Xiao Yan went stiff immediately, his mind blank at the shocking words. Dazed, he collapsed to the floor and remained there for a long while, unable to process what he had just heard.
Seeing him in such a state, Wei rubbed his forehead. A splitting headache throbbed behind his temples. In the past hour alone, he had pushed his soul power to its limits—disguising his cultivation level, sharpening his thoughts while speaking with the elders, scanning the Xiao compound, muffling the sound around them, and finally ambushing Yao Chen before sending him into the alchemy world.
All of it had drained him. Only after sending Yao Chen away had he allowed himself to relax even slightly. From his ring, he retrieved a teapot and brewed his favorite mind-calming tea. Madam Yue had gifted him ten kilos of it, along with seeds he had already planted in the alchemy world.
By the time the tea was poured, Xiao Yan finally stirred. He rose stiffly and sat back down across from Wei, blurting out the questions that weighed on him.
"You're from Earth? How did you know I was from Earth? Are there others?"
Wei slid a cup across the table first. "Drink. It's mind-calming tea."
Though still unsettled, Xiao Yan trusted him enough to take a sip. At once, the fog clouding his mind lifted, leaving his thoughts clear and light. His eyes lit up. "Good tea—such an effect!"
Wei smiled faintly, then began answering. Yes, he was from Earth, though whether it was the same Earth Xiao Yan remembered was uncertain—unlikely, even. As for the rest…
"That question is complicated," Wei said, his tone calm. "If I answered it directly, it might shatter your worldview. I'll leave it for later. As for whether there are others like us… I don't know. What I can tell you is that the way I learned about you is… special. But before I explain, try to guess. It will soften the shock when I tell you."
Xiao Yan frowned, thinking hard. His first guess was that Wei had been here for a long time, secretly watching him.
Wei laughed. "Hardly. I've been here less than two months—if you count only the time since I regained my Earth memories."
Xiao Yan tried again. "Then… you came from the future? Maybe we were friends there, and I told you myself? Or maybe—you have some kind of system fairy that feeds you information?"
Wei stared at him blankly for a moment, then shook his head at the wild imagination.
"No. The truth is simpler," Wei said at last, voice steady. "I know about you because, in my world, your life was written down in a book."
Xiao Yan froze. The words struck him harder than anything before. "A… book? Then… am I even real?"
Wei shrugged. "I can't say. I don't even know if I myself am real, or just some figment of another man's imagination. But it doesn't matter. My life is my own—and I choose to live it without questioning its worth."
Hearing this, Xiao Yan's dazed eyes slowly regained their light. "You're right… My life is mine too."
He hesitated, then asked curiously, "Was it… a good book?"
Wei's lips curved. "One of the best. Famous, beloved, full of quotes and even memes."
Xiao Yan blinked. "Memes?"
Wei patiently explained, prompting Xiao Yan to shake his head at the bizarre concept. Still, curiosity flared in his eyes, and a flurry of questions poured out—about his strength, his future, the most memorable scenes. Wei answered them one by one, careful but not overly detailed. Xiao Yan grew more and more excited, fire returning to his heart.
But then his expression faltered. He paled. "Wait… when does the book start?"
Wei immediately understood his fear. "From your birth," he admitted. "But I didn't pay much attention to the early years."
Suspicion lingered in Xiao Yan's gaze, but he could only let it go, silently praying that none of his black history had been exposed.
The hours passed quickly. As noon approached, they agreed to pause their discussion for now and revisit it later. Just as they were about to part, the ring that once belonged to Yao Chen floated into the air between them.
From it, Yao Chen's soul emerged, majestic and imposing. Xiao Yan nearly cursed out loud, but remembering this man would become his teacher, he forced himself to swallow his words.
Yao Chen's gaze immediately locked on Dan Wei. The youth blinked innocently at him. That expression only fueled Yao Chen's fury, his eyes blazing.
"You—you… you insolent brat! You schemed against me!"
The shame of being tricked and banished into another realm by this boy burned hot. But then he remembered the promise he had made with Wei's grandfather. His anger drained, replaced by a weary sigh that seemed to age him.
Wei bowed deeply, his tone sincere. "I am very sorry for deceiving you, Master Yao. I only acted as I did because of the circumstances. I hope you can forgive me."
Yao Chen snorted and turned his face aside, but at least the boy had the sense to apologize. His gaze shifted to Xiao Yan, and his voice softened.
"Child, I wronged you these years. Would you accept me as your teacher?"
Xiao Yan didn't hesitate. He dropped to his knees, kowtowed three times, and declared firmly:
"Xiao Yan greets the teacher!"
Satisfaction filled Yao Chen's expression. With Dan Wei and his grandfather's help, and with his new disciple's potential, the future looked bright indeed.
Turning back to Wei, Yao Chen grew serious. "I will remain in the alchemy world to restore my soul power with your grandfather's help. Once that is complete, I will prepare for resurrection. During this month, stay here—and in the meantime, teach this disciple some alchemy knowledge."
Wei nodded instantly. "Of course, Master Yao. I'll do everything I can to help his growth."
The ring pulsed with light, and Yao Chen's figure began to fade once more into the alchemy realm. Just before vanishing completely, his voice echoed with a faint trace of teasing:
"Don't be so unfamiliar. In a way, I can now be considered your uncle."
Wei blinked, stunned. "…What the hell?"