Upon returning to the camp, a stifling atmosphere wrapped tightly around me like an airtight net. Linger and Xuanfeng sat despondently in front of their tent with grim expressions, all past laughter and chatter completely gone.
"What happened?" Qu Chen broke the silence first.
Linger raised her head, her eyes red and swollen as if she had just been crying. "We tried contacting other sects, hoping to get support or find another way to activate the Teleportation Array, but..."
"But it all failed, right?" I took over her words feebly.
Xuanfeng sighed and nodded. "Those sects are either wary of the Black-Robed Person's influence and dare not lend a hand, or they know far too little about the Teleportation Array to be of any help."
"Could it be... are we really going to be trapped here?" Linger's voice trembled with a hint of despair.
My heart sank to rock bottom as well. The Teleportation Array was our only hope, and if even this last hope was shattered, we would truly be left to grow old and lonely in this strange world.
"No, we cannot give up!" Qu Chen said firmly. "There must be another way. Let's think and search again!"
His words were filled with strength, igniting the very last shred of hope in my heart. I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down.
Over the next few days, we practically poured through every single ancient text left behind by Qingyunzi, trying to find a way to activate the Teleportation Array from them, but the results disappointed us over and over again.
"How could this be? Is there really no other way?" I collapsed weakly onto the ground, the scroll in my hand slipping and hitting the earth with a dull thud.
"Lier, don't lose heart. We will definitely find a way." Qu Chen helped me up, his gaze filled with heartache.
I managed a weak smile at him, though I knew my smile looked worse than crying.
Just as we were on the verge of despair, a paper crane stumbled into the camp and landed right in front of me.
With trembling hands, I unfolded the paper crane. It contained only a single line of text:
"Make your choice within three days. Otherwise, the Teleportation Array will close forever."
It was signed: Qingyunzi.
I jerked my head up to look at Qu Chen, whose eyes were also filled with shock and doubt.
Qingyunzi... was still alive?
What on earth did this letter mean?
Before I had a chance to think it through, a sudden gust of eerie wind swept over, and the paper crane in my hand instantly turned to fine dust, vanishing into the air... Qingyunzi's paper crane and that warning exploded in our ears like a thunderclap, lingering for a long time without fading. Three days—we had only three days, and these three days would determine the fate of us all.
"What on earth does this mean? Could Qingyunzi have been taken hostage by that Black-Robed Person?" Linger paced back and forth anxiously, her tone fraught with worry.
Xuanfeng furrowed his brows and murmured thoughtfully, "Perhaps... they want us to exchange something for it?"
"Exchange?" A sudden realization dawned on me. "Could it be... the Divine Artifact?"
My words were like a pebble dropped into a calm lake, stirring up a thousand ripples. For a moment, the tent fell into absolute silence, every face written with shock and hesitation.
"That's impossible!" Qu Chen was the first to break the silence, his tone resolute. "The Divine Artifact was left to us by Master. How could we hand it over to people of unknown origin?"
"But... if we don't agree, the Teleportation Array will be closed forever, and we will be trapped here, never able to go back." I retorted weakly, my heart consumed by internal struggle.
I knew how important the Divine Artifact was to Qu Chen, and I knew it carried Master's expectations. Yet, were we really going to trap ourselves in this strange world forever just for some illusory promise?
"Lier, I know what you're worried about," Xuanfeng walked over to my side and patted my shoulder. "But you have to believe there will be other ways. We cannot simply give up."
Linger also walked over, took my hand, and gently consoled, "Yes, Lier, let's think some more. There's bound to be another way."
Their comfort and encouragement brought a trace of warmth to me, but the confusion and unease in my heart refused to disperse.
Late at night, I lay on the crude bed, unable to sleep no matter what. Outside the tent, the chirping of insects added an even greater sense of tranquility. I turned over, my mind continuously replaying Qingyunzi's paper crane, that warning, and the worried expressions of my companions...
I could not help but recall all my experiences since crossing over: the confusion and helplessness upon first arriving in the Cultivation World, the bits and pieces of meeting and getting to know Qu Chen, and the steadfastness and trust when facing danger together... All of this flashed before my eyes like a movie.
I clutched the collar of my clothes tightly, my heart filled with contradiction and struggle. On one side were friends, righteousness, and Master's entrustment; on the other side was the hope of going home and the only chance to escape this predicament...
What should I do?
"Lier..." A soft call came from outside the tent. I got up and walked out. Under the moonlight, Qu Chen's figure appeared exceptionally lonely in the cold wind...
"Can't sleep?" He walked to my side and gently draped a cloak over my shoulders.
I shook my head without speaking, casting my gaze into the distance. That was the direction of my hometown, where my beloved family and friends awaited.
"Thinking of home?" Qu Chen followed my gaze and asked softly.
I let out a soft "mm", a myriad of complex emotions churning in my heart.
"You know, Lier," Qu Chen's voice was low and gentle, "ever since I met you, I've often thought—if not for that accident, if not for your transmigration, would we never have met at all?"
His words were like a warm breeze, blowing away some of the gloom in my heart. Indeed, if not for that accident, I should be in my warm home right now, celebrating together with family and friends, shouldn't I? Yet, fate was so wondrous; it had brought me here, made me meet him, and let me experience so many thrilling and touching moments...
"Remember the first time we met? You were so scared and helpless back then, just like a startled little deer." A gentle smile appeared at the corners of Qu Chen's mouth. "I told myself back then that I must protect you well and never let you suffer any harm again."
I turned to look at him. Bathed in the moonlight, his profile appeared exceptionally handsome, his gaze filled with firmness and tenderness.
"Lier, I know you're in a difficult spot right now," he held my hand, his tone resolute. "But no matter what decision you make, I will support you. If... if in the end we truly have to hand over the Divine Artifact, I will never let you face it alone."
His words flowed like a warm current into my heart, banishing all unease and fear. Yes, no matter what happened, we still had each other, didn't we?
"Qu Chen..." I squeezed his hand back, my heart overflowing with emotion.
"Get some rest early. Tomorrow... tomorrow we'll think of a way together." He gently patted my shoulder and turned toward his own tent.
As I watched his retreating figure, an unprecedented wave of firmness suddenly surged in my heart. Perhaps tomorrow we would face an even more difficult choice, but no matter what, I would not give up hope, nor would I abandon the precious bond between us.
Upon returning to the tent, I unexpectedly overheard whispered conversation coming from outside—it was Linger and Xuanfeng... I slowed my pace and walked softly to the edge of the tent, wanting to hear clearly what they were discussing.
"Xuanfeng, do you really think we have to hand over the Divine Artifact?" Linger's voice carried a hint of worry.
"I don't want to either, but..." Xuanfeng sighed. "The other party's background is unknown and their strength is unfathomable. If we don't hand it over, I'm afraid..."
"But Lier, she..."
"I know, I know," Xuanfeng interrupted her. "Lier and Qu Chen finally got together; we can't let them be torn apart."
"But the Divine Artifact belongs to Lier. We have no right to make decisions for her."
"Linger, don't you understand yet?" Xuanfeng's voice grew lower. "This is no longer just a matter of the Divine Artifact; it concerns the life and death of us all!"
Hearing this, my heart tightened, and a chill washed over me. Yes, how could I not understand? Yet, asking me to give up the Divine Artifact was equivalent to giving up the hope of going home and the chance to see my family and friends again...
"Linger, don't worry, no matter what decision Lier makes, I support her," Xuanfeng's voice was filled with firmness. "We will all support her."
I took a deep breath, lifted the flap of the tent, and walked in. Linger and Xuanfeng clearly hadn't expected me to appear suddenly, and both froze for a moment.
"Lier, you heard it all?" Linger looked at me with concern.
I nodded, walked up to them, looked into their eyes, and said firmly, "Thank you. Thank you for always supporting me. I haven't made my decision yet, but I promise you, no matter what happens, I will protect everyone and face it together with you all."
Both Linger and Xuanfeng revealed relieved smiles, and I knew our friendship and trust were stronger than any difficulty.
However, just as our hope was reignited, a rapid knocking outside shattered the calm within the tent.
Senior Qingyunzi stood at the entrance with a grim expression, his tone urgent: "This is bad! They... they are here!"