80: People have joys and sorrows, separations and reunions

The moment he saw Ding Xiang, he already sensed something was amiss, and the strange, peculiar thoughts that flashed through his mind made him even more uneasy.

"Master, Master, you must be alright!" Chen Cuo's eyes gleamed with a cold light, and his entire being seemed to transform into a ray of light, his True Qi erupting from his body, directly smashing through walls and courtyards.

One could see his Physical Body seemed to tear open with wounds in an instant, yet in the very next instant, it recovered its fair appearance, blood dripping onto the ground, scalding hot, emitting an endless hot mist.

After about a few breaths, Chen Cuo had already passed through three or four courtyards and arrived outside Fan Wufeng's courtyard, stepping in with a single stride.

Chen Cuo's gaze fell upon the old man lying on the bed, his mouth askew, his eyes glazed, his expression dull, no longer possessing the carefree composure of his youth, only an aged Physical Body and Soul remained.

Lei Wen was kneeling on the ground, supporting half of the old man's body, rubbing his back; it seemed the old man could no longer eat or drink and had vomited several times.

Beside them were servants holding basins and pouring water, Uncle Chang and some other uncles; in recent years, some of the older generation had also passed away one after another. Uncle Chang was younger than Fan Wufeng, but now he too looked aged.

Lei Wen's face was pale, his now-long-bearded cheeks filled with tears, his heart filled with endless sorrow.

"Brother Wen!"

Chen Cuo softly called out, and immediately, many gazes focused on him. Lei Wen was stunned, looking at him entering the room with disbelief.

Chen Cuo was dressed in a loose robe, and his already young face showed no trace of age, instead, the not fully restrained Aura added infinite charm.

Lei Wen immediately helped Fan Wufeng sit upright, stood up, and said to Chen Cuo with a mournful voice, "Junior Brother, you've come! Master, I fear he won't make it."

"Mm... I've come out of seclusion!" Chen Cuo said nothing more, sitting beside the old man. His hands were already withered and long, and his pupils had dilated.

He was exhaling in large gasps, as if muttering something.

Chen Cuo's face showed sorrow. He took the old man's wrist to check his pulse, and despair filled his heart.

His lifespan was at its end, beyond the reach of medicine.

In recent years, Chen Cuo had used every method he could to extend the old man's life. Even if he had cured the old man's hidden injuries before, he had no way to make Fan Wufeng Breakthrough again; his Qi and blood had withered, and his lifespan was on a downward slope.

Chen Cuo had expended great effort to extend his life until now; if not for this, the old man would probably have passed away years ago.

Not an Immortal, unable to achieve longevity, Chen Cuo had no way to make the old man live forever. He could only ensure he had no regrets, let him watch the Iron Eagle Gang gradually grow and prosper, and let him watch himself Breakthrough to Innate.

Now, the old man's wish was fulfilled.

Chen Cuo did not make any other moves. A mouthful of True Qi turned verdant green, filled with a vibrant Aura.

Large beads of sweat dripped from Chen Cuo's forehead, indicating he was under some pressure, but it was completely harmless.

"Junior Brother, what is this?"

"I want to see Master one last time. I want to talk with him for a while."

"Mm! Good." Lei Wen's expression was complex. The old man had not completely breathed his last, but he was already unconscious and unable to speak.

Perhaps what Chen Cuo was expending his power to do at this moment was merely to allow the old man a brief moment of lucidity before death.

In a daze, a familiar voice sounded.

"Cuo'er, Wen'er, Wu'er, and second brother, everyone's here!"

Lei Wu and the others had also arrived beside the old man, staring blankly at this scene.

Fan Wufeng's voice carried a hint of a smile, yet it made everyone want to cry, and it filled Chen Cuo's heart with bitterness.

The old man's life force was rapidly fading. He softly called out, "Master, you..."

"It's alright. Everyone has this day eventually. I've long anticipated it. To see you fulfill the dream I couldn't, I am already content."

"And Wen'er, Wu'er, both of you are more promising than Ming'er. It's my fault for liking flattery when I was young and neglecting you two good children instead."

"Don't blame your Master. Even though I took Cuo'er as my last Disciple, I treat all of you children the same."

Fan Wufeng's face was full of lovingkindness as he looked at Lei Wen and the other, revealing a sense of pity and apology.

"Master!" Lei Wen and Lei Wu knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly. As for whether they harbored resentment towards Chen Cuo, who knew? Perhaps there was a little, but now, only profound pain remained.

"Cuo'er, I know what you want to ask, but I..."

"No, Master, you must tell me! This isn't just for you, but for myself as well!"

Chen Cuo whispered to the old man, transmitting his voice secretly. Chen Cuo casually used True Qi to create a sound-isolating barrier, and the two quickly exchanged words.

Finally, Chen Cuo said to the old man, "Don't worry, Master, I won't act impulsively, but this matter, I will definitely do it."

How could Fan Wufeng not harbor resentment? His future, his hopes, all were ruined by that person's hands. Hearing Chen Cuo's words, besides letting out a soft sigh, he merely nodded slightly.

As soon as his head nodded, it gently dropped. A grayish-white image appeared deep within his eyes. What was that?

It seemed to be a shepherd boy sitting leisurely on a cow's back, playing a self-made bamboo flute, happily riding the cow towards the cattle shed at home.

It seemed to be a short-haired man in a coarse, grayish-white cloth shirt, holding a staff as tall as his eyebrows, loudly shouting at a skinny, monkey-like child to lift a large circular millstone.

And it seemed to be a high-and-mighty white-robed man who merely glanced at him, and a sword-finger strike severely wounded his Dantian, causing him to fall into the river and barely escape.

It was also an old man, nearing the end of his life, looking at a scattered chess game, softly laughing and scolding someone for not respecting the elderly and cherishing the young.

"What is that? That's my memory, that's my life. So, a person's life is so short!"

Fan Wufeng was somewhat anxious. He seemed to want to grasp the things before his eyes, but he did not lift his hand.

"So, my hands have no strength left!" He slowly closed his eyes and passed away.

Chen Cuo tightly gripped that hand, frozen, silent for a long time.

"Master, he's gone!"

Chen Cuo murmured, his gaze falling heavily upon the people around him, his face already streaked with tears.

Everyone collapsed onto the ground, wailing in sorrow.