Chu Feng returned to Qiuluo Village, originally intending to head straight to Song Ge’s mother’s residence.
But as soon as he entered the village, he heard Song Ge and Old Freak Tang’s heart-wrenching cries.
The cries weren’t coming from Song Ge’s mother’s home but from Old Freak Tang’s blacksmith shop.
Chu Feng observed carefully and understood why Song Ge and Old Freak Tang were so heartbroken.
Song Ge’s mother lay peacefully on Old Freak Tang’s bed.
She was gone, and it hadn’t been long since she passed.
Unfortunately, neither Song Ge nor Old Freak Tang had seen her one last time.
Thus, their grief was profound.
Song Ge’s sorrow stemmed purely from her reluctance to part with her mother.
But Old Freak Tang’s grief was laced with guilt.
On the day Song Ge’s mother passed, she was dressed impeccably, clutching one of Old Freak Tang’s pillows.
Chu Feng recognised it as the pillow Old Freak Tang used every day.
Knowing she couldn’t hold on, Song Ge’s mother hadn’t died at home but came to Old Freak Tang’s place.
In the end, she revealed…
Though she might have hated Old Freak Tang for his coldness, she had always deeply loved him.
Now, Chu Feng finally understood why, after giving birth to Song Ge and enduring gossip and bullying from the villagers, her mother refused to leave Qiuluo Village.
It wasn’t the village she couldn’t bear to leave, but Old Freak Tang.
Chu Feng understood, and so did Old Freak Tang.
That’s why Old Freak Tang felt such shame and guilt.
He had let down a woman who loved him deeply.
Chu Feng didn’t disturb Old Freak Tang and Song Ge, nor did he use his special observation techniques to watch the father and daughter.
Having just reunited, they deserved undisturbed time together.
After all, Old Freak Tang didn’t have much time left…
But Chu Feng didn’t go far, sitting outside the blacksmith shop.
On the grass, watching the setting sun, Chu Feng felt heavy, a tearing pain in his heart.
He was in a low mood, thinking Old Freak Tang’s life was quite tragic.
When he realised his woman still loved him, she was already gone.
When he reunited with his daughter, his own days were numbered.
This made Chu Feng miss certain people deeply.
He missed his father, his mother, his grandparents.
He missed Zi Ling, Su Rou, Su Mei, and even Dandan, who had been asleep for so long and hadn’t spoken to him in ages.
And the brothers who once fought alongside him.
Life is long yet short; every meeting might be the last.
So, one must cherish the present, every moment with loved ones, because you never know when you’ll never see them again…
Such partings aren’t always due to death, sometimes you just go separate ways, never to cross paths again…
Rustle—
Suddenly, footsteps came from behind. Turning, Chu Feng saw Song Ge.
She sat beside him.
“Why not spend more time with your father?” Chu Feng asked.
“He’s gone,” Song Ge said.
“What?”
Shocked, Chu Feng looked back at the blacksmith shop. As the walls faded, he saw Old Freak Tang lying peacefully beside Song Ge’s mother.
But there was no trace of life in him, he was truly gone.
Yet, Old Freak Tang had a smile on his face, suggesting he died fulfilled, at peace.
“Have you cried yourself dry?” Chu Feng asked Song Ge.
He noticed she shed no tears when Old Freak Tang passed.
Song Ge shook her head, saying, “Though I have some regrets, I’m already lucky. At least I saw him before he left, I know he’s my father, and… he even stood up for me, fought for me.”
“Compared to before, when I had no father and didn’t know if he was alive, I’m content.”
As she spoke, a faint smile graced her face.
It was subtle, but she seemed genuinely at peace.
“Xura, thank you,” Song Ge suddenly said.
“Thank me for what?” Chu Feng asked.
“My father told me it was you who convinced him to acknowledge me. Without you, he might not have done so before he died,” Song Ge said.
“I think even without me, he’d have acknowledged you,” Chu Feng replied.
“Maybe,” Song Ge said, a faint smile returning.
“Oh, this is for you from my father. I don’t know what it is, he didn’t let me look, just told me to give it to you.” Song Ge took a scroll from her Qiankun bag and handed it to Chu Feng.
As Chu Feng took it, he already had a guess about its contents.
Opening it, as expected, it was the Curse Technique.
In the end, Old Freak Tang chose to help Chu Feng.
Afterwards, Chu Feng and Song Ge buried Old Freak Tang and Song Ge’s mother together.
“Any plans?”
“If you want, Shuijing Dongtian would likely welcome you,” Chu Feng said.
“No, I don’t want to join any sects. I just want to stay here with my parents,” Song Ge replied.
“You’re staying here forever? But martial cultivators need opportunities to grow,” Chu Feng said.
“Everyone seeks different kinds of happiness. For me, perhaps simplicity is happiness,” Song Ge said.
“Fair enough.”
“Then stay here. I’ll come see you when I get the chance,” Chu Feng said.
“You said it, don’t lie to me,” Song Ge said, holding out her finger.
Chu Feng smiled, hooked his finger with hers firmly, and said, “Don’t worry, I won’t.”
They talked late into the night until Song Ge fell asleep.
Martial cultivators don’t get sleepy unless exhausted, and Song Ge was clearly worn out…
As she slept against Chu Feng’s shoulder, he took out the Curse Technique scroll and studied it carefully.
But as he read, his hands tightened, his heart trembling violently.
As he gradually understood the Curse Technique, Chu Feng suddenly realised something.
