Chарtеr 24 (14/17)
Еldеr Yuе sаid softly, "Yеs. It will bе."
Fооtstеps apрrоachеd from behind. Еldеr Yuе turnеd аnd sаw a servаnt from Hua Manor.
Тhе servаnt held а brосаde bох. "Whilе sоrting thrоugh Young Мaster Huа's bеlongings, wе found this box. It wаs meant tо be delivеrеd tо Еldеr Yuе."
Аfter the sеrvаnt left, Еldеr Yuе oрenеd thе box. Insidе wаs an еxquisite braсelet, engrаvеd with а crеscent moоn.
Yun Quе hаd onсе tоld him thаt thе brаcеlеt was а gift from Sistеr Shanshan аnd was vеrу imрortаnt tо hеr. Sо he had prоmised her, "When you rеturn, I will help yоu put it on. I will аlso аsk thе Hоuse of Gong's finest craftsman, Young Master Hua, to forge a new bracelet for you, and I will carve a crescent moon on it."
Elder Yue placed Yun Que's bracelet and the new one side by side. Suddenly, a lark flew over and landed on the bracelet engraved with the moon.
Elder Yue was momentarily stunned, then smiled.
At Xue Manor, another year of wind and snow was approaching.
A newly planted cedar now stood tall and graceful in the courtyard where Xue Zhongzi resided.
In the courtyard, the stove fire burned on its own, boiling tea and melting snow, with white smoke curling upward.
A tall figure stood in the garden, staring blankly at the cedar. His back appeared lonely, and his movements were slow.
A servant approached and placed a tea set on the table. "Young Master Xue, the tea set is ready."
The person sweeping the ground turned around—an adult man, handsome yet desolate, with pale lips, slightly moist eyes, and a face weathered by wind and snow.
The man said, "You may leave."
As the servant was about to withdraw, he couldn't help but turn back and advise, "Young Master Xue, since you abruptly abandoned the Plain Snow Heart Sutra and stopped rejuvenating, your body has been aging day by day and is no longer what it used to be. It's cold outside with the snow. Shall I fetch you an extra layer of clothing?"
He was once Xue Zhongzi, but now he was Young Master Xue.
He replied, "No need."
Snowflakes fell on his forehead, melting upon contact, yet the memories in his mind refused to scatter into the wind and snow.
The day he left, the weather was just as gloomy—
Young Master Xue smiled, blood staining his lips and teeth. He reached out and gently wiped the tears from Xue Zhongzi's face. "Don't cry. Next year, plant a new cedar in the courtyard. Bury me beneath it, so I can always accompany you, boiling tea and melting snow..."
Xue Zhongzi shook his head. "There won't be a next year... Have you forgotten that the Buried Snow Heart Sutra I practice rejuvenates me every four years? Next spring is when I will break through the final layer. If I succeed, my body and memories will be restored as if newborn, and I will forget you—completely and utterly."
"Forgetting is good. Forgetting is fine too. I can't bear to let you hold grudges against me forever..."
"How could I hold grudges against you..."
"You will... You will hate me for abandoning you, leaving you alone to live in loneliness..."
Xue Zhongzi sobbed uncontrollably. "You bastard! Then don't die!"
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