Chapter 4: Noah's Predicament.

Ever since Noah came back to life as Long Tian, he had grappled with the fact that it would be necessary for him to make some alterations to his plans.

While initially, he harbored some resentment for what had happened to him, eventually, Noah adapted himself to his new circumstances. 

As soon as he woke up in this unfamiliar body, he immediately began thinking as to how he was going to deal with the current situation and thus had already devised strategies to pass through the predicament after considering some potential scenarios he might need to follow in the future.

In the worst-case scenario planning, Noah had already thought of using forbidden magic, this was despite the fact that he was reluctant to draw the attention of the powerful individuals present around, nonetheless, he still thought that it was necessary to keep such an option available for emergencies.

Everything was going well, and he had even made plans on how he was going to deal with the Long Family as a means of repaying the previous owner of this body.

However, even before he could do that, another problem seemed to have come knocking on his door.

Xin Yan's sudden embrace due to her worry for her son's health stirred memories of his past. Not perse Noah's, but rather Long Tian's. And through those memories, he came to know a lot about her.

This woman had sacrificed her life to nurture her child since the day he was born, she was a woman who had gone through trials of life just to give her son a good life.

Seeing her unconditional love triggered the thought of the numerous mothers he had helped in his previous life.

The memories and emotions he had long ago buried inside his heart resurfaced, leaving him unable to decide what to do with all that he had planned, letting waste to everything that he had come up with all this long.

If Long Tian was an orphan, Noah could have used his body as a sacrifice for performing one of the forbidden magics from his previous world. 

This magic would break the body into a magical energy and use it as fuel to create a new body where his soul could enter.

Although this magic was considered taboo in his previous world, he did not care at all, for him all branches of magic were sacred art.

He had thought that by using this method, he could have gotten a fresh start in this new life.

Alternatively, the second solution was for a scenario where the boy has parents but they didn't care about his existence. In such a case he envisioned bolstering his strength first before creating a body using alternative methods while giving a proper burial to the original body.

However, Noah had found himself in a situation where he wanted to be last in. The mother's unwavering affection that he never had since his birth. 

A mother who held her child in the highest regard, cherishing him above all else. 

Seeing the boy's mother showering him with love and warmth, Noah couldn't bear to have the idea of deceiving her. 

The memories of all those grateful mothers he had helped during his previous life flooded once again. However, there was something else he could do, something that he learned from the recollection of Long Tian's memories.

These memories didn't belong to Long Tian from this life, but rather from his 'Past Life'. 

Yes! 

Long Tian himself was a Reincarnated Soul, a being who used to live on the planet blue and had faced his imminent demise there and somehow he was also able to retain his memories.

In Long Tian's past life, he had come across many such fictional scenarios where the characters facing a similar situation would accept the new reality and choose from the other two possible paths. 

The first option would be to simply use the memories of the dead owner and act as if nothing had changed and pretend to have gotten more mature. 

It meant embracing the role of a new son while deceiving both himself and his genuine parents.

And if, by some chance, the parents of the body's owner discovered the truth, the person would explain that their souls have merged as one.

However, being the strongest wizard of his time, Noah knew very well that it was impossible for two separate identities to truly merge. 

While he may not know much about cultivation and souls, he knew that there would definitely be two outcomes if two different souls were to fight for control over a body.

In such a case, either one of the souls would prevail while the other faded away, or they would collide, birthing an entirely new consciousness.

The other option those characters from Long Tian's PAST LIVES would choose was, using their knowledge to alter the family's decisions. They'd manipulate their emotions, encouraging the family to act in ways that served their own interests. 

In such a method they would even try to gain the family's trust and even use their trust to perform explicit and unspeakable acts.

However, both these choices disgusted Noah to the core. 

After letting out a heavy sigh, Noah shifted his gaze to look deeply into the woman's eyes which were brimming with a newfound determination and resolute purpose.

Meanwhile, Xin Yan's icy cold eyes held a concealed ache, as though she was reluctant to acknowledge a certain possibility. 

After taking a deep breath, Noah made his decision and prepared himself to reveal his true identity and at the same time tell her of her son's fate with all honesty.

And so, words started to leave his mouth.

"You are right, I am indeed not your son. As for what happened to him, let me tell you."

A drop of tear rolled down the corner of Xin Yan's eyes, but she pressed herself, determined to know the truth.

"On the day he left the clan for the selection ceremony, he was on his way..."

____

Hours Before Long Tian's Death.

Long Tian, who had just departed from the gates of the Long family estate, made his way towards the city hall where the test was being conducted. 

Today, the representatives from the Soaring Heaven Sect were coming to the city to recruit promising talents and the selection process was scheduled to unfold within the city hall. 

Long Tian, much like everyone, was eager to assess his attributes and talents so that he could finally begin his journey on the path of cultivation.

Cultivation was the art of harnessing the energy from the surroundings and channeling it into one's body. This stored energy had the ability to increase the capabilities and limits of the human body, providing the practitioners with superhuman strength.

While sects provide the cultivators a nurturing environment for them to flourish, thereby fostering their growth alongside the sect's own power.

In this world, cultivators were revered as noble beings and were placed above any normal individual.

People embark on the cultivation journey for fame and immortality, but there are only a selected few who possess the innate talent necessary to commence this journey. 

Each year, the city holds a selection process and only the children of 14 years of age are allowed to participate, a pivotal opportunity for those who aspire to cultivate.

For Long Tian, the drive to cultivate was deeply rooted in his desire to attain power, aiming to secure a better life for himself and his mother.

His very existence had turned into a nightmare after his father embarked on his cultivation journey, leaving them behind. 

After that, the mother-son duo was forced to live in an abandoned courtyard by his grandfather, who never liked the fact that his father had married some other woman and not the one he had chosen for him. 

If not for the fact that she was a cultivator, she would have been thrown out of the family. 

Before leaving, Long Tian's father had arranged his marriage with a girl of the Xiao family, the snotty girl he had always hated.

After having seen many disgusting things in his past life, Long Tian knew very well what might be a person's true nature.

To top it off, his cousin was also interested in this girl from the Xiao family, so Long Tian now had to constantly suffer being bullied by him.

While he had the ability to beat the guy in a duel, there was nothing he could do when several of his servants tried to gang up against him.

Despite his own inclination to dissolve the arranged marriage, he refrained from taking any action, fearing that it might distress his mother. 

He believed that she had been the one who arranged the marriage alongside his father.

Reflecting on his tumultuous past, Long Tian lamented, 'Sigh! Why can't I communicate with my mother properly? It seems the wounds of the past are deeper than I imagined, but I have to change now.'

While he pondered, a familiar voice, which would always annoy him every time he heard it brought him out of his thoughts.

"Long Tian, are 'YOU' going to the selection as well?" 

He could sense the hidden mockery in the girl's words, well, while it was not so hidden, she did try her best to hide it.

As he turned in the direction of the voice, his gaze fell on a beautiful girl wearing red robes, with a sword fastened at her waist. 

With fair features and sharp eyes, she embodied an undeniable sense of pride, her movements were graceful, while her blonde hair was a complement to her attire, creating a captivating sight as she stepped forward with remarkable grace.

But much to his displeasure, she was none other than his own fiancé. 

'I just had to think of her. What an annoying bitch.'

Although he hated this two-faced bitch, he had no choice but to endure her presence for the sake of the family's face, and this situation only fueled his desire to attain power and regain control over his own choices.

"Yeah, I believe every one of our age would be going there as well, Miss Xiao Mugou." 

(A/N: Mugou: bitch...: mǔ gǒu | Definition)

Long Tian replied to the girl in a polite manner, maintaining a composed outward appearance while concealing his true feelings.

Hearing him, Xiao Muguo looked at Long Tian in displeasure and screeched in annoyance, "It's Xiao Mei." 

Nonetheless, the anger in her words didn't cause any change in the boy's expression. 

Since she was young, she never understood what the word meant and Long Tian was surprised at how dumb she truly was as the girl never even tried to find its meaning.

'Someone calling you a bitch to your face and doesn't realize it.'

Long Tian laughed in his head while the expression on his face didn't change even a bit.

A moment later, Long Tian smoothly redirected the conversation.

"Oh my! I am sorry I have trouble remembering names, I believe we should leave for the hall since we don't want to be the only ones who will be arriving late."

Remaining completely oblivious to the change of subject, the girl nodded before the two proceeded to walk to the city hall together.