In a black colored world, his consciousness was slow returning to him.
When Yun Che opened his eyes, he saw a small-statured red colored silhouette standing before him, silently gazing at him.
That matchless beautiful little face carried a tinge of pride and coldness. She was still wearing her favourite Smoky Red Fairy Dress. Her scarlet hair reached her hips, making her look both gentle and delicate.
âJas...mine...â Yun Che whispered. He knew he was in a dream but his soul couldnât stop trembling with excitement.
âYouâve gotten yourself badly injured again. Donât tell me itâs because of that woman?â Jasmine stared at him, that familiar gaze and tone, and that forcefulness of posture, the demeanor of a master.
âHehe...â Yun Che chuckled. âYes. Sheâs called Little Jasmine.â
âHmph!â Jasmine was angered. âWhen will you learn to properly your life!? Over those years with you, Iâve made many misjudgements but one thing Iâm certain of is that if one day you are absolutely and totally dead, the cause will be a woman!â
âIf itâs for you...â Yun Che looked at her and replied resolutely, âI wonât hesitate.â
â...Idiot!â She scolded him once more and then turned around, her gaze also leaving him. âBefore we parted, I already said everything. Weâre no longer fated and have no more ties to one another. Our paths will no longer cross.â
âLive well, donât have any more senseless hopes... even if it is for me.â
As her voice trailed off, that dreamlike figure of hers gradually turned blurry.
âJasmine... Jasmine! Donât go, I have a lot more to talk with you about... Jasmine!!â
Yun Che sat up, the pain all over his body jolting him completely awake, his vision also slowly started to clear up.
This place seemed like a naturally formed cave. There was a small campfire made of broken pieces of wood. A young girl dressed in a colorful dress was seated in front of him. Her cheeks and chin rested on both her palms as she stared at him without blinking.
âAwake so soon, I thought you would sleep longer.â Little Jasmineâs hands still stayed in their positions holding her cute face in the middle. She softly continued, âYour injuries are very serious.â
âHow long was I asleep for?â
He had a splitting headache, he put his hand on his head for quite a while before slowly easing his grip.
The loss of my mental energy is greater than the injuries Iâve suffered physically. Iâll probably only be able to recover after a long period of time.
Little Jasmine tilted her head, recalling, âProbably around two to three hours. Oh yeah, Brother-in-law, you were constantly shouting out Big Sister Jasmineâs name just now.â
â...â Yun Che paused a while to breathe and slowly sat up, his back leaning against the stone wall. The darkness outside had some faint light shining through it. It was probably way past midnight. âWhere is this place? Was it you who brought me here?â
âOf course it was me. You think itâs those bad guys?â Little Jasmine pouted. âAnyways, I donât know where this place is but itâs very safe. Thereâs nothing notable within the surroundings. You really really really need to thank me, Brother-in-law, if I hadnât done such back breaking work dragging Brother-in-law to this safe place, youâd most likely have been eaten by profound beasts by now.â
â...â Yun Che didnât speak further. He slowly and steadily tried to regain consciousness It was just that he couldnât get rid of the floating red figure he saw in his dreams out of his vision.
âJasmine...â his consciousness began to fade once more.
Little Jasmine opened her lips slightly, a little startled at his dazed like state and hurriedly asked, âBrother-in-law, are you very angry with me right now?â
â...â Yun Che started to wake once more and glared at Little Jasmine. âWhat do you think!? Forget about the last time. This time I almost got killed because of you!â
âHehehe.â Little Jasmine stuck her tongue out cheekily, âActually... Actually be it this time or the last, I let those bad people discover me on purpose. Itâs because I knew that brother-in-law was by my side, if not they would never have been able to find me.â
âYou!â Yun Che violently turned his head, staring daggers at her, âYou really are not as simple as you look. Who the hell are you... and why are you trying to harm me!?â
âI donât want to harm Brother-in-law. I just...â both of Little Jasmineâs eye brows started to curve as she giggled, âI just wanted to see if Brother-in-law was willing to brave every danger to come and save me.â
âHmph!â Yun Che scowled as he spat out the following words, âWe have no ties to each other. Where does your confidence that Iâll save you time and again come from!?â
âItâs definitely because Iâm so pretty and so lovable. Brother-in-law would never bear to even let me suffer a hairâs worth of harm.â
Yun Che, â...â
âOh and thereâs this other... very very little reason.â Little Jasmine started to speak in a hushed tone, âI wanted to know if itâs because I have the same name as Big Sister Jasmine that Brother-in-law didnât abandon me... I never would have thought that Brother-in-law was actually this stupid!â
It was as if every word of Little Jasmineâs was piercing Yun Cheâs fatal weakness.
The reason why he threw caution to the wind each and every time to risk his life to save this little girl whom he had no ties with... the biggest reason... no... the only reason was because her name was âLittle Jasmineâ.
Perhaps it was a coincidence and perhaps she was spouting nonsense back then, but to Yun Che, who had come to the God Realm alone, whose entire being was preoccupied with Jasmine, âLittle Jasmineâ was indeed a name that touched the depths of his heart. He wanted to reject her for having the same name. He was disgusted that she obstinately called Jasmine âBig Sister Jasmineâ while also calling him Brother-in-law...
However... unknowingly, she had left her mark on his heart.
He couldnât ignore those weighty feelings that kept coming to him whenever Little Jasmine seemed to be in danger.
â...There wonât be a next time. And donât call me brother-in-law. Sss...â.
His tone was grave and speaking opened some wounds. Yun Che winced in pain, his body slightly convulsing.
Unexpectedly, after this lecture from Yun Che, Little Jasmine didnât behave in her usual obstinate and unruly manner. She slightly pouted, looking extremely guilty and hurt. âBrother-in-law, I already know Iâm in the wrong. At that time, I thought it was fun, I didnât know that you would suffer to this extent.â
She reached out her hand, gently hovering close to Yun Cheâs chest wound, seemingly wanting to touch it yet not daring to. âDoes it hurt a lot? I promise I wonât do it again. I definitely wonât.â
Looking at her pitiful look and contrite manner, Yun Che could no longer vent his bellyful of indignance and anger. He casually and helplessly shook his head. âForget it, as long as you know you were in the wrong...â
Before he had even finished speaking, Little Jasmineâs eyes brightened as she replied cheerfully, âI knew Brother-in-law wouldnât stay angry at me. Hehehehe! Brother-in-law, when you were sleeping, you shouted Big Sister Jasmineâs name dozens of times. Risking danger to save me was also because of Big Sister Jasmine. You treat Big Sister Jasmine so well, no wonder she was willing to marry you!â
â...â Yun Che gently took in a breath, âSince youâve been honest with me, Iâll also be honest with you about this. Jasmine... Sheâs actually not my wife, sheâs my teacher.â
âEh?â Little Jasmineâs mouth went wide âTeacher? Ah... Eh... Then Brother-in-law should be extremely respectful of her am I right?â
âRespectful?â Yun Che lifted his head. âI donât know. I donât know what my feelings for her are. Sheâs my teacher but sheâs much more than just a teacher to me.â
Little Jasmine didnât interrupt and silently looked at him, not blinking.
âSheâs taught me many things but Iâve never felt the sort of gratitude or respect that one has towards a benefactor. Sheâs saved me countless times. If not for her, I would have been a dead body lying around somewhere but Iâve never had the sort of thankfulness one has towards a savior... Sheâs the one in this world that has scolded me the most... sheâs the fiercest... yet Iâve never been mad at her... in fact... When I dream... I hope to see and hear her scolding me again, a thousand times... no... ten thousand times.â
Without realizing it, all these feelings started pouring out. Because of Jasmine, he came to the God Realm. He had met countless people, yet he was still constantly lonely. He had to bury his plans for Jasmine deep within his heart. Her name was the worst kind of taboo imaginable here. He couldnât speak of her, he couldnât talk about her to anyone.
Right now, he could not help but confide in this girl called âLittle Jasmineâ who constantly shouted the term âbrother-in-law, brother-in-lawâ at him. Without knowing why, he poured his heart out and confided in her.
âIâve always known that she and I were from different worlds but I never would have imagined that our parting would be so abrupt, so decisive.ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âAfter she left, I felt as if half of me was suddenly missing. I initially thought that it was because I was used to relying on her strength and the sense of security that she gave me but later on I slowly realized that it was her that I was used to, everything about her. Without her, my life will always have an unfillable vacancy.
Little Jasmine opened her mouth. âThen are... you looking for her now?â
âMn.â Yun Che was so focused on his emotions that he didnât realize the strangeness of Little Jasmineâs question. He half murmured, âI was born in the lower realms. I came to the God Realm just to see her again... No matter what, I have to find her, even if itâs just to properly say goodbye.
Yun Che closed his eyes... If I can find Jasmine... and if itâs only just to say goodbye, will I really truly be satisfied?
âYou came to the God Realm, to look for Big Sister Jasmine... Is that the one and only reason?â Little Jasmine continued.
âMn,â Yun Che replied without hesitation.
â...â Little Jasmineâs gaze started to turn restless. âThen where is she now and how are you going to look for her?â
âI know where she is... itâs just that itâs a place that I can never reach.â Yun Che gave a self-deprecating cold laugh. âBut, Iâve found a way to see her again. Itâs just that I have to find two items. If I find them, I will definitely be able to see her in two years.â
âOh? What items?â
A small hand rested on Yun Cheâs shoulder and started to gently shake him, âTell me, tell me! I might have heard of them before.â
Yun Che chuckled, âOf these two items, one is called Divine Nine Star Buddha Jade, the other is called Immortal Emperor Grass.â
âDivine Nine Star Buddha Jade... Immortal Emperor Grass...â Little Jasmine started to repeat these names to herself, her eyes constantly blinking... I feel like Iâve heard of them before but it also feel like I havenât?
âThey are exceedingly rare items, not knowing of them is normal.â Yun Che wasnât surprised at the puzzled look on Little Jasmineâs face and slowly stopped speaking. Yun Cheâ consciousness then became even heavier. He glanced at the weather outside and started concentrating. He began to channel the Great Way of The Buddha, âIâm going to start my recovery, itâs best you donât disturb me again. Go have a nice rest, Iâll bring you out of here at dawn.â
âOh,â Little Jasmine replied looking somewhat distracted.
After activating the Great Way of the Buddha, Yun Che swiftly settled down, his physical body and mental state started to swiftly recover.
âSuch strange names. It feels like I donât have those stuff at home.â Little Jasmine was deep in thought. Finally, after much time and putting much effort into thinking about this matter, her eyes lit up.
âThatâs right! I can ask those few grandpas from the Heavenly Mystery Realm!â
After she felt certain, the little girl started to become lively again. She immediately started flying into the air and within the blink of an eye, she disappeared.