Chapter 770: Chapter 180: Honoring the Loyal Souls Today [Ten Thousand Words!]
Fang Che let out a distant "hmm," his gaze profound, with inexplicable pain deep in his eyes.
The high ponytail woman, carrying a sword on her back, displayed a faint smile and said to Jing Xiuyun: "Zuo Guanglie once said he’d propose in Baixiang Continent after making it to Golden Star; but I’ve waited till now..."
She gazed distantly at Zuo Guanglie’s name on the massive stone, muttering: "...he never went."
Jing Xiuyun felt a pang in her heart.
She consoled: "President Ju, you also..."
The woman with the high ponytail, Ju Xiu Shui, smiled faintly, cutting off Jing Xiuyun and said: "Both of us were strong-minded, both had intentions, yet always wanted things to be more perfect... Back then, he asked me, will you marry me? I wanted to say yes, but instead, I said: wait until you reach Golden Star."
"Since then, I’ve felt some regret, but refused to admit my mistake or come forward... And Zuo Guanglie, that stubborn man, just threw down, said: then I’ll come for the Golden Star. Since then, he never went even once!"
"Even if he went once, I’d have told him, no need to wait for Golden Star, I’m willing to marry!"
"But he just stubbornly didn’t go."
Ju Xiu Shui’s eyes reddened, her rich lips trembling.
Jing Xiuyun also shed tears: "President Ju, will you...come in?"
"I’m not going in."
Ju Xiu Shui took a deep breath and said: "I’m not his family yet...how can I go in? If I go in, even under the Netherworld, Zuo Guanglie wouldn’t be at peace."
"But..."
Jing Xiuyun felt a deep pain in her heart, at a loss for words.
"I came this time just to tell Zuo Guanglie one thing!"
Ju Xiu Shui laughed, her smile blooming like a flower.
She cupped her hands around her mouth like a megaphone and shouted loudly towards Zuo Guanglie’s name on the stone: "Zuo Guanglie! Listen! If time could turn back, if we could go back to the day you asked if I was willing to marry... I’d tell you: I am willing!"
The clear voice echoed in the air.
Everyone present was collectively moved.
Involuntarily turning their heads, looking at the tall and gallant woman standing at the entrance.
Ju Xiu Shui boldly faced everyone’s gaze, her lips trembling, her eyes fixedly staring at that name.
She seemed to be waiting for a response.
But eventually, she was disappointed.
In the swirling mist, Zuo Guanglie’s name remained silent, its blade-like edges barely visible.
Ju Xiu Shui let out a bitter laugh: "You’re still so stubborn! Zuo Guanglie, let’s settle this life’s account when we meet again in the Netherworld."
She turned away, walking ten zhang before involuntarily looking back.
But Zuo Guanglie’s name was already completely obscured by the mist.
She bit her lips hard, finally turning and leaving.
Two tears fell with a "plop" onto the red carpet.
The sword hilt on her shoulder flickered with red silk, gradually disappearing into the distance.
Jing Xiuyun wept, deeply sorrowful, yet felt an additional presence beside her, turning her head to find Fang Che standing there, his eyes gazing towards Ju Xiu Shui’s departing figure.
Jing Xiuyun said: "Mr. Fang, this is..."
Fang Che replied hoarsely: "I know, this is Ju Xiu Shui, the woman Zuo Guanglie loved most in life."
He continued watching until Ju Xiu Shui’s figure disappeared into the distance, before finally turning around.
Looking at Zuo Guanglie’s name through the smoke.
He stood silently for a while.
"Old Zuo..."
Fang Che called gently, his voice low, barely audible.
"Mr. Fang?"
Jing Xiuyun, unsure, asked after not hearing clearly.
"It’s nothing."
Fang Che inhaled deeply and said: "Xiuyun."
"Hmm?"
"In the future...if President Ju needs anything, remember to tell me, we must help when we can."
"Yes, Mr. Fang. That’s only right."
Fang Che nodded.
"Leaving just like that, it was quite unexpected."
"Mr. Fang, President Ju cannot come in."
"Hmm?"
"Unmarried, she has no proper status. Coming in, the spirit of Steward Zuo would not be willing. He would think that he delayed President Ju’s happiness, leaving his heroic soul unsettled. Because...outside she is an unmarried woman, coming in, she becomes a new widow."
Jing Xiuyun spoke softly: "Mr. Fang, President Ju actually wants to come in. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have come today. But today, she ultimately restrained herself, not acting recklessly as usual."
Fang Che lifted his face, closed his eyes.
The image of Ju Xiu Shui’s expression at the moment of departure came to mind, biting her lips, holding back tears, this girl...perhaps she will regret all her life not accepting Zuo Guanglie’s proposal that day...
"So many regrets in the mortal world."
Fang Che’s heart felt heavy, like a mountain pressing down.
Jing Xiuyun seemed calm, softly speaking: "Mr. Fang...there’s nothing one can do, as long as the Wei Wo Zheng Sect exists, such regrets will continue to occur...many each day."
"Those who have stayed long in the Guardian Hall, their hearts become hardened, able to see things clearly."
"Because if one can’t see things clearly, there is no way to work here."
Jing Xiuyun’s smile was faint: "At any moment, our fellow brothers and sisters may leave us; at any time, we might leave everyone for eternal peace."
"The West Mountain Cemetery is our...eternal home."
Jing Xiuyun smiled and said, "So today, for you, Mr. Fang, we are sincerely grateful! Thank you!"
She spoke solemnly.
Fang Che stood in silence.
Took a deep breath, released a long exhale.
The incense candles burned, filling the Guardian Hall with smoke.
Fang Che felt, as he walked into the hall, that the carved names seemed to transform into countless eyes, watching him through the rising smoke.
