Cultivation Online

”Can you elaborate?” Yuan asked a moment later.

Tan Songyun frowned and said, ”I don’t mean to be rude, but why are you so interested in my business, Dragon Emperor? I thought dragons couldn’t care less about species that don’t have dragon blood flowing through their veins.”

”Where did you hear that? I’m actually very interested in humans, especially those who are willing to offend a Dragon Emperor for their revenge.”

Tan Songyun narrowed her eyes and said, ”You want to know? Very well, I’ll tell you. After all, this might be my last time telling this story.”

”After Tian Kai disappeared, I joined a music sect to improve my zither skills and cultivation further. Once I was prepared, I ascended the Nine Heavens because Tian Kai said he was waiting for me in the upper heavens.”

”However, as I ascended and gained access to more information, I began uncovering the truth about Tian Kai,” Tan Songyun said, her voice heavy with bitterness. ”According to numerous sources, including the Celestial Emperor himself, Tian Kai is none other than the infamous killer known as the Phantom Assassin—a wanted fugitive responsible for countless deaths and the destruction of many families.”

As soon as Yuan heard the name ’Celestial Emperor’ come out of Tan Songyun’s mouth, he knew that she had been mislead by false rumors. However, he didn’t say anything and allowed her to talk without interruption.

”Not only is he an assassin, but he’s also an evil dual cultivator who targets maidens for their Yin Essence. He’s tricked thousands of maidens, promising them eternal love. I was one of these foolish maidens.”

Tan Songyun continued to recall everything she’d heard about Tian Kai, which was enough to write an entire novel, leaving Yuan speechless.

’Celestial Emperor, that son of a bitch! How dare he spread so many false rumors! This much slander is enough to anger even Buddha!’ he cried inwardly.

”I’ve heard from another woman that Tian Kai had locked her in his basement for ten years, and he—”

”Okay, I have heard enough and get the gist of it,” Yuan eventually interrupted her.

”After hearing so many things, I have only one more question for you.”

”Lady Tan… is your faith in this Tian Kai that little?”

”What…?” Tan Songyun’s eyes widened, almost as if she wasn’t expecting such a question.

”Haaa…” Yuan decided to remove his mask, revealing his handsome face to her.

”Y-y-you are—!” Tan Songyun stammered in shock, stumbling backward before collapsing onto the ground and landing on her buttocks.

”Before you say anything, I am not Tian Kai,” Yuan said.

”...”

After a moment of silence, Tan Songyun stood up and roared, ”As if I’d believe you after fooling me and the Shen Family, you trickery bastard! I knew it was you all along, Tian Kai!”

Yuan shook his head and sighed, ”Once again, I am not Tian Kai. The Tian Kai you know and love is dead.”

”W-what?” Tan Songyun almost fell down again after hearing this shocking information.

”D-do you really take me for a fool?! No, even someone without a brain can tell that’s a lie! How much longer are you going to mock me, Tian Kai?! I should slay you right now!” Tan Songyun’s eyes began tearing up.

It had been tens of thousands of years since Tan Songyun last saw Tian Kai’s face. And despite the deep hatred she harbored for him, the moment she saw his face again, tears welled up in her eyes and began to fall uncontrollably.

”Please, calm down for a moment and listen to me, Lady Tan—Zither Goddess,” Yuan said gently.

”Tian Kai is dead, and I am his reincarnation. While I don’t yet have all of Tian Kai’s memories, I do remember how we met and the year we spent together,” he explained, his tone steady but laced with sincerity.

”Reincarnation…?” Tan Songyun’s jaw dropped.

”I know this will be hard to believe, but I need you to trust me,” Yuan said, his voice calm yet earnest. ”As for why Tian Kai had to leave... it was most likely because of the Celestial Emperor, who likely spread all those nasty and false rumors about him.”

”Why would the Celestial Emperor slander Tian Kai?” Tan Songyun asked with a doubtful frown.

”They—we are enemies. Although I don’t know why the Celestial Emperor decided to use such tactics, I can say with confidence that none of the rumors are true. Tian Kai truly loved you, Zither Goddess.”

”Why… Why were you pretending to be a Dragon Emperor?” she asked a moment later.

”I needed to acquire their Ancient Seal,” he didn’t hide the truth since she already knew it.

”I know, but why? According to the Dragon King, it’s a dangerous object that could endanger the Nine Heavens. Why do you need something so dangerous?”

”I need it to open the Primordial Realm to help a friend. That’s all.”

”The Primordial Realm?! Are you insane?!” Tan Songyun exclaimed, her voice rising with disbelief. ”And you expect me to believe you’re not a wanted fugitive when you’re trying to open a prison that holds some of the most infamous criminals in the entire Nine Heavens?!”

”Like I said, it’s to help a friend. I have no intention of releasing the criminals inside, either,” Yuan said.

”Sorry, but everything you’ve told me so far is incredibly far-fetched and impossible to believe,” Tan Songyun sneered, her tone laced with skepticism.

”Zither Goddess, if I intended to deceive you, I wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to reveal my identity after all the effort I put into convincing you that I am a Dragon Emperor, let alone bring up Tian Kai. What could I possibly gain from doing this?” ”That’s…” Tan Songyun couldn’t refute his logic.

”As a matter of fact, I am currently targeted by the Celestial Emperor, so it’s incredibly risky for me to reveal myself. However, I couldn’t bear seeing you suffer because of some false rumors. Zither Goddess, I will ask you again.”

”Is your faith in Tian Kai—in me—that little?”

Tan Songyun trembled before falling silent, her expression reflecting the turmoil of an existential crisis.