Chapter 36

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After arriving at Liuyun Sect, Xie Tingyun's life did not change much.

Practicing meditation, taking care of my mother, practicing swordplay, over and over again.

At that time, Liuyun Sect had a high status in the world of cultivation and was considered a large sect that accepted many disciples. The news of the birth of a heavenly-grade spiritual root had just spread a few days ago, and today, we saw Taoist Master Daoling taking that heavenly-grade spiritual root back.

Taking into account Xie Tingyun's situation, Taoist Master Daoling did not make any demands on him after he entered Liuyun Sect. He just asked him to accompany Xie Wan well and there was no rush for cultivation.

Everyone in the sect knew that the sect leader had accepted a person with heavenly spiritual roots as his disciple, but the disciples hadn't seen a single person in so many days, and they were a little curious and intrigued.

Only Xie Tingyun does not take the outside world seriously.

He was busy presenting the entire world to his mother so that she could see more and be happier, and would not leave with regrets.

Normally, the spiritual stones that Xie Tingyun earned from selling the spiritual balls he infused were far more than their daily expenses. In addition, Taoist Master Daoling took good care of them and sent all kinds of elixirs to Xie Tingyun. Although they could not bring Xie Wan back to life, they could still help prolong her life and reduce her pain.

Xie Wan became happier and happier, with more smiles on her face. However, only Xie Tingyun knew that her body was hopelessly deteriorating day by day, and he could only watch helplessly as the destined ending slowly approached him. No matter what he did, he could not change it.

In the end, Xie Wan spent eight painless months in Liuyun Sect.

That day was as sunny as usual. Xie Wan was miraculously able to get up from the bed and dress herself up, which was rare.

She put on the Lingxi jade bracelet given by Xiao Tingyun, changed into a beautiful dress, and finally Xie Tingyun helped her with her makeup.

Xie Wan smiled, looked around in the mirror in surprise, and said, "How come Tingyun can even put on makeup for women?"

Xie Tingyun looked at her seriously for a long while, lowered his brows tenderly, and said, "My sisters have taught me. It's not difficult."

Even though she had lost a lot of weight due to illness, Xie Wan's face still retained her beauty and charm. When she dressed up carefully, she was still radiant and as charming as she was in her youth.

Xie Wan said gently: "Tingyun's hands are so skillful that he can even turn an old woman into a great beauty."

"What are you talking about?"

Xie Tingyun kept his eyes on Xie Wan, unwilling to look away for even a moment, as if he knew that every time he looked at her, he would see her one less time.

He said, "Mother is beautiful to begin with. I don't know how many times I have heard the storyteller tell the legend of the most beautiful woman in the world. Even if mother becomes an old woman, she will still be a beautiful woman with a lingering charm."

Xie Wan pulled Xie Tingyun over and looked at him seriously for a long time before she said with nostalgia, "It's a pity that I can't see Tingyun's future happy girl, and I can't see Tingyun get married."

Xie Tingyun couldn't help but laugh: "Mom, I'm not old enough to get married yet, you said it's too early."

"However..." Xie Tingyun said softly, "There is someone I want you to meet if there is a chance."

"Hmm?" Xie Wan was interested, but she seemed to suddenly think of something and warned: "Even if Tingyun has a girl he likes, he can't be presumptuous and cross the line with her, understand? She is a good girl, you can't kidnap her and tarnish her innocence."

Xie Tingyun laughed and said, "Okay. Tingyun won't do that."

He thought about it, as if he was organizing his words, but after thinking for a long time, he could only say: "...Not girl. But if he saw that Tingyun had a mother like you, he would be very happy."

Xie Wan joked, "It's okay to like men. Mother won't kick you and your partner out of the house just because you marry a man."

Xie Tingyun couldn't help but smile.

He thought for a long time, not knowing how to describe that person. After a long while, he seemed a little frustrated: "...I don't know either. He is the same as you, the person that Tingyun wants to live for."

Xie Tingyun had never experienced love and did not know how to define what happiness and joy were.

He had never fallen in love with other women or men, and all his knowledge about love and romance came from novels.

If he were to describe that person with worldly affection, Xie Tingyun would always feel that it was a kind of defilement and blasphemy against that person.

After thinking it over, Xie Tingyun could only give this answer.

After all, all he had ever asked for was that person's safety.

Xie Wan looked at him with a strange and reassuring feeling in her eyes.

She said slowly, "That's good. It's good to have an idea. Then Mom can go with peace of mind."

Xie Tingyun looked at his drowsy mother, and after a long silence, he said, "Don't worry, mother. I will live well."

Xie Wan sighed, pulled Xie Tingyun into her arms, gently pressed his shoulders, and said with a smile: "Tingyun, mommy will sleep for a while, don't cry, okay?"

"..." Xie Tingyun said hoarsely, "Okay."

Xie Wan's vision became increasingly blurry. She didn't know if she was hallucinating, but she actually saw a tall figure standing in the shadows in the distance.

The man was half hidden in the darkness, leaning against the wall behind him. There was no emotion in his eyes, he just looked at this side quietly.

Xie Wan was slightly startled.

This is the courtyard where she and Xie Tingyun lived in Liuyun Sect. How could there be someone else in the room besides herself and Xie Tingyun?

The man was also surprised when he found out that he had been discovered. His eyes dimmed and his body, which was originally lazily leaning against the wall, straightened up instantly.

“…”

Neither side acted rashly, and the situation unexpectedly remained deadlocked.

Ning Chen was also puzzled at this moment.

He followed Xie Tingyun all the way here and watched the mother and son for such a long time without being discovered by anyone, except now.

Xie Wan shook her head, and when she looked over again, she found that there was no one there, and she couldn't help but laugh at herself.

I heard that when a person is about to die, he will see some special beings.

The man didn't look like he had any intention of attacking her. Could it be that he was some kind of ghost that was still obsessed with something and was accidentally seen by her when she was about to die?

Xie Tingyun also noticed Xie Wan's abnormality and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Xie Wan closed her eyes and smiled, saying, "Tingyun, why don't you bring him over to see mother?"

"He... is dead." Xie Tingyun was silent for a moment, then said, "I don't know where he is now."

He didn't say anything else. Xie Wan rubbed Xie Tingyun's head as if she had realized something.

Xie Wan felt sleepy.

She seemed to have many doubts that had not been answered, but also seemed to understand everything.

From the moment Xie Tingyun was willing to confess to her the existence of another person, Xie Wan understood the meaning of Xie Tingyun's move.

He was confessing veiledly.

No child of eight or nine years old is as mentally mature as Xie Tingyun, and no more than 20 years of experience can support a child who is inexperienced in the world to have a savior with whom he has a deep bond.

Xie Tingyun has been unwilling to express his love or dependence to others since he was a child. He would only pretend to stick to Xie Wan casually on certain occasions, and only after he found that Xie Wan did not dislike it and liked him very much, would he continue to stick to her silently.

Normally, if there is nothing urgent, Xie Tingyun will go home at night and will not stay outside. Therefore, if there really is such a person who means a lot to Xie Tingyun, Xie Wan should have noticed it.

But no.

But these have nothing to do with Xie Wan.

She was just a woman of the dust. Although she had no control over half her life and fell in love with the wrong person and married the wrong person, she was happier over the years with Xie Tingyun.

Xie Wan had long lost hope in her father. She had been seriously ill for many years and was driven out by the mistress of the house. Her father also turned a blind eye to her and did not know that she and Xie Tingyun were now in Liuyun Sect. He did not bother her in the remaining days, which was exactly what Xie Wan wanted.

It was not easy for them to be together as mother and son, and their limited fate ended here. Why bother asking about their future?

Xie Wan's eyes could no longer see clearly, so she could only rely on her sense to look towards the place where the strange man had stood before, and said in a barely audible voice: "Is that you? Are you here to see him? If so, can you help me... keep an eye on him."

She was gone, and the person that Tingyun cherished so much was also gone.

How sad Tingyun must be.

But Xie Wan had no other choice.

After murmuring this sentence unconsciously, Xie Wan suddenly remembered after a long time that even if the man who was quietly looking at this side in the darkness was the person Tingyun mentioned, it was useless.

If it could be seen by Xie Wan, a dying person, it could not be a living person.

Xie Tingyun's thoughts were a little stiff. He didn't understand what Xie Wan said. He was a little stunned and said in a low voice: "What did you say?"

Xie Wan hugged Xie Tingyun tightly. She couldn't see clearly whether anyone responded or not, and she also knew that no one could respond. Therefore, this entrustment of her care to someone unknown was just her own wishful thinking.

Xie Wan said softly: "Tingyun..."

The dying man's last glimmer of life will not last long.

Xie Tingyun obviously also knew about this.

All he could do was hug his mother tightly in silence.

Xie Wan was reluctant to close her eyes, she wanted to look at Xie Tingyun a few more times, but her eyelids became increasingly heavy and she could no longer control them.

Xie Wan's consciousness gradually slipped into the abyss. She breathed slowly. Just before she fell into complete darkness, she heard a deep voice saying, "Hmm."

Hmm...? Hmm what? Who is he promising?

Xie Wan couldn't remember, but she felt inexplicably relieved.

There are not many people that Xie Tingyun cherishes in his heart; if he counts on his fingers, there are only two.

A long, long time ago, Xie Tingyun died once when he witnessed that man's death.

Now, Xie Tingyun personally put on makeup and picked out clothes for his mother. He watched her last moments of life, her face radiant. He watched her hug him happily and talk to him many, many words. He watched her slowly close her eyes and die again as if falling into an abyss.

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The author has something to say:

Ning Miao: Don’t get me wrong, it’s just this once. I will only help you this once, no more (reminding with concern)

Xiao Xie: I know, I will believe you (accustomed to it) (Give the cat a gentle kiss) (Bring the cat over to show mother)