Ren Yuanhao followed these sights, and indeed, his cousin was catching loaches on the riverbank with his cousin-in-law.
These were all impressions he could not let go of, his cage, his shackles. Everyone had their own cage, without exception.
"Yuanhao, we made a vow, didn't we?"
"A vow?"
Ren Yuanhao's memory seemed to blur instead.
"Do you remember that bridge? On the Qixi Festival in July, we snuck away from our families and went to that bridge. Didn't you solemnly swear to this river that when you grew up, you would come and marry me?"
Cheng Li smiled, her cheeks flushed, and lowered her head shyly. "Now, we've both grown up. Isn't it time to fulfill that vow?"
As soon as her words fell, the rippling green waves suddenly turned red, and the Cheng Li before his eyes shattered like fragments.
All he could see was a red candlelit bed, a phoenix pillow, and a phoenix bed. A beautiful woman lay on the couch, her eyes full of desire, her cheeks flushed like the clouds at dusk.
"Yuanhao, a beautiful night, a moment of spring, we have finally become husband and wife. In the future, we will go together and return together."
"Cheng Li~"
Ren Yuanhao looked at himself in the bronze mirror, smiling so falsely, smiling so heartbrokenly, as if a voice inside him was roaring at himself, "Ren Yuanhao, all of this is fake, this is your nightmare!"
But even so, Ren Yuanhao felt that such a life was not bad. He slowly walked to the bedside, and Cheng Li pulled him over, her fair arms like a snake.
She was the most beautiful bride he had ever seen. As she breathed, her breath was as fragrant as orchids. His heart pounded like a deer, and he smiled with contentment.
"Yuanhao, why are you crying?"
Ren Yuanhao hadn't noticed, but when he reached out to brush his cheek, he felt cold tears.
"Yes, why am I crying?"
Ren Yuanhao felt a blockage in his chest, as if something was trying to break through his skull to appear!
He followed his will and looked intently. It was a dark cave, and above, lightning split the sky, and rain poured down.
He heard someone calling him, a voice mournful and desolate, and he, pulled by the threads of fate, walked step by step into the cave.
At this moment, a deep and passionate kiss pulled him back. The woman before him was still this beautiful and radiant girl, her lips pressed against his, but why did her lips have no warmth at all, as if they came from hell!
"What's wrong, Yuanhao?"
Cheng Li's eyes were filled with tears, and she seemed to be crying along with Ren Yuanhao.
"I don't know, I just feel a tightness in my chest." Ren Yuanhao suddenly hugged Cheng Li tightly, like a child hugging his toy. "Don't leave me, don't, ever!"
...
In the real world, the entire cave shone with a bright blue light!
The iron chains seemed to be binding a giant monster, and this monster was about to break free from its cage with Ren Yuanhao's strength!
"Not good, this kid is probably trapped in the illusion constructed by the 'Mirror of Truth' and the fierce sword Taiyi!"
Yang Ziyan felt as if all her true qi was about to be snatched away by this fierce sword. Tang Feng and the other five were already sweating profusely, their bodies taut with a single breath.
"We can't give up, or our brother will be in danger. Everyone, let's put in more effort!"
The crowd urged their internal true qi again, but their remaining strength was like a drop in the bucket.
One had to know that breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm required a huge amount of true qi as fuel. They had only broken through less than a day ago, and it would take at least two days of meditation to recover all their true qi.
However, to save their brother now, they had to burn themselves 120 percent. The man holding the fierce sword was like a monument, his entire being dedicated to protecting the Chaoyang Sect.
Such a man deserved the respect of the entire sect, so even if they had to risk their lives, they would not hesitate!
"Let's go for it, fellow disciples!" Bai Zhanchen gritted his teeth, his face as pale as paper, as if not only his true qi, but even his blood and life were burning.
"Let's go all out!"
"Yes! Our benefactor has bestowed upon us immense fortune, and now he draws his sword for our Chaoyang Sect. Doesn't he deserve us to risk our lives for him?"
"Of course he does!"
Everyone let out tiger-like roars, and their surging true qi once again suppressed the fierce sword's might!
...
Meanwhile, Ren Yuanhao, trapped within the Mirror of Truth, was covered in tears. Was it excitement? Or fear? Or regret? He didn't know.
He no longer wanted to venture into that bizarre cave, nor did he want to hear that cold and mournful cry. He closed his eyes and tightly held Cheng Li's hand.
But those hands were so cold, as if they would never be warmed.
"Why are your hands so cold?"
Ren Yuanhao asked.
"Don't worry about that. Isn't our current state perfect? We've paid homage to heaven and earth, paid homage to our elders, and completed the marital salutation. You've lifted my veil, and I am your rightful wife. Everything is perfect, isn't it?"
Cheng Li's voice had also become colder, like her hands.
Ren Yuanhao looked at the familiar face and suddenly staggered back!
"No, you are not Cheng Li. I can't feel any sunlight from you, and she was the only light in my childhood. And..."
Ren Yuanhao suddenly closed his eyes, sensing the scene in the cave rooted in his mind, and tears flowed down his face.
"And Cheng Li died in that cold cave long ago. You are just her phantom."
Cheng Li suddenly stood up. "Ren Yuanhao, are you having a nightmare? Look at me, aren't I alive and well? Come here, isn't this the ending you've always wanted? I've given everything for you, and in the end, you don't believe me?"
"Because this is a dream, Cheng Li. I have to go. Whether you are a phantom or not, it's good to see you again."
Ren Yuanhao suddenly closed his eyes, grabbed the scissors on the table used to trim the lamp wick, and fiercely stabbed himself in the heart!
"No~!"
The illusion could only end with death.
Ren Yuanhao felt the real pain transmitted from the sword hilt. When his eyes opened, all the blue light seemed to be sucked back into the body of the fierce sword Taiyi like a dragon drinking water. The still-swaying chains also stopped.
In the cave, silence suddenly fell.
No, in this silence, only Ren Yuanhao's heartbeat could be heard, and the dragon's roar of the sword!
"Kid, pull the sword!"
"Brother, you have been recognized by this sword. Now, you are the owner of this sword. This sword is named Taiyi!"
Ren Yuanhao gripped the sword hilt with both hands and slowly pulled it out.
Clang!