No! As the former master of the Valley of Pharmacists, she knew perfectly well that there was still a unique antidote in this world.
—However, even if she had encountered the two of them in time, even if Xiaoye was still breathing at the time, would she really have gone to such lengths to save her beloved disciple's life by exchanging one's own life for another?
No...no, she can't do it!
Because she didn't want to die—
She had an infant son and a beloved husband. She wanted to watch her child grow up and grow old with her husband. She absolutely did not want to die like this—so she should thank God that she met them after Xiaoye's death and was not forced to make such a cruel decision.
The snow on the fox fur coat had slowly melted, and the icy water dripped from the tips of the white fur, wetting the sleeping, pale face. Liao Qingran stared blankly at her disciple's face, slowly reaching out to wipe away the snow water from her face—so cold, so quiet, just like when she had lifted that child from the icy river many years ago.
She suddenly felt as if a thousand swords were piercing her heart.
Inside the carriage, someone broke down in tears, but outside, Miao Feng merely played his flute, his eyes no longer showing great joy or sorrow, as calm as a spring pond. He slowly rode away, passing through the thousands of weeping willows of Uliastai, and set foot on the Kizil Desert.
There, not long ago, a fierce and desperate battle took place.
There, she had fought alongside him, keeping each other warm in the cold snow.
That was a warmth he had never experienced in his life, and would never experience again.
On that dark snowfield, he unexpectedly gained something he had never had before, only to lose it forever in an instant. Like lightning flashing across the ancient night, though it was only for a brief moment, it allowed him to open his eyes for the first time and see a completely new sky and earth.
After that one glance, his closed mind was suddenly awakened. She awakened the young Yami who was sleeping in his heart, making him no longer just a cold, sharp sword.
However, with her sudden departure, it all came to an end...
Unforgettable, only waiting for the wind and snow to bury them all.
That day, the clerk at the Uliastai East Post Station saw the carriage slowly leave the city, pass through the weeping willows along the road, and disappear into the Kizil Snowfield. The young man driving the carriage held a strangely shaped short flute in his hand, quietly playing the same tune repeatedly, his unusual long blue hair flying in the wind and snow.
His face was serene and radiant, as if something had been drawn from his body and far beyond this mortal world.
That was also the last trace he left to the world.
No one expected that the battle with the Seven Swords of Dingjian Pavilion on the Uliastai snowfield would be the final chapter of his life—the Mysterious Wind Envoy of the Five Bright Sons of Kunlun Great Bright Palace disappeared from the martial world forever on that day.
Just as he existed silently, he also vanished without a trace, like a snowflake.
When spring arrived and flowers bloomed, Huo Zhanbai led the seven swordsmen of Dingjian Pavilion back from Kunlun.
Although the battle was fierce and many of the Seven Swordsmen were wounded, with most of them killed, they ultimately brought back news of the Demonic Sect's leader's execution and the complete annihilation of the Five Mingzi. The entire Central Plains martial arts world was shaken, and all the major sects spread the news and celebrated.
The five wounded swordsmen were sent to Medicine Master Valley, while Wei Fengxing, who was not seriously injured, rushed back to his hometown of Yangzhou.
As the leader of this operation, Huo Zhanbai could not get away so easily. For the past two months, he had accompanied the old master of Dingjian Pavilion, Nangong, on frequent trips between various sects and factions, attempting to re-coordinate the delicate relationships between them and achieve a new balance as the landscape of the martial arts world shifted once again.
Meanwhile, Huo Qi Gongzi, the chief disciple of the Tianshan Sect, also reached the pinnacle of his reputation in the martial arts world.
Three months later, after most of the miscellaneous matters had been settled, he finally returned to Jiuyue Manor in Lin'an, brought Qiu Shuiyin back from the Xia residence, and devoted himself to taking care of her health.
However, to his surprise, the old master of the Dingjian Pavilion, Nangong Yan, quickly followed and condescended to pay him a visit. Even more surprising, the old man spoke again, earnestly requesting that he become the next master of the Dingjian Pavilion—
That was the third time in eight years that he had made a similar proposal.
The difference this time is that it has almost become a plea.
"Young Huo, I'm begging you to take on this responsibility—my son Nangong Mo is unworthy, and there's no one to carry on the family line. If you don't step up and support him, who else can I entrust this to?" The old Pavilion Master Nangong sighed at him, his face haggard. "I need to hurry and treat my heart ailment, or I'm afraid I won't live past the next winter."
The person who had been making excuses was taken aback: "What?"
The old master of the Nangong Pavilion had dominated the martial arts world for decades, and his internal and external cultivation had reached a state of perfection—but unexpectedly, he had been secretly plagued by a serious illness for many years.
“If you push yourself too hard when you’re young, you’ll suffer the consequences when you’re old… There’s nothing I can do about it.” The old master of the Nangong Pavilion shook his head and sighed. “Now that the Demon Palace’s arrogance has temporarily subsided and the Moon Worship Sect has stopped provoking us, I’ve chosen a good time to withdraw… But as long as the Dingjian Pavilion is without a master, I won’t be able to rest in peace even if I die.”
Huo Zhanbai lowered his head and remained silent.
Elder Nangong was his benefactor, having cared for and mentored him for many years. As a junior with the corresponding abilities, he truly shouldn't, and couldn't bear to, refuse such a request from an elder. However…
He subconsciously turned his head and looked inside.
Behind the screen, Qiu Shuiyin had just taken her medicine and was still fast asleep—Master Liao's prescription was very effective, and her illness had been greatly relieved. Although she was still not clear-headed and somewhat dazed, she no longer cried and made a scene like she had at the beginning, treating everyone who approached her as the murderer who killed her son.
"I know what's on your mind. You're afraid that if you take care of Madam Qiu after becoming the Pavilion Master, people in the martial arts world will gossip about you, right?" Seemingly understanding his concerns, the old Pavilion Master Nangong spoke up, "Actually, I've known about your affair for a long time, but the situation back then... sigh. Now that Xu Chonghua has been executed, why don't I act as matchmaker and settle this long-standing entanglement?"
"No!" Huo Zhanbai exclaimed in surprise, blurting out instinctively.
"Don't worry," Elder Nangong thought he was trying to shirk responsibility, so he put on a stern face. "With me in charge, who would dare to gossip?"
"No! No need." He still just shook his head, but his tone gradually softened, revealing only a sense of exhaustion.
Everyone knew he was infatuated, deeply devoted to Qiu Shuiyin for over a decade, never regretting his love even after she married someone else. However, who knew that he had grown weary halfway through and secretly shifted his affections? Time, like water, washed away the youthful infatuation; he still cared for his former lover with all his heart, but the fervent love of his youth was gone.
98zhi98yin98wen98xue98wang98
The End of the Main Story
"You've borne this empty reputation for so many years, don't you long to achieve your goal soon? You're usually so carefree, why are you so hesitant now that the time has come?" The old Master Nangong, unaware of the situation, was still offering what he thought was well-intentioned advice. He was somewhat surprised by the other's coldness, his expression suddenly turning stern. "Could it be... that you despise her—you think that because she's been married and has children, and now has this illness, she's no longer worthy of you, the leader of the Central Plains martial arts alliance, is that it?"
"Of course not! Sigh..." Unable to defend himself, Huo Zhanbai could only smile wryly and wave his hand. "I agree to the succession—but let's not talk about it for now. Let's wait until Qiu Shui recovers."
Elder Nangong breathed a sigh of relief and picked up his teacup: "In that case, I can go to Yaoshi Valley to see a doctor sooner."
Mentioning the Valley of the Medicine Master, Huo Zhanbai couldn't help but smile: "Yes, Valley Master Xue's medical skills are superb, he can definitely cure any disease in no time."
—But that woman is quite barbaric; I wonder if the old master can handle her? The white plum blossoms in the valley must be withering soon, right? I just hope Qiu Shui recovers from his illness soon so he can leave to keep his appointment at Medicine Master Valley.
Unaware of his rapidly warming expression, Elder Nangong simply lowered his head, lifted his teacup, took a sip, and said, "I heard that Valley Master Xue recently passed away, and now the head of the household is the former Valley Master Liao—I wonder where she's been hiding all these years. After her disciple died, she suddenly returned, and it's said she even brought back a newly accepted disciple..."