………..
Western Peak, Lin Xian’s cave residence.
Inside the bamboo house, a withered old man lay on his bed.
Seated before him were a young man and a young woman, both around fifteen or sixteen years old.
More than ten days had passed since Yun Hao and Lin Shengyu became betrothed.
After briefly enjoying the warmth of family, Lin Xian had reached the end of his lifespan.
He lay on the bed, mustering what strength remained, and gave his final instructions to Yun Hao and Lin Shengyu.
Lin Xian’s turbid eyes revealed the gentle affection of an elder.
He turned his gaze to Yun Hao and studied the youth before him.
Dressed in white robes, though still young, the handsome brilliance between his brows could no longer be hidden.
His good-looking features were already beginning to show their full splendor.
In another year or two, he would surely become an elegant and graceful young noble.
The more Lin Xian looked, the more satisfied and fond he felt.
At the final moment of his life, he had finally found a good husband and a reliable support for Yu’er.
He spoke gently to the youth, whose eyes were already red and swollen yet refused to let tears fall, as if offering comfort.
“Child, I have lived for more than one thousand three hundred years. I have seen the splendor of the mortal world and the heights of the immortal path. I have witnessed and experienced them all. To meet you in the last days of my life and be able to entrust Yu’er to you leaves me completely satisfied.”
Yun Hao fought hard against the sting in his nose, refusing to let his tears fall.
He made a heavy promise to Elder Lin.
“Please rest easy, Elder Lin. This disciple will take good care of Junior Sister for the rest of my life!”
Lin Xian nodded in relief.
He could hear the genuine sincerity in Yun Hao’s words, unlike the reluctance when he had first agreed to the betrothal.
He understood the youth.
No matter what storms came in the future, he would protect Yu’er for the rest of her life.
He paused to catch his breath, then shifted his gaze to his granddaughter, whose eyes were already red from crying.
Deep inside, he had always felt guilty toward Lin Shengyu.
She had lost her parents when she was young and had never known parental love.
She had only been able to live with him.
He had finally raised her into a sect genius, yet because of his own carelessness three years ago during the immortal-demonic war, she had lost her cultivation and her sight, falling from the clouds to the bottom of the cliff.
He had never known how to make it up to Yu’er.
But now it no longer mattered.
He had found her a good husband, and her eyes had regained their light.
At least in the future she would be able to live a normal life like anyone else.
Lin Xian struggled, and with Yun Hao’s support he managed to sit up on the bed.
He extended his withered left hand and gently stroked Lin Shengyu’s little face.
“Yu’er, Grandfather is leaving and can no longer stay with you. From now on you must live well with Hao’er. Don’t throw tantrums or act willfully. You must understand the bigger picture.”
“You are already a grown girl. Hao’er and you have formed a betrothal, so you can already be considered husband and wife.”
Lin Xian spoke on and on.
The tears that had dried in Lin Shengyu’s eyes welled up again.
She could no longer hold back the grief in her heart.
She suddenly stood and threw herself into Lin Xian’s arms, her voice filled with heartbreaking sorrow.
“Grandfather…!”
Lin Xian gently pulled her into his embrace, his face soft with tenderness.
He combed her hair again and again, as if he wanted to smooth every strand.
“If you and Hao’er have a chubby little boy in the future, don’t forget Grandfather. Bring my great-grandson to Grandfather’s grave so I can have a good look.”
Lin Xian deliberately teased her, yet Lin Shengyu no longer showed her former shyness.
Instead she buried her little head even deeper into Grandfather’s chest.
She spoke with firm resolve.
“Grandfather, I will definitely do that!”
Lin Xian was momentarily stunned, his expression growing even softer.
He leaned close to Lin Shengyu’s ear and whispered something.
Lin Shengyu still did not rise.
She gave a gentle nod to show she understood.
Seeing this, Lin Xian finally let go of the last thread of worry in his heart.
He raised his aged head and recalled his entire life.
In his final moments, he seemed to return to his youngest days and remembered his stern, rigid father.
……….
“Xian’er, are you certain you wish to walk the immortal path?”
A rigid and serious middle-aged man asked the small child.
“Father, I want to learn! Please teach me, all right?”
The child answered without hesitation, completely missing the conflict and complexity in the middle-aged man’s eyes.
“Since you are determined to cultivate, then I will tell you. The path of cultivation is long and endless. One glance back and ten thousand lives vanish, leaving only yourself…”
“You must consider it carefully… Cultivating immortality leaves no room for regret!”
…………
He recalled the conversation with his father from childhood.
It felt as if it had happened only yesterday.
He was still that child, and his father was still alive.
“Cultivating immortality, huh…!”
With a helpless, bitter sigh, Lin Xian, accompanied by Yun Hao and Lin Shengyu, recalled the countless events of his past.
His eyes gradually lost their light, and his expression froze in a final smile that seemed to be both crying and laughing.
Western Peak’s forty-fifth generation elder, Lin Xian, passed away here and entered the Dao…
………….
Yun Hao and Lin Shengyu ultimately buried Lin Xian in the deepest part of the bamboo forest—the same place where Lin Shengyu’s blood relatives, her parents, had been laid to rest.
The two of them knelt before Lin Xian’s grave and respectfully performed the full mourning rites.
The surroundings were quiet.
Yun Hao watched Junior Sister remain kneeling for a long time and felt at a loss.
He could understand Junior Sister’s grief, because he felt the same.
Moreover, Elder Lin had been Junior Sister’s only remaining blood relative in the world.
Now that Elder Lin was gone, the sorrow in her heart was surely even deeper than his own.
But she had already been kneeling for an hour.
Junior Sister’s body was weak, unlike his own.
If she continued like this, she would not be able to endure it.
Yun Hao hesitated, yet in the end concern for Junior Sister’s health won out.
He moved to the girl’s side, gently took hold of her slender arm, and comforted her.
“Junior Sister, stand up.”
“Elder Lin in the heavens would not want to see you grieving like this.”
With Yun Hao’s help, Lin Shengyu slowly rose to her feet.
A moment later she turned to face him.
The sadness in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by tenderness.
She said something to Yun Hao that left him stunned.
“Senior Brother, Grandfather has already been buried. There is nothing more that needs your help here.”
“My eyes have recovered as well, so you should return to Sect Master Peak.”
Yun Hao froze.
His first thought was that he must have done something wrong.
He felt uneasy, and the fingers supporting Junior Sister tensed.
He did want to return to Sect Master Peak.
That desire had only grown stronger the longer he stayed away from Eldest Senior Sister.
He could not lie to himself.
He… wanted to see Senior Sister…
Yet he had only just promised Elder Lin that he would take good care of Yu’er.
Now, right after Elder Lin’s passing, he could not abandon Yu’er and return to Sect Master Peak…
He could not do such a thing.
“…Junior Sister, did Senior Brother do something wrong and make you uncomfortable?”
Lin Shengyu looked at Senior Brother, who suddenly seemed cautious, and shook her head with a light smile.
“Grandfather is no longer here, but Senior Brother, you still need to cultivate. I have lost all my cultivation and have not walked far on the immortal path, so I cannot help you.”
“Sect Master Peak has Eldest Senior Sister Luo Shuiling. She is Proud Sword Sect’s Eldest Senior Sister and has already reached the Dao Integration realm. She can guide you.”
She slowly explained her reasons to Yun Hao.
Yet Yun Hao still hesitated…
He thought for a moment, then shook his head.
He could not leave Junior Sister right now.
“I am not in a hurry to cultivate. I will stay here.”
Lin Shengyu felt a surge of joy, but she quickly calmed herself.
She spoke with both delight and gentleness.
“Senior Brother, I will be fine. My eyes have recovered, so I can take care of myself. You possess immortal aptitude and should not waste time staying with me. You should pursue greater heights.”
Then Lin Shengyu paused.
She tried to appear calm and generous, yet she could not hide the pure shyness of a young girl.
“Besides… we are not… not…”
She could not bring herself to say the last two words.
She slowly lowered her head.
A red blush spread across her little face, even the fine down on her skin clearly visible.
Her originally snow-white jade neck was also tinged with a faint pink.
She had grown shy.
The shyness of a young maiden overpowered a woman’s rationality.
Yun Hao looked at Junior Sister like this and felt a momentary stir in his heart.
He slowly lowered his head as well.
That was right—he had already formed a betrothal with Junior Sister.
No matter what the future held, he would take care of her for the rest of his life.
Yet the bitterness deep in his heart grew heavier and heavier until he could hardly breathe.
Eldest Senior Sister’s face suddenly appeared in his mind and refused to fade.
After a while Yun Hao raised his head.
He looked at Junior Sister and spoke with sincere solemnity.
“I will come to see you every day, Junior Sister. Until…”
He had originally wanted to say “until Junior Sister turns eighteen and we get married.”
But the words would not leave his mouth.
He could only lower his head again.
He dared not look at Junior Sister.
Lin Shengyu watched Senior Brother bow his head.
The spark of delight in her eyes slowly faded…
What she truly wanted to hear was that final sentence.
But Senior Brother… had not said it…
She felt a pang of disappointment, yet she quickly hid it.
She walked to Yun Hao’s side, suppressed her shyness, and gently took hold of Senior Brother’s hand.
This only made Yun Hao even less able to look at her.
………..
The next day, Lin Shengyu stood staring in the direction Senior Brother had left, lost in a daze.
She had not truly wanted Senior Brother to return to Sect Master Peak.
If possible, she would have kept him on Western Peak for the rest of their lives, living peacefully together away from the world.
But right now she had no choice…
She could see that even though Senior Brother had agreed to the betrothal, his heart was not with her.
It was still… with Eldest Senior Sister Luo Shuiling.
Forcing Senior Brother to stay would only make him miss Luo Shuiling even more.
She would never win his heart that way.
Instead of that, it was better to let Senior Brother return to Eldest Senior Sister Luo Shuiling’s side.
She knew Eldest Senior Sister Luo Shuiling’s personality.
She was too proud.
She would not truly value or cherish another person’s feelings.
Not even Senior Brother’s.
Once Senior Brother was back with Luo Shuiling, her personality would inevitably cause conflict between them one day.
That would be when her own chance arrived.
Such calculating thoughts might seem shameless to others, yet she was not afraid and did not regret them.
She would fight for her own happiness…
Because she, Lin Shengyu, liked Yun Hao.
Lin Shengyu slowly returned to the cave residence.
She lay in her boudoir, completely still.
The surroundings were silent, without a single sound.
The presence of Grandfather that she had always been able to feel was gradually fading…
Her nose stung with sorrow…
Now she was truly alone…
Being alone… felt very lonely…