Lin Banjian first sobbed softly, and then began to wail loudly.
Tears soaked Luan Hua's clothes as the two embraced in the raging storm.
"Luan Hua, I've been abandoned..."
Like the mournful cry of a bird with broken feathers, the entire sky darkened.
Luan Hua felt the person in his arms trembling, and rested his chin on her forehead. "Don't be afraid, you still have me."
I will never leave you.
...
After taking a shower, Lin Banjian leaned against the bed and drank hot tea.
“This is the former residence of my master, Immortal Venerable Jiliang. We’ll live here from now on, okay? I’m sorry, it certainly won’t be as nice as it used to be…”
“Okay, I really like it here.” She interrupted him, preventing him from bringing up the past.
Luan Hua patted her head. "Would you like some more?"
"Okay, thank you for your help."
"Don't worry about the trouble, there's no need for us to go to such lengths." Another cup of warm tea was handed to Lin Banjian.
Lin Banjian sipped his tea while looking around the room.
It's clearly a room for two people.
"Luan Hua, does Immortal Venerable Ji Liang have a wife?" she asked.
There were many items in pairs in the room, showing signs of being used by a couple.
Luan Hua was organizing the wardrobe; Lin Banjian would definitely have a lot of clothes to store since he was going to be living here. Hearing her ask him, he straightened up. "Yes!"
"Have you ever met her? What kind of person is her? Is she beautiful?"
Luan Hua shook her head. "I've never seen it, and of course I never will."
"Hey? Why? Is their marriage not going well?"
“No.” Luan Hua hesitated for a moment. “Actually… my teacher’s wife has already passed away.”
"Ah... I'm sorry."
"It's alright." Luan Hua walked over, sat down on the edge of her bed, and tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. "My master was also a man of misfortune. His wife, Immortal Venerable Lizhan, was also a powerful figure in this world. The couple was loving and had a son and a daughter. However... ten years ago, when Immortal Venerable Lizhan was traveling with their children, they were besieged by several demonic cultivators. Immortal Venerable Lizhan died in battle, and their son also died at the hands of the demonic cultivators. Only their daughter escaped to safety."
Luan Hua sighed, "My master has been searching for his daughter all these years, but he has not been able to find her."
The steam from the hot tea was rising in a misty haze.
"How pitiful," she sighed.
She's talking about everyone.
Both the living and the dead are pitiful.
"Yes. So after Master accepted me as his disciple, he taught me earnestly, perhaps out of affection for me as well!"
Luan Hua clenched her fist. "Therefore, I regard my master as my second parent! My master has passed on his mantle to me, and he hopes that I can ascend to immortality. I will do my best not to disappoint him!"
Luan Hua's unwavering resolve inspired Lin Banjian as well.
"Will Hanjian stay with me until the day I ascend to heaven?"
"Yes, I'll always be watching over you."
She placed her hand on the large hand resting on the edge of the bed.
The two, one large and one small, overlapped, and Luan Hua felt her covering him, then turned and grasped her hand in return.
The tears in her colorful eyes had not completely faded, and they shimmered softly in the dim candlelight. She blinked gently, restoring clarity to her eyes.
His dream was so high and so far away, beyond her reach. But even though she couldn't climb the steps with him, she was still willing to be a stepping stone, to support him when he needed her, and then watch him silently until he walked away into the distance.
They have different pasts, but they share a future where they must support each other.
...
Life was peaceful. Lin Banjian's health had not improved, so she stayed at home to recuperate and do some simple housework.
Luan Hua, on the other hand, leaves early and returns late every day. Despite the hardship of cultivation, he still insists on going home every day.
The dim candlelight, the fragrant food, and the person in his heart were all his support.
Knowing that Lin Banjian loved pastries, he would often bring them back. Now that he had money, things he never dared to dream of before were now readily available.
He was trying his best to give Lin Banjian the best.
That day, standing outside the Mu family mansion, he experienced for the first time what a powerful family was like, and what it meant to feel oppressed. The two jade unicorns at the gate were taller than several of him, making him seem as small as an ant.
Lin Banjian was raised there.
He knew he couldn't let her live the extravagant life she used to, but he was doing his best.
He returned home relatively late that day, bringing back a plate of hibiscus cakes from the Jade Pavilion. When he entered, Lin Banjian had already prepared the meal and was waiting for him.
She wasn't in good health, and he didn't want her to work too hard, but she said she couldn't feel any meaning in her life if she didn't do something, so he started cooking simple meals for her every day.
After living in the Mu family for several years, she even became bad at cooking.
"Is it stir-fried eggs with chive blossoms today? I've been wanting to eat that." He smiled as he sat down and picked up his chopsticks. "Half-Jian and I are truly on the same wavelength."
Lin Banjian laughed, "Eat quickly, it'll get cold soon."
Luan Hua picked up a large mouthful with her chopsticks, "Mmm~ Delicious! As expected of my Banjian, I'm really afraid Jade Pavilion will come looking for me!"
"You're just talking nonsense!" Lin Banjian scolded playfully.
"Oh, right, Luan Hua, didn't you say last time that Immortal Venerable Ji Liang was coming? Have you set a date yet? I need to prepare. The Immortal Venerable is so kind to us..."
Before she could even say "okay," she covered her mouth with a handkerchief.
"Cough cough..." She glanced at the handkerchief, then casually clenched it in her hand.
"Are you alright, Banjian? Why are you coughing all of a sudden?" Luan Hua hurriedly stepped forward to check on him.
"It's nothing." She waved her hand, gesturing for him to sit down, "I spoke too hastily."
Luan Hua still looked worried. "Are you really alright? Should we call a doctor to take a look?"
"It's alright, eat up, don't worry about me." She coaxed and reassured Luan Hua until she was somewhat relieved.
After dinner, Luan Hua urged Lin Banjian to rest. While clearing the table, he noticed the handkerchief that Lin Banjian had been clutching throughout the meal.
He thought, "I'll help her wash up."
When he unfolded it, he was stunned.
Two striking scarlet dots on the handkerchief.
He was trembling uncontrollably.
"Halfway there!" He stumbled and ran to the bedside.
Lin Banjian had already fallen asleep when she heard a loud noise beside the bed. She groggily opened her eyes.
The sound was caused by Luan Hua losing her balance and her knee hitting the ground.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
She reached out and stroked Luan Hua's pale face, smoothing his furrowed brows and brushing her hand across his bloodless lips.
Luan Hua spread her hands, "Half-see... what is this?" Her voice was filled with unconcealed fear.
He was like a bellows, messy and broken, struggling to hold on in the strong wind, teetering on the verge of collapse.
"My throat feels a little sore." Her voice was soft, with a slight hoarseness.
He suddenly stood up, threw himself onto the bed, and braced himself on either side of Lin Banjian.
Nose to nose, she guiltily looked away.
“Look at me… half-face… look at me,” he called to her.
"Is it really just a sore throat? What about other parts of your body? Your heart?" He couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed beside her, his head resting on her shoulder.
"Don't lie to me, Banjian..." like a lost cub, "Don't scare me... Banjian..."
Her fingers ran through the top of his head, into his hair, comforting the man who wept silently.
"It's alright!" she said with a smile as she stroked it.
Tears silently streamed down her upturned lips.
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