Oh no!

Zhang Luan snapped to attention. The Ends Bow was clamped tight by a slender hand. He looked up to see an innocent-looking face.

Zhang Luan was filled with regret. Why hadn’t he used the Shadowhorn Bow to attack just now? Even if he lost it, he wouldn’t have cared. But losing the Ends Bow in this pitch-black place would devastate him.

The girl watched his expression, then surprisingly released her grip. She tilted her head, puzzled.

"Why are you afraid?" Her voice was flat, emotionless. "This is my home. According to the books, I should be the one scared."

Zhang Luan looked down. A tiny girl, only as tall as his stomach, stared up with a blank face. She was undeniably adorable—a perfect ten in cuteness. But in this setting, her presence felt deeply wrong.

He leaped backward, drawing the Ends Bow fully aimed at her head. Zhang Luan knew he couldn’t threaten her. Still, if possible, he wanted combat intel before using the Choice Coin to escape. Anyone living here couldn’t be ordinary.

The girl poked her lips with a finger. She picked up a small white teddy bear from near the door and held it out.

"Here. A gift."

Zhang Luan didn’t take it. What if the doll hid a bomb lethal enough to kill him? The Choice Coin only activated near death—when health dropped below 20%. This girl had easily caught his powerful strike. Her strength was immense.

Seeing him hesitate, she set the bear down. She walked slowly toward him, no fear in her eyes. In fact, she seemed devoid of all emotion. She drew closer until the arrow’s sharp tip pressed against her.

"You... want to kill me?" Her flat voice sent chills down his spine.

Forget it.

Zhang Luan lowered the bow after a long hesitation. Clearly, she meant no harm. Otherwise, she’d have rushed him already. Then he’d have been forced to gamble with the Chaos Wheel and the Choice Coin’s first effect.

She picked up the bear again and offered it. "Here. Sister said to give gifts when others are around."

Looking at this emotionless girl, Zhang Luan’s heartstrings trembled. He unconsciously recalled Afan Yin’s smile—that breathtakingly beautiful face bore a striking resemblance to this girl.

He shook his head. This must be his imagination. Afan Yin was a celestial deity. How could she resemble some random girl here?

But fate played a cruel joke. The girl sniffed the air, narrowing her eyes. "Why do you smell like Sister?"

Zhang Luan instinctively glanced at the Choice Coin clenched in his palm. No way—this couldn’t be coincidence. Hesitantly, he showed her the coin.

"Hmm. Truly Sister’s scent." Her eyes locked onto his. "Are you the one she’s waiting for?"

The moment she saw the coin, she confirmed it. She pressed her petite body against him, tilting her head up to stare into his eyes.

Zhang Luan was speechless. He’d never expected to meet Afan Yin’s sister here. Was this reasonable? It made no sense. How could a celestial deity leave her sister in such a place? Yet why would this girl lie?

"Are you really Afan Yin’s sister?"

"Yes. I’m Aruola. Her younger sister."

Zhang Luan was certain now. In Afan Yin’s past, she’d lost a sister named Aruola as a child. That loss drove her onto the cultivation path, forging her into a legendary celestial deity. But Aruola was lost—why was she here? And her strength surpassed his own. No ordinary lost child could achieve that.

Aruola sensed his confusion. She brushed hair from her forehead and began her story.

Long ago, Afan Yin and Aruola lived where Acamana City now stood. A mage retired there from an unknown battlefield. People coexisted peacefully with him; sometimes he even helped locals. But one day, he foresaw his death at another’s hands. To protect himself, he slaughtered residents, twisting them into vengeful spirits to build this Mage Tower. He captured children for blood sacrifices—including Aruola.

Her disappearance drove Afan Yin to cultivate. She displayed invincible talent, rising to power. On the day she became a celestial deity, she traced fate’s threads to her sister’s trail. Only then did she learn the mage had killed Aruola.

Afan Yin descended upon the Mage Tower, dragging out the mage. He stared in despair, knowing survival was impossible. He realized his death fulfilled his own prophecy. Before Afan Yin could torture him, his spirit crumbled. He died from within.

To save Aruola, Afan Yin bound her lingering soul to the tower using fate’s power, making her its spirit. Yet Aruola’s soul remained hollow. Afan Yin sought countless ways to heal her, but only time could restore her—slowly absorbing natural energy across countless years.

For a long time, Afan Yin visited, talking and bringing Aruola’s favorite teddy bears. Until one day, she vanished completely. At first, Aruola feared the worst. Later, she received new bears and gifts carrying her sister’s scent. Clearly, something prevented Afan Yin from coming.

Hearing this, Zhang Luan recalled Afan Yin’s regretful gaze when she left. She hadn’t wanted to go—something drove her away.

What could drive away a celestial deity?

The answer was: the unknown.