Chapter 73 Finale - Middle Chapter When Fang Buyu arrived at Four Seasons Valley,...

When Fang Buyu arrived at the Four Seasons Valley, Tuoba Xuan was standing with his hands behind his back, obviously having been waiting for a long time.

The valley was deep and deep, with cliffs on both sides casting two long shadows. At this moment, a mountain breeze passed through the valley, bringing with it a solemn and murderous atmosphere.

At this moment, Fang Buyu had taken off his mask. His face was handsome, but his eyes were as cold as the icy pond deep in the valley, not reflecting a single ray of sunlight.

Tuoba Xuan slowly turned around and smiled knowingly, "Fang Buyu, it's you after all."

Fang Buyu's eyes were fixed on his face: "Where is she?"

"Don't worry." Tuoba Xuan stroked his sleeves slowly, "I'll take you to see her later. But before that, I want to tell you a story..."

"Take me to her."

Fang Buyu cut him off without hesitation. He had no interest in the story; the only thing on his mind at the moment was to see her.

A hint of displeasure flashed across Tuoba Xuan's eyes, but soon a look of earnestness appeared on his face. "Buyu, don't be bewitched by her! Do you know who she is? I called you here today to tell you her true identity..."

Thinking of Tang Zhao's words in the cabin, he was still terrified, and his voice couldn't help but rise: "She is a ghost! A witch! She used her witchcraft to deceive Your Highness into committing treason. You must not get involved in this mess with her!"

He spoke excitedly, but Fang Buyu's expression did not change, and there was even a hint of impatience between his brows.

"You... knew it a long time ago?" Tuoba Xuan was stunned.

"Take—me—to—her."

Tuoba Xuan stared at him closely, still unwilling to give up: "She is a witch..."

Before he could finish his words, the sound of a sword piercing the air suddenly rang out. A flash of cold light flashed by, and before Tuoba Xuan could even see the movement, a longsword was already precisely placed at his neck.

Fang Buyu's voice, suppressed with anger, came from behind:

“Where is she!!”

Tuoba Xuan blurted out in fear: "Fang Buyu! Are you going to kill my father?!"

Feeling the sword tip at his neck stagnate, he quickly glanced at Fang Buyu: "Buyu! I... I am your father, your biological father!"

He saw Fang Buyu's expression suddenly stiffen, and fearing he wouldn't believe him, he raised his hand in panic and explained incoherently: "Cowpea! Yes, cowpea! Do you remember that time at Mengxixuan? You said you couldn't touch beans since you were a child... Me too! We are exactly the same in this regard, this is proof that we are blood-related!"

Seeing Fang Buyu remained indifferent, he hurriedly added, "And Liu Yiyi! You must remember Liu Yiyi, right? She is your biological mother!"

"Oh……"

Fang Buyu suddenly chuckled, slowly lowered his head, and approached Tuoba Xuan's panicked eyes: "Biological father? Biological mother? Such fresh words..."

As he spoke, he slowly exerted force on his wrist, pressing the sword blade tighter and tighter until it was already touching Tuoba Xuan's skin.

He completely lost his patience: "Take me to see her! Or I will kill you now!"

Tuoba Xuan could already feel a slight sting in his neck, and warm blood was slowly seeping out. He didn't dare hesitate any longer, and responded repeatedly: "Okay, okay, okay... I'll take you there! I'll take you there right now!"

*

When we arrived at the wooden house, all we could see were its remains, completely engulfed by fire.

There were ashes of burnt-out corpses everywhere, and when the wind blew, black dust rose up all over the sky, as if it was snowing black snow.

Fang Buyu's eyes swept across every inch of scorched earth, finally settling on a patch of the thickest lacquer. His Adam's apple rolled slightly, but he still asked with unwavering determination:

"Where is she?"

"She... has turned to ashes."

The hand holding the sword dropped down, and Fang Buyu walked step by step towards the scorched earth that was still warm. Finally, his knees gave way and he knelt heavily in the ashes.

Tuoba Xuan looked at the figure that was almost melting into the ruins, sighed, and gave a serious warning:

"Buyu, everything Dad does is for your own good." He took a half step forward, then stopped cautiously. "Fortunately, the Crown Prince still doesn't know that the masked man beside Tang Zhao is you. You are still the youngest leader of the Sky Eagle Pavilion. You have a bright future. You can have any woman you want in the future..."

Fang Buyu kept his head buried, his clothes soaked in ashes, and his whole body was like the burnt debris around him, without a trace of life.

Time passes slowly in the air.

Finally, he moved, and when he looked up again, there was only death in his eyes.

He slowly grasped the hilt of the sword stuck in the scorched earth with his right hand, and with the support of the sword, he stood up little by little.

The sword edge drew a deep arc in the ashes, making a rustling sound.

Tuoba Xuan stumbled back in shock at the bloodshot in his eyes, realizing what he was about to do.

"Fang Buyu, what are you going to do... If you really want to kill your own biological father, aren't you afraid of retribution? Even if you're not afraid, aren't you afraid that retribution will be on Tang Zhao?!"

Fang Buyu's sword-holding hand trembled, and then a tear of blood flowed from his eyes.

"Since she's dead..." He exerted force on his wrist, pointing the tip of his sword directly at Tuoba Xuan, "I will go to hell with her."

Just as he finished speaking, a white figure rushed past from the side.

“Puff—”

After the dull sound of the sharp blade sinking into flesh and blood, Tuoba Xuan slowly fell to the ground.

Behind him, a bloodstained face was revealed.

Liu Yiyi's white clothes were soaked with blood, and spots of scarlet splattered on her pale face. She looked at Fang Buyu with a calm expression:

"If anyone is going to hell...it should be me."

Before Fang Bu Yu could react, she stabbed the dagger into her own abdomen.

"don't want--!"

Fang Buyu stepped forward quickly, but it was too late to stop him.

He supported her shaky shoulders and pressed his other hand against her wound that was bleeding.

"Liu Yiyi!"

Warm blood gushed out from between his fingers, and dark red blood foam continued to flow from Liu Yiyi's lips. She raised her hand tremblingly and gently stroked Fang Buyu's cheek:

"Bu Yu, my child... this is the first time... I've looked closely at your face..."

Her fingertips were icy cold, but the corners of her lips held a faint curve, a gentleness Fang Buyu had never seen before: "My son... grew up safely... and he's so handsome..."

Blood continued to drip from the corner of her lips, and each word she spoke was extremely difficult: "In my life... I have never done anything for you... This may be... the only thing I can do for you..."

Fang Buyu's eyes were unknowingly filled with tears.

He should have hated her, hated her for abandoning him back then, and even more hated her for appearing in his presence now. But the place in his chest that had already turned to ashes was torn open again, causing him excruciating pain.

Liu Yiyi's hand slid down powerlessly. As it was about to touch the ground, she used up her last breath and said, "Son... I'm sorry..."

*

Two years later.

In March, in a courtyard at the foot of Tanshan Temple:

A simple wooden house, a neatly maintained courtyard, and a camellia tree in the corner, full of pink and white flowers.

Zhao Hui walked out of the kitchen carrying two plates of freshly cooked side dishes and softly called out to the figure beneath the tree, "Buyu, come over for dinner after you finish watering."

Amidst the swaying shadows of the trees, Fang Buyu put down the kettle in his hand, washed his hands in the stone basin in the corner of the yard, and then walked to the stone table.

"Thank you for your hard work, mother."

"It's not that hard." Zhao Hui took off her apron and wiped the water stains on her hands. "Since you've come here so rarely, I must let you taste my cooking skills."

As soon as she sat down, she picked up a piece of roast chicken and placed it in Fang Buyu's bowl. "Ever since you resigned from the Eagle Pavilion and moved here, it's been a long time since we, mother and son, have shared a table like this."

Fang Buyu noticed the sadness in her words and changed the subject: "How is godfather these days?"

Mentioning Liu Mingzhong, Zhao Hui's brows suddenly relaxed. "He's quite carefree! After retiring, he's either gone fishing or helped out in the shop. Even now, the styles of the old-age clothes we have in our silk shop are all tailored to his figure!"

After saying this, the mother and son looked at each other and smiled.

Looking at the smile on her son's lips, Zhao Hui couldn't help but sigh, "I finally see you smile. Ever since Miss Tang... I haven't seen you smile for a long time."

Seeing Fang Buyu's expression darken, Zhao Hui realized she had spoken out of turn. She coughed twice and changed the subject: "By the way, your adoptive father was supposed to come with me today, but just as I was leaving, someone from the palace came and said that the retired emperor's birthday was approaching, and they wanted him to give instructions on the ceremony..."

As he was speaking, a breeze blew by, and a few camellia petals fluttered down onto the stone table.

Zhao Hui's gaze followed the falling pink and white petals, and slowly turned to the camellia tree in the yard.

She remembered that when she first visited, the sapling had just taken root in the soil and a few new buds had sprouted from its thin branches. Now, just two years later, it has grown tall and majestic, with branches covered in flowers.

"Time flies by so fast."

She sighed softly and said, "The day a year ago when the deposed Crown Prince led his army to attack the city is still as vivid as if it happened right before my eyes. The cries of slaughter within and outside the palace walls shook the heavens, black smoke obscured the sky, and even from my home in the capital I could hear the resounding clash of weapons. Who could have imagined that the once-exalted Crown Prince would end up with his head and body torn apart?"

She took a sip from her teacup and continued, "Even more unexpectedly, not long after, at the late emperor's birthday banquet, amidst the people's congratulations, His Majesty would publicly announce his abdication. The Ninth Prince..." She paused, then respectfully changed her words, "is now officially called the Emperor. After ascending the throne, he has made drastic changes to the government. Those treacherous ministers who formed cliques for personal gain and disrupted government order have been deposed or executed..."

Another petal fluttered before her eyes. Zhao Hui gazed at the peaceful courtyard before her, her tone gradually softening. "In the blink of an eye, another year has passed. Now the world is at peace, and the people live and work in peace and contentment. It truly proves the old saying: 'Life is like a chess game, unpredictable.'"

Fang Buyu's gaze also fell on that petal.

Yes, another year has passed...

*

After bidding farewell to Zhao Hui, Fang Buyu closed the gate and walked along the mountain path towards Tanshan Temple.

Today, he suddenly missed her very much.

Whenever he missed her very much, he would go to Tanshan Temple, light a few incense sticks, and stay there quietly for a day, and then the days would not be so difficult.

When he passed by the lampstand, he saw several pilgrims queuing up to offer lamps. He suddenly remembered that she had said that she had seen him every time he came to offer lamps during those ten years.

Just this time, Tiaotiao, are you still there?

He lit the incense and placed it in the incense burner. Then he bowed his head and closed his eyes before the Buddha, and like he had done countless times in the past two years, he made his only wish.

The setting sun sank into the distant mountains, and the sky was filled with orange and pink glow. He walked home in the afterglow.

Eh? Why is the gate open?

He clearly remembered closing his door when he left...

As I stepped into the yard, I saw the figure under the camellia tree at a glance.

Under the falling petals, the person he missed day and night turned around and smiled at him.

"Ayu, you're back..."