He Still Couldn't Come Back

Countless years passed once more.

This time, no physical body entered.

Only a semi-transparent divine soul, dressed in a magnificent yet somewhat effeminate palace attire, drifted down onto the sandy beach.

The divine soul looked very weak, so transparent that it was on the verge of dissipating, exuding a sense of exhaustion and despair from being imprisoned and tortured.

This was Consort Xuan Ye Xuan, who was trapped in the deep palace of the Great Xia, relentlessly demanded by Empress Wu Lingxiao day and night, and tortured to the point of a nervous breakdown.

In his dreams, his spirit wandered the Great Void, following his instincts and the pull from the depths of his soul, bringing him here.

Wow... Fairy Sister!

Consort Xuan Ye Xuan looked at Yunmeng with glowing eyes. He was like a lost child who suddenly saw his mother, or a drowning man who suddenly caught a lifeline.

I dreamed of you a long time ago! So you are real!

He floated to Yunmeng's side, extended his semi-transparent hand, and carefully took hers.

Although he was in the state of a divine soul, he still felt the touch—that cold, soft sensation that made his very soul tremble.

Fairy Sister, you don't know how unreasonable that empress is!

Consort Xuan Ye Xuan felt so wronged that tears were about to fall, his voice choking with sobs:

She is simply a pervert! Every day she forces me to drink tonic soups and won't let me go out, keeping me like a canary in a cage!

Every night she wants... wants...

Consort Xuan Ye Xuan's face turned red, unable to continue.

She also doesn't let me see anyone or have any friends. I'm just like her plaything, her pet!

I'm so tired... I'm really so tired...

Consort Xuan Ye Xuan rested his head on Yunmeng's lap, his voice growing softer:

You are the best. Quiet and peaceful, you don't hit or scold people, and you wouldn't force me to do anything.

Only when I'm with you do I feel like a human being, rather than an object.

Yunmeng tilted her head, looking at this Ah Xuan with his aggrieved face and red eyes.

She could feel his pain and despair.

Although she still didn't quite understand the specific meanings of words like imprisoned and tortured, she could sense the scars on his soul.

She reached out and gently stroked his semi-transparent face.

Then, catching him off guard, she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.

Smack.

It was a light, pure kiss, full of comforting meaning.

Consort Xuan Ye Xuan was stunned.

His eyes widened, and two blushes appeared on his semi-transparent face.

Then, he rolled happily on the beach, like a child who had just received candy:

Is this love! This is what true love is!

I want to spend my whole life with you, Sister, just the two of us! To hell with the empress! I want to stay here forever!

I'm never going back! Let her guard an empty room all by herself!

Consort Xuan Ye Xuan hugged Yunmeng's legs, nuzzling affectionately:

Sister, can I stay here forever? I don't want to go back.

Yunmeng looked at him, a trace of gentleness flashing in her eyes.

She gently shook her head, her voice soft:

No.

You still have things to do.

You still have a mission unfulfilled.

Although she didn't quite understand what unfulfilled meant, she could feel that this Ah Xuan had not yet reached the end of his journey.

He still needed to go back, to experience more.

Consort Xuan Ye Xuan lowered his head in disappointment:

I knew it... good dreams always come to an end.

He looked up at Yunmeng, his eyes full of reluctance to part:

Then... Sister, can you promise me one thing?

The next time I come, will you still remember me?

Yunmeng nodded, her voice firm:

I will.

I will always remember you.

Ye Xuan.

Hearing this name, Consort Xuan Ye Xuan's tears finally fell.

They were tears of happiness, tears of being recognized.

However, dreams eventually wake.

In the Great Xia Imperial Palace, upon the dragon bed.

Ye Xuan abruptly opened his eyes, looking at the bright yellow canopy above him, and the empress sleeping soundly beside him with her arm draped over his waist.

Two streams of clear tears slid from the corners of his eyes, dampening the pillow.

If only that dream... were real.

He murmured softly, his voice full of despair and longing.

If only I could stay there forever... how wonderful it would be.

The scene shifted again.

This time, a man with overwhelming aura arrived.

He had just finished killing, and a terrifying murderous intent swirled around him.

But the moment he saw Yunmeng, all the killing intent vanished.

His gaze became gentle and soft, like a general who had fought for years finally returning home and seeing his waiting wife.

Yunmeng.

He called this name, a hint of trembling in his voice.

I'm back.

This was the Ye Xuan from Ziyao's memories, the one who bore the Great Luo inheritance, wielded a fairy sword, and was known as the Xuantian Sword Venerable. With a single strike, he could sever the galaxy, killing until no one in the world dared to challenge him.

He was already a true immortal of the mortal realm, standing at the pinnacle of this world.

But he still came here, still found Yunmeng.

When Yunmeng saw him, a brilliant smile appeared on her face.

She put down the seashell in her hand, ran over quickly, and threw herself into his arms.

Ah Xuan.

Her voice carried deep longing and joy.

You came late.

True Immortal Ye Xuan paused for a moment, then smiled bitterly:

Yes, I came late.

In this life, I have experienced too much. For the sake of revenge, to become stronger, I have done many wrong things and taken many detours.

He hugged Yunmeng, a trace of exhaustion in his voice:

But I am finally here.

And this time, I can stay for a long time.

True Immortal Ye Xuan lived here for a full thousand years.

This was the longest time he spent with Yunmeng among all his reincarnations.

This thousand years was the warmest, the one most like a married couple.

Yunmeng completely transformed into an ordinary woman—or rather, she learned how to live like one.

She would chat with him about daily affairs, ask him where he went today, pout when he came back late from catching fish in the sea, wipe his sweat when he was tired from practicing cultivation, and quietly watch his face when he fell asleep.

True Immortal Ye Xuan taught her many things.

He taught her to play chess, write, sing, and cook.

Although there were no ingredients here, he would use spiritual energy to condense the shapes of various foods, and pretend to eat with her.

Yunmeng, look, this is a candied hawthorn stick.

True Immortal Ye Xuan used spiritual energy to condense a crystal-clear candied hawthorn stick and handed it to Yunmeng:

The children outside all love to eat this. Although it's fake, you can taste it.

Yunmeng took the candied hawthorn stick and carefully took a bite.

Although it was just an illusion condensed from spiritual energy, she actually tasted the sweetness.

Her eyes lit up, as if she had discovered a new continent:

It's sweet!

Delicious!

True Immortal Ye Xuan looked at her happy expression, an indescribable gentleness welling up in his heart.

Do you like it?

I like it!

Then I'll make it for you every day from now on.

Okay!

They would walk together by the sea, hand in hand, watching the silver waves crash against the reefs time and time again.

They would sit together on the beach, watching the giant eyeball in the sky slowly close and then open.

They would gather shells together. Although Yunmeng had collected them countless times, with him by her side, every time felt as fresh as the first.

"Yunmeng, look at this shell. Doesn't it look like a heart?"

True Immortal Ye Xuan held up a heart-shaped shell and said with a smile.

Yunmeng took the shell, examined it carefully, and then nodded.

"It does."

"Then I'll give it to you."

True Immortal Ye Xuan said earnestly.

"This is my heart."

Yunmeng tilted her head, slightly puzzled.

"Isn't your heart in your chest?"

True Immortal Ye Xuan smiled, reached out, and gently tapped Yunmeng's forehead.

"Silly."

"My heart has been with you all along."

Yunmeng froze for a moment, then blushed.

She lowered her head, tightly clutching the shell, her voice very soft.

"Me... me too."

Over this millennium, they had built a true connection.

It was no longer a one-sided guardianship, no longer a one-sided companionship.

But a mutual, equal, and soul-deep love.

However, destiny was ultimately inescapable.

One early morning.

True Immortal Ye Xuan stood by the sea, looking at the horizon with a solemn gaze.

Yunmeng walked up beside him and gently took his hand.

"What's wrong?"

True Immortal Ye Xuan remained silent for a long time before speaking.

"I have to go."

Yunmeng's hand trembled slightly.

"I am going to the Spirit Realm, and then ascend to the Immortal Realm."

True Immortal Ye Xuan turned around and looked at Yunmeng, his eyes full of reluctance and guilt.

"I must avenge my master, Wei Wuji."

"He graced me with his teachings. He was murdered, and I cannot just sit by and do nothing."

Yunmeng's hands, which were sorting the shells, paused.

She did not ask him to stay, did not cry or make a fuss, and did not tell him not to go.

She just silently stood up, walked over to True Immortal Ye Xuan, helped him straighten the collar of his battle armor, and then gently nodded.

"Go."

Her voice was calm, but a trace of reluctance flashed in her eyes.

"I will wait for you here."

True Immortal Ye Xuan hugged her tightly, his voice choking with emotion.

"I'm sorry."

"I know you don't want me to leave, but I have to go."

Yunmeng shook her head, reached out, and gently stroked his face.

"You don't need to say sorry."

"You have your Dao, and I have my Dao."

"Your Dao is to do what you must do."

"And my Dao..."

Yunmeng paused, her voice becoming firmer.

"Is to wait for you right here."

"No matter how long it takes, I will wait."

True Immortal Ye Xuan's tears finally fell.

He kissed Yunmeng's forehead, his voice full of promise.

"I will come back."

"Once I have taken my revenge, once I have secured a foothold in the Immortal Realm, I will come back for you."

"I will take you away from here and show you the real world."

Yunmeng smiled, a very gentle smile.

"Okay."

"I will wait for you."

True Immortal Ye Xuan turned to leave, looking back with every step he took.

Yunmeng stood there, quietly watching him, a gentle smile always on her face.

It wasn't until his figure completely disappeared that Yunmeng lowered her head to look at the heart-shaped shell in her hand.

A tear slipped from the corner of her eye and fell onto the shell.

It was her first time crying.

And it was also her first time truly understanding the meaning of parting.

True Immortal Ye Xuan ultimately never returned.

Everything was self-evident.

The cruel cycle of reincarnation continued.

This time, it was a man covered in blood, with a terrifying, gaping bloody hole violently torn into his chest.

He stumbled into this pure land; it was exactly the lifetime where he had been ruthlessly betrayed by Xia Lengyue, who had taken his heart's blood.

He collapsed heavily onto the beach, on the verge of death, his life force rapidly draining away.

Yunmeng quickly walked over.

She didn't ask why. She simply reached out her fair hands, her palms surging with a gentle yet majestic silver light of origin, and pressed them lightly against his gruesome chest.

The fatal wound, enough to make a True Immortal fall, instantly regenerated flesh and bone under this supreme power, healing completely.

Ye Xuan weakly opened his eyes.

He looked at Yunmeng kneeling beside him, her eyes full of purity, and let out a desolate, bitter laugh.

"Just as I thought."

"I knew the heavens wouldn't be this cruel to me forever."

"How could a heartless wretch like Xia Lengyue ever be my perfect match? My true heart was nothing but a stepping stone in her eyes..."

"It turns out, there is only you. Only you have been waiting for me in the long river of time, never betraying me."

However, upon hearing the name Xia Lengyue,

Yunmeng's originally calm and placid face suddenly furrowed into an extremely rare frown.

She reached out with cold fingers and pinched Ye Xuan's chin, forcing him to look at her.

In her ethereal voice, for the first time ever, there was a trace of extremely domineering possessiveness:

"In front of me,"

"you are not allowed to mention other women's names."

Ye Xuan was slightly taken aback, and then an indescribable ecstasy surged in his heart.

He nodded heavily and pulled her tightly into his arms, wishing he could meld her into his very flesh and blood:

"Okay!"

"Only you! For all my lifetimes, only you!"

The scenes flashed by like a revolving lantern.

This time, the one who entered was an old madman with disheveled hair and a withered body.

He looked to be over a hundred years old, his vitality depleted, his lifespan like a candle in the wind. It was none other than Ye Qingcheng's husband.

"I... I'm back here again? Am I dreaming?"

Old Madman Ye Xuan looked at Yunmeng in front of him, an astonishing light bursting from his clouded eyes.

In the days that followed,

this dying old madman displayed a stunning brilliance that would make even the heavens jealous!

Like an obsessed lunatic, he covered the silver beach with dense, profoundly arcane Dao runes drawn by his fingers, frantically deducing day and night.

"I want to create a cultivation technique!"

"A technique that does not belong to this world!"

"It can ignore karmic backlash! Ignore all defenses! It will allow someone to die silently in an instant, and... never be able to enter the cycle of reincarnation!"

"Of course, I am the only exception to this spell. Because I still need to keep my life to see you, lifetime after lifetime!"

Yunmeng was a supreme being; she did not understand the mortal world's arts of killing.

But she understood the most fundamental rules of this world.

She sat quietly by the side, occasionally reaching out a finger to point out fatal flaws in Ye Xuan's deductions, or directly using her power to forcefully help him sort out the Dao laws.

Finally.

The day the spell succeeded!

The heavens and the earth changed colors, a storm of blood rained down, and even the sky above the Sea of Reincarnation manifested the apocalyptic anomaly of heavenly tribulation lightning!

Old Madman Ye Xuan laughed wildly at the sky, tears streaming down his aged face. Holding the newly inscribed scripture that radiated a terrifying murderous aura in both hands, he offered it to Yunmeng like a treasured prize:

"The foundation of this spell was developed for you at the cost of my lifespan."

"I have named it—City-Toppling Love."

"To commemorate... that in my heart, your beauty topples nations and cities. Unmatched by anyone."