Chapter 52
After the great battle, the Sword Sect spent ten days and ten nights cleaning up the blood and corpses on the plaza. There were so many corpses that it was impossible to properly handle them all. Those without relatives or friends to claim them had to be transported to Wuding Mountain. Later, a requiem was sung on the summit of Wuding Mountain for a month, but it still could not completely quell the resentment on the mountain.
The Sword Sect held a month-long memorial ceremony. White cloth covered the entire mountain, and spiritual melodies echoed day and night. The elders in charge of the ceremony cast spells all night, leading the deceased souls into the underworld in a grand procession.
That night, on the overgrown hilltop of Half Moon Peak, Xie Wen knelt before a tombstone with only the simple three characters "Xie Yichun" on it.
Xie Wen, however, stared blankly at something, his eyes wide open.
Until someone arrived and called out "Senior Sister." Yun Yan handed Xie Wen a jar of wine, and he sat down and poured some for Xie Yichun, then tilted his head back and took a big gulp.
Since Chu Xianyue was seriously injured and went into seclusion, many matters have fallen on Yun Yan's shoulders. Yun Yan was so busy that she was constantly on the go, yet she still found time to come and see Xie Wen.
Xie Wen asked, "How is Master?"
Given Chu Xianyue's personality, at this critical juncture, how could he possibly put aside so many affairs of the Sword Sect to go into seclusion if he had no other choice? To say he's in seclusion is an understatement; he was already too severely injured to move.
Yun Yan: "You know Master's temperament; if it weren't for a last resort..."
Although they already knew the answer in their hearts, hearing Yun Yan say it aloud still caused them a pang of pain. Neither Xie Wen nor Yun Yan had ever imagined that their omnipotent master, who could go to heaven and earth, would become like this.
Xie Wen then asked, "When will Master emerge from seclusion?"
Yun Yan shook his head. He was actually more heartbroken than anyone else by Chu Xianyue's serious injury, but because Chu Xianyue was not around, he had to take care of all the affairs of the Sword Sect. He absolutely could not show the slightest bit of sadness or negativity.
Now, as Yun Yan spoke of Chu Xianyue in front of Xie Wen, under the influence of alcohol, he couldn't help but shed tears. The dignity and seriousness he usually maintained through pretense crumbled at this moment.
Xie Wen thought that after all these experiences, Yun Yan had matured a lot. But seeing him today, she realized that Yun Yan was still the same Yun Yan. He was just like her.
They haven't accepted it yet.
Now, only an empty little house remains on Half Moon Peak. No one is there anymore waiting for Xie Wen, smiling gently at her, or calling her "A-Wen."
Without her older sister, Xie Wen felt that it was all the same no matter where she was.
It seems she has nowhere else to go.
Chu Xianyue was not at Feiying Pavilion either.
That night, Xie Wen lay in the cabin on Half Moon Peak, staring blankly at the bright stars outside the window. She suddenly missed Chu Xianyue terribly; her heart felt like it was on fire, and this longing burned along with it, like a wildfire reaching the sky. The painful memories weighed heavily on her heart, making it hard for her to breathe.
Xie Wen lay awake, unable to sleep. She got up by the moonlight, grabbed her sword, and practiced it over and over in the courtyard. She repeated the moves that Chu Xianyue had taught her.
The sword energy brought with it gusts of wind, causing the distant weeds and trees to sway precariously. A moment later, a person sat on the plum tree, swinging his legs and staring intently at Xie Wen.
"Ah Wen, aren't you tired?"
After watching Xie Wen practice for a while, Shen Lizhi said this.
These days, whenever Xie Wen practices his sword, Shen Lizhi would come over. She would just sit quietly by his side, keeping him company.
Hearing this, Xie Wen sheathed his sword and looked up at Shen Lizhi. She had bright, sparkling eyes and a childlike smile. Xie Wen said, "Lizhi, why are you here again?"
Shen Li said, "I'll keep you company. Aren't you lonely practicing swordsmanship all by yourself?"
Xie Wen was stunned for a moment. Was he lonely? It was impossible not to think so.
She still said, "It's so late, you should go home and rest early."
Shen Lizhi: "No, I won't bother Awen. Just let me stay here with you, okay?"
Xie Wen's heart softened. Since the great battle, all the important people around her had left. Only Shen Lizhi had stayed by her side.
Xie Wen smiled and said, "Alright. If you're sleepy, leave early."
Shen Li said sweetly, "I'm not sleepy as long as I can stay with you, older sister."
Xie Wen nearly dropped her sword. Then, she turned back and smiled at Shen Lizhi, her gentle smile spreading in the evening breeze.
At this moment, she seemed to have transformed into her elder sister.
And the version of myself that died before is now perched on the plum tree, swinging my legs and calling out to her sweetly.
"Sister, sister, sister."
"Sister, sister."
"Sister."
As if it were every day before, they stood here again in the same posture. Nothing had changed.
In the middle of the night, urged by Xie Wen, Shen Lizhi went back to rest.
"Ali, you should go back and rest. You don't need to stay with me."
"But, Awen, I want to stay with you."
"Really, I'm fine. You should go home and get some sleep; you have work to do tomorrow."
"Okay, I'm leaving then."
Xie Wen nodded, watching Shen Lizhi leave under the cool moonlight.
As dawn broke, Xie Wen seemed to have lost all his strength. Dragging his weary body and empty mind, he returned to the house and collapsed onto the bed, utterly exhausted.
As Xie Wen fell down suddenly, a drop of blood flew over and cushioned her fall, preventing her from getting hurt.
The blood bead swayed gently beside Xie Wen, glowing red, and pulsating abnormally, just like before. Ever since that great battle, the blood bead seemed to have returned to its former abnormal state.
No, this abnormality is lasting longer and is more intense than ever before. Xie Wen didn't have time to ponder what was wrong with Hong Hong'er.
Xie Wen has been very tired these days and can't muster the energy to do anything.
Sometimes the blood droplets would transform into human form and stay by Xie Wen's side.
It sensed that Xie Wen was acting strangely; she had been very depressed.
In the world of blood beads, comfort seems to come from hugs and snuggling.
So now, it skillfully transforms into the appearance of a six or seven-year-old child, tiptoes onto the bed, snuggles into Xie Wen's arms, and hugs Xie Wen's waist with its two little hands.
"Awen, go to sleep, go to sleep." It gently patted Xie Wen.
Over the past few days, Xie Wen has gotten used to it quietly snuggling into her arms every time she falls asleep, like a little kitten, comforting her and acting cute.
Xie Wen held Hong Hong'er like a doll while sleeping.
It stayed obediently in Xie Wen's arms. Its small body was curled up, its hair fluffy and smooth, and Xie Wen couldn't help but stroke it every time. It was like one of her well-behaved cats.
Only then did Xie Wen briefly drift into a tender dream.
In her dream, Xie Wen dreamt of many things from the past. Those things were so clear, real, and vivid in her mind at that moment.
She remembered her past life.
In her memory, every single detail of the past was something she had truly experienced.
The Xie Wen who died in this world is herself.
Two timelines reversed, and her soul, which had died in the modern world, returned to her physical body, which had died in the cultivation world. She remembered everything.
In her dream, Xie Wen choked back sobs, tears soaking her pillow. In her daze, she thought that perhaps there was something she couldn't let go of in this life, which was why her soul from another life had returned. What couldn't she let go of? It must be her elder sister. Her elder sister certainly couldn't let go of her either, which was why Xie Yichun was her elder sister in both lives.
Sadly, my older sister is gone too. No matter which world she's in.
After that, we could only meet in dreams.
*
When Xie Wen groggily opened his swollen eyes, dusk had already fallen outside the window, and a gentle evening breeze was blowing. Just as Xie Wen was about to get up, he was shocked to find that the little person in his arms was burning hot, and his little face was flushed, as if he had drunk several kilograms of rice wine.
Xie Wen anxiously helped Hong Hong'er up. "Hong Hong'er, what's wrong? Do you have a fever?"
Can even magical artifacts get sick and feverish?
Honghong raised her head, snuggled into Xie Wen's arms again, and finally said, "Chu Xianyue feels the same way as me. Maybe he's feeling romantic again."
Xie Wen: "..."
Xie Wen took several seconds to react.
No way! Could it be what she's thinking? Is she smitten?
Xie Wen simply couldn't connect Chu Xianyue with those four characters. Only Hong Hong'er dared to speak so bluntly and boldly.
"Then what's wrong with you?"
The Blood Bead was too lazy to hide it any longer. Even if it was divine punishment, it would tell the truth. It was all Chu Xianyue's fault. If he hadn't been so infatuated with A-Wen, how could it have become so abnormal? It was all his fault!
Honghong'er frankly admitted, "Our Blood Bead artifacts have been a part of our master since they were descended from the heavens. If our master is acting strangely, I will act strangely too. For example, when my heart is moved, I glow red and tremble uncontrollably. I can't help it. Ah Wen, please don't abandon me because of this."
Xie Wen: "Really?"
She suddenly recalled every moment when the blood beads moved strangely in the past. It seemed that Chu Xianyue was always flustered.
Xie Wen looked at Hong Hong'er, a sly glint in his eyes.
"Was it because I hugged you?"
Will Chu Xianyue have the same feeling?
You can't even handle a hug?
Xie Wen suddenly had a wicked idea. She picked up Hong Hong'er again.
I quickly gave it a quick kiss on its chubby cheek.
Xie Wen observed Hong Hong'er's reaction. It even visibly warmed up. Xie Wen touched Hong Hong'er's body. "So hot? You're not going to cook, are you?"
Honghong turned her head away. "I don't know either. I feel a little uncomfortable."
Xie Wen touched his nose, thinking slyly, "If I don't want him to see me, I'll have to provoke him."
In the days that followed, Xie Wen spent his time either practicing swordsmanship or sleeping with Hong Hong'er in his arms. He remained consistent and devoted, acting unusually whenever he hugged or kissed her.
Later, Half Moon Peak became too quiet. There was no elder sister, and no Chu Xianyue either.
Xie Wen often had nowhere to confide in, and when he held Hong Hong at night, he would often mutter in his sleep, treating Hong Hong as his confidante, saying whatever he wanted to say.
She talked about her past with her elder sister, and how Chu Xianyue could be so wicked. He refused to see her and went into seclusion on his own! She asked what Chu Xianyue's true feelings were towards her.
Is there really no other emotion besides the mission?
Xie Wen always thought of him, of his cold face and his sarcastic words, of how she used to make a ruckus in front of him alone in Feiying Pavilion. He shook his head helplessly.
Xie Wen dreamed of many things from the past. When she woke up, she felt that those things were far away from her, as if they had happened in a previous life.
She said she missed Chu Xianyue a little.
Honghong listened to everything, but didn't say a word. She quietly remained a good listener.
What it didn't tell Xie Wen was that Chu Xianyue could sense what it felt, and sometimes even hear what it heard. After the great battle, the state of mind it sensed in Chu Xianyue was one of bitterness.
*
On the Tongtian Terrace on the back mountain, that is the closest place to the Underworld.
At this moment, a person was suspended high above the Tongtian Supreme Being.
Here, he endured the pain of bone and muscle reshaping.
But every night...
You would fall into a warm embrace as if drowning, like falling into a gentle paradise.
His heart began to pound uncontrollably, which also relieved much of the pain from the bone and muscle remodeling.
In the gentle embrace of love, the girl whispered wildly in his ear.
She said she missed her older sister. She said he was awful, why wouldn't he see her? She said she missed him a little. Her voice was heavy with sorrow.
His heart rose and fell with it.
In a daze, he learned about her past and present lives through the blood bead, and knew everything about her. It turned out that in her other life, there was no such person as Chu Xianyue.
For some reason, his heart felt a bittersweet ache when he thought of this.
At the same time, he realized that both of her lives were connected to him, which made him feel a little better.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
