Ling Linhan has imagined countless reunion scenes.
Maybe Ling Yao would look at him indifferently and ask him why he made such a stupid choice back then; or maybe he would smile and talk about other things without giving him any chance to explain or repent. For this reason, he rehearsed countless times in his mind how to speak so that Ling Yao could hear his own explanation and apology.
But when he saw Ling Yaofeng appear in front of him calmly and greet him naturally, all his prepared words seemed to be in vain. If it weren't for the restraint of an adult, he would probably burst into tears all of a sudden.
Although it was clear that he had nothing to feel wronged about, and it was even clear that it was his fault.
Although it is obvious that no matter how natural it is, it is still different from before.
He was still very happy.
"I won't comfort you, hypocritically saying that everything in the past doesn't matter, I don't care anymore. But...it seems like, that's it. I don't hate 'Ling Linhan', I just hate you. The identity of the 'Blessed One'. It is a thing of heaven that is higher than the laws of this world, so it also changes the fate of everyone...including me and you.
"If you must find the culprit, it should be the higher being, not you. Over the years, you have always been obsessed with the benefits you get from relying on this identity, and the consequences of the choices you made... It's all because I'm too weak, so I can't admit that my enemy is my destiny, which I can't defeat now. I can only put my resentment on you.
"It makes me feel stingy. I guess if you knew what I was thinking, you would also think I was stingy."
——But, he felt that he was further away from Ling Yao.
"But now. I think, I should take a step forward. Of course, I haven't reached the point where I put my hope in you - this sounds very much like the protagonist's character inserting a 'You must help me' Fulfill your last wish' flag.
"I hope that I... can look directly at the existence of 'Destiny'. It's there. And I can't change it yet. So now, I have to find ways to change it. Thinking on the bright side, at least it can't do anything to me now, isn't it? ? Haha!”
——Obviously he is now the famous "Five Elements Venerable" in the world of Mang Sheng, a true elemental power who can compete with Tian Xi, and even has the confidence to break through the mortal saints and even hit the super gods...
"Ah! However, I don't mean to hinder you, as long as you don't go astray. What I mean is, don't be obsessed with the concept of being blessed by heaven. I will not become a person like Tian Xi, nor will I change A person like Cheng Ling Xingran. I will find other ways to prove myself.
"So, just do what you think is right. If you have such talent and luck, just go and make this world a better place. I will...always look at you, before I die. So, Don’t be too disappointing!”
…
"In the future? Then we'll make another appointment. But you don't work, Lord Five Elements, how can you have so much free time to chat with me! Let me tell you, Xiao Liuhan has stopped being so clingy since he was five years old."
"It's whatever you want, that kind of thing. Anyway, they have been scolding each other for so many years. Do you think Yue Yaofeng has become shorter? It's the same if you want to use public opinion war to deal with Tian Xi. Unless you can defeat him 100%, otherwise there will be no success in the public opinion field. No matter how bad his image is, what can he do? In a duel of this level, things like public opinion are always used to establish a reputation after the fact. Strength is the last word to win or lose."
"You don't work, Lord Five Elements, how can you have so much free time to chat with me! Let me tell you, Xiao Liuhan has stopped being so clingy at the age of five."
"Wedding banquet? Let's forget it then? Do you still want to get married again? My dear, you just want to have another wedding! I won't go all the way to eat dog food. What's wrong with me!"
——But it seems that he can always only fall behind. Even if you don't pay attention, you will be out of reach.
But that's fine. very good already.
…
Five years later.
"Master. Master? Master!"
"Ah...hey! What's wrong?"
"You have been in a daze for a long time! What are you thinking about?"
Ling Yao's vacant gaze finally came back and fell on Xiao Liuhan. He drew a stroke with his hand and suddenly laughed:
"Kid, I didn't expect you to be fifteen in a blink of an eye. It's too fast. I feel like I'm already old——"
"Master, wake up. You are eighty-eight in your thirties this year, and you haven't even reached your forties yet. Why are you so anxious?"
"Haha, who knows? You should prepare early, future little peak master."
"...Master."
"Um?"
"Can't you wait until Tian Xi is dead before you think about those things? The evidence of his collusion with the demons has been conclusive. Didn't Ling Linhan say that he is now fully confident that he can bring him down? You don't want to see his The end?"
Ling Yao was stunned for a moment, then smiled and shook his head:
"You can already guess the ending, so what's there to wait for?"
"I know that even my father can't persuade you, and I certainly can't either."
Xiao Liuhan angrily sat down opposite Ling Yao.
"And you just want to go to the demon clan yourself to try the power of the sword formation you created, right? You idiot."
"Hey! I'm your master! Even if you don't use honorifics, why do you dare to scold me!"
"Master, you idiot!"
"Xiao Liuhan!"
"Master, you are such a fool!! If you don't consider me, you should also consider my father! You two brothers have been together for so many years, how could he accept you running away to die!"
Xiao Liuhan's fifteen years of life went smoothly and happily. He has loving parents, teachers who love him, and reliable partners. Maybe life was going too smoothly, and when he suddenly knew that his master's time was numbered, he even thought that his master was joking.
In fact, he should have guessed a long time ago that it is a miracle that a person whose Dantian is damaged can survive. His master was able to live until he was fifteen years old because he was nourished by the holy spring and repaired with the treasures of heaven and earth.
If the injury was not too serious and he was afraid that the sword energy would cause secondary damage to the body, as the master of Yueyao Peak of the Changling Sword Sect, how could his master have never picked up the Chengying since he was born? The sword has never been used once again?
But he still couldn't accept it. His master wanted to give up the last period of his life and use his last and peak state to go out and have a good fight with the demons.
It feels great. But death is still dead!
So does his dead father. Why didn't he stop his master?
Looking at the tearful little apprentice, Ling Yao hesitated several times and finally turned his head away:
"I will say goodbye properly, brat. This is the last time we meet. Please be obedient."
"Obey your ass! Next year I'm going to dance on your grave!"
"Who did you learn this from?"
"You didn't say that yourself! Dead people have no right to decide what living people want to do! You deserve it!"
"..."
Ling Yao flicked his little apprentice's forehead in an angry and funny manner.
"Okay! Please choose something better for me, I beg you!"
After that, he stuffed a letter into Xiao Liuhan's arms:
"After it's over, you take it to Ling Linhan, which is considered an explanation. You see how good I am to you, at least I finally met you. You still scold me!"
"Master, you are a big fool!!"
"Okay, okay, don't make trouble with your master."
Suddenly a familiar voice came from behind, pinching the back of Xiao Liuhan's neck and lifting him up.
"You brat, after talking to your master, it's my turn."
"Dad, you are a big fool!"
"Okay, okay, I'm stupid, and my whole family is stupid."
Xiao Jinnian rolled his eyes, carried Xiao Liuhan and walked out the door, and then - he threw his son out like garbage.
"Dad, you are a super invincible idiot——"
Xiao Liuhan's voice gradually dissipated. Xiao Jinnian clapped his hands and couldn't help but sigh:
"Hey, who did you learn this bad temper from? Oh, follow me."
"You know that too."
Ling Yao glanced at him, already accustomed to this guy's shamelessness.
Xiao Jinian shrugged and sat where his son had just sat. After a brief silence, he gritted his teeth and finally spoke:
"You have really decided..."
Ling Yao couldn't help but hold his forehead:
"Xiao Liuhan doesn't understand, so you don't understand either. I admit, after knowing that I will only go downhill in the future, I don't want to wait anymore. Even if I don't give it a try, I don't have a few years left; if Give it a try, maybe I can leave the world of Mang Sheng and survive in the world that Ling Xingran escaped from. Although it is a bit selfish to say so..."
"No. Of course I know."
Xiao Jinian interrupted Ling Yao's words,
"You are not selfish at all. Because I also... no matter which world you live in, I also hope that you can survive. Really. Even if I can't see you.
"But... how sure are you? If it is a fatal attempt, if you don't go, you can live for at least five years! I just hope you..."
His voice became louder and more urgent, but eventually it died down and disappeared.
In fact, this is all in vain. He had long known that no one could change Ling Yao's decision.
Moreover, he is actually the selfish one. Although he said he only wanted Ling Yao to survive, it didn't matter if he never saw her again. But he still hopes that his best friend can stay in this world longer and longer.
Because even if Ling Yao might really be in another world or, as long as he didn't see it with his own eyes, he couldn't help but feel that it was just a white lie by Ling Yao to comfort him.
But he can't be so selfish. because……
"A-Nian. I'm just...a little tired. And, unlike Ling Linhan, if I stay in this world forever, no matter how hard I try, I won't be able to become stronger.
"But without more power, and without more channels, whether it is to understand who Ling Xingran is, or to explore where the so-called 'plot' and the so-called 'system' come from, it is clear that all these operations are based on No matter what the law, I can't advance even half a point further - let alone break the 'destiny'.
“I want to move forward, but I only talk about it without taking action, so how can I do that?
"What's more... I'm a sword cultivator. But I haven't touched my sword for... eighteen years.
"I can bear not touching my sword for eighteen years, but I can't bear it. For the rest of my life, it will only be worn away and rusted little by little, and it will never be able to show its strength.
"Because the meaning of its existence is to shine with the most eye-catching brilliance when it is at its sharpest."
Xiao Jinnian said nothing. Or should I say, he couldn't remember what he said in the end. He only remembered the sharp light in Ling Yao's eyes when he finished speaking those words - this made him in the end, he could only watch Ling Yao leave in silence.
So he knew that Ling Yao was never talking about his sword, but himself. Because sword cultivation is not only about cultivating the sword to the extreme, but also about cultivating yourself into an upright and extremely sharp sword.
And now, this sword finally has a chance to be unsheathed, showing its last and most dazzling edge.
He should be happy for the other person.
should be happy...
"How old you are. He's gone, and you just want to cry."
Xiao Jinnian lowered his head and saw that Liu Yuya had walked up to him and looked at him with disgust.
"I……"
"Didn't he already say he won't die? Just believe him. Why are you thinking so much? Why are you crying?"
Liu Yuya frowned, stretched out her paws to pat Xiao Jinnian's head, and finally opened her arms,
"Here. Isn't it embarrassing? Let me hide for a while, don't let Xiaohan see his father crying so ugly."
"……good."
Xiao Jinnian leaned down and hugged that soft and warm body,
"good."
