Chapter 65: Eternal Echo
The silver years flowed quietly, and Lin Chen and Canglan continued to contribute their remaining energy in the peaceful life of Heart Valley. However, on a golden autumn day when maple leaves resembled a fiery flame, the 98-year-old Elder Shi Yan passed away peacefully, plunging the entire alliance into deep mourning.
At the funeral, representatives from various tribes gathered at the Tower of Knowledge to share the elders' lives and wisdom. Lin Chen and Canglan supported each other as they stood in the front row, Canglan's arms firmly supporting Lin Chen's slightly trembling body.
"Elder Shi Yan is like the cornerstone of the Tower of Knowledge," Lin Chen said at the memorial service. "Solid and reliable, he supports the Alliance's upward growth."
Canglan added: "He taught us that true strength lies not in shouting loudly, but in standing firm in silence."
The elder's passing made the two more aware of the preciousness of time. They began to more systematically organize their knowledge and experience, leaving a final gift for the Alliance.
Lin Chen completed the final chapter of his book, "Lin Chen's Notes," which not only records technical knowledge but also includes reflections on life and leadership philosophy. "The most important thing is not what you know," he wrote, "but to remain curious and humble, and always learn."
Canglan recorded a series of oral records titled "Wolf Wisdom," revealing the profound wisdom of hunting philosophy, tribal leadership, and coexisting with nature. "Leadership isn't about the alpha wolf walking alone," he said in a voice that was old but still powerful, "but about enabling every wolf to reach their full potential."
One snowy winter afternoon, Lin Chen sat before the fireplace when he suddenly felt a familiar wave of dizziness. This time, the symptoms were more severe than before. Doctor Yunlu was urgently summoned, and after examining him, her expression was grim.
"Teacher Lin Chen's heart is failing," she told Canglan softly, "like an autumn leaf, it has finished its season."
Canglan nodded silently, his silver-gray eyes filled with indescribable emotion. He waved the others away and sat alone beside his lover's bed, holding the hands that had once changed the entire alliance.
"Is the time right?" Lin Chen asked softly, his eyes still clear.
"Not yet," Canglan said firmly, "As long as there is still a glimmer of light, we will guard it together."
In the days that followed, Canglan barely left Lin Chen's side. He personally prepared every meal, read aloud Lin Chen's favorite celestial legends, and whispered about their shared memories. Representatives from each tribe took turns visiting to express their respect and gratitude.
What was most touching was the personal presence of those whose lives Lin Chen had saved or improved: children who had survived thanks to medical advances and are now adults, families who had been saved from famine thanks to agricultural improvements, and young people who had found their direction in life thanks to knowledge sharing.
"Your wisdom changed my life," said a woman who is now a chief physician, holding Lin Chen's hand. "I will pass this gift on."
Lin Chen smiled weakly but contentedly: "Life is like an echo. What you give is what you get back."
One clear night, Lin Chen's spirits suddenly improved, and he asked to go to the Twin Star Observatory to watch the stars. Canglan carefully carried him out, wrapping him tightly in fur. The starry sky was exceptionally bright, as if specially illuminated for this interstellar traveler.
"Look," Lin Chen pointed at the starry sky, "My hometown may be on a star. But now, this is my home."
Canglan held his hand tightly: "You will always be my home."
They sat in silence until Lin Chen fell asleep again. This time, his breathing was even softer, like the last trembling of an autumn leaf.
Before dawn, Lin Chen opened his eyes for the last time and looked at Canglan, who had been waiting all night. "Don't be sad. I have lived two lives, both full of meaning and love."
Canglan gently rested his forehead against Lin Chen's: "And my life only began when I met you."
At the first light of dawn, Lin Chen passed away peacefully in Canglan's arms, his face as calm as if he were sound asleep. Canglan sat alone, holding him for a long time, until the sunlight completely illuminated the valley of his heart.
The Alliance held an unprecedented funeral for Lin Chen. Representatives from all tribes gathered, not to mourn his death, but to celebrate the contributions of an extraordinary life. In accordance with Lin Chen's wishes, copies of his intellectual legacy were distributed to each tribe, and his body was cremated and scattered in the Garden of Wisdom in Heart Valley.
“Let the last of me nourish new life,” he wrote in his will, “as knowledge should.”
Canglan bravely presided over the funeral ceremony, but when he returned to the Heart Valley Cottage that night, the overwhelming sense of loss finally overwhelmed him. He transformed back into wolf form and howled at the moon, his voice filled with the weight of a love story spanning more than sixty years.
In the days that followed, Canglan fell silent. He continued to tend the Garden of Wisdom and organize Lin Chen's legacy, but the light in his eyes seemed to dim. The Alliance worried that he would follow, but he had made a promise.
"I promised him that I would protect the Alliance until the very end," Canglan said to those who cared about him. "The Wolf Clan swears loyalty until death."
Yet, the pain of losing half his body was palpable. Canglan often sat on the Double Star Terrace, gazing at the starry sky and muttering to himself, as if still conversing with his lover. Sometimes he would suddenly smile, as if hearing a response only he could understand.
In the first spring after Lin Chen's death, Canglan presided over the inaugural presentation of the "Lin Chen Wisdom Award" to reward alliance members who have made outstanding contributions to knowledge and innovation.
“The best memorial is not statues and ceremonies,” he said at the award ceremony, “but keeping his spirit alive in your work.”
As summer approaches, Canglan becomes noticeably weaker, but he refuses to leave Heart Valley, insisting on completing his final work there—a story about his love and collaboration with Lin Chen.
“This isn’t about glory,” he explained to the Spark members who came to assist him, “but about showing how personal love can be transformed into a greater love for the community.”
When the autumn leaves turned red again, Canglan finished his work. He handed the manuscript to the Alliance Council, then walked alone to the Binary Star Observatory, watching the full moon no longer rise.
The next day, people found Canglan lying peacefully on the Double Star Platform, clutching the astrological tablet that Lin Chen had originally given him. His face was as calm as if he were deep in sleep. His moonlight-like silver hair shone softly in the morning light, as if he had simply entered another dream.
The Alliance held an equally grand funeral for Canglan. His body, along with Lin Chen's ashes, was buried in the center of the Garden of Wisdom. A simple boulder stood on the grave, engraved with an interwoven pattern of wolves and stars, and a single line of words: "Here lie two mentors, whose wisdom and love will forever guide us."
The Heart Valley Research Station was officially renamed the "Dual Star Holy Land," becoming the Alliance's center of wisdom and spirituality. Every year, countless people come to admire and learn, seeking guidance and inspiration.
What is most touching is that the stories of Lin Chen and Cang Lan have been included in the Alliance textbooks as part of values education, not only because of their contributions, but also because they show how to turn differences into strength and love into service.
Years later, on a starry night, the Alliance held a large memorial at the shrine of the Twin Stars. Representatives from all tribes gathered to share how the spirits of the two mentors continued to influence the Alliance.
“They teach us that leadership is not about power, but about service,” said one young leader. “They show us how to transform knowledge into healing,” said one physician. “They prove that true love can change the world,” said one teacher.
At the climax of the event, everyone raised the luminous stones, and the entire holy land seemed to have fallen to the ground under the stars. At that moment, many people swore that they saw two particularly bright stars shining even brighter in the night sky, as if responding to the greeting from the ground.
Though that otherworldly soul and the wolf warriors of the Silvermoon Tribe have left the physical realm, their spirit and wisdom have been deeply woven into the fabric of the Alliance. Their influence continues to resonate in every innovation, every exchange, every love.
The morning light once again illuminates the Twin Stars, and a new day of Alliance life begins. Young leaders harness the wisdom of their mentors to meet new challenges, Spark members forge ahead with new ideals, and the tribes maintain unity and cooperation in the new landscape.
The story of Lin Chen and Canglan has become an eternal echo - proving that although individual life is limited, through love and service, it can have an impact that transcends time; proving that differences are not obstacles but a source of richness; proving that true legends lie not in spectacular feats but in daily perseverance and selfless dedication.
And in some dimension beyond comprehension, perhaps the two lovers finally merge completely, like the stars and the wolf, forever accompanying each other, forever guiding those who seek wisdom, love and harmony on the road. Their echoes will never fade, their light will always shine, and their love will become eternal.
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