Before his words had even faded, he turned almost impatiently, intending to move through the void and leave, to escape this fated bond of affection.
But just as he moved, before he could rise!
Three soft yet incomparably resolute jade hands reached out at once, precisely seizing both his arms.
Three warm, delicate palms settled firmly on either side of him. Their strength was gentle, yet carried an obsession that would not permit escape, pinning his arms down and locking his half-risen body firmly in place, leaving him unable to move an inch.
All of Xuan Qing's attempts at escape froze instantly. His vast, Supreme Wuji Dao power was actually held fast by three gentle hands.
His body stiffened as he slowly turned his head back.
What met his eyes were Wang Shu's tender, sorrowful gaze, and the resentment and grievance Han Li had accumulated over endless years in her eyes.
They had accompanied him for countless years, waiting through year after year.
Their once-silent companionship, wordless waiting, and restrained feelings had all turned into misty tears in their eyes at this moment. Crystal teardrops hung from their lashes without falling, yet they made his heart tremble more than any Heavenly Dao pressure ever could.
Wang Shu's lips trembled lightly. Her voice was soft, yet carried the melancholy and unwillingness she had suppressed for so long, every word striking at his heart:
"Xuan Qing, after all these years, are you still going to keep running away?"
The question was gentle yet heavy, crushing the last trace of stubbornness and distance in Xuan Qing's heart.
He looked at the tears they struggled to hold back, at the expectation they could not conceal, then at You Hui standing gently beside him. His desire to pull away and flee collapsed completely in an