Under One Person: The Forbidden Files of the Magician

Chapter 27: A Path Without Regret or Worry!

The afternoon sun was warm.

However, it couldn't dispel the chill that Zhang Chulan felt, which was soaked in cold sweat.

He was breathing heavily, his fist still hovering a hair's breadth from Lu Xiaobai's nose.

Zhang Chulan's body trembled slightly.

After all, he had just struggled out of the illusion, so his condition was already quite good.

At this moment, Lu Xiaobai quietly and carefully "examined" the still-shaken Zhang Chulan.

The deep blue pupil of his right eye pierced through his skin and flesh, examining the flow of Qi within his body, the throbbing of his soul, and the transformation that had just emerged from the brink of life and death, a transformation that had not yet fully subsided.

After a while,

Lu Xiaobai nodded slightly, then broke the silence.

His voice remained calm, yet it possessed a penetrating quality:

"What happened just now was an illusion."

He paused slightly, his tone taking on an indescribable solemnity:

"But...if..."

"Is all of this real?"

"What will become of you and everything you cherish?"

The air seemed to grow heavier because of those words.

Lu Xiaobai's voice wasn't loud, but it seemed to strike Zhang Chulan's heart, making his breath catch in his throat again as he had just calmed down a little.

"For us practitioners, every step we take seems to be a choice..."

Lu Xiaobai's gaze refocused on Zhang Chulan's face, carrying a sense of having been there before:

"But every step we've taken, every second that has passed... there's no going back."

His tone was solemn.

It seemed to be a warning to Zhang Chulan, or perhaps a whisper to himself in the void:

"So, try to choose the path that will leave you with no regrets and no worries."

Lu Xiaobai's tone at the end even carried a rare hint of gentleness.

Like an elder who has experienced many hardships giving earnest advice to a naive younger generation.

Before Zhang Chulan could react, Lu Xiaobai, along with his white trench coat, began to blur and become illusory.

His body transformed into colorful, tangible light and mist—a magical or ethereal force.

Under Zhang Chulan's bewildered gaze, these dazzling lights vanished silently into the air like dust blown away by the wind, leaving no trace.

"this……"

Zhang Chulan stared blankly at the spot where he had disappeared, her fist finally falling limply to her sides.

Lu Xiaobai's words were still echoing in his mind.

The illusion may be fake, but the resolute determination to face death and protect loved ones, and the resulting understanding of "choices" and "consequences," are incredibly real.

at this time,

A figure dressed in a mage's robe,

Like a frightened little animal, it hurriedly ran out from behind the big tree.

He is Lu Xiaobai's alter ego, the Minister of Magic.

"Zhang Chulan! Zhang Chulan! Are you alright? His main body should have gone back to the lab!"

The Minister of Magic ran up to him, looking at him with a worried expression, his timid tone full of concern.

Looking at the clone before him, whose temperament was completely different from his original self, and which even seemed somewhat cowardly,

Then I thought of that cheerful, lively, seemingly carefree intelligence minister.

Suddenly, Zhang Chulan recalled the conversation between Xu Si and Xu San in front of the villa that day, and a vague idea gradually became clear.

The Minister of Magic, the Minister of Intelligence... they may not be simple clones.

It's more like the "shadow" that Lu Xiaobai created at different times and in different states of mind on his long and arduous journey in pursuit of the truth of "magic".

Together, they built the path that Lu Xiaobai had walked.

Ultimately, after experiencing an encounter far more painful than anything he had ever gone through...

That boy, who was once shy, timid, yet lively and proud, has donned a cold, unapproachable exterior and become what he is today.

To conceal one's inner self is simply to hide the weakness of human nature and that unforgettable pain.

That gentle nature remains unchanged, and the initial desire to pursue the truth has never faded.

However, this path of cultivation is inherently destined to bring about unexpected changes.

"Zhang Chulan?"

Seeing him lost in thought, the Minister of Magic called out again cautiously.

"Huh? Oh!" Zhang Chulan suddenly came to his senses.

Looking at the Minister of Magic with a worried expression, a complex emotion welled up in my heart.

He took a deep breath and forced a smile.

This smile was no longer the usual pretense or calculation, but rather a sense of relief and sincerity after going through trials and tribulations. It was the first time in many years that he had shown his most genuine emotions to others.

"I...I'm fine."

His voice was still a little hoarse, but his eyes were exceptionally bright:

"I feel...much better!"

He paused, looked into the Minister of Magic's clear yet intense eyes, and said with utmost solemnity:

"Thank you so much, Xiaobai."

The Minister of Magic was visibly taken aback.

He seemed to have gotten used to this kind of heartfelt gratitude.

Her timid expression froze for a moment, then she carefully observed Zhang Chulan's condition.

It was as if this sincere gratitude wasn't the first time he'd heard it, but each time, he was at a loss for how to respond.

"Hmm..." The Minister of Magic pushed up glasses that weren't actually on his nose.

She tried hard to appear "professional," her voice still a little weak, but her tone was very serious:

"...out of ten!"

"Hmm...you got seven points! Very good, breaking through the illusion at the end is quite impressive!"

As if afraid Zhang Chulan would become arrogant, he quickly added:

"If you had really been swallowed by the illusion and your consciousness had collapsed... then, then it would have taken us a lot of effort to pull you back, which would have been very troublesome!"

He patted his chest, still shaken.

"Now..." The Minister of Magic carefully sensed the natural flow of energy around Zhang Chulan and nodded affirmatively:

"Your body should have already begun to 'get used' to the flow of Qi."

"It no longer requires the deliberate, focused 'control' of it like before, right? It's more like... um... an extension of bodily functions?"

After hearing him say that,

Zhang Chulan was suddenly shocked to realize the earth-shattering changes in his body!

Initially, I was dominated by fear in the illusion, unable to even move.

Later, he was ignited by the anger of protecting others, completely forgetting that he was an alien and the existence of "Qi", and only relying on instinct and will to drive his body.

The Golden Light Mantra and the Yang Five Thunders both erupted unconsciously...

Even now, without him having to consciously mobilize it, the Qi within his body flows naturally with his breathing, like gentle blood, filling his limbs and bones.

Without any conscious thought, the Qi moves naturally and smoothly, without any stagnation!

This unique control and understanding of "Qi" has transformed him completely!

This is simply... a life-saving grace!

Zhang Chulan was deeply shocked, and an indescribable sense of gratitude and heaviness welled up in his heart.

How can he repay this kindness?

The Minister of Magic seemed to have caught the complex emotions churning in Zhang Chulan's eyes, and the heavy gratitude within them.

He quickly waved his hand.

A sincere yet slightly awkward smile appeared on his face, and he spoke in his trademark timid yet nonchalant voice:

"It's...it's okay, Zhang Chulan. You really don't need to worry about it."

"After all, even a superhuman who has cultivated for a long time can master this kind of control method."

"The real body simply allows you to advance a few steps ahead by using a near-death experience."

As if trying to change the subject, he gently tugged at Zhang Chulan's sleeve again.

"Let's go, I... I'll take you to the lab and give you a more detailed checkup to see the specific data."

"After all, the stimulation just now... well, it was quite intense."

As he pulled the still somewhat dazed Zhang Chulan toward the villa, he muttered to himself, as if explaining or encouraging him:

"Although the illusion is false."

"But if one does not understand the principles of the art and lacks sufficient cultivation of life force, one can easily be devoured by falsehoods."

"A fearless mind can also overcome fear, so all you need to do is hone your skills against fate."

Zhang Chulan let the Minister of Magic pull him along, still somewhat dazed.

The last words of Lu Xiaobai's true form echoed in his mind.

Feeling the unprecedented flow of Qi within my body, I was filled with countless emotions.

He looked at the figure in front of him, who seemed somewhat frail and timid, yet incredibly reliable, as he held his hand.

I felt that clumsy yet sincere care.

In the end, he only responded softly and solemnly:

"Okay, sure."