Goddess of Mount Li

Having gathered their emotions, the group resumed their climb, heading towards their final destination. The route they chose was not a man-made path but rather a series of narrow trails and densely wooded areas, reducing their chances of encountering others.

Even if they did meet someone, they could easily leave before being recognized. Thus, even though some people posted about mysterious girls climbing Mount Li on the internet, it didn't attract much attention until…

"Sister, are we just going to keep going like this? Chu Chu is really tired. This path is getting steeper, and I don't know if I can keep going," Chu Chu said, supporting Li Xiuer, as she spoke to Chu Lian, who was also helping Li Xiuer on the other side.

She was indeed exhausted. Despite her strength exceeding that of ordinary people, her age and height were disadvantages, requiring her to take two steps for every one of others. The steep slopes made it impressive that she hadn't complained until now.

However, Chu Lian knew that if Li Xiuer hadn't been too tired to continue and nearly unconscious, Chu Chu would have kept going for much longer without needing to care for her. This situation was her own fault, as she chose these paths to save time and avoid being noticed, without considering whether Li Xiuer and Chu Chu could keep up.

She sighed, gently leading Li Xiuer to a shaded spot, murmuring softly, "This is my fault. If I hadn't been so focused on saving time without considering your condition, this wouldn't have happened. I've always been so selfish, haven't I? I'm really sorry."

Urged by the increasingly strong call in her heart, Chu Lian, whose mind was somewhat unsettled, displayed an unexpected vulnerability after realizing her mistake. With Ayase by her side before, she could solve any problem, but now, having to rely on herself, she felt more powerless with each passing day. Was this dependency? She didn't know.

What she did know was that if she continued like this, she would eventually collapse under the weight of mysterious, incomprehensible things. She realized she was far from as strong as she thought. She smiled bitterly.

Lying in her arms, Li Xiuer reached out with her small hand, gently touching Chu Lian's cheek, laughing softly, "Who said my Chu Lian is troublesome? Helping you share your burdens makes us happy, so don't think that way. I think Chu Lian is amazing because she's brave and strong. You're far better than us, so don't get discouraged. Believe in yourself; you're the best."

Chu Chu also came over, tugging at her sleeve, and said gently, "That's right. Even though I don't know why Sister seems so upset and different from usual, I'm sure there's a reason. Sister has never been the type to only care about herself. This was just an accident, nothing to dwell on. In my heart, being able to help Sister is the greatest honor because it means Sister needs me."

Chu Lian looked up at Chu Chu's radiant face, then down at Li Xiuer, who had fallen asleep with a smile, unsure of what to say.

Just then, a gentle embrace enveloped her from behind, and Inori whispered softly in her ear, "Inori trusts Lian the most and wants to help Lian the most. If Lian has anything troubling her, can she tell us?"

Raising her hand to stroke Inori's hand on her neck, Chu Lian replied softly, "Since coming to this city, I've heard a vague calling in my heart. At first, I thought it was an illusion, but after a dream last night, the voice became clearer."

"In the dream, I was a princess of a dynasty that had resolved the division of the Chinese land for hundreds of years. It unified currency, writing, and the official language, standing alone on this vast land."

"But this prosperity didn't last. With no external threats and no internal rebellions, the leaders quickly became corrupt. Exploitative taxes, military abuses, and corruption spread, eroding the dynasty's foundation in a few short years."

"When the founder of the dynasty died on his last eastern tour, the dynasty collapsed. You know the dynasty I'm talking about—it's the Qing Dynasty." Chu Lian chuckled.

"Ironically, the princess I became was frail and sickly, spending her days in bed. If her mother weren't one of the Emperor's favorite concubines, she would have been abandoned."

"So, even though I knew everything, knew what would happen, I couldn't change it, nor could I say a word for fear of being killed. I could only live timidly with a few maids in the palace's most secluded corner."

"After the Emperor's death, not only did the soldiers fight each other and officials vie for power, but uprisings also broke out across the land. The country descended into chaos, and I lay in bed, contemplating why I was there. Was it a dream or a real history? Who am I? These pointless yet meaningful questions haunted me."

"Later, I remember only that the dynasty fell, and a fiery red figure watched me from behind the court's curtain as I was poisoned."

"That's a story not recorded in history, yet it felt so real, so nostalgic, like it happened in another lifetime."

Chu Lian stopped talking, raising her head to gaze at the distant sky, murmuring, "Maybe everything here is just a dream."

"A heart as light as air, a dream like a kite. Where isn't home at the ends of the earth?" A soft voice echoed, identical to the one in her heart. But this time, it was in her ear. Was this person beside her watching her? Who are you, and what's your purpose?

"If you want to know your past, future, or present, come to the Nuwa Temple. I'll be waiting for you there." The voice was ethereal, as if from the heavens, yet exceptionally gentle, beyond words.

"Can you tell me who you are?" Chu Lian suddenly stood up, shouting to the sky. "Me? Heh, once you find me, you'll know who I am."

Chu Lian seemed to see a white figure dancing in the air, causing her to run after it, unable to stop, even as Inori couldn't catch up with her speed.

Finally, when the white figure vanished without a trace, Chu Lian halted. Her veil was askew, but she seemed unaware, standing silently.

As a gust of wind blew, her thin veil flew away, revealing Chu Lian's tear-streaked, beautiful face.

She stood on a boulder by the main road up Mount Li, naturally attracting attention. Many with cameras and phones turned their lenses on her, curious about what the girl in white Hanfu would do, only to witness such a breathtaking scene.

What happened next left them utterly captivated, as if in a dream.

A girl in a pink and white Western-style dress slowly walked over, holding an oil-paper umbrella. She stood silently by Chu Lian, shielding her from the scorching sun.

Their cameras faithfully captured every movement and detail, each moment like a beautiful painting. Those able to film couldn't stop, their eyes fixed on Chu Lian and Inori, their fingers pressing the shutter automatically.

After a long time, Chu Lian seemed to remember something, turning to leave with the girl in the long dress. A white and blue porcelain oil-paper umbrella shaded the two contrasting girls, disappearing from the dazed onlookers' view.

Soon after, the internet exploded. Many knew Chu Lian was in Chang'an today and expected her to visit Mount Li and the Terracotta Warriors. Many local fans had been waiting there to meet her.

Because of Chu Lian's foresight, she climbed in remote areas to avoid them. Fans who had waited long began to lose hope, thinking she hadn't come, but since others didn't report her elsewhere, they held on, finally encountering her in such a dreamlike scene.

"A girl chasing clouds, her Hanfu flowing, her veil fluttering. She burst into view in an unforgettable moment, forever etched in my heart. I don't know why she looked sad or if she was chasing clouds, but her unparalleled grace captivated me."

"Even the equally beautiful Inori beside her was overshadowed. Perhaps this is her true, eternal self. I want to witness her growth until her charm captivates the world." The clearest video was posted on the site.

Since this bullet screen video site became the sole platform for Chu Lian's videos, countless fans had joined, and most videos about her were posted here.

The uploader was evidently a fan who captured Chu Lian from beginning to end, becoming a die-hard fan.

His high-end equipment perfectly preserved Chu Lian's image.

Especially when her veil fluttered, revealing her exquisitely beautiful face, it was hailed as a timeless classic, like iconic image of Marilyn Monroe with her skirt. It was the epitome of beauty.

Subsequently, others uploaded their videos and photos, causing a stir among fans once more.

But Chu Lian was no longer concerned with anything else. Standing quietly before the three girls, she said, "I'm going to the Nuwa Temple, alone…"

Had she made her decision…?