Ji Tongzhou carefully examined the lifelike and cool-to-the-touch Purple Jade Cricket in his palm. The passage of time had turned youthful innocence into aged weariness and simplicity into world-worn experience, yet this cricket remained as exquisitely vivid as ever.
It seemed like something forgotten by time, now suddenly brought back into the light. Emotions long buried in his heart were abruptly unveiled, as though clouds had parted to reveal the sun.
Helplessly, he recalled memories so fresh they might as well have happened yesterday. After all this time, he still remembered everything—only, he had never allowed himself to think of them before.
The snow and moon of the Academy, the sky and wind of the Eastern Sea—those brilliant, dazzling colors had been so radiant.
He had truly loved a woman, ever since the days of his childhood ignorance. He couldn’t explain why—he just wanted to show off everything he was proud of to her. Beyond the concern of a friend, he had always craved something more from her attention.
But she never understood. The way he had realized his own feelings had been absurd, something even he couldn’t believe. Was it reckless possession, or graceful retreat? He thought he had been lost in confusion, but in truth, he hadn’t. Resentment had festered in his heart all along.
He had done many things for her. The moment he faced Zhen Yunzi, he had genuinely been ready to risk his life for her—yet not even that could earn him a single warm smile from her. That was right—from beginning to end, Jiang Li Fei simply hadn’t liked him. She had always tried to lock their relationship into the strictest boundaries of ordinary friendship, refusing to draw closer and stopping him from doing the same.
No matter how much he told himself she wasn’t at fault, he still hated her.
What he wanted, he would always obtain in the end. And if he couldn’t have her, then her existence was meaningless—better to destroy it. He just wanted to live without suffocating. National grudges, family vendettas—if he added heartbreak to the mix, how was he any different from a dying dog on the roadside? Surviving on scraps of pity from friends and the woman he loved? His dignity would never allow such a choice, so he had made another.
Right or wrong? Looking back now, he could only laugh. He was now the renowned Xuanhua Immortal, a warrior who had carved his name across the land. Those fragile days of clinging to life under the shelter of others had long been buried by his own hands. Wasn’t that enough?
The moment Zhaomin handed him these two items, he understood her intentions. In these four hundred years, he had rarely smiled—did she think he regretted it? That he longed for the past? That she could unsettle him now?
Back then, when he encountered the Ferocious Beast, the Mirage Dragon, in the Eastern Sea, his life had changed, and his slumbering heart had awakened. At this moment, how was he any different from the most triumphant version of himself in that illusion? Only one thing was missing—Jiang Li Fei. But he no longer needed her, just as he no longer needed friends like Ye Ye. The next Sea Fall was still a hundred years away—would she, now an outcast beyond the seas, come riding the Heavenly Thunder Fire Sea once more? If she did, this time, he would capture her with his own hands—along with Lei Xiuyuan. Only then would the memories of the past truly be laid to rest.
Ji Tongzhou picked up the Lacquer Wood Comb, intending to burn it. But the moment his fingers touched it, he suddenly remembered the restless unease he had felt all those years ago in the shops of the Eastern Sea.He had never tried to please a girl before and didn’t know how to go about it. The old wooden comb he had stolen from Jiang Li Fei was crescent-shaped, so he thought she might like that shape. However, none of the beautiful combs the shopkeeper showed him that caught his eye were of that shape. He had originally wanted to buy that coral comb inlaid with pearls—her hands were fair, her hair dark; it would surely look beautiful when she used it to comb her hair.
But in the end, his gaze fell on the only crescent-shaped lacquer wood comb. Though the craftsmanship was decent, it wasn’t particularly valuable. Yet he was certain she would like it, so he chose that one.
He recalled the bustling inn that day, leaning alone against the railing, feeling nervous for the first time in his life, yet also eager. When Jiang Li Fei arrived and he gave her the comb, she finally smiled—not the perfunctory smile she usually wore. While he felt relieved, he also despaired—she would never look at him the way she looked at Lei Xiuyuan, nor would she ever smile at him the way she did at Lei Xiuyuan.
Ji Tongzhou felt a pang of irritation in his chest. He tossed the lacquer wood comb aside and abruptly stood up, pushing open the door. From afar, he could already hear Ji Jingwu’s cheerful laughter. It wasn’t even noon yet, and he was already slacking off instead of focusing on his cultivation.
This child had no sense of urgency whatsoever, and his talent wasn’t the most outstanding either. If he didn’t learn diligence and perseverance, who knew how long it would take for him to achieve anything? Ji Tongzhou had brought him to Star Rectitude Hall when he was seven, and now, five years later, he hadn’t even broken through his first bottleneck. Apart from being slightly faster at sword flying, he showed no real advantage compared to the academy disciples of the past. It was truly exasperating.
Ji Tongzhou walked slowly toward the Martial Training Field. Ji Jingwu’s bright laughter gradually became clearer. Though young, the boy had an early knack for charm, especially enjoying the company of little girls. With his handsome looks and sweet words—unlike Ji Tongzhou’s own proud and unyielding demeanor in his youth—countless little girls would smile at the sight of him, each one adoring him, which only spoiled him further.
“That junior sister from No Moon Court you mentioned—is she really that pretty?” one little girl asked, somewhat unconvinced. “What does she look like?”
Ji Jingwu answered with remarkable finesse: “She is pretty—white clothes, red flowers, looking especially delicate and charming. But you see, her beauty is hers, and each of you has your own beauty. Senior Sister Yuan is as lovely as an orchid, Junior Sister Chen is like a rose…”
Ji Tongzhou couldn’t help but chuckle as he listened. So mushy, so glib—who taught him that? He called out, “Jingwu.”
The moment the young disciples saw him, they all shrank back in fear, kneeling on the ground without daring to utter a word. Ji Jingwu turned pale with fright, stammering, “M-Master! This disciple was only…”
Ji Tongzhou said calmly, “Have you finished practicing the basic Five Elements Immortal Technique?”
“Reporting to Master, this disciple has already finished. I wouldn’t dare slack off.”
Ji Tongzhou glanced at the five stone training dummies nearby. The traces of immortal energy confirmed the boy wasn’t lying. His heart eased slightly, and his tone softened. “You’ve been at Star Rectitude Hall for five years now, and it’s been a long time since you last visited home. Go pack your things now, and at noon, you’ll accompany me back to Duantu for a while.”
The moment Ji Jingwu heard he could go home, his face lit up with joy, and he dashed off to his disciple room to pack his belongings.The capital of Yue Kingdom, Duantu, was no longer what it had been in the past. Now the largest and most powerful nation in the Central Land, its capital had expanded countless times over. It had been four hundred years since the Mountain and Sea sects began interacting, and the exchanges were no longer limited to cultivation sects—ordinary people also frequently interacted. Eastern Sea-style buildings could be seen everywhere in Duantu, with their bright, exaggerated colors and towering heights. It was common to find two fierce Demon Beasts guarding the gates, and no one would bat an eye at such sights anymore.
The Yingwang Residence remained exactly as it had been four hundred years ago, still in its original location. At Ji Tongzhou’s behest, the residence had neither expanded nor changed its name. Each month, craftsmen were called in to meticulously restore and maintain it, striving to preserve its original appearance.
This was Ji Jingwu’s second visit to the legendary Yingwang Residence. In Yue Kingdom, this place was a more sacred Restricted Area than the imperial palace itself. Over the past four hundred years, even the servants, stewards, and craftsmen allowed inside had been carefully selected. Though Ji Tongzhou rarely returned, not a single emperor of Yue dared to show the slightest neglect.
Truthfully, the Yingwang Residence wasn’t particularly grand or luxurious. After Yue Kingdom’s expansion, the imperial palace, temporary palaces, and even the residences of other princes had grown larger and more magnificent. What had once been awe-inspiring now seemed rather ordinary. Ji Jingwu quickly grew bored after taking in the scenery, but noticing the many beautiful maidservants, he couldn’t resist the urge to play with these lovely elder sisters.
Ji Tongzhou gazed at the aged willow trees by the shore, yet in his mind, he saw them as they once were—young, verdant, and swaying in the wind. Ignoring Ji Jingwu, he walked alone along the pebbled path toward the courtyard. Four hundred years had passed, yet the courtyard remained unchanged—the carved railings, the pristine white bricks. He had seen young men drunkenly collapse and sleep upon them, and he had also seen their blood stain the ground.
He stood silently for a moment before turning to slowly push open the door. Inside, everything was quiet. The curtain hooks had been replaced with jade ones. The white-haired Xuanhua Immortal wordlessly took in the familiar sights, his mind drifting back to the vibrant days of his youth—laughing, drinking, and dreaming of a future where they would become Celestials, punishing evil and upholding justice. Where were they now?
The inner chambers were maintained with even greater care, down to the colors and patterns of the bedding. Ji Tongzhou’s brow furrowed slightly. He, too, had once indulged in excess. Eventually, all the maidservants in the Yingwang Residence wore white robes with red flowers, their skin snow-white and their eyes lively. The stewards, shrewd as they were, noticed his preference for Miaoqing’s appearance and secretly replaced the maidservants with those who matched his tastes.
That era of debauchery had ended the moment Miaoqing died in childbirth.
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