I will be stronger after the remake

Yu Shujiang unleashed several spiritual techniques in succession, but with the same result as the Brahma Wheel Breaking Boundary Finger, they were all blocked by an invisible barrier of energy.

She glanced down at the babbling brook flowing onward, completely unaffected by the air wall. Looking up, the peach orchard in the distance was clearly visible. With her sharp eyesight, she could even see the plump, juicy peaches hanging on the branches. The hills further away were rather blurry, shrouded in a layer of mist.

Tang Ping said helplessly, "It's just a metaphor. How could I be inexplicably teleported into the game?"

After saying that, he used water-based magic to control the water flow forward. He didn't care that the air wall blocked him, and continued to control more water to stick to the air wall, forming a wide water curtain.

Then, Tang Ping stepped back, and after creating some distance, looked at the water curtain in front of him and was surprised to find that the seemingly straight water curtain was actually curved.

"As expected, the invisible wall was not set up randomly, but was spherical."

“You can’t see it clearly when you’re too close; you can only see the curve when you’re far away,” Yu Shujiang nodded, then looked puzzled. “But even if that’s proven, what does it mean?”

Tang Ping said, "This means that we are currently in an isolated small world. The whole world is only this big. Anything beyond that is an illusion and does not exist. The mythical ruins discovered so far are all directly connected to the Illusionary Realm and are part of the Illusionary Realm. However, we were transported here by the vortex, so we are very likely not in the Illusionary Realm. In fact, after I was transported here, I tried to use the Return Spirit Technique, but it did not work, which can be considered as proof of this conjecture."

Yu Shujiang looked confused: "Then where are we now? If this isn't Peach Blossom Spring, why does the scenery look so similar to the description in 'The Peach Blossom Spring'?"

Tang Ping said, “I have a guess, but there is no evidence at the moment. Please listen to it for now. We are indeed in the mythical ruins of Peach Blossom Spring. However, these mythical ruins have not yet been born and are still in the process of being conceived. Once they are fully conceived, the mythical ruins will be embedded into the Illusionary Realm and completely integrated into one. Before that, these unformed mythical ruins exist independently in a certain other dimension.”

“That sounds reasonable,” Yu Shujiang nodded, then looked troubled. “How are we going to get back? Return magic is ineffective, we don’t know how to teleport, and our spirit grids are unrelated to space.”

Tang Ping said, "Let's go back, pass through the cave and enter Peach Blossom Village, and see if we can solve the mystery."

Yu Shujiang asked hopefully, "If I untie it, can I go back?"

Tang Ping poured cold water on the idea, saying, "I don't know. Maybe we can, maybe we can't, but we can't do anything else anyway, so it's okay to give it a try. Even if we can't go back in the end, living in a village inhabited by humans is better than sleeping in the wilderness."

"……All right."

Yu Shujiang couldn't think of any better solutions, so she had no choice but to try anything as a last resort.

However, halfway there, she suddenly remembered something and exclaimed excitedly, "Brother, don't worry, my dad will definitely come to save us when he finds out!"

Tang Ping shook his head and analyzed: "First of all, Uncle Jiang is indeed very powerful, but powerful as he is, it doesn't mean he can rescue us. After all, we don't know what the situation is now, and spatial teleportation may not be able to reach the unformed mythical ruins."

"Secondly, based on my understanding of Uncle Jiang, if he is sure that we are not in danger, he may not be willing to help. He would only help if someone begs him."

"Finally, if there's really no other way, we'll just wait here until the mythical ruins are fully formed and integrated into the Realm of Illusion, then we can leave at our leisure."

After hearing this, Yu Shujiang felt quite frustrated, realizing that she was really not good at reasoning and analysis, but she quickly recovered.

If you're not good at something, then you are. There's no rule that everyone has to be a jack-of-all-trades. Anyway, there are powerful people you can rely on, so why make trouble for yourself? The key is to know yourself and not overestimate your abilities.

The two followed the stream back to the cave entrance and went inside without hesitation.

Perhaps because the two ends are connected, the air inside the cave is not turbid. You can even feel a moist breeze carrying the fragrance of grass and trees. The peach blossom-shaped stalactites hanging from the cave ceiling have a warm, milky white glow. The water droplets that condense are as clear as pearls and drip onto the stalagmites below, making a crisp and pleasant sound.

Yu Shujiang looked around nervously, but found nothing suspicious. She saw vines winding along the stone wall, their leaves lush and green, and pale pink flowers dotting the vines, swaying gracefully in the wind. Upon closer inspection, she discovered that the stamens in the center of the flowers were slowly rotating, emitting a soft halo.

She breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It seems there's no danger. Well, there are no dangerous mechanisms or creatures in the original story. Even if Peach Blossom Spring has become a mythical ruin, I can imagine which plot could become a puzzle to test us."

Tang Ping said, "Don't let your guard down. There are two things you need to be wary of. One is Cao Poshi. This guy was also caught in the vortex, and he was there even earlier than us. We didn't find any trace of him when we walked back and forth along the stream. Although we can't rule out the possibility that he was teleported to other mythical ruins, we still have to be careful."

"Another thing is not to lie. The only strange thing in the original story is that the fisherman promised the villagers that he would not reveal the location of Peach Blossom Spring. However, after he went out, he told the governor, but he could no longer find the way to Peach Blossom Spring, even though he had marked it when he came out."

Yu Shujiang said thoughtfully, "You must keep your promises, or you will be punished. Although the punishment in the original work is not severe, it seems that this is the only place where you can set up a puzzle."

The two continued forward, and after walking for a short while, after turning a corner, they could vaguely see a soft halo of light shining through the distance, and subconsciously quickened their pace.

As the two stepped out of the cave, their view suddenly opened up, revealing a peaceful and tranquil village.

The houses with blue tiles and white walls are scattered in an orderly fashion. Strings of pink and white lanterns hang under the eaves. In the terraced fields in front of the village, golden rice ears sway gently in the wind and rustle. Small fish dart through the stream, their tails shimmering with tiny silver light. The village road is paved with warm white jade slabs, and tender green grass grows in the gaps, with crystal dewdrops rolling on the leaves.

The laughter of children could be heard in the distance. Several boys dressed in plain short clothes chased after colorful butterflies. Under the old locust tree at the village entrance, an elderly man with silver hair was weaving peach blossom-shaped objects with bamboo strips. His face was full of a kind smile. The pottery jar next to him was filled with clear water, reflecting the blue sky and white clouds.

"Guests from afar, please come in!"

With a hearty, deep voice, an elderly man with white hair, dressed in a dark blue robe, strode over from a distance. The jade pendant around his waist was carved with a lifelike peach tree, making a crisp clinking sound as he walked.

"I am the village chief. I heard about the strange noises at the cave entrance, so I came to check it out." The old man's gaze was gentle as he looked the two of them up and down. "Judging from your attire and demeanor, you're not from around here, are you?"

Tang Ping stepped forward, clasped his hands in a respectful greeting, and said, “Sir, you have a good eye. We are just tourists from out of town. We got lost while exploring the mountains and stumbled into this place by mistake. Please forgive us if we have caused any disturbance.”

Yu Shujiang paused for a moment, then imitated Tang Ping's archaic tone and said, "I hope to stay here for a few days and leave once I find a way out."

"What are you saying!" The village chief waved his hand with a smile and warmly led the two into the village. "Our village hasn't had any outsiders for a long time. Since you're here, it must be fate. Come and rest at my house first, try some of the peach blossom wine that I made, and then we can talk about the outside world!"

Along the way, the village chief kept introducing the village's situation, from the spring peach blossom banquet to the autumn harvest festival, his words full of pride, not at all like a stranger.

Tang Ping and Yu Shujiang exchanged a glance, their vigilance undiminished, yet they were also infected by this enthusiasm. They curiously surveyed the mysterious village, but found nothing unusual. If they had to say, the scene they saw perfectly matched the idyllic life that literati yearned for, simple and beautiful, which made it seem somewhat unreal.

After a hearty dinner, Tang Ping took the opportunity of casual conversation to tentatively inquire about the villagers' origins.

The village chief did not hide anything and told the truth: "It's a long story. Our ancestors came here to escape the war. They led their people to find this place and saw that the land was flat and spacious, the houses were well-arranged, and there were fertile fields, beautiful ponds, mulberry trees and bamboo groves. So they settled here and never left again."

This answer is exactly the same as that in "The Peach Blossom Spring," only the dynasty is different.

Tang Ping and Yu Shujiang exchanged a glance and slowly breathed a sigh of relief, but still carefully observed their surroundings. Tang Ping paid close attention to the village chief's subtle changes in expression and secretly prepared herself to deal with any unexpected situations.

However, as night fell, apart from the villagers' simple smiles and warm hospitality, no unexpected incidents occurred.

The village chief specially prepared the most spacious room in his house, where the bedding exuded a faint scent of sunlight and peach blossoms.

Outside the window, the peach tree swayed gently in the moonlight, with occasional petals falling. The sounds of children playing had long since faded away, leaving only the chirping of insects.

Tang Ping and Yu Shujiang had experienced a great battle during the day and had been on guard all night. They were exhausted, so they couldn't resist the urge to sleep and fell into a deep sleep on their warm beds.

……

The next morning.

Tang Ping and Yu Shujiang woke up to the crowing of a rooster and walked outside, looking somewhat bewildered.

The village chief stood in the courtyard, leaning on a peach wood cane, followed by a village woman carrying a bamboo basket filled with steaming hot osmanthus cakes.

"The young couple is finally awake!"

The village chief's hearty laughter startled the birds on the branches. He looked at the two of them with affection and said, "I have already spoken to the villagers about your situation. They have no objections and all agree that you should live in the village."

"Our thing?"

As soon as Tang Ping recalled the events, she felt a headache coming on and couldn't help but hold her forehead.

Yu Shujiang hurriedly asked with concern, "Brother, what's wrong?"

“Oh dear, young man, have you forgotten what you said yesterday? You two are a couple who pledged your lives to each other and came to explore the mountains together. However, you got lost and stumbled upon Peach Blossom Village. Seeing the beautiful scenery here, you decided to stay,” the village chief said.

"Is that what it looks like?"

Why would I lie to you?

"But if we're a couple, why does she call me 'brother'?"

"Hey, it's perfectly normal for a wife to call her husband 'brother' and for a husband to call his wife 'sister.' It's just a bit of fun between husband and wife, let alone for lovers," the village chief said dismissively.

The village woman next to her chimed in, "I call my man 'Brother Zhang.' I've been calling him that since I was little, and I haven't changed it even after we got married."

"I am Tang Ping's girlfriend..."

Yu Shujiang initially showed a surprised expression, but gradually, she seemed to accept this situation, and her face became shy.

The village chief then said to Tang Ping, "Young man, are you perhaps still half asleep? You don't actually think you're siblings, do you? If you have such doubts, why don't you look in the mirror? You two don't look alike at all."

Despite the headache, Tang Ping refused to give in and gritted her teeth, saying, "Where is a mirror? Let me see."

"What a coincidence, I happen to have one here."

The village woman took a mirror out of her basket and handed it to Tang Ping. Tang Ping glanced at herself in the mirror, then at Yu Shujiang, whose face was flushed, and murmured, "We really don't look alike at all. We can't possibly be siblings..."

He vaguely remembered that he had the ability to detect lies, and since this ability had not worked just now, it was clear that the village chief was not lying.

With these two pieces of evidence corroborating each other, Tang Ping couldn't help but scrutinize the village chief's statement with a newfound trust.

Just as he was beginning to doubt, trust inexplicably overwhelmed his suspicion, and the somewhat hazy memories in his mind suddenly became clear. Upon careful reflection, they turned out to be exactly the same as what the village chief had said.

"...Old man, you have thought this through. It is indeed true that we two are captivated by the beautiful scenery here. If we could stay here for a long time, we would be more than happy to do so."

Tang Ping clasped his hands in apology and nodded, then stepped forward to accept the pastries offered by the village woman.

“In that case, I’ll take you around to get acquainted with the place now.” The village chief nodded in satisfaction. “We’ll have someone clean up that unused bamboo house at the east end of the village for you to stay in temporarily.”

Yu Shujiang lowered her eyes to hide the embarrassment in them and replied softly, "Thank you for your care, Village Chief."

"Of course, of course. It's rare to have a new person join us, and everyone is very welcoming."

The village chief walked ahead, leaning on his cane, his legs as nimble as a young man's.

Just as Tang Ping was about to follow, her hand was suddenly grabbed. Turning around, she saw Yu Shujiang blushing and timidly saying, "It's normal for couples to hold hands, isn't it?"

Tang Ping glanced at the hands she was holding and felt something was off, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Besides, she didn't feel any aversion to it, so she agreed, "Okay, let's go together."

Chapter 235 A lie is still a lie

Jiang Zhenhua has a good habit of never going over time in class, and he has a very precise grasp of the teaching progress. There has never been a situation where the bell rings for the end of get out of class but he has not finished teaching the prepared content. Therefore, the students all like him very much.

"Alright, get out of class dismissed."

As always, less than five seconds after Jiang Zhenhua finished speaking, the bell rang to signal the end of get out of class.

"stand up!"

The class monitor called out, leading the whole class in saying, "Goodbye, teacher."

"Okay, goodbye, everyone."

Jiang Zhenhua waved his hand, took his lesson plan back to his office, tidied it up briefly, and then rode his bicycle home from get off work.

He is a rather traditional man, so he rides a Phoenix brand 28-inch bicycle. Combined with his temperament that is out of step with the times, he really gives onlookers the illusion of being back in the 1980s.

However, as a familiar ringtone sounded and Jiang Zhenhua pulled a smartphone out of his pocket, the illusion of returning to the past was easily shattered.

"Hello, is this Mr. Jiang? I have some very important news to tell you about your daughter. Yesterday, she was involved in an operation by the Psychic Management Bureau..."

During the phone call, the official quickly recounted what had happened in the Changde Illusionary Realm the previous day.

The reason for the one-day delay was that Ling Chong and the others had no idea about Yu Shujiang's background. After trying various methods and failing to contact Tang Ping and Yu Shujiang, they chose to report to the organization and seek assistance.

Unfortunately, very few people within the organization knew Jiang Zhenhua's true identity, and Jiang Zhenhua never asked for special treatment for his daughter. The subordinates simply followed the procedures and reported the information. After several transfers, the keywords were finally triggered, attracting the attention of those in the know. Only then did they learn the truth and contact Jiang Zhenhua.

"...We've already consulted a fortune teller to confirm that your daughter and Tang Ping are both alive and out of immediate danger. Regarding how to rescue them, we plan to convene a group of psychics who are skilled in spatial psychic abilities for an emergency discussion. Do you have any better suggestions?"

Jiang Zhenhua stopped the car, tapped one foot on the ground, and quickly calculated with his fingers. After a moment, he said, "You don't need to get involved in this matter."

"Huh? You mean we don't need to get involved?" The person on the other end was clearly confused.

"It means exactly what it says. If nothing unexpected happens, they will return safely. You don't need to consider my situation or hinder other people's rescue efforts. Just let things take their course and follow the normal procedures to rescue them."

"...I understand, everything will be done as you wish."

After the other end of the phone hung up, Jiang Zhenhua calculated the numbers several more times, then sighed and said slowly, "Daughter, this is all I can do to help you. Whether you can seize the opportunity depends on yourself."

He put his phone back in his pocket, pedaled again, and continued riding, casually reciting: "Without heart, one cannot dream of the countryside; with ambition, one must become a celestial being beyond worldly concerns. The depth of affection, the length of fate, whether it withers or flourishes, all depend on a single thought."

……

The house the village chief prepared for Tang Ping and Yu Shujiang was quite clean and fully furnished with basic furniture, so they could move in immediately.

Tang Ping thanked the village chief and then cleaned the room with Yu Shujiang. Although he vaguely felt that something was wrong, he couldn't figure out why for a while. After thinking it over, he didn't seem to have any reason to leave, so he decided to stay for a while.

After spending the whole morning, the two finally cleaned the room.

Just then, Aunt Wang, who had come over that morning, brought over a wicker food box again, and took out freshly steamed lotus leaf rice, braised quail eggs, fresh seasonal vegetables, and a pot of sour plum soup.

"We don't have fancy dishes; our country cuisine is all about freshness. Please don't find it lacking."

"Not at all, we're just eating and staying for free. It would be rude of us to be picky. Besides, the food is delicious; you might not even be able to find it in the city," Tang Ping quickly replied.

"Haha, I'm glad you two are satisfied."

After lunch, the two decided to explore the entire village since they had nothing else to do. They strolled hand in hand along the white stone paths, with fallen petals under their feet and swaying flower shadows overhead.

As Tang Ping walked through the courtyard, a thought struck her, and she plucked a peach blossom and pinned it to Yu Shujiang's temple.

"Brother, what... what is this?"

Yu Shujiang blushed deeply once again.

"Since you're a couple, this kind of intimacy is normal, isn't it?" Tang Ping said calmly.

"……Um."

Yu Shujiang lowered her head shyly, her fingers clasping even tighter.

The two walked to the old locust tree at the entrance of the village. The village chief was teaching the children to tie love knots. When he saw them coming, he smiled and handed them two bamboo baskets: "The new bamboo shoots on the back mountain are just breaking through the soil. They are so fresh and tender. Pick some and I will make you bamboo-stuffed bamboo shoots tonight."

Tang Ping and Yu Shujiang readily agreed, took the bamboo basket, and walked to the bamboo forest behind the mountain. Looking up, they saw spring bamboo shoots emerging from the soil, wrapped in brownish-yellow bamboo shoot skins, looking fresh and tender.