Myth Beyond Heaven

Yun Lintian's eyes clouded with doubt

Yun Wuhan patted his son's shoulder gently, a hint of amusement flickering across his face. "Rest well, Tian'er. I'll visit frequently. Just ask Yun Ling for anything you need."

With a final lingering look, Yun Wuhan turned and left.

Alone once more, Yun Lintian's mind churned. The name Yun Wushuang echoed repeatedly within him.

While the truth of her identity remained shrouded in uncertainty, Yun Wuhan's situation served as a peculiar echo. After all, the man before him undeniably mirrored his own father in both worlds. The possibility of Yun Wushuang being his mother loomed large.

"If that's truly the case…" Yun Lintian trailed off, his thoughts spiraling outwards.

If Yun Wushuang was indeed his mother, it could explain his initial placement within the Misty Cloud Sect. Yet, the reasons behind her disappearance remained a perplexing enigma.

Further fueling his curiosity was the undeniable connection between his parents and the enigmatic Beyond Heaven King. Yun Wuhan possessed the silver necklace, a key to the Land of Beyond Heaven, while Yun Wushuang held the Beyond Heaven King's Crown.

For the first time, a glimmer of hope flickered within Yun Lintian – perhaps this was a step towards unraveling the tangled threads of his past. However, he was well aware that these were mere conjectures, lacking concrete proof.

"There has to be a reason for my presence here," Yun Lintian murmured, a nascent determination hardening his voice. "Perhaps it's to uncover the truth about my parents?"

The coincidences were too numerous to dismiss – the Misty Cloud Palace's name, his parents' connection to the Beyond Heaven King – it all pointed to a deeper purpose.

Yun Lintian's gaze lingered on the path his father had taken, a nascent resolve blooming within him. The city beckoned – a potential source of answers.

"Third Young Master," Yun Ling approached, her brow creased with worry. "Please forgive me, but I must inform the Clan Head of your condition."

Yun Lintian offered a gentle smile. "No need to apologize, Little Ling. It's only right." Studying this young woman by his side, he found it interesting. This was the first time he had a maidservant. It made him feel like he had transmigrated into a novel.

Yun Ling's shoulders slumped in relief. She had feared incurring his displeasure.

"Speaking of which," Yun Lintian added with a playful glint in his eyes, "do I by any chance have a prearranged marriage?"

He was looking forward to finding out whether there was a woman to annul the marriage contract. It was the most popular plot in such a novel.

Yun Ling's jaw dropped before she stammered, "Marriage agreement? No, Third Young Master, where did you hear such a thing?"

A chuckle escaped Yun Lintian's lips. "Just a jest. No need to be so flustered."

A change had settled over her young master, Yun Ling couldn't help but notice. Though kindness remained in his eyes, a new spark of humor and intrigue danced within them. It was a welcome change, somehow preferable to his previous stoicism.

"Perhaps you'd like something to eat, Young Master?" she inquired.

"Just call me young master from now on," Yun Lintian waved a hand dismissively. "Food can wait. I'm eager to explore the city. Let's go."

Yun Ling's eyes widened in alarm. "But Third Young Master – I mean, Young Master – you absolutely cannot go there!"

Along the way here, she heard countless whispers and rumors – none of them was good. Basically, Yun Lintian's reputation was completely tarnished. The last thing she wanted was for him to face further ridicule.

A wry smile touched Yun Lintian's lips. He could piece together some of the implications.

"Regardless," he said, a hint of amusement lacing his voice, "it seems memory serves me poorly at the moment. I don't care about them talking. Let's venture into the city."

Without waiting for a response, Yun Lintian strode down the mountain path, his steps purposeful.

"Ah! Young Master, wait!" Yun Ling exclaimed, scrambling after him. Concern and a touch of exasperation warred within her.

Azure Cloud City stretched out before them like a sprawling beast, its majestic walls gleaming under the midday sun. Towering structures, some reaching impossibly high into the azure sky, dominated the skyline.

Grand gates, adorned with intricate carvings depicting celestial phoenixes and fierce tigers, marked the city's entrance.

A constant stream of people, cultivators of varying levels, flowed through the gates, their voices a low murmur that rose to a crescendo as they entered the bustling heart of the city.

The grandeur of the city sprawled before Yun Lintian, its scale exceeding his expectations. While it couldn't hold a candle to the Nine Firmament City, it dwarfed any God Realm he'd ever set foot in.

Yun Ling reached his side and spoke. "This is Eastern Street."

Yun Lintian acknowledged her with a gentle nod. "Let's explore," he declared, a spark of curiosity igniting in his eyes.

The air thrummed with a vibrant energy, potent and exhilarating. Shops with shimmering jade signs lined the broad streets, their windows overflowing with an assortment of treasures – weapons radiating a cold aura, shimmering elixirs promising miraculous cures, and even cages containing exotic spirit beasts with shimmering scales and ferocious gazes.

The ambiance of this city struck a discordant note compared to any Yun Lintian had ever experienced. It was as if the world he hailed from, the foundation of his very identity, was nothing but a pale imitation of cultivation reality.

A sense of disorientation washed over him, a tremor of doubt about his past flickering in the depths of his mind.

As Yun Lintian and Yun Ling walked, a hush fell upon the immediate vicinity. People's gazes shifted towards Yun Lintian, their eyes filled with a curious mix of amusement and disdain. Whispers began to rise, like a swarm of locusts on the wind.

"Isn't that the Third Young Master?"

"The one who got drunk and caused a scene at the White Lotus House?"

"Heard he got his head bashed in by Chen Zitao into a fool. Serves him right!"

Yun Lintian, instead of bristling at the whispers, found himself strangely amused. It was as if he'd stepped into the pages of a fantastical novel, the protagonist facing a barrage of curious murmurs.

Suddenly, a group of young men, their robes adorned with the insignia of the Chen Clan, swaggered past them. Their eyes landed on Yun Lintian, and a burst of laughter erupted from their midst.

"Look who it is, the drunken fool himself," one of them sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Back from his little snooze on Cloudmist Mountain?"