Chapter 334: Chapter 168: If the Spring Breeze Had Pity for the Flowers (Part 2)
"This treasure was once refined by the Celestial Evil Demon Venerable, so it can be considered his remnant. I’ll lend it to you for a look."
Chu Xuan understood that she was probing him, and without hesitation, he took it directly.
With a complex expression, Chu Xuan stroked the Taixu Orb briefly, then sat cross-legged and closed his eyes, directing his Divine Sense into it, searching for the Divine Soul Seal he left there years ago.
He was not afraid of Chen Yunqi taking the opportunity to launch a sneak attack. The Six Souls Banner once again circulated light covering his whole body, which would awaken him immediately if anyone touched it.
Moreover, this time he deliberately concealed the presence of the light, making it invisible and undetectable by Divine Sense.
Chen Yunqi didn’t even know Chu Xuan had activated a protective magical treasure, only feeling he was "unprotected," which made her somewhat suspicious and uneasy.
...
The Taixu Orb accepted Chu Xuan’s Divine Sense without any hindrance, allowing him to easily harness its potent power.
Chu Xuan felt a subtle sense of familiarity arise in his heart, causing him to probe the Grotto Heaven within the orb.
At this moment, there were no living creatures in the "Illusory World." There should only be a thick foggy mass, which would only transform into a vivid Grotto Heaven world to confuse one’s mind once an enemy was cast into it.
However, once Chu Xuan’s Divine Sense entered, he was taken aback, finding himself clad in Daoist robes, carrying a long sword, and crouched beside a clear mountain stream washing his hands, with the water reflecting a delicate face with bold brows and bright eyes.
"Senior brother~" A young girl in a pale yellow dress emerged from the pine forest, holding two spiritual apricots in her hand, looking at him with a sweet smile, "I just picked these for you."
Chu Xuan dumbly accepted them, staring at the girl’s face, still somewhat incredulous.
It was Chen Mengdie, but compared to the memory he had of her, the girl’s face was more pure and immature, with an innocent, unworldly look.
"Senior brother." Chen Mengdie called out a bit bashfully, stomping her foot.
Only then did Chu Xuan withdraw his gaze, as more information appeared in his mind.
According to the "script" pre-set, he was a disciple of a small sect called "Qingyun Sect," and the girl before him, his junior sister, was named Chen Mengdie.
The two grew up in the mountains together, childhood sweethearts, as close as siblings, with no mention of the Celestial Evil Demon Venerable or the Hehuan Sect Leader in this world—only two people deeply in love.
For Chu Xuan, this was a fairy-tale-like script:
The world of spiritual cultivation was peaceful, with hardly any conflicts among sects, no distinction between good and evil, and everyone united against the occasional beast threat which could be easily defeated.
Chu Xuan and Chen Mengdie’s Qingyun Sect was particularly harmonious and loving.
The two grew there, developing feelings, pledging their lives to each other, and eventually, with their master and fellow disciples’ blessings, became Dao Companions, holding a lively wedding, inviting numerous peers.
Later, they went through various humorous trials; Chu Xuan remained always lovesick for Chen Mengdie, steadfastly turning down the temptations from numerous beautiful female cultivators.
They even had six children, including a pair of twins—a dragon and phoenix pair.
The children were all exceptionally gifted yet quite mischievous, leaving the couple both happy and a bit helpless.
Their cultivation levels also steadily advanced, ultimately becoming immortals who never die.
They traveled the world hand in hand, their journey sweet and warm, as if it would never end...
The only strange thing was, as the protagonist of the script, Chen Mengdie didn’t know Chu Xuan’s real name, only calling him "senior brother" or "Chu Lang," and mostly "husband" after marriage.
"Senior brother, what’s wrong with you today? You’re acting strange."
Chen Mengdie knelt gracefully by Chu Xuan’s side, reaching out to touch his forehead with concern, "No fever either?"
Chu Xuan already realized what was happening, but just gave a smile, "Nothing."
He held Chen Mengdie’s hand, strolling through the mountains with her, listening to her chatter, always smiling gently.
Time began to accelerate, as Chu Xuan accompanied Chen Mengdie through important life milestones, such as marriage, bridal chamber, pregnancy, childbirth, and worldly travels...
In the end, the entire world began to crumble bit by bit, leaving only the two of them hand in hand, walking through a mass of white mist.
Chen Mengdie’s figure became somewhat illusory, and she suddenly laughed softly, "I knew you wouldn’t die so easily."
"Do you find me ridiculous? Using this treasure to daydream."
Chu Xuan remained silent, not responding.
Chen Mengdie continued speaking to herself, her expression somewhat downcast, "I know, to you, I have always been just a plaything."
"No, don’t rush to refute," she suddenly lifted her head, looking at him, "I know you’re not that heartless, you’ve always treated me well, cared for me, and our sect has benefited greatly from your help."
"It’s just, just that you’ve never fallen in love with me..."
"In your life, you’ve had countless women, and those who could share your love are only a few."
"I didn’t even know your full name, latching onto you for so long, being playful and pleasing you, only to know your surname is Chu."
"Your life was never mine, just as you once said: Later, I realized it wasn’t my flower, I merely passed by its blooming."
Chen Mengdie began to choke up, with tears streaming down her illusory face, disappearing as they fell.
"But, but I really wish I could leave something in your life."
"That’s why I painstakingly stored this final Divine Sense imprint in the Taixu Orb, hoping one day you’ll glimpse my true thoughts."
"Even if it’s so naive, ridiculous, and unreal."
"Chu Lang, do you think people have a next life?"
"If they do, I hope I can meet you again, even if it’s just to pass by your bloom once more."
Chen Mengdie’s voice grew softer, and her figure became increasingly faint, until she finally lifted her head, tenderly gazing into his face, saying:
"If the spring breeze has tenderness for the flowers, may it let me be young again?"
Chu Xuan reached out to embrace her but caught nothing; only fragments of broken light disappeared...
...
Outside, Chen Yunqi had been staring at Chu Xuan for a long time, several times tempted to take off his clothes to test if he was truly defenseless.
But every time she reached out and was about to touch Chu Xuan, a strong premonition of danger filled her heart, forcing her to withdraw.
The meditation lasted for two whole hours, during which Chen Yunqi simply sat cross-legged across from him, silently cultivating.
Until two clear tears suddenly streamed down from Chu Xuan’s eyes...
Chen Yunqi watched as Chu Xuan opened his eyes in a daze, finding it odd, "What’s wrong with you?"
Could he have been enchanted by the Taixu Orb? Her heart couldn’t help but stir with excitement, wondering if she could take advantage of this opportunity.
Chu Xuan silently wiped away the tears on his face and asked in a hoarse voice:
"Where is your master’s tomb?"
Chen Yunqi was stunned for a moment, vaguely guessing something. Her gaze at Chu Xuan grew increasingly incredulous...
"Come with me." Without asking anything, Chen Yunqi gracefully rose and flew toward the back of the mountain.
Chu Xuan followed silently.
Without a doubt, Chen Mengdie was dead. What appeared in the orb was merely a Divine Sense imprint she left before her death, without consciousness, only manifesting due to Chu Xuan’s activated Divine Soul Seal, like a pre-set program.
Indeed, the imprint was hidden within the Divine Soul Seal, which is why it endured until now.
If it only relied on Chen Mengdie herself, with her cultivation level at the sixth realm, it would have been nearly impossible to preserve a fragment of Divine Sense for four hundred years, even with the help of the Taixu Orb.
Through this ordeal, Chu Xuan regained all his memories related to Chen Mengdie.
Yet, though the memories returned, the person was no longer there...
Chen Mengdie’s grave was ordinary, located on a high spot in the back mountain, marked by a simple gray and white tombstone engraved with "The Tomb of the Late Master Chen Clan’s Mengdie," with small words on the side introducing her birth and death years, among other details.
Chu Xuan picked several branches of light yellow cornelian cherries while walking up the mountain.
These were her favorite flowers, which he never knew until he learned it from her during his experience in the Illusory World.
Chen Yunqi reached out to wipe the tombstone, softly speaking, "Master said she wanted to see the beautiful mountains and waters after her death, so she asked to be buried higher to see farther, so we chose this place."
Chu Xuan nodded, placing the bunch of cornelian cherries before the grave.
Chen Yunqi did not disturb him, quietly leaving shortly thereafter.
After worshipping, Chu Xuan sat silently in front of the grave, seemingly to accompany her in viewing the distant mountains, sitting there for an entire day and night...
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