"Ancestor... the Hengyue Sect... is now in your hands..."
As he finished speaking, Liu Wenju smiled with relief, slowly closed his eyes, and the last trace of spiritual power in his body completely dissipated. His soul was about to turn into specks of light and vanish into the world.
He lived an ordinary life, yet he remained true to his original aspirations. From an ordinary elder, he witnessed firsthand the Hengyue Sect's rise from the brink of extinction to dominating the Vermilion Bird Planet. And the beginning and end of all this was with the supreme ancestor who had stood for a thousand years and never aged— Luo Chuan.
Luo Chuan quietly looked at the dying Liu Wenju. After a moment of silence, he gently raised his fingertip, and a wisp of golden light containing the origin of life and the Great Dao of Reincarnation slowly entered Liu Wenju's brow.
"You have devoted your life to the Hengyue Sect with unwavering loyalty. I will not allow you to simply vanish like this."
A soft voice echoed gently in the room.
The cycle of life and death, which is an irreversible natural law in the eyes of others, is not unchangeable in the face of Luo Chuan.
Liu Wenju's lifespan has ended, and his physical body cannot be saved, but his soul can be protected by Luo Chuan with great supernatural powers and sent into reincarnation, ensuring that his memory fragments are not destroyed. In the next life, he will still have a chance to return to the path of cultivation and continue his connection with the Hengyue Sect.
Liu Wenju lay on the bed, a peaceful smile on his face, but he had completely lost his vitality.
A wisp of divine soul, enveloped in golden light, slowly rose and, following the path of reincarnation, disappeared into the void.
Luo Chuan withdrew his hand, stared at the empty bed, and remained silent.
A thousand years have passed in the blink of an eye. People have gradually passed away, but he still stands between heaven and earth, guarding this land and sect that he cherishes.
Outside, the disciples of the Hengyue Sect wept as they bid farewell to their highly respected elder, each face etched with grief.
The farewell lasted for seven days. Luo Chuan showed no emotion as usual, sitting in a chair for days on end, not wanting to talk to anyone, only wanting to rest quietly.
Li Muwan looked at Luo Chuan, her pearly teeth gently biting her lip, and walked over, taking his wrist in one swift motion. " Luo Chuan... don't be sad, birth, aging, sickness, and death are the natural order of things."
Standing behind Luo Chuan, Li Muwan watched him sit silently for days on end, the unyielding loneliness between his brows making her heart ache.
She stepped forward gently, her soft, boneless hand lightly grasping his wrist, her voice as gentle as clouds after rain.
" Luo Chuan ... don't shut yourself away like this. Elder Liu Wenju lived a fulfilling life and passed away peacefully. If he were alive, he wouldn't want to see you so dejected."
"Birth, aging, sickness, and death are the inescapable cycle of fate for both mortals and cultivators..."
Luo Chuan slowly closed his eyes, exhaling a long, sluggish breath. The sigh was so soft it was almost inaudible, yet it was like dust that had been pressing down for a thousand years finally settling down gently.
I'm not saddened by his passing.
Luo Chuan's voice was slightly hoarse, carrying a weariness born of having seen through the years, "I just suddenly realized... that immortality is sometimes not such a blessing."
"I went against the tide, braving life and death, transcending the years, but the people around me left me one by one."
"I can protect the Hengyue Sect, suppress the Vermilion Bird Planet, and make all immortals submit, but I cannot stop the passage of time from making people old, nor can I keep those familiar figures."
Li Muwan's heart tightened upon hearing this, and her eyes instantly reddened.
She gently embraced Luo Chuan from behind, pressing her cheek against his slightly cool back, her arms wrapped tightly around him as if she wanted to give him all her warmth.
"But you're not alone," Li Muwan murmured softly, "I'm here, always have."
"My brother's fate is now unknown, Wan'er's family is long gone. If Luo Chuan is also leaving, Wan'er will truly have no family left."
Luo Chuan's body stiffened slightly, and he remained silent. Only the corner of his heart that had been frozen for so long was quietly melted by this gentle word.
Li Muwan slowly walked around to his front, looked up at him with a face full of heartache, and gently brushed away the weariness between his brows with her fingertips.
She didn't say another word of comfort, but simply tiptoed slightly, closed her eyes, and gently and earnestly kissed his lips.
A light kiss, yet it was filled with a thousand years of understanding, waiting, and tenderness.
There was no surging passion, only silent companionship.
I understand your loneliness, and I am willing to stay with you until the end of time.
After a long while, Li Muwan gently stepped back, her forehead touching his, her eyelashes trembling slightly, her voice as soft as the wind. " Luo Chuan, no matter how many years pass, Wan'er will always be with you."
Looking at Li Muwan, whose face was flushed with embarrassment, Luo Chuan smiled bitterly. He knew that Li Muwan had liked him all these years, but because of his cultivation and Yao Xixue, he did not want Li Muwan to waste too much effort on him.
Looking at Li Muwan's appearance now, Luo Chuan no longer suppressed his thoughts.
After finishing the wine in the gourd, he glanced sideways, his gaze lowered, and looked into the tenderness in those beautiful eyes. A sudden surge of emotion welled up in his heart.
Luo Chuan turned around, gently grasped the latter's slightly thin, snow-white chin, and then, to the other's astonishment, pressed his lips against her luscious red lips.
Caught off guard by Luo Chuan's sudden attack, Li Muwan only managed to let out a low moan before her efforts were completely thwarted. Her slender hand tapped on his chest, but it was weak and powerless, lacking any strength whatsoever.
Li Muwan's pretty face turned even redder. She had fantasized about today's scene countless times, but she had waited for Luo Chuan for hundreds of years, which filled her with longing for such a thing.
" Luo Chuan..." Li Muwan's eyes were red, and crystal-clear tears slid down her delicate cheeks. Her tightly closed pearly teeth parted slightly, allowing the other's domineering invasion inside.
In the bamboo pavilion, the man and woman embraced tightly, releasing the passionate feelings in their hearts.
For the next few days, Luo Chuan stayed with Li Muwan. Li Muwan was even more lively than before, perhaps this was the first time in hundreds of years that she had spent such a happy time.
Li Muwan gently took Luo Chuan's arm and said softly, " Luo Chuan... Wan'er knows that you have always had Xue'er in your heart. Wan'er doesn't care. As long as Luo Chuan doesn't betray me, Wan'er won't care about anything else."
Hearing Li Muwan's words, Luo Chuan said softly, "Don't worry, Wan'er, as long as I, Luo Chuan, live, I will never let you down."
Li Muwan's pretty face flushed slightly, and she hugged Luo Chuan's arm even tighter, smiling as she said, "By the way, Luo Chuan... about Jun Wan... you'd better explain things clearly."
" Jun Wan is a child we've watched grow up. Now, she no longer cares about cultivation, but she... still cares about what happened back then."