Chapter 1193: Chapter 1193: Farewell to the Past
After absorbing the waters of the Waterfall Spirit Pond several times, the mimosa surprisingly grew a leaf at a speed visible to the naked eye, emitting a faint green light, shimmering, like truth and illusion.
Qing Xun’s expression turned excited, and he softly called, "Jing Jing, is it you?"
However, the mimosa had returned to its peaceful state, standing quietly in the flower pot, giving Qing Xun no response.
Qing Xun gazed at the quiet mimosa, the hope on his face gradually dimming.
He knew that what he hoped for was impossible, yet he couldn’t stop himself from holding onto hope.
Qing Rouhen looked at him in pity, gently comforting, "Brother, don’t worry for now. Since Sister Jing Jing likes the water of the Waterfall Spirit Pond, why not use it to nurture her? Maybe the mimosa will slowly grow and something magical might happen in the future!"
Qing Rouhen was merely offering comfort, but Qing Xun still felt a glimmer of hope; over time, if the water from the pond could make the mimosa grow, could there one day be a possibility for it to gain human spiritual wisdom? After all, it was initially Jing Jing’s spirit transformed.
Qin Sisi observed Qing Xun’s changing expression, sensing his disappointment and hope, and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
The mimosa stayed quietly in the pot, seemingly indifferent to everything happening around it.
Back then, when she wanted to get close, he kept rejecting and stepping back; it wasn’t until she exchanged her life for another that she awakened the tenderness in his heart. Unfortunately, by that time, she had already turned into a little plant without spiritual wisdom.
Feelings in the world often carry such regrets: one person pursues, another one flees. When the pursuer becomes tired and vanishes, the fleeing one realizes how precious the pursuer truly was.
But those past times can never be retrieved.
The next day, Qin Sisi bid farewell to Qing Xun, preparing to undertake something very important.
Qing Xun vaguely guessed her intentions, so he didn’t try to keep her, only expressed gratitude once more, and advised her to be extra cautious on her journey.
Qin Sisi summoned the Wings of Rainbow, soaring into the azure sky, gradually flying away from Seven Pearl City and toward Scholar City.
The experiences in Seven Pearl City were thrilling and heart-wrenching, both terrifying and exciting. That was how Qin Sisi felt at the time, not realizing the significance of the battle of Seven Pearl City for her.
In fact, the fame of the Holy Empress’s might began with the battle of Seven Pearl City.
The Wings of Rainbow shone resplendently, as giant waves surged like a hellish prison; that day became a nightmare for many, only awaiting one command from the Holy Empress to unleash the rampant seawater and drown Seven Pearl City forever.
Long after, the citizens of Seven Pearl City still remembered Qin Sisi soaring high in the sky, demanding to punish Seven Pearl City.
But she ultimately withdrew the destructive waves quietly, after Qing Xun pleaded and vowed loyalty.
Thus, Seven Pearl City greeted a new era.
After Qin Sisi left, Qing Xun went alone to a very desolate and secluded place on Bizhu Island, a tranquil bamboo forest he had accidentally stumbled upon. There, he found a resting place for his soul.
After someone very important in his heart passed away, this place carried more of his emotions.
To protect the peace within him, Qing Xun set up forbidden spells around the bamboo forest to prevent others from approaching it.
In the deepest part of the bamboo forest, there was a solitary tomb, no headstone, no name.
Moreover, beneath the tomb, there was no human remains, only an earring was buried.
During one trial, Ya Ning was too engrossed in practice to notice when an earring fell.
Qing Xun, who was clandestinely watching her, saw it, initially wanted to remind her, but for some reason, he ultimately said nothing.
That day, Qing Xun practiced in the classroom until late. When everyone else had left, he quietly picked up the earring and pocketed it, feeling as if his heart was scalded with boiling oil.
Yet the goddess was heartless; after Ya Ning’s death, Qing Xun buried the earring in this bamboo forest, creating an empty tomb for Ya Ning.
Previously, he would often come here for a while, facing Ya Ning’s tomb and playing the flute quietly, lingering for most of the day.
However, today, he came not to reminisce about her.
Qing Xun slowly walked up to the tomb, gazed for a while, took out the Bibo Moon Flute from the storage ring, and began to play. The haunting flute melody echoed through the bamboo forest.
After a moment, the flute music ceased, and silence fell upon the bamboo forest once more.
After a long while, Qing Xun’s gentle voice rang out, "Ya Ning, I’m here to say goodbye. I can no longer visit you, for I have a wife now. You know her, she is Jing Jing. I’ve decided to only love her and hope for your blessing. I’ve never regretted meeting you, nor liking you. If there’s truly a next life, I hope you achieve your desires. Goodbye."
With those words, Qing Xun took one last look at the tomb, then resolutely turned and walked out of the bamboo forest without a backward glance.
The surrounding forbidden spells closed in, rendering the bamboo forest a forgotten place on Bizhu Island.
And Ya Ning was forever kept in a corner of Qing Xun’s heart, never to be touched again.
From then on, during the day, Qing Xun diligently fulfilled his duties as the Clan Leader, and at night, he would take the mimosa to the Waterfall Spirit Pond, watering it sufficiently before sleeping beside the pond.
Jing Jing’s parents, upon learning of their daughter’s passing, were heartbroken and came to Seven Pearl City accompanied by Xiao Meng to see the mimosa, the transformed spirit of Jing Jing.
Initially, Cang Zuo and his wife intended to take the mimosa with them, but seeing Qing Xun’s meticulous care and his firm declaration to marry the mimosa, even kneeling before Jing Jing’s parents, swayed them.
Seeing this, Cang Zuo and his wife finally agreed to leave the mimosa in Seven Pearl City. They knew of Jing Jing’s feelings for Qing Xun, which fulfilled Jing Jing’s wishes in a way!
The water of the Waterfall Spirit Pond possessed pure and rich spiritual power, and under its nourishment, the mimosa indeed grew little by little. After absorbing the pond water, its leaves emitted a faint glow, reminiscent of Jing Jing’s bright eyes.
Yet, no one knew what would become of this mimosa in the future. Would it grow into a towering mimosa tree? Would it become a plant demonic beast due to absorbing excessive spiritual power?
Or, would it carry the hopes of many and transform back into Jing Jing from a mimosa?
No one dared to assert any predictions about this lightly; Qing Xun also didn’t know what the future held. What he could do was to wait day by day, year by year.
The worst outcome would only be to grow old alone, spending a solitary lifetime.
