Chapter 2078: I Must See You Off

Yang Ge Lao was brought back and placed gently on the bed. His white hair was messy, his face was wrinkled and aged, bearing the marks of time and all the hardships he had endured.

Xiao Yang Lan was crouched by the bed, her little finger in her mouth as she looked at Yang Ge Lao with curiosity. Although she was thirty-three years old, her mind was like that of a two or three-year-old, innocent and unaware of the world. She didn't understand where her mother had gone, or why her father was so sad.

Ye Chen didn't say anything and quietly left the room. Before going out, he didn't forget to tell Yang Fan to take good care of Yang Ge Lao. After that, he headed towards the ancient tomb at the old graveyard.

Huang Fei was still there, as respectful as ever. In the past thirty-three years, as a soul body, her cultivation had improved a lot. However, because there was no spiritual energy in this world, she couldn't make a breakthrough.

Ye Chen glanced at the reincarnated Qin Xiong, who was like an ice sculpture, completely still. The emperor of the former Qin dynasty had been lying there for hundreds of years, with his last breath sealed within him.

On the side, Huang Fei hesitated several times, wanting to speak but stopping herself. She had waited another thirty-three years. When could they leave? When could Qin Xiong be revived? But she never asked. When the time came, it would happen naturally. Since she had waited for hundreds of years, she didn't mind waiting a little longer.

Ye Chen understood her thoughts, but even he didn't know how much longer it would take.

Not long after, he left the ancient tomb, leaving behind some cultivation insights for Huang Fei.

That night, Yang Xuan and the other two arrived at the small garden, each carrying a jar of wine.

After thirty-three years, the famous Du Gu Jian Sheng, Luan Shi Dao Kuang, and Tian Gang Yang Xuan had all shown signs of aging. They had put away their sharpness and returned to a simple state.

This time, the three of them were silent, no longer asking when they could go to the cultivation world. It didn't matter whether they went or not. Having lived long lives and experienced so much, the aspirations of strong warriors had been buried by time. A peaceful ending seemed quite good.

It wasn't until late at night that the three left, slipping out of Zhu Xian Zhen under the moonlight. After thirty-three years, they wanted to see the outside world and visit their old friends who were still alive.

In the garden, only Ye Chen remained, holding a piece of wood and carving it stroke by stroke.

By morning, the autumn air had turned colder, and leaves were falling one by one.

Fewer people came for fortune-telling that day. Yang Ge Lao, who used to be the first to arrive, hadn't been seen for a while. Perhaps he was still lying on the bed, or maybe he had shut himself in his room, playing his worn-out erhu to remember Xia Lan and mourn their past love.

It wasn't until the third day that he appeared on the street, leaning on a cane and holding Xiao Yang Lan's hand.

The townspeople couldn't help but sigh at the sight.

The once happy family of three was now only two, looking lonely and sad.

"Grandpa, here!"

The little one was very caring, innocent and pure, just like Yang Fan used to be when he was young. She stood on her tiptoes, holding a steaming bun in her small hands, offering it to Ye Chen. Her bright, clear eyes were just like her mother Xia Lan's, sparkling and full of life.

Yang Ge Lao kept stroking Xiao Yang Lan's little head, his fatherly smile forced and unnatural. His cloudy eyes were filled with unshed tears.

To this day, his daughter still didn't know that her mother had passed away.

"Are you going to the grave again?"

Ye Chen asked, taking a bite of the bun and glancing at the erhu on old Yang's back.

"She likes to listen."

Yang Ge Lao said with a hoarse chuckle.

"The deceased are gone; mourn in moderation."

Ye Chen said calmly.

Yang Ge Lao smiled but didn't say anything else, leading Xiao Yang Lan towards the outskirts of town. Each step he took was shaky and unstable. In contrast, Xiao Yang Lan was full of energy, skipping and occasionally giggling like a little elf.

Ye Chen had checked her seal more than once; it was incredibly strong. After thirty-three years, there was no sign of it weakening. It was much stronger than the yin-yang immortal pattern on Xia Lan.

Time passed, and under the dim night sky, Ye Chen began packing his things.

Yang Ge Lao and Xiao Yang Lan returned, the old man and the child silhouetted against the fading light, looking lonely and sad. Yang Ge Lao seemed to have accepted everything; birth, aging, sickness, and death were the natural order of things. Unlike before, he no longer sat by Xia Lan's grave for days on end.

In the following days, Ye Chen often saw old Yang. He came every day for a fortune-telling and to pay respects to Xia Lan.

And so, another three years passed quietly.

One morning, Ye Chen set up his stall early, but Yang Ge Lao and Xiao Yang Lan were nowhere to be seen. Only Yang Fan hurried to the pharmacy and returned with herbs in hand.

Clearly, Yang Ge Lao had fallen ill, and it was serious.

Ye Chen knew this well. After thirty-six years, Yang Ge Lao's lifespan was nearing its end.

Sure enough, on the ninth day, Yang Fan came, looking at him with hope in his eyes. No words were needed; his expression said it all. He wanted Ye Chen to visit Yang Ge Lao, to see him off.

Ye Chen stood up; he was already prepared.

The atmosphere in the Yang residence was heavy and oppressive. Everyone knew that the old master was very old and close to his end. The servants gathered together, whispering, occasionally glancing towards old Yang's room.

When Ye Chen arrived, the people in the room wiped away their tears and filed out.

On the bed, Yang Ge Lao was thin and frail, lying weakly with dull eyes and white hair. He was a little delirious, his dry lips trembling as if he was muttering something. Only when he saw Ye Chen did his cloudy eyes regain a spark of focus.

Ye Chen walked over, pulled up a chair, and sat by the bed.

"You've come."

Yang Ge Lao's smile was pale and weak. He tried to sit up but didn't have the strength. At ninety-six, he was completely exhausted.

"An old friend is departing; how could I not see him off?"

Ye Chen smiled.

"Little friend, you must be an immortal, right!"

Yang Ge Lao laughed weakly.

"If you can guess I'm an immortal, you're not as foolish as I thought."

Ye Chen replied, pointing a finger at old Yang's hand and channeling strands of inner energy. It wasn't to extend his life, but to ease his pain and keep him clear-headed for his final moments.

"I should have realized it earlier."

Yang Ge Lao chuckled.

"Would you like to cultivate immortality?"

Ye Chen asked lightly. "If you wish, I can have someone seal you."

"I'm tired."

Yang Ge Lao shook his head with a smile.

Ye Chen didn't say anything; he wouldn't force it. Old Yang was eager to reunite with Xia Lan.

"Little friend, tell an old man one last fortune."

"Alright."

Their simple exchange was met with a shared smile.

In that instant, Yang Ge Lao's eyes gradually dimmed. His weary gaze, catching the last red glow of the sunset, slowly closed.

Ye Chen sat by the bed, motionless for a long time, looking at the departed old Yang. He couldn't help but recall thirty-six years ago, when he first arrived in Zhu Xian Zhen. A free meal had led to an unbreakable bond with this martial arts expert. They were like teacher and friend, but more like family.

In the blink of an eye, his old companion had aged and passed on, departing quietly under Ye Chen's watchful eyes.

Outside the door, footsteps shuffled noisily.

The door was pushed open, and Yang Xuan and the others returned from their travels. Unfortunately, despite hurrying, they only caught a final glimpse, standing at the bedside with sighs.

Ye Chen didn't say anything, rising silently and leaving just as quietly.

As he stepped out, he couldn't help but glance back at Yang Ge Lao one last time. This would be their final look, and with it, the karma between them would be fully resolved.

Soon, cries of grief echoed through the Yang residence.

Three days later, beside Xia Lan's grave, a small new grave appeared, with the worn-out erhu placed between them. Many came to pay their respects, and even the innocent Xiao Yang Lan was frightened into tears, her eyes full of tears. Her father and mother were both gone.

One morning, Ye Chen set up his stall as usual.

But the daily visits from old Yang were no more, leaving an emptiness in his heart.

With old Yang gone, Yang Xuan and the others still came every day.

Watching the three grow older, Ye Chen knew it was time to act.

On a quiet night, he went again to the ancient tomb at the old graveyard, bringing Yang Xuan and the others with him. The three were in their twilight years, their lifespans nearly exhausted. They couldn't wait any longer; to leave alive, they needed to be sealed.

"In this tomb, who is buried?"

After thirty-six years, the three finally asked this question, as the ancient tomb had once caused a bloody storm.

"The emperor of the pre-Qin dynasty."

Ye Chen replied casually.

The three were stunned, though not overly shocked. In a world with immortals, what was there to be surprised about? At their age, they had seen it all.

Once inside the main tomb, their expressions turned strange.

They understood that the pre-Qin emperor was buried there, and even that his body was preserved. But Huang Fei still being alive was unexpected. The famous woman from that era was actually an immortal, guarding the pre-Qin emperor in the tomb for hundreds of years, right near Zhu Xian Zhen. Ironically, they had been unaware.

Ye Chen had sighed about this before.

Yang Xuan and the others knew Ye Chen was an immortal but never told Yang Ge Lao, so the old man only realized it at the end. Meanwhile, Yang Ge Lao knew the tomb's secret but never told them. If not for entering the tomb that night, the three would still be in the dark.

"We pay our respects to the senior."

The three bowed respectfully. In terms of seniority, Huang Fei was indeed their elder, several generations removed.

"No need for such formality."

Huang Fei smiled lightly. Though she stayed in the tomb, she often went out and had heard of the three's reputations—they were quite influential in the jianghu.

"Seal these three."

Ye Chen finally spoke.

"I understand."

Huang Fei nodded, channeling her spiritual energy into her palm to form a rune. It was the feng yin technique Ye Chen had taught her, quite profound.

"Uh, will it hurt?"

Yang Xuan asked with an awkward laugh.

Huang Fei smiled without a word and gently waved her hand over the three.

They staggered slightly, feeling dizzy and their minds growing hazy, before collapsing one by one, their eyes closing as they fell into a deep slumber. Perhaps when they awoke, hundreds of years would have passed, like the pre-Qin emperor, and they would have missed an entire era.

Ye Chen arranged the three on the stone beds and then turned to leave.

Under the moonlight, he walked slowly, pausing for a long time at the graves of Yang Ge Lao and Xia Lan.

Buried within were his two old friends, who would have been his in-laws.

Unfortunately, as parents, they wouldn't live to see their daughter married.

As for Xiao Yang Lan, Ye Chen had considered bringing her for sealing, but he dismissed the idea. Yang Ge Lao and Xia Lan were gone, but the Yang family and Yang Fan remained—her relatives. If she were to be sealed, it would require the demon himself to do it.