Eternal Tale

Yao Yue’s fingers trembled slightly as she slowly turned her head.

Their eyes met, and in that moment, the world seemed to fall silent.

Yao Yue’s gaze was incredibly complex, her delicate brows and the moon pattern on her forehead twitching involuntarily. Her bright, lively eyes were fixed on Chen Xun, unblinking.

”...Chen Xun.”

”Mm.” Chen Xun swallowed hard, his calm demeanor becoming somewhat unnatural.

”Hahaha...”

Yao Yue suddenly burst into laughter, her smile vibrant and lively, ”Hahaha...”

The awkwardness in Chen Xun’s eyes flashed briefly. What was he doing in front of the Dao Ancestor...

Yao Yue looked at Chen Xun’s evasive eyes and asked, ”Chen Xun, after all these years, have you ever met a woman who moved your heart? This is the last time, don’t lie to me.”

She murmured softly, this was the last time, she had no time left.Earlier, he had asked her if there was anything she hadn’t completed. Indeed, there wasn’t, just some regrets... regrets that couldn’t be filled.

Chen Xun’s brows twitched, and after a long pause, he said, ”Yes.”

A relieved smile appeared on Yao Yue’s lips, ”That’s good. Is she... still around?”

”She died unexpectedly on the battlefield.” For some reason, Chen Xun’s voice trembled slightly, his pupils contracting.

These words, he had never spoken to Bull, and the long-buried past gradually surfaced in his mind. No one knew how much courage it took for him to say this to Yao Yue.

Back then, even he didn’t seem to notice that the past was like smoke, meant to be buried in the heart. What’s missed is missed, not to be frequently spoken of.

Yao Yue looked deeply at Chen Xun. For this man to speak of this woman with such an expression said it all.

It turned out he was never emotionally detached or indifferent to women...

Yao Yue turned her head, her smile deepening. Indeed, such a talented and powerful cultivator was a person of deep feelings, one person, one lifetime, one love, never promiscuous, and never engaging in evil deeds.

She wasn’t surprised, rather she found it perfectly normal. In the Three Thousand Great Worlds, there were many such cases. After a Dao companion’s passing, some lived out their days in solitude, and Chen Xun’s situation was no exception.

Yao Yue smiled and casually asked, ”You really didn’t lie to me. This is the last time, couldn’t you have lied to me?”

She had long known that Chen Xun was aware of her frequent musings, and this man probably knew her feelings long ago. Saying this now was just a gentle rejection of her feelings.

Yao Yue wore a smile, never having expected him to do anything, just unrequited love.

Chen Xun shook his head solemnly, ”Yao Yue, immortals must not speak recklessly, nor deceive you.”

”I understand.” Yao Yue smiled serenely, having reached the end of her immortal path. Even if the Three Thousand Great Worlds were to collapse tomorrow, it wouldn’t stir any waves in her heart.

”Chen Xun.” Yao Yue stood up, her eyes smiling like stars, ”Let me brew you another pot of tea, as a thank you for accompanying me all these years?”

”Alright.” Chen Xun nodded.

A stick of incense later.

Yao Yue personally brought over a wooden chair, laden with tea sets, memories of all these years.

Chen Xun remained seated, watching Yao Yue carefully and personally brew the tea. Her technique was skillful and graceful, the demonic allure long gone.

”After I’m gone, you won’t be able to drink such fragrant tea again.” Yao Yue said with a soft laugh as she brewed the tea.

”Mm... mm.”

”So you must cherish it, don’t waste it.”

”...Mm.”

”All these years, you’ve been drinking the tea I grew for you. Can you finish it?” Yao Yue said with a hint of annoyance, ”You can’t give it to others, you know, it’s what I planted for you.”

”...Alright, I’ll remember.” A complex expression flashed in Chen Xun’s eyes, words left unsaid.

Yao Yue’s fingers paused briefly, then continued brewing the tea.

Her long hair gently fluttered in the mountain breeze, so beautiful it seemed one could never tire of looking.

Drip...

Unintentionally, a crystal tear dropped into the teapot.

Yao Yue lowered her head and chuckled, ”Chen Xun, I’m not, the wind on the mountaintop is just a bit strong... not being pretentious.”

Her eyes and mouth smiled, her eyes reddened, and tears traced down her lowered face, without sobbing or heart-wrenching cries, just quietly flowing down.

”The tea is a bit dirty... I’ll change it...”

”Yao Yue!”

”Huh?” Yao Yue was startled by his voice, not knowing what had come over her, a Great Ascension Venerable, how could she...

”Just this pot.”

”But it’s a bit dirty...”

”It’s not dirty.” Chen Xun interrupted Yao Yue, lowering his head and repeating, ”Just this pot.”

Yao Yue was speechless, silently nodding.

This pot of murky tea, brewed for an hour, as the day turned to dusk, the twilight deepening.

Yao Yue stood by, while Chen Xun sat and raised the teacup, savoring it bit by bit.

It was very bitter, as if each drop of tea carried a special regret, slowly soaking into the mouth, flowing into the heart, like the irretrievable regrets brought by the passage of time.

Silence pervaded, only the depth of the tea reflecting that touch of melancholy and loss.

This was the most bitter tea Chen Xun had ever tasted in his life, and also the hardest to let go.

In the end, Chen Xun drank it all in one go, not knowing the taste.

”Yao Yue, I’ll keep this pot of tea.”

”...Alright.”

Yao Yue’s face had turned somewhat pale, she gently raised her head, the bright moon faintly visible in the sky. For a Yuehuang Clan cultivator, to pass away under the bright moon was an honor and a return.

”Chen Xun, it’s come to take me.” Yao Yue murmured, taking a long breath, her smile poignant, ”Though you don’t believe it, I do.”

Chen Xun watched that figure gazing at the sky, momentarily lost in thought, ”Of course.”

A sudden sense of emptiness surged in his heart, Chen Xun knew she didn’t have much time left.

”I’ve never feared passing.” Yao Yue smiled, her clothes fluttering, ”Chen Xun, don’t worry about me, this journey, I’m the one leaving first.”

”I’ll stay with you.” Chen Xun said softly.

”Bury me here, I’ve grown to like this place.” Yao Yue turned, her smile radiant, ”And I’ve grown to like you.”

Hearing this, Chen Xun’s pupils contracted sharply, his heart pounding, but his face remained calm, ”Alright.”

”Chen Xun.”

”I’m here.”

”You are the best person I’ve ever met in this world, the gentlest man, the most handsome man, the morning glow doesn’t compare to you, the evening glow doesn’t compare to you, the starry sky doesn’t compare to you.”

”......” Chen Xun’s lips trembled.

”This is the unfinished business I had.” Yao Yue clasped her hands behind her back, her smile exceptionally clear and bright, ”It’s done now, no regrets.”

”...Mm..!” Chen Xun nodded with his head lowered, that’s good.

”Actually, I was once a child of a noble family.” Yao Yue suddenly said.

”I know.” Chen Xun took a deep breath.

”Skilled in zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, and dance, though I’ve never danced in front of others.”

Yao Yue looked at Chen Xun and smiled, ”I couldn’t help you much on the immortal path, so let me dance for you one last time. I can’t let you think I only know how to fight.”

Chen Xun chuckled softly, nodding slowly.

With that, Yao Yue stepped lightly, dancing gracefully among the falling camellias.

Her long dress fluttered, her dance dreamlike and ethereal, like a broken dream flowing behind her, like a flower about to wither, dancing in the wind.

Time passed bit by bit, the long night arrived, the bright moon rose.

Chen Xun remained silent, quietly watching Yao Yue dance alone under the moon, his heart a mix of emotions.

He watched Yao Yue’s dance, a hint of sadness in his eyes. It wasn’t a beautiful dance, but a lament that sang of the vicissitudes of time, yet it was a stirring and poignant farewell.

But Yao Yue’s gaze never left Chen Xun, regret reaching its peak...

How could she not have regrets, in the Three Thousand Great Worlds, among billions of beings, meeting in the Mortal World was such a great fate, who knew how many lifetimes of blessings it took.

Yao Yue’s lips held a poignant smile, her entire body beginning to wither completely, her immortal essence turning to foam, gently bursting.

Under the moonlight of the long night.

She turned with a wave of her sleeve, the hem of her long dress falling to the ground, her long black hair gently resting on her back, no longer lifted by the mountain breeze, both carefree and breathtakingly beautiful.

Yao Yue’s eyes closed slightly, the moon-shaped pattern dimmed completely, a camellia gently resting in her hair.

...Pure and flawless.