Ye Wanlan’s footsteps suddenly paused, a rare look of incredulity appeared in her eyes.
She had never expected that the mysterious voice that called her earlier was actually the Penglai Elder!
However, at this moment, the Penglai Elder was neither in a living state nor a spirit.
He was more like a remnant thought left in the world, just like Great Ancestor Ning whom she had seen on the Phoenix Origin Pagoda.
When the obsession dissipates, the remnant thought also disappears.
"Senior—" Ye Wanlan clasped her hands in salute, respectfully bowing to the Penglai Elder before softly asking, "How did you recognize me?"
The Penglai Elder smiled, "Her Royal Highness the Princess has a unique soul, it would be strange if I couldn’t recognize it."
Ye Wanlan was slightly startled.
"There is a term in Buddhism called ’Merit Golden Body.’ " The Penglai Elder clasped his hands together, "Once one’s merits are complete, they can cultivate a Golden Body. Of course, this only exists in books, but there is one point that truly exists."
"When there is much merit, the soul will have a golden color?" Ye Wanlan asked, "Is that how you recognized me, Senior?"
"Her Royal Highness the Princess is indeed wise." The Penglai Elder laughed heartily, "In that lifetime, though you lived only seventeen years, there will still be people who remember your name centuries, even millennia later."
During her time as Princess Yongning, she improved the soil, concocted antidotes, claimed victory from a thousand miles away, and saved the frontier people from disaster...
Each event seemed small but had great impact.
Not only affecting millions at the time but also future generations for hundreds of generations.
For every person saved, the merit increased by one.
Such merit was exceedingly rare indeed.
"Senior says I have deep merit, I do not deny it." Ye Wanlan smiled faintly, "But you say I will be protected by Heavenly Dao, I do not see it so, in my second life, I only lived to twenty-four."
This time it was the Penglai Elder who was shocked: "Only twenty-four years old?"
"But in those twenty-four years, I learned many things too." Ye Wanlan smiled, "Yet the Heavenly Dao is still the Heavenly Dao, if heaven has sentiment, heaven would also age."
"Alas..." The Penglai Elder sighed long and hard, "I did not expect that Her Royal Highness the Princess would also die young in another world, it is truly the heavens envying talents!"
Ye Wanlan’s expression was calm, she did not speak.
"Time is short, Her Royal Highness the Princess, please listen to me." The Penglai Elder’s expression grew slightly solemn, "After you left, Your Majesty and Lord Prince Yan tried several times to summon back your soul, but they were powerless."
Ye Wanlan’s eyes darkened, she nodded slightly.
She had seen all this in the images of the past.
"That day, Lord Prince Yan left a drop of both his and Your Majesty’s heart’s blood." The Penglai Elder slowly explained, "I too was wondering where Her Royal Highness the Princess’s soul had gone. Over the next few years, using heart’s blood as a medium, I finally tracked down where Her Royal Highness the Princess had gone."
Ye Wanlan was greatly moved by this revelation.
At the level of the Penglai Elder, one could already see their own end.
"I already knew, Her Royal Highness the Princess would certainly return to Shenzhou, but I did not know when." The Penglai Elder smiled, "After I told this to Your Highness Prince Yan, he asked me to give you a letter and the Shadow Trailing Sword."
"The Shadow Trailing Sword?" Ye Wanlan’s eyebrows twitched, "Was the Shadow Trailing Sword taken by Prince Brother?"
The Shadow Trailing Sword was a twin sword tailor-made for her by her master, the former Sword Saint Xie Leyou.
Though she couldn’t cultivate inner strength, the Dragging Shadow Twin Swords combined with her Qinggong still held considerable offensive power.
But this point was known to almost no one.
Because whenever she was pursued and trapped in a desperate situation, He Jia would always timely block in front of her.
Xie Leyou taught her swordsmanship to strengthen her body and was also her benevolent teacher.
Ye Wanlan indeed did not know what happened after her death, she had also gone to several places according to memories to search for the Dragging Shadow Twin Swords, but to no avail.
Unexpectedly, it was given to the Penglai Elder by He Jia in advance.
"Lord Prince Yan said he was afraid such an important weapon would fall into the hands of thieves." The Penglai Elder continued, "So it must be sealed, no one but Her Royal Highness the Princess could wield it."
He Jia did not know when Princess Yongning would return to Shenzhou.
While he was there, he could protect her, ensure her things were safe.
But if he were not there, how would things stand a hundred years later?
Ye Wanlan blinked, and there were again glistening tears on her lashes. She smiled, "Prince Brother always thinks too much for me."
"Her Royal Highness the Princess and Lord Prince Yan’s friendship, the old fellow admires greatly." The Penglai Elder couldn’t help but sigh, "Lord Prince Yan also asked me to tell you—"
At this moment, the Penglai Elder’s face changed, turning little by little into a young man.
Sword brows, starry eyes, deep-set features, thin and cool lips, sharp gaze.
Ye Wanlan’s heart suddenly tightened.
Such a familiar face, how could she not recognize it?
This face was He Jia’s, the voice was too.
"Xiao Lan, brother doesn’t want you to bear the responsibility of the imperial family in the next life. If possible, brother hopes you live happily as yourself, a plain and ordinary life would also be great."
This long-lost word pulled Ye Wanlan back into memories.
During the time they drifted outside the palace, they went incognito, traveling around, she always called He Jia brother.
When they returned to the palace, they each performed their duties, she addressed him as Prince Brother.
"But I fear... brother’s wish is difficult to realize. Xiao Lan, you are destined to be extraordinary, father once said your future is destined to be solitary, for there can be only one strongest."
"Brother thinks, even in another world, you are a strong one, how could you hide your brilliance? Then, do as you wish in your heart."
Ye Wanlan gazed blankly at this face.
Even though it was an illusion, she felt the surge of emotion from her blood.
He Jia understood her, yet he felt heartache for her.
"Whatever you do, it is right, do not be troubled by the past, your life must always look forward, perhaps one day, brother will meet you again."
"At that time, brother will surely be proud of you."
The voice ended, the face in front of Ye Wanlan began to blur, then turned into countless specks of light, like stars.
Ye Wanlan abruptly looked up, tears fell down her face again, "Prince Brother, no!"
She reached out to grasp, but caught nothing, touching only a ball of air.
"Time’s up, Her Royal Highness the Princess!" The Penglai Elder’s voice rang again in the light, "The Shadow Trailing Sword is on the mountaintop, your blood can activate the formation to retrieve the weapon—"
"Future may hold great calamities, I am no longer able to foresee, the Shenzhou Land Continent, I entrust to you!"