Chapter 936: Where to Go

It's still late winter, and spring hasn't arrived. The north remains bitterly cold, with winds that feel like knife blades cutting across the face.

Before the tombstone, a bouquet of white flowers swayed in the wind, their petals scattering. The names of two elderly people were etched on the stone. Three years had passed, and Ye Fan was powerless to defy fate.

He knelt silently, his lips trembling. His husky words were lost in the north wind, indiscernible, unrecognizable. He couldn't shed tears; only whispers escaped him.

Xu Qiong walked aside, giving him time alone. She asked the cemetery manager who had just placed the white flowers.

Unfortunately, there was no result. Many people visited the cemetery daily, and no one paid special attention to who came and went.

Ye Fan knelt before the tombstone, wanting to stay there forever, never to rise again. He had lost his purpose in life; his heart felt empty, and his world was a desolate gray.

"Dad, this is a divine brew I brought back from Beidou. Even the great sect masters rarely get to taste it. It's a pot of essence distilled from a thousand-year-old cellar."

Ye Fan opened a one-jin, white jade gourd and poured out the wine. Its refreshing aroma filled the cemetery.

Xu Qiong was startled and turned to look back, witnessing the scene. The wine's fragrance was astonishingly potent, moving even her, someone who didn't drink liquor.

A cemetery caretaker approached, informing Ye Fan that he was violating rules, telling him to put away the bottle and pay a fine.

Xu Qiong stepped forward, took out a stack of money, and handed it over, preventing the caretaker from getting too close. She feared trouble, knowing well that the current Ye Fan could not be measured by "mortal" standards.

"Mom, these are some small ornaments I brought back for you from Beidou." Strange items appeared in Ye Fan's hand: a string of luminous pearls, purified of all impurities; talismans carved from the relics of sky demons... all items capable of extending life.

Each piece was crystal-clear and radiant, emanating streams of vital energy. Even an ordinary person could perceive their extraordinary nature, feeling their pores open as if bathed in a spring breeze.

*Whoosh*

Flames erupted from Ye Fan's hands, igniting both the items and the thousand-year-old divine brew. They transformed into a brilliant light, turning to ashes that settled before the tombstone.

The cemetery caretaker grew anxious, claiming severe rule violation, as burning was forbidden there. His eyes widened in disbelief when he saw flames leap from Ye Fan's palm.

"I say... what are you burning? It's brighter than a magic lamp, emitting streams of light like treasures! And this wine... its fragrance is excessively rich. I can't help but want a taste; just smelling it makes me feel intoxicated."

As soon as he got closer, he collapsed to the ground with a *thud*, passing out drunk. Xu Qiong recoiled in alarm, fearing she too might be intoxicated by the potent aroma. Having seen much, she had already realized that the items in Ye Fan's hands were not ordinary and could not be judged by common sense.

Not to mention the radiant pearls, even the wine gourd itself was made of flawless white jade. If it were auctioned, it would certainly cause a sensation and fetch an astronomical price.

When the caretaker awoke again, he found everything around him dark, with a pile of burnt items. He immediately jumped up, furious.

"Hey, what's going on? Did you... did you burn a truckload of stuff? How am I supposed to clean this up?!" His eyes were wide with shock. Such a pile would be troublesome just to transport, let alone burn.

Xu Qiong quickly stepped forward and handed over another thick wad of money. This situation never changed, regardless of the era: with enough money, one could even make a millstone grind backward.

"Life is full of helplessness; we are powerless to resist it. Please accept my condolences. Your aunt and uncle wouldn't blame you. Your safe return was their greatest comfort, as their only concern before passing was your well-being," Xu Qiong consoled him.

"I know," Ye Fan said, still sitting with his back to her. "Let me be quiet for a bit. You should go back first."

The red sun set in the west, and the day passed in a flash, eventually giving way to a sky dotted with stars. He sat motionless in silence. The cemetery caretaker felt uneasy but dared not disturb him, especially after Xu Qiong had given him a substantial sum of money before leaving.

In the early morning, sunlight streamed down, and the sun rose high. Ye Fan remained in the same spot, motionless throughout.

He sat still for an entire day and night, silently reminiscing. From childhood to adulthood, scene after scene, every little detail about his parents surfaced in his mind, impossible to escape his heart's ocean.

The happy, the sad, the unforgettable, the deeply engraved memories—the past was like smoke, filling his heart. He wished to slumber there forever.

At noon, he let out a soft sigh, stood up, and left. His figure looked desolate as he walked out of the cemetery.

Although he hadn't returned for a day and a night, Xu Qiong wasn't worried. Having witnessed him soar into the clouds, she believed no one in this world could harm him, perhaps only himself.

Ye Fan returned and sat quietly on the sofa, listening to Xu Qiong's account. Every detail of his parents' later years brought a pang to his heart, but he remained silent throughout, only listening.

Where there is light, there is also darkness. Everyone experiences happiness and sorrow, joyful memories and less fortunate moments. Xu Qiong waited for him for two years, then got married, just as she said: one must live on.

Life is colorful, with both winds and rains. Ten years ago, her life hit rock bottom; her long-standing marriage ended, and she lost everything.

While Xu Qiong was out in the suburbs, clearing her mind, she unexpectedly saw his parents. She couldn't believe they were the same elderly couple she had known before, and she took them in.

"Your aunt and uncle were good people. They donated the money you left them to an orphanage, even though their own lives were so difficult. They missed you and loved children... I think that bouquet of flowers must have been from the orphanage."

The doorbell rang, and Xu Ye bounded out, hopping to open the door, exclaiming, "Daddy's back!"

"I came back first. He doesn't have much money; I bought this villa with what I earned in recent years. But he's a very honest man, and even though Xu Ye isn't his biological daughter, he's very good to her."

When mentioning her daughter's name, Xu Qiong's voice noticeably trembled. "Ye" and "Ye" were homophones, and Ye Fan felt a pang in his heart. The Nine Dragons pulling the Coffin had changed so many things.

Having been married once before, Xu Qiong was exceptionally cautious about her second choice. He was a university professor, engaged in archaeological research, and a truly good person.

Yang Xiao, clearly not a smooth or worldly person, was somewhat reserved. Upon seeing guests, he first offered a kind smile, then greeted them after Xu Qiong's introduction.

"Daddy, why are you only just back? You wouldn't believe it, I saw a shooting star almost crash into our house and scare Mommy!" Xu Ye chirped, as happy as a little magpie.

"I was delayed for many days in Jiangling. A large tomb was discovered there, and for some reason, everyone who entered died. The excavation was halted, or I would have been back even later."

"Oh no, really? That's too dangerous, Daddy, you shouldn't go!" Xu Ye, tall and graceful, poured him a cup of tea and said fearfully.

"What's going on? It's so dangerous, you absolutely mustn't take such risks!" Xu Qiong frowned, also worried.

"It's fine, we bookworms don't need to take risks. They'll only let us research once everything is fully excavated," Yang Xiao explained kindly.

"Baling Mountain in Jiangling County, Hubei?" Ye Fan asked.

This was a renowned place, historically significant, with many ancient tombs densely packed in the mountains, predominantly Chu tombs, followed by Han tombs.

The terrain there was unique, composed of eight winding mountain ridges, stretching like a group of dragons dancing, or a thousand cavalry charging. Majestic and towering, it was known as Dragon Mountain in ancient times.

Yang Xiao nodded, confirming it was that place. This time, a large tomb from the Warring States period had been discovered there, mysterious to the point of being eerie. All probing equipment proved useless, and many people died. Only a small, broken stele had been unearthed at the tomb entrance, bearing large seal script resembling bird-fish-dragon beasts.

Ye Fan quickly fell silent again. His heart was now ashes; these things could barely pique his interest. His mind was desolate, and he stopped thinking about it.

"Although the archaeological excavation has been temporarily halted, it might resume after a while," Yang Xiao said.

"Daddy, don't go, it's too dangerous!" Xu Ye hugged his arm.

"If not for yourself, then think of Xiaoye. Don't go running around everywhere; stay put in your department," Xu Qiong added.

"Okay, I won't go next time. I'll just stay in B City," Yang Xiao said with a simple smile.

It was evident that this family was harmonious, and Xu Qiong had found a good home. After asking about everything concerning his parents and remembering every detail, Ye Fan prepared to take his leave.

"Where are you going? Why don't you stay with us?"

Xu Qiong gazed at him blankly, trying to persuade him to stay.

"No, I want to travel around different places. I'll invite your family for dinner another day." Before leaving, Ye Fan took out some small, crystal-clear ornaments and gave them to her.

"Wow, so pretty! What are these made of? They look like crystal but aren't, and they're even more beautiful than diamonds!" Xu Ye, lively and energetic, took them on behalf of her mother and kept examining them against the sunlight.

Yang Xiao, meanwhile, had a look of shock. He stood up, leaned closer, adjusted his glasses, and said, "These... they're at least two thousand years old."

Ye Fan thought for a moment, then took out some more small items. He gave Yang Xiao a wooden bead bracelet and a talisman, telling him to carry them when he went on archaeological expeditions. Like the other crystal-clear ornaments, these were rare treasures even in Beidou, capable of extending a mortal's lifespan. They contained formations that could protect the wearer.

Xu Ye hugged Ye Fan's arm, repeatedly exclaiming how nice her "Little Uncle" was. Yang Xiao, however, said they were too valuable to accept, potentially national treasures.

Only Xu Qiong knew the true value of these items. Having witnessed Ye Fan soar into the starry sky, she understood that these were definitely not ordinary objects; they might be what mortals called "immortal artifacts."

Ye Fan pondered, then took out two jade vials and placed them in her hand. Using a spiritual message, he informed her that she could take them if her body experienced any unexpected issues, but one pill at a time would suffice, and she must never take more.

Ye Fan walked away, about to disappear. Suddenly looking back, he saw Xu Qiong still standing there, tears in her eyes, murmuring, "Time... I missed a lifetime."

"Mommy, Uncle left, why aren't you coming in?" Xu Ye called out.

Yang Xiao took out a jacket, walked out, and gently draped it over her, saying, "Let's go inside, it's cold out."

"Mhm!" Xu Qiong nodded. What else could she be dissatisfied with? Everything was going smoothly now. As long as she didn't dwell on the past, she was undoubtedly happy.

Ye Fan walked blankly down the street. His parents' absence was a massive blow, making him feel life had lost its meaning. He didn't know where to go, just walked aimlessly, not wanting to stop, wishing to keep walking forever.

He didn't know how much time had passed, perhaps four or five days. He stopped before a park bench, sat down, and earnestly contemplated his next steps.

In his right palm, a large sarira appeared. It was left by the ancient Buddha who had achieved enlightenment in the Western Desert. True to his word, Ye Fan had brought it to this end of the starry sky.

In his left palm, a palm-sized stone coffin appeared. This was a forbidden item Qi Luo had entrusted him to discard in the starry sky, very possibly the ancient coffin of a deity buried in the Nine Heavens during the mythical era.

Suddenly, specks of flowing light emanated from his hands, turning into a shower of light that spread outwards.

"This is..."