The Greatest Showman #1466 - Last Goodbye

Standing still, Renly was already riddled with holes. He never said goodbye—not to Chu Jiashu, not to Heather, not to the Hall family. He was cowardly and timid, burying his fears deep in his heart, masking them with a smile, and pretending to soar when, in reality, he was never free.

As a result, Andrew couldn't break through the chains of four hundred strikes. Like every previous attempt, the nightmare always lingered, unrelenting.

"I can't do it." For the first time, Renly showed his vulnerability. The immense pain drowned him, suffocating him like a tide. He even clenched his fists. If he couldn't do this, how could he truly say goodbye? He had never been as strong or wise as he appeared—he was just a fool, a fool who stubbornly pressed forward along a path he couldn't escape.

"Sorry. I... can't do it."

He missed Heather.

Chu Jiashu didn't say anything. Neither did Heather. They simply watched Renly, who had let go of all his defenses, allowing the negative emotions to spill out.

After a long silence, Renly finally calmed down. He lifted his eyes, staring into the vast darkness around him before his gaze found Heather. "I have to do this, right?"

Heather smiled softly and nodded. "Renly, you already know what to do." She turned and looked around. "This is your consciousness. This is your world. Everything here is a reflection of your thoughts. My words are your thoughts. You know what to do."

Renly closed his eyes, pain flooding his mind.

He understood what the core of the issue was—the restraint, the confinement, the repression. The lingering nightmare, like smoke, haunting his soul and leading him step by step to self-destruction. He couldn't refuse. He couldn't stop. It was like Nina in Black Swan—knowing there was a cliff ahead, but jumping off anyway.

Finally, destruction or breakthrough—there was no other choice.

The only way to break free was to reconnect with himself.

It was all about the drums—not Fletcher.

He needed to challenge himself. He needed to break the rhythm, to persevere. More importantly, he needed to forget Fletcher. His goal was Buddy Ritchie, not some small-school teacher. His goal was greatness, not a conservatory.

Renly needed to focus on himself, to achieve glory after his breakthrough. Only then would Fletcher be a mere obstacle, something insignificant. He needed to stand up, to insist on his own path, to overthrow Fletcher, to surpass him, to be reborn.

He needed to kill the father.

The road to self-liberation was never easy. But only by understanding, persevering, and embracing himself—truly finding and recognizing his true self—could a breakthrough become possible.

Andrew did it. So could he.

Renly needed to say goodbye to Chu Jiashu. He needed to say goodbye to Heather.

It was difficult, but it had to be done.

"I see the sky fading, I hear a sigh in the breeze. When the snow covers my fallen brother, I whisper my last goodbye."

(The Last Goodbye)

Renly slowly raised his head, his gaze clearing. The chaos and confusion in his eyes gradually faded, and the black mist around him receded. His body, once weighed down by gloom, became brighter and lighter, as a relieved smile tugged at the corners of his lips. His eyes were clearer now, and he turned toward Chu Jiashu.

It had been so long since he last truly looked at him. The face that had once been so familiar now felt distant, though slowly it came into focus. It was strange, but it stirred familiar feelings, as if he were looking into a mirror.

"Night is slowly approaching, but daybreak calls. I will set off again, climb mountains, cross the Evernight Continent, and run along the Yingying River to the sea. Bathed in the stars, with snowflakes swirling and the cold wind whispering, I will set off toward home. Though the road ahead is vast and uncertain, the day of farewell will come. After traversing countless mountains and rivers, through the ups and downs, and amidst the thorns, I have no regrets. I have not forgotten. All of them were my partners."

A smile grew on Renly's face. He raised his right hand and waved lightly. "Jiashu."

"Lan Li." Chu Jiashu smiled brightly, though with a slight shyness. After a pause, his gaze softened, meeting Renly's eyes. "You did well."

Renly chuckled softly and tried to respond, but his thoughts were so tangled, so complex, he didn't know where to begin. All he could manage was a light nod, though whether it was in approval, gratitude, or something else, even he couldn't tell.

Chu Jiashu raised his fist and tightened it. His eyes sparkled with happiness. "Come on."

Renly felt something stir within him. He clenched his teeth and shook his head gently, but Chu Jiashu didn't seem to mind. His smile only grew brighter. "This day should have come a long time ago, don't you think?"

"Night is slowly coming, and daybreak is near. The journey ahead calls. I will climb mountains again, cross the Evernight Continent, run along the Yingying River to the sea. I will be full of memories and blessings as I journey home. Though the road ahead is vast and uncertain, the day of farewell will come. After enduring countless trials, I have no regrets. I express my final goodbye."

The time for farewell had arrived.

Slowly, Chu Jiashu walked toward Renly. One step, then another. His footsteps, firm and steady, grew brighter and warmer, almost glowing with a golden mist. As he neared, he didn't stop. He walked straight into Renly, their paths converging.

A soft "goodbye" whispered in Renly's ear.

And then, they became one.

A final voice echoed in his ear: "Renly, goodbye. But this is not truly a goodbye." And with that, the voice faded, as smoke dissipating into nothingness.

Goodbye. The final goodbye.

Tears burst from Renly's eyes—bitterness, pain, grief, regret, and the weight of all the unspoken emotions churned in his chest. Standing there, he cried, unable to hold back.

From his past life to this one, from Chu Jiashu to Renly, he had finally said his final farewell.

"I see the sky fade, hear the breeze sigh. When the snow covers my fallen brother, I will whisper my final goodbyes."

"Goodbye." Renly murmured softly. His voice was indistinct, choked, as if his heart had curled up and constricted.

Goodbye. Goodbye!

The golden light grew brighter, more dazzling. A single ray of light was enough to illuminate the entire space. The darkness receded like a tide, and the world brightened and widened. The fragments of memories—of Chu Jiashu, Heather, Ding Yanan, Arthur, Edith, Paul, Ryan, Rooney, Matthew, Andre, and many others—lit up, like starlight scattered across the sky.

Those vivid memories glowed, bright and warm, joyful and moving. They bloomed like a summer flower.

Renly stood tall, gazing at the golden halo in front of him. After a moment's hesitation, he took a step forward, then another, flying toward the light faster and faster, until his body began to burn like a flame, releasing the power of his soul without reservation.

In that trance, it felt like he had returned to that moment twenty-three years ago. He had thought he was dead but saw a ray of light. Desperate, he ran toward it, not knowing why, driven only by a deep, primal instinct.

Now, he rushed into the light again. But this time, everything felt different. All the memories, the sorrow and joy, the bitterness and sweetness, the good and bad—had all merged into one world. They flashed before him like a revolving lantern.

He saw Chu Jiashu. He saw Heather.

They were still here. This was not a farewell.

Now, Renly finally understood the true meaning of this moment. He had once been too afraid to take this step, unsure whether it was real or just a dream. But now, he wasn't afraid to return to the past.

Not because he believed the present was "reality," but because he was no longer afraid to embrace his past. Whether as Chu Jiashu or Renly, he was one. The scars, the marks, they were his alone, his true self.

This was the truest version of him.

A smile bloomed on his face, and as he reached up to touch it, his cheeks were wet with tears.