The Light of the Righteous Path (End)

Du Chengying chatted casually with Lin Qi for a long time, leaving the group of Merfolk out to dry for ages. Having been frozen for three days and three nights, the Merfolk were absolutely terrified when they saw Du Chengying again. The more nonchalant Du Chengying appeared, the more they feared what their fate would be.

Lin Qi also saw that Du Chengying was intentionally intimidating them, so he calmly played along. The Water Qilin also tacitly stared at the frozen Merfolk Tribe with its eerie emerald eyes, lazily yawning and revealing a mouthful of sharp teeth.

Once they were sufficiently frightened, Du Chengying finally turned his face. He looked coldly at the terrified Merfolk and said slowly, "I will only give you one chance."

The Merfolk had long been scared out of their wits, their eyes revealing sheer submissiveness.

"Who ordered you to do this?" Du Chengying asked coldly.

Lin Qi was slightly surprised. He had thought it was just an accidental mishap, so how was there someone behind it? He looked at the frozen Merfolk in confusion, and without exception, the Merfolk's eyes revealed the panic of having their cover blown.

What a group of creatures completely unsuited for doing bad deeds.

The Water Qilin opened its mouth and inhaled some of the Qi of the Yellow Springs into its belly. The ice covering the Merfolk melted away. The Merfolk Tribe was an exceptionally united group; they shivered and held hands, huddling together while looking at Du Chengying with terrified eyes.

"Not going to speak?" Du Chengying tilted his head and said to Lin Qi, "Senior Brother, please step away for a moment."

Lin Qi played along, saying, "Alright, just don't make it too messy."

"I, I, I'll s-speak..." Among the group of Merfolk, the short Merfolk that looked familiar to Lin Qi opened his mouth. With every word he spoke, a puff of white air trembled out of his lips; he was clearly freezing.

Yue Ding took several deep breaths. His beautiful face was frozen a zombie-like pale blue, set with a pair of black eyes that looked as resentful as a female ghost. "I-it was a c-cultivator. He s-said, s-said Luoxia was w-with h-him."

Lin Qi froze.

Du Chengying seemed to have expected this. "What kind of cultivator?"

Yue Ding took another breath, the chill easing slightly, and spoke more fluently. "That cultivator disguised his appearance, there was nothing special about him."

Lin Qi's death had always been a sore spot in Du Chengying's heart. In his past life, he had suspected Baoshu Zhenren and hadn't hesitated to use severe torture to interrogate Baoshu. Baoshu admitted that he had always been secretly keeping an eye on Du Chengying and had pulled many little tricks to temper him, but he had no reason to murder Lin Qi.

Harming a fellow sect member was a serious crime. Baoshu treated the Ancestral Master's words as golden rules to be strictly obeyed; he was rule-abiding to his very bones, indeed not the type whose nature would violate sect rules.

The Water Qilin carried Lin Qi and Du Chengying away. Du Chengying sat silently behind Lin Qi, tightly holding Lin Qi's hand.

Lin Qi knew what he was thinking. He really wanted to tell Du Chengying that it was meaningless—even if he caught the murderer, it would be useless, as this was just his character setting.

A faint shadow suddenly cast over the joyful and sweet atmosphere.

"Don't worry, Senior Brother," Du Chengying lowered his head, resting his chin on Lin Qi's shoulder. "I won't let anyone hurt you."

Lin Qi gave a muffled 'mhm'.

Du Chengying hugged him tightly, nuzzling his cheek against the side of Lin Qi's face. "Don't worry, give me a smile."

Lin Qi forced a smile. Du Chengying gazed intently at his deeply furrowed brows and asked softly, "Do you... know who it is?"

Even though he knew it was useless, Lin Qi still revealed the clue he had actually noticed in his past life: "That person had a rich scent of alchemical pills on them."

Du Chengying said decisively, "It wasn't Baoshu."

"I also don't think it was Baoshu Zhenren," Lin Qi said. "The scent of alchemical pills on that person was extremely strong, almost as if it were intentional."

Lin Qi had a gentle temperament and never made enemies. As to who would want to murder Lin Qi and for what purpose, Du Chengying had never been able to figure it out. Since there was no motive, he had acted like a headless fly, fiercely torturing and interrogating every single suspect.

However, in this life, he had taken Lin Qi far away from Mount Yuelu right from the start, and the murderer had instead revealed a flaw.

Luoxia was hidden inside Lin Qi's cave dwelling. Firstly, this person must have entered Lin Qi's cave dwelling. Secondly, this person understood the customs of the Merfolk Tribe. Thirdly, this person wasn't in a hurry to kill Lin Qi in this life.

Perhaps Du Chengying hadn't left any loopholes for him to exploit, or perhaps that person was testing Lin Qi's position in his heart.

No matter what, Du Chengying had to ferret out this person.

Gripping Lin Qi's hand tighter, Du Chengying said again, "Don't worry, Senior Brother, I will protect you." He said this not only for Lin Qi to hear but even more so for himself. Lin Qi was right by his side; if he still couldn't protect him, how could he face him?

Lin Qi's mind was in a tangled mess. He quietly called out to the System a few times, but the System remained offline with no response, probably too engrossed in binge-watching a variety show.

Thirty years. Lin Qi had originally thought thirty years would be long enough. How could it be that after only a few days, he felt that thirty years was far too short? How would Du Chengying be able to bear it?

"Didn't we agree to live an ordinary life?" Lin Qi composed himself, squeezing Du Chengying's hand in return, and smiled. "Just having each other's company is enough."

"Mhm." Du Chengying suppressed the unease in his heart and gently kissed the side of Lin Qi's face. "We will rely on each other and stay together for a lifetime."

Lin Qi lowered his eyes. The weight of Du Chengying's lifetime was entirely different from the weight of his own. He only nodded lightly. "Okay."

The two of them continued to settle in the fishing village. The Merfolk Tribe had been beaten into submission and didn't dare to cause any more trouble. Having lost a generation of Merfolk in the process, they honestly released the 'Mirage Clam' over the sea, preventing people from passing through the waters, which in turn protected Du Chengying and Lin Qi's seclusion.

It was another sunny day. Yue Ding reluctantly rode a large fish to the shore. His thin and small body carried a huge seashell tied to his back with seaweed. He threw it hard onto the ground and said angrily, "Ugly monster! The fish are here!"

From inside the thatched hut, the petite and exquisite Water Qilin pushed the door open and emerged. Baring its teeth, it said, "Dead fish, who are you calling an ugly monster? Do you believe I'll eat you?"

Yue Ding's face turned pale. Tribal suppression was carved into their very bones. The Merfolk Tribe passed down memories through generations, making them inherently fearful whenever they saw a Water Qilin. Even if he had seen it countless times, he was still afraid. Shrinking back, he said stubbornly, "I wasn't talking to anyone, I was talking to myself."

"Wuxia," Lin Qi gathered his Dharma robe and walked out of the house. The Water Qilin turned around and swiftly leaped into Lin Qi's arms. Lin Qi had clearly just woken up; his expression was languid, his face flushed, and a radiant glow shone in his eyes. He smiled at Yue Ding, "You're here."

Yue Ding's face suddenly burned feverishly. In a panicked rush, he bolted toward the large fish by the shore, shouting as he ran, "You ugly monster, you have no shame at all! Having babies every day with an evil cultivator! I hate you!"

Lin Qi's face flushed red too, and he quickly covered the Water Qilin's ears. The Water Qilin pretended not to understand, letting out a few soft meows, as if it were just an adorable little kitten who didn't understand anything.

Thirty years truly passed far, far faster than Lin Qi had imagined. He still remembered the night he and Du Chengying had 'married'—he couldn't get out of bed for three days. How had so much time passed in the blink of an eye?

The sea breeze lifted his Dharma robe, and from the dense forest behind him came Du Chengying's voice, "Why did you come out?"

Lin Qi looked back with a slight smile, "I heard some noise, so I came out."

Du Chengying walked over with long strides, wrapped an arm around Lin Qi's waist, and leaned down. The Water Qilin sensibly jumped down and ran off. The two of them kissed in the crisp sea breeze, their black hair tangling messily together. Du Chengying captured his lips and whispered, "Sleep a little longer?"

"No." Lin Qi still hadn't completely shed that bit of shyness, lowering his head to rest his forehead against Du Chengying's chest.

Du Chengying ruffled his long hair and chuckled silently, his head bowed. His Senior Brother was maddeningly seductive in the dark of night, yet as soon as day broke, he became as bashful as a virgin. Kissing the reddened base of Lin Qi's ear, he said, "I was only joking with you, Senior Brother."

"I don't believe that." Lin Qi tugged at Du Chengying's sash and mumbled. The brighter the sky grew, the more excited this guy got, always brainwashing him with nonsense like what there's nothing on the beach except the moon. The villainy was carved into his bones.

Du Chengying couldn't help laughing. By heaven and earth, he truly only wanted to tease Lin Qi. His Senior Brother was thin-skinned, so naturally, he cherished and protected him, but sometimes he just couldn't resist teasing him a bit. Seeing that face flushed with a bashful smile was the most beautiful scenery in his heart.

In addition to capturing Luoxia, the Merfolk Tribe were also excellent at catching fish. Lin Qi's favorite was a type of ugly fish with a face like a lion, somewhat resembling the Water Qilin. If he didn't eat it for a week, he would crave it terribly. Because of this, Du Chengying also honed excellent fish-roasting skills.

Some people might not be used to ordinary days, but for Lin Qi and Du Chengying, it was addictive.

Lin Qi had never lived so peacefully and unhurriedly with anyone before, and the same was true for Du Chengying. His life used to be filled with countless struggles against others, making him weary and sick of it. Being able to fall asleep embracing his lover every night and waking up in the morning holding the person he loved was enough to satisfy him completely.

However, as the date of Lin Qi's death in the previous life drew nearer, both Lin Qi and Du Chengying felt a growing unease. By unspoken agreement, they both chose to hide this anxiety from each other.

"In a little while, the Little Furong at the foot of the mountain should bloom," Du Chengying said, holding Lin Qi's hand as he gazed distantly toward the dense forest.

"Actually, I don't like Little Furong that much," Lin Qi gathered his courage and said. "Du Chengying, why don't we travel around for a bit?"

"Has Senior Brother grown tired of staying here?"

"No, I was just thinking about when you took me roaming through the Mountain Shadow Heaven Pavilion, and I want to see with my own eyes if those mountains and rivers are really that beautiful."

"Alright, I'll accompany you."

Hand in hand, they rode the Water Qilin and visited the scenic spots they had seen in the Mountain Shadow Heaven Pavilion one by one. It took them a full two months or more to traverse nearly every area. After spending so many years in the small fishing village working from sunrise to sunset, Lin Qi was consistently in extremely high spirits during their travels.

Du Chengying accompanied him, a constant smile on his face as well. As the two of them sat on a mountain peak watching the sunset, Lin Qi sighed emotionally, "The sunset on the mountain falls faster than the sunset over the sea."

Du Chengying didn't speak. His intuition told him that Lin Qi had something hidden in his heart, and perhaps now, Lin Qi was finally going to say it.

"Junior Brother," Lin Qi gripped his hand tightly, his lips trembling slightly before he spoke slowly, "If... if I leave," he found it hard to continue at this point, his voice choking with emotion. Without a word, Du Chengying pulled him into an embrace, gently patting his back. "Senior Brother, you don't belong to this world, do you?"

Lin Qi was greatly astonished, so shocked that even the tears brimming in his eyes halted.

"Senior Brother," Du Chengying said slowly, "You seem to know exactly when you will leave."

As a major figure in the cultivation world and a savior-in-training, Du Chengying's perception of life, death, and souls was far too sharp—almost a bug-level existence. Lin Qi was momentarily thrown into a panic, burying his face in Du Chengying's chest, not knowing what to say.

The cool evening breeze was soothing and gentle. Du Chengying remained silent for a long time before he asked softly, "Can I go with you?"

"No." Lin Qi raised his face, completely flustered. "You can't die."

Du Chengying's expression suddenly became knowing and sorrowful. "So it turns out I'm not allowed to die."

Lin Qi was struck dumb. He found that he couldn't say a single word. Tears streamed down his eyes, and he hugged Du Chengying tightly. "I have no choice, I have no choice..."

"Will you..." Du Chengying was unwilling to utter the word that broke his heart, gritting his teeth to ask instead, "Or will you live on in another world?"

"I..." Lin Qi cried even louder. He was so ashamed, ashamed of making Du Chengying fall in love with someone who was destined to leave. While Du Chengying would be left heartbroken over him, he would happily return home and prepare for his vacation. "I'll live..."

"Good." Tears welled up in Du Chengying's eyes but did not fall. He pressed his face deeply against the side of Lin Qi's neck. "That is good."

He had said before that Lin Qi could use absolutely everything he had to hurt him, and he would gladly endure it.

Lin Qi fell asleep crying in Du Chengying's arms. Du Chengying did not sleep; he hadn't slept for a long time. He didn't want to miss a single second of looking at this face.

An alchemical fragrance wafted through the air. Du Chengying lifted his eyes, and the Water Qilin beside him glared fiercely at the newcomer.

The newcomer was enveloped in black clothing. Without trying to hide himself in the slightest, he directly took off his hood, revealing a benevolent, smiling face.

"You cannot keep him."

"You were the one who killed him."

"It was not me, but the Heavens."

Everyone knew that the Ancestral Master favored Baoshu Zhenren the most, having taught him the Divination Technique entirely. Yet they didn't know that the idle and seemingly bored Sanyue Zhenren was the true candidate the Ancestral Master had entrusted.

"You are destined to face this tribulation in your life. Sever your root of emotions, cross over this hurdle, and you will become a god," Sanyue Zhenren smiled faintly. "His existence is merely to complete you."

There was no longer any hatred in Du Chengying's heart. To him, all talk of the Heavenly Dao or becoming a god couldn't compare to the words 'I'll live'.

"Leave," Du Chengying said indifferently, lowering his eyes to gaze at the sleeping person. "I will grant his wish."

Sanyue Zhenren's smile faded. Such blind infatuation, what an evil hindrance. He departed gracefully, paying it no mind in his heart. When the divination trigrams had pointed to Lin Qi, he had already planted the Alchemical Poison within him. Calculating the time, it should be acting up soon.

When Lin Qi woke up, the sky was not yet bright. Du Chengying was holding him, and seeing him open his eyes, he lowered his head to kiss the spot between his eyebrows. "You're awake. Do you want to watch the sunrise from the mountain?"

This was Lin Qi's first time watching the sunrise with Du Chengying. He stared blankly at the morning sun. However, the sunlight shining on him felt cold. A wave of numbness spread through his body, and the metallic taste of blood surged from his stomach. Enduring the pain, he held a mouthful of blood back. Just as the last speck of light spilled across the mortal realm, streaks of blood seeped through his teeth. "So beautiful..."

"Senior Brother!" Du Chengying stared in sheer disbelief at a scene that was almost identical to his past life.

"It's okay..." Lin Qi did his best to smile, streaks of blood staining his snow-white teeth. Raising his hand, he gripped Du Chengying's hand tightly. "You... are... the first... person... I've ever loved..."

"No, no," Du Chengying thought he would be able to endure it, but when that moment truly arrived, he still found it impossible. Frantically clutching Lin Qi's hand, he begged in helpless desperation, "...Senior Brother, don't leave me..."

After logging out of the world, Lin Qi immediately rushed down to the control console to call the System. The System was also very tense, "Don't rush me, I'm monitoring the world line."

"It's flat," the System said calmly. "You succeeded."

Lin Qi's heart pounded wildly. He had returned to his own body, but why did his chest still ache so much? His eyes also stung unbearably. "Can I look at him?"

System: "Only for one minute."

The world line materialized and floated before him.

On the cliff, the sunlight shone upon the two embracing figures. Du Chengying clutched that empty shell, looking dazed, as if he had lost his entire world.

"Senior Brother, you're still alive, right?" Du Chengying hugged the person in his arms fiercely, closed his eyes, and murmured, "Then you must... forget me."

The System closed the world line and said to Lin Qi, "It's over, stop crying."

Lin Qi slumped to the ground and covered his face, tears pouring endlessly through the cracks between his fingers. He... really wanted to ask Du Chengying if he was cold...