Chapter 21: Before the Eternal Throne Lies Immortality

Restored to her feminine attire, Su Xiruo made a stunning entrance. The white silk dress fluttered in the breeze, ethereal as a celestial being, occasionally revealing graceful curves that hinted at a mature charm. Before she spoke, she smiled; as she walked from the room, every gaze was drawn irresistibly to her, as if all the light in the world converged upon her, showering her with affection. Her voice was clear and melodious, reminiscent of wind stirring hanging bells—a lingering, enchanting sound.

"I'm back."

The wolf shook his head vigorously, feeling a bit dizzy. Du Gu Bieli, however, remained motionless—his eyes fixed, somewhat vacant. A peculiar familiarity seeped into every corner of his mind, as though they had known and accompanied each other for ages past, their bond etched into countless lifetimes.

The little sister, oblivious to his oddness, gazed at Su Xiruo with admiration. Especially when she saw the dress, and compared it to her own coarse linen garb, she lowered her head, feeling a touch of inferiority. The child, simple in thought, voiced her heart: "Sister, you're so beautiful. I wish I could wear a white dress too, so big brother could see..."

Su Xiruo laughed softly and replied tenderly, "If you like, sister will weave one for you. But you'll need to be patient—it will take quite some time."

"Thank you, sister." The child's face blossomed with joy, her laughter tinkling like bells as she wiggled excitedly in Du Gu Bieli's arms.

With that, Du Gu Bieli came to himself and asked, "What's going on?"

Su Xiruo explained, "Uncle said that since you plan to stay here, you shouldn't have to make do with the library or storage room, so there needs to be a new house..."

At the mention of 'new house,' she seemed to recall another implication and her cheeks flushed red again. Fearing she might offend Du Gu Bieli, she hurriedly diverted the conversation: "Also, uncle sent members of the Fire Squad to help. They're tidying up the storage room now. As for the library, I've basically cleaned the first floor; it just needs the shelves arranged and the books sorted. The other floors, give me some time and I'll put them in order too."

"...Oh," Du Gu Bieli's heart skipped inexplicably, a feeling he could not name. Hesitantly, he said, "There aren't many of us; do we really need so many rooms?"

"...," Su Xiruo lowered her head, eyes tinged with disappointment. Her small foot brushed the ground as she murmured, "I want to live here too... Do you not like me? Am I unwelcome as a neighbor..."

"Ah... oh... yes, of course... no..." Du Gu Bieli felt that speaking with her was more exhausting than fighting ten generals, the pressure immense. He stammered, awkwardly, "Welcome, I mean, you're very welcome to live here. It's good."

"Really?" Su Xiruo gathered her courage and looked up at him, her gaze lingering. Not long ago, uncle Wu Ying and the headmaster had spoken ambiguously, their words full of hidden meaning, which she understood. The thought that she might share a future with this man made her shy beyond measure.

"The house is nice, quite unique. I think I'll take a look around, ha ha..." With a forced laugh, the wolf sensibly found an excuse and darted into a room. Little Flower, baffled but trusting the wolf's purpose, slipped in after him.

The little sister, hearing this, pondered momentarily before understanding, her curiosity and delight clear as she glanced at Su Xiruo. She stepped forward, took the child, and said, "Let's go find a room you like, okay?"

"But I don't want to leave big brother." The child struggled, but the sister was stronger and carried her away, pouting in protest.

Left alone, man and woman, the atmosphere became awkward, embarrassment swelling in the silence. Su Xiruo couldn't bear it; summoning her courage, she was about to speak when Du Gu Bieli broke in first: "Once we've settled in, I'll try to see if I can help with your illness."

Xiruo replied softly.

"You've been busy for a long time; you must be exhausted. Why not rest for a while?" Du Gu Bieli's gaze wandered as he asked.

Xiruo nodded, her reply barely audible.

"I... um..." Du Gu Bieli faltered, unable to sustain the conversation, admitting defeat. "I'll go check my room."

Xiruo obediently replied, "You go ahead."

After this awkward exchange, Du Gu Bieli, sweating coldly, breathed a sigh of relief and hurried past her toward his room.

As they passed, a trace of his scent wafted to Su Xiruo's nose. She wrinkled her brow, sniffed, and murmured, "Such a strong smell of sweat..."

Du Gu Bieli stumbled, nearly falling, and hurried into his room to escape.

Su Xiruo laughed, two shallow dimples blooming on her cheeks. She sniffed theatrically once more and amended, "Wrong, it's the scent of a man..."

She was actually starting to tease him!

No matter how dull or naive Du Gu Bieli was about such matters, he finally understood. He glanced around; the room was mostly empty, furnished with wood, the fresh scent of timber lingering. There was a bed, cabinet, and stool, but he would need to procure bedding and other items.

A sudden restlessness overtook him. His mood soured as he listened to the wolf and Little Flower expressing their satisfaction, and the little sister and child debating about room arrangements. He stepped outside.

Su Xiruo was still there, bathed in bright, scorching sunlight. When she saw him emerge, she pressed her lips into a smile, and instantly the sky seemed broader and the earth more radiant, as if countless flowers burst into bloom with the arrival of spring, flaunting their vibrant colors.

Du Gu Bieli was momentarily lost, struggling to break free. "Since there's nothing urgent right now, I'll try to see if I can cure your illness."

"Ah?" Su Xiruo blinked in surprise and quickly retreated several steps, calling loudly, "Uncle, come quickly..."

Du Gu Bieli immediately broke out in a sweat, thinking, "Is that really necessary? I haven't done anything improper—why call someone over? It makes me feel guilty..."

"What's wrong, what's wrong? Don't be afraid, uncle is here." Wu Ying appeared as soon as he was summoned, the void rippling before snapping back, and his hunched figure materialized. He looked around theatrically, then, in a strange tone, said, "Xiruo, where's the villain? Is someone courting death? Oh, Du Gu Bieli is here too. With him by your side, shouldn't your safety be assured?"

"Uncle," Su Xiruo stomped her foot and whined, the interruption easing her anxiety. After composing herself, she said, "He's going to help treat me, and I'm afraid!"

"Don't be." Understanding her anxiety, Wu Ying's heart softened with pity and sorrow. He comforted her, "You've endured all these years, and even the Eternal Emperor couldn't find a cure. It's thought to be incurable, so you needn't worry about failure. If it works, it would be a blessing, fulfilling your long-held wish."

"I understand." Su Xiruo responded, her voice choked with tears. "Try then, you try."

"Wait," Wu Ying stopped her. He turned to Du Gu Bieli, "I need to explain the specifics to you first, so you'll know what's going on, and have some sense of what to expect."

"Oh, please do."

Wu Ying sighed, his gaze growing distant, as if lost in the river of years past, stirring memories of pain and hatred. His voice was soft and haunting, like a small boat drifting upstream through time, carrying Du Gu Bieli back to those sealed memories.

"The Wildlands, so the legends say, were once the ten territories inhabited by ancient demons, shattered by the war between gods and demons, then reformed and evolved. In fact, there are five Wilds, each ruled by an emperor. The emperor of the Central Wild is called the Eternal Emperor; it's said she was born when the Wildlands were newly formed..."

"Under the Eternal Emperor, there are several kings. One of them is the King of Longevity, unmatched in power, hailed as the foremost king of the Central Wild. He earned great renown in the last war between the races of Heaven and Man—a hero venerated by our people, though a thorn in the side of the Heaven race, who sought to eliminate him."

"Thirty years ago, I was but a minor marquis, exploring the outskirts of the Star River world. Suddenly, a fierce beast burst from within the Star River, awakened to the ancestral power in its blood—formless and invisible. I was about to die, when the King of Longevity, who happened to be wandering outside the Star River, intervened, captured the beast, and saved my life. He went further, merging the beast with me, allowing me to comprehend the 'Dao' and ascend to the phase of an Aspect..."

At this, Wu Ying's eyes shone with dazzling light, his spirit soaring.

"Afterwards, in conversation, I learned that the woman beside the King of Longevity was his wife, and she was cradling their newborn daughter..."

At this point, Su Xiruo, struggling to remain composed, could not help but sob softly, helpless.

That infant was herself.

Wu Ying gazed at her, patting her shoulder and sighing repeatedly. Then his expression dimmed abruptly, sorrow filling his eyes as tears streamed down his face. He clenched his fists, trembling, and said bitterly, "It was because his beloved daughter was born that the King of Longevity took his family out for leisure... But, damn the Heaven race, somehow they learned of it and dispatched two leaders to hunt them down. Each leader was a half-step emperor, formidable in strength, and with his family as a burden, the King of Longevity fell into peril..."

"...I hate myself, hate my own weakness, forced to watch my benefactor being beset from all sides. Though the commotion alerted the emperor and the Heaven race retreated, the King of Longevity was at death's door, beyond salvation. The blow of losing his wife made him abandon all hope..."

Wu Ying crouched, buried his head in his hands, and wept, stripped of all the dignity of an Aspect, as fragile as any old man. Su Xiruo, calmed by his sorrow, stepped forward to wipe his tears.

Du Gu Bieli listened in silence and finally asked, "If the emperor was alerted, why didn't she retaliate against the Heaven race, to demand justice?"

[Editor's note: For more recommended books, visit the site and add to your favorites.]