A Bite of Douluo Continent

It was a vast lake nestled among mountains, its golden and silver waters appearing exceptionally mystical.

At the very center of the lake, another golden circle, like the sun, radiates a rich golden light. Beside it, a crescent-shaped silver moon reflects its light, and the two colors spread outwards, climbing up the mountains and extending into the distance.

Drawn by the golden and silver light, Qi Han slowly approached the lake surface and headed towards the center of the lake. From the sun and moon in the center of the lake, golden and silver light burst forth, slowly weaving in mid-air to form a cocoon of light that completely enveloped him. Then, Qi Han felt his body continue to fall, as if he had already fallen into the lake water.

After a moment of dizziness, he seemed to have entered a transparent world, where everything around him seemed to be made of gold and silver crystal. At this moment, he was still standing in the cocoon of light, but on a platform.

"The universe questions love, a true adventure begins."

A voice that could not be distinguished as male or female suddenly appeared in Qi Han's ears, and then the cocoon of light that enveloped him slowly shattered.

Sure enough, this is the Valley of Love and Destiny.

Hearing this voice, Qi Han was finally certain of this.

He breathed a slight sigh of relief, letting a golden light from the platform envelop him, suspending his body in mid-air.

So focused on verifying the authenticity of the Valley of Love and Destiny, he didn't notice that the voice that uttered those words wasn't as calm and emotionless as in the original story, but rather carried a strange undertone.

Next, you'll probably have to ask yourself if you have a partner. Just answer honestly and you shouldn't have any problems.

Qi Han steadied himself and focused his attention.

"Do you have a lover?" The voice from before rang out again, asking the question he had expected.

After pausing for two seconds to organize his thoughts, Qi Han carefully began, "In my hometown, 'lover' refers to a couple who have established a relationship or a married couple. If that's what you're asking about, then I don't have one."

Yes, I don't have a lover. Are you going to let me go now?

Qi Han had a mysterious confidence on his face.

Seemingly surprised by Qi Han's question, the owner of the voice quickly asked again, "In that case, let me ask you another question. Do you have someone you like?"

Qi Han: "...Yes."

If that's what you're asking, then I can't say no.

"How many are there?" the voice asked again.

Qi Han: "???"

You're insane!

After asking if someone has a question, shouldn't you ask who they are?

How many Gu Hongs are there?

He suddenly felt that this Qiankun Wenqing Valley was somewhat different from the one in the original story, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Qi Han felt somewhat helpless. Although the other party's question was absurd, since they had asked, he had to answer honestly according to the rules of Qiankun Wenqing Valley.

This time he remained silent for a longer time than before, and after a long while he finally spoke with some difficulty, "I don't know if it's one or two."

The person he liked was naturally Yu Lianxin.

But this affection initially stemmed from the fact that Yu Lianxin looked very much like his ex-girlfriend from his previous life.

There are countless reasons why you might fall in love with someone. It could be that you think they are very beautiful at a certain moment, that you discover they are kind-hearted by chance, that you think they have a really nice smile, or it could simply be lust at first sight.

But the reason he fell in love with Yu Lianxin was clearly the worst of the worst.

This meant that for a long time he could only approach the other person intentionally or unintentionally, without daring to reveal anything.

As the two have known each other for so long, their relationship has gradually evolved from that of a diner and a chef to one where they can chat and laugh like friends. Qi Han has also gained a deeper understanding of Yu Lianxin.

He learned that she had a beautiful smile, that her greatest hobby was eating, and that beneath her cool exterior lay a somewhat goofy and eccentric woman.

He had more reasons to like her, and these reasons had long since surpassed the initial, somewhat ridiculous reason in his heart.

So now he can say without hesitation that he likes Yu Lianxin.

Conversely, every time he sees Yu Lianxin's face, which is strikingly similar to that of his former lover, those memories he had long forgotten are stirred up again, plunging him into another kind of hesitation and confusion.

He couldn't be sure if this stirring of memories meant that there was still a trace of his former lover in his heart.

Therefore, when faced with the question from Qiankun Wenqing Valley, Qi Han's final answer was: I don't know if it's one or two.

"Who is the one you can be sure of?"

"Yu Lianxin." This time, Qi Han answered without the slightest hesitation.

"Is it her?" the voice asked again, and at the same time a somewhat illusory figure appeared in front of Qi Han, which was Yu Lianxin.

"Yes," Qi Han replied quickly.

The speaker paused for a moment, seemingly considering how to ask the next question, before speaking again, "Does she like you?"

"This..." Qi Han was both amused and exasperated, "Does liking my cooking count?"

Although Yu Lianxin's interactions with him are now like those of friends, there seems to be no behavior that goes beyond friendship.

This is also what makes Qi Han quite helpless. If the other party had shown even the slightest bit of affection for him, he would have already made a move.

"You like her, but you're not sure if she likes you back. Are you still willing to make sacrifices for her?" the voice asked again, its tone becoming more serious.

Slightly taken aback, Qi Han didn't directly say he was willing, but instead asked, "What do you need to give in return?"

"Would you be willing to give up all your money?"

After thinking for a while, Qi Han shook his head. "Your question is wrong. Any sacrifice has to have a basic premise. You have to tell me why I should give up all my money. Just because Yu Lianxin said something, do you think I should make such a sacrifice? I believe she would not make such a request."

"That makes a lot of sense." The voice paused slightly. "Then let me rephrase my question: If Yu Lianxin's life were in danger, and you were willing to give up all your money to save her, would you be willing?"

"I'm willing." Qi Han nodded without hesitation.

With Qi Han's culinary skills, making money is not difficult. Money can be earned again. If losing money can save someone's life, he will not hesitate at all.

"What if you have to pay with your life's money?" The question did not end there.

"This..." Qi Han's expression changed.

It wasn't that the question was difficult to answer, but rather that he hadn't expected the other party to be able to detect that he possessed the "Gold of Life."

Although surprised, Qi Han thought for a moment and then nodded, "I'm willing."

The Gold of Life is priceless, but in his hands it can only be used to nourish the body and accelerate healing when injured, which is a waste. Even if he were to use it to save Yu Lianxin's life, he would not hesitate.

After all, it has already fulfilled its greatest mission after the upgrade of the Ruyi system.

"What if... you have to give your life to save hers?" The questions continued, becoming increasingly pointed.

Qi Han's expression became conflicted, and after a long while, he shook his head, "I don't want to."

"Why?" The owner of the voice was extremely puzzled by Qi Han's completely different reaction from before, so much so that his tone changed.

“If her life is in danger, I will do everything in my power to save her, but my feelings for her are not enough to warrant sacrificing my life,” Qi Han sighed. “I’m afraid I can’t bring myself to do it.”

"So if only one of you and her could live right now, would you choose to live?" the voice asked again.

"Your question..." Qi Han smiled wryly for a moment, then shook his head, "Then I would definitely choose her to live."

"Is this different from the question we just had? Why is your answer completely different?" The voice was even more puzzled.

“Of course there is a difference.” Qi Han’s expression became more serious. “Respecting one’s own life and being afraid of death are two different things. Your last question asked me to give up my life to save her, but this time you want me to sacrifice her to live. Although the result is the same, the nature of the two is completely different.”

"I'm the one who wandered into this place by mistake, so why should she bear the consequences for me?"

"I understand." After a long silence, the voice spoke again, "Then, why are you unsure about that one person?"

“Because…” Qi Han paused, “She was my former lover, and she looks a lot like Yu Lianxin. In fact, my initial attraction to Yu Lianxin stemmed from that. So I’m not sure if I still have feelings for her.”

"Although you can't see your own heart clearly, you're very honest." There seemed to be a hint of amusement in the voice. "She's not in this world, is she?"

Upon hearing the second half of the sentence, Qi Han's eyes widened suddenly.

The voice wasn't saying she wasn't here, but rather that she wasn't in this world.

Did the other party find out that he/she came from Earth?

"Yes." The thought that his biggest secret had been revealed to the other party made Qi Han feel a slight chill down his spine, but he still managed to answer.

"If you were to bring her into this world now and start over with her, would you be willing?" The voice didn't show much emotion despite Qi Han's transmigrator identity, as if it already knew.

"I don't want to." Qi Han shook his head. "It's the same reason: they're doing just fine now, why should they be affected because I wandered into this place?"

"If you were asked to go back to your original world to find her, would you be willing?" After hearing Qi Han's answer, the question changed again.

Qi Han had to admit that he felt a slight flutter in his heart the instant he heard those words.

It's not because I can go find her, but because I can return to my original world.

Blue Star is his true home. Although he has lived here for a year, he still feels unable to fully integrate into it.

But looking at the image of Yu Lianxin that was still appearing before him, Qi Han smiled slightly, "I don't want to."

It's good to stay in this world where she is.

"Although willing to give to the other person in the relationship, still remain rational; although there is selfishness in the relationship, there is enough responsibility; although one cannot see one's own heart clearly, one is very honest..." The voice paused slightly, "First test of sincerity, passed."

"Adventure Level Two, Begins!"

(P.S.: I know many people will have opinions about this chapter. My advice is: read less toxic relationship advice and establish a correct view of love.)

Chapter 540: Players Pay the Price for Game Problems? (Part 2)

In a small clearing deep in a dense forest, a dozen or so temporary tents were neatly set up. There was no light inside the tents; their outlines could only be vaguely seen in the moonlight. In the quiet night, the chirping of insects was sparse, and one would not notice any signs of human activity unless one came nearby.

Soul beasts have long since overcome their instinct to fear fire. In the Soul Beast Forest at night, any light will attract the ferocious soul beasts that hunt at night.

A soft rustling sound of footsteps quietly blended into the night, and soon, faint voices could be heard in the darkness.

"Junior Brother Mo Qi, Xi Xi, you two go and rest. I'll take over the night watch."

"Huh? Senior Sister, why are you awake? There are still several hours before your shift change!"

"It's alright, I just couldn't sleep. You guys go and rest, I'll take care of things here."

"Alright then, if Senior Sister gets sleepy, just call us to take turns."

"Okay, you two go into the tent."

"Uh-huh!"

After the two junior students on night watch entered the tent, leaving her alone in the open space, Yu Lianxin sighed softly, hugged her knees, sat on a stone platform in the open space, and looked up at the moon in the sky in a daze.