The projection opposite her was none other than Yali, who shared the little courtyard with Zhou Yang, and the person speaking with her at that moment was one of the Spirit Pagoda's pillars, as well as its vice pagoda master-one of the exceedingly few peerless beings of the present age, the level ninety-nine Limit Douluo, Heavenly Phoenix Leng Yaozhu!
Today, she was in Eastsea, concurrently handling affairs there. Although she was not the Eastsea pagoda master, she was on excellent terms with the pagoda master here.
Thanks to a certain curious alliance, she had even been given this room to work in.
She simply had not expected Yali to call her suddenly after she had finished paying her respects to someone who had passed away.
Leng Yaozhu had little to say in response to Yali's warmth. Instead, she studied her dear sister with a rather meaningful look.
What had happened to make this sister of hers act like this?
The change in Yali could hardly have been more obvious. As a close sister who had spent many years with her, she naturally knew what Yali had been like. After the events of that year, Yali had rarely shown such a radiant smile.
This was not a polite smile for others, but genuine, heartfelt happiness.
The last time she had seen it was when Yali had adopted a little girl named Na'er and found a new source of solace.
Yet even that fell far, far short of what she saw now.
She could see that her dear elder sister Yali's former despondency and sorrow had completely dispersed, replaced by bright sunshine, like the clear skies that followed the rain, sunny and warm.
She did not know what had happened, but by any measure, it was a good thing.
Leng Yaozhu was happy for her. At the very least, it meant Yali had taken many more steps out of the past.
Though she herself was much the same as Yali had been.
At that thought, Leng Yaozhu's gaze involuntarily dimmed for an instant.
Yali had emerged from the shadows, but how could she have been the only person left in the shadows of the past?
I really envy Yali.
Although she had such thoughts, they merely flickered through Leng Yaozhu's eyes before she swiftly concealed those feelings.
As she spoke with Yali, Leng Yaozhu did not let that trace of emotion affect their conversation.
"Is there something you need? If there is, just say it."
Leng Yaozhu spoke very directly. They had only just met a few days ago, yet Yali was already calling again. There had to be something she needed.
With their relationship, there was practically no need to speak in hints. They were all sisters; whatever it was, they could simply say it plainly. Hiding things could easily lead to misunderstandings, and experiencing that once with her younger sister had been enough.
Had she not discovered it quickly back then, spoken up in time to resolve it, and laid everything out in the open, her younger sister Leng Yulai might well have walked a road of no return.
Ever since then, Leng Yaozhu had understood the importance of communication especially well. Whatever happened, one should not bury it too deeply.
If there was a misunderstanding, they should talk it through promptly. These were all lessons that person had taught her.
"Ooh... Yaozhu, you really don't spare my feelings, do you?"
No one would ever have imagined that the normally gentle Holy Mother Douluo had such a girlish side. Of course, this only appeared during private exchanges between the sisters.
"But there really is something I need your help with."
"Could you get me three tickets to the Intermediate Spirit Ascension Platform? Sorry for the trouble."
Leng Yaozhu frowned slightly, somewhat surprised by Yali's request this time. It was not as though she had never opened the Spirit Ascension Platform for her before.
Yali had once bought two tickets and brought Na'er over, but that time, Yali had arranged a trial for Na'er, testing her ability to train and survive inside the Spirit Ascension Platform.
That extra ticket had really only been a token gesture on Yali's part.
Now she was coming again, and apparently bringing one more person?
This made Leng Yaozhu rather curious. Yali did not seem inclined to explain, apparently intending to keep this secret~
Just who could it be, to receive such care from Yali?
Thinking of Yali's recent mood, there seemed to be some connection. Had she taken in another monstrous disciple?
"Yaozhu, sorry to trouble you with all this."
"We've been sisters for so many years. Why bother with such formalities?"
"Then thank you~"
Keeping her guesses to herself, Leng Yaozhu replied courteously. Whatever the details, they would have to enter the Spirit Ascension Platform when the time came. Wouldn't she find out if she sneaked over to take a look then?
Hearing Leng Yaozhu's answer, Yali smiled. That smile was especially brilliant, but it made Leng Yaozhu feel that something was amiss, and even carried a rather meaningful air.
"In that case, I'll hang up now. Make sure you get enough rest while you're working over there. Don't get so absorbed that you forget to rest, or else..."
Yali spoke with a beaming smile, but midway through, she seemed to realize something and awkwardly fell silent.
"Sister Yali, you really are... I know."
Hearing Yali's concern, Leng Yaozhu felt warmth in her heart, and a smile appeared on her exquisitely beautiful face. That smile, however, was somewhat forlorn.
"Then I won't disturb you any longer."
Seeing this, Yali said nothing more and ended the call.
Leng Yaozhu watched the communicator as it beeped with the busy tone. At last, she no longer concealed the loneliness on her face, and a trace of desolation appeared on her exquisite features.
The crimson sun in the sky was sinking toward the sea to the west. The Spirit Pagoda's high-rise was especially conspicuous. Not only was it in the city center, but it was also an excellent place to enjoy the view.
The dying sun set the sky ablaze with red, and every cloud was dyed fiery crimson at that moment, glowing red and glittering gold, as though gold had been stamped across the horizon, dazzling and resplendent. On the sea below, a splash of brilliant red was reflected against the deep azure, creating a stark contrast of breathtaking beauty.
Her location could indeed be called an excellent vantage point.
Looking through the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows at the sunset opposite her, she recalled scene after scene from the past.
Eastsea was a place that held special meaning for her.
She had not originally belonged here. That person had brought her here, and he had also introduced her to Yali. It was because of him, too, that she had been willing to take a post in Eastsea.
In her memories, it had been just such a moment before that person left-
The sunset blazed crimson, the sinking sun was beautiful, yet only they were there to admire it.
"Yaozhu."
The fiery clouds seemed capable of burning away everything, yet they could not burn away her memories of that person.
The same sunset, the same time, yet the people and their states of mind were utterly different-once, this place had filled Leng Yaozhu's heart with all its joy and tenderness. Now, only emptiness and solitude remained.
The scene of that person's departure was still before her eyes even now.
That day, he had been right beside her, holding her as he spoke softly and gently:
"I can feel happy that you like me. You are an outstanding person, but life should not be bound by these private feelings. Seeing you grow this far and no longer be a love-brain, I have no regrets left. Perhaps I ought to offer you some advice, but I won't leave anything behind to bind you."
That gentle voice seemed capable of taking everything from her, making Leng Yaozhu yearn for him despite herself, her heart delighting in him as she lost herself in it.