Zi Yan/Story

== Qing Prefecture ==
=== Dao ===
A figure slowly walked out from the darkness. She was slender and lithe, a white veil covering her face.
"Why did you have to do this? He already begged for mercy, and his courage was already broken by you. He wouldn't be your enemy ever again. Why couldn't you give him a path to live?" This woman was Zi Yan.
"Is that your Humane Dao?" Long Chen didn't reply, instead asking her a question.
"Every person has a humane heart. However, it is deliberately hidden by themselves. Why don't you try releasing your humane heart? Only then can you release other people's humane hearts, creating a cycle of virtue. If that happened, this world would no longer be the way it is," said Zi Yan somewhat regretfully.
"Hahaha!"
Long Chen suddenly raised his head and laughed, his laughter extremely crazy. "Junior sister Zi Yan, have you heard of a certain story?
"There was once a crown prince who stood at the top of the city walls. He looked down on those countless starving refugees whose crops had failed. They were crazily digging out grass and pulling off tree bark to allay their own hunger. At the same time, many of them died from starvation.
"That crown prince asked the chancellor beside him: why don't those people eat some meat if they're so hungry?"
Zi Yan shook her head. "I'm not judging your actions while trying to stand high above you morally. I just-"
Long Chen sneered, "You aren't judging, but you are tactfully criticizing. As expected, you really are a high-class person. These methods really are different from what a low-class person like myself can think of.
"The heights we stand on are different. Your parents, your family, they're safe. But I'm different. If I am weak, if I am compassionate, I will bring pain to those close to me.
"You say he's innocent? Then when he tried to kill me, did he once think about my father, my mother, my family?
"According to you, his courage was broken by me so he temporarily wouldn't be enemies with me anymore. But can you guarantee that if his master ordered him to kill my family, he definitely wouldn't go?
"Why don't you say something? Is it because you can't guarantee that? Let alone you, even a god is unable to change a person's nature.
"Since there's no guarantee, why can't I kill him? He had a murderous heart towards me, so why must I take the risk to have a humane heart for him?
"Why would I bring pain to the people by my side? Why would I bring pain to myself? Isn't that just too stupid?" sneered Long Chen.
"Long Chen, you're too extreme..." said Zi Yan.
"Whether or not I'm extreme is my own affair. Miss Zi Yan, I won't bother you about how you tried to peer into my secrets previously. This matter ends here. You and I are people in different worlds. I don't care if you have good intentions towards me. I'd ask you not to meddle in my matters, or we'll become enemies."
Long Chen left this final sentence before turning and leaving. The only one left was Zi Yan, standing in the darkness of the night.
=== Dao-heart ===
"Zi Yan, whether or not Long Chen is your devil star, he currently has no relation with you. If you don't want to kill him, then don't provoke him. Your good intentions will just bring yourself harm and affect your Dao-heart," warned the pavilion master.
"Yes, I understand. In any case, my tempering experience this time will end soon. I feel like my Dao-heart has almost reached perfection, and so I've accomplished the mission master gave me and can return to the Immortal Palace. This Long Chen shouldn't be my devil star. Pavilion master, don't worry, I was just a bit interested in him. I know to act properly!" said Zi Yan.
"Then that's good. You are the head of our Illusive Music Immortal Palace's four great immortal sprouts. The palace master has great hopes for you. Don't disappoint her," warned the pavilion master.
"Yes. I'll leave now to rest."
After saying goodbye to the pavilion master, Zi Yan returned to her own room. However, after a while, a green-robed maiden walked in.
"Big sister Zi Yan, you called me?"
"Yes, Xiao Lu, help me investigate that Long Chen. The more detailed the information, the better," said Zi Yan.
"Alright."
"Don't let the pavilion master learn about this," said Zi Yan.
"Yes."
Once that maiden left, Zi Yan looked out the window. That was the direction Long Chen had left in.
"To cause my Dao-heart to shake like this, you are definitely my life's foreordained devil star. Either I change you, or I kill you. Long Chen, I'm sorry." A complicated expression flashed through Zi Yan's eyes, and she sighed.
=== Long Chen, devil star ===
Within the Immortal Intoxication Building, Zi Yan was looking at the private letter in her hand, frowning. "You obtained it this quickly?"
"It's because someone else already asked the Shadow Gate (暗影门) to investigate everything about Long Chen. When I went, I just directly bought the information again," said Xiao Lv.
"Oh? Someone asked the Shadow Gate to investigate Long Chen? To have such abilities, this power must not be ordinary," said Zi Yan.
"You're right. It was done by the Yin family. I had to use my identity plate for them to tell me that," said Xiao Lu.
Zi Yan read through a great deal of information written in the letter. An incense stick's time later, she sighed. "So when Long Chen was a child, he had to endure all kinds of suffering from people, and then later, he obtained some kind of unknown opportunity, soaring like a meteor.
"From the Phoenix Cry Empire to the Xuantian Monastery and then to the Jiuli secret realm, he forced his way through all his obstacles, using the most direct and simplest way to crush all his enemies beneath his feet.
"In the Jiuli secret realm, he ended up being the enemy of the Righteous and Corrupt paths, and it's said he obtained quite a few treasures in the secret realm. Many people are hidden in the dark, keeping watch over his every move. No wonder he is so guarded."
"However, I feel like this Long Chen's character is very good. He cares about his people and is willing to even risk his life for them. But as for his enemies, he will cut them into a thousand pieces with his blade. Although he is vicious, he hasn't lost what it means to differentiate between kindness and enmity," said Xiao Lu.
"Differentiating between kindness and enmity is fine, but such actions do not conform with the Heavenly Daos. Resentment will not fade because of slaughter. Instead, it will only grow stronger.
"Those who were killed will be dead, but their pain will be left to their family, their friends. Thus, the seeds of hatred are planted and will grow limitlessly.
"That's why the current world has turned into its current chaotic state, and it has even affected the Heavenly Daos. After our Immortal Palace's inheritance was severed, successive generations of our palace masters poured their sweats and their tears in an attempt to connect with the Heavenly Daos and restore our inheritance.
"However, other than those immortal era paintings, nothing useful was left behind. That's the only reason we have to go out for tempering and examine the numerous aspects of the world. It's in the hope that in our lifetimes, we can grasp the laws of the Heavenly Daos and find the true meaning of the Dao," sighed Zi Yan.
"But what does that have to do with Long Chen?" Xiao Lu did not understand.
"Long Chen was able to form a resonance with the paintings. That means he's someone who has a destiny with our Immortal Palace. But of those many paintings, he only formed a resonance with the ninth divine emissary. It really is a pity.
"However, no matter what, we still need to keep observing him. Perhaps we'll be able to comprehend another side of the Heavenly Daos from him," said Zi Yan.
However, she felt uncomfortable inside. Ever since she had started cultivating, her heart had been calm like water. Even facing death, her Dao-heart had never wavered.
But on that day, Long Chen had used his mental strength to forcibly escape from her artistic realm, snapping her zither string and giving her a backlash.
From that moment on, Zi Yan's heart was no longer able to stay calm. An indescribable fluctuation was present within her, and no matter how she tried, she couldn't completely erase it.
That both shocked her and gave her a trace of fear. That was because the devil star her master had seen in her future had finally appeared.
Of course, toward this illusory and empty thing known as fate, people naturally felt a kind of resistance. At the same time, they would feel a bit of curiosity. Zi Yan was no exception. She wanted to see just how this so-called devil star could influence her.
"Oh? This aura, isn't it Long Chen's?"
Shock flashed across Zi Yan's eyes. She put on her veil and disappeared from the Immortal Intoxication Building.
== Dragon Slaughtering Convention ==
Several lithe, veiled women holding zithers were stepping through the air lightly.
The woman at the front gently plucked her zither. As she played, everyone’s hearts relaxed and warmed.
Just now, the city had been about to be turned into a battlefield, but as the sound of the zither spread, the world became peaceful. Their fear, their hatred, they were all cleansed.
“Junior Zi Yan of the Illusive Music Immortal Palace greets everyone.” The women stopped once they got close. Then, the woman at the front opened her mouth. Her voice was even more moving than her zither.
This woman was Zi Yan, but she was wearing a veil again, making it so no one could recognize her at first. Once she spoke though, it caused huge waves. The Illusive Music Immortal Palace was a famous existence within the entire Martial Heaven Continent.
“So it’s the Illusive Music Immortal Palace’s Zither Fairy. No wonder you have such power. But I wonder, what exactly are you intending by doing this?”
Hu Xiaolin had long since guessed Zi Yan’s identity. Other than the Illusive Music Immortal Palace’s Zither Fairy, no one else could use the Music Dao to disturb the Heavenly Daos and silently dissipate his attack.
The name of the Zither Fairy was famous within the Martial Heaven Continent. The Zither Fairy cultivated the Dao of heavenly music. From a young age, she had roamed around the continent, causing her name to spread.
However, the Zither Fairy was known for being kind and peaceful. She never fought against others. Now that she had interrupted Hu Xiaolin’s attack, it caused him to feel shocked but also angry.
Sha Guangyan, Peng Wansheng, and Ye Qingkuang all intensely disliked Zi Yan. Back then, outside the Eastern Xuan City, they had tried to block her carriage, and Ye Qingkuang had been slapped in the face by her.
Sha Guangyan’s group of three stood behind Hu Xiaolin, staring coldly at Zi Yan. The atmosphere instantly grew tense again. The Zither Fairy was known to be the Illusive Music Immortal Palace’s number one genius.
Ever since she was young, she had been nurtured with only the best resources. Although practically no one had ever seen her fight, the fact that she had slapped Ye Qingkuang across the face had shaken the Eastern Xuan Region. Rumor was that she was also a terrifying Empyrean. If they really fought, it would be a heaven-shaking battle.
Zi Yan walked to a side of the plaza. That was the neutral camp. She had already expressed her viewpoint and said what she had come to say. She had done all she had to do. Now she calmly acted as a spectator.
=== Reminiscence of Eastern Wastelands ===
“Big sister, this scene is strikingly similar to what happened in the Eastern Wasteland back then,” said a woman beside Zi Yan.
This woman was precisely the Yu Tong who had gone with Zi Yan to the Eastern Wasteland as a tempering experience. She had also become a powerful expert, but now she sighed emotionally over her memories.
“Yes. The Eastern Wasteland’s Qing Prefecture, the discussion of the Dao in the Immortal Intoxication Pavilion, and Mu Xue’s capture before the Hidden Dragon Abode.” Zi Yan looked into the distance, also seemingly lost in her memories. “Could this be fate? It’s like another cycle. But this time, the scale is even more terrifying.”
Thinking of when she had first gotten to know Long Chen, Zi Yan was filled with emotion. She was a genius the Illusive Music Immortal Palace had gone all-out raising. Her path had been easy, and her cultivation base had progressed like it had wings.
On the other hand, Long Chen hadn’t been raised by anyone. He had relied on his own power to forge ahead, and yet he had maintained a similar cultivation speed.
One of them was flying in the sky, while one was running on the ground. The one of the ground had swathes of water to swim through, thousands of mountains blocking his path, but she was unable to throw him off at all.
She had the great support of the powerful Illusive Music Immortal Palace, while Long Chen had nothing. He could only rely on himself, and yet he had still reached his current height. There was probably no way to imagine how much he had paid to do that.
=== Fight ===
“There’s nothing to be sorry about. I just have this kind of temperament. Gratitude and grudges must be repaid. Once we start fighting, life and death will only be separated by a fine line. Don’t hold back because I definitely won’t. Whether you kill me or I kill you, neither one of us has to say sorry,” said Long Chen calmly.
Many people were able to hear the complicated emotions between them, and yet the two of them were still going to have a life and death match. For a moment, no one said a word.
The neutral camp’s experts were filled with pity. Both Long Chen and Zi Yan were experts at the top of their generation. One was a peerless domineering hero, while one was a beauty who could cause the downfall of a nation. Their feelings toward each other were easily seen through.
With the help of Meng Qi and the Three-head Nine-eye Illusion Spirit Beast, Long Chen defeats Zi Yan, but lets her off.
“Zi Yan, back in front of the Hidden Dragon Abode in the Eastern Wasteland’s Qing Prefecture, my friend Mu Xue was captured and used as a hostage against me. You were the one who saved her. Back then, I swore that I would repay that favor. You saved my friend’s life back then, so today, I’ll let you off this once. From now on, neither of us owe the other anything. Any ties between us are broken. If we meet again, we will probably be enemies. At that time, whether you kill me or I kill you, neither of us have to feel any guilt.”
==Yin Yang Valley Chapter 1826==
Before she used to see the world in a pure hearted way which always end up creating troubles between her and Long Chen which she didn't intended.
In the Yin-Yang realm she hid her identity & suppressed her cultivation to look like an ordinary cultivator so that she can experience life from the perspective of an ordinary cultivator.
And this viewpoint disappoints her greatly by the actions of multiple people, some who she new personally, who when in her true appearance acts in a Righteous, Chivalrous, and Good Natured way during her many lessons/lectures she would give.
But now in her disguise, they show their Arrogant, Deplorable, and Conceited true selves as they would taunt her, rob her, and abandon her in the face of danger or sacrifice her for their own safety. Some even being rape attempts as they thought they wouldn't make it and wanted to enjoy the pleasure of a woman before death on multiple occasions.
Sometimes she would rescue them and they would then turn their weapons on her to rob her of her treasures or just literally stab her in the back for them as she was nearly killed by them on multiple occasions.
While still in her disguise she was once saved by Long Chen as she was being robbed and threatened by another cultivator who once listened to her lectures and praised her claiming that he was moved and enlightened by them.
But as she repeated them to him once more he laughs, taunt, and ridicule her even asking if she thinks she's the Zi Fairy that if she just repeats those words he would back off.
Now she realizes how naïve she was with this experience, that their good nature attitudes were all an act they put on in front of her because of her identity as Long Chen had explained to her.
Later she became cold hearted to everyone except Long Chen. That when others would ask for help or to interfere when they were being killed by Long Chen she would completely ignore them not even sparing them a single glance.
==Spirit of Seven Suppressing Sea Zither==
Later the Immortal sound palace dean sends her & Long Chen to Ancient battlefield to retrieve the lost item spirit of Seven suppressing sea zither. But it was a plot. Immortal sound place was colluding with Divine clan to destroy Tianwu continent. The higher ups tried to control her as a puppet.
This greatly saddens her as her beloved became the victim of the plot. Then she pledges that later she will kill anyone that tries to harm a hair on the body of Long Chen. This transformation of hers makes her similar to Han Wei great emperor. Before she used to wear white clothes but later after her mental nirvana she started wearing purple clothe like Han Wei great emperor.
==References==
Category:Character Story
Category:Zi Yan