An Encounter with the Tsundere Immortal Lady Chapter 48

Time passed quickly. The ripples from the Grand Assembly had not yet subsided when, in the span of a sunrise and sunset, the next day arrived. Today, the Immortal Realm was to witness an even more significant ceremony.
Legend had it that if someone could break through the Immortal Lord realm to become the fabled Immortal Emperor, they would be the sovereign of the Immortal Realm, shouldering the greatest responsibility between heaven and earth.
But legends were, after all, just legends. In the eons of the Immortal Realm’s history, there had never been any clear records of an Immortal Emperor’s existence. The Immortal Emperor was, in the end, merely a figure of obscure, fragmented mentions in ancient records, a tale passed down through generations in the Immortal Realm.
Yet now, at the very moment the Immortal Realm most desperately needed one, an Immortal Emperor had truly been born into this world. The legend, once only a whispered rumor, had now materialized before everyone’s eyes.
The timing was too perfect. Many immortals gave thanks to the high heavens, saying that Immortal Emperor Siyin was, in truth, heaven-sent, for her emergence was exactly what the Immortal Realm, and indeed the entire world, needed most.
Few actually knew of these deeper undercurrents, but today, everyone, without exception, was sincerely celebrating and offering their blessings for this Emperor Conferment Ceremony.
This, of course, included Lin Wuxi.
Lin Wuxi blended into the crowd, still clad in her familiar green robes, though today a veil concealed her face. She suppressed her aura to the barest minimum, wanting only to silently watch her Senior Sister ascend to the pinnacle from amidst the throng.
She didn’t want to cause trouble for anyone, and most certainly not for her Senior Sister. That was why she chose to hide, to simply watch from the shadows as that person, radiant as a star, brought light and warmth to all.
The Emperor Conferment Ceremony was undeniably far more momentous than the previous day’s Grand Assembly. Throughout the Nine Heavens Immortal Palace, grand lanterns were hung and fine carpets were laid. All the defensive arrays within the Immortal Pavilion were activated, bathing the entire palace complex in a mystical, colorful glow in the dim light of dawn.
Yu Huang, adorned in magnificent ceremonial robes, looked as dazzling as a goddess under the resplendent attire. With graceful, measured steps, she walked under the reverent gaze of all immortals, treading upon the pristine carpet, moving steadily towards Qiankun Hall, the most exalted place in the Immortal Pavilion.
There, she would be formally proclaimed Immortal Emperor.
Many immortals were already stirring with emotion. Their eyes, fixed on the solitary figure on the carpet, burned with fervor and adoration. As the first cheer rose from the crowd, the powerful sentiment spread like wildfire, engulfing every immortal present. Deafening roars of acclamation erupted, threatening to shake the very heavens.
Beneath her veil, the corners of Lin Wuxi’s lips curved slightly upwards. Her Senior Sister had achieved what countless predecessors failed to do; of course, she felt proud. Even if she could no longer stand by her side, just being able to watch her ascend to the imperial throne, to see her command the Immortal Realm, to witness her seated at the highest point, governing all… that should be enough, shouldn’t it?
Lin Wuxi couldn’t quite articulate the sliver of uncertainty in her heart. What more could she possibly hope for? Her spiritual core was destroyed, she was plagued by inner demons, already struggling to manage her own affairs. Yet, she was so discontented, daring to harbor such improper desires for the most outstanding individual the Immortal Realm had ever seen. If anyone knew, she’d surely be scorned by every man, woman, and child in the Immortal Realm. But what did that matter? In truth, Lin Wuxi didn’t care in the slightest about their views. The only thing that made her hold back, the only reason she kept her distance from Senior Sister, was Senior Sister’s own stance.
Love, after all, was often a one-sided affair.
Besides, she had resolved long ago to change her own seemingly inevitable doom, to fight against that thing called ‘destiny’ that had always clung to her like a shadow, and even to defy the so-called Way of Heaven that all cultivators pursued.
Abandoned by her blood relatives since she was young, it was because of her that she had been pulled from a raging river, her life spared. Filled with gratitude and beautiful hopes for the future, she had barely managed to survive in awkward circumstances. But then, a disaster falling from the sky had mercilessly snatched away everything she held dear. What she had experienced then, that was something called ‘destiny’.
I was abandoned by fate, completely beyond my control. Wanting to live a good life with others always led to baseless ridicule and bullying from those around me. That massacre had no cause or reason. Everything was utterly beyond my control. My life was firmly grasped by a hand called destiny. I couldn’t protect what I cherished, only watch as it was snatched away by so-called destiny.
They say fate is decreed by heaven, that everything is heaven’s will. I don’t want to fight heaven; I just want to control my own destiny. I just don’t want to lose the things I cherish.
So, I exhausted my heart resisting the inner demon that wanted my life, desperately obtained the special token from the Wan Hen Sect, and meticulously planned to enter the Xuantian Secret Realm to get the Crimson Heart Lotus that could keep me alive.
But luckily, because of Senior Sister’s intentional concession, I obtained the most precious mutated Purple Lotus. Relying on the special abilities of the mutation, I finally temporarily escaped the shadow of death.
If it weren’t for Senior Sister, I would probably be dead by now. Being able to live this much longer, being able to meet Senior Sister, this is probably destiny’s only kindness to me.
I am an abandoned child of destiny, but Senior Sister is not. She is heaven’s favored one. The two of us should never have crossed paths.
In the crowd, Lin Wuxi kept smiling as she watched Yu Huang walk into the highest hall amidst the cheers of thousands. She smiled watching the real-time projection of the hall’s enthronement ceremony from the illusion formation. She smiled watching Senior Sister’s most beautiful moment as she received the title.
But why was I smiling? On that beautiful face beneath the magnificent crown, why wasn’t there the most joyous smile, the most triumphant expression? Why was there so much sorrow and reluctance in those dark eyes?
Separated by the illusion formation created by powerful immortals, Lin Wuxi felt that Senior Sister on the enthronement platform was looking at her. For no reason, Lin Wuxi just knew. That gaze pierced through the multiple formations in the Qiankun Hall, looking from within the illusion formation at her, who was submerged among thousands. That gaze from the enthronement platform, the center of attention, that gaze bathed in countless halos, yet it made my heart ache.
Why? Why was she so sorrowful? Why couldn’t I see the slightest smile on her face? Why did she, like this, make my heart ache? Lin Wuxi opened her mouth, wanting to ask these questions, but in an instant, she could no longer see the Immortal Emperor on the enthronement platform who exuded sorrow. It was as if everything she had just seen was merely a figment of her imagination. On the giant light screen created by the illusion formation, the woman on the enthronement platform shone with a light so dazzling it made people unable to open their eyes. That figure let everyone know she was the supreme Immortal Emperor of the entire Immortal Realm.
“Greetings, Immortal Emperor! May the Immortal Emperor live forever!” In just an instant, everyone knelt, piously saluting the newly born Immortal Emperor of the Immortal Realm.
The bustling crowd, moments before standing, had all knelt. In the vast square, only Lin Wuxi remained standing, exchanging a distant gaze with the figure in the still-playing illusion formation.
But why did that huge figure, almost occupying the entire sky, seem so unfamiliar? That gaze had the determination an Immortal Emperor should have, that aura had the majesty an Immortal Emperor should have, every action had the nobility an Immortal Emperor should have. But… was that Senior Sister? Why did Senior Sister change in an instant? Senior Sister was no longer Senior Sister; she was the Immortal Emperor of the entire Immortal Realm.
“Everyone, rise.” A calm, emotionless voice spread everywhere. And this sentence was the first spoken by the former Immortal Lord Si Yin in her capacity as Immortal Emperor.
“Yes.” The crowd grew boisterous again. At this moment, perhaps the atmosphere in the entire Immortal Realm was this fervent, but my heart was filled with countless doubts. I wanted to chase after her, to ask clearly what exactly was going on with all of this.
“Go. Return to your cultivation world. In short, don’t appear before me again. I don’t want to see you again.” A majestic and calm voice sounded in my ears. Immediately after, I sensed something extra in my storage bag. Before I could, or even wanted to, inspect it, I felt a flash before my eyes. I was no longer in the festively decorated palace square; I was back in the small grove where I first arrived in the Immortal Realm.
The last image in my memory was that resolute departing figure on the giant light screen.
Why was it like this? My heart was filled with too many unanswered questions, too much grievance, but I was stunned when I saw the Purple Lotus and an exquisite jade tablet in my storage bag.
The jade tablet was a magic artifact for passage from the Immortal Realm to the cultivation world. With it, Lin Wuxi could safely return to the cultivation world. But what stunned Lin Wuxi was not this, but the Purple Lotus gently swaying in her storage bag.
Senior Sister had given me the Purple Lotus again.
No matter how resolute her words had been, this Purple Lotus clearly let me feel Senior Sister’s care for me.
The Nine Heavens Immortal Palace would set up a drum in the square, willing to grant one condition from the Nine Heavens Immortal Palace in exchange for mutated treasures. From this, it was clear the Immortal Pavilion desperately needed these mutated treasures. If Senior Sister really disliked me as she said, why would she give me this extremely important Purple Lotus?
With the Purple Lotus, I wouldn’t die. By just activating the jade tablet Senior Sister gave me, I could return to the Wan Hen Sect. With the mutated treasure, my path of cultivation would surely be smooth. Once I returned to the cultivation world, I could continue to live a peaceful and stable life.
But how could I just return to the cultivation world like this? Not to mention the deadly oath I made in the undersea secret realm, and simply because Senior Sister is here, I couldn’t possibly return as Senior Sister wished.
I want to return to Senior Sister’s side immediately, but I can’t. There must be a reason why Senior Sister made me leave. If I find this reason and then return, Senior Sister will definitely see me. But… why is it? I really can’t think of a reason why Senior Sister would suddenly reject me so strongly.
Also, I clearly remember Senior Sister’s gaze on the enthronement platform. It held too many emotions, and that gaze made me uneasy. Senior Sister is now the Immortal Emperor; what in this world could still make her helpless?
In any case, I don’t want to see that kind of look in Senior Sister’s eyes again. I will find out everything and stay by Senior Sister’s side, whether Senior Sister wants me to or not.