At this moment, Chen Xun held Qian Wuhen's head in his arms, his chin pressed tightly against the top of his head. In a daze, he said, "...Silly boy, you're an Immortal... How could your old man ever want you to fight to the death? That isn't our family's way..."
Yet Qian Wuhen's smile deepened. With immense difficulty, he slowly raised an arm, wanting to touch his old man's increasingly weathered face. "Old man, your son... your son also wanted to protect you just once..."
With those words alone, every reason behind his desperate battle had been spoken.
But after saying them, a deep disappointment welled up in his eyes. In the end, he had still disappointed his old man. He had reduced himself to such a wretched state and failed to walk out of this great battle alive.
Chen Xun seemed to understand that thread of disappointment in Qian Wuhen's eyes. He slowly said, "Son, your old man is proud of you. Especially that artifact ship you bought back then. The happiest thing in my life was raising a son like you. You never disappointed me, not once, never..."
He smiled, gently, without grief or bitterness.
At those words, light returned to Qian Wuhen's eyes. At last, his fingers lightly touched Chen Xun's weathered cheek, leaving behind a faint streak of blood. Then... that glimmer faded.
Qian Wuhen's gaze became hollow and unfocused, leaving only that faint, strained smile at the corner of his lips.
Starlight and rosy radiance descended from the Immortal Tree, gradually covering Qian Wuhen's Immortal Body.
Chen Xun nodded heavily, nodding again and again. His head lowered even further until his forehead pressed against Qian Wuhen's. His hands still clutched him, refusing to let go.
At this moment.
All sides of the Heavenly Wheel Sect