A town falls, is retaken, and falls again, a cycle repeating for a full decade!
If it weren’t for the Hidden Sect, Wangyue Pavilion, stationed here, this prefecture would have long been entirely absorbed into the Outer Domain.
In fact, even with Wangyue Pavilion here, the war against those Evil Cult mbers has never gained much advantage.
Without Su Yaoguang, the deterrence and suppressive power of Wangyue Pavilion is far from what it used to be.
Fortunately, Gu Wenhui, far away in Yunling Capital City, has not abandoned Wangyue Prefecture, sending a batch of strong warriors and troops to join forces with Wangyue Pavilion to jointly resist the Outer Realm Evil Cult mbers.
Adding to this, the arrival of other aspirant warriors of Jianghu has kept the entire Wangyue Prefecture from falling.
Wangyue County City, Liu Residence.
In the tenth year of the Da Lai Dynasty, the residence remains, only appearing more aged.
The courtyard walls have more cracks and peeling, the houses are archaic, the passage of ti brings a sense of heavy history.
In the courtyard, planted old trees stand bare, their leaves having long fallen.
A few crows perch on the branches in the courtyard, bobbing their heads, pretending to preen, their shiny little eyes occasionally staring at the aged figure beneath the old tree.
They faintly sll decay.
Song Changming suddenly looked at those crows, a trace of displeasure in his eyes.
Only to see him flick his fingers imperceptibly, a few invisible gusts swiftly scare away those crows.
In front of him, Liu Dingsheng, oblivious, frowns and intently studies the chessboard, focused and earnest.
A gust of wind blows, and a few yellowing leaves from the ground are lifted, landing on their chessboard.
Liu Dingsheng brushes the leaves to the ground, looks again for a while, then suddenly puts down his chess piece, sighs lightly, and helplessly says, "Changming, I can no longer match you..."
"It was just a fluke that I won," Song Changming shook his head and replied.
Liu Dingsheng smiled and shook his head, saying no more.
He knew well that it was no fluke; Song Changming’s chess skill had long surpassed his own.
Another autumn wind blew by, bringing a coolness to the courtyard.
Liu Dingsheng sipped his tea, a bit lost, watching the sky on the courtyard wall, the wind rising and clouds swirling.
"Unknowingly, ten years have passed in the Da Lai Dynasty; is this world peaceful?"
"Compared to the chaotic era of warlords seizing territories, it’s stable now, only those Outer Realm Evil Cult mbers still cause unrest," Song Changming replied truthfully.
Liu Dingsheng had long been detached from worldly affairs, no longer as well-inford as he once was.
"Is that so..." Liu Dingsheng murmured.
"Ti flies so fast, as if yesterday was still Da Han, and today it’s Da Lai... Ultimately, people like should belong to Da Han; today’s Da Lai has nothing to do with ..."
Liu Dingsheng spent his whole life in the Da Han Dynasty, the identity of a Da Han citizen deeply imprinted in his mind, unchangeable.
He was a man of the old era, all his mories remained in Da Han, in that ti.
Song Changming seed to sense sothing, growing more silent as he looked at Liu Dingsheng before him.
"It’s getting a bit chilly, Changming, I should go rest now." After a mont of silence, Liu Dingsheng suddenly smiled and stood up.
After speaking, he walked slowly into the inner room with his hands behind his back.
Song Changming sat alone, quietly in the courtyard, looking at the finished chessboard.
Many emotions surged in his heart.
He thought he had long co to terms after so many years, but when this mont ca again, he still felt lost and sorrowful.
Monts later, he sighed deeply, stood up, and found Liu Ziwen.
"Have soone call Miss Yan’Er over," Song Changming said.
Upon hearing this, Liu Ziwen imdiately reacted and quickly went into the inner room.
There, he saw Liu Dingsheng quietly lying on the bed, his eyes closed, having departed peacefully.
"Elder Liu had long entrusted with his final wishes; I will arrange everything properly," Liu Ziwen said with visible sorrow, reddened eyes.
"Mm..."
A few days later, in the bamboo grove on a hill outside the County City.
This was the burial place Liu Dingsheng had chosen long ago, and now he has been laid to rest as he wished.
Liu Dingsheng had made countless friends and confidants in his lifeti, but in the end, only Song Changming, Liu Yan’Er, Liu Ziwen, and a few close ones who spent every day with him ca for this final farewell.
Most of the acquaintances he t over the years have turned to dust, and he was the last to pass away peacefully.
Song Changming placed a chessboard in front of the grave, and Liu Ziwen set down Liu Dingsheng’s beloved wine beside it.
Liu Yan’Er placed a bouquet of flowers on the grave.
Now mature and graceful, she resembled her master, Fairy Yuehan, in temperant, emanating a sense of aloofness.
Her eyes were filled with tears, but she did not let them fall, pursing her lips to hold them back.
The character honed through years of trials didn’t allow her to weep softly; she silently felt saddened in her heart.
The world’s last relative is gone; from now on, she will walk alone in this world, wholeheartedly pursuing the Martial Tao, following in her master’s footsteps to rejuvenate Wangyue Pavilion!
The Liu Yan’Er of today has grown up, no longer needing Song Changming’s constant protection.
"Brother Liu, Brother Song, you go back first; I’ll stay and watch over here," Liu Yan’Er said to the others.
As Liu Dingsheng’s only granddaughter, it made sense for her to stay and watch over the grave.
"No matter, I’ll stay a while longer too," Song Changming said.
Liu Ziwen didn’t plan to leave either.
Until the grave watching ended, everyone returned to Liu Residence.
All of Liu Dingsheng’s subordinates, connections, and assets had been entrusted to Liu Ziwen.
In other words, Liu Ziwen was their new leader.
As for Liu Yan’Er, she was doing exceptionally well in Wangyue Pavilion, had her own path of Martial Tao to walk, and naturally had no ti to manage Liu Dingsheng’s affairs.
Liu Dingsheng knew this well, hence entrusting everything to Liu Ziwen for him to handle completely.
Liu Dingsheng had considered entrusting it to Song Changming too.
After all, in terms of strength, Song Changming could definitely protect his subordinates, including Liu Ziwen, who had an extrely strong backing.
Thus, after he left, he could give his subordinates a reasonably satisfactory arrangent.
However, Song Changming did not accept it, as Liu Ziwen had always been managing all of Liu Dingsheng’s affairs.
For him to intervene at this ti would be sowhat unjustifiable.
If Liu Ziwen really encountered a dangerous situation, given their relationship, Song Changming wouldn’t stand idly by.
On the way back, Song Changming cald his emotions, looking into the distance, towards the direction of the Outer Domain.
More accurately, towards the location of the Abyss!
After ten long years, it’s ti for him to move on!
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