Chapter 367 - 202: Parting and Return

Chapter 367: Chapter 202: Parting and Return

Qing Xuan’s wife watched Qing Li’s reaction and smiled gently. She reached out to pat her back softly, her voice filled with reminiscence as she began to speak:

"Back then, your father was always reluctant to become Dao Companions with me. Then one day, he suddenly ran over and told me he wanted a daughter, and asked if I was willing to have one for him."

As she spoke, she shot an exasperated glance at Qing Xuan True Monarch, who stood beside them.

The moment she finished speaking, both Xu Ran and Qing Li froze, staring in utter disbelief at Qing Xuan True Monarch, who stood stiffly to the side.

This was the first time either of them had heard this story.

Xu Ran knew that Teacher Qing Xuan had only been moved to act on his desire for a daughter after seeing Little Xiyue in the Instructor Hall.

But he had always imagined it to be something incredibly romantic, especially after he learned that his master and his wife were childhood sweethearts from the same mountain village, and that she had waited several hundred years for him. It should have been a grand love story.

Now, hearing his master’s wife speak, he realized he had been reading too much into it.

Xu Ran’s mouth fell open, his gaze toward Teacher Qing Xuan filled with shock.

He never would have thought that Teacher Qing Xuan, who always appeared so stern, had won his love in such a direct manner.

What was even more shocking was that his master’s wife had actually agreed so readily.

At that moment, his master’s wife continued, "For a man to come to my door and say that as the first thing... my initial reaction was one of pure shame and anger. But that feeling quickly turned into surprise and happiness."

She tilted her head slightly, looking at Qing Xuan True Monarch with a tender gaze, and went on, "Because he was the man I had waited several hundred years for. So even though I was incredibly shy at the time, I still answered him loudly, without a moment’s hesitation."

"I was afraid that if I refused, I would lose my chance completely."

She reached out and gently smoothed Qing Li’s soft hair. "So I have you to thank. If it weren’t for you, I would never have gotten together with your father. Thank you for giving me such happiness."

"It’s just that after you were born, you never knew what you wanted to do. Seeing you like that, I felt truly guilty. I felt I had wronged you."

"Bringing you into this world... if you never found something you loved to do, it would be as if you were born solely to fulfill my happiness."

"Mother." Hearing this, Qing Li whispered again, then wrapped her arms tightly around her mother.

Her mother gently took her hands and continued, "Seeing that you’ve now found something you want to do, I’m truly happy. I can finally stop worrying that you came into this world for nothing."

"Thank you, truly. For bringing your father and me together, for making me a mother, for giving me my own home and family, for making me... so happy."

She cupped Qing Li’s cheeks, her gaze as gentle as still water. "Let me look at you a little longer. Then, you can go and do what you must."

Qing Li paused for a moment, then replied softly, "Mother, thank you for bringing me into this world, too. I love it, and I’m very happy."

Nearby, Xu Ran and Qing Xuan True Monarch silently watched the mother and daughter pour their hearts out to one another and say their goodbyes.

They both knew this would be the last conversation this mother and daughter would ever have in this life.

After today, his master’s wife would be Dust-covered. And Qing Li, after finishing what she had to do, would also quietly bid this world farewell.

Xu Ran had experienced many partings before, but they were always his own. It was rare for him to witness others saying their farewells like this.

This feeling was also very strange.

He couldn’t personally feel what they were feeling, yet a current of sorrow flowed through his heart.

He couldn’t quite describe the feeling.

*

*

*

The Dust-Sealed Stone, before use, was just a "stone" the size of a fist.

After being used, however, it could transform into various shapes according to the user’s will, enveloping them within.

After his master’s wife was Dust-covered, the Dust-Sealed Stone transformed into a semicircle, like an embrace. In the middle was a smaller semicircle, where she was encased. Through the transparent crystal, he could see a faint smile on her lips, enveloped by the Dust-Sealed Stone, and by happiness.

Although it was only half of a whole, Xu Ran could tell that once Teacher Qing Xuan was also Dust-covered, the semicircle would form a complete circle. The smaller semicircle inside would be for Qing Li.

’A complete circle, signifying a complete family of three.’

*

*

*

Shen Wuchen’s disciple, Xu Ran’s own grand-disciple Lu Mingchen, had also originally been set to become Dust-covered. However, when he learned from Li Daoyi that Chu Lingxiao would be joining the Profound Pure Sect, he postponed it.

He insisted on waiting until Chu Lingxiao returned from the outside and meeting him before he would be willing to become Dust-covered.

Lu Mingchen had never been able to get over something. Back then, the four of them had been so happy together, but one day, their journey together suddenly came to an end, and everyone went their separate ways.

Even after so much time had passed, he still couldn’t let it go and remained lost in sorrow.

He often wondered when they would be able to reunite.

Now that he’d heard Chu Lingxiao was returning, he insisted that he absolutely had to see him one more time before he would agree to become Dust-covered.

However, Chu Lingxiao was still out in the world. With the Illusion Spirit Sect destroyed by the Profound Pure Sect, the bounty on his head was gone. He was free to roam as he pleased, so he was in no hurry to head to the Profound Pure Sect.

Of course, it was also possible that he just wasn’t ready.

Once, like Li Daoyi, he had been seen as the future chief disciple of his Sect, enjoying the favor of all its members.

Now, his Sect was gone—and he was the one who had personally asked Li Daoyi to destroy it.

He had gone from being a Sect’s leading disciple to a homeless wanderer.

Joining the Profound Pure Sect was just part of a deal with Li Daoyi; it wasn’t his home.

Such a drastic change would certainly take time to get used to.

Both Xu Ran and Li Daoyi understood his feelings completely and didn’t press him.

Li Daoyi even said that as long as he wished, he could continue to practice his cultivation out in the world. Neither he nor the Sect would force him to return. If he ever ran into trouble, he could contact the Sect at any time, and it would be his staunchest supporter.

Only the honest and naive Lu Mingchen eagerly awaited Fellow Daoist Chu’s return every day.

Xu Ran and Li Daoyi both saw his anticipation but didn’t know what to say to him.

Both Xu Ran and Li Daoyi knew that even if Chu Lingxiao did return, their relationship could never go back to how it was before.

Before, they were fellow Daoists who treated each other as equals.

But now, Chu Lingxiao was a wanderer who, after suffering a major life upheaval, had traded himself to the Profound Pure Sect.

Even if Li Daoyi didn’t mind and was willing to continue treating him as an equal, would Chu Lingxiao himself be willing?

Some feelings can only be understood by the person experiencing them.

Perhaps it was precisely because of Li Daoyi’s statement that after several years of wandering, Chu Lingxiao finally sent a message. He said that his training had reached a stopping point, his cultivation had broken through, and he was now ready to fulfill his promise and head to the Profound Pure Sect.

Li Daoyi welcomed this, saying he would hold a feast to welcome him back.

Upon hearing the news, Lu Mingchen cried out in joyous surprise.

After dancing on the spot with delight for a moment, he suddenly seemed to think of something and looked at Xu Ran and Li Daoyi to ask:

"Grandmaster, Eldest Senior Brother, after the Heaven and Earth Dao Concealment, will the Demon Race start making plans against us? Like invading or something? If they do, those Five Young Demon Saints from the Demon Court will definitely be the vanguard, right?"

"If the Five Young Demon Saints attack, won’t you and Fellow Daoist Chu call on Fellow Daoist Qianxue, and the three of you will team up again to drive them back?"

A fiery light burst forth from his eyes, his face full of anticipation. ’If that’s the case,’ he thought, ’then maybe I can choose not to become Dust-covered.’

Because he wanted to see Eldest Senior Brother, Fellow Daoist Chu, and Fellow Daoist Qianxue fighting side by side once more.

He hoped that when the three of them stood together and made their names known to the world, he could be by their side to witness it all.

Hearing Lu Mingchen’s question, both Xu Ran and Li Daoyi fell silent.

Lu Mingchen still clung to their original goal, but the people who were meant to achieve it had long since walked down different paths.