Tearful Farewell After Deep Love

"Brother Su Heng, are we really joining the Heavenly Snake Mansion?"

Things had changed too quickly, leaving Qing Lin somewhat confused. Just moments ago, both sides had been at each other's throats and ready to fight. How had they suddenly made peace? And now they were joining the other side?

"Qing Lin, you should have sensed it too. Senior Green Man doesn't hold much hostility toward either you or me, and what she said about you being the Heavenly Snake Mansion's Saintess is true."

"As far as I know, the Heavenly Snake Mansion's resources can help you grow quickly. If their invitation is sincere, there's no reason we can't accept."

"Now that the Mo Family has been destroyed, with the Heavenly Snake Mansion's protection, even the Misty Cloud Sect wouldn't dare do anything to us. This benefits everyone, so there's no reason to refuse."

Su Heng patiently explained the current situation to Qing Lin. Although she only understood part of it, since it was Su Heng's decision, she would support it unconditionally with all her strength.

Hearing that Su Heng was willing to join the Heavenly Snake Mansion, White Fang and Green Man both let out long sighs of relief. As long as Su Heng agreed, bringing Qing Lin back would be more than half accomplished.

The two exchanged glances, seemingly already having made up their minds.

Green Man acted first. She slowly raised her jade-like hand, and a pale green flame flared to life, gradually gathering in her palm.

"Little Brother Su Heng, this flame is called the Green Nether Flame. It is my Origin Beast Flame and is of the Sixth Rank. I give it to you as a token of my sincerity."

Looking at the Beast Flame Green Man offered him, Su Heng was overjoyed. This was a Sixth Rank wood-attributed Beast Flame, something extremely rare. It could also perfectly replace his Peach Blossom Flame.

Though he was ecstatic inside, Su Heng's expression remained rather calm. He still needed to squeeze more benefits out of the Heavenly Snake Mansion.

"Thank you for your generosity, Senior!"

Su Heng smiled as he stored the Green Nether Flame in a crystal bottle, without saying another word.

Seeing that Su Heng remained unmoved and was rather greedy, White Fang immediately grinned. It slithered in front of Su Heng, spat out a black flame, condensed it before itself, and said with a smile,

"Little Brother Su Heng, this flame is called the Black Snake Flame, a Sixth Rank wind-attributed Beast Flame. It is also this emperor's Origin Beast Flame. Today, I shall give it to you."

Sixth Rank Beast Flames held immense appeal for most Alchemists, let alone two being offered at once.

Even Su Heng was deeply tempted by the two Beast Flames, but these things alone were still not enough.

"Two Seniors, Qing Lin and I are willing to join the Heavenly Snake Mansion. However, I have two more matters I hope the two Seniors can help me with."

Su Heng stored the Eight-Winged Black Snake Emperor's Black Snake Flame in a crystal bottle as well. Then he respectfully bowed to the two of them in thanks before pausing and speaking.

"I bear a blood feud with the Mo Family of Salt City. Although Mo Cheng, the Mo Family's patriarch, died by my hand, there are still remnants of the Mo Family left."

"I hope... the two Seniors can help me completely eradicate the Mo Family and pull them out by the roots."

Su Heng's request was both reasonable and unreasonable. It was reasonable because he truly had a grudge against the Mo Family. It was unreasonable because if the Heavenly Snake Mansion acted, the Misty Cloud Sect would certainly discover traces of their involvement.

Doing so was equivalent to dragging the Heavenly Snake Mansion into the matter.

If the Heavenly Snake Mansion was willing to be dragged in, it would be equivalent to offering Su Heng a pledge of allegiance. Then Su Heng could join the Heavenly Snake Mansion without any reservations.

"Kid, you're ruthless. I like that. I, White Fang, will help you with this!"

The Eight-Winged Black Snake Emperor greatly appreciated someone as ruthless as Su Heng. After all, if it were handling this matter, it would have made the same choice.

If a ruthless person was only ruthless toward enemies, then he was the most suitable kind of friend.

But if he was ruthless without distinguishing friend from foe, then he was someone who had to be eliminated.

Su Heng was only an Eight-Star Dou Master now, and White Fang was willing to give him a chance. If Su Heng was only cruel to his enemies, then the Heavenly Snake Mansion truly welcomed his joining.

"Thank you, Senior!"

Upon hearing that the Eight-Winged Black Snake Emperor was willing to help, Su Heng immediately bowed to it and took out a bottle of Third-grade Qi-Replenishing Pills, offering them to White Fang.

"Senior White Fang, my abilities are limited, and I cannot yet refine Fifth-grade Qi Cultivation Pills. Please accept these Qi-Replenishing Pills as a small token of my gratitude."

"Yes, you're quite a decent little fellow!"

White Fang was rather pleased with Su Heng's conduct. It swayed its body and stored the pills in the Storage Ring hidden between its scales.

"I'll kill every last member of the Mo Family for you. Not one will remain. You can rest assured."

As soon as it finished speaking, White Fang's figure flashed. It rose into the sky and sped toward Salt City, becoming a black dot that vanished beyond the horizon in the blink of an eye.

One day later, the Mo Family of Salt City was destroyed by the black blazing flames of the Heavenly Snake Mansion's Eight-Winged Black Snake Emperor, completely disappearing from Salt City.

White Fang had completed Su Heng's first request, while Green Man readily agreed to his second.

Magic Beast Mountains, the Xuanjia Snake Emperor's territory.

A streak of green light darted freely through the dense forest surrounding a cave. Waves of shrill magical beast roars rose and fell as countless Third- and Fourth-Order Magical Beasts guarding the area fled in panic from near the cave.

Yet their escape was utterly meaningless. Before a Dou Emperor, Third- and Fourth-Order Magical Beasts were nothing but chickens and dogs, not even worth mentioning.

Hundreds of sharp vines burst from the ground, piercing every fleeing magical beast.

There had been hundreds of magical beasts guarding this place, yet from their appearance to their deaths, only a few minutes passed.

"Who dares cause trouble on my territory?!"

A familiar roar rang out. From within the cave came the metallic scraping of scales against rock as the Xuanjia Snake Emperor, consumed by rage, charged out.

Yet after taking just one look at the person standing at the cave entrance, its fury instantly turned to terror. Before anyone even attacked, it was already considering which direction offered the best chance of escape.

"Xuanjia Snake Emperor, it has been a long time. Today, Su Heng has come specifically to reclaim something from you."

Su Heng looked smugly at the panicked Xuanjia Snake Emperor, which seemed ready to flee at any moment, and slowly spoke.

"The debt from your pursuit through the Magic Beast Mountains shall be repaid today!"

Seeing Qing Lin about to make her move, the Xuanjia Snake Emperor let out a muffled grunt. The ground instantly shattered, and the several-zhang-long serpent burrowed underground, fleeing at high speed toward the depths of the Magic Beast Mountains.

"Senior Green Man, I'll leave it to you."

Su Heng spoke solemnly, and Green Man responded with a faint smile.

Although the Xuanjia Snake Emperor was a fire-and-metal-attributed serpent magical beast, the gap between its realm and Green Man's was enormous. It might be difficult for Green Man to kill it, but briefly restricting its movements was easy!

"Myriad Wood Prison!"

Green Man shouted softly and raised her palm, firing several green beams of light. The beams pursued rapidly and quickly surrounded the Xuanjia Snake Emperor. The instant the encirclement was complete, the green beams transformed into an enormous greenwood prison that descended from above. Unable to dodge in time, the Xuanjia Snake Emperor was immediately trapped.

"Green Nether Wood Spirit Python, I have no grudge with you! Why are you trying to harm me?!"

The Xuanjia Snake Emperor roared madly at Green Man, furious beyond measure. It knew that if it could not break free, once Qing Lin caught up, it would be doomed.

A trapped beast would still struggle. Who would willingly stretch out their neck to be slaughtered?

The Xuanjia Snake Emperor spewed blazing fire, attempting to burn away the greenwood prison. Its body also became like a sharp blade, repeatedly hacking at the prison trapping it.

"Hurry up. I can't trap it for long."

The desperate struggle of a Sixth-Order Magical Beast was naturally no trivial matter. Although Green Man had successfully trapped the Xuanjia Snake Emperor, she also felt immense pressure. Her Myriad Wood Prison could hold it for no more than three minutes.

But that was already enough time.

Qing Lin leaped forward, reaching the Xuanjia Snake Emperor after only a few bounds. Under the Snake Emperor's shocked and terrified gaze, the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils opened. Emerald light blazed brilliantly, and the wildly struggling Xuanjia Snake Emperor immediately stiffened, unable to move.

"I once gave you a chance, but unfortunately, you didn't take it!"

"We'll keep your body and erase your consciousness, making you a qualified servant. Now you can die in peace."

Su Heng caught up to Qing Lin and began taunting the magical beast that had failed to recognize its place. If it had not sent magical beasts after him back then, Su Heng might truly have spared the Xuanjia Snake Emperor. But now, it had no chance.

"Little brother, I beg you... spare me..."

The Xuanjia Snake Emperor still wanted to beg for mercy, but Su Heng had no intention of listening to its nonsense.

He had not settled accounts with the Xuanjia Snake Emperor before because he and Qing Lin had not been strong enough to break through the layers upon layers of magical beast defenses around it. Now that they had Green Man, a Dou Emperor, helping them, would Su Heng possibly leave the Xuanjia Snake Emperor alive?

That was obviously impossible!

The eerie light of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils intensified once more and began to contract. The Xuanjia Snake Emperor's consciousness was about to be completely erased.

"No! Spare me! I'll give you everything! Spare me, no!!!!"

The Xuanjia Snake Emperor begged desperately, but Qing Lin remained utterly unmoved.

Amid its miserable howls, the Xuanjia Snake Emperor gradually fell silent. Its pleas were useless. Within the eerie light, a palm-sized emerald flower imprint appeared on its forehead.

Qing Lin completely cleansed away the Xuanjia Snake Emperor's consciousness. A generation's emperor of the Magic Beast Mountains had fallen, becoming a blank sheet of paper and Qing Lin's loyal servant.

A moment later, the several-zhang-long black serpent transformed into a small snake with clear eyes and an innocent, adorable appearance.

Over the next period of time, the Xuanjia Snake Emperor's power would become one of Qing Lin's most important sources of support. It could protect her from being bullied in a foreign land and also feed back into Qing Lin, allowing her realm to rise faster.

Su Heng collected the Magic Cores of all the magical beasts Green Man had killed into his Storage Ring. Those Magic Cores were insignificant to Green Man, but Third- and Fourth-Order Magic Cores were extremely useful to Su Heng now—absolute treasures.

With everything settled and both matters completed, it was time to part ways.

"Little Brother Su Heng, we have completed the two matters you requested. It is time to head to the Heavenly Snake Mansion."

"I'm sorry, but I can't leave with you yet."

Su Heng shook his head helplessly. He could clearly see the anger and killing intent in Green Man's eyes!

"Please don't misunderstand, Senior. It is only that I won't be going to the Heavenly Snake Mansion with you."

"Qing Lin, you should go to the Heavenly Snake Mansion with Senior Green Man first. Brother Su Heng still has some matters to handle, so I can't go with you for now."

"What?!"

Hearing Su Heng's words, Qing Lin froze on the spot. She had never expected that Su Heng would make her leave alone.

Now that the great battle had just ended, the Su Clan still had many matters to deal with before returning to Salt City. Su Heng could not simply leave like this.

Moreover, the Su Clan did not yet have enough strength to handle the struggles among the various forces after returning to Salt City. Having obtained the formula for the Three-Stripe Green Spirit Pill, Su Heng needed to refine pills for his clansmen and raise their strength as soon as possible.

Su Heng pulled Qing Lin tightly into his embrace and, enduring the pain of separation, explained to her.

"Qing Lin, go to the Heavenly Snake Mansion with Senior Green Man first. Brother Su Heng still has some unfinished business. I'll go find you at the Heavenly Snake Mansion after some time."

There was nothing more painful in this world than parting. If given a choice, who would willingly separate from the one they loved?

Only now did Su Heng truly understand why some people wept bitterly and shed tears unconsciously when parting. In his previous life, he had never experienced such feelings. It was truly a regret.

True love meant fulfilling one another. Though you and I must part for now and walk our own paths, our hearts would still remain together.

Though Qing Lin could understand Su Heng's words rationally, emotionally, she could not accept the pain of separation.

Qing Lin's eyes reddened, and tears poured down like rain. She hugged Su Heng and cried out,

"No! I'm not leaving! I want to stay with you! I'm not leaving!"

The girl in his arms trembled from the pain of separation. How could Su Heng possibly want her to suffer such pain? He could only do his best to comfort Qing Lin.

"Qing Lin, don't worry. In a few months at most, I'll go to the Heavenly Snake Mansion to find you. We won't be apart for long."

"You're only going there a few days before me. It's not like Brother Su Heng is abandoning you."

Su Heng forced himself to smile as much as possible, but his expression still betrayed him, because he was crying as miserably as Qing Lin.

Love often began without one knowing why, then deepened beyond measure. Qing Lin and Su Heng had supported each other throughout their journey. Their bond had long become unforgettable. Faced with such a sudden parting, who could bear it?

The two hugged tightly, feeling each other's presence with deep affection. Only after a long while did they slowly separate.

"Brother Su Heng, you must come quickly. Qing Lin will wait for you at the Heavenly Snake Mansion."

"Yes, I swear that as soon as I finish things here, I'll immediately go to the Heavenly Snake Mansion. If I don't..." Su Heng raised his right hand high and solemnly began to swear.

"No!"

Before Su Heng could finish, Qing Lin grabbed his right hand and said softly,

"I believe in Brother Su Heng. You don't need to do this."

Someone who truly loved you would never want to see you harmed, nor would they treat so-called vows as important. When hearts understood each other, there was no need for many words.

After seeing someone off for a thousand miles, one still had to say farewell. Su Heng and Qing Lin ultimately had to part.

Green Man escorted Su Heng back to Stone Desert City, then prepared to leave with Qing Lin.

At the same time, White Fang, who had slaughtered the remnants of the Mo Family and all the guests who had come to celebrate the birthday, also arrived in Stone Desert City to meet up with Green Man.

"Brother Su Heng, this is a token of our Heavenly Snake Mansion. Keep it with you. As long as you are within the Heavenly Snake Empire, no one will dare make trouble for you."

"Furthermore, with this token, you may freely enter and leave the Heavenly Snake Mansion without facing any obstruction."

Green Man gently took out a green jade token and handed it to Su Heng as she instructed him.

Su Heng accepted the token and saw a snake-shaped pattern engraved at the center of its front. The serpent's body curved gracefully, with intricate patterns carved across it. The craftsmanship between those patterns was refined and imposing, making it seem solemn and mysterious.

On the back of the token were the ancient words "Heavenly Snake." The green jade felt light and cool to the touch, and faint energy could be sensed flowing within it.

Su Heng tried infusing it with his soul power. Sure enough, the flowing energy within the green jade responded, resonating with his soul power and gradually connecting with it.

"Little Brother Su Heng, you really are clever. This token can connect with its holder's soul. If anything happens to you, our Heavenly Snake Mansion will be able to sense it through your Soul Tablet."

Seeing that Su Heng had figured it out without instruction, Green Man could not help but admire him somewhat. This boy truly was exceptionally intelligent.

His soul was now linked to his identity. From this moment onward, Su Heng officially became a member of the Heavenly Snake Mansion.

"Thank you, Senior Green Man. Thank you, Senior White Fang!"

Filled with gratitude, Su Heng thanked the two magical beast Seniors. Then he bent down, embraced Qing Lin, and gently kissed her forehead.

"Wait for me."

Qing Lin pressed her lips together, tears welling in her eyes, and nodded earnestly.

Green Man took Qing Lin's hand and slowly departed under White Fang's escort. Qing Lin looked back with every step, constantly calling out for Su Heng, until neither could hear the other's voice or see the other's figure.