“What an astonishing young man… One cannot grow without enduring hardships; he must have suffered immensely.”
As You’er’s figure receded into the distance and eventually vanished, the old man suddenly turned his head to gaze at a certain spot, seemingly speaking to himself.
No sooner had the old man’s words faded than a figure cloaked in a grey robe materialized like a phantom, raising his head to fix his gaze on the direction You’er had departed, his eyes profound and far-reaching.
“He has already died once, so the curse’s power must have significantly weakened. Why not come out and see him? Honestly, even now, I find it peculiar that you saved that little girl a year ago, yet you didn’t save him.”
After a long moment of scrutinizing the grey-robed figure, the old man posed this question.
“The curse resides within both of us. If I had intervened to save him, it would only have hastened his demise. Lilinai, however, is different; she hadn’t even been born when I was cursed, which is why the curse’s hold on her is comparatively weaker.”
In response to the old man’s inquiry, the grey-robed figure finally spoke, his voice sounding profound yet tinged with a hoarse undertone.
“Since you already have a clear understanding, I, this old man, won’t say much more. It’s just a pity for that child… alas!”
The old man shook his head helplessly, then pondered aloud.
“He has already acquired your sword skills, and with the special dark seed you planted within him in his youth, I can only hope these will help him resist the curse’s erosion and overcome the hardships of fate.”
“I believe in him!”
As he spoke, the grey-robed figure turned his gaze to the old man.
“You, too, severed a part of yourself and bestowed it upon him. I’ve never seen you so generous.”
“Heh heh, as an elder, it’s only natural to give a junior a welcoming gift,” the old man chuckled in reply, casting a teasing glance at the grey-robed figure.
“Besides, I, this old man, am a dual-spirit artifact; even if I lose one, I can still survive through the other. It’s you, with your preferred weapon gone, who must be truly troubled, wouldn’t you say?”
“If it’s gone, then it’s gone.”
The grey-robed figure raised his arm, revealing a meter-long, blunt heavy sword clutched in his palm—remarkably, it was identical to You’er’s ‘Hidden Edge’!
“Weapons are ultimately external objects; the only thing truly worth relying on is oneself.”
After caressing the heavy sword in his hand and passing it to the old man, the grey-robed figure turned away.
“Your words wound this old man’s heart.”
The old man spread his withered palms, replying with a sigh of resignation, then, as if a thought had struck him, a sinister smile, utterly unbefitting his age, spread across his face.
“Oh, right, when do you plan to stir up trouble for Eternal Night? Your son was bullied; with your temper, you surely won’t stand idly by, will you?”
“Eternal Night… the debts owed to my son and daughter, I will certainly collect. However, before that, I have more pressing matters to attend to.”
Upon hearing the words ‘Eternal Night,’ a chilling glint emanated from the grey-robed figure’s eyes, and he replied with a cold sneer.
“What expressions will those old geezers from Eternal Night have on their faces when they see you? This old man is truly looking forward to it… Oh-ho, it seems another young man has awakened.”
The old man’s somewhat gleeful laughter lingered for a moment, then, as if sensing something, he composed his expression, turned around, and looked up.
It was still the same green bamboo forest, still the same courtyard, as if nothing had changed.
Yet, within the house’s upper chambers, in the very same room, another young man, with long silver hair and eyes of crimson-purple, slowly opened his eyes amidst a haze.
This was the second young man, and everything that had transpired before seemed to unfold once more.
“Your sword skills are perfected, and your sword intent mastered, young man. I doubt you’ll linger much longer, will you? Where do you intend to go next?”
The old man stroked his beard as he asked the young man.
“I don’t know,” the young man replied, looking somewhat lost.
“As you know, senior, I don’t recall anything from my past.”
“At the very least, you still hold one memory, don’t you?” the old man smiled.
The young man couldn’t help but recall the sole memory remaining in his mind: the kind and beautiful Rose Princess, and the tender companionship of their journey together over those few days.
“She has already returned to her rightful place. Will she still need me?” the young man asked, a hint of unease in his voice.
“Young man, many things cannot be known unless you go and see them for yourself,” the old man replied, his smile unwavering.
“This junior understands. Thank you for your guidance, senior.”
The young man, Gugu You’er, now held an answer in his heart.
He would journey once more to Green Rose, to meet Yuina again.