How many tears can one shed in a lifetime?

How many tears can one shed in a lifetime? . . . 

A resounding "BOOM!" reverberated through the air, sending shockwaves rippling through the battlefield. Nie Yunchang's body collided with Qing'er, the sheer force of impact propelling them both through the skies.

Huang Youdi's lifeless form descended from above. The three experts, their faces contorted with dread, managed to catch him in mid-air, but their hearts were heavy with a realization that sent shivers down their spines.

She had done it. Qing'er had dared the unthinkable, extinguishing the life of Huang Youdi, a prince of the formidable Nine-Emperors Immortal Empire. She had cast aside all restraint and let nothing hold her back.

In this moment, the very same Huang Youdi, who had arrogantly considered himself peerless, now lay dead within the sacred academy.

Once, his arrogance had known no bounds. He had sneered at Jun Mengchen, even attempting to force him to acknowledge Qing'er as his royal brother's woman. He had deemed his orders unquestionable and himself beyond the need to even know who Qing'er was.

Yet, in the throes of death, he came to realize that it was the daughter of the Evergreen Immortal Emperor who held the power to end his life. As he faced his imminent demise, he regretted every smidgen of arrogance and rashness that had led him to this fate. It was his hubris and impulsive actions that had brought him to this moment, to die within the academy's hallowed grounds.

Huang Wudi's clash with Mo Ziyan came to an abrupt halt. They sped in opposite directions, with Huang Wudi reaching his fallen brother first. His embrace held a tinge of sorrow, despite his strained relationship with his younger sibling. Huang Youdi had consistently placed himself above Huang Wudi, disrespecting him and harboring an inflated sense of arrogance. In Huang Youdi's eyes, there was only one elder brother worth acknowledging: Huang Shatian, who possessed greater talent. Nevertheless, blood was thicker than water, and the bond of brotherhood remained. That's why they bore names like Youdi and Wudi, denoting their positions in the family hierarchy.

Huang Youdi had always aimed to surpass his elder brother, believing that he would one day outshine Huang Wudi. He had never held Huang Wudi in high esteem, instead admiring his elder brother Huang Shatian, who possessed greater potential. But despite their differences, blood still bound them together. Huang Youdi, the once-arrogant prince, had now met his end.

The daughter of the Evergreen Immortal Emperor had truly dared to take a life.

Nie Yunchang, though on the brink of death, clung to a slender thread of life. Her immortal-foundation lay shattered, her vitality waning with each passing moment. Her aura fluctuated wildly, yet her eyes bore a genuine smile as she gazed at Qing'er and Mo Ziyan.

"I've made my choice," Nie Yunchang said with a bittersweet smile. Mo Ziyan's words had stirred doubt within her, causing her to question herself, but a lingering resentment still festered. It was only when she witnessed Qing'er's unrelenting determination to eliminate Huang Youdi, even with three supreme experts supporting him, that she had a moment of clarity.

In that instant, Nie Yunchang seemed to grasp something crucial. All the suspicions and hypocrisy she had projected onto Qing'er were mere illusions. Even if she had thrust a sword into Qing'er's heart, Qing'er would never have harbored hatred towards her. In light of this revelation, she wondered what all her actions had been for.

"Since you've chosen this path, why consider turning back?" Mo Ziyan spoke, her heart heavy with sorrow.

"After all, I am still our master's disciple. Even if she were to expel me from the sect, I wouldn't accept it, even if it meant my death," Nie Yunchang gazed at the sky as if she could see the benevolent countenance of Matriarch Ji looking down at her. Sincerity and radiance filled her eyes as she directed her gaze at Qing'er. Her life, though short-lived, had no regrets.

"Senior sister, why?" Qing'er closed her eyes, tormented by a pain as sharp as a thousand daggers piercing her heart.

Nie Yunchang offered no response. Her life force rapidly dwindled, and while her beautiful eyes remained open, the absence of her immortal-foundation's support caused her internal organs to disintegrate. The remnants of immortal energy within her were severed from their source, and she inched ever closer to death.

The earth quaked with increasing intensity, and in the distance, a colossal figure emerged. When observed from afar, this giant appeared to meld with the heavens. As she caught sight of the figure, Nie Yunchang murmured, "Your beloved has come for you."

With those words, she gently closed her eyes, and a few moments later, her life force extinguished.

Huang Wudi turned his gaze to the distance, spotting the giant and igniting a fierce determination in his eyes. Yet he refocused on Qing'er and the others, issuing a cold command, "Show them no mercy. Kill them all."

A thunderous battle palm imprint cast a shadow over them, shrouding the sun. An expert from the Battle Saint Tribe materialized beside Mo Ziyan, urging, "Let's go."

Mo Ziyan carried Nie Yunchang's lifeless body, surrounded by a formidable surge of spatial energy, transforming into a streak of light that vanished from the scene.

Huang Wudi exuded a chilling aura, resolutely pursuing them with lightning speed.

Mo Ziyan and the Battle Saint Tribe experts yearned to reach the giant. This was a development Huang Wudi could not permit, for meeting Qin Wentian's group would make it exceedingly challenging to eliminate them.

Those adept in spatial energy typically enjoyed the advantage of speed, and Mo Ziyan, being a formidable figure, continuously emitted spatial energy fluctuations as they surged onward. Nevertheless, Huang Wudi and two other mighty experts remained hot on their heels.

The rumbling grew louder, and the tremors intensified. Mo Ziyan's group continued to narrow the gap between them and Qin Wentian. After a while, Qin Wentian too discerned their presence and began to accelerate his approach.

Qin Wentian had an advantage in locating Qing'er and Mo Ziyan, thanks to the three monks with mysterious abilities from the Askheart Temple. Their profound techniques of the Buddhist path guided him unerringly to their position.

After a while, Huang Wudi and his group decided to abandon the pursuit.

Finally, Qin Wentian's group merged with Qing'er and Mo Ziyan's. When he saw Qing'er, a radiant smile lit up his eyes. Fatigue clung to her, but she seemed well, and her well-being was all that mattered to him.

But as he examined the group more closely, he noticed Mo Ziyan standing beside Qing'er, cradling the lifeless body of Nie Yunchang. His expression turned somber, and he approached Mo Ziyan with a heavy heart. As he looked at the disciples of Matriarch Ji, he struggled to find words.

"Junior apprentice sister Yunchang died fighting our enemies," Mo Ziyan explained, avoiding any mention of Nie Yunchang's betrayal. She didn't want to tarnish her reputation further now that she was deceased.

And neither would Qing'er mention it.

The experts from the Battle Saint Tribe also remained silent on the matter, choosing to honor Nie Yunchang's sacrifice.

Qin Wentian gazed at Nie Yunchang's lifeless body, a beautiful life lost due to the war he had a hand in starting. Who bore the blame for this tragedy?

"We must continue moving forward," Qin Wentian finally spoke after a brief silence. "We can't afford more casualties. I promise to settle this debt once and for all in the future."

Mo Ziyan understood the urgency. There were still other sisters missing, and they needed to regroup with those fleeing in smaller groups due to the aftermath of the two warring factions.

In fact, Qin Wentian had little time for personal matters, even with Qing'er by his side. He transformed into a giant and led the way, causing the earth to tremble beneath his colossal footsteps. They ventured deeper into the mountains, where more and more people gathered with them. After reaching a point deep within the mountain range, they decided to halt their advance and begin the journey back.

Several days passed.

Now, on top of an ancient mountain, gazing from the peak, one could behold a vast expanse of glaciers that seemed to stretch endlessly. The academy's territory appeared boundless. They chose not to venture further into the mountain range; they had already traveled a considerable distance, and their pursuers were unlikely to delve so deep into the mountains to hunt them down.

"Qing'er looks deeply troubled," Mo Qingcheng remarked as she stood beside Qin Wentian, her gaze fixed on the lone figure standing on the mountain peak, buffeted by the frigid winds.

Qin Wentian had sensed it too. Over the past few days, Qing'er had become increasingly distant. Her naturally aloof demeanor initially made it difficult for him to discern anything amiss, but he eventually grew concerned.

"You should talk to her," Mo Qingcheng said, gently releasing her grip on Qin Wentian's hand, and smiled.

"Alright," Qin Wentian agreed. He flickered into motion, appearing on the mountain peak beside Qing'er. Together, they silently stared at the horizon.

No words were exchanged, but they didn't need them. As a chilling wind swept past, they stood there, side by side, their robes fluttering in the breeze. Qin Wentian inched closer to Qing'er, letting her know that he was there for her, right by her side.

Qing'er's body gently leaned against Qin Wentian's shoulder, seeking solace in his presence. He wrapped his arms around her waist, allowing her to rest her head on his shoulder.

"Qing'er, let's sit," Qin Wentian murmured softly. She nodded, and they settled down together. She nestled against him, her delicate form trembling. Qin Wentian held her close, though beneath his calm exterior, his heart was anything but tranquil.

Qing'er had always been known for her aloof and frosty demeanor, never one to cling to him like this. But now, he could feel the fragility of her heart.

"Wentian, were we wrong?" Qing'er's voice was light as she lay down, using Qin Wentian's thigh as a pillow. Her beautiful eyes gazed into the distance.

"In this world, there is no absolute right or wrong—only strength and weakness matter," Qin Wentian replied. "Some things are beyond our control. Many in the sacred academy may view you as prey, but your fellow apprentice sisters were willing to stand by your side and fight for you. You should cherish and feel gratitude for these relationships, rather than blame yourself. Their feelings for you run deep, and if they were in danger, I believe you'd do the same—stand by their side, no matter what. Am I not right?"

Qin Wentian was highly perceptive and knew exactly what Qing'er was alluding to. Nie Yunchang's death had clearly weighed heavily on her.

"But still, they were ultimately drawn into this and suffered because of me," Qing'er persisted, continuing to blame herself. She couldn't forget Nie Yunchang's words or the smile she wore before her death.

Qin Wentian understood that no amount of consolation would change this situation. It was a problem without a clear solution. He had pondered the same question himself: if he could start over, would he choose differently to spare his friends and comrades from danger? But he had no answer, and neither did anyone else.

All he could do was become stronger and stronger. Only then would no one dare to harm those close to him. Without sufficient strength, all he could do was remain vigilant.

He lowered his head to look at Qing'er. In her beautiful eyes, he saw glistening tears. The strong and determined Qing'er was now in his arms, allowing her vulnerability to show.

"Qing'er, sometimes tears can heal wounds of the soul and heart," Qin Wentian whispered, holding her even tighter. Her tears continued to flow, and she shifted in his embrace, enveloping him in a tight hug. Perhaps, it was only in the presence of the person she loved most that she could let down the walls around her heart and reveal her true emotions.

Qin Wentian cradled her, his heart aching as he gazed out at the glacier-covered landscape. Despite the beauty of the scenery, it couldn't compare to the beauty of Qing'er's tears, which held all her delicate emotions within them.