The sun and moon are both wrong; who made him seek the Dharma

1906 AD.

The Third Dharma Palace of the Three Truths.

A doll lay quietly on a bamboo couch.

The doll was exquisitely crafted, its surface coated with skin-colored paint, making it almost indistinguishable from a real person from a distance.

However, upon closer inspection, one can discover that the doll's chest cavity is covered with densely packed runes, with a faint flow of magical power within.

A soul slowly awakens.

Zhao Yan opened his eyes blankly, his vision gradually becoming clear.

The room that came into view was an unfamiliar one, simple, clean, and sunny.

Where am I?

He muttered to himself, the voice coming from the doll's mouth.

I think I just saw my senior sister?

In my mind, those blurry fragments of memory still flicker: white robes, a usually aloof face, a faint smile, and a warm embrace.

Was it a dream?

still is……

Before I could even take a good look around, a voice that was all too familiar came from beside me.

"Oh, you're awake?"

The voice carried its usual flippancy and irreverence, like a casual greeting exchanged between old friends who bumped into each other at a teahouse.

Zhao Yan turned his head blankly.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, drawing a bright band of light on the floor.

A figure stood in the band of light, his bright yellow robes gleaming warmly in the sunlight, and the familiar figure was waving casually at him.

Zhao Yan was stunned for a moment.

Then, he stared in disbelief, his voice trembling:

"Jiang Mingzi?"

His mind went completely blank for a moment.

Zhao Yan stared wide-eyed at the bright yellow figure:

"You were captured by that demon too?"

Jiang Mingzi: ?

His smile froze for a moment, then he retorted righteously:

"What demon? That's my little grand-disciple's innate divine power!"

Jiang Mingzi looked at Zhao Yan now.

No, looking at the puppet that Zhao Yan was inhabiting, he clicked his tongue in amazement, circled the bamboo bed twice, his eyes full of curiosity and satisfaction:

"I didn't believe him when that kid called me over."

"It wasn't until I came over and took a look that I realized it was actually true."

He gestured with his chin and pointed to Zhao Yan's torso:

"Quickly try out the body I've prepared for you, how is it?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yan was taken aback.

He lowered his head and looked at his hands.

Only then did he realize that he was inside a doll.

Every joint of the doll moves freely, and every inch of its "skin" conveys a realistic tactile sensation; you can even feel the warmth of the sunlight and the coolness of the breeze.

"I remember I wasn't ultimately killed by that demon..."

Zhao Yan lowered his voice.

Then, I was embraced by my senior sister.

And then, here it is.

Zhao Yan raised his head and glanced at the simple house.

Finally, his gaze fell on Jiang Mingzi.

The Jiang Mingzi before me is not quite the same as the one I remember.

His figure was somewhat ethereal, as if he were separated from the world by a thin curtain of water. Sunlight could penetrate his body directly, casting a faint halo on the ground.

"Where is this? And how did you get here?"

Zhao Yan's voice was much calmer, but the doubt and wariness in his eyes remained.

Jiang Mingzi's lips curled into a smile as he stood with his hands behind his back, his bright yellow robes fluttering even without wind.

"This is the Third Dharma Palace of the Three Truths."

He paused, then pointed to his chest with his finger:

I'm not actually here.

My physical body is still in the past, a thousand years ago, while my primordial spirit has traveled to the future, a thousand years later.

Jiang Mingzi's smile held a hint of smugness:

"This is my destined god, Akiko Tsukishiro!"

Zhao Yan suddenly realized, the doubt in his eyes dissipated, and was replaced by a complex feeling:

"No wonder I've never seen you use your innate supernatural power."

Jiang Mingzi stood with his hands on his hips, chin slightly raised, looking quite smug, like a proud rooster.

Then he changed the subject, looking at Zhao Yan with a smile:

"You two have now fallen into the hands of this immortal lord once again."

"Little Nirvana Corpse, do you have anything else to say?!"

Zhao Yan's face stiffened.

This guy is still the same after a thousand years.

Seeing his discomfitured expression, Jiang Mingzi couldn't hold back any longer and burst into laughter:

Just kidding, just kidding.

He stopped smiling, walked up to Zhao Yan, and bowed deeply with both hands clasped together.

"Welcome back, Brother Yan."

That "Brother Yan" was delivered so naturally and sincerely, as if we had traveled back a thousand years.

The two even stood side by side on the lecture platform of Wangchuan Academy, discussing the Dao and the Tao, full of vigor and high spirits.

Jiang Mingzi straightened up, her gaze falling on the doll in which Zhao Yan was residing.

“You are no longer Nirvana.”

Zhao Yan was taken aback.

It's not Nirvana anymore?

He looked down at his hands, which were not the bluish-gray corpse, nor the decaying shell.

It is "alive".

Zhao Yan felt a lump in his throat, and an indescribable emotion welled up in his heart.

Zhao Yan opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found that his throat felt like it was blocked by something, and he couldn't say a word.

Seeing his appearance, Jiang Mingzi didn't say much, but changed the subject, her tone becoming more casual:

"However, there's something I'd like to ask you for help with."

Zhao Yan calmed himself down and frowned:

"Aren't you able to travel back and forth between a thousand years in the past and present?"

"What is it that you need my help with?"

Jiang Mingzi sighed, his nonchalant expression softening and replaced by an unusual seriousness.

"I hope Brother Yan can help me teach the three disciples and their descendants who are now good for nothing."

Zhao Yan raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised: "Then why don't you do it yourself?"

Jiang Mingzi's expression immediately became extremely subtle, as if she had swallowed a live fly.

He rubbed his temples, looking rather troubled.

"Brother Yan, using this supernatural power will almost certainly result in punishment."

“Every time someone comes over and says a few words, I’m supposed to go back and get struck by lightning. Who can stand that?”

Zhao Yan found it quite amusing to see him complaining so bitterly.

"so"

Jiang Mingzi bowed deeply again, her tone solemn:

"I humbly request the Supreme Master of the Wangchuan Academy to discipline my descendants."

Zhao Yan sighed.

That sigh carried the weariness of a thousand years, yet also a hint of inexplicable relief.

He was silent for a moment, then asked softly:

Does the River of Oblivion still exist?

Jiang Mingzi's lips curled into a smile, his gaze intense:

"Why not?"