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  Under the Azure Cloud Mountain, the ruins of Cao Miao Village.

  Daybreak and nightfall, the white day and black night changed, but Lu Xueqi couldn't remember how many days she had been here. The thoughts of longing and deep emotions that had accumulated over the past decade seemed to have suddenly lost control, she could no longer bear it, every day and every night, she wanted to be by that man's side, accompanying him, if there was a future, then forever!

  He's still the same, at least in Lu Xueqi's eyes, he has never changed. Now that disheveled and sorrowful man is being gently held in his arms, still with a dazed expression.

  These days, Lu Xueqi had also thought of various methods to awaken Zhang Xiaofan from his heart demon nightmare, but none of them succeeded. In the end, Lu Xueqi temporarily gave up her efforts. Perhaps only she could truly understand the pain in Gui Li's heart at this moment.

  So she no longer tried to wake him, but quietly accompanied him, embracing him. The two of them sat silently in the ruins of Cao Village, where wild grass grew everywhere, watching the sunrise at dawn, watching the sunset in the evening, watching the bright moon rise into the sky, and watching the stars twinkle. The wind from the wilderness blew by, carrying the fragrance of the green grass all over the ground, gently caressing their faces.

  For some reason, even with a hint of guilt in her heart, Lu Xueqi truly felt a sense of happiness from the bottom of her heart. Being with the one she loved was such a simple thing, yet she had endured ten years of hardship and shouldered the weight of the world, but at this moment, she finally broke free from all restraints and cast aside all her burdens, all for him.

  A gentle breeze brings a refreshing coolness.

  Another night has fallen.

  Two people leaned against the broken wall, sitting quietly, and beside them, the wild grass rustled twice, as if there was something strange, but Lu Xueqi didn't take a second look. Sure enough, after a moment, Xiao Hui's shadow darted out of the grass and jumped onto the broken wall that Lu Xueqi and Zhang Xiaofan were leaning against, sitting down.

  The bandages that Xiaobai had wrapped around him were all gone, and the exposed wounds had mostly healed. It seemed that Xiao Hui had torn them off himself. At this moment, the monkey was sitting on the broken wall, with a big pile of wild fruits scattered in front of it, and many of them fell down, hitting Lu Xueqi and Zhang Xiaofan.

  Zhang Xiaofan was stunned and didn't react, while Lu Xueqi's head was also hit by a few, although it wasn't painful but not very elegant either, which was quite incompatible with her usual cold and icy temperament. Lu Xueqi looked at the wild fruit that had fallen to the ground, raised her head to look at the monkey on the broken wall, Xiao Hui suddenly jumped up, retreated a few steps, with a vigilant expression in his eyes, but still holding several wild fruits in his hand, chewing them in his mouth.

  It's unclear whether it was because of the monkey's incompatibility with Lu Xueqi, but somehow, in Xiao Hui's eyes, Zhang Xiaofan being hugged by this woman in white seemed to be quite displeasing to her. However, Lu Xueqi had once demonstrated her Taoist skills, and although she made a provocative move, she still showed some restraint.

  At the moment when Xiaohui's three eyes were staring at Lü Xueqi, the white-clothed woman who had always been distant from worldly affairs suddenly smiled at it. This smile was like spring warmth and blooming flowers, gentle breeze, where was there any trace of her usual cold and aloof demeanor towards people?

  Lu Xueqi surprisingly didn't get angry, instead she looked like she was in a good mood, smiled at Xiao Hui and picked up a wild fruit from the ground, saying softly: "You're the one who picked it, thank you."

  Xiao Hui was apparently stunned by Lu Xueqi's strange reaction for a moment, and after a while, three eyeballs rolled around for half a day, mouth opened, dryly laughed, and sat back on the broken wall, eating wild fruit by himself.

  Lu Xueqi smiled slightly at the monkey, turned her head back, and for her, that icy expression was not born with it either.

  Her eyes fell on Zhang Xiaofan's face and she said softly: "Xiaofan, have something to eat."

  Zhang Xiaofan's gaze was unknown, only a blank and empty space. Without speaking, there was no nod or shake of the head, Lu Xueqi seemed to have known his reaction long ago, and didn't mind, smiling lightly to herself, lowering her head and stretching out her white and slender fingers, carefully peeling off the skin of the wild fruit. These days, Zhang Xiaofan had been like this, Xiao Hui would often go find some wild fruit and bring it back, Lu Xueqi would peel the skin and put it in his mouth, then Zhang Xiaofan would occasionally eat one or two pieces as if by mechanical reaction.

  But what's the difference? Lu Xueqi thought to herself, she had waited for ten years already, as long as she could be with him, no matter how long it took, she wouldn't mind.

  She carefully peeled it, suddenly catching a glimpse of something out of the corner of her eye, and froze for a moment before slowly putting down the wild fruit in her hand. Zhang Xiaofan sat woodenly without reacting, but his fists had been clenched tightly all these days. Lu Xueqi had also noticed this, but didn't think much of it, until now when she saw that Zhang Xiaofan's palm seemed to have something in it, with a corner exposed.

  She slightly furrowed her brow, put down the wild fruit in her hand, pulled up Zhang Xiaofan's arm, and reached out to pry open his fingers to take a closer look at what was in his palm. Unexpectedly, although Zhang Xiaofan still had a bewildered expression, his palm was clenched extremely tightly, and Lu Xueqi couldn't pry it open. She could only slightly lift her hand, barely managing to see inside, but all she saw was that even in this situation, Zhang Xiaofan was still clutching a piece of torn, water-green cloth.

  Lu Xueqi silently looked at the small piece of torn fabric, slowly letting go of Zhang Xiaofan's hand. A hint of melancholy flashed across her face, but she took a deep breath and turned back to Zhang Xiaofan with warmth in her eyes.

  Gently, she stretched out her hand and pulled Zhang Xiaofan into her arms. The gentle breeze blew by, and the hair on her temples fluttered lightly, with a few strands falling onto Zhang Xiaofan's face.

  "Xiao Fan, it's going to be okay, everything will be alright..." She smiled, though her eyes had a faint glimmer of tears, but her voice remained soft and low.

  "A long, long time ago, when I was still a little kid, I remember my mother holding me. It was also on a night like this that we looked at the stars." Lu Xueqi slowly lifted her head and gazed up at the night sky, where the stars twinkled like diamonds against the dark blue, shining brightly in the darkness. "She told me that although everyone has to die, good people's souls would turn into stars after they died, living happily in the sky, and every night, they would look down on us from above."

  "She's a good person, isn't she? Maybe she's watching over you from above, Xiao Fan... No matter what, she wouldn't want you to become like this now, would she..."

  Zhang Xiaofan lay in Lu Xueqi's arms, his stiff body seeming to tremble slightly.

  Lu Xueqi smiled lightly, and two lines of tears fell silently. Under the starlight, her beautiful face in the tearful light seemed to have a strange beauty, but her hands were even tighter around the man in her arms.

  Tightly, embracing him.

  That's all I need!

  "Nonsense!"

  Suddenly, a stern voice came from the side, with a hint of impatience and hidden anger. Lu Xueqi was startled and turned to look at the side, only to see a plump and beautiful woman standing there, her eyebrows delicate and charming, it was Xiao Bai. The little gray behind Lu Xueqi let out a happy cry, jumped down from the broken wall, rushed to Xiao Bai's side, climbed up onto her shoulder, sat on her head, and laughed with an open mouth, obviously favoring Xiao Bai much more than Lu Xueqi.

  But Lu Xueqi naturally wouldn't care about what the monkey said, she furrowed her brow, somewhat perplexed, and stared at the little white creature that suddenly appeared, saying: "What?"

  The little white face was pale, and it seemed that the anger was not small. However, upon closer inspection, her expression was quite complex, and beneath the anger, there was a hint of heartache. She coldly said: "When people die, they're dead, at most they become ghosts or spirits, enter the underworld, and go through reincarnation. What nonsense is this about becoming stars!"

  These words were spoken directly, but they were truly unpleasant to hear. Even though Lu Xueqi was grateful to Xiao Bai for telling her the truth about Gu Jie in this ruin, she couldn't help but frown. Before Lu Xueqi could speak, Xiao Bai walked forward and stared at Zhang Xiaofan with a cold voice, without looking at Lu Xueqi:

  "How much longer do you want to go on like this? Do you want to spend your whole life in a state of living death?"

  Xiaobai's words were stern and severe, Lu Xueqi's expression changed slightly, revealing a hint of unbearable pain. She opened her mouth to speak, but then forcibly suppressed it, only to tighten her grip on Zhang Xiaofan as if she was in pain.

  Xiao Bai's loud questioning made Zhang Xiaofan's facial muscles twitch, but he immediately closed his eyes again and returned to his self-enclosed state. Xiao Bai looked at him like this, seemingly even angrier, and went up to grab Zhang Xiaofan's collar, lifting him up. Lu Xueqi cried out in a low voice: "Don't, don't do that, he can't take it..."

  Xiao Bai sneered and said, "I'm going to scold him awake. No, I don't just want to scold him, I also want to beat him awake!" Before Lu Xueqi could react, Xiao Bai suddenly raised his palm and slapped Zhang Xiaofan two slaps in the face right in front of Lu Xueqi.

  Bang! Bang!

  A loud and clear slap, Zhang Xiaofan's face immediately swelled up with two red palm prints, and the corner of his mouth also flowed out bright red blood. He was hit so hard that he fell backwards. Lu Xueqi was shocked, and didn't care about anything else, she quickly rushed over, pushed Xiao Bai away, and hugged Zhang Xiaofan tightly, not minding the bloodstains as she used her sleeve to wipe his face. As she stroked the palm prints on his injured cheeks, Lu Xueqi felt extreme heartache, and glared at Xiao Bai with anger, saying: "Are you crazy?"

  Xiaobai seemed to ignore Lu Xueqi's words, staring at Zhang Xiaofan's trembling body and coldly saying: "What are you doing, pretending to be a ghost every day? Or are you thinking of using some kind of method to mourn Biyao? I'm telling you, don't be stupid, it's useless. Biyao is dead, she's really dead!"

  "Roar!"

  Suddenly, a desperate scream burst out from Lu Xueqi's arms, and Zhang Xiaofan pushed her away, rushing towards Xiao Bai like a furious injured beast. Unexpectedly, Xiao Bai stood still without dodging, and when the ghost rushed near with a fierce roar, she took a step forward instead of retreating and slapped another palm at him.

  "Bang!"

  A louder voice suddenly echoed through the ruins of Cao Village, and Zhang Xiaofan was knocked to one side, spitting out a mouthful of blood that stained his chest. Xiao Bai's face seemed to have flashed with pain, but she gritted her teeth, her expression becoming even more severe as she rushed over to Gui Li, who lay on the ground gasping for breath, and grabbed his collar, shouting:

  "Wake up, even if you continue like this until death, Biyao will not come back to life. Do you think that by doing so, you can show your remorseful state of mind? Do you want to use this method to torture yourself just to make yourself feel a little better? I'm telling you, it's completely useless!"

  Zhang Xiaofan closed his eyes tightly, his body shaking violently, panting wildly, and even his lips seemed to have lost their color.

  Sparkling teardrops, quietly falling, this time, however, they flowed from Xiaobai's eyes. She bit her lip tightly, and two streams of tears also flowed across her cheeks, flowing incessantly. Her voice was already choked with sobs:

  "Do you think that Bi Yao risked everything to save you back then for nothing? Was it so you could spend the rest of your life like this? Bi Yao's death has nothing to do with you, but if you continue down this path, her spirit in heaven won't be at peace either. Don't you understand?"

  Xiao Bai grasped him, slowly kneeling down beside him, as if using his last bit of strength, hoarsely saying to him word by word:

  "Live on, live well, this is what Biyao wants to see!"

  After finishing, as if she couldn't bear it anymore, she suddenly stood up and turned around, leaving the place in big strides. Lu Xueqi had been silently standing beside her since earlier, when Xiao Bai walked past her side with big strides, Lu Xueqi suddenly said softly "Thank you!"

  Xiaobai's face still had tears on it, and her body paused for a moment. She looked at Lu Xueqi, the two beautiful women under the moonlight, their shadows overlapping each other. After a moment, they gently stretched out their palms and held hands together.

  Xiaobai's face showed a faint smile behind the tears, and he nodded at Lu Xueqi before walking away in big strides without saying another word.

  After her figure disappeared into the darkness, Lu Xueqi slowly walked to Zhang Xiaofan's side, squatted down, and slowly wrapped him in her arms. Zhang Xiaofan's body trembled, slowly lifted his head, and looked at Lu Xueqi.

  His eyes, in an instant, seemed to have returned to the past, that deep pain and endless scars within, he was like a child, his lips trembling, hot tears welling up in his eyes.

  "Biyao... is gone..."

  He trembled in front of Lu Xueqi, and tears finally burst out, like a wounded child who had finally cried out, decades of sadness could no longer be tolerated. He grabbed Lu Xueqi's shoulders and hugged her tightly in his arms, sobbing loudly, his mouth constantly choking.

  "Biyao left...... Biyao left...... Biyao...... left......"

  Lu Xueqi never thought that this strong man would be so fragile in front of her, yet at this moment, she was left with only tenderness in her heart. She tightly hugged him, desperately trying to use every bit of warmth from her body to comfort the crying soul, behind the scalding tears, she kept whispering softly, to that man, and also to herself.

  "It will be fine, everything will be fine..."

  This night seemed especially long and sorrowful.

  That night passed, Zhang Xiaofan woke up from his heart demon nightmare, but soon after, he had a high fever again.

  With his current cultivation, it was impossible for him to fall ill normally, but this sudden onset of fever had left him burning with a high temperature and disoriented. Lu Xueqi knew in her heart that this severe illness was actually caused by the intense pain in his heart, Bi Yao's passing being only the trigger, but mostly it was the mental barrier that Zhang Xiaofan had been struggling to hold up for the past decade that was the root of his illness, and now it was beyond anyone's ability to cure.

  As expected, no matter what kind of elixirs or medicines Lu Xueqi used on Zhang Xiaofan, they were all like throwing mud into the sea, with no effect whatsoever. This severe fever lasted for ten days without any signs of receding, and if it had been an ordinary person, they would have long since succumbed to death. And now, even Zhang Xiaofan was already pale and haggard, looking like a bag of bones.

  Lu Xueqi was anxious, guarding Zhang Xiaofan's side day and night for ten days, visibly thinner. Perhaps seeing her devotion, heaven finally opened its eyes, showed mercy, and on the eleventh day when Lu Xueqi was about to lose hope, Zhang Xiaofan's high fever finally subsided.

  Although the fever had subsided, Zhang Xiaofan was still unconscious. Despite this, Lu Xueqi let out a huge sigh of relief, and her tense mood relaxed slightly. Suddenly, a wave of fatigue surged up from every corner of her body. She struggled to tidy up Gui Li's collar before leaning against him and falling into a deep sleep.

  On her beautiful face, there is a faint smile of peace, even when she's asleep, her hand still grasps the shoulder of Gui Lian. The gentle breeze blows over the ruins of Cao Mao Village, the green grass sways, surrounding their bodies. The world is quiet, only this forgotten corner seems to have an unusual peace and happiness.

  She fell asleep, but didn't know how long she slept. The Dipper had moved and the stars had shifted. Everything was filled with the fragrance of flowers. It seemed as if it were all in a dream. She saw everything she used to dream about!

  Be with loved ones for a lifetime...

  Then she woke up.

  The corners of her mouth still held a reassuring and happy smile, she gently opened her eyes, and the figure beside her was indeed still there, he was sleeping peacefully, his breath right beside her.

  Lu Xueqi didn't move, as if this was her favorite posture. She quietly leaned against his side and listened to the sound of his breathing while he slept.

  Suddenly, at this moment, in the direction of Qingyun Mountain in the distance, a loud explosion suddenly erupted in the sky, followed by the blooming of a huge firework. Lu Xueqi's face changed slightly, furrowed her brow, slowly sat up and turned to look.

  The fireworks in the sky slowly transformed into a long sword shape, lingering for a long time without dispersing. This was a rare signal used by the Qingyun Gate, only employed when a major incident occurred within the gate and all disciples nearby needed to be summoned. Lu Xueqi fell silent for a moment, then shifted her gaze back to Zhang Xiaofan, looking at him for a while before slowly standing up. After hesitating for a moment, she finally reached out and took Tianyao, which was leaning against the broken wall, and drifted away.

  The wind is still blowing in the same way, and the green grass is also swaying back and forth in the same way.

  Zhang Xiaofan was quietly sleeping in the grass, when suddenly a head popped out from the depths of the nearby bushes. It was a gray-haired monkey with three eyes. It looked around and let out two "squeaks", seemingly surprised that Lu Xueqi's figure had suddenly disappeared. Then, it jumped onto Zhang Xiaofan's chest, touched his head, and sat down.

  Zhang Xiaofan was still sleeping quietly, only his right hand shook slightly.

  After about half a cup of tea, a faint sound came from the entrance of the Caomiao Village ruins. Then, a white figure rushed out and appeared there, walking towards Zhang Xiaofan's sleeping place. The little gray cat sitting on Zhang Xiaofan's chest made a face at Lu Xueqi, jumped down, and squatted aside, looking around.

  "Xiao Fan... something's happened." Her voice sounded so empty, as if it had no strength at all, and she said in a low tone: "Just now I saw the urgent summons from our sect gathering disciples. I went to take a look and found out that during our stay here, something big has happened outside. The Ghost King Sect where you used to be, the sect master Ghost King somehow obtained an evil treasure that can steal people's will and control them. What's even more frightening is that he is hiding in a huge red shadow with blood thorns, and wherever the red shadow goes, whether it's ordinary civilians or cultivators who have attained the Dao, they all become heartless living dead people being driven by him."

  Lu Xueqi's face was pale, and her hands tightened slightly on Tianyuan, but the gaze she directed at Zhang Xiaofan still held a warmth and a reluctance to part with him: "Earlier, the various orthodox sects had launched several rounds of attacks against him, but they were all defeated, suffering heavy losses in terms of their vital energy. What's even more frightening is that most people... have been bewitched by his Red Lotus, becoming slaves and henchmen of the Demon King, turning around to slaughter the orthodox sects. Today, the orthodox sects are on the verge of collapse, and that Demon King has recently approached the foot of Qingyun Mountain, displaying his demonic powers, actually bewildering the hearts of all the people in the towns and villages within a hundred miles of Qingyun Mountain, including Heiyang City. Adding to those who were previously affected, the total number is likely over a million, and it seems they are about to launch an attack on Qingyun Mountain."

  She stared blankly at Zhang Xiaofan's face, and suddenly, two lines of tears fell from her eyes, falling onto the back of Zhang Xiaofan's hand.

  "I originally wanted to disregard everything, spend a lifetime with you, and be together forever, even if the world scorns us and our sect punishes me. But now... but now..." Her lips trembled slightly as she slowly lowered her head, "But now is not the time! Since childhood, I was raised by the Qingyun Sect, and the city lord loved and taught me, their kindness is as heavy as a mountain. If it were just for us to be together, even if we suffer their scolding and disdain, I would still be willing, but now they are in trouble, I... I can only go back and be with them."

  Lu Xueqi gazed deeply at Zhang Xiaofan's face, not moving her eyes for a moment, as if she didn't want to miss a single glance. The gentle breeze blew by, and her collar fluttered lightly.

  "Perhaps you don't know, Qingyun Gate is secretly in chaos, the once invincible 'Xian Jian Sword Array' can no longer be activated, this battle is... I'm afraid it's really a case of too many disasters and not enough good fortune, I don't even know if I'll be able to come back and see you again."

  Lu Xueqi took a deep breath, wiped away the tears on her face with her hand, and then a faintly bitter smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. She looked at Zhang Xiaofan in a low voice and said: "Xiaofan, I don't know if it's fate, but we've never had the chance to be together for long. But," she paused for a moment, and then continued in a low, firm voice, "but I have never regretted it!"

  After that, she leaned down and gently kissed Zhang Xiaofan's lips, the warmth of her lips spreading throughout his body.

  A faint, happy feeling...

  She smiled, bit her lip, stood up, took a last look at the sleeping man, turned around and walked away. She left so quietly that her body often seemed to want to turn back for another glance, but in the end, she didn't look back again.

  Perhaps even she herself knew that if she looked back, she would never have the courage to leave again.

  She finally left in her white clothes.

  The wind blew gently, carrying a refreshing fragrance. Xiao Hui quietly walked over and climbed onto Zhang Xiaofan's chest, sitting there silently as it gazed at the distant white figure disappearing into the distance. Underneath it, on Zhang Xiaofan's palm, his fingers moved slightly once again.

  The gentle breeze kept blowing, time quietly slipped away, and the village of Grass Temple fell back into its long silence. Day passed, night came, and the stars twinkled down, witnessing all the vicissitudes of human life.

  Xiao Hui sat on Zhang Xiaofan's chest, looking a bit drowsy. She opened her mouth and let out a few "squeaks", then suddenly seemed to sense something, her eyes rolling as she looked down at Zhang Xiaofan.

  A low sigh was heard, and then Zhang Xiaofan slowly opened his eyes.

  The first thing that caught his eye was a vast expanse of sky, with countless stars twinkling in the deep darkness. He didn't move, just lay there quietly, gazing up at the sky.

  Xiao Hui seemed a bit puzzled beside him, rubbing his head and crawling over to take a look, but then shrunk back. The night wind whispered, the green grass floated. That vast expanse of darkness had been so for millions of years, while human life compared to it was like fireflies compared to the sun and moon, just a fleeting moment that passed in an instant.

  Perhaps it was because the ancients understood these things that they tirelessly pursued longevity.

  But if it's just an empty shell, what's the point of living forever?

  His expression was very calm, with an unprecedented serenity, no sadness or excitement, he just silently gazed up at the sky.

  The vast sky is infinite, the Big Dipper rotates and the stars shift, the world is in a piece of silence, only the sound of the wind, blowing gently through.

  Unconsciously, it has dawned.

  But when the morning light fell, and the last darkness disappeared, Zhang Xiaofan closed his eyes. He lay quietly for a long time until the sun rose, and the warm sunlight shone on him, then he opened his eyes again. This time, he stood up.

  Standing there, he looked around, the ruins hidden in the weeds were desolate yet familiar. There were many places that had been deeply engraved in his heart for many years and would never be erased. And how many places were where he used to run and play as a child, leaving behind simple happiness.

  He walked away quietly, his footsteps treading on the lush grass. The little grey creature darted over to him, grabbed his collar and climbed up onto his shoulder.

  "Uggghhh..."

  The wind blowing from behind seemed to have grown louder, making a whistling sound. The green grass around him swayed in the wind like waves. The ruins and broken walls were like silent but warm people staring at him. He walked to the north of the village where there was another ruin, even more dilapidated. From afar, its outline still vaguely resembled the ruined small temple it once was.

  This time, Gui Li stood still for a longer period of time, gazing deeply at the ruins of the small temple. After a long while, a faint and gentle smile appeared on his lips. The smile was warm and no longer carried any resentment or regret.

  Then he turned around and walked away, never looking back again.

  "Let's go, Xiao Hui."

  "Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp", Xiao Hui softly called on his shoulder, and touched his head.

  He smiled faintly and walked into the wind blowing towards him, smiling: "Let's go where we should go."

  His gaze moved, looking into the distance, that towering and majestic Qingyun Mountain, piercing through the clouds and sky.

  On the top of Tongtian Peak in Qingyun Mountain, it was a scene of hustle and bustle everywhere. However, near the back mountain, it seemed even more secluded, not even a single figure could be seen. It's probably because a powerful enemy is approaching, and Daoxuan Zhenren, who is usually serious, has mysteriously disappeared without a trace, so no one would notice this point either.

  In the afternoon, when the sunlight shone on the quiet forest behind the mountain, Gui Li was already walking in the serene mountain path. This was not his first time coming to the back of Tongtian Peak; he had been here several times before and was familiar with the surrounding terrain. However, judging from his expression, there wasn't a hint of caution or anxiety, and his face still wore the calm smile that had been present since he woke up, walking slowly.

  The mountain path is rugged, with ancient trees dense on both sides. The forest is so deep that from time to time, the sound of birds chirping can be heard. The eerie gaze shifts from the forest to the ground and then looks forward. The winding ancient road stretches out, and it's unknown how many past events have occurred on it.

  The mountain forest is quiet and serene, with a gentle breeze blowing, as if it has nothing to do with worldly mundane affairs.

  The familiar three-forked road in memory slowly appeared before his eyes, Zhang Xiaofan stopped his footsteps at the intersection, and his gaze inadvertently turned to the right. Behind the dense forest, through the gaps of the lush branches and leaves, the majestic ancestral temple's main hall corner faintly revealed itself. He smiled slightly, turned around and stepped onto that small path.

  The intersection is not far from the ancestral temple, and soon the majestic hall will appear quickly. Zhang Xiaofan did not walk onto the empty ground, he quietly stood behind a lush tree on the mountain path, gazing in that direction.

  The grand hall was still as dim as before, and the stone steps in front of the door and the empty ground were also covered with fallen leaves like countless past days. After a while, a white figure walked out of the grand hall, with a handsome face and an extraordinary aura, a gentle smile on his face, but instead of a sharp sword in his hand, he held a broom made of woven bamboo.

  He took a glance at the fallen leaves all over the ground, but a faint smile appeared on his face. He raised his hands and stretched lazily, taking a deep breath of the slightly sweet air in the mountain forest, then began to quietly sweep the fallen leaves off the ground.

  Brooms flew about, leaves were swept to one side bit by bit. Occasionally some would be blown back up like naughty children trying to return to their original spot, only to be laughed at and swept away once more.

  The wind blows over the mountain forest, and the waves of trees surge in layers.

  In the distance, behind a large tree, Zhang Xiaofan quietly watched that familiar white figure, revealing a gentle and peaceful smile.

  On the empty land, Lin Jingyu seemed to have suddenly felt something, his hand paused for a moment, and he turned around to look at the mountain path leading to the outside world. However, that mountain path was empty, except for ancient trees and shrubs, where were there any other human figures?

  He paused for a moment, then slightly shook his head and smiled, perhaps he had misheard. Thinking so, he picked up the broom again and continued sweeping.

  In the distance, behind the dense forest, Zhang Xiaofan walked slowly, leaving the ancestral temple farther and farther away. Soon, he arrived at the three forks again. This time, he looked towards the direction of Huan Yue Dong Fu, and without any hesitation, he stepped over the forbidden land and continued on his way.

  He felt more clearly than ever that in the depths of that mysterious cave, there seemed to be a mysterious power constantly calling him to go to that place.

  This feeling was especially strong when he was still in the ruins of Cao Village!

  Standing in front of the Phantom Moon Cave Mansion, Zhang Xiaofan stopped his footsteps and gazed at this mysterious place.

  The exterior of this cave looks no different from any other ordinary mountain wall cave in the world, with rough stones and hard ground. The only difference is that the ground in front of the cave entrance has been worn smooth by the passage of time, showing the wind and frost it has endured.

  From that small stone gate, the legendary Qingyun Gate's pride, Qingye Dao Ren, once walked out. Countless figures who dominated the winds and clouds in bygone years left their footprints here. This Illusory Moon Cave Mansion has witnessed the rise and fall of Qingyun Sect over two thousand years.

  But now, in front of Zhang Xiaofan, it was just an ordinary stone cave.

  He smiled and walked in, just like he was coming home, without any hesitation or uncertainty.

  The sunlight outside was blocked by the stone wall, and it couldn't shine into the cave. The inside of the cave looked very cool and simple, just like when he first came here. Even the Tai Chi pattern hanging on the wall was exactly the same as before.

  Zhang Xiaofan walked over, placed his hand on the Taiji diagram, and a faint, clear light flashed up. This was the genuine technique of Qingyunmen's true transmission, the mysterious skill of the sect. In the midst of the clear radiance, the Taiji diagram slowly reacted, brightening up. After a moment, as he had expected, the mountain wall beside it slowly opened, revealing that strange, swirling white mist gate that resembled rippling water.

  Zhang Xiaofan gazed at the seemingly bottomless swirling water, the last time he entered it, he was tempted by the mysterious power contained within, almost falling into an irreparable situation. Now facing it again, the depths of the water seemed to have a subtle suction force, making people feel like they were being pulled in.

  He took a deep breath and no longer hesitated, stepping forward and walking in.

  A refreshing feeling hit him in the face, as if he had indeed stepped into a deep water world. Only after a moment, Zhang Xiaofan found himself once again surrounded by an endless void, just like before.

  A vast expanse of darkness, endless and boundless, without a glimmer of light, seemed to press down on his shoulders. The little grey monkey stirred restlessly, moved slightly, and let out two low cries. Zhang Xiaofan gently stretched out his hand to pat the monkey's head, as if comforting it, and the little grey immediately calmed down.

  Then, Zhang Xiaofan gazed forward and left, but in his eyes there was only darkness and nothing else. He looked for a long time without moving, until finally, a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he closed his eyes and walked forward.

  Just a few steps out, the deathly silence was suddenly broken, [Boom] A scorching heat wave rushed towards him, Zhang Xiaofan could clearly feel as if he had walked into an inferno, his skin and flesh being scorched by the sudden flames, intense pain surged from every corner of his body, his entire torso seemed to be destroyed in this sea of fire.

  But he still kept his eyes tightly closed, and even when the muscles on his face twitched slightly due to intense pain, a faint smile remained at the corner of his mouth. He walked step by step, slow but persistent, forward.

  On his shoulder, the little grey monkey let out a startled cry, sounding very frightened. But Zhang Xiaofan immediately wrapped his arms around it, burying its head deep in his chest so that it wouldn't look outside again. Very soon, seemingly calmed by the warmth of his palm and the beating of his heart, the little grey monkey quieted down, lying still and motionless.

  The sound of flames burning grew louder, and even the air around my body seemed to be filled with a terrifying scent of scorching. The pain in my body was increasing without any relief, and every step I took felt like I was enduring a thousand times more suffering.

  But he didn't stop his footsteps, still walking forward slowly and firmly.

  At some point, the raging sea of flames in his mind slowly receded, and around him, there was once again a vast, empty silence. The physical pain also disappeared with it.

  In the midst of silence, suddenly, a crisp water droplet sound rang in his ear, an icy water droplet came from nowhere, falling from nothingness onto Zhang Xiaofan's face.

  Freezing cold.

  In an instant, a deafening roar came from the front without any warning, covering the sky and earth as if it was everywhere. In Zhang Xiaofan's mind, a terrifying scene was vividly depicted: a massive wave like a dragon, thousands of feet high, crashed down, making anything that stood in its way seem insignificant, even the majestic Qingyun Mountain was swallowed up in an instant. The icy wind instantly tore his body apart, and the pain that came from every corner of his body was ten times more severe than being burned by flames earlier.

  Zhang Xiaofan never knew that a person's body could be subjected to such torture, and feel such intense pain. Even his normally resilient nerves seemed on the verge of collapse under this agony. Millions of hands were tearing at him, and he was already unable to breathe. It was as if he had sunk into the depths of the ocean, with infinite pressure about to crush him into powder, dissolving him into nothingness.

  Even if I'm going to die, I want to open my eyes and take a look around before I go...

  Like a lantern, this idea suddenly appeared in his deep heart, flashing constantly from afar, like a temptation.

  Zhang Xiaofan took a deep breath and continued walking forward slowly with his eyes tightly closed.

  The waves of the four sides seemed to be enraged, suddenly becoming more violent, the thunderous sound shook the ears and made them deaf, it was like a thousand knives cutting and slashing, the feeling of torture came one after another. Zhang Xiaofan's forehead was already covered with cold sweat, his face was pale to the extreme, but he still maintained that bit of clarity before collapsing, and continued to walk slowly.

  One step, another step, never stopping, just like life, slowly moving forward, ultimately unable to turn back.

  The tide retreated slowly, the deafening and terrifying sound also disappeared, silence returned to his side, in a void, only the sound of his footsteps echoed.

  One person, walking alone!

  "Xiao Fan..."

  Suddenly, a voice called out softly behind him, and in an instant, Zhang Xiaofan was like being struck by lightning, his body shook violently, and his face showed an unbelievable expression, it was the first time, involuntarily stopped in his tracks.

  His eyes were still closed, but his lips began to tremble slightly, a mix of choking, heart-wrenching pain, and desperation, as he whispered: "Biyao..."

  That familiar voice seemed to be just behind him, full of tenderness and warmth, with a hint of the gentle affection that had captivated his heart. It whispered softly: "Xiao Fan, are you ignoring me? Turn around and look at me."

  Zhang Xiaofan's body began to tremble slowly, his body seemed to be trapped in a fierce battle, several times he wanted to turn around, but endured again. Although there was no painful torture, at this moment, he was sweating profusely, his face twisted, and it was even more painful than the previous terrifying flames that engulfed him and the icy intent of the deep sea.

  A low but clear call, lingering affectionately behind him, as if endless, this life of hardship and wandering, wasn't it all for that voice? Why not turn back yet?

  "Ah..."

  He suddenly let out a loud roar, his body trembling violently, his teeth clenched tightly, and his entire skeleton rattling as if he had finally reached the limit of his endurance.

  However, it seemed that this was not the end. Apart from Bi Yao's voice calling out to him from behind, he slowly heard other voices as well - those of people who were etched in his memory forever.

  Dad, Mom!

  Master Puji!

  The fields are hard to plow, and the mulberry trees are easy to cultivate!

  ……

  Endless and boundless, the sound layered and overlapping, wave after wave, calling out and shouting behind him, a lifetime of events like smoke, scene after scene flashing by.

  Thousands of mountains and rivers, one person travels alone; evening snow on thousands of mountains, only a shadow walks.

  He doesn't want loneliness, nor eternal life; all he wants is to be with his beloved...

  He buried his face in his hands and wept like a child, with nowhere to hide.

  Tears fell onto his palm, with a faint warmth. The endless calls around him still echoed in his ears, lingering and tempting him to open his eyes and turn back.

  It was just that faint warmth, yet it suddenly calmed his trembling body. This familiar and warm feeling seemed to have been felt by him not long ago. There had also been someone who accompanied him without leaving when he was on the verge of collapse, tightly embracing him in countless dark nights, using their own body's warmth to warm him up.

  Also, in that void of darkness and emptiness, he was half asleep and half awake, and in his daze, warm tears fell on his face. In a terrifyingly cold world, it told him that he was not alone.

  This life, those thousands of mountains and rivers, that dusk snow on thousands of mountains

  No

  One person!

  The countless voices around him suddenly became urgent, as if stimulated by something, and continued to call out to him with a few mournful cries, but Zhang Xiaofan's body slowly stood up, the painful distortion on his face replaced by a calm and peaceful expression.

  He smiled faintly, with a deep reluctance and yearning, with an unforgettable nostalgia. Then he turned around, walked away, leaving all the sounds behind him, letting those shrill cries fade away in the distance.

  Stillness has finally descended once again.

  A faint coughing sound came from in front of Zhang Xiaofan, it was an old and weak voice, with a hint of surprise, "So it's you..."

  Zhang Xiaofan stood still, took a deep breath, slowly exhaled a long sigh, and slowly opened his eyes.