Chapter 86
After lunch, Chu Xianyue went out as usual, stroking Xie Wen's cheek with his fingertips before leaving, "Wait for me to come back."
Xie Wen smiled and nodded, then tiptoed to give him a quick, light kiss on the lips. His smile deepened, seemingly quite pleased with her gesture. She rarely took the initiative with anyone; in Chu Xianyue's eyes, it was always he who coaxed her into doing so. She was like a tree, serene and profound. Whether you loved her or not, how you treated her, or how you imagined her, she stood there, unchanging through the ages, as if transcending time and space.
Chu Xianyue missed many unusual details because of this surprise, such as the kiss, but he did not delve into it. Instead, he held her chin and gently bit her for a while before letting go of Xie Wen.
Xie Wen stood there, watching his figure disappear into the distance.
She seemed to be shrouded in a layer of mist, hazy and indistinct.
In the early winter, dusk falls faster than usual in the small mountain village. The little house, nestled deep in the forest, is shrouded in silence, its presence only noticed by the birds returning home late.
As evening fell, a figure draped in a black cloak hurried out from the depths of the forest. Chu Xianyue was carrying some things back again. He returned later than usual today, afraid that Xie Wen would be anxious or worried about him. So he quickened his pace, thinking of Xie Wen's smiling face all the way.
He bought the same fabric as last time, thinking Xie Wen would like it. On his way back, he searched several shops, but most were closed due to the leaking sky. He had to go to many places before finally finding the same fabric. The garment he had almost finished was left in Youzhou, forever forgotten there. He thought he would make another one. It wasn't a big deal, just a little effort.
But the moment he stood at the door of the small house, all around was shrouded in darkness and silence. No one was there waiting for him. Chu Xianyue's heart trembled violently. He called out Xie Wen's name a few times, then opened the door again. The moment the dim light from outside briefly illuminated the house, the emptiness inside seemed to magnify infinitely in Chu Xianyue's eyes. It deeply stung his eyes.
Blood beads! Blood beads!
Chu Xianyue staggered, remembering that the blood bead was still inseparable from Xie Wen, and he immediately tried to sense Xie Wen's presence.
*
After the Heavenly Leak was opened, the immortals never had a moment's peace. Various sects gathered together and practiced countless methods to resist the leak, but in the end, it was all just empty talk, unable to be truly implemented. To be precise, no one was willing to be the first to stick their neck out, and no one was willing to sacrifice themselves.
Some smaller sects even began to give up, operating independently and forming their own factions, all trying to find ways to survive and secure a way out when disaster struck.
Now, among the four great immortal leaders, only the Heavenly Evolution Sword Sect and Kunlun Ruins remain steadfast in their stance, resolutely upholding the overall situation and truly seeking a way out for the mortal realm. The two most discordant immortal sects of the past are now the most united and of one mind in the entire immortal capital.
However, at the same time, the Tianyan Sword Sect also received a lot of attention because of Chu Xianyue and Xie Wen. Yun Yan was well aware of how some people were spreading rumors. These gossips and troublemakers! He, Yun Yan, would deal with them one by one. On one hand, these people were under Chu Xianyue's protection, hoping that he could completely avert the world-ending disaster for them. On the other hand, they maliciously spread rumors everywhere, ignorantly causing conflict in this time of great chaos.
What were those people saying? How were they spreading the rumors? They were simply resentful of Xie Wenyu's clan identity, unwilling to see Chu Xianyue protecting a woman like that, and trying to sow discord between Chu Xianyue and her.
Later, things escalated, and everyone's blades were turned against Chu Xianyue. The current state of the mortal realm is all the fault of the Feathered Clan, and you're still protecting that scourge? You're no better; how can someone who's involved with their own disciple be innocent and upright? Perhaps your heart is already twisted. I know you've fallen for your disciple, and you cherish her like your own life, but don't even think about protecting her. This resentment must be borne. And that borne point is Xie Wen, the last remaining member of the Feathered Clan in this world. When the true dawn breaks and evil descends, we won't have an easy time, but before that, we'll make this Feathered Clan person suffer even more!
The Sword Sect was thus caught in a vortex of public opinion. Even though Chu Xianyue and Xie Wen had long since left the Sword Sect, they still wouldn't let it go. Yun Yan's handling of this matter was simple: he couldn't care less about what people said behind his back, but he showed no mercy to those who came to his door. What? You're cursing me for indiscriminately killing innocent people? I thought you were a traitor to the Immortal Sect, here to cause trouble and endanger the entire sect. Who else should I kill if not you?
Of the four great sects of the immortal realm, Jin Huaran, the sect leader of Wuxiang Temple, was already dead. Long ago, he had turned most of Wuxiang Temple's disciples into puppets; after him, these puppets would also perish along with their master. The remaining disciples, not turned into puppets, were scattered throughout the world. Unaware of each other and without the sect leader's orders, they quickly became like headless flies, swallowed up by the sea of people. Wuxiang Temple, this great sect, vanished into the vast crowd, never to stir up any more trouble. Everyone silently and officially excluded Wuxiang Temple from the ranks of the immortal sects.
Of the remaining three immortal leaders, Huangqi Palace was the one who wavered from beginning to end. Yun Yan felt that Huangqi Palace was untrustworthy and might betray him at some crucial moment, catching him off guard and leaving him with no chance to regret it.
At this critical moment, not uniting will only lead to even less hope. Pei Xuan frowned and said, "Has Huangqi Palace not made a decision yet? Could it be that they have been scared into not moving by the leak in the sky? That barrier can still hold for another ten days or so, right? Don't worry, we won't die. But if you are still so hesitant, then things may not be so good."
Palace Master Ling Hua of Huangqi Palace frowned deeply. Hearing this, she felt apologetic and said, "When did I say that we should hide? It's just that at this critical moment, everyone should remain calm, after all, it concerns the safety of the entire human realm."
Yun Yan glanced at Ling Hua. This palace master of their Huangqi Palace was the most afraid of death. He was always cautious in everything he did, and he was most afraid that if he took a wrong step, he would fall into an abyss of no return. Therefore, he was always timid and hesitant. He would only take a step if someone pushed him.
Fortunately, she is willing to leave, but it will take some effort.
Yun Yan suddenly stepped forward. He had taken Chu Xianyue's place and succeeded him, but no one regarded him as Chu Xianyue. In any case, Chu Xianyue was irreplaceable in the hearts of the people, and in this era, he was an existence that no one could surpass.
However, at this moment, his stance drew everyone's attention. Yun Yan said in a deep voice, "Everyone, our ancestor was able to completely seal the Netherworld alone, and it has remained unshaken for thousands of years. Now, with so many of us, how can we not seal the Netherworld again with our combined strength? You must know that it is not actually that terrifying; what is terrifying is our own imagination. As long as we work together, we can seal it a thousand times over."
Friends, believe me, the day of world destruction will not come again, and this time will once again become history. You and I will both be etched into history. As long as we work together to overcome this challenge, our better days will eventually arrive.
Everyone's impression of Yun Yan was still that of the child who stood behind Chu Xianyue and obediently listened to Chu Xianyue's words.
Only at this moment did he realize that the once naive junior had truly grown a lot. He had long since learned from his master how to handle sect affairs, daring to stand up and, standing in the position of the number one sect in the Immortal Capital, using the demeanor of the Immortal Capital's Great Immortal Elder to boost morale, speak loudly, and make his voice heard by everyone.
There's a real resemblance to Chu Xianyue.
It's somewhat similar, yet not quite. Yun Yan is Yun Yan. Compared to many of the elders present, he still seems quite young, but his voice is deafening, and that's enough.
After leaving the Immortal Sect Conference, Yun Yan returned to the Tianyan Sword Sect.
Unexpectedly, I encountered a figure who shouldn't be here at this time.
After finishing her work as usual, Yun Yan dragged her tired body to Half Moon Peak. Xie Wenhe and Xie Yichun used to plant some flowers, grasses and vines there. Since Xie Wenhe and Chu Xianyue left, Yun Yan has been going there regularly to water and take care of them without fail.
In early winter, most of the flowers and vines have withered, their leaves drooping listlessly, fading into the darkness along with the faded flowers and grasses of the mountain. Only a few wild grasses and wildflowers still stand stubbornly upright.
Yun Yan got used to coming over from time to time. Later, even if there were no flowers or plants to tend to, he would still go over to make a formality. Yun Yan always felt that since Xie Wen and the others left, this small house on Half Moon Peak had become very empty. Before long, it was overgrown with weeds, and the house was covered with dust. When Yun Yan came, he would just sit outside for a while, then leave after spacing out for a bit.
He became so lonely, as everyone around him drifted away. He even started to miss Shen Lizhi, who used to be his worst enemy, Yun Yan. When she was around, it was always so noisy.
I'm always happy when Sister Xie Wen is around.
I always feel safe and secure when my master is by my side.
Unfortunately, everything is gone.
When Yun Yan stepped into the gray-white little house again, she saw that someone was already standing there.
She sat alone on the swing, swaying back and forth, and turned to look at Yun Yan.
Thank you, Senior Sister Wen.
Yun Yan thought she must be seeing things, so she rubbed her eyes. After a while, she still went over. No matter what, Yun Yan was happy that Senior Sister Xie Wen was willing to come back.
In the past, no matter how much he resented or disappointed them, it was only because he resented them for not coming back and was disappointed that they wouldn't come back to see him.
After so long, seeing each other again, Yun Yan couldn't help but choke up and called out with difficulty, "Senior Sister."
Xie Wen's eyebrows curved into a smile, as if a hundred glaciers had melted away between them. "Junior brother, it's been a long time."
The smile was just like before.
It was as if nothing had changed.
Yun Yan was stunned for a moment, and a wave of sourness welled up for no reason.
He felt that the dignity he maintained in front of outsiders vanished the moment he stood before his master and senior sisters. The more he tried to demonstrate his growth and independence to them, the more fragile his "pretense" became. Just standing before them, Yun Yan was already defeated.
Yun Yan walked over and stood silently beside Xie Wen. Xie Wen looked up at Yun Yan and asked, "Yun Yan, how have you been lately? Is everything alright in the Sword Sect?"
Yun Yan nodded and sat down on the stone bench next to him. Just like on many ordinary days in the past, he chatted with Xie Wen casually for a few minutes. "Everything is fine, Senior Sister, you don't need to worry."
Xie Wen nodded, "That's good."
She turned her head and stroked the withered branches hanging from the flower stand; they trembled violently in the cold wind, like an old man in his twilight years. Xie Wen said, "These vines have withered, but they will grow back next year. Yun Yan, do you come to water them every day?"
Yun Yan touched his head, turned his head to the side, and said, "Since I have nothing else to do, I'll come every few days."
As Yun Yan finished speaking, he noticed Xie Wen's gaze fixed on a certain spot behind him and paused.
Yun Yan turned around and saw a young girl standing under a gray sky. Behind her were vast, desolate, withered mountains, which made her stand tall like a green-clad figure.
Chi Yufei met Yun Yan and Xie Wen's eyes, raised an eyebrow, and walked over with a faint, arrogant smile on her lips, blending into the evening breeze.
She walked in, exchanged a glance with Yun Yan, who was also carrying a watering can, and then they each looked away.
Chi Yufei's gaze fell on Xie Wen again, and Xie Wen greeted her quite frankly, "Long time no see."
Chi Yufei raised an eyebrow, her sharp gaze softening instantly. Not wanting to argue, she sat down with Yun Yan, unsure what to say, and the atmosphere became quiet. It felt like a quiet autumn evening long ago when everyone would be squatting here together, munching on melons.
But now, autumn has faded, leaving only the chill of early winter.
Chi Yufei: "Xie Wen, what are you doing back here? Why don't you hide and never come out again?"
Chi Yufei thought that in this world, Xie Wen could only survive peacefully if he always hid and was never discovered by outsiders.
Xie Wen twitched the corner of his mouth and said, "Since you've known me, do you think I'm the kind of person who would willingly hide away for the rest of my life?"
Chi Yufei clicked her tongue, seemingly resigned that Xie Wen was still the same person, unchanged. Once she made up her mind about something, she would never look back.
Chi Yufei fell silent, not uttering a word. Compared to Xie Wen, an even greater crisis now loomed before her.
The three sat together, and after a while, looking into the distance, they saw another person standing in front of the mountain. It was a bright pink figure standing in the desolate, barren mountain. Sikong Mingxue was like a spring flower that had fallen into the deep mountains, bright in color and extremely vibrant.
When Sikong Mingxue saw Yun Yan, Chi Yufei, Xie Wen, and so many others, she skipped happily toward them, carrying a water jug. She first approached Xie Wen, "Senior Sister Wen, you're finally back! Did you come back to pick melons? It seems the melon season is over now. It's alright, while you were gone, Chi Yufei and I came every day to water and fertilize it. It will definitely grow very well next year and produce lots of melons."
Xie Wen glanced at Sikong Mingxue, Chi Yufei, and Yun Yan, each holding a watering can, and muttered, "With so much water, this melon will definitely grow twice as big as next year's."
The perceptive Chi Yufei sensed the sarcasm in Xie Wen's words, turned her head away, snorted, and said, "How was Sikong Mingxue and I supposed to know that Yun Yan would come? Besides, what's wrong with watering it a little more? This kind of melon vine loves water."
"And another thing," Chi Yufei turned her gaze to Sikong Mingxue, "Didn't we agree that I'd water the plants on odd-numbered days and come over on even-numbered days? Today is an even-numbered day, so you came?"
Sikong Mingxue scratched her head and said, "Oh, maybe I remembered it wrong."
Yun Yan no longer easily gets involved in any boring and meaningless arguments. He had done too many foolish things in the past, and now, as the second-in-command of the Sword Sect, he has ordered himself to be serious and dignified!
But then she saw Xie Wen looking at Yun Yan with a half-smile, and she even reached out to touch Yun Yan's head, saying, "You've grown up."
Yun Yan was startled at first, then immediately dodged Xie Wen's hand. This was very strange. His frivolous senior sister was touching his head and saying he had grown up? This was comparable to making Yun Yan run away at the sight of a tree.
Abnormal.
Actually, when he saw Xie Wen again after all this time, he had the illusion that she had changed quite a bit. And indeed, after experiencing so much, it was impossible for her not to change. However, what had changed was the glimmer of brightness in her eyes.
Even now, when Xie Wen smiles, she can't hide the sorrow in her eyes, a sorrow that has accumulated there like an unmelting glacier. She sits on the swing, her feet on the ground, using the momentum to sway gently in the evening breeze, her figure completely blending into the desolation.
Sikong Mingxue and Chi Yufei sat together, each chewing on a wild grass they had casually plucked. Sikong Mingxue said, "Senior Sister Wen, you won't be leaving again this time, right? Are you planning to continue living in this little house? It hasn't been cleaned in a long time, would you like us to clean it for you?"
Chi Yufei glanced at Xie Wen. The moment she saw Xie Wen return, she knew he wouldn't stay long. He was probably just visiting out of boredom and would leave sooner or later. Chi Yufei had a strange intuition that Xie Wen didn't belong here; she felt Xie Wen belonged somewhere far more expansive and beyond.
Moreover, Chu Xianyue didn't return with Xie Wen, suggesting that Xie Wen might have sneaked back simply to see these old acquaintances. During her time clearing out evil spirits in various places down the mountain, Chi Yufei kept encountering a strange man in a black cloak. He consistently helped her but never revealed himself. He had traveled to all the places in the mortal realm facing difficulties, and Chi Yufei had long recognized him. Who else could it be but Chu Xianyue?
However, she didn't expose him and rarely saw him afterward.
Now that Xie Wen was here, Chi Yufei casually asked, "Where is Chu Xianyue? He's the one leading our sect's joint plan to reseal the Heavenly Leak, right? He'll be involved no matter what, right? The pillars of the sect aren't just for show. We need him. If you ask me, those cowards and idiots down the mountain, stopping their clamor and inciting conflict when everyone's in danger is the biggest help they can give us. Originally, Xie Wen, you could have come with us to seal the Heavenly Leak. I admit your talent is indeed higher than mine, and your participation would greatly increase our chances of winning. But..."
What Chi Yufei left unsaid was clear to Xie Wen and Yun Yan, and they all lowered their eyes in tacit understanding. But Xie Wen, now a member of the Feather Clan, had long become the center of all human anger. Forget fighting alongside the Immortal Sects; even taking a single step forward would be enough to make her a target for those extremists.
She carries the ancient hatred between the entire human race and the winged race, a hatred that is difficult to resolve and eliminate.
Perhaps only when she dies will people stop...
That's why Chi Yufei advised Xie Wen from the beginning to hide well and not let anyone find him, because only in this way could he survive.
But Xie Wen's nature meant that she couldn't hide forever.
She would rather be shattered to pieces than not live in this world openly and honestly. Otherwise, what would be the point of living like that? She would become like the Feather Clan people of more than ten years ago, living a life of hiding and hardship just to survive.
As the last winged person in the world, she thought she had to live. She wasn't just living alone; she carried the blood of the winged people and the hopes of all her people.
Therefore, Xie Wen thought that they absolutely must not live like before, constantly hiding and running away. She hadn't done anything heinous in this life, so why should she live like a rat? Xie Wen refused!
At least she should live an upright life, at least be able to leave that little house, at least be able to do what she wants to do, instead of being trapped in that little house her whole life, with all she could do was wait anxiously for his return. Xie Wen admitted that Chu Xianyue hadn't done anything wrong, and he had never mistreated her; he had done everything he could to protect her.
But Xie Wen didn't want it to be like this.
I don't want two people to spend their whole lives pitifully huddled in one place, hiding from each other forever.
She didn't want Chu Xianyue to go from being a revered immortal to such a shameful state because of her.
It's so upsetting. Even if Chu Xianyue didn't say anything, Xie Wen felt aggrieved for him.
Therefore, Xie Wen finally made up his mind to face the issue instead of running away this time.
It turns out that Jin Huaran taught Xie Wen this skill.
In that world, the person closest to her, someone who shares the same bloodline and the same roots.
Looking back now, Xie Wen only remembers his unwavering persistence. He would never know, even in his death, that what he had clung to his entire life vanished with him in the very moment of his death. Perhaps that was for the best; at least until his death, he believed that his people could truly escape the Boundless Sea, that Xie Wen could successfully lead them to that land in the South Sea, and that they could live a good life in that paradise, carefree and at ease for the rest of their lives.
This was the path Jin Huaran had paved for all the Feather Clan members. He had died three times, each time for his people, and even ultimately entered the game himself, meticulously planning everything. Fortunately, he died without knowing that all his lifelong scheming and efforts had been in vain, vanishing like smoke.
Xie Wen even felt a pang of sadness and regret for Jin Huaran. He deserved a better life, and so did Xie Wen. It seemed that all of this had been ruined by the Feather Clan bloodline, but upon closer reflection, who was it that had truly destroyed the Feather Clan?
Xie Wen has decided to go down the mountain.
There is no time to lose.
She wanted to prove that the Feathered Clan were not cowards.
What does the man from the mountain want to do to her?
She went straight to greet them.
What's there to be afraid of? I'm just a worthless life anyway.
She's dead, and soon everyone will be buried with her, which can be considered as "being buried with her."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
