Chapter 980: Miya Sai's Final Tenderness

Lingyin looked at him, puzzled. "Why do you ask that?"

Jiang Fan looked around. The valley was clean and tidy, completely visible at a glance. There were no chickens anywhere.

"Never mind. Just pretend I didn't ask," Jiang Fan said, cupping his hands in farewell before leaving.

Long after he had left, Yaoyue emerged, carrying a sealed bottle of wine. Glancing at the untouched wine on the table, she hummed, "I was going to give him a bottle of this." "Ungrateful fellow!"

Disappointment was evident in her eyes.

She had carefully brewed the osmanthus wine for Jiang Fan's successful tribulation, yet he hadn't taken a single sip.

Lingyin said calmly, "The matter of Boundary Mountain is a hurdle he cannot overcome in his heart. If things continue like this, you two will never be together in this life. Go to Taicang Great State. Change your identity, change your destiny."

Yaoyue remained silent for a long time, then sighed, "Mother, let's just drop it."

"He deeply values the people around him. I don't want to deceive him."

If Jiang Fan were heartless and ungrateful, she wouldn't mind.

However, thinking of how deeply saddened Jiang Fan was by Ling Shu's death, she felt a sense of guilt about deceiving someone like him.

Lingyin plucked a peach blossom petal and dropped it into a cup of wine.

"Drink this."

Yaoyue took the cup and, perplexed, drank it all.

Lingyin slowly rose and said calmly, "From now on, you and Jiang Fan can start anew."

Yaoyue tilted her head, her eyes filled with thought.

After a while, she asked, puzzled, "Who is Jiang Fan?"

On the snowy mountain.

Yuemingzhu stood with her arms crossed, eyeing Gong Caiyi. "Are you really decided on returning to the Spirit Beast Sect?"

"You're not going with Jiang Fan to Taicang Great State?"

Gong Caiyi lowered her gaze. "I wish I could."

"But I still have the Spirit Beast Sect, a sect that has suffered over half its casualties."

Yuemingzhu frowned deeply.

Gong Caiyi had always been worried about the Spirit Beast Sect, and now it had suffered such a severe blow.

Given her gentle nature, she was even more reluctant to leave it.

"Think carefully!"

"Once he leaves, he will rarely return to the continent. Your bond will slowly fade with time."

"Consider yourself more. Don't worry about the sect."

A hint of sadness flashed in Gong Caiyi's eyes.

She knew all too well that after this separation, with vast distances and time, their connection would eventually break.

But recalling the tragic deaths of her sect members, and their departed faces, made it impossible for her to let go.

"Shengyan," she called out Yuemingzhu's true name, her eyes full of entrustment:

"Take good care of Jiang Fan, for both of us."

She took out the bronze array disc that Jiang Fan had left at the bottom of the mountain and placed it in Yuemingzhu's hand.

Then she mounted a flying beast and departed.

Yuemingzhu was left standing on the snow, looking desolate. "Foolish woman."

"Why don't you live for yourself?"

The flying beast soared high into the sky, weaving through the clouds.

Gong Caiyi lowered her head, and sparkling tears welled up in her eyes, unable to be held back any longer.

"Jiang Fan... I don't want to leave you either."

"But I can't abandon those sect members who died."

Just then, her waist tightened.

A pair of hands gently embraced her from behind.

The warmth of the chest made Gong Caiyi stiffen. She looked up to see a face full of tenderness.

"Jiang Fan?" Gong Caiyi exclaimed in surprise.

Jiang Fan looked at her with a complicated expression and asked, "Are you truly not coming with me to Taicang Great State?"

The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion had everything prepared, awaiting only Jiang Fan's readiness to depart together for Taicang Great State.

They would rarely return to the continent.

Unable to suppress her sadness, Gong Caiyi turned and embraced him, saying:

"I'm sorry, I can't abandon them."

A pang of sadness crossed Jiang Fan's heart.

Having experienced the deaths of his compatriots from the Nine Sects of Boundary Mountain, and the death of Ling Shu, he understood Gong Caiyi.

She also had people she wanted to protect, and responsibilities she couldn't let go of.

And these were more important than staying with Jiang Fan forever.

Jiang Fan held Gong Caiyi tightly, pressing her head deep into his chest, and whispered:

"Thank you for bringing gentleness to my years."

"When that young man was most alone, you shone into his world like a ray of light."

"Thank you, Caiyi."

His words of farewell caused a tearing pain in Gong Caiyi's heart.

She held Jiang Fan tightly, unwilling to let go, and said tearfully, "You saved me too."

"It was you who, at all costs, saved the Spirit Beast Sect members, ensuring I wouldn't live the rest of my life in pain and guilt."

"I should be thanking you."

Jiang Fan remained silent.

In their silent embrace, a deep regret settled in their hearts.

Gong Caiyi had shown him gentleness, but he couldn't return it in kind.

All he could offer was a wish.

"Please take care for the rest of your life."

Jiang Fan kissed her forehead, slowly released her, a glint of tears in his eyes.

Gong Caiyi dared not look into Jiang Fan's eyes, knowing she had hurt his heart.

Her heart was filled with guilt.

After a few moments of silence, she gently looked up and said, "How about I give you a parting gift?"

Jiang Fan nodded. "What is it?"

Gong Caiyi took Jiang Fan's hand and slowly placed it on her chest, asking:

"You once said that my age is when one is most mature, and that you liked that, right?"

"Then, I'll give myself to you."

"This is my last act of tenderness."

She slowly closed her eyes, like a gently blooming lotus, awaiting collection.

Jiang Fan smiled bitterly.

His last act of tenderness?

Looking at the face that was about to depart, a face he might never see again in this life, he took hold of her garment, gently pulled it open, and said softly:

"Alright, let's give each other one last act of tenderness!"

Her colorful skirt was laid out on the flying beast's furry back.

Amidst Gong Caiyi's lingering trembles, Jiang Fan's sword opened the heavenly gate, taking her to the cloud peaks.

She was tearful.

They were tears of joy.

It was as if she was dreaming of Qingyun City again, walking travel-stained through its bustling streets.

Casually, she had glimpsed a handsome youth with delicate features, calling out offers for free trials of beauty cream.

The sun was gently warm then, and the spring breeze was mild.

An hour later.

Gong Caiyi, looking exhausted, adjusted her skirt. Aching pains swept through her body, and her chest was covered in hickeys.

She had no complaints, only satisfaction and happiness.

"You didn't lie to me; you truly like me this way."

Jiang Fan awkwardly put on his clothes; things had been a bit too wild just now.

He couldn't help it; she was too tempting.

Gong Caiyi composed herself and said, "Well, then, we should say goodbye now."

Jiang Fan rose into the air and said solemnly, "If you ever have trouble, come find me in Taicang Great State."

Gong Caiyi didn't respond, merely parting her red lips to say, "Take care."

She turned away, not daring to look at Jiang Fan again, and gradually departed with the flying beast.

Jiang Fan stood rooted to the spot, watching her disappear from sight for a long time before letting out a long sigh and vanishing himself.

A short while later.

Outside Solitary Boat City.

Jiang Fan stood before a rather luxurious, newly renovated tomb. If he hadn't seen his father's tombstone, he would have almost thought he was at the wrong grave.

"Father, are you happy?"

"Your son has made something of himself; someone even helped renovate your tomb."

Jiang Fan smiled gently, taking out the black box his father had never parted with.

"Don't rush, there's even better news to come."

"Didn't you always regret not being able to see what Mother left in the hidden compartment of the black box?"

"Today, we, father and son, will witness it together."