The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 588 A Thousand Years of Dreams, A Hundred Faces of Life (Part 1)
"This is what I am"

Chen Ping'an looked at his hands, his expression somewhat dazed.

However, he quickly realized what was happening and his expression became incredibly clear.

Spiritual mysticism!
It is the spiritual secret technique of the Holy Maiden of Heavenly Net!
He was just fighting with the Holy Maiden of Tianluo when, in a moment of distraction, he arrived here. It was clearly the Holy Maiden of Tianluo's desperate attack, which she wanted to use to turn the tide of the battle.

"town!"

Chen Ping'an's eyes narrowed, as he tried to break through the illusion before him.

He was fighting the Holy Maiden of Tianluo, a life-or-death struggle. If he were to fall into the illusion, the consequences would be unpredictable.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, the scene in front of him did not change in the slightest.

"what happened?"

Chen Ping'an was stunned for a moment, then focused his mind again, trying to break through the illusion in front of him.

However, no matter how focused he was, the environment in front of him remained unchanged.

Only at this moment did Chen Ping'an suddenly realize that he could not sense anything at the center of his brow, nor could he feel any true energy flowing around his body.

"What method is this?"

Chen Ping'an's heart sank, and he had a bad feeling.

He suddenly stood up and looked around.

"here it is"

"Brother, you're awake! Time to eat!"

A familiar voice came from outside the door. Chen Ping'an looked in the direction of the voice and soon saw a little girl with her hair in two buns, which looked like two little horns.

"Erya!"

Chen Ping'an's eyes widened in surprise.

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw the little girl in front of him wrinkle her nose and look at him with a strange expression.

"Brother, what's wrong with you?"

"Hmm?" Chen Ping'an observed the details in the room, paying little attention to the girl in front of him.

The most urgent task is to break free from this illusion and wake up as soon as possible.

The situation on the field was changing rapidly; if he woke up too late, his fate would be uncertain.

"Brother, you always called me 'Nannan' before, why did you call me by my name today?"

Chen Pingan ignored the girl and walked to the door, looking outside.

Outside was a small courtyard with an old wooden table in the center and two stools beside it. The stools were covered in scratches and bore the marks of time.

Chen Ping'an's eyes narrowed, and he quickly walked out of the room, to the gate outside the courtyard, and took down the horizontal bar that was placed on it.

With a creak, the courtyard gate opened, and he immediately saw a long alley.

Pear Blossom Lane!
"Brother, what's wrong? Father said not to open the courtyard gate when he's not here!"

The little girl followed with small steps, muttering to herself.

"Daddy?"

"Yes, Father said so, Brother, have you forgotten?" The little girl tugged at Chen Ping'an's sleeve: "Alright, Brother, let's eat. Father just left some food for us."

Chen Ping'an then noticed that he was wearing a coarse linen shirt, which was somewhat worn but extremely clean.

not good!

They've sunk too deep!

Chen Ping'an's heart sank.

It all feels so real! Whether it's the courtyard or Er Ya in front of me.

"We must break through the illusion as soon as possible!" Chen Ping'an's eyes narrowed as he prepared to sense the spirituality between his brows.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't sense anything at all.

"My true essence has also vanished!"

After several attempts, Chen Ping'an's mood grew increasingly heavy.

"Brother, eat quickly! It'll get cold soon," the little girl said, pointing to the steaming bowl of white porridge in front of her.

Chen Ping'an felt heavy-hearted and had little appetite.

"You eat first, I'll go out and take a look."

Chen Ping'an left a message and walked straight out of the courtyard.

"Brother!" the little girl called out, but received no response from Chen Ping'an. She muttered under her breath, "Brother, really."

"My spirituality is unusable, and my true essence is gone. It seems the only way out is to find a loophole in this place."

Chen Ping'an was determined to break through the illusion and get out as soon as possible.

However, after wandering around outside for a long time, he couldn't find any flaws. Everything was so real, exactly as he remembered it.

The washing pool, the stone mortar where silver was once buried, and the faces of the neighbors—every single one of them is so real.

"Impossible! Any illusion must have flaws! Look again!" Chen Ping'an made up his mind. Years of cultivation had taught him to stay calm at all times.

The more critical the moment, the more important it is to remain calm.

If you lose your composure, it will be disadvantageous.

"It's the Chen family boy."

As he walked outside, neighbors greeted him.

Chen Ping'an looked closely and saw it was Uncle Gao. He nodded without saying a word.

Chen Ping'an visited several places and found no mistakes or flaws in the scenes and people he saw.

"If there's no problem outside, then the weakness lies inside?"

As this possibility crossed Chen Ping'an's mind, his thoughts drifted towards his own courtyard.

Along the way, the more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed!
Since it's an illusion, there's absolutely no way it can be unsolvable!
The fact that he can remain conscious and aware of the problem within the illusion means that he will definitely be able to break through the illusion.

By the time Chen Ping'an reached the courtyard, he was already panting heavily.

"This feeling..." Feeling his heart pounding in his chest, Chen Ping'an's expression turned serious: "Isn't it a little too real!"

That day, he inspected the entire courtyard, from the bedroom to half of the kitchen, and from the kitchen to every part of the courtyard, but found no problems.

Old Chen returned in the evening.

He had a square face, a robust build, and was wearing a soap-making outfit that he hadn't had time to change out of.

"Peace, little girl."

Old Chen walked into the courtyard with a smile on his face and a hearty voice.

Chen Ping'an stood in the courtyard, somewhat lost in thought.

He hadn't seen that smile in a long time.

Chen Ping'an stayed in the illusion for a month, during which he ran all over Nanquan Lane.

But the conclusion was that there were no errors or omissions!

It was as if he was facing not an illusion, but real life.

"There can't be no flaws, keep looking!"

Chen Ping'an was resolute and unmoved.

He patiently continued searching for weaknesses. In the following time, he began to practice according to the techniques he remembered.

However, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get any results.

The method was clearly correct, and every step was so clear, but the final result was completely useless.

"How is that possible?" Chen Ping'an felt a little heavy-hearted.

Three more months passed.

As time went by, whether due to the power of time or the effects of the illusionary space, Chen Ping'an's memories were gradually eroded.

It was as if everything before had been a dream.

"Impossible! My memory is absolutely accurate! This all really happened!"

Chen Ping'an's resolve was firm; the slight confusion in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by unwavering determination.

From that day on, he began to look out of Nanquan Lane.

Just like before, everything around me felt incredibly real.

Another six months passed.

"Ping An, your father wants to arrange a marriage for you. What do you think?"

In the courtyard, Old Chen looked at Chen Ping'an with a smile.

Chen Ping'an remained silent for a while.

Old Chen didn't urge him; he just watched him quietly.

"Was it really a dream?!" Chen Ping'an's eyes were somewhat confused. All the experiences over the past six months had felt so real. The passage of time was something he had personally witnessed.

If he were truly in a hallucination, he would probably have died long ago after such a long time.

"No! It's not a dream! It's my real experience, rising from humble beginnings to where I am today!"

"I can't fall here!"

The confusion in Chen Ping'an's eyes vanished, replaced by unwavering determination.

Two years passed in this way!
Over the past two years, he has traveled to almost the entire southern district. Everything about him is absolutely real.

Everyone has their own life, with different experiences and perspectives. This world, just like the real world, is without any flaws or shortcomings.

"Ping An, today is your coming-of-age day! Wearing this means you've truly grown up and will be a capable man from now on."

Inside the courtyard, Old Chen personally put a hair crown on Chen Ping'an's head.

Although the hair ornament was simple, it was clear that it was made with care.

"That's great, brother!" The little girl clapped her hands, her face full of smiles.

Old Chen grinned, his smile genuine and gentle.

"I've reached adulthood," Chen Ping'an said, looking up at the sky with a somewhat bewildered expression.

In his memory, Old Chen should have been dead long ago. How could this be?
Whether it's the passage of time or the effect of great power, past memories have become increasingly blurred.

As the days went by, everything felt so real. The interactions among family members felt so natural.

It's as if everything before was just a dream.

Many of the details have become hazy in my memory. The experiences that once moved me are now almost impossible to recall.

The confusion in Chen Ping'an's eyes grew deeper.

Sometimes, he would pinch his own hand to remind himself that he was in a hallucination and that everything around him was fake.

Sometimes, he wondered if he was dreaming, or if his memory was faulty. His past experiences were like the dreams he'd been having lately—beautiful experiences, but ultimately just illusions.

Living in the present moment is the most important thing!
Two emotions constantly intertwined, constantly crossed paths, questioning each other, yet...
Mutual integration!

Two more years passed.

“Ping An, you’re not getting any younger. I’ve arranged a marriage for you with the Ding family, the carpenters on South Street. Why don’t you go and take a look when you have time?”

Old Chen was all smiles, his eyes filled with a sense of accomplishment as his son grew up.

"Carpenter Ding?"

In the past two years, he had also taken on other jobs. He had heard of Ding the carpenter's reputation. He was a well-known carpenter in Nanquan Lane.

This time, Chen Ping'an didn't speak, but he didn't refuse either.

Old Chen smiled and urged Chen Ping'an to go and meet him.

"Ping An, let me tell you, the Ding family's daughter is incredibly beautiful. You'll be so lucky if you marry her!"

"So, Ping An, isn't that girl pretty?"

As soon as he returned to the courtyard, Old Chen came out with a happy face.

Chen Ping'an nodded without saying anything.

Meanwhile, the matchmaker, gesturing excitedly, chimed in, "Officer Chen, you've found the perfect girl! She's so clever and skillful, a match made in heaven for you, young Master Chen!"

"Hahaha, great!" Old Chen laughed heartily. He took a red envelope wrapped in red cloth from his pocket and handed it over.

The matchmaker took the red cloth bag, her smile widening as she cheerfully spoke auspicious words.

Chen Ping'an remained silent for a moment.

He went to Ding the carpenter's house and saw that the girl was indeed beautiful, with a delicate, almost radiant appearance. Her features seemed somewhat familiar, but his mind was a complete blank; he couldn't quite place her.

There are many things.
It seems I can't remember any of them anymore.

The Chen family courtyard was exceptionally festive today, with bright red lanterns hanging high in front of the door, casting a red glow over the courtyard.

In Nanquan Lane, the young Chen from Old Chen's family got married!

The small courtyard was packed with people, and there were also many people gathered outside the gate. Besides his few relatives, there were mostly neighbors and colleagues from Nanquan Lane who had come to congratulate him, giving Old Chen a lot of face.

"Worship heaven and earth!"

"Two thanks to the high hall!"

"Couple greetings!"

"It's done!"

The wedding was officiated by a clerk from the Nanquanli Lane Town Government, who was considered a very important figure to ordinary people.

According to long-standing custom, the higher the status of the officiant at a wedding, the happier the married life will be, and the more unpredictable the achievements of their offspring will be.

Having such an important figure officiate at the wedding signifies Old Chen's status and prestige.

"congratulations!"

Congratulations, Brother Chen!

"Joy and rejoice together!"

"."

The surroundings were filled with joy, but Chen Ping'an, dressed in his embroidered groom's attire, looked somewhat indifferent.

"Why can't I be happy even though I'm married? Is it because..."
"What did you forget?"

Chen Ping'an was somewhat bewildered, vaguely remembering that he had once had a dream, a dream that was incredibly vivid.

But he couldn't quite remember what exactly he dreamed about.

like
That happened a long time ago.

When Chen Ping'an entered the bridal chamber, he was drowsy and his mind was not quite clear.

On his wedding day, many people came to celebrate, and he drank quite a bit of wine amidst the toasts and exchanges.

Wearing a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, her face veiled, and her bright red wedding dress was as vibrant as fire.

Looking at the beautiful woman sitting quietly on the bed in front of him, Chen Ping'an felt a mix of confusion and anticipation.

Whether it was the effect of the alcohol or the dim candlelight around him, his heart seemed to beat a little faster.

He picked up the scale beam wrapped in red silk and gently lifted the bright red veil. As the veil fell, a delicate and lively face, as clear as a spring, appeared before him.

The beautiful woman lowered her clear eyes, her eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings, unable to conceal her nervousness and shyness.

Chen Ping'an was somewhat stunned, staring blankly at the beautiful woman in front of him.

He had a vague feeling that something was wrong, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.

As Chen Ping'an looked at her like that, the beauty's cheeks flushed like a sunset, and her delicate, jade-like hands gently clasped together.

Chen Ping'an also realized that something was wrong, and the strange feeling in his heart quickly disappeared.

The nuptial ceremony, involving drinking from the same cup.

Although the wedding ceremony was simple, all the necessary procedures and regulations were included without exception.

The two sat facing each other, their hands clasped together, and drank the cup of wine symbolizing their mutual understanding and close intimacy.

Even after putting down his wine glass, Chen Ping'an could still smell the girl's delicate fragrance.

The two cut off a strand of each other's hair, tied them together with a red string, and put them into a brocade pouch that had been prepared beforehand.

They cut their hair to tie the knot, their love unwavering.

As they lightly touched hands and tied the red rope, Chen Ping'an could clearly feel the girl's nervousness.

"My wife," he called softly.

The girl blushed, looking charming and beautiful.

Chen Pingan slowly reached out and gently lifted the girl's chin. The girl trembled slightly, her eyes filled with panic and shyness.

The paper windows and gauze curtains, the candlelight flickering like a bean, create a scene reminiscent of a watercolor painting, softening the small space with a gentle and tender ambiance.

Chen Ping'an's throat bobbed, and for some unknown reason, he blurted out a sentence.

"From this day forward, we are inseparable. I, Chen, will protect you for the rest of my life."

The girl gently tapped her pearly teeth together, bit her lower lip, and nodded slightly, suppressing her shyness.

Chen Ping'an felt a surge of warmth in his heart and embraced the girl.

Their lips touched, and in their tender moment, their dark hair fell loose, releasing a delicate fragrance.

The curtains fluttered, and a fragrant breeze wafted through the air.

A small, jade-like foot, with a taut arch and a graceful upward curve.

We became husband and wife, our love unwavering. Joy fills this evening, a time of tender affection and perfect harmony.

This night is destined to be sleepless!

P.S.: I originally wanted to finish writing it all in one go, but my enthusiasm waned as I wrote, so I'll have to wait until tomorrow to get back into the flow. I spent a long time writing the last paragraph, revising it repeatedly without being satisfied, and eventually realized it wasn't much different from the first draft.

The update tomorrow will probably still be in the afternoon. This part of the story is very important and may involve some of the main plot.

(End of this chapter)