Chapter 998: Life is Like Tea

Chapter 998: Life is Like Tea

Another new day dawned on this vast land, peaceful and serene.

Creak!

On Yùnǚ Peak, the door of the pavilion opened, and Ye Chen, who had been in a deep slumber for who knows how long, stepped out.

The women around him rose to their feet, but upon seeing Ye Chen's condition, they all felt a pang of heartache.

Ye Chen was still the same Ye Chen, yet now his hair was completely white, his face covered in stubble, his eyes dull and lifeless. He looked utterly dejected, like a man on his deathbed, devoid of any vitality.

"Ye Chen, please don't be like this." Shangguan Yùér spoke up, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears. After knowing him for so many years, this was the first time she had seen him so broken down—it was heartbreaking to watch.

"I'm fine." Ye Chen forced a strained smile, his voice hoarse and dry.

"Sister's phoenix jade pearl hairpin." Chu Líng'ér handed over a pearl hairpin, her eyes also glistening with tears.

Ye Chen took it, his weary expression filled with tender sorrow and nostalgia. In a sudden daze, snippets of gentle words echoed in his ears, like a sealed vintage wine that couldn't hide its rich aroma.

"Come, let me show you around Yùnǚ Peak as your master."

"This is Yùnǚ Pavilion, where I usually meditate and cultivate."

"This is Yùlíng Pool; soaking in it can help heal injuries—you'll come here often in the future."

"See that smooth stone over there? That's Huìxīn Stone; sit on it when you have free time—it aids in enlightenment."

"That's the Ginseng Fruit Tree—don't steal from it, okay!"

"That's Yùlíng Garden, where spirit beasts are kept; don't provoke them on normal days."

"This is Yùlíng Cave Mansion; stay away from this place on ordinary occasions."

"I'll go out for a walk." Ye Chen gathered his thoughts and put away the phoenix jade pearl hairpin, forcing another strained smile to reassure the women.

His steps were weak and unsteady, his back figure desolate. In his blurred vision, it seemed as if that graceful shadow still lingered, as if everything had happened just yesterday. He had just arrived at Yùnǚ Peak as a mischievous disciple, but now those bygone years felt like a distant dream, leaving behind heavy scars.

In the early morning at Héngyuè, disciples sat on clouds, meditating and breathing in essence. When they saw Ye Chen descending from Yùnǚ Peak, they were all stunned for a moment.

"We... we greet the Holy Lord!"

Whether they were cultivating or passing by, all the disciples bowed respectfully.

"Continue your cultivation!" Ye Chen waved his hand gently, arriving quietly and leaving just as quietly, leaving the disciples and elders to sigh inwardly.

Xióng Èr and Xiè Yún hurried over, but when they reached him, they didn't know what to say. Like Chu Líng'ér and the others, this was their first time seeing Ye Chen so dejected—where was the majestic bearing of the Heavenly Court's Holy Lord?

"I'm fine!"

Ye Chen smiled and walked past them like a gentle breeze, heading toward the mountain peak where Tàixū Gǔlóng resided.

At the top of the mountain, Tàixū Gǔlóng sat leisurely, with a stone table in front of him. He was brewing tea, its rich aroma wafting over the entire peak.

"Come, have a seat!"

Tàixū Gǔlóng called out casually, without even glancing at Ye Chen, as if he already knew of his arrival.

Ye Chen said nothing and slowly approached, sitting down across from Tàixū Gǔlóng.

As Tàixū Gǔlóng continued brewing tea, he casually glanced at Ye Chen, but his dragon eyes narrowed slightly, sensing a mysterious and strange aura from him.

In an instant, Tàixū Gǔlóng returned to his usual demeanor and poured a full cup of tea, handing it to Ye Chen. "Better to arrive early than to arrive just in time—try some and see how it tastes."

Ye Chen remained silent, simply picking up the teacup and taking a small sip. A look of pain immediately crossed his brow, for the tea was bitterly intense, almost unbearable.

"Life is like tea, mostly filled with hardship." Tàixū Gǔlóng chuckled, sipping his own tea with ease.

"Life is like tea, mostly filled with hardship." Ye Chen murmured the words, the pain in his brow gradually fading. He took another sip; the tea was still bitter, but this time the bitterness felt more subdued.

"You don't have to be like this." Tàixū Gǔlóng held his teacup, inhaling the fragrance contentedly. "Da Chu has its own cycle of reincarnation; she might be reborn, and you still have a chance to meet again."

"I understand." Ye Chen continued drinking his tea, but in the vast sea of people, finding one person was easier said than done.

"Master." A call came from afar as Lín Shīhuà arrived through the sky, with a Qing Luan perched on her jade shoulder. As soon as Qing Luan saw Ye Chen, it didn't hesitate and flew away.

"This disciple greets Master." Lín Shīhuà was very polite; after landing, she bowed respectfully.

"Why do you have time to visit me today?" Tàixū Gǔlóng looked at Lín Shīhuà with interest. "Or is it that someone is here, and you're just stopping by to see your master?"

"Not at all." Lín Shīhuà seemed a bit nervous and quickly pulled a red invitation from her sleeve. "This is the invitation from the Hàotiān Family that was delivered earlier. I came to ask, Master, are you really not going?"

"I already said, you can go on my behalf." Tàixū Gǔlóng waved his hand dismissively.

"What about you, Ye Shixiong?" Lín Shīhuà bit her lip and turned to Ye Chen. Though she sighed inwardly, she didn't show it, not wanting to stir up his grief.

"Since my two elder sisters are getting married, I'll naturally attend." Ye Chen forced a smile.

"In that case, we'll go together tomorrow." Lín Shīhuà smiled lightly and turned to step back into the sky. Before leaving, she exchanged a knowing glance with Tàixū Gǔlóng, as if there were some unspoken understanding between them.

Perhaps Lín Shīhuà's visit today was arranged by Tàixū Gǔlóng in advance, or rather, it was a subtle performance they had staged for Ye Chen.

Their goal was simple: to distract Ye Chen with other matters, so he wouldn't remain trapped in his sorrow. Even with the strongest cultivation, lingering in pain for too long could lead to inner demons.

In the end, their coordination proved effective. Ye Chen's agreement to go meant they had succeeded, at least a little.

Ye Chen was unaware of their kind intentions. His bloodline came from the Hàotiān Family, so he was one of them. With the family marrying off daughters, as their younger brother, he should be present. Though his own romantic fate was now in ruins, he still wanted to wish his two elder sisters a lifetime of happiness.

He continued sipping his tea in silence; the tea was bitterly penetrating, seeping into his soul, yet the more he drank, the more it left a lingering aftertaste.

"You're becoming more and more unfathomable to me." Tàixū Gǔlóng refilled Ye Chen's cup, his words still laced with hidden meaning.

"Which aspect are you referring to, Dragon Lord?"

"You've been hiding things from me all along."

"And haven't you been doing the same?"

"Oh?" Tàixū Gǔlóng raised an eyebrow, looking at Ye Chen with interest. "Go on, tell me."

"Can you really divine my past life?" Ye Chen took a light sip of tea. "Was my past life truly that of an all-powerful expert? Or have you been lying to me from the start?"

"I won't deny it." Tàixū Gǔlóng smiled and shook his head. "I did deceive you back then; I couldn't divine your past life. Or perhaps, you never had one to begin with."

"Then let me tell you who my past life was. I was a general from the mortal realm; from the moment I enlisted, I never removed my armor. I fought on the battlefield for ten years, defending my homeland, living without regret under heaven and earth."

"You know about your past life?" Tàixū Gǔlóng's eyes narrowed as he furrowed his brow at Ye Chen.

"Just some old memories." Ye Chen smiled without elaborating. He finished the last drop in his cup and stood up to leave, his faint voice echoing behind him: "After attending their wedding, let's go to Tiānxuān Gate. This time, she will answer all our questions."