Chapter 119 Tang Zhen's Story (Past Events)

After Valley Master Tang Zhen uttered the words "impossible," Tang Huo'er's eyes were already blinking back tears.

"Why can't I be with him..." Tang Huo'er murmured.

Valley Master Tang Zhen sighed and gently stroked Tang Huo'er's head: "Did you see that sapphire blue sachet tied to his waist? I secretly asked his disciple earlier... it was a gift from one of his other female confidantes, embroidered by hand."

He carefully took a well-preserved, thin sachet from his bosom. The sachet was clearly empty, but it was embroidered with a lifelike Crested Ibis.

The Crested Ibis is a bird with reddish-pink feathers that adheres to monogamy for its entire life. The point is not just monogamy, but the 'entire life' part. If a partner dies unexpectedly, they will remain alone for the rest of their lives.

"This was left to me by your mother before she passed away. I have kept it safe all this time. So as soon as I saw the sachet on Gu He's person, I knew it must have been given by someone close to him."

"Huoer, I hope you can find a husband who will join our family and stay by my side, or at the very least, find someone from a family of equal status..."

"A Tier 7 Peak Alchemist is someone we are punching above our weight for!"

Valley Master Tang Zhen's earnest words caused Tang Huo'er to lower her head.

"Father... I understand everything you're saying... but I'm afraid I won't meet another person who makes my heart flutter like this."

Valley Master Tang Zhen looked at his daughter, "Even if I gave him my Heavenly Flame, I wouldn't give you away!"

He spoke with powerful resonance. Tang Huo'er's eyes flickered as she looked at Valley Master Tang Zhen. His aging face had several prominent wrinkles. Tang Huo'er raised her hand to smooth the slight wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.

"Father..."

In a moment of emotion, Tang Huo'er had a sudden lapse in judgment and blurted out: "Father, would you really give the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame to Gu He?"

!

!!

Valley Master Tang Zhen's old eyes froze.

Is this my daughter?? Someone, come and stuff her back into the womb!

Tang Huo'er also realized what she had said. She fidgeted with her dress, quickly stood up and went to the door, grabbing a red whip from the weapon rack, and spoke rapidly.

"Father, I'm going to practice!"

Her pace was so hurried it was almost frantic.

Valley Master Tang Zhen sighed again, having also realized something.

Perhaps it was because he, as a father, had poured too little love and care into his daughter that she had... fallen for a strange man in such a short time.

He was also at fault!

Tang Zhen, Tang Zhen, and you call yourself the Lord of the Burning Flame Valley!

Valley Master Tang Zhen could only lament the impermanence of life.

He stood up and went to the guest room where Gu He was staying to find him.

...

Valley Master Tang Zhen explained his thoughts to Gu He; he could not possibly let Tang Huo'er follow Gu He, and Gu He expressed his understanding.

The two of them chatted and shared some wine. During the conversation, they talked about Heavenly Flames. Under Gu He's "persuasion," a dazed Valley Master Tang Zhen allowed Gu He to copy his Heavenly Flame.

When he woke from his drunken stupor, he opened his eyes to see only his daughter, Tang Huo'er, washing a towel by the bed.

"Huoer...?"

"Father, you're finally awake? Don't drink anymore in the future! You smell terrible when you're drunk!" Tang Huo'er scolded playfully.

Valley Master Tang Zhen gave a couple of self-deprecating laughs. He didn't remember what happened after drinking, but he vaguely recalled...

Did Gu He seem to have said goodbye to him?

He must have remembered incorrectly, right?

After all, if Gu He had left, wouldn't his daughter be crying her eyes out?

But then, Valley Master Tang Zhen's blurry, drunken eyes cleared, and he saw Tang Huo'er's red-rimmed eyes, like freshly ripened pomegranates.

"You... he..." Valley Master Tang Zhen didn't know how to start.

Tang Huo'er's movement of wiping Valley Master Tang Zhen's face with the towel paused, then she flashed a flower-like smile.

"He's gone!"

Valley Master Tang Zhen was stunned. Gu He left?

Then his daughter...

Valley Master Tang Zhen didn't know how to describe his complicated feelings. Naturally, he didn't want Tang Huo'er to follow Gu He because Gu He couldn't give her a life of being the only one, yet he didn't want to see his daughter heartbroken.

He hadn't expected that after one drunken episode, the two had already said their goodbyes, and it seemed his daughter had already accepted this reality.

"Huoer, you..."

Tang Huo'er blinked mischievously. Her small face was pure and flawless, like fine jade porcelain fresh from the kiln. Her lashes cast a curved, crescent-moon-like shadow, which was quite beautiful, but the person she longed for could no longer see it.

Tang Huo'er handed a very ornate storage ring to Valley Master Tang Zhen, "Father, he gave this to you."

Valley Master Tang Zhen stared at the storage ring with a very complex expression.

"You... keep it." Valley Master Tang Zhen took the damp towel from Tang Huo'er's hand and refolded it. Looking at her eyes, which seemed dazed and soulless beneath her smile, his heart was so conflicted that even his voice turned hoarse for a moment.

"Don't blame your father. I... I don't know if this was right or wrong."

Tang Huo'er quickly hid her obvious disappointment and put on a slightly coquettish smile.

"Father, Huoer understands! And... he made it clear to me; he doesn't have those kinds of feelings for me..."

Valley Master Tang Zhen reached out and touched Tang Huo'er's face, wiping away a single tear that had escaped.

"Then from now on, just treat him as a passing traveler."

Tang Huo'er nodded: "Okay."

"But... what if I can't forget him?"

"Then don't forget him," Valley Master Tang Zhen's aging voice murmured and echoed.

He lay back down. The bed was very comfortable, as if it still held the warmth of another person from over ten years ago.

...

Valley Master Tang Zhen thought of Tang Huo'er's mother, that rainy night when his wife passed away.

Both were cultivators and should have lived long lives, but Tang's wife, Mu Hongxue, had blocked a fatal blow from a high-tier Demonic Beast for Valley Master Tang Zhen.

Since then, she had been plagued by illness and passed away in less than two years.

It was a rainy night when she left. She held his hand by the bed.

Her slender, fragile hand delicately caressed Valley Master Tang Zhen's face, which still possessed its charm back then.

"A-Zhen, take good care of Huoer."

"Mm... I will." On that day, Valley Master Tang Zhen cried for the second time in his life.

The first time was at birth, and the second was when Mu Hongxue passed away.

His parents had both passed away naturally, but his wife seemed to have given all her luck to him.

Valley Master Tang Zhen's hot tears wetted Mu Hongxue's skin. Mu Hongxue gave a soft smile.

"Don't cry... you don't look good when you cry."

Hearing this, Valley Master Tang Zhen quickly forced a smile, one that looked worse than crying.

By this time, Mu Hongxue had no strength left. Her hand gradually slid from Valley Master Tang Zhen's face, and her voice became lighter than her breath in the trance-like state.

"Don't forget me, okay, A-Zhen?"

"If even you forget me, then I will truly be dead..." Mu Hongxue's voice was beautiful, yet as fragile as a light snowflake that would shatter at a touch.

"I won't forget you, Xue'er..." Valley Master Tang Zhen quickly grabbed her hand, trying to catch that last trace of warmth.

However, she still gradually grew cold...

The rainy night, pitter-patter.

...