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, "...You foolish boy, you were an immortal... How could Old Dad ever want you to fight to the death with your life? That isn't our family's way..."
Yet Qian Wuhen's smile deepened. With immense difficulty, he slowly raised his arm, wanting to touch Old Dad's increasingly weathered face. "Old Dad, your son... your son also wanted to protect you once..."
With those words alone, he had told the whole reason behind his desperate battle.
But after speaking, a deep disappointment rippled through his eyes. In the end, he had still disappointed Old Dad. He had ended up in such a wretched state, unable to walk out of this great war alive.
Chen Xun seemed to understand that strand of disappointment in Qian Wuhen's eyes. He slowly said, "Son, Old Dad is proud of you. Especially that artifact you bought that year. The thing I've been happiest about in this life was raising a son like you. You never disappointed me, not even once. Never..."
He smiled, gently, without any sorrow or bitterness.
At those words, light returned to Qian Wuhen's eyes. At this moment, 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 the lips.
Starlight and rosy radiance from the immortal tree descended across the sky, gradually covering Qian Wuhen's immortal body.
Chen Xun nodded gravely. He only kept nodding, lowering his head deeper and deeper until his forehead pressed against Qian Wuhen's crown. His hands still held him tightly, refusing to let go.
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