An Chengxi’s perception and feelings towards Lin Wan’er gradually began to become multifaceted.
On one hand, she clearly knew that Lin Wan’er was nearly four hundred years old, absolutely a senior of ancestral level, yet on the other hand, she also vaguely felt that Lin Wan’er was just a little girl, a cute young lady even smaller than her own son, and at certain times, she seemed like a girlfriend who had forgotten her age, giving a sense of kinship.
Respect, admiration, appreciation, fondness, and affection, when these kinds of feelings all concentrated on one person, An Chengxi felt somewhat unaccustomed to it, to a greater or lesser extent.
Lin Wan’er let out a soft sigh and smiled lightly. “This young lady and Lady Ye took to each other at first sight and had a very pleasant conversation. In the future, if there is an opportunity, I hope to be able to chat as freely with Lady Ye as we have today.”
An Chengxi knew that Lin Wan’er was really about to leave, so she nodded and said, “This junior also hopes to meet with senior again. Due to the special circumstances, this junior will not see senior off.”
Lin Wan’er smiled and said, “Lady Ye need not see me off. This young lady can leave on her own.”
With that, she turned her head to look at Kong Yin, only to find that he was already tearful, so she smiled and said, “Zhengping, I am leaving.”
Kong Yin knew that Lin Wan’er was about to leave and could not help but choke up. “Miss… Zhengping has not seen you for a hundred years. Today, finally seeing you again, I boldly ask you to stay in the temple for a few days, even… even if just one night…”
Kong Yin very much wanted to say, Miss, Zhengping misses you very much, but it stuck in his throat and he could never say it out.
The more the words in his heart could not be spoken, the more they turned into tears, sliding down endlessly. Two streams of tears forming water marks flowed down his face full of wrinkles, just like river water flowing over parched and cracked yellow earth.
The people on both sides all felt a pang of compassion.
They even could not help but look towards Lin Wan’er, hoping she could fulfil Kong Yin’s small wish.
However, Lin Wan’er said softly, “Zhengping, for you and me to meet again is already due to fate. You know that over these many years I have long grown accustomed to partings. Staying a few more days would only increase the risks and make the next parting even more sorrowful. Since that is the case, why not keep this reunion as a pleasant surprise in the bottom of your heart.”
Kong Yin could no longer hold back his emotions. He did not continue to sit cross-legged but instead knelt down on both knees, placed his hands flat on his knees like a child, and wailed loudly. “Miss, Zhengping knows the hardships of your life, Zhengping absolutely should not make such a request… It’s just… it’s just…”
Kong Yin spoke up to here, his words becoming fragmented due to sobbing. “It’s just… it’s just that Zhengping has a feeling… a feeling that I have lived over one hundred and twenty years… the end… the end is already right before my eyes…”
“Miss… In Zhengping’s past life of over one hundred years, the… the earliest memory is… is being held in your arms by you, Miss…”
“Now… now that the end is approaching, Zhengping boldly hopes that the last memory of this life will still be you, Miss, accompanying Zhengping to the very end…”
“That way… that way… Zhengping would… would die… without regrets…”
At this point, before Lin Wan’er could speak, he felt a sharp pain in his heart. His vision went black and his whole body collapsed sideways.
Lin Wan’er instinctively wanted to support him, but she did not have the speed. Instead, Master Jingqing was quick-eyed and quick-handed, immediately helping Kong Yin up. Seeing his face deathly pale and his lips white as paper, he thought to himself that something was wrong and asked with concern, “Master Kong Yin, are you alright?”
The others also looked at Kong Yin tensely, fearing that something might happen to him.
Lin Wan’er bit her lower lip, her heart aching just like everyone else’s.
At that moment, Kong Yin suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Lin Wan’er, managing a difficult smile. “Miss, you… you must take good care of yourself!”
Lin Wan’er’s heart sank. She could see that he had reached the end of his life. Tears instantly flowed from her eyes.
In a flash, she hurriedly stepped forward and bent down, unhesitatingly taking out a pill and holding it to Kong Yin’s mouth. Like coaxing a child, she smiled and said, “Zhengping, be good. Eat this pill and everything will be fine.”
Kong Yin forced out a smile with difficulty and said in a trembling voice, “When… when I was little and ill… you, Miss, would… would coax Zhengping to take medicine like this. The medicine you boiled… was… especially bitter, so bitter… bitter that after drinking it, my whole… whole body couldn’t help… couldn’t help trembling, but… but every time it really… really cured the illness…”
As he spoke, Kong Yin took several deep breaths and continued, “But… but this time is different, Miss… Zhengping’s end… has… has truly come…”
