589: Chapter 589 Only mortals, who are destined to die, truly understand what immortality is.

Bailu's figure, the outline of the bed curtains, and the fading daylight outside the window all gradually blurred, dissipated, and could no longer be gathered together.

The sounds by his ears also grew distant.

He did not know who was calling him in a low voice, one call after another.

But that voice seemed to be separated by heavy layers of water, rippling outward, so faint that it could no longer be heard clearly.

In the vast world, it seemed as if he was the only one left.

At this very moment, Qin Wangchuan suddenly understood.

Understood what?

Eternal Life.

He had heard these two words too many times.

Whether in the Immortal Court, in this Mortal world, or from Bailu's mouth, there were always people talking about it, chasing after it.

Those people who risked their lives to seek Eternal Life were merely coveting those extra years.

With time, one could cultivate, could become stronger, and could stand in higher places.

This thought was not wrong.

But only until this moment, tasting for himself this sensation of being on the verge of extinction, being pulled away inch by inch, did Qin Wangchuan realize that beneath it, there was a more important layer hidden.

Peeling away the heart that sought strength and power, what was pressed at the very bottom...

...was not wanting to die.

But thinking one layer deeper, where did that fear of death come from?

It was the fear of losing.

Fearing the warmth of this world, fearing those people and things he could not let go of in his heart, from now on separated by the chasm of life and death, never to be seen again.

In the end.

Seeking Eternal Life is seeking to become stronger; but the root of seeking to become stronger is reluctance to part.

Then, what about him?

When the thought turned to himself, Qin Wangchuan was momentarily dazed.

In his mind, like a revolving lantern, too many people and things flashed by.

There were those of this Mortal realm.

That shop where he did blacksmithing and treated patients, the familiar neighbors in the whole town, and the girl beside him who had nagged him for a lifetime.

There were also those of the high and mighty Immortal Court.

Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Third Sister, Li Qingluan, Ye Jianwei... Face after face, too many to count.

Drifting between the two worlds, there were actually so many attachments.

He asked himself.

"Do I also have things I cannot bear to part with?"

The answer surfaced almost immediately.

Yes.

Too many.

He asked again.

"Then do I also want Eternal Life?"

Bearing the Eternal Life Immortal Body, Eternal Life for Qin Wangchuan was originally a destined matter, easily obtained.

And precisely because of this, in the past, he had no concept of these two words.

When others talked about Eternal Life, they were all crazy with envy, but he always just laughed it off.

"Anyway, I am destined for Eternal Life, so why think about those things?"

But at this moment, the same two words, when asked within his own heart.

The answer was clear and unquestionable.

I do.

Unprecedentedly, from the bottom of his heart, I do.

Having figured this out, in the depths of Qin Wangchuan's already cloudy eyes, a line of gold suddenly flashed and vanished.

'I hold Eternal Life in my hands, yet I have never truly known Eternal Life.'

'Even though I have killed many people, even though I have seen life and death many times.'

'Having never truly died, how could I understand how heavy life and death in the eyes of the world truly are.'

Thinking of this.

He took one last look at this Mortal world where he had stayed for a hundred years, and slowly closed his eyes.

At that very moment.

The unpromising jujube tree in the courtyard moved without wind, rustling, and shed all the leaves on the tree.

Qin Zhaoer had only left for a moment.

But her heart suddenly ached for no reason.

She hurried back to the courtyard and saw the jujube tree at a glance.

The old tree, which had been lush and leafy before, was now completely bare, with only naked branches left, sticking straight into the sky.

Her heart sank to the bottom in an instant.

Qin Zhaoer staggered, almost crawling, and rushed into the room.

On the bed, Qin Wangchuan was lying quietly.

His eyes were closed, his brows relaxed, as if he were fast asleep.

But the chest that had risen and fallen for a lifetime was now still.

There was no more movement.

"... Old man?"

She called out softly.

There was no response.

She called out again, her voice already trembling.

Still nothing.

She had guarded him for so many days, never leaving his side, never taking off her clothes to rest.

Yet she had left for just this short while.

Just this short while — she hadn't even been able to see him for the last time.

"... You old geezer."

Qin Zhaoer's voice trembled, all the strength in her body was instantly drained, her legs went weak, and she slumped directly onto the cold floor.

From the Immortal Court to the Mortal world, wandering for a hundred years.

She had fought, snatched, and caused trouble, and finally, she had firmly grasped this person in her own palm.

But in the end, he still left a step ahead.

Leaving her alone, all by herself here.

I don't know how much time passed before Qin Zhaoer slowly turned her head and looked at the withered jujube tree outside the window.

Cloudy old tears, drop by drop, fell uncontrollably.

"You always said that if a tree had consciousness, it would know when the time for bearing fruit has arrived."

Her voice was as light as a sigh.

"But now — if a person has consciousness..."

"After death, there is actually such a tree, scrambling to keep you company; what would you think about that?"

The words fell, and no one answered.

The huge courtyard was empty.

Only an old person with white hair and a withered jujube tree remained, facing each other in silence in the deepening twilight.

I don't know when, but the dark clouds on the horizon pressed down continuously.

Heavily, as if it were about to rain.

There were still a few people waiting outside the courtyard gate.

They were all people who had been treated by him, having come specially just to see Old Master Qin and express their thanks in person.

They didn't know what had happened in the courtyard, just waiting quietly, occasionally looking up at the darkening sky.

Waiting for that door to open.

Waiting for the person who had saved their lives to walk out slowly, just like countless times before.

But this time.

The person behind that door would never come out again.

That year, Qin Wangchuan passed away at the age of over one hundred and forty.

Counting from his birth in this Mortal world, it had been a long stretch of over a hundred years.

He came in glory, and left in silence.

He did not disturb anyone, nor did he leave anything behind.

After death, there was no name on his tombstone.

He was buried in front of the graves of his predecessors, Qin Rang, Jiang Zhuo, and Master Chen, shielding them from the wind and rain.

Repaying the grace of their care when he was young.