The Journey of Immortal Cultivation

Chapter 1231: Chapter 631: Not Going Back

Alone as a stranger in a foreign land. Who in this world can understand such loneliness and alienation?

Changtian gently patted her back to comfort her.

After a long time, when her sobs gradually subsided, he finally spoke wistfully, "Little baby, have you thought about it? If you go over there, you might never be able to come back."

She was taken aback at once.

Hadn’t she thought about it? In the past, when she felt he couldn’t send her home, she comforted herself this way.

"Really, I can’t come back here?" She knew she was being a bit greedy, so she asked more and more hesitantly, "Can’t you bring me back?" Splitting the space to cross would consume three thousand years of cultivation; if he wanted to bring her back, that would cost six thousand years... Was she being too capricious?

He shook his head, "Those who leave by breaking the Void have never returned. I haven’t done such a thing, and I don’t know if I can cleave the same space again to bring you back."

She instantly looked worried.

"You can’t have both fish and bear’s paw; this matter is mutually exclusive." Changtian sighed, "Xiaoxian, have you made up your mind?"

"I..." she stammered. She desperately wanted to go back and take a look, but if it meant she would never see him again, she was completely unwilling!

She was actually hesitating! A gleam flashed in Changtian’s eyes.

Then, he pulled her head, buried in his embrace, out, lifted her chin to force her to meet his gaze, his voice slightly hoarse, "Little baby, stay here."

They were so close, his radiant golden eyes less than two inches from hers, the divine light within them almost dazing her, making her want to turn her head to distance herself. Unexpectedly, he pressed the back of her head firmly, preventing her from moving, drawing even closer to her, and whispered, "For me, please?"

So close, his long and curled eyelashes almost brushed her skin, his usually aloof phoenix eyes brimming with emotion, with countless tiny light spots dancing in them, like sunlight reflecting on the sea, dazzling her to the point of melting.

If the chill were gone, this man would be more beautiful than a demon.

She wanted to gather her scattered rationality and said slowly, "I, let me think about it..."

His kiss was tender.

In her mind arose the faces of family members from another time and space, memories of past school days, studying, and exams, now so distant they seemed like memories from a past life, those fragmented scenes gradually blurring.

What did she still have in that world? Continue living an ordinary life?

His deep voice kept repeating softly in her ear, "Don’t go, little baby, don’t go..."

"Don’t leave me." He whispered this by her ear, with a plea and pain she had never heard before.

He was her Changtian! Her heart was torn between pain, softness, and sweetness. For some reason, tears slowly welled up at the corners of her eyes, and she finally whispered, "I won’t go." She wrapped her arms around his neck tightly, tears flowing, "Changtian, I only have you."

After saying this, she suddenly felt a wave of relief in her heart.

That night, they lay together, necks entwined, until midnight when the clear sound of the watchman’s clapper woke her from her reverie.

The new year had arrived.

Changtian watched her, sleepless all night.

How could he let her go? All his life, he had been true to his promises, but in this case, even if it meant breaking his word, he would bind her to his side, never letting her leave. The silly girl didn’t understand that she never really had a choice from the beginning.

#####

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, light snow had just cleared.

Changtian lay reclined, arms pillowed behind his head, watching the fine strands of light filtering through the window, feeling a rare sense of ease.

Since she chose to stay, it wasn’t considered breaking a promise. Although his methods were somewhat underhanded, he could rightfully keep her by his side.

The quilt shifted, and he gave it a gentle pat:

"It’s almost 9 a.m., are you still not getting up?"

"No." A muffled voice emerged, laden with a strong dose of sleepiness.

She changed to a more comfortable position.

He found himself tightly held by the little octopus, and couldn’t help but smile wryly, "Is it normal for mortals to just sleep through the day during the New Year?"

So noisy, can’t she get some sleep!

Changtian saw a small, delicate nose tip emerge from under the covers, followed by rosy lips. Her delicate brows furrowed as if she could feel the strong light outside. Like a groundhog just emerging from its burrow, he couldn’t help but chuckle quietly.

Ning Xiaoxian, eyes still closed, finally replied, "No, you’re supposed to visit friends and family. But since we don’t know anyone in this city to visit, we have no choice but to sleep. Oh!" She gently pounded him, "We didn’t even eat last night’s New Year’s Eve dinner!" Wasting an entire afternoon of the cook’s efforts.

"So, nothing to do. In that case, how about getting up and doing some homework?" he suggested kindly.

"No! Who does homework during the New Year? Even mortal kids don’t go to school now." She was startled and reluctantly opened her eyes.

At this moment, distant noises faintly drifted in.

Ning Xiaoxian frowned, "Why is it so noisy outside?" Tongleng House is deeply hidden in the bustling city, and unless the noise outside was extremely loud with gongs and drums, it wouldn’t reach here.

The Maid quickly approached the bedside and said softly, "There’s a street parade outside, and the temple fair is about to start."

Ning Xiaoxian suddenly became alert. Every year on the second day of the Lunar New Year, a temple fair is held outside the Incense Ancestor Temple in Songjiang City, the liveliest time of the year. She finally caught something fun!

Wait, is it already the second day? Time flies so quickly when with Changtian.

She mentally cursed herself, got up, and started to groom herself.

Changtian walked in from outside, just in time to see this scene. He took the comb from the Maid’s hand and helped her with her hair. Her black hair was sleek and smooth, requiring just a gentle brush to look neat, with a faint fragrance wafting from it.

Ning Xiaoxian closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation of the comb gently sweeping across her scalp. Whether it was massage or hair combing, Changtian mastered them without a teacher, applying just the right amount of pressure—neither too light nor too heavy. It’s a shame he didn’t become a masseur.

The Maid tactfully withdrew.

Ning Xiaoxian bit her lip and finally couldn’t help but ask, blushing, "Changtian, is there something strange about my body?"

His hand kept moving, his deep voice reassuring, "Strange how?"

A few days ago, she was surprised to find anomalies in her Yimu Growth Power. This power only grows during her first practice, and truly, it was a lethargic power. But if even Changtian couldn’t understand it, she figured there was no need to waste energy on it. If she couldn’t figure something out, she wouldn’t think about it—this had always been one of her excellent qualities.