Reborn in a cultivation world with my Ex girlfriends

Wang Li should have been celebrating.

He won.

Well, not in the traditional sense. He didn't technically defeat Mu Yuechan—because let's be real, that was never going to happen. Instead, he used his wits, found a loophole, and escaped the forced engagement.

And yet…

As he left the Frozen Lotus Sect's dueling arena, he felt strangely hollow.

Why?

He had literally fought for his freedom.

So why did he feel like he had lost something instead?

As he walked down the sect's frozen pathways, a voice called out to him.

"Hey, coward."

Wang Li sighed, already recognizing the speaker.

A woman with long silver hair, piercing blue eyes, and a disdainful expression walked toward him.

Mu Qingling.

Mu Yuechan's younger cousin—and one of the strongest female disciples in the sect.

She folded her arms. "You had the chance to be engaged to our Senior Sister, and you ran away?"

Wang Li rubbed his temple. "I didn't 'run away.' I just chose not to be frozen to death in my sleep."

Mu Qingling scoffed. "Hmph. You wouldn't have stood a chance anyway."

Wang Li sighed. "Then why are you even mad?"

She hesitated.

Then scowled. "Because! You made Senior Sister look bad!"

Wang Li paused.

"…Come again?"

Mu Qingling pointed an accusing finger. "You rejected her in front of the entire sect! She's the Ice Demoness! No one has ever dared to turn her down before!"

Wang Li groaned. "It's not like I rejected her romantically. I just—"

"You embarrassed her," Mu Qingling snapped.

He blinked.

Wait.

Had he?

Mu Yuechan had acted indifferent after the fight. But now that Wang Li thought about it…

Her words had been too calm.

Her departure too quiet.

Was she… actually upset?

Wang Li frowned. "Why do you care?"

Mu Qingling crossed her arms. "Because Senior Sister is my idol! And she deserves better than a coward who runs away from her!"

"I wasn't running away!"

She glared. "Then prove it."

Wang Li froze.

"…Prove what?"

Mu Qingling grinned. "You're still technically a guest of the sect for the next three days. That means you have time to change your mind."

Oh, no.

He immediately shook his head. "Nope. No changing minds. I am free. I'm out. Done."

Mu Qingling smirked. "Then why are you still thinking about her?"

Wang Li flinched.

"I'm not."

She raised an eyebrow.

"Sure. Whatever you say, coward."

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Wang Li standing alone in the snow, staring at nothing.

Because the annoying part?

The part that really bothered him?

Mu Qingling was right.

He was still thinking about her.

---

That Night – Inside Wang Li's Temporary Guest Room

Wang Li sat cross-legged on the floor, staring at the ceiling.

He was free.

Free.

So why did it feel like he had made a mistake?

Was it nostalgia? Guilt? Or just the fact that Mu Yuechan had left without a word?

He remembered their past life together.

She had always been cold, distant, unreadable. But back then, he had managed to break through that ice. He had seen the girl who hid beneath that aloof mask—the one who secretly liked sweet things, cheesy romance novels, and stargazing on quiet nights.

Back then, she had let him in.

Before everything fell apart.

He sighed. "Maybe I should at least check on her."

Wait. No. Bad idea.

If he went to check on her, he'd just fall back into the trap.

He needed to move on. Find another sect, another adventure.

Maybe even another girl.

Right?

…Right?

He groaned.

Before he could argue with himself any further, there was a knock at the door.

Wang Li blinked. "Huh?"

Who the hell was visiting him this late?

He cautiously opened the door—

And froze.

Because standing there, her silver hair glowing under the moonlight, was Mu Yuechan.

Mu Yuechan's Unexpected Visit

"…Can we talk?" she asked.

Her voice was calm. Unreadable.

But Wang Li knew her too well.

That wasn't the voice of a woman who didn't care.

He swallowed. "…Yeah. Sure."

He stepped aside, and she walked in.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then she turned to face him.

"So," she said, "you really don't want this engagement?"

Wang Li hesitated.

"I… don't know."

Mu Yuechan narrowed her eyes. "You don't know?"

Wang Li groaned, rubbing his face. "Look, Yuechan, this is complicated."

She folded her arms. "No, it's simple. Either you want to be with me, or you don't."

He flinched.

"Yuechan, we both know it's not that easy."

She exhaled. "Why?"

Wang Li hesitated.

Then he sighed. "Because… we've done this before. We've tried. And it didn't work."

She stiffened.

"…That was another life."

"Yeah," he muttered. "And it ended with us being enemies."

Silence.

A cold breeze drifted through the room.

Mu Yuechan's expression was unreadable.

Then, finally, she spoke.

"I didn't hate you."

Wang Li froze.

"…What?"

She met his gaze. "Back then. I didn't hate you."

He swallowed. "Then why did you—"

"I had no choice."

Her voice was soft. Almost… sad.

Wang Li stared at her. "No choice?"

She didn't answer.

Instead, she turned toward the window, staring at the snowfall outside.

Then, finally—

"I won't force you into this engagement," she said. "But if you don't want it… then this is where we part ways."

Wang Li's breath caught.

She turned to face him.

"So," she said, voice calm but firm. "Decide. Do you want to be part of my life again… or not?"

His heart pounded.

Because for the first time since he had arrived in this world…

He didn't know what he wanted.