The actions and motives of Mo Ze, and his true feelings towards Bai Ran, were unknown to Long Jin Han.
As a child, he was incredibly well-behaved and sensible, but as he grew up, he seemed to transform into someone else entirely – bloodthirsty and pathological.
Thus, Long Jin Han dispatched Zhong Yi Chuan to get close to Mo Ze, with the sole purpose of investigating what had happened to him.
Had his memory been erased, or was this his true nature all along...
After listening to Long Jin Han's words, Bai Ran propped up her chin and asked, "So, when you wore the fake ear danglers, I happened to have an accident?"
Long Jin Han looked at Bai Ran, gently caressed her head, and said apologetically, "That's right, so I should apologize to you..."
It was his oversight, failing to anticipate that the young girl would encounter danger within those few short hours.
Even the powerful individuals by her side couldn't protect her; he had been careless.
"What about the demon realm's maps and troop distribution that Zhong Yi Chuan handed over?"
"Hmm, it was all fake. And his deceased mother, I manipulated that too."
Zhong Yi Chuan harbored no unresolvable hatred for his mother's death; it was merely a trap set by Long Jin Han.
Everything was done to make Mo Ze lower his guard and believe that Zhong Yi Chuan had indeed betrayed the demon realm and defected to him.
Bai Ran nodded, her mind now at ease.
"There's one more thing, my dear." Long Jin Han raised his hand, and a thick ancient book appeared. The pages of the book were yellowed and wrinkled.
Bai Ran gazed at the golden characters on the ancient book and exclaimed, "Clone... Soul Condensation Technique?"
Long Jin Han nodded slightly, continuing her words, "That's right. The demon realm possesses the most ancient books in the Nine Heavens, and this Soul Condensation Technique is one of them."
A clone? Bai Ran stared at him, a hint of confusion on her face, "But I haven't reached the cultivation level to condense a clone yet, why would I..."
Before she could finish, a flash of inspiration struck her, and a figure appeared in her mind.
"Could it be!"
A smile curved Long Jin Han's lips as he looked at Bai Ran tenderly, "My dear, your guess is correct."
Bai Ran's pupils trembled. Clone Soul Condensation Technique...
She had only ever seen three people with clones: Long Jin Han, Mo Ze, and her mother, Huan Yan...
Clone Soul Condensation Technique, using a clone to condense the soul?
Long Jin Han's guess was correct, which meant she could use her mother's clone to condense the soul!
Long Jin Han chuckled softly, his slender fingers lightly touching Bai Ran's forehead, "The clone already exists. Now, the only limitation is your cultivation."
Bai Ran touched her forehead. The lotus imprint beneath her palm felt faintly hot.
The lotus imprint was left to her by her mother. It contained immense spiritual energy and a trace of her mother's clone.
Through countless cycles of reincarnation, this trace of a clone would be reborn with Bai Ran.
After completing its mission, the clone would return to the lotus imprint on her forehead, awaiting the next life.
"Will this method allow other ghosts to seize the opportunity?"
What worried Bai Ran the most wasn't the inability to revive her mother, but the possibility of finding her mother's body occupied by wandering spirits after resurrection.
If that were the case, she wouldn't even be able to preserve her mother's body, let alone revive her.
Long Jin Han understood her concerns. "My dear, rest assured."
His large hand gently covered her head, and his voice, filled with an infatuated smile, rang out, "This technique is ancient. Those departed souls cannot comprehend even a fraction of it."
Meaning... using the method in this ancient book, she could safely revive her mother?
Bai Ran's heart pounded. This was incredibly good news for her.
"Long Jin Han... thank you..."
Her expression was moved, and she didn't know how to properly express her gratitude.
Long Jin Han sighed softly, moved his hand from her head, and clasped Bai Ran's hand.
"You've forgotten what I said again? You are my future wife. Between us, there's no need for thanks."
Bai Ran pursed her lips, a radiant smile gracing her pale face. If one looked closely, her eyes were still slightly red.
"Long Jin Han."
"But I want to kiss you."
Long Jin Han's dark eyes trembled. A hint of surprise flashed across his face, then he smiled and slowly leaned closer, drawing near.
"My dear, such matters, I will initiate from now on..."
His movements were incredibly gentle, as if he were concerned about Bai Ran's current weakened state.
The tide surged, the clouds danced, and it seemed that at this moment, the heavens and earth lost their color.
Originally, her heart had built a high wall, erected a barrier that no one could breach. Yet, one person had seen through her fragility and vulnerability at a single glance.
He dismantled the wall brick by brick, day after day, year after year...
Finally, the man stood completely before her, in the closest position to her...
...
"You handle being the Demon Emperor more skillfully than I do?"
Xiao Zi crossed her legs, propped up her chin, and looked at Lin Ze, who was handling administrative affairs.
Lin Ze held a brush, his focus unwavering as he dealt with official matters. The sight of his complete absorption was captivating.
"You naturally yearn for freedom and were never focused."
That was true... Xiao Zi propped her chin, her gaze lowered.
"Don't you yearn for it?"
Trapped in this small world, dealing with bothersome and tedious trivialities every day, sometimes having to make decisions against one's will.
Every day was the same. Although he possessed immense power and status, over time, one could become numb and cold.
Xiao Zi disliked living this way, like an uninspired puppet on strings.
Lin Ze's hand holding the brush paused. His long eyelashes drooped, and he remained silent.
The cheerful laughter of Zhu Que and the others echoed in his ears, but he wasn't affected by the joyous atmosphere in the slightest.
"Freedom... what is freedom?"
Xiao Zi sat lazily, answering nonchalantly, "Doing what you want to do, seeing the people you want to see, uninhibited, carefree, isn't that freedom?"
Unexpectedly, Lin Ze chuckled, "Fox spirit, what you're describing isn't freedom; you've gone mad."
Xiao Zi sat up straight, her temples throbbing with annoyance. Oh dear, this guy...
"Then tell me, what is true freedom?"
"Baili Xiao now is truly free."
Xiao Zi blinked, waiting for him to continue, but Lin Ze just smiled and shook his head, with no intention of explaining.
"Why Baili Xiao?" Xiao Zi stared at him, pressing for an answer.
Lin Ze put down his brush. In his green eyes, there was a hint of envy, buried deep within.
"Because he has no more attachments..."
To be far away, yet have one's heart tied to someone one cannot bear to part with, that is not freedom; it is avoidance.
To have no attachments or weaknesses, to be able to do anything one desires according to one's heart, that is true freedom.