Chapter 88: The End Because no matter in heaven or on earth,...
Lian Qiang and Chi Xingji did not receive the punishment from Heaven as they expected. Perhaps Heaven had forgotten them, or perhaps this was the ending that Heaven had destined for them.
The two of them stayed in the Demon Realm for a while longer, and they had to admit that Jiang Lang was indeed quite skilled at controlling his subordinates. Even when faced with the ravaged Demon Realm, he remained calm and managed everything in an orderly manner.
"Actually, when I was little, I never thought I'd become the Demon Lord. I just thought, if one day, all the people in need could have a place to stay."
On this day, Lian Qiang and Chi Xingji came to say goodbye to Jiang Lang. They were no longer demon cultivators, so it would not make sense for them to stay deep in the demon realm.
Faced with the farewell of his good friends, Jiang Lang squeezed out some free time and drank and chatted with the two of them under the bright moon.
Lian Qiang suddenly recalled the scene of their first meeting. It turned out that he saved her for another reason, and she was probably the only person in the world who knew about the other reason.
Well, Lian Qiang felt quite emotional, sometimes those who don’t know are the luckiest ones.
"What are you thinking about?" Jiang Lang waved his hands in front of her, very dissatisfied with the fact that Lian Qiang was lost in thought when he revealed his true feelings.
Lian Qiang came back to her senses and said, "Nothing..."
She was about to evade the question when a violent coughing noise beside her interrupted her thoughts. Lian Qiang hurried over and patted Chi Xingji's back to calm him down. "Are you feeling better?"
Since the incident, Chi Xingji's health has been severely weakened. Jiang Lang had someone come in to diagnose him, and they said he was fine, but just needed to start practicing again, and be careful to be more down-to-earth and not act rashly.
Chi Xingji wasn't a straightforward person, and with Lian Qiang watching closely beside him, he was afraid he might risk his life again. This was one of the reasons they needed to move out of the Demon Realm as soon as possible; it wasn't a suitable place for the injured to recuperate.
Jiang Lang felt his teeth itching when he saw the two of them being so affectionate with each other, especially Chi Xingji, who didn't move for a long time. He just said one sentence... Unfortunately, the other party was so weak now. Even if he won, it would be an unfair victory for him.
After drinking the entire glass of wine, Jiang Lang finally felt his chest breathe easier. "What are your plans from now on?"
Things are different now. The two of them have taken off their special identities and can live more casually in the future. Jiang Lang is not worried about them and is just asking as usual.
Lian Qiang and Chi Xingji smiled at each other and said confidently, "There's still some unfinished business to do. After that, I'll probably go take a look around."
Jiang Lang refilled his glass and shook it in response. He was not one to ask questions, so seeing that the two of them had something planned, he stopped asking.
The two of them left quietly on a sunny day. Jiang Langwei went to see them off.
Before leaving, Lian Qiang had searched for Senior Tan, but she wasn't among the corpses that day, and it was difficult to make a big fuss about searching. Finally, she learned from the guards the whereabouts of someone who bore a resemblance to her, but he had also left early.
Lian Qiang felt both regretful and relieved. She felt regretful that the two of them could only meet by chance, but she was also relieved that it was a good ending that they just stopped.
Touched by Jiang Lang's words that day, the first thing Lian Qiang and Chi Xingji did after returning to the courtyard to settle down was to inquire about Shao Yu's whereabouts and send the package of dream silk along with a letter about his current situation.
The letter was sent, but the dream silk was returned intact. Lian Qiang understood the princess's intention and knew that the princess had her own principles, so she stopped forcing her.
While she was busy with these things, Chi Xingji had quietly renovated the courtyard. All the withered apricot trees were cleared away, and in their place were fields of fertile flowers.
Seeing all this for the first time, Lian Qiang was speechless for a long time. On the one hand, she was concerned about Chi Xingji's remaining spiritual power, and on the other hand, she was curious about why he acted this way.
"I'm afraid you might be reminded of the past, and I also think you might prefer the layout of the Demon Realm, isn't it?"
Facing Chi Xingji's frank expression mixed with a hint of grievance, Lian Qiang couldn't even utter a word of "no".
However, this time she planted not ordinary flowers and trees, but medicinal herbs. She intended to take good care of Chi Xingji's health and found various medical books, even more seriously than when she studied sword manuals.
Chi Xingji knew that she was still brooding over it, so he went with her.
Even Lian Qiang, who hadn't been possessed by demons, wouldn't have dared to hope that the two of them could live such a peaceful and stable life. She also thought that perhaps someday the remaining grudges would surface, but now was the best time she could think of.
As for the past, Chi Xingji was obviously deeply in love with her, but he never said it out loud. Lian Qiang would be lying if she said she wasn't curious, but she didn't really need to know.
She believed in Chi Xingji. He had never grown up in a family as happy as hers, and he was also strictly disciplined by Xi Wenji, so it was understandable that he was discouraged.
But Lian Qiang finally let something slip once. Looking at Chi Xingji's back, she complained unintentionally, "If I had been frank earlier, I wouldn't have ended up living like this so late in life."
Chi Xingji's movements froze.
The speaker may not intend it, but the listener may take it seriously.
That night, Lian Qiang felt that Chi Xingji's attack was extremely fierce, which made her heart tremble unconsciously. She even avoided his hand that was trying to lift her wet hair away from her forehead.
She fell asleep mumblingly, unaware that Chi Xingji was stroking her hair, watching her intently.
Back then, they were both still young boys, living at home, their biggest worry being how to get a glimpse of the square sky outside. Little Chi Xingji sat at home, studying and eating, his biggest worry being when his childhood sweetheart next door would come to climb the eaves of his house.
One day, in his youthful spirit, he impulsively did something extraordinary for the only time—he even climbed the pear tree that Qiang often climbed. However, he was still unfamiliar with the tree, and as he sat on the branch, he was caught in a dilemma. Then, in the courtyard, voices began to rise.
"Tell me the truth, do you really not like the second kid next door?"
"Oh dear sister, what are you asking? Of course I don't like him. How could I possibly like him?"
"Then why do you go looking for him every day? Why don't you tell the truth?"
Then there was a burst of girlish laughter. Lian Qiang laughed so hard that she almost choked. After finally catching her breath, she continued with a solemn oath, "I just think he's a good student and has a very calm temperament—didn't you all say I should be a good boy? You usually have a lot of work to do, and Lian Bai is even more noisy than me—Brother! When did you come? I was wrong! Don't hit me in the head!"
Amidst the laughter and joy in the courtyard, Chi Xingji truly felt as if he were in another cold world. In this world, Lian Qiang did not exist.
Chi Xingji no longer remembered how he jumped down from the tree branch in a trance that day, or whether he hurt his leg afterwards. He only remembered that when he returned home, his parents talked about their younger brother's marriage, and seemed to always intentionally or unintentionally lead to Lian Qiang, and then talked about him.
He looked into his parents' meaningful eyes and only briefly mentioned his impression of Lian Qiang.
Chi Xingji had learned a crucial lesson from his interactions with his family: never reveal your feelings. So he lied, and almost fooled himself.
Because no matter where in heaven or on earth, at any time, the only one who would feel sorry for him was Lian Qiang.
Chi Xingji had done well, but he hadn't expected Lian Qiang to think the same way that day. Those who practiced silence always adhered to this principle, while those who were naturally open and straightforward, in their one act of stubbornness, nearly lost the thing they loved most.
Fortunately, there is still time to make up for everything.
Chi Xingji pondered several times whether it was because he was not deeply bound by so-called kinship in his childhood that he was moved by such rare true love. Was his feeling for Lian Qiang really about romance?
Xi Wenji also asked him the same question - when he proposed to marry him that day, the master in charge was heartbroken and questioned him repeatedly.
Chi Xingji has always been Xi Wenji's most proud disciple and has never disappointed his master. Chi Xingji himself knows this, but when questions come one after another, he is completely unaware of the redness, swelling and pain in his knees from kneeling for so long. Chi Xingji thinks that he must keep Lian Qiang.
For Yu Chi Xingji, his feelings towards Xi Wenji are complicated. He respects Xi Wenji even more than his father, loves him, but also resents him, resenting why Xi Wenji cannot love his father as well as his family.
Over time, this subtle resentment turned into contempt for Wu Chi. Chi Xingji always wondered if he were stronger, would he be able to do things more freely?
Unfortunately it seems not.
Once memories are unsealed, more will flood in. One day, Chi Xingji mentioned to Lian Qiang that he wanted to visit Xi Wenji again - even though Xi Wenji should have been well taken care of, Lian Qiang calmly agreed and allowed him to go alone.
Chi Xingji had no objection, but when he returned with the sunset, he brought back the news of Xi Wenji's death.
"...It is said that he died of old age. He was very peaceful when he passed away and did not suffer much." Chi Xingji said this with a hint of sadness in his eyes.
He ultimately regretted the years he spent without his mother's care.
Lian Qiang also felt a bit sad when she heard this. She couldn't reconcile with Xi Wenji, but it was also impossible for her to remain indifferent to his passing. After all, he had taught her a lesson, so Lian Qiang took the initiative to accompany Chi Xingji to visit the grave.
Lian Qiang, standing in front of Xi Wenji's tombstone, felt as if she were in another world. Thinking of her angry and disgusted self in her youth, she knew that she could never burn incense for him in a calm state of mind.
This incident reminded her of something else. It was unfilial and unkind, but in recent years she had never dared to visit her family's graves to pay her respects. Firstly, she feared they would never forgive her for her indifference, even in the afterlife. Secondly, she feared she would suffer, and they would not blame her, but would instead feel sorry for her embarrassment.
There's always a saying that those who cultivate the Tao are destined to have little connection with their families. Lian Qiang never took it seriously. She was raised with support and care, and without any of them in her family, she wouldn't be who she is today.
When Lian Qiang saw that her parents' graves were cleaned up, she burst into tears of joy.
Even though she knew she could not be forgiven, this was the outcome she wanted to see most.
Chi Xingji made some inquiries for her and heard that it was done by the descendants of the Lian family. He suggested that Lian Qiang go visit, but she softly refused.
"I can be considered their ancestor, but the Lian family members I know are not them, and they have not received any protection because of me. How can I go to see them with a smug face?" Lian Qiang rubbed his eyes, but the corners of his mouth rose unconsciously.
So the two of them just watched silently outside the Lian family's old house for a while, and then left quietly.
"Is there anything else that needs to be done?"
The two of them walked slowly through the busy city. Chi Xingji walked a little faster, blocking the crowd for Lian Qiang, and looked sideways at her and asked.
Lian Qiang looked up at the sky. Today was a clear blue sky with not a single cloud in sight. It was a rare good day. Even if a child accidentally bumped into her, it would not dampen her good mood.
The stars that she once looked up to fell into this small pond and turned into a small fish, swimming around her lotus for the rest of its life, with unwavering determination and the same unchanging nature as all living beings.
Lian Qiang then spread out her hands towards Chi Xingji, pouted and said coquettishly, "The hairpin you gave me before was not good. It was rusted. You must not have chosen it carefully. Buy me a new one as an apology."
Time is still short, how can it rust? But Chi Xingji only felt that his wife was as amiable and funny as ever. He responded softly and took her hand.
"Okay, I'll buy it for you. One, ten, eight, or more."
The tourists passing by did not recognize them. At first glance, they just thought they were an ordinary loving couple and smiled knowingly.
[End of Text]
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Author's words: Finally! It's finished!!!
The serialization span of this article is too long. When I first started writing, my awareness of many things was still in its infancy. I didn’t expect that the times are progressing. Looking back at some of the settings and plots in the article two years later, I feel that there is room for change. However, I still like it very much, so I have continued to write it today!
When I was writing this, I went through a long period of confusion. I broke up with a very good friend, gave up a hobby that I had liked for two or three years, and even my work was at a stage where I didn't know what was going on. Looking back at my output, I really wanted to shake the water in my head to see what was going on... Fortunately, I finished writing it. I can't say I'm very satisfied with it, because one should still leave some room for oneself, hahahaha.
Lian Qiang's initial conception was as a character who might appear to be "lovesick." She receives a great deal of love and possesses the ability to return that love to others, a truly beautiful quality. As thought evolves, the term "lovesick" may have acquired a somewhat derogatory connotation, but I still find it remarkable that, despite repeated losses and hurts, she can still bravely persevere and pursue what she truly desires.
But at the same time, good love must be able to make both yourself and the other person shine!
What I also find precious is her ability to empathize. It’s a gift, but sometimes it can also be a punishment for sensitive people. But I’d rather suffer than be numb.
As for Chi Xingji, I don't think there is much to say. The description and interpretation of him are basically already in the article. He should be considered a very typical avoidant type (really?). I don't know either, I just said it casually.
This book also tries its best to create some supporting characters, but I don’t know how effective it is. I’ll leave it to you to judge.
I am used to writing the closing remarks a little longer. But, there will come a time for farewell. We will meet again if we are lucky!
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