Tears fell with a steady patter, but Wu Yan did not cry out loud. True to her usual impression, she was quiet and reserved, always keeping things to herself.
Yu Qingyao crouched beside her and gently took the cloth bag from her hand, spreading it on the ground. Then, near the mound of earth, she found a soft spot and dug a pit with her bare hands. The pit was square and just the right size to lay out the navy blue coat.
Only after Wu Yan had dried her tears did Yu Qingyao silently tug at the cloth bag on the ground. Though they had only spent a day and a night together, for some reason, Wu Yan and Yu Qingyao shared an unusual understanding.
The early morning light fell on their shoulders, stretching their shadows long.
Wu Yan placed the clothes and hat into the pit, her movements as gentle as if afraid to disturb his slumber.
“Old man, I finally found you.”
Wu Yan sat before the grave, her tone sounding like a complaint, but Yu Qingyao knew she was just reminiscing.
“I brought you the things you left behind.”
Yu Qingyao accompanied her, handful by handful filling the earth back in and patting it firm. She even found a stone tablet with her bare hands, polished it clean, and, following Wu Yan’s description, carved on it: “Deng’s Tomb.”
When the tombstone was finished, it was just at the break of dawn. The early autumn wind was no longer cold, gently stirring the wild chrysanthemums before the grave.
Wu Yan stood in a daze for a long time, then turned around and solemnly bowed to Yu Qingyao.
“Thank you.”
Hearing young Wu Yan’s heartfelt thanks, Yu Qingyao suddenly wanted to pull her into an embrace.
Just then, Yu Qingyao’s consciousness suddenly became hazy. Morning light, earthen slope, wild chrysanthemums, tombstone, even Wu Yan’s face, all gradually twisted and collapsed.
‘Is this the end?’
“Are you leaving?”
Looking at Yu Qingyao’s transparent body, Wu Yan also knew what would happen next. After all, all of this had been too beautiful, as beautiful as a dream. This moment only confirmed her suspicion.
But even so, she was still very grateful to Yu Qingyao. Without her, she might never have been able to fulfill this wish in her lifetime.
“Senior Sister…”
“Will I still be your senior sister in the future?”
Wu Yan reached out and grabbed Yu Qingyao’s hand.
“Adults really do like to lie. Old man was the same, and so are you.”
“Am I good to you?”
Yu Qingyao knew she was asking about the future her.
“Mhm.”
Unbeknownst, Yu Qingyao’s eyes reddened, tears threatening to spill.
“You are the best senior sister in the world, and also my most beloved senior sister.”
“Is that so…?” Wu Yan murmured.
At the last moment before leaving, she saw the brightest smile Wu Yan had ever given her.
“That’s good. See you later, Junior Sister Yu!”
With those words, everything before her eyes completely dissipated, followed by the memories of Wu Yan coming to this world. From childhood until entering the Inheritance Secret Realm to find her, Yu Qingyao saw it all clearly.
The dazzling light stung her eyes, causing tears to well up involuntarily. Yu Qingyao opened her eyes, tear stains still on her cheeks.
A vast amount of spiritual power surged within her body, trying to break through the restriction of Foundation Establishment Peak, but soon, an even older and stronger gray current wrapped around the burning spiritual power and devoured the rampaging energy. In the end, Yu Qingyao’s cultivation did not break through to the Golden Core Stage, but her spiritual power became much more condensed. This was also the downside of practicing the Past Life Technique—restricted by the Heavenly Dao, she had to waste two years at Foundation Establishment Peak.
But she didn’t care about that now. According to Senior Sister’s memories, she should be in this area right now, maybe even right beside her.
Yu Qingyao’s heart pounded wildly. Her gaze incessantly swept the surroundings, and finally, she spotted Wu Yan and Ji Xuerou beside her by a stone pillar below the High Platform.
“Senior Sister!”
Yu Qingyao charged down from the High Platform. The force of her knees hitting the ground was so great that it smashed two large pits into the thick platform.
And Wu Yan was also startled awake by Yu Qingyao’s action. Her furrowed brows relaxed, and the moment her ink-black eyes cleared, she saw Yu Qingyao’s anxious face.
“Qingyao, you’re awake? How was the inheritance? Do you feel any discomfort in your body?”
Wu Yan’s speech was fast but clear, her eager words unable to hide her concern.
Just like the younger version of her in the trial—clearly very concerned about others, but didn’t know how to express it. But that’s okay, at least she could understand her.
“Senior Sister, I missed you.”
Coming before Wu Yan, Yu Qingyao held back for a long time, finally managing to say this.
Su Qingxuan, hidden in the air, saw this scene of deep sisterly affection between the two. The curve of her lips could barely be suppressed.
“Yes, yes, yes! This is the atmosphere! Even if I die now, it would be worth the price of admission!”
“What kind of low-class taste would enjoy watching this! It makes me sick just looking at it!”
Beside Su Qingxuan was a figure with floating red skirts, precisely Wu Yan (Inner). However, Wu Yan (Inner) was currently in a sorry state, trapped by Su Qingxuan’s Space Art, able to move only in a small area. But her mouth still showed no signs of giving in.
“What do you understand, little girl?” Su Qingxuan rolled her eyes at her.
“Hah, I really didn’t expect that an honorable Immortal would enjoy watching such boring shows!”
“Tsk tsk, I can only see a jealous loser here throwing a tantrum.”
Wu Yan (Inner) didn’t understand what “loser” meant, but she could understand the mockery and jealousy in Su Qingxuan’s words.
“You woman, once I become an Immortal, I’ll definitely drag you out of the ground and torment you.”
“Little girl, talk to me when you have that strength.”
When Su Qingxuan pulled Wu Yan (Inner) out of Wu Yan’s body, she had originally planned to solve a troublesome issue for her fellow villager, but after catching her, she realized the relationship between the two was not as simple as she thought. Moreover, the bond between them was so close that even she couldn’t completely sever it.
“By the way, Senior Sister, how is Fellow Daoist Ji?” After catching up, Yu Qingyao pointed with her chin at Ji Xuerou, who was still unconscious.
“Xuerou should be fine.” Wu Yan shook her head.
Before leaving Su Qingxuan’s mental world, Su Qingxuan had told her that she had also given Ji Xuerou a blessing, with no danger to her life. Of course, as a fellow villager, she had also given her something.
The moment Ji Xuerou woke up, Wu Yan appeared before her eyes, so naturally she didn’t miss the look in her bright eyes as if from another life. But it disappeared quickly.
Ji Xuerou sat up, stretched her body. Her aura was quite thick, and spiritual power overflowed with every movement. Looking at Wu Yan’s concerned face, the corners of Ji Xuerou’s eyes curved, and a hint of determination flickered in her pupils.
A light female voice sounded in the Stone Hall. Su Qingxuan appeared this time wearing a common long robe of the Cultivation World. However, she held a porcelain cup in her hand with black liquid bubbling inside.
“Yo, awake?”
And Wu Yan (Inner), who had been gone for a long time, finally returned to Wu Yan’s side.
“Are you okay?”
What made Wu Yan (Inner) most gratified was that this dense blockhead Wu Yan finally cared about her first.
“Hmph, with her little tricks, they’re completely useless against me!”