The sound of rain suddenly intensified, drowning out all other sounds. Qin Yan, with his back to Fu Changling, froze in place.

He listened to the sound of the rain. After a long while, he seemed to come back to his senses and whispered, "Let's go to sleep first."

After saying this, he didn't give Qin Yan a chance to respond. He walked out the door and closed it.

Then he stood at Fu Changling's door, clenching the sword in his hand, watching the heavy rain outside.

His mind is in turmoil.

He didn't know where this chaos came from, nor did he know how it would end.

He had always been a man of few expectations when it came to cultivating the Dao. He had been pure-hearted and aloof from desires since childhood, and everyone said he and Xie Yuqing were good candidates for cultivating the ruthless Dao, so he chose it.

He never thought about letting go of anything, nor did he think about caring about anything. He just took things as they came.

When he was young, he also thought that if one day he met someone he liked, it would be okay for him to not practice the ruthless way, but he had never met someone he liked.

When he met her later, they couldn't be together, so love became torture and ruthlessness became his salvation. He restrained all his emotions and the only way to go on alone.

There was no way he could like this person anymore.

He looked at the heavy rain quietly, thinking of the sword shadows and knife lights in his previous life.

Liking this thing is too shameful and too humble. If possible, he doesn't want to touch it again.

Thinking of this, he lowered his eyes gently, slowly released the hand holding the sword, and then he flipped his hand, and an umbrella was in his hand. He opened the umbrella and stepped into the wind and rain.

Fu Changling was sitting in the room. He heard the footsteps outside the door gradually moving away until there was no sound anymore. Then he lay back down, pulled up the quilt, faced the dark ceiling of the bed, and listened to the sound of the night rain outside.

"Don't be sad."

A gentle female voice rang out. Fu Changling was a little surprised when he heard the voice. "Senior!"

Fu Changling said, and quickly sat up, "Senior, you are still here!"

"I'm in the sword," the woman said gently, "If you bring Tan Xin out, I'll be there."

Hearing this, Fu Changling leaned back on the bed and said, "If you hadn't said anything, I would have almost forgotten your existence."

"Talking consumes spiritual energy." The woman's voice was calm. "I saw that you were unhappy, so I came to talk to you."

Fu Changling smiled and said, "It's not a big deal."

Having said that, Fu Changling didn't want the senior to pursue the matter between him and Qin Yan any further, so he said, "Senior, you have always been attached to the Tanxin Sword. Now that I have brought the Tanxin Sword back, if there is any old friend you want to find, I will tell them on your behalf."

Fu Changling had tentatively asked about this senior's background before, but he'd always evaded the question. Previously, while staying at Wangu Cliff, asking was pointless. Now that he was out, Fu Changling wanted to do something to help this senior. After all, he was half his mentor, and owed him a debt of gratitude.

However, after asking this question, the other party fell silent. When Fu Changling thought she had disappeared again, he heard her sigh softly, "I don't remember. It's not necessary."

"Senior, you don't remember," Fu Changling said, somewhat puzzled. "What does that mean?"

"I am only a wisp of consciousness," the elder said lightly. "My soul is incomplete, and I have forgotten many memories, only a few scattered ones. If you want me to find my old friend, I don't remember. And even if I did find my old friend, I would still be just a ghost. Other than you, no one else can hear my voice or see my presence. Seeing me would only add to the sadness. There's no need."

This was the first time Fu Changling had heard this senior talk about his memory loss. He couldn't help but ask, "Then, senior, do you still remember how you came to be at the Ten Thousand Bone Cliff, and how you ended up trapped inside the Tanxin Sword?"

"I vaguely remember something," the senior sighed, "but I can't remember clearly, but I do remember who you are."

"I," Fu Changling asked sharply, "did you know me before?"

The senior didn't say anything else, seeming to be tired.

Fu Changling waited for a while, but the senior didn't say anything. Knowing that she would never come back, he lay down on the bed and fell asleep quietly.

After being interrupted by his senior, his mood calmed down a lot and he finally came out of his previous depression.

Qin Yan’s meaning was very clear, and he was right. In this life and the past, these were two different people after all.

It was just that these two people were essentially the same, with the same character, and after spending so much time together, he started to confuse the two. It was just that he was repaying the kindness of Qin Yan in his previous life, and it was the Qin Yan in this life that he was repaying. This repayment, no matter what, was unfair.

He had been reluctant to dwell on this issue in the past, because if he did, he would have to face the fact that Qin Yan no longer existed. But now that Qin Yan had insisted on making it clear, he could no longer conceal it.

He was a little confused for a moment and didn't know what to do. He woke up in a daze the next day and found Qin Yan knocking on the door early in the morning. Fu Changling got up in a daze, rubbed his eyes, opened the door, and saw Qin Yan standing at the door.

He turned to look at him, sword in hand, and said calmly, "We are going back to Hongmeng Palace. What are your plans?"

If he didn't plan to return, he would leave now as Fu Changling. If he did, he would continue to be his junior apprentice and follow him back.

Fu Changling looked at Qin Yan quietly. Qin Yan looked very calm. He was looking at a small flower swaying gently in the wind not far away. His emotions could not be seen. It seemed that coming and going had nothing to do with him.

Fu Changling stood there. As he listened to these words, he suddenly realized that after being reborn, he didn't know what to do if he didn't stay with Qin Yan.

He lowered his eyes and thought for a moment, remembering everything in his previous life, and finally said, "I'll go back with you."

As he spoke, he added, "The sealing matter must continue."

If I can't protect Qin Yan, then I will protect the world.

He at least wanted to make up for the regrets of the past. Qin Yan couldn't make up for the regrets he had made, so he had to change the fate of the Fu family.

Hearing this, Qin Yan nodded, looking at the person not far away with a barely perceptible smile in his eyes, and said steadily, "Then you clean up first, I'll call you later."

Fu Changling responded, Qin Yan turned around, and Fu Changling went back into the house, took out the Thousand Faces Water to beautify his appearance, and then packed his luggage and walked out.

After he went out, he found that everyone was already waiting there. Xie Yuqing and Qin Yan looked normal. Shangguan Mingyan was stunned for a moment when he saw him come out, then seemed to react and said with a smile, "Brother Chen is back. Did you arrive last night?"

It was as if he had forgotten everything he saw last night.

Fu Changling knew that Shangguan Mingyan was a sensible person, so he walked down the stairs and said with a smile, "I just got back last night."

As he said that, he turned around and saluted towards Xie Yuqing and Qin Yan, "Senior Sister, Senior Brother."

Xie Yuqing nodded and said calmly, "Let's go."

The group got back on the flying boat and didn't talk much. Fu Changling and Shangguan Mingyan took care of the chores every day, while Qin Yan and Xie Yuqing meditated and practiced in their rooms.

Most of the time, there was nothing to do, so Fu Changling just meditated in his room, circulating his spiritual power to digest the insights brought about by this breakthrough.

The flying boat traveled for eleven days before finally returning to Hongmeng Heavenly Palace. When they arrived at the palace gate, Xie Yuqing asked Qin Yan, "You want to find out where Yunyu is, why don't you go to Young Master Su first?"

"Wenji told me on the way." Qin Yan said calmly, "He will wait for me in Hongmeng Palace."

Everyone was stunned for a moment, and Shangguan Mingyan laughed, "Young Master Su is truly as foresighted as a god."

Xie Yuqing responded, and after a moment of silence, Qin Yan asked, "Senior Sister, what are your plans?"

"Retreat."

Xie Yuqing spoke directly. Qin Yan rarely asked, "What happened next?"

Xie Yuqing was speechless. She looked up at the Hongmeng Palace in the clouds. After a long while, she finally said, "There is something I need to trouble you with, Junior Brother."

Qin Yan waited respectfully. Xie Yuqing put his hands behind his back and said calmly, "Could you please help me find out who was involved in the incident in Le Country back then?"

Qin Yan was not surprised by Xie Yuqing's words. He raised his eyes and asked, "What happens after the investigation?"

"Xie Shen was right in one thing," Xie Yuqing said, stepping forward slowly, his voice calm. "After all, I have the blood of the Le Kingdom in my veins. I can't let them die in vain."

"So," Shangguan Mingyan couldn't help but speak, "Why did Senior Sister want to go back and save us all? We are all disciples of Hongmeng Tiangong. I thought Senior Sister..."

"Every wrong has its perpetrator, every debt has its creditor," Xie Yuqing turned back to look at Shangguan Mingyan and said calmly, "This matter has nothing to do with you."

As they were talking, they arrived at the main hall of Hongmeng Heavenly Palace. Xie Yuqing bowed and led Shangguan Mingyan back to Mingsang Peak. After they left, only Qin Yan and Fu Changling were left. The two looked at each other, and Qin Yan said, "Let's go."

Su Wenji had already been waiting for them at Tianxing Peak. He used to come to Hongmeng Palace frequently to see Qin Yan, and as he came so often, Hongmeng Palace simply built a small courtyard for him at Elder Su's Tianxing Peak.

Fu Changling followed behind Qin Yan without saying a word. After walking for a while, Qin Yan felt a little uncomfortable. He wanted to say something, but stopped himself the moment he opened his mouth.

He shouldn't have disturbed Fu Changling.

He thought, if he couldn't give anything, he shouldn't say anything more.

His every move fell into Fu Changling's eyes. He knew that Qin Yan was not used to such an awkward atmosphere. After a moment of silence, he smiled and said, "Brother, do you think I'm quiet?"

Qin Yan couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when he heard this, and said, "Indeed."

"There are too many things going on at Wangu Cliff. I'm still thinking about them." Fu Changling smiled, "So I've been talking less. It's not that I have any thoughts about you, Senior Brother. Please don't think too much about it."

"Um."

"Actually, I've thought seriously about what Senior Brother said a few days ago." Fu Changling walked beside Qin Yan. Qin Yan was holding his sword, a little nervous. Fu Changling glanced at him sideways and smiled, "What Senior Brother said actually makes sense. During the time I've been with Senior Brother, he's treated me like a brother from the sect. I'm very touched, but this friendship is ultimately different from the one in my previous life. My thoughts were enough for the person in my previous life. In this life, all I feel towards Senior Brother is guilt. It's just that we were fellow disciples, and I confused our past and present lives before, so I offended you. I hope Senior Brother will forgive me."

Qin Yan responded after hearing these words. He couldn't tell what he felt. He felt as if he breathed a sigh of relief, but vaguely in some restrained corner, there was a momentary, brief, almost imperceptible pain.

But most people just relax and say, "It would be best if you figure it out."

"There are still many things to deal with in this life. The Karma Prison lies ahead, and there are still two seals to deal with. In the last life, my master unfortunately passed away, my senior brother fell into evil and destroyed the way, and the Hongmeng Heavenly Palace was destroyed. In the face of life and death, my love is indeed not suitable to be discussed. I have also figured it out. In the future, I will follow my senior brother and deal with the Karma Prison. Together, you and I will be able to kill him without a single piece of armor left!"

As he spoke, Fu Changling turned around, his brows gleaming with energy, his eyes gleaming like stars. "After resolving the Karma Prison and preventing the depletion of Yunze's spiritual energy, I will wander freely in the mortal world. When I have some free time, I will come back to have a few drinks with you, Brother."

"You and I, brothers, support each other. Apart from other things," Fu Changling smiled, "it's a beautiful thing."

Qin Yan listened to Fu Changling's words and laughed for the first time.

"It's wonderful that you think so," he said softly.

Fu Changling seemed embarrassed and said, "I didn't speak out before, and I let my imagination run wild. Now that I've made it clear, there's nothing that can't be solved, don't worry, senior brother." Fu Changling walked on his sword, his hands behind his back, his clothes fluttering gently in the wind. His voice was smiling, but beneath that smile, for some reason, there was a kind of desolation that was difficult to conceal. "In two lifetimes, I have experienced many things. These are trivial matters and nothing to worry about."

"Brother," Fu Changling turned around and apologized earnestly, "Please don't let my stupidity bother you."

"Yeah." Qin Yan responded. As they approached Tianxing Peak, before landing, he seemed to feel that his "Yeah" was a little unclear, so he added, "You have always been my junior brother. If you can let it go, I won't mind."

"That's great."

Fu Changling seemed very happy and his tone became much lighter.

At this time, they had already reached Tianxing Peak. The two landed together. Two Su clan disciples came forward, as if they had been waiting for a long time. They saluted Qin Yan and said, "Qin Daojun."

Qin Yan nodded. "Is Young Master Su here?"

"Young Master has prepared tea," a disciple looked up and said with a smile, "We are just waiting for Qin Daojun to arrive."

The author has something to say:

Happy New Year!

All the characters in Zhuoyu wish you all a happy new year!

Fu Changling: "I wish you all a happy new year, good health, good luck, smooth academic success, and a blossoming romance..."

Qin Yan: "Happy New Year, I wish everyone prosperity."

Everyone: "..."