Anji’s return surprised the shrine keeper. She did not think Anji would be back this quickly. However, the heavy expression quickly made her worry.
"What’s wrong? Is Lady Mang Yuan not well?" the shrine keeper hovered over to Anji. She noticed the lack of a gift bouquet. Anji must have t with the great snake spirit.
Anji thought about how best to break the news. It must be devastating for the followers who had dedicated their entire being to serving Lady Mang Yuan for so long that they have forgotten their identities.
"Lady Mang Yuan is well," Anji frowned. "However, she has given an impossible task."
Hearing how Lady Mang Yuan was doing well, the shrine keeper laughed and imdiately beca jovial again.
"Oh, you scared ! What kind of task did she give you? If it is sothing that we can help with, we will do our best!"
Anji wondered if the shrine keeper would soon co to regret her words. After all, Lady Mang Yuan’s last wish conflicted with her followers’ resolve.
"It’s not that simple," Anji explained. "Lady Mang Yuan is on the verge of transcending into a different being. However, sothing is preventing her from reaching greatness."
It was not a lie. Although Lady Mang Yuan was unable to beco a dragon like she wished for, becoming the guardian spirit bound to this mountain on which the Mystical Qilin Sect is established is also considered transcending into a greater being. An earth-bound deity was also an existence that was greater than a great snake spirit.
Hearing how the mistress they served was about to achieve greatness, the shrine keeper could not contain her excitent. Whatever Lady Mang Yuan wanted, what would they not do?
"What troubles our benevolent lady? If it is sothing we can do, we will do it without fail! All of us have waited so long for this day."
Anji knew the shrine keeper would co to eat her own words when she heard Lady Mang Yuan’s last request. However, she thought of a way to cushion the blow. It might be false hope, but white lies never hurt anyone.
"Lady Mang Yuan is unable to leave her past self behind to beco a greater being because she is very concerned about the followers she would be leaving behind who vowed to guard her sacred shrine," Anji carefully explained. "I know that everyone has been guarding this place for a very long ti. However, that promise has now been fulfilled. Lady Mang Yuan wants to thank everyone for believing in her all this ti. Her last request is for everyone to re-enter the cycle of reincarnation, and she will be praying for your souls."
Hearing how Lady Mang Yuan wanted them to leave their posts, the shrine keeper faltered. That was certainly a shocking request.
"Can we at least see Lady Mang Yuan and talk to her one last ti before we leave? Is that too much to ask? I want to know how she has been after all these years. Is she truly at peace with the past now?"
Anji recognised the regret in that request. Truthfully, she could understand why Lady Mang Yuan asked Anji to be the ssenger. Everyone was bound to their places and unable to move in the labyrinth. If they were able to travel and communicate, this would have been resolved a long ti ago.
"Lady Mang Yuan’s physical body has faded a lot. All that is left is her spiritual body," Anji explained. "She cannot leave the place her spirit is bound to, and I cannot unbind the anchor your soul has attached to in this shrine."
It was true. Soul arts were mysterious things. Even if Anji had learned new tricks, much of it remained a mystery to her. However, she knew a few tricks left that might work.
Before the shrine keeper could be disheartened, Anji asked if the shrine keeper rembered where all the bones or remaining personal objects of all the followers were.
"If I can gather them, I might be able to create a temporary anchor for everyone to et Lady Mang Yuan one last ti before you embrace your new lives. However, it ans that you can no longer remain in this realm after I rebind your souls to a temporary object. Souls with a weak attachnt to this world must eventually return to the spiritual realm. It’s a large risk. Are you still willing to go through with it?"
The solution was one with no return. If the shrine keeper committed, she would be forced to embrace a new life regardless of whether Anji keeps her promise. It was a difficult decision. While she did not think the esteed successor of the Mystical Qilin Sect would lie, she felt unready to leave just yet. How many years had she spent waiting and praying for Lady Mang Yuan, only to speak a few words with her and leave? It was too cruel!
"Please give so ti to think," the shrine keeper replied, her soul dimd. "You could ask the others if they are interested in eting Lady Mang Yuan one last ti. While the offer is tempting, I don’t think I can speak with Lady Mang Yuan until I have sorted out all my thoughts. It has been too long. I never thought that the day would co. Thank you, successor of the Mystical Qilin Sect. Even if this isn’t possible, we will forever rember your kindness."
Not one to pressure others into making a decision, Anji bowed and left respectfully. She still had another half a year before she had to leave the trial chamber. Truthfully, coming this far already made her qualified to beco the true heir to the Mystical Qilin Sect. Her clairvoyance ability might be weak. However, it could be strengthened over ti with training now that it has been fully integrated and awakened.
Giving the shrine keeper so ti to mull over her options, Anji went to find the other followers who guarded this place. The other souls had even less intelligence than the shrine keeper. Anji wondered what choices they would make.
She thought about it herself. If she were to be a loyal follower of soone she revered, she would hesitate as well. It was not the type of devotion that ended so easily. These souls needed a reason to crossover, not just to embrace a new identity. Anji strongly believed that they chose to follow Lady Mang Yuan willingly, even in death, because they wanted to be together. Leaving would break their hearts. However, Anji strongly believe they would co to understand Lady Mang Yuan’s intentions. Although slim, the chance of a reunion was better than the prospect of eternal parting.
If it were Anji, she would seek a way to return to Lady Mang Yuan, even in her new life, even if she must be reborn as a cicada in the mountain to be near her as many tis as needed. After all, there was no sacrifice too big to make in the na of love.
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