Chapter 289: The Meeting in Dream
Chapter 289: The Meeting in Dream
Xiang Ling opened her eyes and found herself standing at what seemed like a shore. Her gaze landed on the water that was moving in soft waves. The bright moon was reflecting on the surface of the water, creating a beautiful illusion.
On the opposite side from the sea stood a dense forest that was filled with darkness, creating a contrasting look from the sea.
"Xiang Ling..."
A soft voice called out her name and as Xiang Ling turned around, her gaze landed on a figure that was standing at the edge of the shore. The waves were touching her feet, drenching the bottom of her dress in the process. Her hair was fluttering in the wind and so were her clothes.
"Who are you?" Xiang Ling asked and realized that her voice sounded different. No! It sounded exactly like her own voice - her real voice. She quickly looked down at her body and saw herself wearing the glamorous purple silk dress that she was wearing the day of her heavenly tribulation.
"I’m Chen Xiang Ling. I’m here to bid my farewell." The other woman spoke, and it was only at this point that Xiang Ling got a clear look at the woman’s face. She looked exactly like her... or the Chen Xiang Ling in whose body Xiang Ling was currently residing in the Mortal Realm.
"Farewell?" Xiang Ling found herself asking, confused by the sudden appearance of the real Chen Xiang Ling.
"En! I sneaked into your dream to show my gratitude and take my leave. I was devastated by my sudden death, but when I saw you removing my grudges and fulfilling my desires one after the other, I realized that everything indeed happened for the best. Thank you, Xiang Ling, for everything you have done for me." Chen Xiang Ling bowed deeply to show her gratitude.
"I had my reasons." Xiang Ling whispered as she felt guilty. She didn’t do everything out of kindness. Her every move in the Mortal Realm carried a motive that was for her own benefit. She knew that she didn’t deserve Chen Xiang Ling’s gratitude.
In response to her words, Chen Xiang Ling gave a little shake of her head before she spoke, "I’m aware of that. Still, you have helped me greatly. Even though it is you doing all the good and hard work, everyone thinks that it’s me. So, you have indeed helped me a lot. You made me rich, beautiful, and powerful. You changed my image for the best. You earned me loyalty, praises, and friendship. You earned me forgiveness from my family. Everything you have done, it has helped me greatly. At the end of the day, it’s Chen Xiang Ling whom people will remember for her greatness. So, I do owe you my gratitude."
Xiang Ling remained silent as there was nothing she could say to the woman. She just accepted her gratitude with a little nod of her head. The silence stretched for a few more moments and she suddenly found herself asking, "Are you... not angry about... your husbands?"
Her question caused the other woman to chuckle. Chen Xiang Ling took her time to answer, but when she finally did speak, her eyes were looking straight into Xiang Ling’s eyes. "Those men never belonged to me. Even though I married three of them, they never accepted me as their wife. It was not until recently that I realized why my relationship with them never worked out. It’s because they were yours to begin with."
"But-" Xiang Ling didn’t even know what she wanted to say. She just felt the need to say something, maybe apologize. But before she could have done as much as opening her mouth to speak, Chen Xiang Ling was already speaking again.
"Don’t feel guilty, Xiang Ling. If they would have belonged to me, you wouldn’t have been able to take them away from me no matter how powerful you were. The only reason you have them now, is because they are yours to claim."
"Thank you." Was all Xiang Ling said as she found herself getting emotional after hearing Chen Xiang Ling’s words. Did those six men indeed belonged to her? She found herself wondering and as much as the thought was pleasing, the possibility of it not being true was terrifying. At this point in her life, her heart was already too deeply involved with those men.
Shaking away her thoughts, she turned her attention back to Chen Xiang Ling and asked, "What about you? What are you doing right now? You said something about sneaking out to meet me."
"Because of my past actions, I’m currently being punished in the Netherworld. I’m serving the Immortal of Death. Except for the long tiring days of non-stop work, I think my spirit life is going quite good." Chen Xiang Ling answered with a little smile.
Nodding her head in understanding of the woman’s current situation, Xiang Ling spoke, "Immortal of Death is actually a really kind Immortal unlike what everyone believes. I’m sure you will complete your punishment in no time and will get to reincarnate with a better life."
"Thank you, Xiang Ling." Chen Xiang Ling responded with a soft smile before a serious look took over her face and she spoke, "But Can I ask for something? I need you to make sure of my family’s safety in future-"
"Don’t worry. I know what you are trying to say. I will make sure that your family will stay safe and sound even after the end of my tribulation." Xiang Ling gave her word.
Chen Xiang Ling nodded her head in response, happy to feel the last thread of worry leaving her. "Thank you once again for everything you have done. We might never meet again, and even if we will meet, I might not be able to remember you. Hopefully, I will be a better version of a person in the future. It’s time for me to take my leave, but before that, I want to leave you a message from the Immortal of Death - Keep your eyes open, Supreme Immortal Xing. Your enemy might be way closer than you are expecting."