Chapter 152: Passing the Third Trial

Her mother held two-year-old Yingying in her arms, sobbing, "Yingying, you must get well soon. All of Mommy's love is yours."

Xie Ying was her original name, but due to a transmigration, she had become Xie Yingying.

The two-year-old Xie Ying, not fully comprehending, smiled at her and said, "Mommy, Yingying is your little angel. Little angels never make Mommy sad. Don't cry, Mommy."

The scene shifted. She was now five years old, and her mother had been summoned to school because Xie Yingying had been in a fight. Unsurprisingly, it was her mother who arrived.

"Yingying, tell Mommy why you were fighting."

"Because I don't like him."

For the first time in five years, Xie Yingying lied. In truth, she had fought because the boy had insulted her mother, but she did not want to reveal the truth; she knew it would only break her mother's heart.

"But Yingying, if we don't like someone, we can just ignore them. Fighting is the wrong choice, do you understand?"

"I understand, Yingying won't do it again." Five-year-old Xie Yingying nodded obediently.

However, for some reason, her grandmother found out about the incident and flew into a rage, leading to another bitter argument with her mother.

"I told you girls were nothing but trouble! She's so young and already learning to fight. What kind of girl behaves like this? You should have listened to me and given her away, then given me a grandson to inherit the family legacy!"

"Mother! Yingying is just a child; she doesn't know any better. I will teach her to correct her mistakes. Whether a boy or a girl, they are still your grandchild. If you don't like her, you don't have to see her."

"You dare to talk back to me!"

"I am telling you, I cannot tolerate Xie Ying for another day. If you want to keep your marriage, give the child away and obediently produce a boy. Otherwise, both of you can get out!"

In the end, her mother chose divorce for her sake.

The scene shifted again to her high school years, where a teacher asked her what her dream was.

Sixteen-year-old Xie Ying answered firmly, "I want to be a successful white-collar professional so that I can support my mother."

Xie Yingying’s eyes reddened as she watched. She had no memory of those childhood events, only now realizing that her grandmother had never loved her, while her mother had loved her so deeply. Though she hadn't remembered the past, the influence had evidently lingered, driving her to become an independent professional—to prove to the world that girls could be just as capable and could support their families.

The teacher was stunned by her answer, pausing for a moment before smiling. "That is a wonderful dream. I hope you achieve it soon."

The final scene showed her as a successful professional, living a full life with a partner, raising children, and eventually becoming an elderly woman.

Was this the final test?

She had witnessed her own life, yet it felt so short—so short that she had transmigrated here before she could ever support her mother. Her mother must be so worried about her disappearance.

She must have been searching for her all this time. After all, her mother loved her so much.

She had to return as soon as possible. She had to reunite with her mother and fulfill her dream of taking care of her.

Just as she was deep in thought, the surroundings dissolved. Xie Yingying opened her eyes to find herself back in the room.

Everything she had just seen felt like a dream. Then, a voice echoed in her ears: "Xie Yingying, why do you seek the Way?"

Xie Yingying replied without hesitation, "To survive."

Everything she did now was for the sake of survival; her mother still needed her.

"Sigh."

The voice let out a strange sigh after hearing her answer. Xie Yingying was puzzled, not knowing why such a question was asked or why the voice sighed. She wanted to ask, but the opportunity was gone.

The spatial distortion appeared before her again, and in the blink of an eye, she returned to the luxurious palace. Bai Shengyun and Bai Qirui were nowhere to be seen; the three of them had been separated.

The Guardian of the Realm appeared once more. "Xie Yingying, you have barely passed the Trial of the Heart."

"The Trial of the Heart?" Xie Yingying frowned. "Is this my third test?"

Afraid the Guardian would vanish again, she asked quickly.

"Yes."

With that, the Guardian disappeared again.

Bai Shengyun had also returned to his childhood. His life had been devoid of spirit from the start, lived entirely in the shadow of his deceased older brother. He only knew that he had to do whatever his father told him; his purpose was simply to be a replica of his brother.

At one year old, Bai Shengyun had not yet grasped this. A child is naturally curious and fond of treats. That year, he was fortunate enough to visit the mortal realm. Seeing a candied hawthorn stick, he tugged at his father's sleeve. "I want to eat that red thing."

"No." His father erupted in rage, grabbing him and dragging him back to Mount Gufeng.

Bai Shengyun didn't understand the anger and was terrified to tears by his father's demeanor.

Back at the Heavenly Fox realm, his father could no longer contain himself, shouting, "Bai Shengyun, remember this: you eat only what I tell you to eat. You are not allowed to have your own thoughts. I do all of this for your own good, do you understand?"

Back then, Bai Shengyun was only one year old; how could he possibly understand?

Later, people often called him pitiful. At first, Bai Shengyun didn't understand why, but as he grew older, even though he no longer heard those words, they were deeply etched into his heart.

Bai Shengyun watched it all unfold, yet his heart remained unmoved, unsure if he had accepted it or simply deemed it indifferent.

Then, a voice echoed in his ears: "Why do you seek the Way?"

"To survive."

Bai Shengyun’s answer was the same as Xie Yingying’s. His entire life had been influenced by his brother; survival was the only thing he could claim as his own.

The voice fell silent, as if it had vanished.

Bai Qirui found himself at the scene of the Fox Queen's death.

The Heavenly Fox realm was filled with an atmosphere of sorrow. The Fox Queen lay on her bed, pale and frail, struggling even to speak. All the Heavenly Foxes had gathered to kneel and pay their final respects.

Bai Qirui watched, wondering why history was repeating itself.

The Fox Queen spoke in fragmented sentences: "You... all of you... do not need to be sad for me. As long as our Heavenly Fox clan can remain at peace forever... as long as you are safe... I will have no regrets."

"We will make it happen!" all the Heavenly Foxes vowed.

Her words sounded like a final testament, delivered as if she were using the last of her strength.

Then, she looked at Bai Qirui. He understood her gaze and immediately came to her side, taking her hand.

"Qirui, do not let Shengyun cultivate the Path of Heartlessness. It does not suit him; it will only be counterproductive. You must not."

Speaking those words truly exhausted the last of her strength. As soon as she finished, she closed her eyes and passed away.

This was the true final testament of the Fox Queen.