Supreme Emptiness

Chapter 980: Chapter 980: Gong Caiyi’s Last Tenderness

Ling Yin looked at him with confusion: "Why ask that?"

Jiang Fan glanced around; the valley was neat and clean, visible at a glance.

Where’s the chicken?

"Nothing really, pretend I didn’t ask," Jiang Fan cupped his hands and bid farewell.

Long after he left, Demon Moon emerged carrying a bottle of sealed wine.

Looking at the untouched wine on the table, she huffed lightly: "I wanted to give him a bottle of wine."

"Ungrateful guy!"

Disappointment was hard to hide in her eyes.

Meticulously brewed osmanthus wine for Jiang Fan’s successful tribulation, and he didn’t take a sip.

Ling Yin said plainly, "The matter of Boundary Mountain is a hurdle he can’t overcome in his heart."

"If this continues, you two will be destined never to meet in this lifetime."

"Go to Taicang State, change your identity, change your destiny."

Demon Moon was silent for a long while, then sighed: "Mother, forget it."

"He cares deeply about those around him; I don’t want to deceive him."

If Jiang Fan were indifferent, she wouldn’t mind.

But thinking of Jiang Fan’s grief over Ling Shu’s death, she would feel guilty deceiving someone like that.

Ling Yin plucked a peach blossom petal, letting it dissolve into a cup of wine.

"Drink it."

Demon Moon took it, drank it without understanding.

Ling Yin slowly stood, said plainly, "Start anew with Jiang Fan later."

Demon Moon tilted her head, filled with pondering in her eyes.

After a while, she asked confusedly:

"Who is Jiang Fan?"

On the Snow Mountain.

Yue Mingzhu crossed her arms, glanced sideways at Gong Caiyi: "Are you really deciding to return to Spirit Beast Sect?"

"Not going to Taicang State with Jiang Fan?"

Gong Caiyi’s eyes lowered: "I wish I could."

"But there’s still the Spirit Beast Sect, the half-destroyed Spirit Beast Sect."

Yue Mingzhu frowned deeply.

In the past, Gong Caiyi couldn’t let go of the Spirit Beast Sect, and now, it had suffered such a blow.

With her gentleness, she couldn’t let go even more.

"Think it over thoroughly!"

"Once he goes, he’ll seldom return to the Continent again. The bonds between you will gradually dissolve with time."

"Consider more for yourself, forget about the sect."

A touch of sadness passed through Gong Caiyi’s eyes.

Didn’t she know, that once parted, the vast sky and distance would eventually sever their ties?

But recalling the disciples who died tragically in the sect, one face after another, she couldn’t let go.

"Sheng Yan." She called out Yue Mingzhu’s true name with full entreaty:

"Take good care of Jiang Fan, along with my share."

She withdrew the bronze array plate Jiang Fan had left at the mountain’s base, handing it to Yue Mingzhu.

Then mounted a bird to leave.

Left Yue Mingzhu in the snow, face full of loneliness: "Foolish woman."

"Why don’t you live for yourself?"

The bird soared into the sky, weaving through the clouds.

Gong Caiyi lowered her delicate head, eyes unable to hold back the flowing crystals.

"Jiang Fan... I can’t bear to part with you either."

"But I can’t let go of those dead disciples."

At that moment, her waist tightened.

Two arms gently embraced her from behind.

The burning chest made Gong Caiyi’s entire body stiffen; she looked up to see a face full of tenderness.𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"Jiang Fan?" Gong Caiyi exclaimed in surprise.

Jiang Fan looked at her complexly, asked: "Really not coming to Taicang State with me?"

The Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion was all ready, just waiting for Jiang Fan to be prepared and set off for Taicang State together.

Back to the Continent, very rarely.

Gong Caiyi, unable to suppress the sadness in her heart, turned around to hug him, said:

"I’m sorry, I can’t let them go."

A shadow of grimness passed across Jiang Fan’s heart.

He’d experienced deaths of fellow Nine-Sect members at Boundary Mountain, experienced Ling Shu’s death, he understood Gong Caiyi.

She also had people she wanted to guard and responsibilities she couldn’t let go.

And they were more significant than staying with Jiang Fan.

Jiang Fan hugged Gong Caiyi tightly, deeply pressing her delicate head into his embrace, whispered:

"Thank you for the gentle years you gave me."

"In those times when the youth was most neglected, you were like a ray of light shining into his world."

"Thank you, Caiyi."

The parting words ripped through Gong Caiyi’s heart with unbearable pain.

She hugged Jiang Fan tightly, unwilling to let go, tearfully said: "You saved me too."

"You save the disciples of Spirit Beast Sect at all costs, sparing me from a lifetime of pain and guilt."

"It should be I thanking you."

Jiang Fan remained silent.

A quiet embrace, leaving deep regret in the heart.

Gong Caiyi had treated him with gentleness, but he couldn’t return it with tenderness.

The only thing he could give was a blessing.

"For the rest of your life, take care."

Jiang Fan kissed her forehead, slowly released her, eyes sparkling with tears.

Gong Caiyi dared not look into Jiang Fan’s eyes; she knew she had hurt his heart.

Her heart was filled with guilt.

After a few moments of silence, she softly tilted her head: "May I give you a parting gift?"

Jiang Fan nodded: "What is it?"

Gong Caiyi grasped Jiang Fan’s hand, gently placed it on her chest, asked:

"You once said, at my age, it’s the most mature, and you very much liked it, correct?"

"Then, I give myself to you."

"This is my last tenderness."

She slowly closed her eyes, like a soft, blooming lotus, waiting to be picked.

Jiang Fan smiled bitterly.

The last tenderness, huh?

Looking at the visage soon to depart, perhaps never to meet again, he grasped her garment, gently tearing it open, softly saying:

"Alright, let’s give each other the last tenderness!"

Colorful skirts laid on the fluffy back of the bird.

Amid Gong Caiyi’s gentle trembling voice, Jiang Fan’s sword cut open the gate to the heavens, taking her to cloud peaks.

She shed tears.

Tears of joy.

Like dreaming back to Green Cloud City, she walked the bustling streets.

Unconsciously glanced at a handsome young boy hawking free Beauty Cream samples.

It was then, with warm sunlight, and a gentle spring breeze.

A two-hour later.

Gong Caiyi, exhausted, tidied up her skirt, aching all over, chest covered with strawberry marks.

She did not complain, only felt satisfied and happy.

"You didn’t lie, you really like me like this."

Jiang Fan awkwardly dressed; it was a bit too crazy just now.

No help, too tempting.

Gong Caiyi collected her mood, said: "Then we should say goodbye."

Jiang Fan rose into the air, solemnly said: "If there’s trouble, come find me in Taicang State."

Gong Caiyi did not respond, only slightly parted her lips: "Take care."

She turned around, dared not look at Jiang Fan again, gradually leaving with the bird.

Jiang Fan stood in place, watched her disappear from sight for a long time, leaving a deep sigh, vanishing.

Not long after.

Outside Lonely Boat City.

Jiang Fan stood before a rather luxurious refurbished tomb; if not for seeing his father’s gravestone.

He almost thought he had come to the wrong grave.

"Father, are you happy?"

"Your son has made good; someone even renovated your tomb."

Jiang Fan smiled gently, took out the black box his father never parted with.

"Don’t rush, more exciting things are yet to come."

"Weren’t you always regretful that you couldn’t see what mother left in the hidden layer of the black box?"

"Today, we father and son will witness together."