Chapter 215: Alone in a Foreign Land, Not a Stranger

The white expanse had no discernible boundary.

Two figures appeared abruptly, then sat cross-legged on the ground.

It was Xu Xing and Yuan.

But after a long while, neither spoke first.

Eventually, Xu Xing broke the silence.

"Still decided to leave?"

"I've already left long ago; it shouldn't even be called 'leaving' now," Yuan chuckled.

He was merely a fragment of spiritual soul.

"True enough." Xu Xing nodded slightly. "Won't you say a few words to them?"

"No need. Everything that needed saying has been said."

"When you were on the Ferris wheel?"

Yuan froze, then wore a look of deep discomfort. "Fellow countryman, spying on others is immoral."

"I didn't hear anything. When Ning Ruo wanted to summon Ning Wanyin, I just took a glance."

"Ning Ruo?" Yuan paused. He had never heard that name before. "Could it be…?"

"The Elder Lingzu's name."

"I see."

Yuan fell silent for a moment, recalling past experiences, then suddenly said:

"Come to think of it, I've always owed you a 'thank you.'"

"Huh? Why's that?"

Why would he thank him? "I left this fragment of spiritual soul merely to chat with you, yet because of you, I got to see Wan Zhu and Mingyu one last time."

"You mean this… don't you resent me for sending you into that hellish situation?"

"Hellish situation?" Yuan shook his head lightly. "Not at all. Mingyu and Wan Zhu still get along well; I just couldn't face them."

Perhaps because it was farewell, Yuan was unusually candid.

"Moreover, since I came to the Tai Xuan Realm a thousand years ago, whether you cared or not, I've received much of your care."

Who in the Tai Xuan Realm's human race could claim they hadn't been sheltered by the Master Jianzu? And the overt and covert favors he received were more than anyone else's.

Take the founding of the Righteous Alliance—without your prior bridging, it could never have happened so easily.

"Thank you," Yuan said seriously.

"... You're welcome."

After that, the two fell into long silence.

"Well, time's about up." Yuan stood, bowed respectfully. "Though we're not fellow cultivators sharing storms, we are two distant lands sharing the same moon. Still, I hope we meet again."

In a thousand years in the Tai Xuan Realm, he had grown from a boy into the founder of one of the realm's greatest powers—the Righteous Alliance.

His cultivation reached the Void Truth realm, granting him immortality, and he had a beloved companion by his side.

He had everything others dreamed of, yet the more he had, the more he couldn't stop missing his homeland.

If he felt this way, how much more so for his fellow countryman who arrived in the Tai Xuan Realm long before him? "Take care."

Without sound or trace, Yuan's form quietly dissolved, like a wisp of mist vanishing into the white expanse.

With his dissipation,

Ding! A crisp sound rang out as a green jade fragment, the size of a thumb, landed before Xu Xing.

Yet Xu Xing remained seated, motionless.

The white expanse made the green jade appear even more lustrous, quiet, and restrained, like the emerald waves of a deep mountain lake.

After a long while, he reached out and picked up the jade lying before him.

Gazing at the green jade in his palm, Xu Xing's eyes finally revealed a flicker of complexity.

"Alone in a foreign land…"

Huh~ As if a faint shadow was blown away by a gentle breeze.

The next moment,

The boundless, white expanse began collapsing from afar, cracking apart, everything returning to pure nothingness.

…………

In a refined courtyard, the parlor.

Ning Wanyin and Mingyu still waited anxiously.

"Yuan has left."

The voice sounded abrupt in the quiet room, accompanied by Xu Xing's appearance.

But only Xu Xing.

He appeared exactly where he had vanished, his expression unchanged from when he disappeared.

"This is the object housing Yuan's spiritual fragment," Xu Xing placed the green jade on the table. "Handle it yourselves."

This item would be better kept by Mingyu or Ning Wanyin.

Hearing this, both turned to look at the green jade on the table. Ning Wanyin rose, reached out, took the jade, then turned and handed it directly to Mingyu.

"It was originally left by Yuan for the Righteous Alliance. Let Mingyu keep it."

"I…" Mingyu wanted to say something.

"It's decided. No more talk!" Ning Wanyin released her grip, turned back to face them. "Master, Master Jianzu, I'll take my leave now."

"Mm, go ahead," Ning Ruo nodded slightly.

Today was truly not a good day to ask her about Qing Xu.

Ning Wan Zhu turned and left.

Ming Yu held the blue jade and bowed respectfully.

"Senior Ancestor Jian, Senior Ancestor Ling, thank you for your hospitality these past days. I shall take my leave now."

"Mm."

Ming Yu also left.

Not long after the two departed.

"Master Shu! Why did Ning Jie and the others leave?"

Chi Jiuyu walked in, looking puzzled.

The two had left too quickly; she hadn't had time to greet them.

"Huh?" she noticed something amiss upon entering, "Where's Shenghuang Yuan?"

"He left too," Xu Xing replied.

"Huh? That can't be right—I only saw two people go out!"

Xu Xing looked at her: "Is there a possibility you're too low in realm?"

Chi Jiuyu: "..."

She stood frozen for a moment, then covered her ears, shouting "I don't understand!" as she spun around and ran out.

Because she turned too fast, she nearly got pierced by her own Life Blade following behind her.

"Xu Dage, it's getting late—I'll go prepare the fish first." Ning Ruo stood up.

"Need help?" Xu Xing asked.

"No, Xu Dage, just wait."

Normally, she would have agreed.

But now, with the only fellow townsman gone, Xu Dage's mood must be poor.

At a time like this… it's best to let him be alone.

Ning Ruo walked into the kitchen.

Xu Xing sat alone by the warming stove for a while, then suddenly rose and went to the window.

The window was fogged with mist, upon which two large characters had been written—Jiuyu.

This had been written by Chi Jiuyu not long ago.

Opening the window, cold wind rushed in.

The sky above was dark and heavy; the entire world seemed shrouded in shadow.

Xu Xing extended his hand out the window, and the snowflakes falling from above, as if sentient, all avoided his hand—except one, which landed precisely on his fingertip.

It did not melt; its six-sided crystalline structure, like an exquisitely carved ice sculpture, rested there.

"Alone in a foreign land, a stranger among strangers; during every festive season, longing for kin grows deeper…"

Would he still miss his homeland? Xu Xing asked himself silently.

But he soon found his answer.

He still would.

"Master Shu, look! I built the snowman again—it's even taller than last time!"

A sudden voice interrupted his thoughts.

Chi Jiuyu had shouted, then pulled out a small yellow duck made of snow mulberry leaf, stood it on the snowman's shoulder—taller than the entire courtyard—and sent the photo to Bie Xuening.

Clearly, she was again trying to boost her favor.

Wait—had she offended Sister recently? Xu Xing paused, turned back, and saw Ning Ruo busy in the kitchen.

"..."

Huh~ Though alone in a foreign land, he was no stranger.

And melancholy, sorrow—these things simply didn't suit him.

The six-sided crystal snowflake on his fingertip melted; Xu Xing drew his hand back and closed the window.

He turned and walked toward the kitchen, ready to help Ning Ruo.

Third update.

I'll make up the bonus update tomorrow.

Let me review the plot again.

(End of Chapter)