First, his physical condition would indeed change according to the level of his cultivation in the other world; this was a tangible feeling for him.
Second, every Rebirth, he would wake up on the morning of January 8th, and then Transmigration again at dawn. He had lived the same day 5 times, and knew everything that happened on that day like the back of his hand.
This was a real supernatural phenomenon, absolutely impossible to explain with fantasy.
When Ye Qinghe denied that she had also had the same dream, Changqing already had a guess.
Could it be that he had Transmigrated to a parallel Universe, and Lingyu Changqing was himself in that parallel Universe?
And Luo Hongyan was Ye Qinghe in the parallel Universe.
If that were truly the case, the next time he experienced Rebirth, he would have to do everything in his power to protect Luo Hongyan and escape with her.
Because if Lingyu Changqing's cultivation in the other world could be reflected as his physical condition in reality, then if Luo Hongyan died, it would most likely affect Ye Qinghe's existence in reality.
Perhaps she would have an accident? Perhaps she would disappear into thin air?
Changqing dared not think, nor did he want to think. He only needed to know what he had to do, and that was enough.
Perhaps even he himself didn't notice that there were many loopholes in his speculation; he was just subconsciously trying to convince himself.
After all, with his extreme rationality and cold indifference, if he determined that Luo Hongyan and Ye Qinghe had no relation, he would definitely give up on Luo Hongyan.
But he subconsciously didn't want to do that; he had to give himself a reason to protect her.
"You're absolutely right."
Changqing sighed, "Qinghe, you are the smartest person I've ever met."
"Not at all," Ye Qinghe playfully stuck out her tongue, "It's just that I understand you very well."
"So, is your heavy heart related to something you're hiding from me?"
Changqing shook his head and lied.
The girl in front of him was too smart and understood him too well. He could still deceive her over the phone, but now that they had met, if they continued talking like this, he feared he wouldn't be able to fool her.
"Let's not talk about this anymore. It's rare that we don't have many classes today, so let me take you out to play."
"Okay." Ye Qinghe didn't press further; she had always been like this when interacting with Changqing, never putting any pressure on him.
The two left the restaurant and went to their familiar riverside.
The river was covered with thick ice, and some children were playing on it. The two walked on the ice, chatting occasionally, the sun warm on their bodies.
"If I weren't with you, I wouldn't dare walk on this."
"What are you afraid of? It's very sturdy. Didn't you see the snow-making vehicles driving on it over there?"
"But I'm just scared."
Ye Qinghe walked, kicking a piece of broken ice under her foot, like a mischievous Child.
"But with you, I'm not afraid. Do you remember when we were little? I fell into the swimming pool, and you saved me."
"Pfft, you still remember that? Back then, you were like a boy, so wild and reckless. So many similar things happened, I thought you wouldn't remember."
"How could I not remember? I don't know since when, but as long as I'm with you, I'm not afraid of anything."
She looked back and smiled, her eyes narrowing into crescent moons.
The sunlight reflected on the snow and onto the girl's face, creating a beautiful picture.
He had seen the same scene for more than ten years, countless times.
Yet, the young man was still mesmerized. If a few lifetimes of torment in that dark, damp cave could be exchanged for a fleeting glance from the girl, he would still not hesitate.
But he couldn't go back. Sickness was taking his life. He couldn't bear to leave, couldn't bear to leave the girl in front of him.
"Do not let the wine disturb the spring's deep sleep; the tea spilled while gambling books still smells fragrant. At that time, we only thought it was ordinary."
He sighed in his heart.
While he was lost in thought, Ye Qinghe had already walked over and cupped his face.
"Changqing."
The girl spoke each word distinctly.
"Whether in reality or in a dream, I will definitely find you."
"Because I like you, I will be with you no matter what."
"No matter what happens, you don't have to be afraid. I will always, always, always be by your side."
Changqing didn't understand why she suddenly said these things, but the girl no longer gave him a chance to think.
The moment Ye Qinghe's cherry lips pressed against his, his mind went blank.
This was the first time the two had kissed. Ye Qinghe's kiss was completely different from her sometimes playful and cute, sometimes quiet and elegant style—it was passionate and fervent, almost suffocating Changqing.
He was truly on the verge of suffocation; Changqing felt like he couldn't breathe, and even his eyes, which had instinctively closed, struggled to open.
The world plunged into darkness. The sound of howling wind, the sound of children playing, all eventually turned into a blurry ringing in his ears. Along with the dazzling sunlight reflected from the snow, mixed with this kiss, it exploded in his mind.
He finally opened his eyes.
What greeted his sight was an exquisite wooden mask.
In the dim cave, he lay on the bed, and Luo Hongyan sat by the bed.
Of course he couldn't breathe, because Luo Hongyan was tightly covering his mouth with a quilt.
"It seems the time of my Rebirth has advanced again."
"It should be when I was just severely injured by Liu Lu in the previous life and then rescued by Luo Hongyan."
Changqing composed himself, his gaze returning to clarity, and then he patted Luo Hongyan's arm, signaling that she could let go.
Luo Hongyan looked with some distaste at the spot on her arm where Changqing had patted, not understanding where this man got such a thick skin to act so familiar.
"Shh, don't speak. Do you remember me, Luo Hongyan?"
"Master is in meditation. Speak softly, and whatever you do, don't wake her."
Luo Hongyan's voice was very soft, afraid of waking Liu Lu.
"Understood."
Changqing replied honestly.
"You were unconscious for three whole days, and most of your bones were shattered. I was the one who saved you."
Then, Luo Hongyan changed the subject.
"I know you're definitely unwilling to waste your remaining life in this demonic den. If you want to escape, I can help you. But you must tell me what Master made you look at in the Dan Room before. Is it..."
"Liu Lu showed me an ancient text called Soul Exchange and Body Seizure. She couldn't recognize the characters on it and wanted me to identify them."
Changqing's fluent quick answer actually caught Luo Hongyan off guard for a moment.
But he continued speaking to himself.
"This Soul Exchange and Body Seizure has three major conditions: First, both parties must be primordial Yin or primordial Yang. Second, both parties must practice the same Cultivation Technique. Third, a special Soul Shifting Spirit must be used."
"Liu Lu has never engaged in dual cultivation with anyone these past years, and her cultivation has regressed. It's highly probable she's practicing primordial Yin in reverse, and you must also be a primordial Yin body."
"Did she also ask you to teach her a Cultivation Technique? Then the target for her Soul Exchange and Body Seizure is self-evident."
Luo Hongyan looked at the incessantly talking Changqing in front of her and felt particularly strange.
Although she had originally intended to cooperate with Changqing, this... seemed a bit too smooth, didn't it?