Chapter 1293: Goodbye, Third Realm
Dong Mingxing hadn't believed Li Qianlin when she told her that her pride was hereditary, but now that she was seeing it for herself, she had no choice but to do so. Pride truly was hereditary!
Li Zongming downed a cup of wine ferociously.
"What else could I say? I can't even beat him in a fight. If he's going to leave, what will scolding him do? I'm the king of the Zongming kingdom, after all, and I'd rather save myself some face."
After a long silence, Zhang Lie was about to speak when Li Zongming suddenly cut him off. There's no need for you to apologize. Those a decade younger might not understand—but the older you are, the more you'll know. You're giving up on her not because you don't love her, but because you love her too much."
Li Zongming, who had experienced life in all its complexity, understood just what Zhang Lie was going through.
The person whom this separation hurt most was none other than Zhang Lie.
He was a resolute man, one who hadn't given up against even the strongest of foes. For him to be forced to let his love go—it hurt more than a thousand knives stabbing into his chest, but for Li Qianlin, he had no other choice.
Li Zongming felt as though even he couldn't understand the depths of his affection, and he was even more impressed.
How much did you have to love someone to make a decision that would otherwise be unthinkable?
"Thank you."
Sun Mengmeng asked, "When will you be setting off, Zhang Lie?"
"I intended to say my farewells to my friends and companions in the third realm first, but it looks like you're all here. I intend to set off tomorrow—after all, as is, I'm dealing damage to the structure of the third realm just being here."
"I'll see you in the fourth realm, Captain," Sun Mengmeng pledged.
Zhang Lie nodded to the members of Team Zenith.
"I'll see you all in the fourth realm."
With their farewells said, the next morning, as Zhang Lie prepared to ascend, Dong Mingxing headed off in search of Li Qianlin.
Leaning against the doorframe, she asked, "Zhang Lie's about to leave. Won't you speak with him?"
Li Qianlin's eyes were red and puffy, and it was clear she hadn't slept for the night. "What's there to see? He's about to leave."
Dong Mingxing asked, "Can you really let him go just like that?"
"Even if I can't, I have to learn how. That's what he wants, isn't it?"
Li Qianlin rubbed the gift that Zhang Lie had gotten her on their travels, her eyes filled with beautiful recollections and thoughts. Why couldn't time have stopped back then?
"And what of your hopes and dreams?"
Li Qianlin grumbled, "My hopes and dreams? Are they important? It's clear he hasn't kept me in mind."
Dong Mingxing continued, "If you miss this opportunity, you might regret it all your life. You've experienced so much together—it would be a shame if you couldn't be together."
"I just want a response from him."
"Is it that important?"
"Isn't it?"
"It's how you feel rather than how he feels?"
Li Qianlin repeated her best friend's words mindlessly. "It's how I feel, rather than how he feels?"
Dong Mingxing took a deep breath. "I'll ask you once again. What do you want from him?"
Li Qianlin looked down and closed her eyes. When she felt she had an answer, she raised her head again. "I want..."
Dong Mingxing pulled Li Qianlin up from where she had been sitting. "If you know what you want, don't just sit here! He's about to set off. Go, go! Don't leave regrets behind. Find him, seek him out!"
Upon hearing Dong Mingxing's words, Li Qianlin blinked as though she had just awoken from a dream. "Thank you, Mingxing. You truly are my best friend."
She hugged her tightly, her face full of smiles, then ran off unfettered in search of Zhang Lie.
Watching her friend from the back chasing after her loved one, Dong Mingxing smiled. Envy filled her eyes.
"Qianlin, tell him what I'm not brave enough to say myself, tell him everything."
On the day of departure, even Red Comet showed up. It had replaced Zhu as the main custodian of the farm and spent its days managing them. Except under extraordinary circumstances, it wouldn't leave the farm.
Red Comet nuzzled Zhang Lie's body as he lightly patted its head. He had many fond memories with the genetic lifeform that he had tamed near the start of the third realm.
"You're free now. Go live the life you want to—someone else can handle the farm. Find a companion and have a brood of kids."
Red Comet's wings fluttered in a mournful screech.
Zhu smiled. "Red Comet already has a brood of children on the farm."
Zhang Lie pointed at him. "Ah, you! Were you abusing your job for private interests?"
Red Comet covered its face with its scythe-like arms as Zhang Lie smiled and patted him again. "I'm sorry I didn't know. I apologize for not having visited your kids. It's good to have a family, to settle down."
Zhu said, "Zhang Lie, don't worry. With me around, nothing will happen to the third realm."
The Yeluo chieftain gave him a large batch of Zhou Ying's Restorative #3. "Zhou Ying and I worked together to be able to mass-produce these potions, and this is the first batch. Your Majesty, please use them well as you enter the fourth realm. I hope it'll be of some use to you."
Zhang Lie smiled. "Do you want me to become injured?"
The Yeluo chieftain shook his head. "No, no, Your Majesty, I don't mean that! Given your strength, I'm sure barely anyone can hurt you even in the fourth realm."
Zhang Lie accepted the gift of potions with thanks. Just like Zhou Ying's Restorative #2, even if he couldn't use it personally, the aliens and companions he encountered along the way very well could. The Yeluo chieftain's restoratives were particularly effective, and they were a worthy gift indeed.
They could even be used as currency—when the Lie kingdom had been a large world and Zhang Lie had met the Lie king for the first time, he had sold some of the potions off in exchange for coins.
The Yeluo chieftain next retrieved a large bundle of potions. "In addition to Restorative #3, I made use of the draconian kingdom's resources and herbs to brew a few batches of these potions. Your Majesty, please take them as well—they might come in handy. I've notated their usage and dosage on each vial."
Zhang Lie accepted the generous gift. "Thank you for all your hard work, everyone. If we're fated to do so, we'll meet again."
Sun Mengmeng sighed. "Zhang Lie, won't you wait a little longer?"
Sun Xiaowu urged, "Wait a little longer. Someone might show up!"
Yang Ze added, "Wouldn't it be upsetting to part ways now without saying goodbye?"
Zhang Lie shook his head. "Better that we not meet. It would only upset everyone if we did."
Without wasting any more time, Zhang Lie marshaled his own energy. Zhu summoned the will of the world.
"Zhang Lie's ready to ascend now, so could you please help guide him through, Will?"
The multicolored dragon scale manifested in the air.
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