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Watching the old man approach step by step, Ren Pingsheng’s body was enveloped with dark red flames, while the space around him slowly began to melt.
A single punch was thrown, and a trail of pure white smoke rose in the air.
The old man’s eyebrows furrowed as his True Fate emerged forthrightly, taking the form of a Grand Roc.
The Grand Roc, as it took to the wind, fluttered its wings, creating a sweeping windstorm, engaging in combat with Ren Pingsheng.
On the other hand, those other disciples of the Myriad Beasts Sect all charged at Xu Zimei, who grasped the Tyrant Shadow, wielding the nineteen forms of the Way of Inquiry almost as if taking a life with every step.
However, among these disciples were several of the Esteem Vein Realm elders, who in combination could still tangle with Xu Zimei for a while.
Of course, this was also because Xu Zimei had not yet resorted to using the Prison-Suppressing Divine Body.
At the side, Lan Ke’er watched the scene unfold with a slight frown, instructing, "Go help them."
"Rest assured, Miss, I’ve had my eye on this brat for a while now," said the Sad Taoist as he stood up, releasing the aura of the Emperor Pulse Realm from his body.
His True Fate was a Long River, and as it gently flowed, sounds of soft sobbing seemed to emanate from within.
This caused an unexplainable sorrow to swell in the hearts of those who heard it.
"I meant for you to help them, not the people from the Myriad Beasts Sect," Lan Ke’er said with dissatisfaction in her voice.
"Ah," the Sad Taoist was taken aback as he saw his already uncomfortable expression sour even further.
Watching the Sad Taoist helping Ren Pingsheng block the elders from the Myriad Beasts Sect, Lan Ke’er turned to the Happy Taoist and said, "You go stop those disciples of the Myriad Beasts Sect. I want to talk to him alone."
"Miss, our purpose here was to form an alliance with the Myriad Beasts Sect. This might not reflect well on us," the Happy Taoist said with some hesitation, though his face was perpetually adorned with a smile.
"Are you teaching me how to conduct my affairs?" Lan Ke’er slightly lifted her head, looking calmly at the Happy Taoist.
"I wouldn’t dare," the Happy Taoist hastily shook his head, then got up and joined the fray.
Just as Xu Zimei had slain a disciple of the Myriad Beasts Sect, he felt a tug at his clothes.
Turning around, he saw Lan Ke’er pulling him towards the outside of the inn, while all those oncoming disciples of the Myriad Beasts Sect were being blocked by the Happy Taoist.
......…
The two ended up in a quiet alley behind the inn, with Xu Zimei smiling at the girl.
Then, a sword light flashed across the sky, and the girl held a Longsword emitting a faint white glow in her hand.
The cold touch of the Longsword rested on Xu Zimei’s neck, as if time had frozen at that moment.
A light breeze blew from afar, stirring up wisps of dust, and the gentle sunlight shone at the entrance of the alley.
The girl’s long hair, usually coiled atop her head, cascaded down, contrasting with the pair of spirited eyes that serenely watched Xu Zimei.
Xu Zimei chuckled and said, "The last time we met, you were crying and begging me. I never thought our next meeting would be with swords drawn."
"What are you talking about?" Lan Ke’er frowned, replying coolly, "I don’t know you."
"Nothing, just reminiscing," Xu Zimei said, shaking his head with a smile.
"How did you know about my wishes?" Lan Ke’er asked in a clear, cold voice. "You’d better come clean, or I’ll kill you with one strike."
"You should kill me, I deserve to die," Xu Zimei took a deep breath and said earnestly, "I once had a sincere love right before my eyes, but I did not cherish it. It’s only after I lost it that I was filled with regret…"
"Speak plainly," Lan Ke’er pressed the sword a bit closer, nearly breaking the skin on Xu Zimei’s neck.
"Do you believe in fate?"
"I don’t," the girl shook her head.
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"Believe in fate?"
"I don’t."
emmmm
Xu Zimei fell silent for a moment, then said, "If you don’t believe in anything, how can I explain this to you?"
"You think I don’t dare to kill you?" Lan Ke’er snorted coldly and said indifferently, "You should understand, only the dead can keep a secret forever."
"I once had a dream, actually, I can’t tell if it was a dream or reality," Xu Zimei sighed and slowly said.
"What kind of dream?" Lan Ke’er looked at Xu Zimei and asked.
"In the dream, it was you. You said you loved me, you wanted to have my children, and you wanted to escape with me to a paradise, begging me not to leave you, but I refused," Xu Zimei said slowly.
"You’re full of shit, I’m not that kind of person," Lan Ke’er exclaimed in shock, loudly protesting.
"It’s true, I’m not lying to you. Even though the dream ended, fate gave me another chance.
I secretly swore that this time I would treat you well.
You like having children, right? No problem, we’ll have lots and lots of children in the future.
If one isn’t enough, then ten, or even twenty. Don’t worry, I can handle it," Xu Zimei said earnestly.
"Try flirting with me one more time," Lan Ke’er slightly tilted the longsword in her hand, threatening fiercely.
"I’m not joking," Xu Zimei chuckled bitterly, as a gentle breeze lifted his hair, and he said with a serious tone, "Do you know who I remembered the most before I died in that dream?
Apart from my parents, it was you. My feelings for you are not just love, but also a deep sense of guilt.
My father is the Deputy Sect Master of the True Martial Holy Sect. I don’t lack resources, nor women. Do you think I have any reason to lie to you?"
"True Martial Holy Sect?" Lan Ke’er paused for a moment and said indifferently, "You said it yourself, it was a dream. You might just have been daydreaming."
Xu Zimei fell silent for a moment and said no more.
"You tell a good story," Lan Ke’er said calmly.
"Thank you," Xu Zimei laughed softly, but his smile was filled with bitterness.
He was contemplating a question, "Is it that once you lose something, it can never be returned to, like a shattered cup that can’t be put back together?"
Lan Ke’er looked into Xu Zimei’s eyes, which were deep and seemed as still as dead water, inexplicably aged.
People often say that the eyes are the windows to the soul, and through them one can see a person’s innermost thoughts.
For some reason, as Lan Ke’er gazed into his eyes that seemed to harbor countless stories and hardships, she felt an inexplicable pain in her heart.
She didn’t know why she felt this sudden, unexplained heartache for the young man before her.
"Crazy," she sheathed her longsword and, without turning her head, walked away, "Since your story was so intriguing, I’ll let you go this time."
"Hey, my name is Xu Zimei."
"Who wants to know your name!"
"This story is a long one, I can tell it to you slowly. Don’t you want to know what happened between us?" 𝚗o𝚟pub.𝚌𝚘𝚖
"I don’t," the girl said, claiming disinterest, but still she stopped and turned to look at Xu Zimei.
The gentle breeze that passed by the willow trees on the roadside took a wide loop before blowing from the alley’s entrance, making the girl’s hair dance gracefully.
