The Pain of Parting II

After the words left his mouth, Ye Qingxuan's Heart instantly felt much lighter.

However, he did not see the surprise he had hoped for on Father Ye's face.

Instead, Father Ye gave him a long, deep look, patted his shoulder, and said:

"You're my son. How could I not know when something is weighing on your mind? These past few days, you wanted to say something several times, but always backed down in the end. You came back this time to say goodbye to your mother and me, didn't you?"

Hearing his father's words, Ye Qingxuan opened his mouth to say something, but Father Ye raised a hand to stop him.

After stopping his son from speaking, Father Ye continued:

"When your Spirit Root was detected, all the neighbors were green with envy. Your mother was so proud then, feeling that her son had finally made something of himself.

"The moment your Spirit Root was detected, your mother and I knew that one day, you would leave us. It was inevitable.

"Your mother and I may miss you, but we do not want to become a burden to you.

"Immortal and Mortal stand worlds apart. In the end, we cannot accompany you to the very end.

"If we kept you by our side, perhaps your mother and I would be happy at first. But later on, we would only regret becoming shackles dragging you back from moving forward."

"Father, you and Mother are not a burden to your child."

Unable to hold himself back any longer, Ye Qingxuan interrupted.

Hearing This, Father Ye could not help but smile. He reached out and gave him a light punch.

"You Brat, your old man was only making an analogy. I only hope you understand that although your parents worry about you, we hope even more that you will have a bright future.

"Actually, there is one way you are very much like me. When your father was young, I also loved running off to the Library."

As he said this, a trace of reminiscence flashed through Father Ye's Eyes before he continued:

"In the Library, I came to know the vast world beyond. Back then, I imagined every day that I was a Child of Destiny, that I would awaken a Spirit Root and travel across the mountains and rivers outside.

"Sadly, it was all just a dream. The Library stirred in your father a longing for the world beyond, but the Spirit Root cut off your father's hopes. The wild fantasies of my youth ultimately became a Fool's Dream."

As he spoke, Father Ye let out a final self-mocking Bitter Smile.

Listening to his father's words, Ye Qingxuan could not help calling out:

"Father!"

Yet he did not know what else to say.

Father Ye shook his head and patted Ye Qingxuan's shoulder again.

"So! Do not halt your steps for the sake of your parents. Doing so will only leave us unable to live in peace later.

"If you achieve great things out there, then even if your parents die someday, we will go with smiles on our faces.

"Go! See the world beyond on behalf of your old man. Carry your old man's dreams from those years and go make your way on this Immortal Path!"

"Father, actually, staying by your and Mother's side will not have much impact on my future. I..."

Ye Qingxuan could barely stop himself from revealing his special circumstances, but Father Ye waved a hand and cut him off.

"Enough, enough! Do you really think your mother and I cannot live without you?

"To tell you the truth, your mother and I discussed it long ago.

"Once you leave, your mother and I will have a few more children. Hehe, when the time comes and your Younger Siblings are born, it will be good enough if your mother and I do not forget you!"

"Huh?"

Hearing This, Ye Qingxuan was utterly dumbfounded.

So he had agonized over this for so long, while his parents had already planned everything out?

But on second thought, Ye Qingxuan felt that perhaps this was for the best.

His parents were not that old yet. When the time came, they could have a few Younger Siblings. With them by The Two Elders' side, he would be able to rest much easier.

Seeing Ye Qingxuan's bewildered look, Father Ye smiled smugly.

"I have it all planned out. When the time comes, we will have two, preferably a boy and a girl.

"When you make something of yourself out there, remember to look after your future Younger Siblings."

The corner of Ye Qingxuan's mouth twitched involuntarily, and he hurriedly replied:

"Alright! Alright! Alright!"

At this point, Father Ye Glanced at Ye Qingxuan.

"Once your Younger Siblings grow up, we will have them give me a few Grandchildren too. If I were counting on you, there would be no hope in this lifetime. Hmph!"

Ye Qingxuan's face darkened with black lines.

Hey, he had not even left yet! The Old Man had already thought so far ahead?

Yet it was not over. Father Ye spoke again:

"I heard that cultivators live very long lives!

"When the time comes, perhaps among your Younger Siblings' descendants, one of my Grandchildren or Great-grandson will have a Spirit Root. Once they begin cultivating, you must be their backer. You cannot let them be Bullied!"

Hearing his father's extraordinarily farsighted arrangements, Ye Qingxuan patted his forehead and said weakly:

"Alright! I'll listen to everything you say! Who told you that you are my father?"

Hearing This, Father Ye looked pleased with himself and could not help saying:

"Hehe, good that you know. Back when your old man had Not Yet tested his Spirit Root, I spent plenty of time planning out my own Cultivation Path.

"Sadly, the path I had originally arranged for your Grandparents can now only be walked by your mother and me!"

Ye Qingxuan looked at his father speechlessly and said nothing more.

He had never met his Grandparents. He only knew that when his father was seventeen, his Grandparents had been attacked and killed by a Demonic Beast that suddenly appeared while they were leaving the city to do odd jobs.

He simply had not expected his father to have been so lively-minded when he was young. As expected of his father!

Looking at his father's smug expression as he imagined the future, Ye Qingxuan stepped forward, hugged him, and said softly:

"Father, thank you."

How could he not know that his father had said so much merely to dispel his Concerns and let him feel at ease outside?

Father Ye was suddenly embraced by his son. Hearing his son's thanks, his eyes grew slightly moist. He hugged his son tightly and said:

"When you are away from home, take good care of yourself. Your parents do not need you to worry about us."

Early the next morning, Mother Ye prepared a lavish meal for Ye Qingxuan, all of it his favorite dishes.

Ye Qingxuan held back his tears as he finished the entire table of food his mother had prepared for him.

The meal lasted a very, very long time. Even when Ye Yonglun arrived, it had not ended.

After arriving, Ye Yonglun did not disturb Ye Qingxuan's family. He merely stood silently some distance outside the door, staring blankly at their family as though lost in thought, not knowing what he was thinking.

Only after they finished eating did Ye Qingxuan realize that Ye Yonglun had arrived.

No longer delaying, Ye Qingxuan gave each of his parents a fierce embrace, then knelt and kowtowed three times to The Two Elders. In a low voice, he said:

"Father, Mother, take care of your health. Your child is leaving."

After saying this, he decisively stood up, held back his tears, walked outside, and Nodded to Ye Yonglun.

Seeing this, Ye Yonglun summoned his dharma sword, Turned Into a Flowing Light, and departed with Ye Qingxuan.

Mother Ye, who had been silently weeping where she stood, could no longer hold herself back. She ran out and cried:

"Xuan'er, protect yourself! Your parents do not need you to worry about us! Sob, sob, sob!"

Father Ye slowly stepped forward and wrapped an arm around Mother Ye, allowing her to cry her heart out in his arms without saying a word.