Chapter 0728: Separation

Whether Li Luo was nervous was something he would never admit to. The words he had thought of were forcefully swallowed down with gritted teeth.

Time flew by, and the appointed moment arrived. Ling Zhaoying had dropped by to pick Jiang Qing'e up, while Li Luo stood all alone, his heart trembling uncontrollably.

The sun was setting and the receding light hung in the sky like a dimming flame.

House Luolan's convoy stopped, and everyone looked towards their right. There was a slender and graceful figure standing there. As the evening wind waltzed past, her long hair trailed with the breeze and her short, azure cloak rippled lightly behind her.

When Li Taixuan and Tan Tailan left, this elegant figure had taken up the burden of being the spiritual pillar of House Luolan.

She had forcefully turned the tide and sealed up the rifts that were created by the collapsing House Luolan. This bought Li Luo ample time, and without her presence, the House might have fallen to pieces as soon as Li Luo discovered his blank palaces. Lei Zhang tightly gripped his long spear with a solemn expression, barking out a command. "Everyone, salute and bid farewell to the House Lady!"

He thumped the ground with all of his strength using the butt of the spear.

At the same time, this was the cue for all of the bodyguards of House Luolan to do the same, releasing a crisp echo as they did it in tandem.

They all had looks of utter reverence as they roared with all their might, "Salute and bid farewell to the House Lady!"

Jiang Qing'e's golden eyes swept across the crowd and a gentle smile floated on her beautiful face. Her crisp and melodious voice breezed through everyone's ears. "My family members of House Luolan. This world might be vast, but in my heart, only this can be called home. Thus, no matter how wondrous the wider world might be, no matter how exquisite the sights are, I will return one day. I hope that all of you can protect the house in the meantime. I would forever be thankful if you did that." She then bowed lightly.

Every individual present unanimously thumped their hearts with a fist, demonstrating their commitment.

She then smiled lightly before walking towards Cai Wei and Yan Lingqing, who both had red eyes. She gave them both a tight hug. "House Luolan will be in your hands for a while. Thank you for taking on this burden."

Cai Wei's charming eyes were misting up before tears uncontrollably fell. "Qing'e, you have to return as soon as you can."

Yan Lingqing similarly had a face full of sadness because of the sudden parting. She was reluctant to see her go, but she also knew that there was no other choice. Thus, she could only endure the sadness in her heart. "Qing'e, you can be certain that I will bring the Suncreek Villa to new heights!"

Qing'e lightly patted their backs. She didn't want to leave House Luolan. It was as she had said, no matter how exciting the greater world was, what she truly wanted was this little family.

She enjoyed being in this place full of memories.

Alas, her current situation had to be resolved.

She was not afraid of death, but she was afraid of what could happen after. Li Luo would be heartbroken to the point of depression, and that would affect his cultivation. He only had four more years of life, and any setback would spell his end.

Consoling Cai Wei and Lingqing, Jiang Qing'e turned and walked towards the staring Li Luo.

She stood before him, her slender figure and porcelain-like face wrapped in the radiance of the setting sun, giving her a rosy look. Li Luo's sad reflection could be seen in her deep, golden eyes.

"You look like you can't bear to see me go. It looks like annulling the agreement has affected you more than I expected." Jiang Qing'e wryly smiled.

After which, her thick eyelashes blinked. "I'll give you a chance to beg for forgiveness. I'll let you off one time. I wanted to rewrite a new engagement agreement last night, but it was a pity you rejected me, even going so far as to imply that the Master and Mistress had to be witnesses as well. Are you actually trying to show off before them? To let them see with their own eyes that this engagement is something that you have managed to obtain with your own hands?" A slightly mocking smile appeared on Qing'e's face as she teased him.

Li Luo's face turned red as he retorted with a voice full of utmost conviction, "What do you know? Such an important event has to be witnessed by my parents! Only then can it be considered legitimate."

Jiang Qing'e smiled, no longer bickering with him. The agreement was not important, it was just a formality. What truly mattered were their hearts, and that was why they were willing to shelve the idea for now.

"Li Luo, come tomorrow, I will no longer be by your side. You have to cultivate hard in my absence. Today, we are forced to separate because of our weakness. I blame myself as well. If only I was strong enough, we would not be in this position right now," Jiang Qing'e lightly said.

Li Luo sighed. "If you wish to blame yourself, then I might as well finish myself off as well. Still, I feel that there is no need to do so. We have time, and whatever doesn't kill us only makes us stronger."

𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

He stared at the girl before him with the most beautiful face in the world. "When we next return to the Xia Kingdom, we will settle all our grievances, one by one. Whether it is Shen Jinxiao, the Regent, or Zhu Qinghuo, none of them will be able to escape."

Jiang Qing'e nodded in agreement.

She then turned to glance at the waiting Ling Zhaoying before taking a step forward and embracing Li Luo with the tightest hug she could as she softly said, "Take care, Li Luo."

Li Luo returned the hug as he took one last sniff of her familiar scent, deeply imprinting it into his mind. His heart continued to churn and surge like a tide as his emotions came to a peak. "Wait for me. I will make sure the Nine Marks Sacred Heart Lotus will be sent to you." Jiang Qing'e lightly nodded once again, and before everyone's expectant gazes, she tiptoed, pressing her lips against Li Luo's.

After which, she no longer hesitated. Although her heart was unwilling, she forcefully separated herself from Li Luo's embrace and walked towards Ling Zhaoying.

Li Luo remained quietly rooted to his spot. His gaze was filled with the waning glow of the setting sun, illuminating the figure he could never forget.

Amidst the field of reluctant gazes, Jiang Qing'e walked to Ling Zhaoying, who gave her a warm smile. The Dean radiated with brilliant light that extended to cover Jiang Qing'e's body before they turned into a beam of light that pierced through the darkening skies.

Li Luo stood there, wistfully watching the light fade. Then a faint voice wrapped in familiar resonant power was heard.

"Don't forget our bet, Li Luo." The voice seemed a little ethereal, but it also carried an enchanting charm that could incite any sentient being into action. It was lightly transmitted into Li Luo's ear, triggering ripples in his heart as he looked on with a sense of melancholy.

Li Luo heavily exhaled as he calmed his spiraling emotions.

With that, he turned his head and looked towards the rest of House Luolan and the convoy. From a family of four, only one was left.

Perhaps it was time for him to leave as well.