Now, he was merely an outer disciple who had violated the sect's forbidden rules and was being hunted to his last resort.
It was time for the elders to interrogate him, and those fantastical experiences in his mind... seemed a bit hazy?
It was like waking up from a dream, where some people forget it completely.
That Douluo Continent... was it all a dream before he died?
Tang San stared blankly ahead, his entire face etched with confusion.
So... he had no sister, no childhood playmates, and had been alone from beginning to end?
All of Tang San's thoughts were like a malfunctioning machine, stuck in a sluggish state.
His mind, which should have been vigilant, began to waver unstably, shrouded in an indistinguishable mist along with the ethereal mountain peaks before him.
Not far from the cliff, more than ten distinct figures blocked all his escape routes. Familiar and angry faces gradually appeared before him...
At the same time, another pair of clear blue eyes slowly opened in a silent, empty space.
As the familiar furnishings, buried in the corner of her memory due to the transmigration, came into view, they swept through her mind.
The cold, dark memories were like a violent storm, ruthlessly tearing at her spiritual sea.
As those ancient memories settled, reshaping her worldview, Tang Sui opened a pair of dark eyes.
The long-lost princess-pink ceiling entered her shaky vision. She pushed herself up to sit on the bed and spread out her hands.
The faint palm lines on her fair palms were clearly visible. The back of her hands were smooth and tender, with no special energy flow.
'System?'
Tang Sui silently called out in her mind, but only silence responded.
In the entire room, which was warmly decorated yet exuded a hint of loneliness, only her own breathing could be heard, and...
Tang Sui slowly got out of bed, barefoot, and walked to the private bathroom attached to the room. She stood before the clean, polished washbasin mirror, looking at herself in the mirror with her disheveled long black hair. Her familiar yet tender, fair face appeared. She raised her hand, her slender index finger lightly touching the cold mirror surface, and met her reflection's gaze for several seconds.
Those fantastical memories from another world were like an illusory dream. Now that the dream was over, she was still the lamb to the slaughter in others' eyes.
Yes.
A lamb to the slaughter.
Exiting the bathroom, Tang Sui reached for the expensive Apple phone placed by her pillow. The lock screen lit up with a line of unread messages –
'What are you still doing upstairs? Hurry up and get ready to meet your sister and that child from the Ye family. Don't disgrace the Tang family, remember your identity.'
Sister...
Ripples spread across Tang Sui's eyes, and a long-lost heartache spread from her heart, but her thoughts and mind were incredibly calm.
"I don't have a sister..."
Her low voice echoed in the empty room. A few seconds later, the only bright light in the room also extinguished.
...
In the living room of the Tang family villa, a graceful woman in an ink-green cheongsam, with light makeup, sat smiling on the sofa, watching a young man and woman in animated conversation before her.
Not far from the two young people, a family of six sat in a rather reserved posture.
Led by a man specially dressed in a neat suit, next to him sat a couple who appeared to be quite old, followed by a younger middle-aged couple and a little boy being playfully coaxed by the woman of the latter couple.
The little boy wore khaki overalls, his face full of displeasure. He would occasionally reach out to tug at the buckle of his straps, complaining to his mother that his clothes were tight and uncomfortable for playing.
His mother softly soothed the little boy, her slightly nervous gaze occasionally flicking towards the elegant lady in conversation with the man in the suit. She whispered something to her son.
"Aunt Bai, why hasn't Tang Sui sister come down yet? Is she... not very accepting of me?" The girl, wearing a beige pleated skirt and a diamond hairpin, looked at the elegant lady uneasily, stopping her conversation with the young man seated diagonally opposite.
The elegant lady's eyebrows, which had relaxed from the man's coaxing laughter, furrowed slightly upon hearing this. She glanced at the dimmed phone screen before her, a hint of displeasure towards Tang Sui rising in her heart, but she continued to smile and soothe the girl.
"Girls, they always take longer to get ready. Also, An'an, haven't I told you? Since I've brought you to the Tang family today, I will no longer hide your identity." She deftly changed the subject, her heart softening as she looked at the girl's shy yet cautious demeanor.
"Bai..."
"An'an, what should you call me?" The elegant lady interrupted the girl's words. Under her encouraging and loving gaze, the girl changed her address and shyly called out, "Mom."
The young man sitting opposite the girl watched her cautiousness and hidden joy, and the smile on his lips added a touch more tenderness.
The man who had been speaking with the elegant lady's smile deepened. When the elegant lady looked over, his gaze became more affectionate. The middle-aged couple sitting next to the elderly couple began to liven up the atmosphere, chattering flattering words like, "As expected of family, you are so well-matched."
When Tang Sui walked down the stairs from the second floor, she saw this harmonious scene of a "family."
---
Because of the epidemic, the entire area around the residential community is a red zone. I had to rush to the mall today to experience the thrill of fighting for groceries. Starting tomorrow, I'll be confined to my home, with daily nucleic acid tests scheduled.
Still working on the remaining three chapters. I will definitely finish them as promised!