nishang had undergone Soul Burial Rebirth to sever Karma; he could also guess that Feng Zhuyue's Reincarnation was to change Karma. However, these should all belong to the Karma of past lives. Only Tang Henghe—he never imagined her Karma with him was actually formed in this present life.
"And you? Was your Reincarnation to sever Karma, or to change it?"
Gu Qingfeng asked lightly, "Or perhaps I should ask: is the Karma between us from a past life, or from this life?"
"Before answering that question, I'd like to ask you one first."
Ye Tianlan gazed intently at Gu Qingfeng, her expression serious. "Do you have a Previous Life?"
Such a question struck right at the core of Gu Qingfeng's heart.
A Previous Life?
Gu Qingfeng truly didn't know if he had one.
Ever since learning that his existence was the result of a Wu Dao individual named Can Yang Wu You using the blood of Original Sin to gestate him, forget having a Previous Life—Gu Qingfeng didn't even know if he was fundamentally Human at all.
"It seems my guess isn't wrong. Your heart is not only lonely, but you've grown increasingly lost the longer you've lived. So lost that you don't even understand what kind of existence you truly are."
Hearing this, Gu Qingfeng's heart secretly trembled. That Ye Tianlan knew about Yun Nishang, Feng Zhuyue, and Tang Henghe was one thing, but now it appeared she knew far more than that. It was as if she could deduce even his innermost thoughts. He looked at Ye Tianlan and said, "You certainly know a lot."
"Of course. Especially about you, I know a great, great deal..." "I know your existence is related to the Wu You Niangniang of Can Yang Mountain. She used the blood of Original Sin in the Great Northwest to gestate individuals of Original Sin. Many Original Sin individuals were born from this gestation, but most of them were killed by her. Only two Original Sin individuals by chance survived—you are one of them."
"What else do you know?"
"I've said I know a lot, but there's also much I don't know. For example, what was Wu You Niangniang's purpose in using the blood of Original Sin to gestate Original Sin individuals? Was it to sever Karma with Wu Dao, to renew Karma with Wu Dao, or for some other unknown reason?
Unfortunately, she sealed herself away. That has become a mystery without an answer."
"You want to solve this mystery?"
"Of course. Don't you?"
Gu Qingfeng picked up the wine cup and poured himself another serving of Heart Wine. "So, back then, you went to such lengths to become my Immortal-Fated Dao Companion. Your goal was also to unravel the secrets of the Wu Dao Age."
"Heh."
Ye Tianlan gave a faint smile, lifted her cup, took a small sip, and cast an approving glance at Gu Qingfeng. She stood up, walked to the edge of the solitary peak, and gazed at the endless sea of clouds. "You're right. The reason I wanted to become your Immortal-Fated Dao Companion was precisely to unravel the secrets of the Wu Dao Age, and also to better understand my own Karma."
Ye Tianlan had finally reached the main topic, just as Gu Qingfeng had guessed earlier—it was all about Karma.
"You should be quite familiar with Immortal Su Hua, right?"
Ye Tianlan inexplicably brought up Su Hua, which puzzled Gu Qingfeng greatly.
"She... is very much like how I was back then."
"In what way?"
"After I deduced that my Karma was related to the Wu Dao Age, I, like many others, was terrified. After all, the words 'Wu Dao' represent a taboo of heaven and earth. Rumors say the Original Sin of Karma began in the Wu Dao Age. If not for that, it wouldn't be called the most dreadful Karma.
However, more than fear, I wanted to know what kind of Karma existed between me and the Wu Dao Age. So, during the Upper Ancient Calamity, I also chose Reincarnation. Not to sever Karma, nor to change it, but to seek and understand it.
I was fortunate. After Reincarnation, the consciousness of my Previous Life awoke very quickly. Even more fortunate, I was reborn into this Great Thousand World, which has countless intricate connections to the Wu Dao Age.
After awakening, I searched everywhere for people from the Wu Dao Age. Perhaps heaven favored me, for I quickly found them—and not just one. Unfortunately, they had all lost themselves... without a single exception.
Just as I was despairing, your existence caught my attention. I began observing everything about you. When I delightedly discovered that your existence was not only related to the Wu Dao Age but also to the Original Sin of that age, a bold idea sprouted in my heart: to form a bond with you.
I know that forming bonds depends entirely on fate. Perhaps there was some destined connection between us, but likely no destined affinity. So, in the end, I could only try to create this affinity myself. I thought... as long as you fell in love with me, or I fell in love with you, then affinity would naturally follow.
Perhaps I was too radical back then, too eager for quick results. Or perhaps there truly was neither destined connection nor affinity between us. In any case... things went awry. You never fell in love with me, and I never fell in love with you. In the end, we didn't even share any genuine affection. It was a true failure."
As she spoke, a trace of self-mockery once again appeared at the corner of Ye Tianlan's mouth. Gazing at the heavens, she said, "However, this matter finally made me understand one thing: fate cannot be forced. And Karma is not something you can simply forge just because you want to.
You know? Often, I envy Immortal Su Hua deeply. Both her Karma and mine are related to Wu Dao. The difference is, she knows her Wu Dao Karma is connected to you, while I have no idea what my Wu Dao Karma even is."
After a moment of silence, Gu Qingfeng said, "Back then, you went through all that trouble to become my Immortal-Fated Dao Companion, just to forge Karma with me, attempting to use me as a breakthrough to understand the Karma of the Wu Dao Age?"
Ye Tianlan nodded, not denying it. She turned, looked intently at Gu Qingfeng, and sincerely uttered the words "I'm sorry."
Gu Qingfeng shook his head lightly and said in a calm tone, "There's no need for apologies. You haven't wronged me in any way. Frankly, I didn't sacrifice anything for you back then. On the contrary, you sacrificed a lot for me. If anyone should apologize, it should be me. After all, you went through so much effort to forge that bond. Even if it was an act, it must have been exhausting."
"Are you mocking me in secret?"
"Mocking in secret? No, you misunderstand. I'm mocking you openly and unabashedly."