Finally, Ma Tuan made a fateful decision: to leave that land. He would rather give up everything else than take the book with him. This book meant so much to him and was his most precious treasure.
The god, hidden within Ma Tuan's book, has been watching his every move. He's witnessed Ma Tuan's growth and accompanied him through many difficult times. Now, the god feels the seal around him gradually loosening. Perhaps soon, he'll meet Ma Tuan, explore the world with him, and help him fulfill his dreams.
As for Him, he had witnessed too many things over the years and had participated in the injustices of the world. Time had become a number in His eyes, but now, it seemed not to be the case. Instead, it made Him feel emotions that He had not felt in many years.
The god gazed at Ma Tuan quietly, his mind clear. He felt that he had not been this lucid for a long time. Over the years, his clearest moments were when he wrote on Ma Tuan's books and helped him solve his problems.
Ma Tuan suddenly felt a vague gaze on him, and he turned his head sharply to look. However, he didn't see anyone suspicious, so he turned his head back again. The scene before him was indescribable. The color of the seals on the four corners was slowly fading, and he was worried that if those four "people" came out, they might attack without hesitation.
Lu'e still seemed a little unwell, but the lotus pattern on his face had faded considerably. His brows furrowed slightly, and he would occasionally look up, as if searching for something.
At this moment, the only thing left in the space was the stone mushroom tree, standing tall in the golden ocean. This golden ocean was surging, its waves crashing against the shore with a resounding sound. The sunlight streamed down, illuminating the entire surface of the sea like a sheet of flowing gold.
The sky itself was stained with brilliant gold and orange, stretching from the distant horizon to overhead. This gradient of tones made the sky appear exceptionally vibrant and dazzling, like a vast painting. The clouds loomed against this vibrant backdrop, creating a mysterious and dreamlike feeling.
The Stone Mushroom Tree towers into the sky, its trunk thick and powerful, like a sturdy fortress. Its crown gradually transforms from a petrified state into a lush, luxuriant tree, its branches and leaves swaying gracefully, seemingly telling an ancient story in the breeze. Each stone leaf, from hard to soft, shimmers with a golden light, blending seamlessly with its surroundings.
Fang Ruyue stood there quietly, as if she was enduring all the time, while He Huanping in the other corner slowly sat down. Her hat had fallen off long ago, and her long black hair was tied up and hung behind her head. She seemed to be lost in memories, with a dazed expression.
Bai Di on the side had no idea what Lou Xun beside him was thinking. He actually didn't know his nominal brother very well from childhood to adulthood. Even when he was very young, the other party had always been taking care of him.
If they were just ordinary families, the situation might not be like this. But unfortunately, they were born into the royal family. As princes, they were indoctrinated with the idea of power struggle and intrigue from a young age. Despite this, Bai Di still hoped to establish a closer relationship with Lou Xun. After all, they were brothers.
However, the heir to the throne was chosen by his grandfather against all odds. While his personality wasn't particularly friendly, it wasn't completely cold and heartless either. He was the type with a cold exterior but a warm heart. This made him appear calm and decisive in his dealings, but it also made him difficult to approach.
Within the imperial family, most direct descendants support Lou Xun becoming the crown prince. His grandfather is fully aware of this, yet he insists that only Bai Di is qualified to inherit the throne. Although Bai Di seems inferior to Lou Xun in every way, his grandfather firmly believes that Bai Di possesses unique leadership skills and potential.
Even though many people openly or secretly mocked the old emperor for being too old.
However, none of these could affect the grandparents and grandchildren.
Bai Di knew he was inferior to Lou Xun in many ways, whether in knowledge, wisdom, or social skills. This made him feel inferior and uneasy, especially when faced with those who mocked him. At the ball, those who knew he was outside deliberately and loudly discussed his shortcomings and deficiencies, but this did not deeply affect him. What truly broke his heart was the sudden death of his grandfather.
That night, Bai Di felt an inexplicable sense of unease, as if something important was about to happen. He tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep. Finally, as the night deepened, he heard a rapid knock on the door.
When he opened the door, he saw Lou Xun standing outside. It was pouring rain, the wind was howling, and lightning flashed across the night sky from time to time, making the whole environment seem gloomy and terrifying. Lou Xun's figure looked even more lonely and desolate against this backdrop.
Lou Xun looked at Bai Di quietly, his eyes flickering with complex emotions. He seemed about to speak, but ultimately fell silent. The atmosphere between them was unusually heavy, as if time had frozen at that moment.
Bai Di stared at Lou Xun, trying to read his gaze. However, the deep gaze left him confused and lost. He didn't know how to interpret the deeper meaning. After all, they hadn't seen each other for a year, and the distance between them was becoming more and more obvious.
Lou Xun silently pulled out a letter from his pocket and handed it to Bai Di. His movements were slow and solemn, as if the letter carried an endless amount of sadness and helplessness. Then, he said in a low voice, "Grandpa is gone. Don't worry. He's peaceful and seems very content."
When Bai Di heard this, his mind went blank, and even a flash of white light appeared before his eyes. He couldn't accept this sudden news. He stared at Lou Xun with wide eyes, his face filled with disbelief, his lips trembling slightly. He couldn't understand why it happened so suddenly; everything was so unexpected.
Lou Xun kept staring at him, and the moment he finished speaking, he hugged Bai Di with great force, as if he wanted to integrate Bai Di into his own bones and blood.
Although both of their bodies were shaking slightly involuntarily, Bai Di subconsciously leaned his head on the other's shoulder. There were only a few big words left in his mind: Grandpa is gone.
Lou Xun said nothing more. He patted Bai Di gently with one hand and held him tightly with the other hand, hoping to bring some warmth and comfort to Bai Di. However, Bai Di did not respond to Lou Xun's actions. He closed his eyes tightly, as if immersed in a dark dream.
After a while, Bai Di slowly opened his eyes, his vision gradually clearing. He then realized that he had been crying for a long time, tears sliding down his cheeks and dripping onto Lou Xun's clothes. The tears blurred his vision. He tried to raise his hand to wipe them away, but found that his body felt as if it were weighed down by a heavy lead block, unable to move.
At the same time, Bai Di felt a surge of heartache in his heart. It was as if his heart was being grabbed by an invisible hand, throbbing and twisting in pain.
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