No Regrets

A light rain was falling from the sky, pattering softly.

The valley was shrouded in a hazy mist. In the distance, a flock of white egrets flew past the mountains, forming a beautiful picturesque scene.

Within the white mist, a massive manor loomed faintly. Above the manor, two large, elegantly written characters were vaguely visible: Hidden Sword.

The manor was heavily guarded. From time to time, people within would rise with their swords, flying through the air.

Resonant sword hums occasionally echoed from inside the manor.

On the rugged path at the foot of the manor, there was a figure dressed in white.

Holding an oiled paper umbrella, his gaze was deep as he looked up at the manor ahead.

Though his feet touched the ground, they gathered no mud. Though he walked through the rain, he remained untouched by the damp mist.

He covered thirty feet with a single step, looking like a banished immortal descending to the mortal realm.

When he reappeared, he was already slowly ascending the stone steps in front of the mountain gate.

Before long, he had arrived inside the manor.

Despite the manor's strict security, no one noticed this extra figure in white.

He ventured deeper.

Passing the martial arts arena, he saw countless manor disciples practicing their swordplay, but he did not pause for even a half-step.

There were experts discussing the Dao in the manor's main hall, but he didn't give them a second glance.

Life is but a dream.

Everything happening around him seemed to have nothing to do with him.

He was like the air itself—truly existing, yet elusive, formless, and traceless.

It seemed there was nothing in this world that could capture his attention or pique his interest.

He passed through corridors and courtyards, arriving at the manor's back mountain.

A stone stele stood at the entrance to the back mountain.

Carved into the stele were two bright red characters: Forbidden Ground.

Beneath the large characters was a line of small text: Trespassers will die.

The defenses of the back mountain were even stricter than those of the main manor, yet still, no one noticed the arrival of this figure in white.

Strolling as if taking a leisurely walk in a courtyard, he quietly passed right in front of the guards and arrived beside a towering, sheer cliff.

On the cliff face hung a stark white skeleton, pinned to the rock by a sharp sword.

The sword gleamed, and the white bones were chilling.

This scene looked completely out of place against the surrounding green mountains and clear waters.

The figure in white closed his oiled paper umbrella, revealing a handsome face.

This person was Yi Feng.

Yi Feng stepped into the air, floating up to sit suspended beside the skeleton.

He looked at the stark white bones and revealed a gentle smile, as if meeting an old friend.

Glancing around at the picturesque scenery, Yi Feng took out a tea set as he spoke.

The environment here isn't bad. It can be called a place endowed by the spirits of the universe, a true blessed paradise.

Yi Feng placed two white jade cups in the air.

Then, he raised the teapot and poured golden, amber-like tea into the two cups.

As curling steam rose, Yi Feng let out a soft sigh.

Sigh, but with your personality, staying here all alone for so long must have been very lonely.

Saying this, Yi Feng's gaze shifted from the teacup to the white bones.

Today I came to catch up with you, and to have you accompany me for some tea.

A gentle breeze brushed past, as if responding to Yi Feng.

Yi Feng raised his teacup and downed it in one gulp. The warm, sweet liquid flooded his mouth, bringing him a sense of tranquility.

The more tranquil he felt, the more he missed the past.

A delicate and pretty face suddenly surfaced in Yi Feng's mind.

Yi Feng seemed to see that innocent and playful young girl once again.

Her silver-bell-like voice seemed to ring out once more, echoing in his ears.

Yet, Yi Feng could not clearly hear what secrets her heart was pouring out.

As Yi Feng swallowed the warm current of the tea, a warm current gradually surged in his heart.

Yi Feng's smile slowly faded. His gaze turned deep and distant, and his thoughts were pulled back to a long, long time ago.

It was a devastated planet.

After a fierce battle, the clouds in the sky had evaporated, and countless deep craters were exposed to the scorching sun.

Gunpowder smoke filled the air everywhere. Corpses, magical artifacts, weapons, and all sorts of fragments and wreckage were scattered across the land.

The blood-red sunlight slanted down, but it did not bring the slightest bit of vitality to this place.

Instead, it made the planet appear even more desolate and bloody.

A squad trudged wearily over the various debris.

They had just survived a brutal battle. Everyone bore wounds of varying severity, looking utterly wretched.

Yet among them was a young girl clad in battle armor.

She was hiding behind a massive boulder, squatting on the ground and using a puddle formed by blood to fix her makeup and hair accessories.

In the pool of blood, her pretty face remained the same, though it was stained with much blood.

It was impossible to tell if the blood was hers or someone else's.

The girl had already grown numb to the pain.

At this moment, she only wanted to experience the girlish feeling of dressing up in front of a mirror from the past, trying her best to keep herself looking delicate.

This was a beautiful girl's self-cultivation, and also one of her wishes.

After enduring endless battles, the girl no longer held any confidence in her survival.

She wanted to make her final appearance a bit more beautiful; this was her last bit of stubbornness.

After finishing her grooming, the girl stood up and walked around the boulder, suddenly spotting a pure white little flower.

The small white flower swayed in the wind, looking exceptionally holy and beautiful against the backdrop of blood.

Having just fixed her makeup and now seeing such a beautiful sight, the girl's mood instantly brightened.

She revealed a sweet smile, as warm as the winter sun.

She stepped forward, squatted on the ground, and carefully plucked this resilient little white flower.

The girl took a sniff. A faint, refreshing fragrance filled her nose, relaxing her mind and spirit.

It was a long-lost feeling; the girl felt completely refreshed.

Seeing the girl, smiling like a flower, place the little white blossom in her hair, the others in the group also smiled.

This scene was so beautiful it felt unreal, but they cherished the beauty before their eyes all the more.

Junior Sister, you're dressing up again right after a battle. You really do love beauty as always.

That's exactly our Junior Sister's personality.

...

The group talked and laughed, as if they weren't on a battlefield at all.

The girl put her hands on her hips and widened her beautiful eyes, feigning a look of disdain.

Hmph, what do you clueless brutes know? You guys can't discover these beautiful things. You have no appreciation.

Yes, yes, yes, summer insects cannot understand ice. We are all just rough men; we can't be compared to Junior Sister.

The girl looked smug but still pretended to be playful and haughty.

She shifted her gaze upward, her bright eyes shining as she said, Tch, as long as you know.

In the future, if we win, I want to see all the beautiful scenery in this world, play with all the fun things under heaven, eat all the delicious foods across the planets, and buy lots and lots of beautiful jade hairpins and clothes.

The girl spoke to herself, and the crowd followed her imagination, breaking into loud laughter.

Suddenly, a crystalline tear quietly flickered in the girl's eyes.

She looked at the group, forcing a smile, and said, But, if I die, you must remember to scatter my ashes into the ocean, let me drift with the waves, and see all the beautiful scenery along the shores.

You also have to scatter my ashes into a blooming sea of flowers, let me become nourishment for the earth, and bloom alongside the flowers.

No, not just that. You must also scatter my ashes into the river of stars, so I can flow with the galaxy, see all the wonders of the cosmos, travel every inch of the starry sky, and become one of the stars above.

"In that case, I suppose I have no regrets..."