Wen Jiu persisted in "experiencing fun," and it lasted for a long time. Compared to Yin Wangzhi's lack of restraint, this was much gentler. At least Wen Jiu allowed Yu Sheng to rest in between, offering food, drink, and sleep. His only request was that after Yu Sheng was well-fed and rested, they could continue.
If Yin Wangzhi's approach could be described as "fishing in a dried-up pond," then Wen Jiu's was more like "sustainable development..."
Another difference was that Yin Wangzhi followed his instincts and was almost driven to madness for satisfaction, while Wen Jiu paid more attention to the element of fun.
After all, he was a spiritual being capable of changing his form.
At first, he still seemed human, but later, he was less and less so. By the end, he truly wasn't human at all.
Some protagonists may seem gentle on the surface, but in reality, they were no different from beasts.
During this time, Yu Sheng had an unexpected gain...
When Wen Jiu unexpectedly learned to change his form midway, Yu Sheng was pushed to the edge, his legs jerking, his voice changing. Yet Wen Jiu didn't let him off, soothing him softly, coaxing him, teaching him, and asking him to "change" as well.
"I can't! Ah..."
"You’re a spirit, there’s no reason you can’t do this. Take it slow... you can do it..."
"No..."
"Be obedient..."
Yu Sheng knew that if he didn’t figure it out soon, he would have to learn this eventually. But the way he was being taught was just too embarrassing...
Normally, when people change their appearance, it’s to look different. But the way he was changing... inside... there...
—
After this, Yu Sheng quickly realized a new problem.
He remembered that in the original story, and the Yu Sheng he had encountered, they both had issues with blindness. But the person in front of him... seemed to have not gone blind after giving his Heavenly Eye to Yu Sheng. His physical eyes were still functional.
On this matter, he had specifically asked the system later, but didn’t receive a satisfactory answer.
Another problem was...
Since he appeared as a spirit, his appearance didn’t match his physical body in this world. Compared to before, he looked more like his past self.
It turned out he had already unconsciously changed his appearance.
However, after giving it some thought, Yu Sheng hadn’t intentionally altered his appearance to look like ‘Yu Sheng’ to make the other person remember him. He wanted to mess with Yu Sheng’s character design a bit, but he didn’t want him to become a second Yin Wangzhi.
Although it might already be too late, he figured he might as well delay it as much as possible!
...
The memory ended.
Yu Sheng in the human world took a deep breath.
The three Yu Shengs all finished watching each other’s memories and fell into an awkward silence.
Then, they all spoke at the same time, calling out to the system, asking the same question: Why hadn’t they all spent the same amount of time here?
It was clear that the Yu Sheng from the Ghost Realm had traveled here the earliest, then the Spirit Realm, and lastly the Human Realm.
System: "I don’t know, but the signal was bad before, and that’s why."
Yu Sheng then realized that he couldn’t stay here much longer. If the time in the Ghost Realm was considered, he might need to leave within three days.
After watching the memories, it felt like so much time had passed, but in reality, only a short while had gone by. His mind was already tired, and without time to say more, he fell asleep.
After that, the Yu Shengs held another discussion. Since they couldn’t return later, they decided to come up with a way to make the situation easier when they did return.
The best solution was to use this time to inform the protagonists about their true origins. They would tell them that they were part of the divine being of this world and would eventually meet the other two parts. They would explain that they were all the same person and there was no need for division.
Informing them of their origins, and explaining the reasons behind why they became this way, would ensure that the protagonists would no longer be lost or confused.
Most importantly, since they were all one person, there was no need for conflicts or grudges. There would be no need to fight among themselves or turn against each other, and there would be no need to worry about which protagonist his master would follow, because they were all the same person.
Even if they forgot about this in the future, or didn’t recognize that the three brothers were just different parts of one person, it didn’t matter. He could always explain it to them again. This way, there would be no need for jealousy, and in the end, it would be easier for them to work together to save the world.
It was all so wonderful. Yu Sheng felt as if he could already see this beautiful picture in his mind, and he almost regained his confidence in the future. The upcoming battle in the future didn’t seem as terrifying anymore.
The method of returning mentioned by the system was simple: just gather the three Yu Shengs together, and the rest would be handled by the system.
As for their extra powers, the system would reclaim them.
During the last three days, Yu Sheng suggested to the other two versions of himself that they should make good use of this time to say their goodbyes.
However, the Yu Sheng from the Ghost Realm fell silent for a moment and said that if he suddenly announced he was leaving, Yin Wangzhi probably wouldn’t let him go so easily. He might even do something extreme. He was a little scared, so he planned to leave quietly with a letter behind.
After all, not long ago, Yin Wangzhi had shown an unsettling possessiveness towards him, saying that if anything or anyone dared to separate them, he would destroy it completely without mercy.
As for the Yu Sheng from the Spirit Realm, he was more relaxed and planned to deal with this matter at the end. He didn’t mind waiting; he just wanted to let his body rest properly.
In the end, the Yu Shengs met at the Three Realms Cliff and then returned to the original time.
From the Three Realms Cliff to the Three Realms Cliff, the once sunny weather turned dark, with clouds covering the sky and thunder rolling in.
When Yu Sheng finally returned, the three of them were still three individuals, except that the golden fingers they had originally obtained from the protagonists had already been reclaimed by the system. What awaited them were three seemingly unconscious disciples, sprawled on the ground.
These three had fallen from the Three Realms and were saved by Yu Sheng back then. Now, he was going to save them once more.
Even with their immortal bodies, even as protagonists, their pain was not diminished in the slightest.
The good thing was that, at this moment, Yu Sheng was essentially three people. When the protagonists woke up and asked who he saved first or last, he wouldn’t be worried or confused. He could confidently say, “I saved you all at the same time!”
The three Yu Shengs were very satisfied with this, and planned to ask their disciples about the past once they woke up, to see if things matched their own understanding.
Before they woke up, however, Yu Sheng had another idea. It was probably best not to tell the disciples about them splitting into three too early.
So, the three Yu Shengs each carried one disciple, exerting a lot of effort to leave the Three Realms Cliff, heading for the Human Realm, the Ghost Realm, and the Spirit Realm, waiting for their disciples to awaken.
As for whether they could keep the fact of their splitting into three a secret, that depended on fate.
Meanwhile, Yu Sheng in the Human Realm suddenly realized that the side effects from before had disappeared. He could hear sounds now, the Yu Sheng in the Ghost Realm could speak, and the Yu Sheng in the Spirit Realm could see. They had been so nervous, hastily discussing strategies and leaving, that they hadn’t noticed this. Could it be that the side effects weren’t caused by splitting, but rather by traveling to the past?
This made things more convenient.
Zhan Xiaotian was the first to return. As soon as they arrived in the Human Realm, Yu Sheng encountered people from the Immortal Alliance. These people recognized Zhan Xiaotian, called him the leader, and welcomed them back to the Immortal Alliance headquarters. When they saw how badly the leader was injured, Yu Sheng quickly made up a lie, saying it was from a fight with the Ghost King.
This explanation was clearly more convincing than the truth, and no one suspected anything. They simply cursed the Ghost King a few times.
Because they were given excellent care, Zhan Xiaotian recovered quickly. The moment he opened his eyes, he saw his master standing by his bedside. His emotions surged, and he tried to get up, but Yu Sheng hurriedly pressed him back down, afraid that his movements would worsen his injuries.
At this touch, Yu Sheng suddenly realized that Zhan Xiaotian’s healing speed seemed to have accelerated, much like how it was when he had encountered Zhan Xiaotian in the past.
Before coming back here, Yu Sheng had been able to interact with the past Zhan Xiaotian calmly, but now, when Zhan Xiaotian suddenly looked at him like this, he felt as though he had just remembered he still had some shame, and didn’t know how to face him properly.
“Stay still and don’t move,” Yu Sheng said. “Your injuries aren’t fully healed yet, so don’t try to get out of bed, and don’t touch your wounds.”
"Master, did you bring me back?"
Yu Sheng nodded, acknowledging the question. "Don't worry, I'm fine. The previous plan was successful. I'll stay here with you for these few days and won't go anywhere."
Zhan Xiaotian then asked, "What about in the future? Where will Master stay then?"
Yu Sheng gently patted his head, smiling as he replied, "If you want, Master can stay here with you forever. Is that alright?"
Zhan Xiaotian was overwhelmed by the immense joy, unable to speak. He even doubted if he was dreaming and pinched his freshly bandaged arm.
Yu Sheng continued, "But before that, there's something else. Do you remember?"
Zhan Xiaotian replied, "Of course, I remember. It's about setting up the teleportation array between the Three Realms. How could I forget anything you asked me to do, Master? The only one who forgets things is you..."
"What if I say that I remember now?"
"You...!"
"A long, long time ago, before you fell from the cliff, did we meet? Is that the thing you said I forgot?"
"You actually remember!" Zhan Xiaotian's face, which had been full of surprise, quickly turned a little aggrieved. He tightly grabbed Yu Sheng's hand and said, "Since you remember, why did you pretend not to know me? Why did you come to me with another identity to deceive me? Was it because the other two junior brothers were still around?"
Yu Sheng patiently explained, shaking his head. "It wasn't like that. I really didn't remember before, but now I do. It's my fault."
Zhan Xiaotian could never bring himself to blame him or continue throwing a tantrum. His eyes were red, as if he had regained the most precious treasure he had lost. He didn't want to care about anything else and wished to stay with his master from then on, never leaving his side.
"Master, if you don't want to stay in the human realm, it doesn't matter. No matter where you go, I will follow you, as long as you still want me..."
"What's this talk of 'whether' or 'not'? Stop saying such depressing things."
After comforting Zhan Xiaotian, Yu Sheng finally felt relieved. He decided to wait until Zhan Xiaotian’s injuries healed a bit more before considering the next steps.
Setting up the teleportation array or working on saving the Three Realms and helping them merge into one didn’t feel urgent. What worried him more was that once everything was revealed, he would have to truly respond to his disciple’s feelings. How could he keep the celibate Zhan Xiaotian from rushing straight into things? He needed to find a way to ease him into it, to give him time to adjust.
As for the ghost realm, the ghost realm Yu Sheng expressed his own frustration, "You all have no idea what it's really like. I'm the one who's the real victim here. Can you even call that celibacy? The Ghost King, Yin Wangzhi—now that's what I call true celibacy. If I let him rest for a day without touching the bed, he’d devour me alive! Would your protagonists try to devour you for a day without bed?"
Meanwhile, in the ghost realm, Yin Wangzhi had woken up, and he mistakenly believed that his master had turned into a ghost because of the recent thunder calamity. If it weren’t for the injuries restricting him, he would probably have rushed out to wreak havoc on the world.
Ghost realm Yu Sheng was extremely anxious, unsure whether to deceive Yin Wangzhi into thinking he was dead, letting him take revenge on the world and the Heavenly Dao, or to reveal the truth and have him storm out to trouble the other two protagonists.
The spirit realm Yu Sheng didn’t quite understand. "If we tell them the truth, do you really think the disciples would oppose it? Didn't we originally split ourselves apart to satisfy them all and stop the fighting?"
Although it sounded reasonable, no logic could explain why all three of them had secretly kept the split a secret. They were still uneasy about it. They had already told the protagonists about their origins, but when they came back, the situation hadn’t changed. This might mean they didn’t care that they were all one person. If jealousy still lingered, and they still fought, then it might be safer to keep quiet for now. Once all three agreed to merge, then the world would be saved, and it would be fine to reveal everything later.
The spirit realm Yu Sheng, however, was more concerned about another matter.
"I think I might not have fully dropped my disguise yet."
When he had first returned to the past, he hadn’t used his original face. Although he had intentionally changed his appearance to match Yu Sheng's, if in Wen Jiu’s mind, he and the past blind spirit were two different people, then bringing up the past might be redundant. But if he didn’t bring it up, what reason could he use to test Wen Jiu?
Ghost realm Yu Sheng: Just tell him you like him and ask if he’s been with anyone before you? //thinking//
Spirit realm Yu Sheng: That’s way too straightforward.
Human realm Yu Sheng is almost losing it: you two? Get a grip, we’re the same person! Don’t follow the disciples’ example!
Ghost realm Yu Sheng: So what if we break their precedent? I feel like this world is beyond saving. Maybe from now on, we’ll go our separate ways. Let’s find a time to meet up and have a proper drink to end things.
Spirit realm Yu Sheng: Is this some kind of monologue?
Ghost realm Yu Sheng: The word 'monologue' really fits well here...
Human realm Yu Sheng, hoarse: Can you two just wake up already?!
Spirit realm Yu Sheng: Alright, back to the point how should I test Wen Jiu?
Ghost realm Yu Sheng: How about trying some subtle seduction? Take a bath or change clothes in front of him and see if he reacts. If he does, that means he likes you. Then you can confess and ask him about his exes. If he doesn’t react, just drop it and introduce him to someone else.
Human realm Yu Sheng: ??? Is it really okay to introduce him to someone, knowing that I was his ex, his friend, and his master in bed? What if the truth comes out one day? How will his partner see me?
Spirit realm Yu Sheng: As expected of another me from the human realm. Such a strong sense of morality. I should learn from you.
Human realm Yu Sheng: Hey!!! That’s not the point!
Human realm Yu Sheng: Hey?! Where’d everyone go?!
Ghost realm Yu Sheng: I think he went to take a bath and change clothes.
Human realm Yu Sheng: No way, that’s not me! This can't be me...
Ghost realm Yu Sheng: Well, maybe he didn’t go to bathe after all. Think about it, maybe there was never a clothes-changing process? Maybe he just...
Yu Sheng abruptly cut off the conversation.
He was about to lose his mind if he kept talking to himself.
At that moment, Zhan Xiaotian leaned over. Seeing his furrowed brow and a slightly unwell expression, he gently wrapped his arms around Yu Sheng’s waist and nuzzled affectionately. "Master, what’s wrong?"
Yu Sheng opened his eyes, and seeing Zhan Xiaotian’s face only made his headache worse.
Right…
"Xiaotian, there’s something I forgot to ask."
Zhan Xiaotian: "Master, please go ahead."
Yu Sheng: "You knew my identity from the start, didn’t you?"
Zhan Xiaotian sensed something was off, and with a guilty nod, he replied, "Yes..."
Yu Sheng smiled and ruffled his hair. "To be honest, those who are brave enough to admit their mistakes are always my good disciples."
Zhan Xiaotian: "Master, I’m sorry, don’t be angry... I thought you didn’t want me, didn’t want to acknowledge me, which is why I couldn’t help but try to provoke you..."
Yu Sheng gently embraced Zhan Xiaotian, who seemed a little lost in his thoughts, his words laced with sincerity. "I was just so upset because you used to love the food I made, but now you only like what Wen Jiu makes. I couldn't bear it. I thought, if you don’t like the food I make anymore, then what’s the point of me making it? So, I decided to bury it all and throw it away. If Master isn’t here, I didn’t want to eat alone."
Yu Sheng's heart softened as he heard Zhan Xiaotian's words. He felt more guilty, realizing that his disciples had truly suffered, even though it wasn’t intentional. It pained him to think of how they were all affected by his own struggles. His mind wandered to the fact that, despite everything, he had been avoiding telling them the full truth—about his splitting into three and returning to the past.
Instead, he decided to hold Zhan Xiaotian gently, caressing him with a comforting hand.
Zhan Xiaotian mumbled quietly, "I thought... you saved me only to repay the gift I gave you before, to settle the debt and have nothing left between us."
Yu Sheng’s heart clenched. To him, he had just suddenly returned to the past, meeting his future disciples and having an unexpected reunion. But to the disciples, it was as if he had come back after so many years, with the golden finger he had received back then—something that was almost a token of their bond—returned, only to now be cloaked in deception and falsified death, fearing they would recognize it.
Now that he thought about it, perhaps they insisted on the title of teacher and disciple because they feared becoming strangers with no reason to return or even to look back.
It was... so painful.
"I’m sorry..."
Zhan Xiaotian, seeing that Yu Sheng had finally stopped being angry, snuck over to kiss him. Seizing the moment when his master was comforting him, he pressed his lips against Yu Sheng’s neck and tried to move lower, thinking he wouldn’t be noticed...
But was promptly pushed away.
"You still have injuries, are you not thinking straight?" Yu Sheng said, his tone exasperated but gentle. He couldn’t bring himself to scold Zhan Xiaotian; he couldn’t even bring himself to punish him. No matter how many excuses or reasons he tried to come up with to regain some sense of control, he always ended up softening, feeling guilty and tender instead.
The tone in his voice was far too soft, carrying no trace of blame. Zhan Xiaotian, emboldened by that, laughed mischievously and refused to let go, continuing to take advantage of the situation. He kept calling "Master" sweetly and doing things a disciple shouldn’t be doing.
"Since you’re so energetic, does that mean you don’t need to rest anymore?" Yu Sheng asked, his eyes narrowing, clearly setting a trap.
Zhan Xiaotian, ever straightforward, jumped right into it. "Yes, Master."
Yu Sheng’s expression softened slightly, but he didn’t let up. "Then let me ask you, do you still remember what I told you about your real origins?"
The question lingered in the air, carrying more weight than it seemed at first glance.