Chapter 20: Chapter 20: The reflection of heart
As the early morning mist cleared at Qingchuan Sect, sunlight filtered through, casting a warm glow upon the square where disciples gathered, awaiting the elder's guidance. The elder held an ancient stone mirror, its surface mottled with the marks of time.
"This stone mirror is a heritage treasure of Qingchuan Sect, crafted by our founding patriarch," the elder's voice was steady and strong, his gaze sweeping over every disciple. "It will reveal the demons that lurk within your hearts." He continued, a tone of respect and reverence for the mirror evident in his voice, "Only by conquering these demons can you truly grow."
Zhang Hao, Lin Yue, and Li Bao stood among the crowd, their hearts filled with tension and anticipation. The elder began to instruct the disciples on how to use the stone mirror. As he gently placed his hand on it, the mirror's surface rippled like a pond disturbed, revealing scenes that were the elder's own demons.
Murmurs spread among the disciples. Some were drenched in sweat from nervousness, others pale as anticipate their failure. The elder pointed to each participant to step forward.
"No!" A young girl screamed in terror, her face covered in cold sweat as if she had seen something horrifying. The remaining participants' faces turned grim, and some, unable to bear the pressure, began to quietly flee the scene even before their turn.
"Zhang Hao, it's your turn," the elder's voice interrupted his thoughts.
Zhang Hao took a deep breath and stepped forward, placing his hand on the stone mirror. The mirror's surface rippled like lake water, gradually revealing a familiar scene—his room, his computer, and the everyday items he knew so well. Zhang Hao recognized this as his home.
Then, the scene shifted to show his family and friends gathered around, seemingly celebrating something, but Zhang Hao was missing from the picture.
"Zhang Hao!" A familiar voice called his name, and he felt a surge of emotion—he would never forget, this was his mother's voice. Almost without hesitation, Zhang Hao rushed into the familiar scene.
"You're finally back; we've been waiting for you," his father said, patting his shoulder with pride. Familiar faces appeared one by one.
Zhang Hao's heart leaped with joy—could it be that he had truly returned to the modern world? He was almost ready to give up everything to stay in this warm home.
But suddenly, his heart warmed, and a surge of warmth spread from his heart throughout his body, awakening him from the demon's illusion. Although he didn't know what had happened, it had roused him at the critical moment.
Even though he knew he was under the spell of the stone mirror's illusion, everything here was so familiar that it stirred a reluctance to leave.
"I must not be bound by the past," Zhang Hao said firmly. "I will conquer my demon for myself and for those who love me." Suddenly, he thought of Gu's clan, the gentle woman who had left a significant impression on his heart after nearly half a year together. Her presence was like the warm spring sun, comforting and bright. Her every smile brought Zhang Hao a sense of peace. He remembered his promise to protect her. Besides Gu's clan, two other female figures appeared in his mind—Daji, the voluptuous woman whose every move exuded a captivating charm, and Lin Yue, the beautiful and lively girl whose energy and enthusiasm always brought strength. He realized that while returning was important, he would live fully in this world before finding a way back.
The surroundings gradually faded away. Lin Yue looked at Zhang Hao nervously and asked in a hushed voice, "Zhang Hao, are you alright?"
Zhang Hao nodded and gave her a reassuring smile, "I'm fine. It's your turn now, be careful."
Lin Yue took a deep breath, stepped forward, and placed her hand on the stone mirror. The mirror rippled, and she bit her lower lip, her back drenched in sweat. Suddenly, a glint of determination flashed in her eyes, "I won't let my family down."
Li Bao watched from the side, a worried expression on his face, "Can Lin Yue make it?"
Zhang Hao replied calmly, "Don't worry about her."
Li Bao nodded, a slight smile appearing on his face, "Then I'll rest easy."
Lin Yue exhaled deeply, turned to Zhang Hao and Li Bao, and smiled. The three shared a smile, knowing Lin Yue had succeeded.
When it was Li Bao's turn, he stepped forward and placed his hand on the stone mirror. The mirror rippled again.
"Wow, this pill looks amazing!" Li Bao's eyes lit up, but then his expression turned serious, "But I can't rely solely on pills; I have to rely on my own strength."
As the last participant finished the trial, Zhang Hao looked around and noticed only about 20 people remained, thinking of the original hundred or so participants who had come with high hopes. He felt both relieved and proud to still be standing here.
After the trial, all three found their cultivation had grown.
The elder looked at the three with satisfaction and nodded, "You've all done well. Remember, the demon heart trial is just the beginning; the road ahead is long."
Zhang Hao, Lin Yue, and Li Bao exchanged smiles, knowing they had taken the first step towards becoming true cultivators.
"We'll have to work even harder now," Zhang Hao said with a smile.
Lin Yue nodded in agreement, "That's right, we can't stop here."
Li Bao patted his stomach and laughed, "Then I'd better lose some weight; otherwise, I won't be able to run."
The laughter of the three echoed across the square, their confidence and determination stronger than ever at this moment.