Fairy Lingyue, standing nearby, glanced at the gravestone. Carved from the black leg bone of a Demonic Beast, it bore the impeccably neat inscription, "Grave of Xu Zhian," signed, "Erected by his eldest grandson, Xu Taiping."
As for Xu Taiping's grandfather, Xu Zhian, Fairy Lingyue had tried to make contact with him during several brief awakenings within the Earth Fruit, but every time she was about to speak to him, her insufficient Divine Essence had forced her back into slumber.
Thus, all she knew was that he was an honest old farmer who liked to do things by the rules and often carried his little grandson on his back while working the fields.
"Splash..."
Just then, Xu Taiping took out a flask of ordinary strong liquor and poured half of it onto the earth before the gravestone, then gulped down the remaining half in one go.
"Whew..."
After letting out a long breath, Xu Taiping solemnly knelt before the grave and knocked his head against the ground three times. Then he grinned at the gravestone before him and said:
"Grandpa, your grandson is leaving. I'll be sure to see every mountain view you loved on your behalf!"
"If one day I've seen all the sights in the mountains and can journey into the heavens, I'll come back to see you!"
Hearing Xu Taiping's promise to his grandfather, Xu Zhian, Fairy Lingyue's face inexplicably softened into a smile.
Taiping is still the same Taiping.
Fairy Lingyue smiled as she thought this to herself.
"Let's go, Sister Lingyue. To the Imperial City. We can't keep our Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters waiting."
Xu Taiping, who had already risen to his feet, called out to Fairy Lingyue.
"Let's go."
Fairy Lingyue first nodded, then gave a helpless smile and said:
"It seems the