Chapter 980 - Some things should stay in the past

Chapter 980: 980 - Some things should stay in the past

Qingyi let his wives and Lingxi accompany the sect leader and his wife through the vast palace.

Rouxi and Mingzhu had a lot to catch up on with the sect leader, and Rou’er needed some time with her adoptive father.

Soon, the young dragon found himself walking alone alongside Ma Zhenwu.

They wandered somewhat aimlessly, crossing long corridors and small gardens as they made their way toward Chen Wei’s pavilion. Their footsteps echoed softly against the polished stone.

That young man had been one of the first true friends Qingyi had made in the Celestial Heaven. And now, thanks to Qingyi, he had become a rising star in the sect, hailed by many as its future.

"You know... I can bring your wife back," Qingyi said, breaking the silence that had settled over their walk.

Ma Zhenwu froze instantly, his foot suspended in midair, unable to complete that step.

He stood there for a brief moment, staring at the stone floor, before slowly lowering his foot and resuming his walk as if nothing had happened.

"Hm... and how much do you want?" he asked in a casual tone.

"To bring her back?" Qingyi turned his face toward him, brows raised.

Of course it would be for free!

How could he possibly charge his wife’s grandfather for something like that?

"No." Ma Zhenwu shook his head. "To keep her dead for the rest of eternity! Hahaha!" He let out a loud laugh that echoed down the empty corridor.

This time, it was Qingyi who froze, his face darkening.

"Was she really that bad?" he asked.

"She once tried to poison our first child..." Zhenwu sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly. "I loved her... well, I loved her appearance, her face, her perfection."

He paused, his eyes lost somewhere beyond the garden.

"She was a difficult woman, beyond any redemption... She relished suffering, and, honestly, it was for the best that she passed away from a Qi deviation."

"I see..." Qingyi nodded slowly. "And Mingzhu’s parents?"

"They died before she was even old enough to crawl... Both were murdered in political conflicts within the family itself, while I was cultivating in seclusion."

He fell silent for a moment, his jaw tightening.

"If I hadn’t come out of seclusion in time, even Mingzhu would have died. In the end, all I could do was punish those involved."

There was a great deal of pain etched on Ma Zhenwu’s face; that much was clear.

But there was also a gentle smile there, and a faint glimmer of pride shining in his eyes.

He was proud of Mingzhu.

It was obvious to anyone that she was the main reason he had worked so hard to stay alive and strong after all this time.

That made Qingyi’s face darken even further.

Ma Zhenwu didn’t want Ma Mingzhu’s parents to be resurrected either.

He wanted the past to stay in the past, and to remain that way.

Qingyi didn’t question him.

Years go by; people change.

Longing, attachments.

Everything really does change.

"Do you want to hold the wedding here at the sect or at your family’s estate?" Qingyi asked, changing the subject.

"My family is in chaos because of the move... Well, the sect is too, but it’s still far more suitable." Ma Zhenwu scratched his beard, letting out a short laugh.

Qingyi nodded.

The two chatted for a few more moments, exchanging details about the ceremony, before finally parting ways at a fork in the hallway.

Qingyi headed straight for Chen Wei’s new pavilion, now one of the wealthiest and most luxurious residences in the entire sect.

When he arrived, the first thing he saw in the courtyard was a beautiful woman sitting in the shade.

She held a tiny baby—even younger than Lingxi—nestled in her arms.

The baby was dressed like a little princess, a pink bow resting on her delicate locks, the same color as her father’s hair.

Beside her stood another woman, visibly pregnant, one hand resting on her rounded belly, gently stroking the fabric of her dress.

Both were incomparably beautiful, and they gazed at the little girl with eyes full of maternal love.

The first woman raised her head, and her eyes fell upon Qingyi.

"Oh... Young Lord Qingyi!" She rose carefully, holding the baby close to her chest as she bowed to him with a warm smile.

"Come, I’ll go get Chen Wei!" she declared, hurrying into the house alongside the second woman, who followed at a slower pace, one hand still cradling her belly.

Qingyi merely waved to the two of them, slowly descending the steps to the courtyard.

The scent of cherry blossoms filled the air, and a few petals drifted lazily down to the stone floor, landing near his feet.

Soon, he saw Chen Wei emerge from inside the luxurious building, smiling and full of enthusiasm.

He was far more powerful than before. Just like his wife, he had made full use of the resources Qingyi had left for him.

Now, he possessed a bloodline and constitution that could be considered the strongest in the entire sect, his talent and strength unmatched.

Even the core disciples bowed their heads to him now.

"Qingyi, it’s good to have you here!" he declared, pulling Qingyi into a firm embrace and clapping him hard on the back.

"How have you been? I’ve heard some stories about your legendary exploits in the central region."

"I’ve been well, Brother Chen Wei, and it was nothing." Qingyi shook his head, already sitting down at a table beneath one of the many cherry trees in the courtyard.

Chen Wei sat down as well, his eyes sparkling as Qingyi pulled a bottle of wine from his spatial ring and set it on the table with a soft thud.

"Did you take a concubine?" Qingyi asked, pouring wine into two glasses. The sweet aroma of the wine mingled with the scent of the flowers.

"I didn’t think your wife would agree to something like that."

"Well... that’s her older sister... If it weren’t for that, my wife would never have agreed, hahaha." Chen Wei sighed, picking up his glass and swirling the wine inside it.

"And she’s not a concubine—she’s my second wife... Honestly, I think my fertility is a little too high. Some doctors are already saying she might be pregnant with twins."

"Older sister? You really are a man of good taste, hahaha!" Qingyi roared with laughter, slapping the table.

"Well... with her talent, the more children, the better," he said, spending a few lust points to give Chen Wei one final gift.

It was a small sealed container, filled with rare pills and cultivation resources. He slid it across the table until it came to rest in front of his friend.

"For your new wife. Have her take this right away. It’ll boost her talent and that of the children."