Chapter 1651: Recollection Side Story 02

Dream regression.

"Yay! I can see the previous host and the Main God again!"

Ling Gun Gun bounced excitedly, "Host, are you happy?"

Jin Chen felt dizzy from its bouncing, grabbed it by the scruff and gave it a rub, and the scene instantly shifted.

Main God's Hall.

Lately, Jin Chen has been troubled.

Half a year ago he had already passed the True God Tribulation and undergone the nominal investiture in the Spirit Storage Pavilion; after several hundred years of cultivation to become a god, he had thought he could finally have his wish fulfilled and become divine partners with his Master, but despite his eager anticipation, he received no response.

His Master still treated him the same as before, and Jin Chen suddenly realized that Chenshu had never said who he favored; despite Jin Chen's many past declarations of affection, Chenshu only said to wait until he became a god.

Could it be…

"Could it be that Master simply has no love threads? He wouldn't favor anyone."

Jin Chen sat by the Spirit Pool, chatting off-and-on with the Little Koi that had just taken human form, "So he seems to not like me at all."

The Little Koi yelped, slowly sipping the spiritual liquor Jin Chen brought, "Isn't the Divine Lord fond enough of you? You're the most beloved in the whole Divine Realm!"

"That's not the same," Jin Chen sulkily plucked at a lotus, his youthful spirit unchanged, his peach-blossom eyes wet with dissatisfaction.

"I want to become divine partners with him, just like the Moon God and the Snow Spirit Dragon—do you think we resemble them?"

Since the Moon God moved in next door, whenever Jin Chen boredly climbs the eaves to sneak a drink, he always sees him being affectionate with his bonded partner, the Snow Spirit Dragon—causing him to inexplicably end up with a head full of snow each time.

"Indeed not." The Little Koi also gritted its teeth, its reddish nose wrinkling, "They always come to my lotus pond to tryst; every time they get affectionate, I freeze over."

Jin Chen stripped the fifth lotus bare, then suddenly rose, "I've thought of a plan!"

The Little Koi looked up at him, squeaking in surprise, "You've figured out how to make the Divine Lord like you?"

"I'll go check first to see if he truly has no love threads."

Jin Chen pinned the stripped lotus pistil onto the Little Koi's head, then vanished, "Thanks!"

Little Koi: "……" I hate you!

Divine Realm Treasure Pavilion.

Floating above seven-colored clouds, spiritual mist swirls around, secluded and pure.

Outside the massive Divine Gate, two gate boys propped up their heads, half-asleep, while the little boy on the left couldn't help but yawn again.

Jin Chen poked half his head out from the left, secretly observed for a moment, then covered his nose.

"Gun Gun! Up!"

"Heehee!"

A baby white-haired pixiu that couldn't speak yet darted out, farted at the two gate boys, and in moments they all collapsed asleep.

"Heehee……"

Ling Gun Gun settled back into Jin Chen's hair, found a comfortable spot, and patted his full belly after eating the jeweled spiritual artifact.

Jin Chen strode in confidently, bearing Chenshu's divine token, and could pass unimpeded anywhere in the Divine Realm.

"Divine Realm Chronicles……"

Jin Chen muttered as he entered the final door; this place holds the grand records of all past Divine Lords, and if Chenshu had ever drawn out love threads, they would surely be recorded here.

He gazed at the crowded shelves, then suddenly fell into contemplation.

The little sprites of the Treasure Pavilion are said to have special search arts, but he hasn't learned them.

Jin Chen rolled up his sleeves and turned the place upside down.

"Eek!" Ling Gun Gun also bounced excitedly; Jin Chen tossed aside a few jade slips, and it lunged to bite them.

Unable to bite, it nearly chipped its newly grown baby teeth, and Ling Gun Gun angrily pissed on them.

"Don't eat this junk." Jin Chen frowned, picked it up, fed it a few pieces of divine jade, and warned, "Who knows how long it's been sitting—eating it might give you diarrhea!"

Jin Chen finally found the records concerning the current Divine Lord, he clutched the stack of jade slips, sat cross-legged on the floor, and began to flip through.

But! Nothing at all!

Chenshu's records in the Chronicles are scant, as if he'd just become a Divine Lord today—everything written is what he already knows.

Yet Jin Chen clearly remembers that his Master had already been a Divine Lord for a long, long time before fostering his true form in the courtyard, and he doesn't know why past events aren't recorded in the ledger.

All for nothing.

Jin Chen fell backward, lying on the floor covered in jade slips.

"Annoying!"

"Eek!"

Ling Gun Gun also imitated him, lying flat, limbs splayed, its fluffy fur instantly covering its beady eyes.

"Heehee!"

Ling Gun Gun suddenly shot up like a firecracker and darted into Jin Chen's waist pouch.

There was movement outside.

"He's in there! Pavilion Master, Divine Lord, the intruder is inside!" the gate boys shouted, fearing reproach.

Jin Chen scrambled up, "Oh no."

How did this gate boy even summon the Master!

Before he could find a hiding spot, the Divine Gate was blasted open.

"Hmph! It's you!" the Pavilion Master, an old immortal, glared, his beard bristling with anger.

Across the whole Divine Realm, only this scoundrel would dare barge in so recklessly!

Jin Chen had felt no guilt, but seeing Chenshu here, his complexion looked off.

"Master……"

He shouted awkwardly, that sounded like a grievance—where was the mighty, world‑churning demon king from just moments ago?

Chenshu's face, as cold as jade, looked somewhat helpless; he glanced at the jade slips scattered on the ground, then stepped forward and called him over.

Jin Chen hid behind him, clutching the corner of his clothing and staying silent.

"God Venerable, this..." The Pavilion Master, seeing that Chenshu had no intention of reprimanding Jin Chen, couldn't help but want to advise.

"I will take him back and discipline him strictly."

Chenshu responded in a calm voice, sweeping his sleeve to restore the Treasure Pavilion to its original state, "Please, Pavilion Elder, reinforce the formation again."

Pavilion Master: "..."

He watched as Chenshu led Jin Chen away, his mustache bristling with anger.

"What do you mean? Don't blame the trespassing disciple; blame my Treasure Pavilion's formation for being weak."

"This guy has become such a troublemaker today; God Venerable, you are entirely to blame!"

Upon returning to the Main God Institute, Chenshu then scolded him, "What were you doing in the Treasure Pavilion for no reason?"

Jin Chen dared not speak the truth, dejectedly shaking his head and staying silent, he clung to Chenshu, rubbing against him in a coquettish manner.

Chenshu, however, could probably guess it.

These days, he has also noticed Jin Chen's low spirits and suspicions.

Chenshu's eyes flickered slightly; he had Jin Chen stand properly and observe him from a distance.

After several hundred years of cultivation in the God Realm, Jin Chen became increasingly clear‑boned and ethereal, icy and translucent, and seemed to have grown a bit taller than him without realizing it.

All the more, he resembled how they first met in their previous life.

Jin Chen furrowed his brows; during this period he could always see a feeling of longing in Master's eyes—how strange, who was he longing for?

Moreover, each time he noticed Master having such an emotion, his own heart felt heavy as well.

Jin Chen pressed his chest, dissatisfiedly muttering, "Master is spacing out again, thinking about what?"

Chenshu gently brushed his fallen bangs, saying, "I've been wondering why you went to the Treasure Pavilion; if you don't tell me today, how long will you keep it bottled up inside?"

Jin Chen half‑lowered his peach‑blossom eyes, his voice low.

"I want to see whether Master has no love strings."

"I like Master and want to become his divine partner, but for all these years you've always been like this—no one can get into your heart."

Chenshu's hand, which had been toying with his strands, covered his cheek; hearing this, he fell silent for a few moments, and when he spoke again it was the muffled sound of centuries of suppressed emotion.

"How do you know I haven't been moved?"