Chapter 271: Bamboo Forest Dream
A sect conflict that had been brewing for a long time finally ended with a result no one had anticipated. Yun Che didn't know how Su Hengshan would deal with Su Hengyue and his son, as well as the many elders and disciples who had supported them, nor did he care. After the people from Heimu Castle left, he took Su Ling'er and departed.
This incident also gave Yun Che a general understanding of Su Hengshan's character. Clearly, he was a righteous and upright person, dignified yet humble, and with a kind heart. However, he was not a very good sect leader... because he wasn't ruthless or decisive enough in his actions. Otherwise, a figure of elder rank wouldn't have been so rampant. Although Su Hengyue's actions now amounted to little less than betrayal, Yun Che could foresee that Su Hengshan's handling of the matter would still not be too decisive. After all, Su Hengyue was his elder brother, and he wasn't just one person—behind him stood many elder-level figures who supported him.
From today's events, Yun Che also saw the potential crisis within the Tai Su Sect.
"Yun Che gege, you told Father that I am your... fiancée. What does 'fiancée' mean?" Su Ling'er held Yun Che's hand, her eyes hazy as she asked. She had a vague idea of what the word "fiancée" meant, but she wanted to hear his answer.
Yun Che smiled gently. "It means that when Ling'er grows up, she will marry me and become my wife... just like your beautiful sister."
Xia Qingyue glanced at him sideways, her expression slightly unusual.
"Wife... what does that mean?" Su Ling'er's lips parted slightly; this term was even more confusing to her.
"It's a word that only I can call Ling'er. After Ling'er becomes my wife, we will be together forever, accompanying each other, taking care of each other, making each other happy, and doing all the things we love together..." Yun Che said softly. These words were simple to say, but back then, until Su Ling'er perished, she never heard them from his lips.
Su Ling'er's steps slowed down significantly, as if stunned by Yun Che's words.
Yun Che lowered his head and asked seriously, "Ling'er, when you grow up, would you be willing to be my wife?"
Su Ling'er lifted her snow-white face and nodded vigorously, breaking into a sweet smile. "Mm! I like being with Yun Che gege!"
Yun Che tightened his grip on Su Ling'er's little hand, warmth spreading through his heart... mixed with a tinge of bitterness.
Xia Qingyue finally couldn't remain silent. She turned her beautiful eyes to look at the small and tender Su Ling'er, guessed her age, and frowned slightly. "Are you serious?"
Yun Che knew what Xia Qingyue was thinking. Anyone who saw him so earnestly and determinedly trying to take a ten-year-old girl as his wife would think "beast" in their hearts. He curled the corner of his mouth and said helplessly, "I am serious... but I have my reasons. Besides..." His expression carried a hint of bitterness. "This is just a dream, isn't it? Since it's only a dream, let it be... beautifully unreal."
"..." Xia Qingyue had no idea what he was thinking, but seeing the seriousness and melancholy in his eyes, she turned her face away and stopped asking.
"Qingyue wife, today you..." Yun Che asked cautiously, "why are you so... mm... obedient?"
Xia Qingyue lowered her gaze and said calmly, "The power I now possess originally belonged to you. If you wish to use it, I will not refuse."
Yun Che was stunned, then pinched the bridge of his nose and didn't continue this topic. "Jumping from the Earth Xuan Realm straight to the King Xuan Realm all at once—that progress is really terrifying. But if the leap is too large, it might cause instability in the realm. Qingyue, I think it's better to accompany you back to Qilong Pavilion for some meditation and adjustment, just in case any hidden problems arise."
Xia Qingyue nodded. "I can go back by myself. You go play with Ling'er."
Yun Che didn't insist. After reminding her to stay vigilant, he left with Su Ling'er. After all, he had promised Ling'er earlier that after Xia Qingyue woke up, he would play with her.
After Yun Che walked far away, Xia Qingyue turned around, looking at his back, her mind a blank. She murmured to herself in a daze, "Is it still because... we are husband and wife...?"
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"Ling'er, where do you want to go play?"
"Hehe, being with Yun Che gege makes my mood especially good. I'll have fun anywhere... Mm... let me think! Ah, how about we go play in the bamboo forest behind?"
"Bamboo... forest?" Those two words touched a nerve in Yun Che.
"Mm! At the foot of the mountain, there's a huge, huge bamboo forest. I love the wind there the most. But Father says there are dangerous mysterious beasts there, so he never lets me go alone. And Father is always so busy, he rarely takes me to play."
"Bamboo forest... bamboo forest... Alright, let's go to the bamboo forest then."
South of the Tai Su Sect, a vast bamboo forest stretched all the way to the distant foot of the mountain. The dense emerald green filled the entire view. The bamboo branches were thick, and as the leaves swayed, bursts of refreshingly crisp wind kept blowing, making one feel relaxed and happy.
"Wow! So comfortable!" Standing in the bamboo forest, Su Ling'er closed her eyes, spread her arms, and twitched her little nose, inhaling deeply the fresh scent of the bamboo forest.
The bamboo forest before them wasn't as dense as the one Yun Che and Su Ling'er had once lived in, but it was just as green, just as refreshing and pleasant. Just by looking at it and feeling the wind blowing in their faces, they felt as if their hearts were being gently cleansed. Looking at the bamboo forest, looking at Su Ling'er, Yun Che was momentarily entranced... Back then, that wonderful bamboo forest, that wonderful Ling'er, that wonderful world of just the two of them—why could he only see hatred?
Su Ling'er was always so melancholic. She kept urging him to let go of his hatred... Perhaps, at that time, she had already let go of all her own past, only wanting to be with him. Her later melancholy came not from her past, but from him...
"Yun Che gege, isn't it beautiful here?" Su Ling'er said with a bright smile. "This is my absolute favorite place. Every time I come here, I feel like I've turned into a spirit, and all the unhappy things disappear. I love everything about this place... I often think that when I grow up, I must set up my home in a green bamboo forest... Mm! Just thinking about it makes me so happy."
Yun Che's heart trembled violently.
No wonder... No wonder after Master passed away, she dragged him, heavily injured and unconscious, fleeing for several days before stopping in that bamboo forest. At that time, he thought Su Ling'er simply thought the bamboo forest was good for concealment... But it turned out she genuinely loved bamboo forests, and had dreamed of one since she was a child.
In the bamboo forest, her heart could calm down, and she could think of herself as a spirit... And only in the bamboo forest could she overcome all loneliness, worry, fear, melancholy, confusion... Day after day, year after year, forever waiting for his return.
Yun Che clenched his hands, his heart aching as if pricked by needles. Guilt flooded his soul like a tidal wave. He increasingly realized that his debt to Ling'er could never be repaid in ten lifetimes.
"Ling'er, how about we build a home here?" Yun Che said softly.
"Ah? Build... a home here?" Su Ling'er was astonished.
"Mm!" Yun Che nodded with a smile. "Ling'er has always wanted to live in a bamboo forest, right? Then let's use these bamboos to build a small bamboo house. That way, whenever Ling'er wants, she can come and stay here."
"A... bamboo house?" Su Ling'er was stunned for a moment, then her starry eyes suddenly became incredibly bright. "Really... can we? But wouldn't it be a pity to damage the bamboos?"
"Haha!" Yun Che laughed. He gently stroked Ling'er's cheek and said affectionately, "There are so many bamboos here. Only a few of them will be fortunate enough to become part of the little house. If these bamboos knew they could build a bamboo house for the cutest Ling'er, they would definitely be very happy."
"Mm!!" Su Ling'er cast aside her concerns and shouted joyfully.
Yun Che extended his finger, turning his profound energy into a blade. With a sweep of his finger, a dozen green bamboos were neatly cut down. Before long, a large pile of sturdy bamboo stalks had accumulated in front of them, leaving an open space in the dense bamboo forest.
Given Yun Che's profound strength, the task wasn't too difficult, but it wasn't easy either. However, with Su Ling'er cheering him on, jumping for joy, and occasionally wiping his sweat, Yun Che, though drenched in sweat, didn't feel tired at all.
As the sky gradually darkened, a simple little bamboo house finally took shape. This little bamboo house was much smaller and cruder than the one he had once lived in with Su Ling'er—it couldn't even keep out the wind and rain. But it had a special freshness to it. And it wasn't just a little bamboo house; inside, there was a small bed and a small table made of bamboo.
When the bamboo house was finished, Yun Che's ears were filled with Ling'er's cheerful shouts. She ran around the little bamboo house joyfully, her ethereal and melodious voice carrying far into the distance... She truly seemed like a carefree bamboo forest spirit.
"Yun Che gege, can we stay here tonight? This was my dream before... And with Yun Che gege accompanying me, I won't be afraid at all."
"Mm, sure!"
In the bamboo forest, they played from afternoon until the bright moon hung high in the sky. Ling'er's laughter that day was more than Yun Che had heard in all those years combined. That afternoon, her joyous laughter formed his entire world. That day, he belonged only to Ling'er.
The bright moon hung high, and Ling'er, who had been running all afternoon, was finally tired. She lay side by side with Yun Che on the bamboo bed they had built together... The bamboo bed was simple and hard, creaking with even the slightest movement, but lying on it, breathing the fresh air, smelling the scent of green bamboo, and feeling the occasional breeze that slipped through the gaps, both of them were utterly at ease. Of course, more importantly, they had each other's company.
"Yun Che gege, I really want to... be with you forever... Mm, will it sound strange to Yun Che gege if I say that? Even though we only met today, the first time I saw Yun Che gege, I liked you so much... Am I a strange girl?"
The small bed was narrow. Su Ling'er leaned gently against Yun Che and whispered.
"No, not at all." Yun Che smiled. "Because I felt the same way when I saw Ling'er. In a person's life, it's rare to meet someone you inexplicably like at first sight. If two people feel that way about each other, then either they are fated to be together... or they share a bond from a past life."
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