"I have sothing I want to say to you..."
Upon hearing the Third Elder’s words, Ah Lian found it difficult to control herself, her gaze falling upon his eyes. She was eager to hear what he had to say, yet terrified of what it might be. In the end, she shook her head, signaling for him to stop. No matter what he said, the ti for it had long passed.
But the Third Elder seed not to see her expression, continuing on his own. "Ah Lian, I was too cowardly back then. I shouldn’t have... I should have... I should have been like him..." He couldn’t go on, resting his tightly clenched fists on his knees. He looked deeply pained. He was a man with one foot in the grave, yet in the end, he still couldn’t muster that kind of courage.
A few seconds later, when Ah Lian spoke three simple words, the Third Elder nearly collapsed.
She said to him, "Yes, a little."
The Third Elder’s body began to tremble. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as a strange sound escaped from deep in his throat, like a sob he could no longer suppress. Seeing this old man in such distress made Ah Lian regret her words. But then, a sudden sense of peace washed over her as she saw a hint of relief on his face. Yes, relief. It was as if her three words had allowed this lifelong bachelor to let go of everything at once, making all the suffering he had endured in his life suddenly feel worthwhile.
Before the crumbling Third Elder, Ah Lian began to think of her own miserable situation and felt the urge to confide in soone. She desperately wanted to find a person—even a mute would do, as long as they could listen—and tell them of the bitterness she had endured for so many years. People need an outlet; confiding is a form of dicine.
Not looking at the Third Elder, she said, word by word, "Senior Brother, I have sothing I want to say to you, too."
The Third Elder drew a sharp breath, listening intently.
Ah Lian paused. "I must have been blind to fall for him."
Blind to fall for him. With that one sentence, I understood everything!
The Third Elder shot to his feet, reaching for Ah Lian’s hand. Though they were inches apart, an invisible barrier seed to separate them. His hand moved slowly, with great effort, as if it took a lifeti of courage to bridge the gap. Staring at her face, he asked with heartache, "Your face... Did he hit you?"
Ah Lian recoiled slightly. She shook her head, then nodded.
Seeing his hand about to touch her, she snapped out of her daze as if waking from a dream. "Senior Brother," she said hurriedly, "I have had a very hard ti these past few years. It’s been agonizing, painful... I’ve even thought of dying. But he is my husband, after all, and there is nothing between you and I. Please, co to your senses. My coming here this ti... I’ve wronged you. He made ..."
"Forget him!"
The Third Elder seed possessed. He stopped trying to touch her hand and, like a drunkard, waved his arm dismissively. "If you’re not happy, then leave him! That little brother of mine was telling about the world below on our journey. Down there, if a man and a woman can’t get along, they get divorced imdiately. They call it cutting your losses. Ah Lian, why don’t you cut your losses?"
If Su Xuan heard this, he wouldn’t know whether to laugh or cry. *Third Elder, you’re unbelievable. I was just telling you about the world below to pass the ti, not to encourage you to steal soone’s wife.*
The Third Elder couldn’t even suppress the reek of alcohol on his breath. His eyes were bloodshot as he said, "How about I help you escape? I’ll quit as an elder of the Jiuding Gate. I’ll stop refining pills. We can find a place where no one knows us and live our lives together, alright?" He didn’t know what ca over him, but he even found it in himself to joke at a ti like this. "Who knows, you might even bear a few children!"
"Children..."
As soon as she heard the word, Ah Lian’s deanor beca strange. Her eyes filled with tears as she shook her head frantically. "No, no! We can’t have children! We can’t have children..."
Ah Lian suddenly shoved the aggressive Third Elder away. "Senior Brother," she cried out, "for the sake of a child, he and I did sothing that could lead to eternal damnation! He’s using it to threaten , to make co to you! He sent to find you—do you understand what that ans? He wants to ruin your reputation! He wants to destroy you! You have to run! Go, as far away as you can!"
"I know." The Third Elder had beco surprisingly calm. "I knew you hadn’t co to see for no reason. There had to be sothing more to it. But I don’t care anymore. I’ve said what I needed to say, and I’m willing to trade all my fa and fortune for this chance to speak my heart to you. I don’t care. I don’t care about anything..."
BANG!
Just then, his door was kicked open.
The Third Elder didn’t turn to look, his eyes remaining fixed on Ah Lian, a look of release on his face. Even without looking, he knew who had arrived. It had to be Fu Yong. And Fu Yong certainly wouldn’t have co alone. He must have co to pin a cri on him—the cri of seducing and bullying his wife! The accusation would undoubtedly stick. Ah Lian was already crying inconsolably, her expression a ss of grief, pain, and turmoil. That was all the evidence they would need. He knew his fate. He would likely be beaten to death by Fu Yong, a humiliating end.
Was it right for him to co? Or was it wrong?
For the first ti, the Third Elder gave Ah Lian a pure, childlike smile. He no longer used his True Qi to project his voice, murmuring, "Ah Lian, I have no regrets. I ca... That’s better than never coming at all. I said it... and that’s better than never saying it. I have no children, and my parents are long gone. No family of mine will bear any sha because of . I..."
He looked up and laughed. "I’m so happy!"
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP!
Soone strode into the room and grabbed the Third Elder by the shoulder. Still, the Third Elder didn’t look, simply closing his eyes with an air of resignation, as if to say, *do what you will*.
But Ah Lian stared at the newcor, her eyes wide with astonishnt.
It wasn’t Fu Yong, there to catch them in the act.
It was Su Xuan!
"Old Xie, Old Xie!" Su Xuan had barged in for so unknown reason. He grabbed the Third Elder’s shoulder and started pulling him out of the room, talking nonstop. "I was just reviewing our pill formula and found a major flaw! The blood qi of the Blood Immortal Vine can’t be suppressed by ordinary Spirit Grass; the refinent will definitely fail! Hurry, co help think of a solution! We’re about to get the Pill Furnace! This is an ergency!"
The mont the Third Elder heard Su Xuan’s voice, he froze, completely dumbfounded. He whipped his head around to stare at Su Xuan, his expression clearly asking, *What are you doing here, kid?*
Just then, a group of people arrived outside the door, led by none other than Fu Yong. His expression was utterly foul. When he looked at Su Xuan, he looked like he wanted to tear the man apart with his bare hands.
Damn it! I painstakingly arranged this perfect show, and this kid kicked the door down for ! You kicking the door is completely different from kicking it! But... it doesn’t matter anymore. How things were ant to unfold was already set in stone...
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