Rebirth of the Scumbag and the Retribution of the White Lotus

A golden portal of light flickered before their eyes, emitting a warm glow. Zhao Shufang and Lu Lingyuan stood side by side, gazing at the portal's radiance. Though filled with doubt and anxiety, they both knew that behind this door lay a new trial, one that might even determine their fate.

"What do you think is behind this door?" Lu Lingyuan asked in a low voice, with a hint of nervousness in his voice, but also a firmness that could not be ignored.

Zhao Shufang closed her eyes slightly, feeling the power surge in the air. She didn't answer immediately, but took a deep breath. Her heart was no longer troubled by fear and hesitation. The battle just now had made her understand a truth even more clearly: the true challenge is always the struggle within oneself.

"I don't know." Her voice was calm. "But whatever it is, we have to face it."

Lu Lingyuan nodded slightly. Although he couldn't tell whether he was afraid or looking forward to it, he knew that after following Zhao Shufang to this point, there was no turning back.

"Let's go," he said to Zhao Shufang.

The two walked towards the light gate. As they approached, the golden glow grew stronger, and the air around them grew heavier, as if an invisible force was closing in. The moment they stepped into the light gate, a powerful suction force pulled them violently into the light. The entire world instantly became blurry, as if caught in a vortex, and the surrounding scenery was constantly changing.

After an unknown amount of time, the scene before them gradually stabilized. When they reopened their eyes, they found themselves in a vast, empty wasteland. There was no life here, only the low, mournful sound of the wind blowing through the weeds. The sky in the distance was gray, as if foreshadowing something ominous.

"Where is this?" Lu Lingyuan frowned, looked around, and was full of doubts.

Zhao Shufang also sensed the strangeness of this wasteland. Her gaze swept around and suddenly fixed on a vague black shadow in the distance. The shadow seemed to be slowly approaching.

"I feel something is wrong." Zhao Shufang said softly, "This is not just a simple trial scene."

"You mean..." Lu Lingyuan's eyes widened, "Is this some kind of illusion?"

Zhao Shufang nodded: "Yes, this place looks desolate, but there may be a bigger secret hidden behind it."

They said nothing more, instead cautiously moving toward the shadow. As they approached, the shadow gradually became clearer. It was a massive, ancient altar, intricately carved with totems and emanating a mysterious power. Before the altar stood a woman in white, her face calm and her eyes penetrating, as if she saw through everything.

"You are finally here." The woman's voice was soft and distant, as if it came from ancient times, carrying an irresistible power.

"Who are you?" Zhao Shufang asked, her tone calm but alert.

The woman didn't answer immediately, but smiled slightly: "I am the guardian of this place, or rather, I am a part of your destiny."

Lu Lingyuan frowned in confusion: "Part of fate?"

"Yes." The woman's smile remained unchanged. "This trial is not only a test of your strength, but also a test of your inner choices. The fate of each of you will be rewritten here."

Zhao Shufang and Lu Lingyuan looked at each other, both with some doubts in their hearts, but they both knew that since they had come here, they could not give up easily.

"What should we do?" Zhao Shufang asked, without any sign of retreat in her eyes, only deep determination.

"You must face your deepest fears and desires." The woman smiled gently. "This is a moment of decision. Only by making the right choice can you move forward."

As soon as she finished speaking, the runes on the altar suddenly lit up, and the air around them instantly became oppressive, as if some powerful force was pulling them. Zhao Shufang felt dizzy and was instantly sucked into the altar's light.

"Shufang!" Lu Lingyuan reached out to grab her, but was pushed away by an invisible force. The scene before him instantly became blurry, and his body seemed to be torn apart, and he gradually lost all consciousness.

Zhao Shufang was pulled into another dimension by a powerful force. When she opened her eyes, she found herself standing in an unfamiliar room, and the surrounding scenery seemed strangely familiar.

"This is..." Zhao Shufang's heart suddenly shook, she recognized this place - this was her childhood home.

The room was strangely quiet, and everything seemed normal, but Zhao Shufang felt a sense of unease. She slowly walked into the room, and in the mirror in the corner, she saw a familiar figure—a figure that looked exactly like her.

"This is..." Zhao Shufang's heart beat faster. She knew that this couldn't be just a coincidence.

She smiled in the mirror, a smile that was a bit cold and strange: "You are finally here."

Zhao Shufang was stunned, her lips trembling slightly: "Who are you?"

"I am you, or rather, the part of you that you have never faced." The self in the mirror whispered, "What you have been avoiding is the truest desire in your heart. You think you can get rid of it, but in fact, it has never left."

Zhao Shufang's heart tightened, as if countless voices were whispering in her ears. Those voices came from deep within her heart, full of entanglement and pain.

"Is what you said true?" Zhao Shufang's voice trembled slightly.

"Of course," the mirror image sneered. "You always think you can control everything, even your own emotions and desires. But this is just a way for you to escape. You should accept them, embrace them. Only then can you find true power."

Zhao Shufang felt a sharp pain in her heart, and her body seemed to be suppressed by an invisible force. She struggled hard, but was powerless to resist.

At this moment, Lu Lingyuan's voice came to my ears: "Shufang, don't believe her!"

Zhao Shufang turned around suddenly and saw Lu Lingyuan appear at the door, his eyes full of anxiety and determination: "You are not alone, you still have me."

She suddenly realized that the person in the mirror was not her true inner self, but her hidden fears and desires. She stopped running away and walked towards the false self.

"What I choose is my true self." Zhao Shufang whispered.

Instantly, the reflection in the mirror exploded, breaking into countless fragments that vanished into thin air. Her body also began to relax, and the room before her gradually dissipated, returning her to the altar.

Lu Lingyuan was already standing beside her, his eyes full of concern: "Are you okay?"

Zhao Shufang took a deep breath and a resolute smile appeared on her face: "It's okay, I can finally see clearly."

The woman's voice sounded again: "You made the right choice. Keep going."

The two looked at each other, nodded firmly, stepped forward, and embarked on a new journey.