Chapter 396: Delivering the Dragon Bone

Time, like the flow of the Tigris River, has silently drifted on for many years.

Lamai and Bei's temples have quietly turned frosty white, and the years have etched marks upon their faces.

Noah, under Yu Lin's year‑after‑year, seemingly casual yet all‑encompassing teachings, has long shed his childish naivety and grown into a tall person possessing learning and wisdom.

When the destined Revelation arrived—Noah received in a dream an instruction from God to build a massive ark before the flood engulfed the earth—

He felt little surprise, only a sense of destiny that "it has finally come."

Perhaps this is the "great event" that his father Lamai once foresaw.

Of course, he did not know that this Revelation actually came from Yu Lin, since God had already entrusted the matter to Yu Lin.

Nevertheless, even after learning of the impending judgment, Noah's inner devotion to "good," rooted in Lamai's early teachings, did not extinguish at once.

He remained unyielding; while secretly preparing the various materials and knowledge needed to build the ark, he resolutely left the hidden valley and stepped into the increasingly degenerate, chaotic world outside.

He roamed everywhere, shouting loudly, urging people to shun evil, return to the right path, and seize the final chance before judgment arrived.

He explained the distinction between good and evil, depicted the possible coming disaster, and called on people to repent.

During these years of arduous, bump‑into‑walls Preaching, he was not without any gain.

He met a kind and strong woman, married her, and they later bore three sons: Shan, Han, and Yafei.

Unfortunately, his earnest admonitions seemed so pale and powerless in an age whose hearts had long been soaked with greed, violence, and indifference.

What met him was not reflection and repentance, but widespread mockery, ridicule, and even outright insults and violent expulsion.

People scoffed that he was a madman, saying the sun had scorched his brain, causing him to fantasize about a great flood.

Had Yu Lin not taught him a bit of martial skill, he might have returned from each outing not only exhausted but also riddled with wounds.

Disappointment after disappointment piled up like a mountain.

When Noah finally gathered the massive amounts of Ge Fei Wood, Pine Resin, and other assorted materials needed to build the ark, and returned to the valley covered in dust and spiritual scars.

The last spark of hope in his heart for "saving others" finally extinguished.

He was tired.

Such a world... should just be annihilated!!

He completely abandoned futile persuasion, devoting all his energy to preparing the ark's construction.

Just as Noah's family began the official work—clearing the site and handling the first batch of timber—

"Did you take on another disciple?"

The Dragon Elders, who had vanished for ages and who had been frolicking in some unknown corner of time and space, finally shuffled back.

They crouched on a nearby slope, watching the Noah family below in a blaze of activity, and asked Yu Lin, who stood quietly observing beside them.

Yu Lin glanced at them, shook his head, "It's not a disciple."

He corrected, "It should be... a friend."

"Friend? Fine then," the Dragon Lord said, indifferent to these Western human relationships.

He asked nonchalantly, "When are we leaving? I need to go back to rank up! My Rank! My gear!"

"I want to go on the offensive!"

"Hold on," Yu Lin withdrew his gaze:

"You go in first."

He raised his hand; the Ding Pattern on his chest glowed faintly, emitting an invisible suction.

Several Dragon Elders turned into streaks of light and merged into the Ding Pattern.

Yu Lin smoothed his sleeves and stepped toward the Noah family on the riverbank clearing below.

Seeing his arrival, Noah, Lamai, Bei, and the three young men assisting them, who were discussing how to secure the first foundation timber, all halted their tasks, turned toward him, and smiled.

"Uncle," Noah wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked with a smile:

"Is there something? Or do you have any new suggestion?"

"Yes," Yu Lin nodded, his gaze sweeping over the familiar faces and finally resting on Noah, "Do you still remember what I said to you when you were a child?"

He did not specify which sentence.

But Noah only paused briefly, then quickly recalled.

He nodded knowingly, a hint of emotion and anticipation flashing in his eyes: "I remember. You said you would give me the finest timber, to be used for building a ship's... 'Dragon Bone'."

"Is it today?"

Yu Lin looked at him and smiled faintly:

"Yes."

He gave a confirming answer.

Then, as Noah and his family showed delight at this belated "gift," Yu Lin followed with another sentence, his tone calm yet like thunder rolling across a plain:

"Besides, I intend to leave."

Upon hearing this, not only Noah but also Lamai and Bei's smiles froze instantly, replaced by massive shock and disbelief.

Leave?

This news hit Lamai and Bei as hard as the destruction of the city back then, when Luo Er was reborn as Noah........

Yu Lin had accompanied them for so long, from Lamai and Bei's youth, through Noah's birth, growth, marriage and children, to now when they have silver hair and their grandchildren are already running around the courtyard.

He was not kin, yet had long become more like family.

Now, to suddenly say... he's leaving?

Bei was the first to react; she stepped forward a few paces to Yu Lin, trying to make her voice sound calm, but the slightly trembling tips of her fingers betrayed her emotions:

"Is that so? This time... where are you going?"

She tried to think positively, forcing a smile, "Back to Eden Garden? If that's the case... this time, I might truly not be able to wait for you to return."

She tried to speak lightly, but the words couldn't hide the underlying sorrow.

With the little life she has left now, if Yu Lin were to set out again for a place like Eden Garden, she truly could not wait for his return.

Yu Lin looked at her, then glanced at Lamai and Noah, whose eyes were likewise complicated toward him, and gently shook his head.

He uttered a fact farther and more resolute than "return to Eden Garden": "Not to Eden Garden; I'm going to a… farther place."

"My journey has already ended."

"Bei, Lamai, Noah."

"This time, it's truly a farewell."

With those words spoken,

the atmosphere fell into silence, lasting for a long while.

Noah pursed his lips, took a deep breath, then finally spoke:

"Uncle, go without worry; we'll take good care of ourselves."

Yu Lin: ".........."

"How does it sound as if I'm about to die? Never mind, take it."

He took out the Good and Evil Tree Trunk, smiled at Lamai and Bei, and said, "I told you, I'll cut down that tree."

"Alright, I'm leaving."

He patted Noah's shoulder, turned, and walked forward.

Within everyone's gaze, he turned into specks of Light Dot and vanished.

Leaving only the footprints on the ground, no other trace remained.