Chapter 733 - 393: Response (2)

Although his power was restricted, Pan Shi was still formidable thanks to his physical strength.

Both of them could see that Yang An was weighed down by heavy thoughts, so they didn’t call out to him again, simply following silently behind.

Soon, Yang An walked out of the residential complex and onto the street, where he stopped.

This was his second time entering this place. The first time, he hadn’t ventured out of the complex. Looking into the distance, he saw many old, dilapidated buildings and the ruins of collapsed houses.

He had once assumed this was merely an Illusion Realm, so he hadn’t given it much thought.

Now, it seemed the entire area was quite old. A large, painted character for "Demolish" had been put up on the outer wall of the old complex.

Down the street, he could see many cars driving by. A green traffic light was counting down, waiting to switch to red.

Farther away was a rather conspicuous hotel. Though a bit dated, he could still see plenty of people entering and leaving.

At a glance, there were quite a few people around. The place was filled with the bustle of everyday life—ordinary and unremarkable.

But it was precisely this ordinariness that gradually moved Yang An. As he felt this long-lost tranquility, his breathing grew ragged.

This was a kind of peace that could never be found in the Origin Realm.

Pan Shi and Pan Yu, trailing behind Yang An, looked in the same direction and saw the same sights.

This place was so mundane. The streets were filled with nothing but ordinary mortals, ordinary vehicles, and the ordinary comings and goings of people.

They didn’t know what Yang An planned to do, but they too quietly absorbed the atmosphere.

After a moment, Yang An withdrew his gaze and began searching for something. He finally spotted a sign near a street corner that read "XX Road."

He didn’t recognize the name.

Then he saw a shop selling steamed buns for breakfast, with a sign that read "XX District Branch." That started to look a little familiar.

Then, remembering something, he looked at the license plates of the passing cars. He saw that most of them had the character "Chuan" and finally knew where he was.

This wasn’t where he had lived before transmigrating to the Origin Realm, nor was it his hometown, but he felt a natural sense of kinship with the place.

Yang An said nothing. He began to walk, heading toward the bustling crowd, with Pan Shi and Pan Yu following silently behind him.

He walked into the crowd, wanting to stop someone, wanting to hear the name of this place spoken from their own lips.

Unfortunately, no one paid him any mind.

Whether it was Yang An or the duo of Pan Yu and Pan Shi, the three of them were like air, completely ignored by everyone.

"Fellow Daoist Yang... everything outside the room is an illusion."

Pan Yu couldn’t resist offering the reminder, but the words only made her feel lost all over again.

Yang An’s hand passed right through a pedestrian’s shoulder, and he let out a long sigh.

"Fellow Daoist Pan Yu, Fellow Daoist Pan Shi, what do you think of this world compared to the Origin Realm?"

Yang An’s voice was gentle, putting no pressure on the two of them. It was like an ordinary question one might ask a friend.

"If the Origin Realm could be as peaceful as this place, free from natural disasters, and if its people were like the ones here..."

Pan Yu didn’t finish her sentence, but Yang An could hear the yearning in her tone.

"The people here are not Cultivators. They are all ordinary mortals, but they seem happier than we are."

Although Pan Shi was slow to react, his words were heartfelt and genuine. He spoke what was truly on his mind.

"Yes."

Yang An nodded in agreement, but then he sighed.

"The beauty of this place is something that will never exist in the Origin Realm. But if that’s the case, why turn this place into another Origin Realm?

Why let those maggots ruin all this beauty? Do you think they’re worthy?"

"Fellow Daoist Yang..."

Pan Yu and Pan Shi were left speechless. They had their own answers in their hearts, but they didn’t dare—and couldn’t—voice them in response to Yang An’s question.

They were wavering. It wasn’t just their mission that was shaken, but also a growing confusion about the destiny that had already been arranged for them.

’In the end, what does the fate of this world have to do with us.’

’We are from the Origin Realm. If the Origin Realm collapses, anyone would want to keep living, not just turn to dust along with it.’

’If it means sacrificing another world to survive, if we can just live, if we can become stronger, then it’s all worth it. It’s no big deal.’

And yet, this wasn’t what they wanted to do.

This was what the one who had raised them, helped them cultivate, and guided their growth—a figure like a teacher and parent to them—wanted them to do.

So the two of them could offer no answer. Because, it seemed, they had no other choice.

"I know it’s hard for you two to defy your master’s orders. I am in the same position. So, I will help you."

The two couldn’t answer, but Yang An gave an answer of his own.

His reply surprised and astonished Pan Yu and Pan Shi, as it seemed to contradict what he had said just a moment before.

’But this is all we can do, isn’t it?’

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Yang."

After a long silence, Pan Yu and Pan Shi could only nod, but they exchanged a look, speechless.

Of course, Yang An was going to help them. But he was helping Pan Yu and Pan Shi, and he was helping himself—not the likes of Old Life Crane and the Can Meng Daoist.

’I understand now. I know why I transmigrated to the Origin Realm, and I know what my mission is.’

’I want to go home, back to this peaceful place. To hell with the Origin Realm! Let it collapse. It’d be for the best if everyone there died. I never had any desire to save the world in the first place, but I can’t go back.’

’Just like how these pedestrians ignore me, I’m already in another world. Even though it’s right before my eyes, I don’t exist here.’

’There’s only one way back: turn this illusion into reality. But before that, I must protect this place at all costs. I have to stop all the eyes that are spying on this world from the darkness.’

’Those maggots have no right to defile this world. They are not worthy!’

’Using this world as a sacrifice to create a new Origin Realm and extend their own lives? They can forget about it!’

Yang An’s gaze turned to the sky. The weather wasn’t good today. There was no sun, only thick layers of clouds, and he could see nothing in the heavens.

’I understand what you mean. You sent me there, gave me a second life, and gave me the resources to grow, all in the hope that I would help you, save this world, and stop them.’

’I promise you I will. But I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it for myself, and for them.’

In his mind, Yang An seemed to be addressing a formless existence in the heavens, but his eyes were on the surrounding pedestrians, who remained completely oblivious.

He received no response. There was no profound, mysterious connection. The so-called Celestial Dao that the Can Meng Daoist spoke of seemed not to exist at all.

But it didn’t matter. From the moment he learned the truth, he knew this was something he was bound to do.

Even if he had never transmigrated to the Origin Realm and never had this experience, if the place where he grew up was facing danger, many people like him would have stepped up to the duty without hesitation.

Since he was now the one with the best chance of accomplishing this, there was no reason to shrink back. He was willing to stand on the front line.

"Let’s go. We’re heading back."

Yang An turned and spoke calmly to Pan Yu and Pan Shi, his tone betraying no hint of joy or sorrow.

The two of them nodded, accepting this reality. No matter what, they had to face what was coming.

But just as Yang An had taken no more than two steps, a somewhat childish voice suddenly came from nearby. In this world where he felt like he didn’t belong, the sound suddenly reached his ears.

"Thank you."

Just two simple words, yet they sounded incredibly clear. Yang An stopped abruptly and turned to look.

He saw a little girl of about seven or eight who seemed to have fallen. A little boy of about the same age was helping her up. The girl was thanking him gratefully. The two children looked at each other, their faces breaking into innocent smiles.

Seeing this, the corners of Yang An’s mouth lifted, and he too broke into a smile.