Fantasy: After transmigrating, I effortlessly became a god.

Chapter 444 Duan Wan'er's Love

"Zheng Qian, you're quite a smart man."

Duan Na's words puzzled Zheng Qian. He could no longer hold back and asked, "Thank you for your praise, General. But I don't know what you mean by that. Although I consider myself to have some cleverness, I am nothing more than a fish out of water in front of you, General."

Duan Na put down her juice glass, her gaze deep and her voice icy: "If you want to know, then come with me."

Zheng Qian had no idea what trick Duan Na was playing. He smiled at Zhao Mingxiu and the others, then followed Duan Na away from the table.

Duan Na flew out of the Starry Chess Formation and headed towards the vast mountains behind her, with Zheng Qian close behind. Duan Na was very fast, and Zheng Qian tried his best to keep up. With Duan Na waiting for him, he did not fall behind.

Nestled among the vast mountains, there lies a tranquil valley, where a solitary grave stands. Before the grave stands a simple stone tablet inscribed with: The Grave of Duan Wan'er.

Three hundred years of wind and rain have eroded the stone tablet, making the inscriptions slightly mottled, but the sense of time that has accumulated seems to be telling a story that has been kept secret for many years.

Duan Na's figure fell before the grave, her heart filled with complex emotions: anger, sorrow, resentment, and endless reminiscence of the past.

“Zheng Qian, do you know? This grave contains my beloved younger sister, Duan Wan’er.” Duan Na’s voice was low and powerful, each word seemingly squeezed out from the depths of her heart: “In her lifetime, she had a dream that could never be realized, which was to win the favor of Yun Youzi.”

Upon hearing this, Zheng Qian's expression turned solemn. In his mind, his master, Yun Youzi, had always been an extraordinary and unrestrained figure, and he had never heard of such a complicated past. He listened quietly as Duan Na continued her story.

"When Wan'er first saw Yun Youzi, she was immediately captivated by him. Whenever Yun Youzi appeared, she would hide in the shadows and watch him from afar, her eyes sparkling with endless starlight. She described Yun Youzi's charm to me countless times, how graceful his spatial techniques were, and how moving every smile of his was. But at that time, Yun Youzi seemed to have only his spatial laws and military achievements in his heart, and never gave Wan'er a second glance."

Duan Na paused here, a hint of pain flashing in her eyes. She took a deep breath and continued, "However, Wan'er never gave up. She firmly believed that one day, she would win Yun Youzi's heart with her sincerity and persistence. But fate played a cruel joke on her."

"It was a stormy night. Just as Yun Youzi broke through to the Pseudo-God Realm, the demon race suddenly launched an attack. Yun Youzi, as the most renowned prodigy at the time, naturally became their target. Upon learning the news, Wan'er rushed to the battlefield without hesitation, wanting to protect Yun Youzi with her own power. However, she was ultimately just an ordinary woman, no match for those ferocious demons. That night, her blood stained the land, and her life was forever frozen at the age of twenty-eight."

Duan Na's voice choked as she spoke. She lowered her head, looking at the tombstone in front of the grave, as if she could see her sister's gentle yet resolute eyes. "Do you know? When Wan'er died, she was still tightly clutching a piece of rag that Yun Youzi had once discarded. She found it on the battlefield, and she treasured it, feeling that it was the only memento Yun Youzi had left her."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Qian felt a surge of indescribable emotion. He had never imagined that his master had such a hidden past. He looked at Duan Na, his eyes filled with sympathy and understanding: "General, my master has never mentioned his past to me, so I knew nothing about it."

At this moment, Zheng Qian finally understood why Duan Na's gaze towards him was cold and even chilling.

Duan Na raised her head, looked at Zheng Qian, her eyes cold, her voice even colder: "Of course he won't mention it. In his heart, perhaps Wan'er doesn't even exist. For three hundred years, I have come to this grave countless times, looking at Wan'er lying here quietly, my heart filled with endless anger and resentment. Yun Youzi, he owes Wan'er far too much."

At this point, Duan Na became emotional. She stood up, walked to the stone tablet, and reached out to touch the faded inscription: "Wan'er, don't worry, I will seek justice for you. Yun Youzi, he must pay the price for his indifference and ruthlessness."

Looking into Duan Na's resolute eyes, Zheng Qian felt a mix of emotions. He didn't know how to face this past, nor how to comfort Duan Na. He knew that for Duan Na, Wan'er's death was a wound that would never heal, while for Yun Youzi, it was perhaps just a forgotten memory.

However, just then, a gust of wind blew by, bringing with it Yun Youzi's familiar yet unfamiliar voice: "Duan Na, you are wrong. You have wronged Yun Youzi."

Upon hearing this, Duan Na turned around abruptly, staring at the graceful figure not far away, her eyes flashing with furious flames: "Yun Youzi, you've finally shown yourself? What you owe Wan'er, it's time to pay it back today!"

Yun Youzi walked slowly to the grave, looking at the words on the stone tablet, a complicated look flashed in his eyes: "Duan Na, do you know that Wan'er's death hurt me more than anyone else? But it's not because of my feelings for her, but because of my guilt towards myself."

"Guilt? What do you have to feel guilty about?" Duan Na sneered, her tone full of sarcasm.

Yun Youzi sighed and continued, "The night Wan'er died was the night I broke through to the Pseudo-God Realm, and I also sensed Wan'er's aura. But at that time, I was being besieged by You Yuan and five other Pseudo-God Realm experts, and I couldn't break through their encirclement. I missed the chance to save her."

"What did you say?" Duan Na's face showed disbelief upon hearing this. She had never imagined that Yun Youzi would admit to being wrong.

Yun Youzi looked at Duan Na, his eyes filled with sincerity and remorse: "Yes, I was wrong. I was wrong to break through to the Pseudo-God Realm without absolute safety, wrong to be too weak, wrong to be too arrogant, which attracted the ambush of the three races' experts, and wrong to ignore those around me who truly cared about me. Wan'er's death made me realize that the countless deaths and injuries in that battle were all my fault. So from then on, I left this land and traveled around, searching for inner peace and redemption."

“Master, the demons attacked us, it’s not your fault,” Zheng Qian said hurriedly. If Yun Youzi thought like this, he would fall into a mental dilemma and live in self-blame from then on.

Yun Youzi waved his hand at Zheng Qian: "No, it's all my fault."

Before Zheng Qian could speak, he continued, "Duan Na, I know you have grievances and anger towards me. But please believe me, in my heart, Wan'er will always be a pure and beautiful being. Her death has burdened me with eternal guilt and regret. But I also hope that you can let go of your hatred and anger and let Wan'er rest in peace in heaven."

Listening to Yun Youzi's words, Duan Na felt a complex mix of emotions welling up inside her. Looking into Yun Youzi's sincere eyes, she seemed to see the struggle and pain in his heart. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.

“Yun Youzi, I will carefully consider what you have said. But Wan’er’s death will always be an unhealable wound for me. I hope you can remember that you owe Wan’er an apology, and you also owe me one.”

Upon hearing this, Yun Youzi nodded: "I will remember. Duan Na, thank you for being willing to listen to my explanation. I also hope that in the future, we can let go of the pain of the past and start a beautiful life anew, so that the mistakes of the past will not punish our present and future selves."

At this point, Yun Youzi and Duan Na both fell silent. They stood quietly before the grave, gazing at the solitary tomb, their hearts filled with endless emotions and reflections. Zheng Qian stood to the side, silently observing everything, a surge of inexplicable emotion and respect welling up within him as well.

Yun Youzi was not wrong. Three hundred years ago, he was so outstanding that enemies of the same realm were too ashamed to raise their heads and dare not fight, spreading the fame of the human race throughout all races. Duan Wan'er was not wrong either. For her beloved, she disregarded her safety and rushed into the demon army, sacrificing her strength to protect him. Her love was so great.

The mistake lay in the cruel twist of fate, the unexpected attack, and the heavy price hidden behind every small choice in that chaotic era. The mistake also lay in the alliance of the three races; they feared that Yun Youzi would grow up and become their nightmare, so they launched a surprise attack on the night Yun Youzi broke through.

The world is wrong; the world is unfair. Everyone is trying to live, yet they live lives that are neither human nor ghostly, and ultimately, unsatisfactory.

Just then, a gentle breeze blew by, and the wildflowers in front of the grave swayed softly, as if telling stories of the past. Yun Youzi gently reached out and stroked the grass on the grave mound, his eyes shining with a resolute light.

"Wan'er, rest assured, no matter how unjust the world is, I will fight to the end for you, for the human race, and for justice in this world." Yun Youzi's voice was deep and powerful, each word like a vow from the depths of his heart.

As Duan Na watched Yun Youzi's retreating figure, the complex emotions in her heart gradually transformed into admiration. She understood that Wan'er's death wasn't Yun Youzi's fault, but she couldn't forgive him, nor could she move on from Wan'er's passing. Therefore, for the past three hundred years, she had tirelessly cultivated day and night, refusing Zhao Nuo's repeated declarations of love, all in order to kill more demons and avenge Wan'er.

Zheng Qian took out a fruit platter and wine from his spatial ring, respectfully placed them in front of Duan Wan'er's grave, clasped his hands together, bowed three times, and slowly said, "What is love?"

"Love is sacrifice, perseverance, and selfless giving when the other person needs it, even if that giving may be accompanied by endless pain and loneliness." Zheng Qian's voice sounded particularly deep in the quiet atmosphere. He turned to look at Duan Na, his eyes filled with understanding and sympathy: "General, I understand the pain in your heart. Losing your loved one, that emptiness, it's as if the whole world has lost its color. But love also means forgiveness and letting go. Senior Wan'er's sacrifice was for protection. Her spirit in heaven would not want to see you tormenting each other because of hatred, nor would it want this hatred to affect your future lives."

Upon hearing this, Duan Na's gaze deepened, as if a silent struggle was raging within her. After a long while, she slowly raised her head, her eyes gleaming with a new light—a light of relief and a new resolve.

"Yun Youzi, Youyuan has arrived. It is said that he has reached the third level of pseudo-god. Whether you participate in tonight's operation is up to you."

After Duan Na finished speaking, she flew away with a whoosh, leaving Zheng Qian and his apprentice behind. Whether she would forgive Yun Youzi, perhaps she didn't even have the answer in her heart.

A deep hatred lingered in Yun Youzi's eyes—hatred for You Yuan. Then, he regained his composure and slowly said, "Three hundred years ago, I broke through to the Pseudo-God Realm in the Starry Chess Formation. The Three Races Alliance launched a sneak attack, led by twenty-one Pseudo-God Realm experts. You Yuan was the Grand General in charge, and the strongest among them. At that time, he was only at the second level of the Pseudo-God Realm, and he personally led five other Pseudo-God Realm experts to besiege me. In that battle, countless people died, and blood stained the Starry Chess Formation red."

Yun Youzi's eyes were filled with deep memories and endless pain: "I fought back desperately, my true core was shattered, and I held on until the human reinforcements arrived. In the end, I was also seriously injured and on the verge of death. The best alchemist of the human race said that I would not live for more than three years. My heart was ashes, and I left Youfeng Rift Valley, preparing to spend three years traveling the world. By chance, I met Pan Jiu, embarked on the path of a Soul Master, and was resurrected from the dead."

"For the past three hundred years, I have lived with a mission, constantly striving to cultivate myself, while also searching for a destined person to inherit my mantle. Heaven rewards those who persevere, and I have finally found you, my disciple who makes me proud."

Zheng Qian listened quietly, finding it hard to imagine how fierce that battle must have been. And how much pain and torment Yun Youzi had endured over the past three hundred years.

"On my path of cultivation, I have many confidantes. They may be unknown, but they are willing to become stepping stones on my way, interpreting the meaning of deep affection with their lives. They may not be as dazzling as Duan Wan'er, they may not have the chance to whisper in my ear, they may not have the chance to make me remember their names, but their love is just as ardent, just as unwavering. They burn silently in the darkness, just to light my way forward, and even if they eventually turn to ashes, they will have no regrets."

"At that time, I was focused on spiritual cultivation and never thought about romantic love, so I let many people down. You should take my experience as a lesson. A man's ambition lies in all directions, but don't forget that there is a beautiful woman waiting for you. Don't wait until you look back and see that your beautiful woman has grown old and turned into a skeleton before you regret it."

Yun Youzi took out a small red square box from his pocket, handed it to Zheng Qian, and said softly, "This contains the Spirit Aperture Solidifying Pill. You must take it in an absolutely safe environment to stabilize your foundation and break through to the Liquid Aperture Realm."

Zheng Qian respectfully accepted the box with both hands and asked with concern, "Master, will the pseudo-god realm experts fight against the three races tonight?"

"Although my martial arts realm has not advanced any further, my soul cultivation has reached the second level of pseudo-god. Youyuan is the enemy I want to kill most in this life, so tonight I must participate in their operation and settle the score with Youyuan from back then." Yun Youzi left these last words before Zheng Qian could ask any questions and flew away.

"Zheng Qian, nothing is more important than life. No matter what happens in life, the most important thing is to live."

Zheng Qian's gaze was fixed on the departing Yun Youzi. At that moment, Yun Youzi's back seemed to be shrouded in endless desolation and loneliness, and every step he took stepped on Zheng Qian's soft spot.

"Master, I'm waiting for you to come back!" Zheng Qian shouted to Yun Youzi's back. Yun Youzi paused for a moment, then disappeared into the night.

Zheng Qian also left; he was going to the very top of the Starry Chess Formation to be the first to see Yun Youzi return safely.

The solitary grave still lies quietly in the valley, witnessing this love and hate that spans three hundred years.