After calming down for several minutes, Zhang Wanqing flicked her fingers, "See? This is how Heavenly Dao treats me. Do I dare to use illusions? I cherish my life."
"Alright, I believe you. What do I need to do next?"
"Sit there, I'll take you back later. But it'll only be you, and it takes a lot of energy for just one person.
"Also, you cannot meet your past self. Don't secretly rejoice thinking you're different; if you meet your past self and make eye contact, it will change many things, even altering the order of things."
Fearing this guy was too reckless, Zhang Wanqing decided to elaborate on the severity.
"You know Candy Crush Saga, right? If you meet your past self, you will be eliminated by Heavenly Dao. If you're powerful enough not to be eliminated, you'll be crippled even if you don't die, or you'll change the order of things. You will definitely regret it later, for example, your parents won't recognize you, and this world won't accept you.
"Having said so much, do you understand what you should do? You can only watch from afar. The further you are from your past self, the better. Don't be soft-hearted. If you die, your parents will have to die too. Cycles are strange; if that happens, your family will truly be gone."
"Mm. Understood. I just want to know the truth. Goddess Wan, I also cherish my life."
"That's good."
Not long after, a passage appeared, and Liu Quan jumped into it.
The passage existed everywhere in this world. Zhang Wanqing only needed to open one, consuming some of her own and external energy. Other than that, even Heavenly Dao couldn't suppress it, since time passages were allowed to exist.
She was merely using the tool that existed.
Zhang Wanqing exhaled a breath.
She hoped Liu Quan wouldn't mess around; otherwise, she wouldn't be able to save him from Heavenly Dao.
"Master, you sounded like a nagging old woman just now," Bai E said, knowing exactly how to irritate someone.
Zhang Wanqing ignored Bai E and said very seriously to Qing Shi, "Qing Shi, take good care of Bai E from now on. The fault of the child is the fault of the parent, understand?"
"Understood, Master. I will take good care of it." After speaking, Qing Shi pulled Bai E behind the rock garden for some education. Afterwards, Bai E's screams could be heard intermittently.
It was all for cooperation. If someone wasn't useful, why would she say so much? She had no need to.
However, that sword could only injure herself, not kill, but being threatened was truly annoying. From now on, she'd make Liu Quan work for her for free.
Qing Shi, who was beating Bai E, nodded. This was indeed the master, divine like a god in her heart.
Liu Quan had been gone for a long time, but one person and two snakes were no ordinary people or snakes; they didn't need to eat or sleep, just felt a bit bored.
Two days later, Zhang Wanqing, who was practicing Tai Chi, turned around to see Liu Quan standing before her, his clothes in tatters.
"What, were you robbed? No, that's not right. Why do you look like you've been burned?"
Bai E sniffed and approached, "Master, it's heavenly lightning."
"Heh, ran into Heavenly Dao?"
"Yes. I did as you said, watched from afar. When Heavenly Dao made its move, I planned to go… to save my parents." He said this while cautiously glancing at Zhang Wanqing's expression.
"As I said? I never told you to save your parents." She had gone on and on, and he hadn't taken anything in. Zhang Wanqing felt she could be angered to death.
"I… I couldn't just watch my parents die."
"Ha, so you have a point. Then, did you save them?"
Liu Quan didn't speak, but his face clearly showed disagreement. Zhang Wanqing glanced at it, her expression darkening.
"No! Right? You were found out by Heavenly Dao, and a bolt of heavenly lightning struck you. You couldn't even escape and got burned like this." As she spoke, she circled Liu Quan, her tone shifting, "Oh my, is this still Celestial Master Liu?"
Bai E was very obedient and immediately chimed in, "No, this is just a beggar."
"That's right. This is Celestial Master Liu—Liu Quan's home. Where did a beggar come from?"
"Master, this does look like Celestial Master Liu. The strange, cured-stone smell on him, who else could it be?" Qing Shi also joined in.
"Qing Shi, you must have smelled wrong. You're a snake, not a dog. Besides, this isn't the Celestial Master Liu who set up this water curtain and threatened me with a sword. Celestial Master Liu—"
Before she could finish, she was interrupted.
"Goddess Wan, please say a little less." Embarrassed, Liu Quan's face turned bright red, like a cooked crawfish.
"Say less? You just spoke so much, did you listen? Now you're embarrassed?"
Liu Quan's face grew redder, and his head bowed lower.
Recalling Bai E saying she sounded like a nagging old woman, Zhang Wanqing stopped her scolding and changed the subject, "Alright, it's already happened, I won't say anything more. Take down this water curtain, I'm leaving. Liu Quan, are you coming?"
Liu Quan immediately retracted the halo. "Goddess Wan, I will be at your service from now on."
Heavenly Dao caused the death of his family, and he almost died by its hand. If he didn't do something, how could he repay Heavenly Dao for such a "grand gift"?
He also wanted to see what Zhang Wanqing could do to resist Heavenly Dao.
"Good. Bai E, Qing Shi, let's go."
Last time, it was one person and two snakes descending the mountain. This time, their host was added.
Zhang Wanqing returned to Guan Er Village. Liu Quan was stunned by the respect and adoration the villagers showed Zhang Wanqing.
When Zhang Wanqing passed by, some people didn't dare to look up, showing utmost respect and obedience, fulfilling any request the villagers made their utmost effort for.
Seeing these scenes, Liu Quan felt a profound a sense of wonder about Heavenly Dao, gods, and ordinary people, contemplating the intricate connections between them.
The people of Guan Er Village, loving Zhang Wanqing, extended their affection to Liu Quan. They also treated him with great respect, never letting him do anything, almost as if they would feed him directly.
To this end, Liu Quan asked Zhang Wanqing if it was too much. She simply replied: Just accept it gratefully.
Liu Quan was a chosen partner. He didn't need to do anything; he just needed to increase the possibilities.
The sky had been gloomy for the past few days. Strangely, the dark clouds only covered the village, while other places had sunshine or rain as usual.
The villagers discussed this strange phenomenon after their meal, saying that such a situation hadn't occurred for several years, and they feared something was coming.
Bai E, who was wandering around, told Zhang Wanqing about this. Looking up at the gray sky, she knew and understood clearly that no one could resist Heavenly Dao. Zhang Wanqing was still alive now, merely being allowed to struggle for a few more days like a grasshopper in autumn.
A premonition of imminent danger filled her, but she faced it with equanimity. She should also go see the noodle shop owner, that kind person, who was the last trace of goodwill in this world for her.
Back in the original world again, the surrounding scenery was very unfamiliar.
All her anticipated thoughts vanished the moment she saw the charred roof beams. The cozy noodle shop from her memory was now nothing but ruins, with the smell of burnt wood lingering in the air.
Nearby residents, who had come to watch the commotion, said that about half an hour ago, a sudden fire had taken the lives of the noodle shop owner's entire family. They spoke of the fire with lingering fear and wondered how the flames had spread so rapidly.
It happened suddenly. Ten minutes ago, the fire department rescued the bodies; there were three in total, including a three-month-old infant. The bodies have now been taken to the funeral home.
A few days later, based on the evidence at the scene, a piece of firewood, and nearby surveillance footage, the police determined it was arson. The police have posted the sketches of the suspects online, seeking to apprehend them as soon as possible.
Zhang Wanqing also saw the sketches of the two suspects. At a glance, she recognized them as the two individuals who had been following her since she arrived in this world. She had assumed it was a robbery and naturally didn't care about her own safety.
Nearing the noodle shop, she felt a familiar shyness and bought some gifts. Later, someone in the store mentioned a nearby fire, and she paid no mind. Only after she had chosen her gifts did she hear that something had happened at the noodle shop. She didn't hesitate to use her Divine Power to freeze time, but it was still too late.
The pastries, which the noodle shop owner and his wife loved the most, fell to the ground from her gifts, turning into small, black clumps.
Someone stepped on them, and they became flattened.
Because of Heavenly Dao's punishment, Zhang Wanqing, her chest aching intensely, looked up at the person who had stepped on the pastries.
"Miss Zhang, are you alright?"