Chapter 937: Where to Go From Here
Spring had not yet arrived; it was still the end of winter, and the north remained bitterly cold. The biting wind cut across the face like a knife.
Before the grave, a bundle of white flowers swayed in the wind, their petals blown off one by one. The tombstone bore the names of two elderly people. Three years had already passed, and Ye Fan was powerless to reverse fate.
He knelt silently, his lips trembling, his hoarse words lost in the north wind—indistinct, incomprehensible. No tears fell, only whispered murmurs.
Xu Qiong stepped aside, leaving him alone, and approached the cemetery caretaker to ask who had placed the white flowers there earlier.
Unfortunately, there was no answer. Many people came and went here daily, and no one paid special attention to who it was.
Ye Fan knelt before the tombstone, wanting to stay here forever, never to rise again. He had lost his purpose in life; his heart was empty and hollow, his world a leaden gray.
"Dad, this is a divine brew I brought back from the Big Dipper. Even sect masters rarely get to drink it—it's a pot of essence drawn from a thousand-year-old wine cellar."
Ye Fan opened a white jade gourd and poured out the wine. An intoxicating fragrance filled the cemetery.
Xu Qiong was startled. She turned back and saw this scene. The aroma of the wine was astonishingly rich; even she, who didn't drink liquor, was moved by the scent.
The cemetery caretaker saw this and quickly approached, telling him it was against the rules and that he needed to put away the bottle and pay a fine.
Xu Qiong stepped forward, took out a stack of cash, and handed it over, preventing him from getting close. She feared causing trouble, knowing full well that Ye Fan could no longer be measured by "mortal" standards.
"Mom, these are some small trinkets I brought back for you from the Big Dipper." In Ye Fan's hand appeared some strange ornaments: a string of long, luminous pearls stripped of all earthly luster, a talisman carved from a Heavenly Demon's relic... all items that could extend one's life.
Each piece was crystal clear and dazzling, radiating streams of essence. Even an ordinary person could see they were extraordinary, making every pore in the body relax as if bathed in a spring breeze.
"Chi!"
Flames shot up from Ye Fan's hand, igniting these items and the thousand-year divine brew. They turned into a blaze of brilliant light, becoming ashes that fell before the grave.
The caretaker grew anxious, saying he had seriously violated the rules. This place forbade burning things. When he saw the flames leap from Ye Fan's palm, his eyes went a bit wide.
"I say... what are you burning? It's brighter than a divine lamp, shooting out streams of light like treasures. Oh my, what kind of wine is this? The fragrance is overwhelming—I can't help but want a sip. Just smelling it makes me drunk."
As soon as he got close, he fell to the ground with a "thud," knocked unconscious by the fumes. Xu Qiong stepped back in alarm, afraid of being intoxicated by the fine wine. Having seen much of the world, she had long realized that the items in Ye Fan's hands were no ordinary things and couldn't be judged by common sense.
Not to mention those radiant beads, even the wine gourd itself was flawless white jade. If put up for auction, it would surely cause a sensation and fetch an astronomical price.
When the caretaker woke up again, he found a pile of ashes in front of him. He jumped up, furious.
"Hey, what's wrong with you? You... did you burn a truckload of stuff? How am I supposed to clean this up!" His eyes went wide. Such a pile—even just transporting it here would be a hassle, let alone burning it.
Xu Qiong quickly stepped forward and handed over another thick stack of cash. No matter the era, this situation never changed: with enough money, you could even make the millstone push the ghost.
"In life, there are too many helpless things we can't resist. Accept your grief. Your uncle and aunt won't blame you. As long as you return safely, that's the greatest comfort to them, because before they passed, all they worried about was your safety." Xu Qiong tried to console him.
"I know. I want to be alone for a while. You go back first." Ye Fan sat with his back to her, speaking.
The red sun set in the west, and a day passed in the blink of an eye. Eventually, stars dotted the sky. He sat motionless, silent. The caretaker felt uneasy but dared not bother him. Before leaving, Xu Qiong had slipped him a good amount of money.
At dawn, sunlight spilled down as the sun rose high. Ye Fan was still there, unmoving from start to finish.
He sat in stillness for a day and a night, silently reminiscing. From childhood to adulthood, every moment and scene, every detail about his parents, surfaced in his heart, impossible to escape.
Those happy times, those sorrowful ones, the unforgettable, the deeply engraved—the past was like smoke, filling his mind. He wished he could sleep here forever.
At noon, he let out a soft sigh, stood up, and left. His silhouette was desolate as he walked out of the cemetery.
Though he hadn't returned for a day and a night, Xu Qiong wasn't worried for him. Having witnessed him soar into the clouds, she believed no one in this world could harm him—perhaps only himself.
Ye Fan returned and sat on the sofa, quietly listening to Xu Qiong's account. Every detail of his parents' later years pained him, but he remained silent throughout, only listening.
Where there is light, there is darkness. Everyone has joy and sorrow, happy memories and unhappy aspects. Xu Qiong had waited for him for two years, then married. As she said, people have to live, don't they?
And life is colorful, with wind and rain. Ten years ago, her life hit rock bottom. A marriage that had lasted many years came to an end, and she lost everything.
When Xu Qiong went to the suburbs to clear her mind, she unexpectedly ran into his parents. She couldn't believe they were the same elderly couple from before, and she took them in.
"Your uncle and aunt were good people. They donated the money you left behind to an orphanage, yet lived in such hardship themselves. They missed you... they loved children... I think that bouquet must have been from the orphanage."
The doorbell rang. Xu Ye bounced out happily to answer it, shouting that Dad was home.
"My husband is back. He doesn't have much money—I bought this villa with what I've earned in recent years—but he's a good, honest man. Xu Ye isn't his biological daughter, but he treats her very well."
When she said her daughter's name, Xu Qiong's voice trembled noticeably. "Ye" sounded the same as "Ye." Ye Fan's heart ached. The Nine Dragons Coffin had changed so many things.
Having been through one marriage, Xu Qiong was especially cautious in her second choice. Yang Xiao was a university professor specializing in archaeology, a genuinely good man.
Yang Xiao didn't seem like the slick, worldly type. He was a bit slow and awkward. Seeing a guest at home, he first gave a kind smile, then greeted him after Xu Qiong's introduction.
"Daddy, why are you so late? You don't know—I saw a meteor almost crash into our house! It scared Mommy to death!" Xu Ye chattered happily like a little magpie.
"I was delayed in Jiangling for many days. A large tomb was discovered there. Somehow, everyone who went in died, so the excavation was called off. Otherwise, I'd have been back even later."
"Ah, really? That's too dangerous! Daddy, don't go anymore." Xu Ye was tall and slender. She poured him a cup of tea, speaking fearfully.
"What happened? So dangerous—don't take any risks." Xu Qiong frowned, also worried.
"It's fine. We bookworms don't have to take risks. They only let us in to study after everything is fully excavated." Yang Xiao explained kindly.
"Baling Mountain in Jiangling County, Hubei?" Ye Fan asked.
This place was famous, with a great history and many traditions. The mountain was dense with ancient tombs, mostly from the Chu State, with Han Dynasty tombs coming second.
The terrain was unique, composed of eight mountain ridges stretching and winding like a group of dragons dancing and a thousand horsemen racing, majestic and towering. In ancient times, it was called Dragon Mountain.
Yang Xiao nodded, saying that was the place. This time, a large tomb from the Warring States period had been unearthed, mysterious and almost demonic. All kinds of equipment sent in were useless, and many people had died. Only half a broken stele had been dug out at the tomb's entrance, inscribed with large seal script resembling birds, fish, insects, and beasts.
Ye Fan soon fell silent again. Now his heart was like dead ashes; these things could no longer stir his interest. His mind was bleak, and he stopped thinking about them.
"Although the excavation is temporarily halted, it might resume after a while," Yang Xiao said.
"Daddy, don't go. It's too dangerous." Xu Ye hugged his arm.
"Think about yourself, if not for yourself, then for Xiao Ye. Don't run around everywhere. Stay in your department." Xu Qiong also said.
"Alright, I won't go next time. I'll stay in B City." Yang Xiao gave a simple smile.
It was clear this family was harmonious. Xu Qiong had found a good destination. After Ye Fan finished asking about his parents and memorized every detail, he prepared to leave.
"Where are you going? Stay at home." Xu Qiong looked at him blankly, trying to persuade him.
"No, I want to travel around. I'll treat your family to a meal another day." Before leaving, Ye Fan took out some small ornaments and gave them to her. Each piece was crystal clear.
"Wow, so beautiful! What are these made of? Like crystal but not—how are they more beautiful than diamonds?" Xu Ye was lively and active. She took them on her mother's behalf and examined them in the sunlight.
Yang Xiao was stunned. He stood up, approached, adjusted his glasses, and said, "These... are at least two thousand years old."
Ye Fan thought for a moment, then took out a few more small items. He gave Yang Xiao a string of wooden beads and a talisman, telling him to wear them when going on archaeological expeditions. Like the other crystal trinkets, these were rare treasures even in the Big Dipper, capable of extending a mortal's lifespan, with formations inside to protect the wearer.
Xu Ye hugged Ye Fan's arm, calling him "Little Uncle" happily, while Yang Xiao said they were too precious to accept—they might be national treasures.
Only Xu Qiong knew the true value of these things. Having seen Ye Fan soar into the stars, she understood they were no ordinary objects—perhaps what mortals would call immortal artifacts.
Ye Fan thought again, then pulled out two jade bottles and placed them in her hands. Using divine sense transmission, he told her that if her body encountered any trouble, she could take them, but only one pill at a time—never more.
Ye Fan walked far away, about to disappear. He turned back suddenly. Xu Qiong was still standing there, tears in her eyes, murmuring to herself: "Time... missed a lifetime."
"Mommy, Little Uncle is gone. Why aren't you coming in?" Xu Ye called out.
Yang Xiao took out a jacket, came out, and draped it over her shoulders, saying softly, "Come inside. It's cold outside."
"Mm!" Xu Qiong nodded. What more could she ask for? Everything was satisfactory now. As long as she didn't think about the past, she was undoubtedly happy.
Ye Fan walked alone on the street, moving numbly forward. His parents were gone. The blow hit him hard. He felt life had no meaning, didn't know where to go, just walked aimlessly, not wanting to stop, wanting to keep going forever.
No one knew how much time passed—maybe four days, maybe five. He stopped before a park bench, sat down, and thought seriously: where to go from here.
In his right palm appeared a large relic, left behind by that ancient Buddha from the Western Desert who had dissolved into the Dao. True to his promise, Ye Fan had brought it to this end of the starry sky.
In his left palm appeared a stone coffin the length of a palm. This was the forbidden item Qi Luo had entrusted him to throw into the starry sky—likely a divine coffin from the mythological era, buried in the heavens above.
Suddenly, specks of flowing light rose from his hands, turning into a rain of light that spread outward.
"This is..."
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