Impossible!
"It's not me, but I've met someone with that aura," I probed further.
"Oh? Where did you see them?" Yao Yao asked, seemingly indifferent.
"At the summit of Tiecha Mountain."
Upon hearing this, Yao Yao's eyes widened in shock. She stared at me, aghast, "...You actually saw them!"
I smiled faintly. "Yes. Although it was only for a few seconds, it was my first time using the Qi-Reading Art on someone, so I remember it clearly."
Yao Yao's complexion turned pale, her gaze filled with hesitation.
That day on the mountain, after Yao Yao taught me the Qi-Reading Art, I immediately used it to examine her. She had the "strong qi in both shoulders, weak qi at the crown" three-tiered qi aura. However, that was the only time. Later, when I looked at Yao Yao again, her three purple qi auras became uniform. Perhaps she was faking it, or perhaps she had been possessed by Bai Ze (it should be possession, not reincarnation, given Yao Yao's age is over 400 years, not in her twenties) for a short while and hadn't adjusted her aura yet?
"It's okay if you don't want to admit it," I continued. "I know what you're thinking, you want to use me to divert attention. Because your current strength is still quite weak, right?"
Yao Yao neither denied nor admitted, continuing to fidget with her fingers, her gaze shifting from side to side, avoiding my eyes.
"As your comrade-in-arms," I pressed on with my viewpoint, "I strongly agree with your strategy of misdirection. To fight the Shan Hai demons, your safety is far more important than mine. If it were me, I would also use such a tactic, finding a trustworthy substitute to ensure the safety of the true Bai Ze until she becomes stronger. And this person must be someone closest to her. Only then, with the influence of the initial Bai Ze, can the attracted forces smoothly transform into genuine helpers for Bai Ze. Even if the fake Bai Ze sacrifices herself, the remaining power will still belong to the true Bai Ze, a natural inheritance, wouldn't you agree?"
Yao Yao stopped looking around and instead lowered her head, resting her hands on the edge of the bed and swinging her small feet back and forth.
"But I believe your intentions are not selfish, but selfless. Because Bai Ze herself was not reincarnated for selfish reasons, but for world peace, for the survival of humans and the Bai Ze demons, and even for the peaceful coexistence of the Yin and Yang realms. This is a very noble cause. For such a great cause, what does it matter if I am sacrificed? I would only feel honored and would never blame you."
Yao Yao slowly raised her head, her eyes filled with tears as she gazed at me. "You... you really think that?"
I rose from my seat and sat beside her, taking her hand and softly asking, "So, please tell me, are you 'Bai Ze', or are you my Yao Yao?"
"...I am both."
"What do you mean?" I didn't understand. "When did Bai Ze 'enter' you?"
"Twenty years ago," Yao Yao said seriously. "But after it possessed me, it didn't affect me. It just integrated its memories and mission into my mind. I am still me, I am still Mu Jige!"
"...Really?" I frowned. If that were true, it would mean that since I met her, nothing had really changed, and our feelings should have been genuine.
Yao Yao nodded emphatically. "It's true! No matter if I am the reincarnation of Bai Ze or not, I am your Yao Yao!"
"...Alright."
"But I regret it," Yao Yao said, straightening up and hugging my head.
"Regret what? Regret meeting me?"
Yao Yao shook her head. "No, I regret that I shouldn't have let you take such a big risk, being seen by the outside world as the reincarnation of Bai Ze. I shouldn't have let you be captured by the Shan Hai demons. I even regret involving you in this matter, regretting teaching you the Qi-Reading Art, regretting letting you help me open the seal, regretting... *sob sob sob*"
I didn't let her continue, sealing her mouth with mine. Yao Yao's tears fell onto the back of my hand.
"Your words are enough. No need to say more, I understand," I said softly.
Yao Yao slowly moved my hand away and continued, "From tomorrow onwards, I will announce to everyone that I am the reincarnation of Bai Ze, and direct all attention towards me. I don't want you to bear any more risks. Do you know, during the days you were away, I thought of you every moment, my heart bleeding constantly. It would be better for me to bear everything myself!"