17: Chapter 17 Purpose

"Resurrect the Master's wife?" Chu Yang frowned. "Is that Daoist Wangchuan's goal?"

Bi Luo nodded. "Master has been searching for a method of resurrection all these years. It wasn't until he discovered your soul of samsara that he saw hope."

The Witch sneered. "To resurrect a lover, you must sacrifice others? Is this what you call the righteous path?"

"Master does not intend to take Chu Yang's life," Bi Luo hurriedly explained. "He only needs him to voluntarily offer a portion of the soul of samsara..."

"Voluntarily?" Chu Yang interrupted her. "What if I am unwilling?"

Bi Luo was silent for a moment. "Master said... he will use every means possible."

The cave fell into a deathly silence. Chu Yang looked at Bi Luo, the woman who had once moved his heart, now appearing so like a stranger.

"You should go," Chu Yang said suddenly.

"What?"

"I said, you should go," Chu Yang repeated. "Go back and tell Daoist Wangchuan that I will not hand over the soul of samsara."

A flicker of pain flashed in Bi Luo's eyes. "Chu Yang, you simply do not understand the value of the soul of samsara. It can not only resurrect the Master's wife, but also..."

"Enough!" the Witch sharply interrupted. "The two of you, master and disciple—one wants to resurrect a lover, the other wants to fulfill a mission—have you ever considered Chu Yang's feelings?"

Bi Luo looked at Chu Yang, wanting to speak but hesitating.

"I will see her out," the Witch said, taking Bi Luo by the wrist.

"Wait," Chu Yang called out to them. "Bi Luo, what did you say the soul of samsara could do just now?"

Bi Luo hesitated for a moment. "It can... allow a person to be reborn."

Chu Yang was thoughtful. "Reborn?"

"Don't listen to her nonsense," the Witch frowned. "The power of the soul of samsara is not meant for such things."

Bi Luo broke free from the Witch's hand. "Chu Yang, if you are willing, I can help you..."

"Help me with what?"

"Help you recover the memories of your past life."

Chu Yang's heart jolted. Memories of his past life? The memories of the Yin Yang Loose Cultivator?

The Witch's expression changed drastically. "No!"

"Why not?" Chu Yang pressed.

"Because..." the Witch bit her lip, "because that will change who you are now."

Chu Yang laughed. "Change? I don't even know who I am right now; what is there left to change?"

"You..." the Witch wanted to say something more, but was interrupted by Chu Yang.

"Bi Luo, tell me, how do I recover the memories?"

Bi Luo glanced at the Witch. "It requires you to voluntarily offer a drop of your essence blood, combined with the power of the soul of samsara..."

"I do not agree!" the Witch blocked Chu Yang. "Bi Luo, you are harming him!"

"Harming him?" Bi Luo sneered. "You are the one who has been deceiving him all along, aren't you?"

"I..."

"Enough!" Chu Yang sharply interrupted. "Stop arguing, both of you. Bi Luo, I will try the method you mentioned."

The Witch turned around abruptly. "Chu Yang!"

"This is my choice," Chu Yang said calmly.

Bi Luo smiled. "Good, I will prepare immediately."

The Witch looked at Chu Yang, a flicker of pain in her eyes. "You will regret this."

Chu Yang shook his head. "Regret? I don't even have the qualification to regret right now."

Chapter 6

Bi Luo took a jade bottle from her bosom and placed it carefully on the ground.

"This is Soul-Guiding Incense," she explained. "Combined with your essence blood, it can awaken the memories within the soul of samsara."

Chu Yang nodded, bit his finger, and a drop of fresh blood dripped into the jade bottle.

The Witch stood to the side, her hands clenched tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms.

Bi Luo began to chant an incantation, and the liquid in the jade bottle gradually began to glow. Chu Yang felt a wave of dizziness, and countless images appeared before his eyes.

He saw himself from six hundred years ago, the cultivator known as the Yin Yang Loose Cultivator. He saw his first meeting with the Witch, his acquaintance with Bi Luo, and the conspiracy of Daoist Wangchuan...

Memories flooded in like a tide, and Chu Yang clutched his head in pain.

"Chu Yang!" The Witch wanted to step forward but was blocked by Bi Luo.

"Don't disturb him," Bi Luo said. "This is a necessary process."

The Witch glared at Bi Luo. "If anything happens to him..."

"It won't," Bi Luo shook her head. "The soul of samsara will protect him."

Chu Yang's consciousness gradually blurred; he felt as though he were merging with his past life. Those memories, those emotions, those regrets...

Suddenly, he saw a scene: he was transferring half of the soul of samsara to the Witch, watching her pained expression, hearing her heart-rending cries...

"No!" Chu Yang opened his eyes abruptly.

Bi Luo and the Witch both looked at him simultaneously.

"You... remember?" the Witch asked cautiously.

Chu Yang nodded, a complex look flashing in his eyes. "I remember everything."

Bi Luo smiled. "That's wonderful. Do you understand now?"

"Understand what?"

"Understand the importance of the soul of samsara," Bi Luo said, "and understand Master's painstaking efforts."

Chu Yang sneered. "Painstaking efforts? To resurrect a lover, one must sacrifice others—is this his painstaking effort?"

Bi Luo's expression changed. "Chu Yang, you..."

"I what?" Chu Yang stood up. "I finally understand why you are all fighting over the soul of samsara. Because it can not only resurrect the dead but also change fate."

The Witch looked at him warily. "Chu Yang, calm down."

"I am very calm," Chu Yang said. "Calmer than ever."

He looked at Bi Luo. "You should go. Tell Daoist Wangchuan that I will not hand over the soul of samsara."

Bi Luo wanted to say something more, but was interrupted by Chu Yang. "Don't say anything else; I don't want to hear it."

Bi Luo sighed and turned to leave.

The Witch looked at Chu Yang. "You... really remember everything?"

Chu Yang nodded. "I remember everything, including our agreement."

A flicker of surprise flashed in the Witch's eyes. "Then..."

"But I cannot fulfill the agreement yet," Chu Yang said, "because there is something more important to do."

"What thing?"

Chu Yang looked into the distance. "End all of this."

Chapter 7

"End?" the Witch was puzzled. "What do you mean?"

Chu Yang did not answer but asked, "Do you know what the most powerful ability of the soul of samsara is?"

The Witch shook her head.

"It is rebirth," Chu Yang said. "True rebirth is not simple resurrection, but letting everything start over."

The Witch's expression changed drastically. "What are you trying to do?"

Chu Yang smiled. "I want everyone to find release."

"No!" the Witch grabbed his arm. "Are you crazy? If you do that, you will..."

"Disappear?" Chu Yang shook his head. "No, I won't. I will just... exist in a different way."

The Witch's eyes filled with tears. "You promised me that you would be with me..."

"I know," Chu Yang gently wiped away her tears, "but some things must be done by someone."

The Witch wanted to say more, but suddenly felt a wave of dizziness. She discovered with surprise that her curse was weakening.

"You..." she looked at Chu Yang in disbelief.

Chu Yang nodded. "I have shared the power of the soul of samsara with you, so you can be rid of the curse."