649: Chapter 60 Parting and Starting Again

Meng Li replied to Tang Xuejian, then elaborated: "Miss Zixuan is a Descendants of Nüwa; she is immortal. Daoist Xu, although a cultivator, will eventually reach the end of his lifespan unless he achieves Immortal Ascension."

"At that time, he will undergo Reincarnation again."

"If Miss Zixuan cannot let go, she will have to wait for him for another lifetime, or even two, three lifetimes..."

"Isn't that cruel to her?"

Tang Xuejian was stunned, and after a long while, she said: "Then Grandmaster Changqing can just achieve Immortal Ascension, can't he?"

"Achieving the Dao and becoming an Immortal, how easy is that?" Meng Li sighed, then continued: "According to what Ancient Vine Elder said before, if Daoist Xu wants to escape Reincarnation and achieve true longevity, he must make Ascension to the Divine Realm. However, Miss Zixuan is a Descendants of Nüwa, bearing the mission to guard the people of the mortal world, so she can only remain in the human realm and cannot go to the Divine Realm."

"In that case, they will be separated by heaven and earth, still unable to be together."

"If he cannot let go then, he can only suffer endless torment."

Tang Xuejian fell silent.

Jing Tian sighed: "White Tofu must have thought of all this, which is why he hardened his heart to let Miss Zixuan leave. After all, a short pain is better than prolonged suffering."

"Isn't there a solution that satisfies both?" Lan Kui felt downhearted upon hearing this. She felt that the osmanthus cake in her mouth no longer tasted sweet, and couldn't help but ask.

Meng Li shook his head.

In truth, there was a way: as long as Xu Changqing gave up on Immortal Ascension, and Zixuan gave up her immortality, the two could live out a normal life together.

But implementing this was somewhat troublesome.

It was easier on Xu Changqing's side. Although the Shushan Five Elders hoped he would take over as Sect Head and achieve Immortal Ascension, the one with the highest authority, Pure Subtlety, favored letting things take their natural course. As long as Xu Changqing chose to be with Zixuan, he would not object.

Even if the Shushan Five Elders were to pass away after the demise of the Evil Sword Immortal, as long as Xu Changqing could overcome his inner hurdle, he could still be with Zixuan.

The trouble lay with Zixuan.

If she gave up her immortality, she would age rapidly and die, having an even shorter lifespan than a normal person.

Furthermore, she was a love-obsessed person. Even if this life went well, she might not let go and might yearn for the next life.

Lan Kui saw Meng Li shake his head and said no more.

Hong Kui, perhaps thinking of something, suddenly asked Meng Li: "How long have you lived?"

Meng Li was slightly taken aback, then recalled for a moment and replied: "I can't recall the exact years, but roughly over one thousand and several hundred years."

Hearing this, Jing Tian, Tang Xuejian, and Xu Maoshan were all startled.

Hong Kui and Lan Kui were similarly surprised.

After a moment, Tang Xuejian exclaimed in surprise: "Over a thousand years? Then aren't you about the same age as Hong Kui and Lan Kui?"

Meng Li nodded and smiled: "Now that you mention it, I think we are even more compatible."

Lan Kui's pretty face flushed slightly red.

Hong Kui gave Meng Li a sidelong glance, but the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned upwards, and the worry in her heart quietly subsided.

Seeing this, Jing Tian seemed to understand something and felt a surge of joy in his heart.

Tang Xuejian also realized something, her gaze shifting between Hong Kui, Lan Kui, and Meng Li, feeling a touch of envy toward Hong Kui and Lan Kui.

Xu Maoshan also understood, letting out a simple, honest smile.

In an instant, the gloomy atmosphere brought on by the matter of Xu Changqing and Zixuan vanished.

Afterward, the group chatted for a while longer. During that time, Jing Tian, Tang Xuejian, and Xu Maoshan finished the food Lan Kui brought back as their dinner, and then retired to their respective rooms.

Meng Li returned to his room, sat cross-legged on the bed, took out the fire spirit pearl, entered a state of enlightenment, and began meditating on the Law of Fire within it.

When he exited the state of enlightenment, it was already the next morning.

A knock sounded on the door. Meng Li got out of bed and opened it, finding Lan Kui there.

Then, before he could ask, Lan Kui said: "Elder Brother Meng, Sister Zixuan is leaving. Everyone wants to see her off. Are you going?"

Meng Li was puzzled: "Didn't I tell you before that she is only about two hundred years old? Why are you still calling her 'Sister'?"

Lan Kui's expression became awkward; she didn't know how to respond.

The reason she called Zixuan 'Sister' was somewhat complicated.

First, it was based on the seniority from Jing Tian and Tang Xuejian.

Second, Zixuan possessed the temperament of an older sister, and at the same time, her personality was delicate, causing Lan Kui to subconsciously place herself in a weaker position.

Third, girls preferred to consider themselves slightly younger in terms of age and seniority.

But this was hard to explain, so she could only say: "It's just a term of address, Elder Brother Meng, please don't mind it."

Saying that, Lan Kui gently shook Meng Li's hand, even adding a hint of coquetry.

Meng Li seemed to understand, his eyes filled with a smile: "Understood. My Lan Kui is forever eighteen years old."

Lan Kui instantly blushed with embarrassment, stomped her foot, and turned to leave: "I'm not talking to you anymore!"

Meng Li smiled, closed the door, and caught up to her, coaxing her gently for a couple of sentences before returning to normal.

Soon after, the two arrived downstairs and saw Zixuan leaving with a bundle on her back. Xu Changqing, Jing Tian, Tang Xuejian, Hong Kui, and Xu Maoshan were gathered to see her off.

Though they were seeing her off, no one spoke much to each other.

Because Xu Changqing and Zixuan, the two who should have spoken the most, both chose silence.

By the time Meng Li and Lan Kui approached, Zixuan had already mounted the horse Xu Changqing had bought the day before.

Just as she was about to ride away, Xu Changqing finally spoke: "Let me escort you for a while."

Zixuan's eyes flickered slightly, and she nodded.

Xu Changqing immediately walked ahead, leading the horse toward the city gate.

Meng Li watched the two figures walk further away, suddenly assaulted by a memory of the deceased. A familiar and distant melody inexplicably rang in his mind.

Time flows continuously, circulating through the past.

The profound change is not distant.

Even after ten thousand years, deep affection remains unchanged; love spreads like a fierce fire.

Memory is a long thread, coiling in the sky.

Amidst the ups and downs, one thought fate was shallow despite deep feeling.

You reappear, and I see the vow, a promise between the water and the sky.

Looking back, you never walked far.

My gaze lingers, unchanging in this life...

"What's wrong?" Hong Kui noticed Meng Li's strange expression and asked doubtfully.

Meng Li snapped back to reality, smiled, and said: "Nothing, I just feel like things might not end this way for them."

"Really?" Tang Xuejian asked.

Among them, she was the most affected by the matter concerning Xu Changqing and Zixuan.

Before Meng Li could reply, Lan Kui interjected: "Daoist Xu followed her; perhaps there will be a turning point."

Xu Maoshan agreed: "That's right."

"I hope so."

Tang Xuejian whispered the phrase, and then...

She was disappointed!

Because not long after, Xu Changqing returned, alone, and his face showed no joy.

Xu Maoshan looked out the doorway, didn't see Zixuan, and asked Xu Changqing in surprise: "Did Miss Zixuan really leave?"

Xu Changqing replied expressionlessly: "Those things are in the past. What's most important now is for us to go to the next location, which is Leizhou, to search for the thunder spirit pearl."

"You..." Tang Xuejian stopped herself mid-sentence and turned to go upstairs to get her luggage.

Jing Tian shook his head and went to ask the Innkeeper for breakfast.

Shortly after, everyone finished breakfast, left the Inn, and set off toward Leizhou...