Chapter 53.3

Xue Ming felt a warmth in her heart and joked, “Thank you, I already know. In the future, I’ll try to find a good sword for your senior brother.”

The female disciple nodded, said a few more words to Xue Ming, and then took her leave.

Having only been on the mountain for a few days, there was no need to pack anything. When the moon was high in the sky, Yan Yuhe returned with the wind and took Xue Ming down the mountain.

The mountain path was paved with bricks, winding down layer by layer, with the sky full of stars overhead. Yan Yuhe walked ahead with a lantern, and Xue Ming walked beside him. They hadn’t gone far when Xue Ming tripped and almost fell, but fortunately, Yan Yuhe caught her in time. After that, he silently held her hand as they continued down the path.

The night scenery was pleasant, with everything quiet and a chill breeze. Xue Ming looked at the dense stars in the sky, feeling that the world was so vast. The wind blew into her heart, filling her with a sense of openness as if those difficult days were far behind her and would never trouble her again.

Xue Ming, multitasking, slowed her pace to admire the stars, falling a step behind Yan Yuhe, who pulled her along.

“I’ve never seen such a view before,” Xue Ming said, looking up. “The nights where I come from don’t have such bright stars. Sometimes, when I worked late into the night, I would look up to see the stars but couldn’t see many. If the night scenery were always this beautiful, I wouldn’t have rushed home so quickly after work.”

Although Yan Yuhe didn’t respond, he raised his hand to summon a breeze, causing the surrounding plants to sway. Then, tiny lights began to float up, densely appearing on both sides of the path. Xue Ming looked closely and found that they were fireflies, their light resembling fallen stars. Looking down the path, it seemed like a river of stars stretching endlessly.

Xue Ming was utterly engrossed in the scene, her eyes wide with wonder and her heart overflowing with the beauty of it all. Yan Yuhe held her hand while she reached out to catch the fireflies with the other. When stuck in the mire of life, Xue Ming often felt that life was terrible; her existence was nothing but a lump of mud, devoid of light. However, she was also susceptible to healing from little things; a delectable dessert, a good cup of milk tea, or anything small with a dash of luck would make her feel like life was still beautiful. She believed that among the masses, countless people like her, who were hurt by life but also healed by it, found beauty in the midst of pain.

People are always troubled by life, but when they feel a bit of happiness, they can’t help but think, “It’s great to be alive!”

Xue Ming loudly declared, “I want to live for a thousand or ten thousand years and become an undying spirit.”

Although Yan Yuhe found this statement unpleasant, he still responded from ahead, “Alright.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a blinding light suddenly appeared in front of them.

Xue Ming instinctively shielded her eyes, and when she opened them again, she saw Shui Xi and two young men floating in mid-air not far away, looking very hostile.

Xue Ming’s legs went weak with fear. She felt like a young couple caught by the headmaster’s powerful flashlight while holding hands and walking in the dark after evening classes. She was instinctively scared.

Yan Yuhe, however, remained calm and bowed to his Master and the two uncles.

“Yan Yuhe, now that you’ve grown up, you dare to defy your elders?” Shui Xi’s stern voice fell heavily on the two of them.

The voice wasn’t loud, but its pressure made Xue Ming’s heart tremble. She instinctively bowed her head, feeling as if she would raise her hands to beg for mercy at any moment.

Yan Yuhe said, “Disciple dare not.”

“You dare not?” Shui Xi said coldly, “You dare to refuse the heavenly reward, give up becoming immortal, and leave the mountain without permission. What else do you dare not do?”

Yan Yuhe replied, “Disciple did not leave the mountain without permission. I left a request for leave on Master’s desk.”

Shui Xi harshly rebuked, “I didn’t see it, so it doesn’t exist. Without my verbal approval, who allowed you to leave the mountain?”

Yan Yuhe remained calm, but Xue Ming was already terrified. She shrank back and hoped the criticism wouldn’t fall on her.

“Disciple has always left the mountain this way. I didn’t know Master had changed the rules,” Yan Yuhe replied.

Shui Xi was furious and sneered, “It seems the current Tai Xu Sect can’t accommodate you. If I say that you dare to refuse the heavenly grace and leave the mountain today, and I will no longer consider you my disciple in the future, what will you do?”

The two young men beside them quickly tried to persuade Shui Xi, “Senior Sister, don’t be impulsive.”

“Yes, Chixia has always been an obedient and sensible child. He must understand the importance of this. Let him think it over.”

At this point, Xue Ming couldn’t pretend to be a turtle anymore. Although this was an internal matter of their sect, she was involved. So, she mustered her courage and said, “Immortal, please don’t be angry. Let’s all sit down and discuss this calmly.”

Shui Xi glanced at her. Although the look wasn’t harsh, Xue Ming still felt like she had been hit with a blunt object. She forced herself to finish her sentence, “Yan Yuhe has his own plans.”

At this moment, Yan Yuhe suddenly lifted his outer robe and knelt down, bowing his head slightly, “Master, Chixia grew up in the Tai Xu Sect and has never thought of leaving. But on the path of the Dao, I only trust myself. Even if Master no longer acknowledges me as a disciple in the future, I will still consider myself a disciple of the Tai Xu Sect. I will return when summoned, and if not, I will take it upon myself to eliminate evil and uphold the principles of the Tai Xu Sect, ensuring peace in the human world.”

His words were neither humble nor arrogant, spoken calmly and steadily. Although he was kneeling, there was no sign of submission, only a firm resolve.

Shui Xi did not respond, but the two uncles beside him shook their heads and sighed, deeply pained.

“So, you are determined to give up a bright future for this mortal woman?” Shui Xi asked.

“It’s not giving up, just postponing it,” Yan Yuhe replied. “There are countless paths to immortality, but the one I love is unique.”

Xue Ming was deeply moved and wanted to cry, but Shui Xi and the others were still present, so she dared not move.

“He is sacrificing so much for you. What do you think?” Shui Xi’s gaze fell on Xue Ming, his tone cold. “Are you so selfish as to let him abandon his future just to enjoy a few decades of fleeting happiness with you? Have you considered that he might regret it in the future and blame you?”

Yan Yuhe wanted to retort immediately, but Shui Xi raised his hand and cast a spell, “Silence.”

The fireflies all fell back into the grass, and even the wind seemed to stop. The surroundings became silent. Shui Xi and the two others emitted a faint glow, floating in mid-air, looking down at Xue Ming, creating immense psychological pressure on her.

Yan Yuhe’s dark eyes looked at her. Usually calm as water, they were now disturbed and showed signs of agitation.

Despite the inappropriateness, Xue Ming felt like she and Yan Yuhe had become star-crossed lovers not accepted by their families. With this thought, she also kneeled and said to Shui Xi, “I respect Yan Yuhe’s decisions and thoughts and have never interfered. Moreover, he did not discuss his decision with me beforehand, so I disagree that I am selfish. However, I do have selfish desires. My life has not been good; I have always been anxious and lonely, never daring to strive for anything, fearing what I hoped would hurt me. But Yan Yuhe is different from others. I can’t bear to let him leave like this. I want to strive to be with him. I don’t want him to give up a bright future for me; I only want to keep the person I love. I don’t think I’m wrong. If the Immortal has a better solution, please advise.”

Shui Xi asked, “So, this is your decision? To live as mortal lovers with only a few decades of life, and you have no regrets?”

Yan Yuhe said, “No regrets.”

“I have no regrets either,” Xue Ming shook her head and added, “I am actually delighted, but I hope the Immortal will not punish Yan Yuhe.”

After a moment of silence, laughter suddenly erupted. Xue Ming was shocked and looked up to see that the three people who had been stern were now all smiling. Shui Xi, in particular, had completely changed from her previous stern demeanor and said with a smile, “Stand up, both of you.”

Yan Yuhe, understanding everything from the laughter, stood up and pulled Xue Ming up as well, saying, “Master, thank you for your efforts.”

“Hmph,” Shui Xi snorted lightly, “Do you think I did all this just for you?”

Xue Ming was still confused, not knowing what had happened. The oppressive atmosphere had disappeared entirely, as if the director had been called “cut” and the actors had changed their roles.

“Emperor, please reveal yourself,” Shui Xi said.

Suddenly, the sky brightened as if the sun had risen, and Emperor Qing Chao appeared, stepping on clouds, followed by someone familiar to Xue Ming.

Emperor Qing Chao was dressed in a celestial robe woven with gold and orange, with lotus-colored ribbons hanging from his arms, a purple-gold crown, and his long hair flowing. He looked completely different from the last time they met, now fully embodying the image of a celestial official. Behind him was Lu Man, whom Xue Ming hadn’t seen since their parting in the ghost realm, now dressed conspicuously like a little celestial child, smiling at Xue Ming.

Xue Ming didn’t speak, her face full of confusion.

Qing Chao smiled and said, “Yan Boy and Xue Girl, you have cultivated diligently, acted righteously, slain countless evil spirits, and protected the peace of both the mortal and ghost realms. You have achieved great merit and are now granted the heavenly blessing to ascend.”

Before Xue Ming could react, Qing Chao touched her forehead with something, and a powerful spiritual energy surged through her body. Golden light flowed from her limbs, making her body feel as light as a feather, filled with spiritual energy. She turned to see golden light swirling around Yan Yuhe, his robes fluttering, and his entire demeanor transformed, exuding an extraordinary celestial aura.

“Congratulations,” Qing Chao said, cupping his hands and smiling at Yan Yuhe. “From now on, the heavens have another martial god. Those demons and evildoers will have to think twice before causing trouble.”

Yan Yuhe nodded in thanks and turned to Xue Ming, giving her a chance to ask, “What’s going on? Have I also been granted immortality?”

Before Yan Yuhe could answer, Lu Man came over and said, “Actually, you were at the top of the execution list this time, but some unexpected events occurred. The heavenly way left you a chance for survival, but with half the bloodline of a ghost king, you were not accepted in the mortal realm and posed a potential threat to the heavens. So, they decided to grant you immortality to keep you under their watch.”

“Ahem, don’t speak nonsense,” Qing Chao said, clicking his tongue. “The heavens are not so petty. It was her great merit that earned her ascension.”

“Then why didn’t you tell us from the beginning?” Xue Ming asked, looking at Shui Xi for answers.

“Lord Shui believed that you two needed a test, so he asked me to keep it a secret,” Qing Chao explained. “This ordeal was good; it revealed your true feelings, which is rare.”

Xue Ming’s ears turned red at these words. Unlike Yan Yuhe’s calm demeanor, she could only scratch her ears to hide her embarrassment.

Shui Xi smiled at Xue Ming and said, “You, girl, I knew from the first glance that you were timid and liked to avoid problems. Your first thought when encountering obstacles was to give up. If it weren’t for this ordeal, how would you have seen this boy’s true feelings, and how would you have taken a step towards him? Always giving up will only push what you want further away. If you fight for it, you have a chance. Chixia has his flaws; he can be stubborn and single-minded. He won’t let go once he decides on something or someone. If you two don’t communicate your feelings, you’ll suffer in the future. Remember, whether it’s something you love or someone you love, don’t give up easily.”

Xue Ming was enlightened and understood Shui Xi’s intentions.

Xue Ming was indeed that kind of person. She had thought a lot in the past few days and had already planned for Yan Yuhe’s ascension and her life in the mortal realm, still retreating by nature. Even though she could see Yan Yuhe’s feelings through his actions, she couldn’t confidently ask him to stay. She had said several times that she wanted to talk to him but wasn’t ready to speak.

Yan Yuhe also needed to understand Xue Ming’s feelings. Her words and actions often made him anxious, and he avoided conversations with her for several days because he didn’t want to hear her say she was leaving.

This test was for both of them. They had no deep entanglements or innate bonds, so the sincerity of their feelings was crucial. Yan Yuhe needed to see Xue Ming’s feelings to ease his anxiety and soften his stubbornness. Xue Ming was required to learn to have a possessive heart for her lover, not passively waiting for others to make choices and then letting go in sorrow.

Xue Ming didn’t know why, but looking at Shui Xi’s kind smile and elder-like advice, she felt like crying. Tears welled up in her eyes. She smiled, trying to hold back the tears, but couldn’t stop them from falling because no one had ever told her to fight for what she wanted, nor had any elder ever advised her on what to do.

The path of life had always been one she navigated on her own, composed of painful lessons. Now, someone was willing to go to great lengths to teach Xue Ming how to love herself by loving others and how to fight for what she wanted. She hurriedly wiped away her tears, bowed to Shui Xi, and sincerely thanked him, “Thank you, Immortal.”

“It’s a small matter. After all, this boy has been my disciple since he was young. I can’t watch him be filled with resentment all the time like he’s possessed by an evil spirit and exiled his junior brother for three years,” Shui Xi said with a smile. “You have a long life ahead. Take it slow.”

The two uncles also offered some encouraging words. One of them, for some reason, even suggested taking Xue Ming as a disciple, saying that it would be prestigious for the Tai Xu Sect to have two ascended disciples. But Yan Yuhe immediately refused, saying that marriage within the sect was forbidden, and he was very dissatisfied with the uncle’s suggestion.

Finally, Yan Yuhe and Xue Ming bowed and bid farewell to Shui Xi and the others, continuing down the mountain.

Lu Man accompanied them for a while. After talking with her, Xue Ming learned that after the heavenly thunderstruck, she found out about Yan Yuhe’s plan and hurriedly left the ghost realm. She met Emperor Qing Chao, who was escorting Hundred Crow back. Lu Man, seeing injustice, scolded Hundred Crow fiercely, making him scratch his head in frustration. Qing Chao was delighted and, seeing that she was a little ghost in training, took her under his wing, hoping she would scold Hundred Crow daily.

Lu Man said they would meet again in the heavenly realm and bid them farewell halfway down the mountain, leaving Yan Yuhe to walk with Xue Ming.

The world was still vast. Yan Yuhe held Xue Ming’s hand as they walked under the stars, the quiet night enveloping them. The recent ascension seemed like a small episode. Xue Ming felt no different after becoming immortal; her mind inexplicably calmed down. Yan Yuhe was the same as usual, showing no difference. But the problems between them quietly disappeared. Wearing grass rings, their hands were clasped together like two hearts joined, never to be separated again.

Xue Ming smiled and asked, “Yan Yuhe, where are we going?”

Yan Yuhe quietly replied, “The world is so big. Wherever you want to go, I’ll go with you.”

In short, the road ahead was long, and Xue Ming would no longer be alone.

End