Eternal Tale

”Husband... who is Old Chen?”

”...Hmm, the one playing the suona. He and Uncle Niu are always unconventional. Haha, you’ll get used to it.”

Nie Yu chuckled as he spoke, the surprise in his eyes quickly hidden. ”Wife, that Black Bull is the ancestral spirit beast of Old Chen’s family. It watched me grow up, so we must show respect.”

”I see.” The woman smiled slightly, her demeanor graceful and knowledgeable.

”Woof woof woof!”

Suddenly, a red shadow appeared, launching a surprise attack on Nie Yu with such speed and ferocity that it caught everyone off guard. The surrounding guards drew their swords, but it was already too late.

Nie Yu wore a bitter smile, stumbled a bit from the impact, and quickly stopped everyone. ”No harm, no harm, it’s Uncle Chi. I’m used to it.”

”...”

Everyone fell silent, exchanging glances. This Old Chen... truly a remarkable person.

Little Chi grinned mischievously. It had grown too big to play around anymore, which was a bit boring. Its gaze shifted to the two frightened children, eyes gleaming with mischief.The woman also looked wary. This little dog must be a spirit beast; otherwise, her husband wouldn’t call it Uncle Chi.

”Nie Yu greets Uncle Chi.” Nie Yu adjusted his robe and smiled warmly. ”This is my wife, Liang Yuanshuang, and these are my children, Nie Can and Nie Yin.”

”Woof woof! Awoo~~” Little Chi grinned, nodded in response, then barked in another direction before leaping onto the wall with agility, making the guards’ eyelids twitch.

Nangong Heling walked over from the corner of the courtyard, her expression calm, neither sad nor happy, forcing a slight smile. ”You’re here.”

Nie Yu’s eyes widened, and he quickly bowed his head. ”Aunt Heling.”

”Liang Yuanshuang greets Aunt Heling.”

Liang Yuanshuang’s eyes flashed with amazement. Even though her face had aged, it wasn’t hard to imagine her beauty in her youth. ”My husband has mentioned you to me.”

”Hello, there’s no need for so many formalities.”

Nangong Heling looked at the two children, her mood seemingly improved, and asked, ”Are you here to see my elder brother?”

”Yes, Aunt.” Nie Yu’s eyes showed respect, not daring to disturb Old Chen, who was still performing rituals. ”I heard the old gentleman passed away today, so our timing is a bit unfortunate.”

”Then you’ll have to wait a bit.” Nangong Heling smiled faintly. ”Elder brother is handling the old gentleman’s affairs. He had no children, so naturally, elder brother has to take care of it.”

Hearing this, Nie Yu felt a pang of sadness in his heart.

Old Chen and Aunt Heling were not married, had no children, and he suddenly didn’t want to leave. At least he wanted to stay until they passed away, to take care of them in their old age.

”Yes, Aunt.” Nie Yu’s voice turned a bit somber.

Liang Yuanshuang seemed to sense something amiss, glanced at Nie Yu without a word.

The lights in the old blind man’s ancestral home gradually dimmed, and a tombstone stood under an old tree—Ying’s Tomb, resting here with the ancestral home.

”Old Chen, Uncle Niu.”

”Greetings, Old Chen.”

”Grandpa Chen!”

...

Everyone entered the ancestral home, bowing respectfully, with two children calling out crisply, not afraid at all.

”Moo moo~” Black Bull called out with a tilt of its head.

Chen Xun faced the tombstone, stroking his white beard, not turning around. ”Nie Yu, why did you suddenly return?”

”I’ve settled down and came to see you.”

”Has your medical skill improved? Any plans for the future?”

”I’m practicing medicine in Qiongyang Town, to take care of you and Aunt Heling in your old age.” Nie Yu bowed deeply, as if making a decision. ”As long as you’re here, Nie Yu won’t travel far.”

”No need, just practice medicine well, pass on the medical skills, and that’s enough.”

”Old Chen...”

”Do you remember the ancestral teachings? Did I teach you medicine to have you take care of us in our old age? Your intentions are enough.”

”...Yes.”

Nie Yu’s face showed struggle, looking at the elderly figure, feeling a deep sorrow. ”If the Chen family needs anything, Nie Yu will come, no matter how far.”

”Hmm.” Chen Xun nodded calmly, his eyes flickering slightly, then changed the subject. ”These two children have good potential, bright eyes, haha, much better than you were as a child.”

Hearing this, Nie Yu suddenly laughed foolishly, not refuting, which surprised Liang Yuanshuang.

Her husband seemed like a different person here, even though he was the father of two children, tonight he acted like a little kid.

”Recently, I haven’t heard any news about Guangyi, and I don’t know how the Zhou family is doing. I hope you use your martial arts for the right path. Wealth is secondary, as it should be.”

Chen Xun spoke leisurely, his gaze fixed on the tombstone. ”In life and work, just be consistent in word and deed, no need to be timid.”

Nie Yu bowed silently, his aura suddenly becoming sharp, a powerful true qi emerging within him, impossible to discern what level of martial arts master he was!

Liang Yuanshuang’s eyes widened, her heart in turmoil. Her husband knew martial arts too?!!

The surrounding guards’ pupils contracted, the aura just now was stronger than theirs, the head of the Nie family... truly hidden depths!

Chen Xun smiled slightly. ”Go on, I’ll keep the old gentleman company.”

”Yes.” Everyone bowed respectfully, now even a fool could see that this Old Chen was a reclusive master.

Liang Yuanshuang took a deep look at the upright figure, her eyes showing a strange expression.

They came and went in a hurry, many neighbors in the alley even gave them some things, sending them off with joy, just like when Zhou Guangyi returned to the alley, it was bustling.

The old blind man’s ancestral home quieted down, Nangong Heling silently walked to Chen Xun’s side, bowed to the tombstone, and whispered, ”Elder brother... they’ve all left, the alley has become quite deserted, just a few decades, and that’s their whole life.”

Under the night sky, the wind blew Chen Xun’s white hair, Black Bull and Little Chi stood quietly by.

Chen Xun spoke calmly, ”It’s always been like this, cherish those in front of you, at least you’ve never avoided it, whether mortal or cultivator, they’ll all face such things.”

”Moo~” Black Bull gently nudged Little Crane, comforting it in its own way.

Little Crane clutched Chen Xun’s sleeve, silent.

Chen Xun patted Little Crane’s hand gently. ”The grand world is just a journey for us, as it is for these neighbors. They’re just resting, while we must continue on.”

”Moo!”

”Elder brother... you and second brother...” Little Crane hesitated, biting its lip.

”Back then, I was no different from you, even worse, haha.” Chen Xun laughed freely, exhaling a breath. ”Don’t leave any regrets.”

Little Crane gazed at Chen Xun in a daze. ”Elder brother, let’s leave, I need some time.”

”Alright.”

Chen Xun’s words carried a sense of freedom. He patted Black Bull, then looked at Little Chi. ”Brothers, let’s set off under the stars, and come back to visit if we get the chance, wander, no, roam.”

”Moo moo~~!”

”Brother Xun, are we going to repair that Celestial Path Track? Little brother here is very strong!” Little Chi suddenly got excited, growling low, instantly dispelling the sad atmosphere.

”Who cares, we’ll go wherever we end up.”

Chen Xun waved his hand with a hearty laugh, already packing up his things. ”Old gentleman, we’re leaving, we’ll come visit you later, and I’ll take the painting with me.”

Black Bull let out a long cry, quickly following, Little Chi chattering along, constantly boasting about its strength.

Little Crane suddenly giggled, jogging after them. Her elder brother’s carefree mindset always seemed to subtly influence her, and everyone around, too. She took a deep look at Double Tree Alley, then turned and left.

The Chen family’s old residence was thus sealed, quietly sleeping in the river of time.

However, those two Crane Spirit Trees still stood under the starry night sky, towering high as if telling a story, witnessing all that had happened.

And that time left in memory became a unique painting, forever etched in everyone’s hearts.

Chen Xun and the others quietly left, disappearing into the boundless night, with no one knowing where they went or where they would end up.

The next day, the neighbors found the Chen family’s old residence empty, standing in front of the door in shock for a long time, finally just letting out a faint sigh...