Chapter 233: Without Regret

Ghoul Li’s heart was burning with anxiety as he rushed forward at full speed. With his current level of cultivation, the flowers and trees on either side of the path were swept down, as if a seam had been split in the sea. The wind that met him, due to his excessive speed, caused a faint stinging sensation on his face, but he paid no heed to it.

In his mind, there was only the figure of Su Ru in the bamboo grove behind the mountain.

The frenzied barking of Big Yellow was still echoing in his ears. Ghoul Li’s figure shot up from the stone steps at the foot of the mountain, creating a sharp whistling sound as he soared up the steps. Though he was still in mid-air, a sudden chill seized his heart, almost causing him to lose control and fall.

On the ground, two large holes had appeared, each about a person’s length and width. Next to them were two piles of earth, which still carried some moisture, suggesting that Su Ru had dug them herself. Just thinking about the purpose of these two holes, Ghoul Li turned pale and felt a chill run down his spine. However, Master Tian’s body lay undisturbed where it had been, but the one Ghoul Li was most worried about, Su Ru, was now lying motionless on top of Tian’s chest.

Beside them, Big Yellow continued to bark wildly at Su Ru.

Ghoul Li’s heart sank as he gazed at the slender figure that had been so close to him not long ago, feeling a strange fear to approach. At this moment, Lu Xueqi, her face deathly pale, slowly appeared on the stone steps behind him. She stood there quietly, silently observing everything.

Suppressing his frantic heartbeat, Ghoul Li softly called out, “Auntie?”

Su Ru’s body remained motionless, without any response.

Ghoul Li slowly stepped forward, each step laborious, with Big Yellow’s barks still ringing in his ears. Finally, he approached Su Ru’s body and whispered, “Auntie… don’t scare me…”

His slightly trembling hand touched Su Ru’s shoulder. Ghoul Li gritted his teeth, used some force, and turned her body over. A face, unexpectedly smiling, met his eyes.

Su Ru smiled, a hint of contentment on her lips, perhaps because she was with her husband.

Her body was still warm, and her expression serene and dignified, though lifeless.

Big Yellow’s barks continued, but the sound had become hoarse!

Ghoul Li’s legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground, his mind blank for a moment.

“Auntie is gone too…”

This was the only cry in his mind, echoing endlessly.

The next day, the other branches of Azure Ethereal Conclave received the tragic news from Dazhu Peak. The first seat, Tian Bujian, and his wife, Su Ru, had both passed away.

Tian Bujian and his wife held a significant position in Azure Ethereal Conclave, and their sudden death shocked the entire sect. Countless fellow disciples flocked to Dazhu Peak to pay their respects. Tian Ling’er, who had rushed back from Longshou Peak, wept uncontrollably before her parents’ remains. The elders of the other branches, remembering their old friendships, shed tears, with the most sorrowful being Shuiyue, the head of Xiaozhu Peak, who had been closest to Su Ru.

Amidst the somber and sorrowful atmosphere, there were still some unusual traces. Given the status and reputation of the Tian couple, all the other branches were present, except for the head of Tongtian Peak, Daoxuan. This seemed to indicate a slight disregard for Dazhu Peak.

Song Daren and the other Dazhu Peak disciples, all dressed in mourning clothes, welcomed their fellow disciples with the utmost respect. However, when they saw Xiao Yicai and the other disciples from Tongtian Peak, their expressions turned angry, and their words became cold. Xiao Yicai and the others, feeling guilty, could only stand aside and remain silent, except for a bitter smile.

Incense smoke wafted, and the sounds of weeping filled the air, reflecting the grief over the loss of the departed. In the once serene and tranquil Dazhu Peak, the mournful sentiments lingered, unable to disperse. One wonders if the deceased truly have souls after death, and if so, what would they think as they watch this scene in the afterlife?

However, it’s unlikely that Tian Bujian would be saddened by this.

A figure descended from the direction of Azure Ethereal Conclave, appearing somewhat lost. At midday, it entered Heyang City alone.

The streets were bustling with people, though not as lively as usual, indicating the city was gradually recovering. Some had perished in the great calamity, while others had survived, and new children were growing up, continuing the cycle of life.

Ghoul Li stood on the street, silently watching the crowd. Strangers passed by like endless waves. He was in the midst of the crowd, surrounded by people just like him, living, aging, falling ill, and dying, in the quiet cycle of existence.

But why do people live?

Ghoul Li suddenly thought.

His master and auntie had passed away, dying in front of him, and after the initial shock, all he felt was numbness and fatigue.

In this life, he felt as if he was walking a much longer path than others, and there was no end in sight.

He moved mechanically, with sounds of peddling and shouting continuously reaching his ears. Even if he wanted to, he could hear the distant voice of a woman scolding her child across the street. But all this seemed so far away, and he felt detached from this world.

Unconsciously, he found himself at a familiar-looking tavern. His heart stirred, and he couldn’t help but walk in.

The tavern had few customers, clearly still recovering from the recent calamity. The waiter came over with a smile, asking, “Sir, are you here for food or drink?”

Ghoul Li was silent for a moment, unable to speak. After descending from Azure Ethereal Conclave, he felt dazed, lacking the energy for anything. The feeling was tinged with despair, like when Bi Yao had taken that sword for him ten years ago. But now, ten years later, he felt less mad, more exhausted.

“Sir, sir?”

The waiter’s raised voice snapped Ghoul Li out of his daze. He shook his head and sat down in a secluded corner.

The waiter followed, still smiling, “Sir, what would you like to eat?”

“Do you…” he said slowly, and a memory flashed through his mind, “Do you have ‘Steamed Sleepy Fish’?”

The waiter was taken aback, then laughed, “Sir, were you a regular customer at Shanhai Garden? That was our signature dish, but it’s not available anymore.”

Ghoul Li looked puzzled, “Why not?”

The waiter shrugged, “It’s all because of those blasted beast demons. When they occupied this place, the area within hundreds of miles suffered, and even the fish in the river outside the city were wiped out. Now, you can’t find a single sleepy fish, not even a small fry.”

Ghoul Li felt a sense of loss, his face darkening. The waiter sighed, then remembered his duty, “Sir, why don’t you try something else?”

Ghoul Li, staring off into space, replied, “Never mind, just bring some dishes and drinks.”

The waiter nodded and left. As he walked halfway, three people entered the tavern. The waiter was surprised, thinking business might be improving. But the three people only glanced around, and one of them, seeing Ghoul Li, exclaimed in surprise.

Hearing the familiar voice, Ghoul Li turned to see Zhou Yixian, Xiaohuan, and Ye Gou. The one who had called out was Zhou Yixian.

For some reason, seeing these three, Ghoul Li felt a wave of familiarity, even though they weren’t close friends, his spirits lifted.

Zhou Yixian’s look of surprise vanished, replaced by a broad smile. He quickly walked over, his “Divine Path” banner fluttering in the wind, and chuckled, “I never expected to meet you here again.”

Ghoul Li’s lips curled into a faint smile, which quickly faded, but he said, “Please sit down, Elder.”

Zhou Yixian nodded and sat down. The waiter asked, “Are you all together?”

Zhou Yixian glared at him, “Of course, why else would we sit together?”

The waiter nodded and hurried off to prepare the meal. Zhou Yixian kept laughing and ordered several more dishes and a few jugs of wine. The waiter nodded and went to prepare them.

Xiaohuan, however, did not seem as cheerful as her grandfather. Her face was grim. Seeing Zhou Yixian order more food and wine, she grew even more sullen, but she held her tongue. Once the waiter left, she couldn’t help but sneer, “Grandfather, you ordered so much, do you want to treat our savior properly?”

Zhou Yixian’s face darkened, and he scolded, “Xiaohuan, what are you saying? Can our friendship with Brother Ghoul Li be compared to mere food and drink?” He turned to Ghoul Li and smiled, then sighed, “Look at this Heyang City, after the disaster, people’s hearts have changed, and no one wants their fortune read. Life is hard…”

Xiaohuan’s face flushed, and she glared at Zhou Yixian, her cheeks red. Ghoul Li, seemingly unaware, said, “Elder, don’t worry. I am grateful for your care, and this time, I will treat you.”

Xiaohuan’s face reddened, but Zhou Yixian was pleased, nodding and smiling, “Good, good, you are teachable!”

Ye Gou looked between Xiaohuan and Ghoul Li, hesitating to speak.

The waiter brought some cold dishes and two jugs of wine. Zhou Yixian poured the wine, filling everyone’s cups, and raised his own, “We are wanderers, and meeting here is a rare fate. Let’s drink to this.”

He drank it all in one go, then swayed his head, obviously satisfied with the wine. Ghoul Li watched, his lips moving, maybe in a smile, but his face was too stiff to show it. He slowly picked up his cup, brought it to his lips, but then sighed, filled with a sense of helplessness and bitterness, as if holding the most bitter thing, and put the cup back on the table.

At this, Xiaohuan, sitting next to Zhou Yixian, couldn’t hold back and jabbed, “Rare fate, indeed! Who was the one calling out to get free food when they saw someone from afar on the street?”

Zhou Yixian’s face remained unchanged, and he glared at Xiaohuan, “Childish talk, childish talk!”

Ghoul Li didn’t seem to take Xiaohuan’s words to heart. He looked distracted, lost in thought. Xiaohuan, knowing him for years, noticed this and grew concerned, asking, “What’s wrong? Is there something troubling you?”

Ghoul Li was silent for a moment, then addressed Zhou Yixian, “Elder.”

Zhou Yixian, who had just refilled his own cup, asked, “What is it?”

Ghoul Li’s eyes, somewhat empty, murmured, “I remember, ten years ago, when I was just a young man descending from Azure Ethereal Conclave, you read my fortune in this very city, right?”

Zhou Yixian and Xiaohuan were startled, while Ye Gou was confused, having no knowledge of that event. Zhou Yixian furrowed his brows, then replied, “Ah, I remember a bit. Why are you suddenly bringing up the past?”

His face took on a mysterious expression, and he leaned in, whispering, “You’re not going to say our reading was inaccurate and ask for a refund, are you?”

“Grandfather!” Xiaohuan chided, pushing Zhou Yixian aside, “Brother Ghoul Li, do you have something on your mind? Perhaps… you can tell me.”

Ghoul Li looked at Xiaohuan, his weary eyes showing a rare warmth, but he shook his head, “It’s nothing. I just have a few questions for the elder.”

Zhou Yixian straightened his clothes, coughed, and exuded an aura of ancient wisdom, making the small tavern seem grand.

“Ask away,” he said, “Given our relationship, you can speak freely, but the fortune-telling fee must still be paid.” He winked at Ghoul Li, ignoring Xiaohuan’s flushing face.

Ghoul Li smiled faintly, patted Xiaohuan comfortingly, and turned to Zhou Yixian, his face showing confusion, “Elder, you’ve seen much in your travels. I have a question that troubles me: What is the purpose of life?”

Xiaohuan and Ye Gou were surprised, looking at Ghoul Li with puzzled expressions. Zhou Yixian frowned, his playful demeanor fading, and he became serious. He pondered for a moment before speaking, “Your expression is troubled. Has something happened?”

Ghoul Li was silent, then whispered, “My master and auntie passed away recently.”

“Ah!” Xiaohuan and Ye Gou gasped. Zhou Yixian sighed, “Tian Bujian is gone too, such a pity.”

Ghoul Li remained expressionless, and Zhou Yixian closed his eyes briefly, then said, “No wonder you look so sad. But parting and death are natural, unavoidable. You are not an ordinary person, why let yourself be consumed by it?”

Ghoul Li’s face showed more pain, “Their deaths are connected to me!”

Zhou Yixian said calmly, “Did your master and auntie blame you when they passed away?”

Ghoul Li’s head lowered, and he whispered, “No, they were always kind to me, even until the end, they remembered me and accepted me back as a disciple…” His voice choked.

Xiaohuan, seeing Ghoul Li’s expression, felt her eyes well up.

Zhou Yixian smiled, his eyes gleaming with wisdom, as if seeing beyond the mundane, “Then, did your master and auntie show any regret before they died?”

Ghoul Li hesitated, then shook his head.

Zhou Yixian smiled, “Then you should be happy for them. To die without regrets is the best outcome, isn’t it?”

Ghoul Li looked at Zhou Yixian, his lips moving, his expression bewildered.