A Concordant Holy String? I'll Down It in One Go! (Continued)

He reached into the void, and the Xuanyuan Sword rode the wind to him, landing steadily in his hand. Zhao Bai easily lifted her up, gently rubbing the little girl's chin with his fingers. There was an indescribable purity in his eyes, neither sorrow nor joy.

"..."

"Don't call me Mom."

Zhao Bai cut off the words the Xuanyuan Sword had been about to blurt out.

"There's something I need your help with." He spoke to the Xuanyuan Sword, his tone as gentle as a plea. "I need to hold your hilt and fight using the Xuanyuan Sword's true form. Will you... forgive me?"

There was a touch of sadness.

Zhao Bai did not cry, yet the Xuanyuan Sword still reached out to wipe his cheek, as though telling him not to worry.

"If only my future children could be as well-behaved as you."

Zhao Bai sighed.

"Sadly, neither of us is well-behaved. Saying something like that is simply wishful thinking... I shouldn't be saying this to you either. You're still young, and you don't understand anything. Some people are shortsighted when it comes to love, but I'm someone who looks both ahead and behind. When that girl smiles at me, aside from happiness, all I can feel is a mountain-like sense of responsibility and pressure. Naturally, that makes it less joyful."

"I've said too much."

If he kept talking, the state of mind he had only just elevated would probably fall right back to square one tonight. Following the principle that loose lips sink ships, Zhao Bai hurriedly shut his mouth.

People who always look both ahead and behind found it hard to be happy.

He gently stroked the Xuanyuan Sword's hair.

The round, jade-like little girl transformed into a solemn dark-yellow longsword. From then on, the only one