"Xue'er, I... came to say goodbye to you."
Ye Qing's voice should be played as softly as possible.
"Goodbye?"
Qian Renxue was stunned for a moment, as if he didn't understand the meaning of this word, or rather, he didn't want to understand it.
She blinked her beautiful purple eyes and tried hard to squeeze out a smile on her face, but her voice was trembling imperceptibly. "Goodbye... what do you mean? Where are you going to play? How long will you go for? I... I can wait for you to come back!"
She was still trying to understand by going out to play, to escape the obvious answer.
Ye Qing shook his head, looked at Qian Renxue's eyes that were quickly covered with moisture but were still holding on, and said softly but clearly:
"We're not going to play. Xue'er, we... are leaving Spirit Hall. Today, I'm here to say goodbye to you."
"Leave...Spirit Hall?"
The smile on Qian Renxue's face finally completely disappeared, his mouth opened slightly, his eyes quickly filled with crystal tears, and his voice was filled with tears. "Why... why? Isn't it good to be here? Is it... did I make you unhappy somewhere? Say, I will change! I won't bother you anymore, I won't bother you anymore, okay? Don't leave..."
She said, took a step forward, and tightly grasped the corner of Ye Qing's clothes with her little hands, as if if she let go, the person in front of her would disappear.
The tears finally couldn't be controlled, and like broken pearls, they rolled down her fair cheeks in large drops.
Ye Qing felt soft in his heart, stretched out his hand, and gently held Qian Renxue's little hand that was holding the corner of his clothes.
The little hand was cold and still trembling slightly.
"Xue'er, you are very nice and did not make me unhappy. I am also very happy here."
Ye Qing's voice was soothing as he explained, "It's just that we came to the Spirit Hall to deal with some things. Now that the things are done, we also have things we must do, so... we must leave."
He looked at Qian Renxue's little face full of sadness and reluctance, and patiently explained:
"This is something that must be experienced. You have your responsibilities and obligations. You are the future heir of the Spirit Hall. You have to practice hard and learn a lot. I also have my mission and path to walk. We can't stay together forever."
"But, don't worry."
Ye Qing raised his other hand and gently wiped away the tears on Qian Renxue's face, with a hint of promise in his tone:
"We will definitely meet again in the future. But... I hope that by then, Xiao Xue, son, will not forget me."
"No! I will never forget you!" Qian Renxue shook his head vigorously, his voice choked but extremely serious.
She held Ye Qing's hand tightly with her backhand, as if she wanted to remember the temperature of his palm. "I promise! I Qian Renxue swear that I will never forget Ye Qing! You are my best best friend!"
Seeing the little girl swearing seriously, Ye Qing also felt a sense of warmth in her heart.
A gentle smile appeared on his face, and he couldn't help but stretched out his other hand and gently pinched Qian Renxue's little face that was red from crying but still delicate and cute.
"Xue'er, although it is said in the book that there is no such thing as a banquet that lasts forever."
Ye Qing's voice, in the quiet corridor, carries a kind of indifference and transparency that transcends age:
"But the book also said that there is no place in life where we don't meet again."
He looked at Qian Renxue's eyes that seemed to understand but still filled with tears, and said softly:
"If you and I are destined to be together, we will have plenty of time to be together in the future."
"Destined?" Qian Renxue tilted his head, not quite understanding the word.
But she understood the sentence after Ye Qing.
This eased the heart-wrenching sadness in her heart a little.
As long as... as long as we can still see each other and play together in the future, then... that temporary separation seems... not completely unacceptable.
She held back the tears that were still in her eyes, sniffed, and tried to sound stronger with a thick nasal voice:
"Then... let me see you off. I'll see you off to the door, okay?"
"Okay." Ye Qing nodded without refusing.
Qian Renxue then released his little hand that was tightly holding the corner of Ye Qing's clothes, casually wiped the tears on his face with his sleeves, and straightened out his somewhat messy skirt and bun.
Then he took the initiative to hold Ye Qing's hand and led him, step by step, towards the direction outside the Pope Palace.
Her pace was a little slow, as if she wanted to make the last part of the journey longer and longer.
When the two came to the wide square outside the Pope Palace, Qian Daoliu, Qian Xunji, and Ah Yin and Sea Dragon Douluo, who had packed up and were waiting quietly aside, were already there.
Ah Yin is still wearing a simple light blue dress, with an ethereal and pure temperament, standing quietly beside Sea Dragon Douluo.
There was no expression on her beautiful face, she just looked calmly at the approaching Ye Qing and Qian Renxue.
Sea Dragon Douluo folded his arms and looked stern, looking like he was ready to go at any time.
Qian Daoliu and Qian Xunji stood side by side, looking at the two children walking hand in hand.
Qian Daoliu had a gentle smile in his eyes, and Qian Xunji's face also showed a rare hint of gentleness as a father.
Ye Qing let go of Qian Renxue's hand, walked up to Qian Daoliu and the others, bowed slightly, saluted, and said solemnly:
"Senior, His Holiness the Pope, Xue'er, just send them here. Let's say goodbye."
Qian Daoliu took a step forward, stretched out his hand to help, and said gently, "Be careful on the road. Although Sea God Island and Spirit Hall are far apart, if you have leisure, you are always welcome to come again. Spirit Hall's door will always be open for you."
Qian Xunji also said, "That's right. Xiaoqing, you and Xue'er are in love, and you are the link between the Spirit Hall and Sea God Island. From now on, treat Spirit Hall as your second home, don't be restricted."
Qian Renxue stood beside his father and grandfather, looking at Ye Qing who was about to leave, his little mouth flattened again, and his eye circles turned red again.
But she resisted crying and just stared at Ye Qing with her moist purple eyes. Her voice was not loud, but she said clearly and choked:
"Ye Qing... you... you will always be my best best friend!"
Ye Qing looked at the three grandfathers and grandsons in front of him, and his heart was slightly touched.
He bowed solemnly to the three of them again and said loudly:
"During this period, I am grateful to my two seniors and Xue'er for their care and companionship. Ye Qing will bear it in my heart and I am deeply grateful."
"When I return to Sea God Island, I will definitely inform sister Bo Saixi of everything that happened here. I also hope that after this incident, Sea God Island and I, Spirit Hall, can put an end to their old grudges and turn their hostility into friendship, so that the relationship between the two families can... take a further step forward hand in hand!"
These words are both a farewell and a statement.
It represents Ye Qing personally, and also vaguely represents Sea God Island's future attitude towards the Spirit Hall.
When Qian Daoliu and Qian Xunji heard this, a glimmer of satisfaction flashed in their eyes.
These words were exactly what they wanted to hear most.
"Okay! Have a nice trip!" Qian Daoliu smiled.
"I look forward to more cooperation between our two families in the future." Qian Xunji nodded.