After hearing Xiao Yan's promise, the previously uneasy group of girls finally calmed down. But once their emotions settled, the reluctance to part soon followed. Seeing this, Xiao Xuan and the others tactfully left, giving the younger men and women space for their goodbyes.
"Brother Xiao Yan, Xun'er will be waiting for you."
"Xiao Yan, you better not forget us..."
"Take care of yourself, alright? Be cautious no matter what..."
"Enough, don't be so sentimental." In the end, it was Qing Tan who spoke up, pulling Xiao Yan out from the circle of girls. If they kept saying their goodbyes like this, and Xiao Yan didn't stay for a big chaotic farewell, it would be difficult to wrap things up. That's exactly why she stepped in. "Let's go."
"'Let's'?" Xiao Yan looked at her in surprise. "You're coming with me?"
"I'm curious about the world that the Symbol Ancestor and the Evil Demon Emperor came from," Qing Tan nodded and said. Although she hadn't yet broken through to the Ancestor Realm, her strength had already reached the peak of the third cycle of Samsara. With her gradually awakening yin-cold elemental force, she was no longer the same person she once was. She had confidence that once in the new world, she could protect herself.
"What about Lin Jing? Aren't you going to look after her?" Xiao Yan frowned slightly.
"She's grown up now—no longer that little girl who needed me to take care of her. Besides, your other confidantes are very fond of her. Even if I leave, there'll be plenty of people to watch over her." A smile tugged at Qing Tan's lips. She had once considered staying behind for the sake of her old companions, but her time on the Dou Qi Continent had helped her think things through.
The past was the past. One had to look forward. She couldn't let go of her old experiences, but she also couldn't abandon the people who now held a place in her heart. If that was the case, why couldn't she go on living? By living, she could still witness all the beauty they never had the chance to see.
"Since you're set on it, then I'll take you with me." Xiao Yan thought for a moment and nodded. Qing Tan's cultivation system was different from theirs—based on elemental force instead of Dou Qi. He hadn't brought Zi Yan and the others because they could still rely on Origin Qi in the Dou Qi Continent to gradually reach the Dou Di realm. But Qing Tan couldn't. It was uncertain how long she'd take to reach the Ancestor Realm through normal cultivation. In that case, she might as well come along to explore the Great Thousand World.
"Sister Qing Tan, we're leaving Xiao Yan to you!" The other girls, though envious of Qing Tan being able to follow him, quickly entrusted her with their hopes.
"Not sure who's looking after whom," Xiao Yan laughed and shook his head. His eyes swept toward Xiao Zhan and the others as he said, "Father, big brothers, I'll be going first."
"Take care on your journey!"
"Everyone, until we meet again!" With the final farewells complete, Xiao Yan didn't linger. He cupped his fists to the crowd of reluctant faces, then quickly lifted his head and shot toward the pitch-black dimensional tunnel in the sky. Qing Tan hurried to follow, though her speed wasn't on par with his. Thankfully, Xiao Yan slowed down on purpose and extended some of his own Dou Qi to accelerate her passage. Together, they soared into the dimensional tunnel.
Xun'er and the others watched the scene, all letting out a long sigh. Amid their sorrow, a trace of curiosity bloomed for that new world. None of them knew what awaited on the other side of that portal.
"You better come back…" Cai Lin murmured as she watched Xiao Yan and Qing Tan disappear. She gently touched her abdomen, and the ever-cold look on her face softened in an unusually tender expression.
Beside her, Xiao Yixian sighed and asked quietly, "Why didn't you tell him?"
"He was going to leave sooner or later. What difference would it make if I did?" Cai Lin shook her head. "It would only have added to his worries. Isn't it better to let him leave without burdens?"
…
Central Plains, Pill Domain.
The Blood Calamity Witch, having just escaped an ambush, leaned against a tree, treating her wounds with the medicine she carried. As she carefully applied strange salves to her injuries, a great boom echoed across heaven and earth. She looked up instinctively—and saw two figures streaking toward the dark vortex in the sky.
"That's… Teacher?" Though they were far away, Ye Lingyu recognized the black-haired youth instantly. The moment she did, it was as if she forgot her injuries entirely. She stood up abruptly—but before she could shout, the two figures had already entered the portal and vanished from sight.
"Was that really Teacher? Or… was I seeing things?" Ye Lingyu rubbed her eyes. She hadn't rested properly in a long time, spending her days fleeing endless pursuit. She had been close to collapse. But that glimpse, like a fleeting comet, had given her new hope.
"No, that was definitely Teacher! He's alive!" Excitement lit up Ye Lingyu's face. She clenched her fists and looked at the still-present portal. "A gateway to another world… huh… Teacher, you deceived me so badly. I'm going to make you explain yourself!"
At that moment, the Blood Calamity Witch—who had lived solely for revenge—found herself with a new purpose: to follow that man into another world and find his trail. Of course, hidden deep in her heart was a secret ambition that no one else knew—she wanted to make that revered teacher her very own.
"Just now, Teacher seemed to fly out from the direction of Starfall Pavilion. Could it be… he belongs to Starfall Pavilion?" As her mind calmed, Ye Lingyu began to think rationally once more.
She knew nothing of Xiao Yan's past—only his name. Though Xiao Yan was the Young Pavilion Master of Starfall Pavilion and had done many earth-shattering things, all of it had been done in secret. Few knew of it, and thus his name wasn't well-known in the Central Plains. That was why Ye Lingyu had never been able to find any real information about him.
Now, she finally had a new lead. No matter what, she decided to head to Starfall Pavilion to investigate. Perhaps she could find traces of him there.
However, given Starfall Pavilion's close relationship with the Pill Tower, she couldn't use the name "Ye Lingyu." Otherwise, her identity as the Blood Calamity Witch would be exposed. She needed a new name.
"A new name… I'll call myself You Quan." The young woman looked at a clear spring in the distance and casually chose her new identity.
(End of Chapter)
---
This Fanfiction Has Been Completed on Patreon, There is 2 Chapters Ahead of Release for Free Members on my Patreon.
Support me if you like this Fanfiction.
Patreon,com/Fallen_Archangel_
(Remove comma for dot.)
Leave a 5 star Review and a Power Stone.