423: This situation

The dim secret room was silent.

Xiao Fan frowned, repeating what he had just said.

“You’re looking for me… Is there something you need?”

However, Li Qingqiu still didn’t speak.

Hei was waiting for Li Qingqiu to speak; she didn’t want to say much, as today’s matter primarily concerned Li Qingqiu.

In the large secret room,

Though no one spoke,

The atmosphere gradually calmed.

Xiao Fan subconsciously wanted to press twice, to say that if there was nothing, he would leave this dangerous zone.

But for some reason, seeing Li Qingqiu at this moment, he fell silent.

In Xiao Fan’s eyes, Li Qingqiu had always been a very strong woman.

From their first meeting in the Fire Flame Secret Realm, when he saw Li Qingqiu fighting four or five alien races alone, blood flowing all over her body, refusing to retreat even unto death, he knew that this woman was by no means someone who would easily bow her head.

But at this moment, she hung her head, looking at the empty floor with a lost expression.

This posture inexplicably made people feel heartache, and it also reminded Xiao Fan of the term Song Mingguang had mentioned earlier.

A sense of brokenness.

Her usually neatly combed black long hair was now disheveled over her shoulders, and her heroic eyebrows, now seemed to be curved and drooped.

Like a fearless explorer who had overcome countless difficulties and obstacles, just about to reach her destination, only to plop down in front of the Treasure Trove she had once dreamed of.

Everything she wanted was clearly right in front of her.

But she had lost the strength to open this Treasure Trove.

Her face was full of bewilderment, as if she had forgotten why she had come, and as if she was questioning herself, what was the meaning of coming this far.

At this moment, she thought of many things.

She remembered the first time she met Xiao Fan; it was a dangerous battle, and death was only a step away for everyone present.

She watched that thin figure stand in front of everyone, unleashing Element Overlap, and her heart pounded incessantly.

She thought the man in front of her was incredibly handsome.

She, who had thought she was without desires, was completely captivated by that blood-stained demeanor.

She even couldn’t help but begin to fantasize about things she shouldn't.

That year, she was just eighteen.

But after leaving the Secret Realm, they parted ways.

She constantly told herself that what she wanted was merely to fight alongside him, nothing more.

Because only by setting such a moving goal would her training be filled with motivation, enabling her to forge her current Myth-Grade, Ice Extremity Sword Intent.

Later, she met him in the Super God Class as she wished.

However, he had many people around him.

I could only stand on the sidelines and watch.

In fact, apart from that one battle during the Opening Class Battle, she hadn't even said a word to Xiao Fan.

The only thing she had said seemed to be something like, “Take this sword.”

She forgot, and it no longer mattered.

She only vaguely remembered that when she saw him lying in a pool of blood, looking old and withered, over a year ago, she couldn't bear it.

How could this be?

This world is truly absurd…

But she didn't cry, she just felt like she was drunk, her whole world spinning.

Then, on the evening Xiao Fan was sent to the cremation furnace.

At that time, she stood by the red line representing the family and friends, holding a carefully selected white wreath.

She listened to the sounds of the body in the cremation furnace, and she still didn't cry.

She just felt some regret.

Why hadn't she said a single word to him?

He was entirely in her heart, for two whole years, she always stood where he couldn't notice her, staring blankly as he moved forward.

Yet, she never spoke a single word to him.

He died, and she didn't even have a story to remember.

Like a stranger watching another stranger leave.

How terrible.

That night, she was somewhat possessed.

Shouting that she wanted to find Xiao Fan.

Shouting that he wasn't dead.

Shouting the endless regret and unwillingness in her heart.

And then what?

For over a year.

The entire Black Heaven Squad played house with her, searching for a person who had already died.

All the team members indulged her, accompanying her in an unrealistic dream.

They walked through the streets and alleys of various battle zones, heads down, faces drawn, smiling awkwardly, trying every possible way to approach someone who might be Xiao Fan.

The excitement of finding someone who resembled Xiao Fan, and the disappointment of finally confirming that person wasn't Xiao Fan, were all written on Li Qingqiu’s face.

She was like a stubborn child, dragging a group of unrelated team members along.

She seemed to have never looked back at the expressions of her teammates.

The only thing she could recall were a few unnatural smiles.

Now, they finally found him, but does it matter?

Is she happy?

It seems, it’s just so-so.

She then remembered her childhood days at her Revered Master’s home.

The scenery there was very similar to Tianhe Pass today.

It snowed all year round, and only plum blossoms and poplars could stand proudly in that world of ice and snow.

She was always alone, standing under a tree, swinging the iron sword in her hand over and over again, day after day, tirelessly.

Because only by doing so could she forget her hatred for the Demon Clan.

In those years, her Revered Master treated her extremely well, but now that she thought about it, her perpetually furrowed brows and eyes didn't seem to be a habit.

When she went to see her half a year ago, her smile was radiant, and her brows and eyes were soft.

It was only when she heard that she wanted to find Xiao Fan that they furrowed again.

But at the time, she didn't pay much attention.

Only at this moment did it suddenly come to mind.

It turned out that her Revered Master was never a person who looked troubled.

She had always been heartbroken for herself.

It seemed she had never put her at ease.

She suddenly remembered that her Revered Master always told her, “Be a little happier.”

In their more than ten years together, she had heard this phrase tens of thousands of times.

But she never paid attention.

She didn't know why.

At this moment, finding Xiao Fan today, many unheeded memories flooded her mind.

In her childhood, she had her Revered Master, but her heart only held hatred.

Now, she had teammates, but her eyes only held Xiao Fan.

In fact, on many lonely nights, she had also complained about the unfairness of this world.

Now it seemed, the world wasn't so cruel to her after all.

She just never cared, that’s all.

Li Qingqiu suddenly let out a self-deprecating laugh.

This sudden laughter startled Hei and Xiao Fan.

She took a deep breath, turned her head to Hei and said, “That…”

She had barely spoken two words when a strong surge of tears welled up, moistening her eyes and choking her voice.

She took another deep breath, and said very quickly, “Captain, aren’t we here today to discuss the battle regarding the Realm agreement?”

“You talk to him; I want to go out and get some air.”

With that, she stood up alone, pushed the door open, and left, her figure looking disheveled.

Hei looked at the back of her good friend, her expression beneath the black robe filled with anguish.

Because Li Qingqiu’s words just now were very clear.

She didn't want to acknowledge Xiao Fan anymore.

Let’s just talk about business; nothing else matters.

Hei chose to respect her teammate, looked at Xiao Fan, and sighed.

Xiao Fan’s pupils, however, constricted.

This secret room had strong sealing properties.

But it didn't apply to the Kong Wu Realm.

And at this moment, Xiao Fan clearly heard it.

Outside the iron door, by the corridor.

A lonely, graceful figure leaned against the railing.

The night wind was biting.

The cold wind ruffled her black long hair and blew away the tears that had just slid down her cheeks.

Xiao Fan didn't know why she was so sad, why she was crying so heartbrokenly.

But Li Qingqiu herself knew.

She just suddenly realized.

Her frantic search for Xiao Fan was utterly meaningless.

It was nothing more than unrequited love.

Letting Xiao Fan know she had searched for him for so long, and then what?

It would only cause trouble for many people.

The outcome she desired simply couldn't exist…

Well… anyway, what she initially said was that she merely wanted to confirm if he was still alive, and that would be enough.

Although she wanted more in her heart.

But now, this was the result.

Because it was good for everyone.

From this moment on, Li Qingqiu’s eyebrows, once full of heroic spirit, became like autumn mountains.

The autumn mountains stretched high, where the wind was gradually growing cold, blowing through the increasingly withered branches.

Winter at least had snow, but autumn mountains were cold and not beautiful; no one wanted to climb such mountains, and she was just sitting there, lonely, in a corner of the world.

“Let it be…” Li Qingqiu shook her head bitterly, a hint of relief finally appearing in her eyes.

A three-foot gentleman’s sword, difficult to cut through unrequited love.

Forget it.

She would forget eventually.

This year, she was twenty-one.

Three years, a fruitless unrequited love, had completely transformed one person into another.

Finally, Li Qingqiu hummed a desolate tune from her hometown, and turned to leave.

The tears on her face had dried, and her graceful face showed no expression.

But in Xiao Fan’s ears, the humming echoing through the night corridor was so chilling, colder than the swirling wind and snow.