Myth Beyond Heaven

Situ Lan listened intently as Tong Qi recounted the details. A frown creased her brow upon hearing the full story.

While Yun Lintian could be frivolous and overly eager at times, she wouldn't classify him as entirely bad. In fact, she harbored a secret suspicion – someone had deliberately orchestrated the events that led to his transgression.

Now, with his memory gone, the situation became far more complex. It wasn't just his reputation that was tarnished; it cast a shadow on her own as well.

As for revenge from the Yun Clan, it held no fear for Situ Lan. Her lineage was no less prestigious, capable of eclipsing the Yun Clan's power with a mere gesture. Yet, resorting to such influence held no appeal for her.

"The Chen Clan must be ecstatic," Tong Qi remarked, her lips twisting into a cynical curl.

She wasn't naive. Chen Zitao's cruelty was evident – his attack intended to cripple Yun Lintian permanently. Without outside intervention, amnesia wouldn't have been his sole consequence.

Situ Lan contemplated for a moment, then spoke in a voice laced with a hint of hidden motive. "Prepare a gift, Tong Qi. I'll pay Yun Lintian a visit tomorrow."

Tong Qi's eyes widened in surprise. "But Miss," she stammered, "why would you want to see him in this state?"

Situ Lan offered a tight smile, her eyes gleaming with an unreadable emotion. "There's more to this situation than meets the eye, Tong Qi. Just do as I instruct."

Tong Qi, bewildered by her mistress's cryptic words, could only nod reluctantly before departing.

Left alone, Situ Lan resumed combing her hair, a whisper escaping her lips that sent shivers down Tong Qi's spine if she had heard it. "Forgive me, Yun Lintian, but I have to utilize every advantage before the inevitable end."

***

Oblivious to the machinations swirling around him, Yun Lintian gazed out at the endless sea of clouds, his mind adrift in a sea of uncertainty. Was this a fantastical dream, or a harsh new reality? Regardless, he was here now, and survival was paramount.

A pang of longing echoed through him as he murmured the names of those dearest to his heart – Yaoyao, Qianxue, Qingxuan, Bingling, Linlin, Qingqing... their well-being gnawed at him. Surely, Senior Lan and Senior Li had managed to evacuate everyone from the perilous God Tomb?

The events surrounding his "death" remained shrouded in a veil of mystery. Had they escaped unscathed? The helplessness gnawed at him.

"Heh." With a wry chuckle, Yun Lintian touched the lingering ache in his chest, the phantom pain of the ice spear's brutal intrusion.

"Yun Lintian ah, Yun Lintian," he chided himself, the hint of bitterness laced with a touch of self-mockery, "a lifetime of cautious maneuvering undone by a single ambush. How ironic."

"That sneaky woman!" Yun Lintian's jaw clenched as a surge of anger flared within him. This Mo Lianxing – a complete unknown who'd initially presented as an ally, had managed to catch him completely off guard.

"Don't let me go back. I will make you pay for this," he growled, a low rumble emanating from his chest. It was the only thing he could do at the moment.

"Tian'er."

A voice rasped, trembling with a raw emotion that sent shivers down Yun Lintian's spine. He whipped around to find a figure standing before him, their features bearing an uncanny resemblance to his own father.

He studied the man calmly without saying anything.

Yun Wuhan's heart clenched in his chest, a physical manifestation of the anguish etched on his face. This son, his only son, stared back at him with the chilling indifference of a stranger. It was a torture far worse than any physical wound – to be rendered invisible to your own child.

Yun Wuhan forced a deep breath, willing the storm of emotions within him to subside. "May I examine you, Tian'er?" he rasped, his voice heavy with a mixture of hope and trepidation.

Sure," Yun Lintian agreed with a gentle nod, extending his hand. Despite knowing the man wasn't his real father, Yun Lintian felt a curious sense of security emanating from him.

Moreover, Yun Wuhan's current power wouldn't be able to pierce the veil of his secret. Yun Lintian had no problem letting him check.

Yun Wuhan grasped his son's wrist, his eyes flickering with surprise. He knew the severity of Yun Lintian's injuries – they should have taken far longer to heal, even with the best medicine at his disposal.

A frown creased Yun Wuhan's brow. What miraculous turn of events had brought about such a swift recovery?

Yun Lintian, meanwhile, found himself staring at the man with a strange pang of nostalgia. A yearning, a wish for a connection he couldn't quite grasp, washed over him. How he longed to see his own father again, if only for a moment.

Yun Wuhan released his son's wrist, a flicker of worry lingering in his eyes. "It's good to see you recovered, Tian'er. Though your memory remains elusive, perhaps this is a blessing in disguise. Take this time to rest and recuperate. Leave everything else to me."

Yun Lintian studied Yun Wuhan with a curious gaze. "Is something troubling you, Father?"

The word "Father" sent a tremor through Yun Wuhan. A faint smile tugged at his lips. "Just a minor matter," he brushed it off. "Nothing you need to concern yourself with."

Placing a hand on each of Yun Lintian's shoulders, Yun Wuhan offered a relieved smile. "Your recovery eases a heavy burden from my heart. Your mother… well, I wouldn't know how to explain it to her otherwise."

"Mother?" Yun Lintian echoed, surprised. The concept of a mother in this life felt alien to him.

Yun Wuhan's smile faltered slightly. "Ah, I forget you have no recollection. Your mother left when you were young. A cultivator from the prestigious Misty Cloud Palace, she was forbidden from love. We met during an expedition, forging a bond through countless trials."

His voice softened with a touch of melancholy. "After giving birth to you, she chose to return and face her punishment, vowing to return in a thousand years. Now, with nearly a millennium having passed, her return should be imminent."

Yun Lintian's surprise deepened at the mention of the Misty Cloud Palace. It mirrored the name of his own sect back in the Azure World. Surely, it couldn't be a mere coincidence?

"What is her name?" he blurted out, the question laced with a subconscious curiosity.

Yun Wuhan's smile widened. "An interesting coincidence, wouldn't you say? Her surname is Yun as well. Her name... is Wushuang."

The revelation struck Yun Lintian like a bolt of lightning. Yun Wushuang? Wasn't that the Misty Cloud Palace's founder?