Chapter 20 – Farewell 离别

Four months later, the warm morning sun gently shone on the bustling Longevity Sect. The disciples, armed with tools, were busily repairing the damaged buildings, and the entire sect was full of vitality. Lin Yuan squatted beside a half - broken wall, with a bitter expression on his face, and kept complaining, "Why on earth do they have to drag me, a little Foundation Establishment disciple, to do the job of repairing the door? I came here to cultivate immortality, not to be a menial servant!"

Meng Xinghe walked by with a bundle of timber in his arms, a blade of grass in his mouth, and said with a grin, "You have unlimited potential. You'll surely be the Longevity Sect's mainstay in the future."

Lin Yuan rolled his eyes and said irritably, "You're just making fun of me. Why don't you come and help?"

Meng Xinghe shrugged and said leisurely, "I just believe you can do it."

As the two were talking, Bai Moli came over with a food box in her hands and interrupted them with a smile, "Okay, stop fooling around. Junior Brother Yuan, Xinghe, these are the Small Nourishing Spirit Pills I just refined. Consider it a reward for your hard work. Have a taste."

Lin Yuan looked at the pills, his eyes lit up and he smiled, "Senior Sister Moli is the kindest.""

Meng Xinghe pouted.

Just as the three were having fun, a cold, mechanical voice of the Jiuchong Ring suddenly rang in Lin Yuan's ear, "Please prepare, the host will be teleported to the next plane in 7 days."

The hammer in Lin Yuan's hand dropped to the ground with a "snap", and he froze instantly, as if he had been cast a body - fixing spell.

Meng Xinghe looked at him strangely and asked, "What are you spacing out for?"

Lin Yuan forced a smile, hooked his arm around Meng Xinghe's shoulder, and casually said, "It's nothing. I just had a sudden thought."

But his heart was in turmoil, "I'm leaving in 7 days... What about this body? And what about my friends here? Do I really have to leave without saying a word?"

In the dead of night, Lin Yuan sat alone in his room, constantly twirling the black Jiuchong Ring in his hand. He asked in a low voice, "In 7 days... What will happen to my body?"

The Jiuchong Ring replied calmly, "The fusion of the host's original soul and this body will be forcibly interrupted. The original body will fall into a false death and then break down, merging back into the universe."

Lin Yuan's heart sank suddenly, "That means... They'll think I'm dead?"

"Yes." The Jiuchong Ring answered briefly, "However, the host can choose to leave a message to explain everything or make up a reasonable excuse."

Lin Yuan was silent for a long time. Finally, he said with a bitter smile, "Forget it. They definitely won't believe the truth. I'd better leave a letter and make up a reason..."

...

Lin Yuan specifically went to find Bai Moli and offered to help her refine pills in the alchemy room.

Bai Moli was very strange and asked, "Junior Brother Yuan, why are you suddenly interested in helping me?"Lin Yuan smiled and said, "There may not be many opportunities in the future. It's always good to learn more."

Bai Moli looked at him suspiciously but didn't ask any more questions. When leaving, Lin Yuan said softly, "Senior Sister Moli, you're the most amazing alchemist I've ever seen. You'll surely refine heaven - defying spirit pills in the future. Don't forget your little junior brother then."

Bai Moli was stunned for a moment, watching Lin Yuan leave. She vaguely felt a sense of farewell in his tone.

...

Lin Yuan invited Meng Xinghe to drink. The two sat on the grass in the back mountain, drinking heartily under the moonlight.

Meng Xinghe was drunk and slurred, "Hey, little guy, do you think we can both become the sect leader in the future? Then we can strut around in this Longevity Sect."

Lin Yuan laughed heartily and said, "You be the sect leader, and I'll be your protector. Then we'll protect the Longevity Sect together."

Meng Xinghe stared at him for a while and suddenly said in a low voice, "Lin Yuan, I don't know why, but you've been acting strange lately... Are you hiding something from me?"

Lin Yuan was startled. Then he patted his shoulder and said, "You're thinking too much. Don't worry. As long as I'm here, you can always be so carefree."

Meng Xinghe laughed heartily, raised his glass, and said, "Cheers!"

...

On the last day, Lin Yuan went to Lin Xuefei's residence and said straightforwardly, "Senior Sister Lin, I have something to ask you for help before I leave."

Lin Xuefei raised an eyebrow and asked, "Leave? Where are you going? Are you going to 'roam the martial arts world'?"

Lin Yuan shook his head with a smile, "I can't say. But I hope you can take good care of Bai Moli and Meng Xinghe. They're tough - mouthed but soft - hearted."

Lin Xuefei was silent for a while, looking at him with calm eyes, "Is it related to the disappearance of the Tianhen Golden Wheel's spirituality? Don't try to hide it from me. I'm not that easy to deceive."

Lin Yuan was shocked. He said with an embarrassed smile, "You... How did you know? Do you have mind - reading skills?"

Lin Xuefei said coldly, "I don't know what you did, but you don't have to explain. Go and do what you want to do, Lin Yuan. I'll do my best to protect the affairs of the Longevity Sect. Don't worry."

Lin Yuan's eyes became slightly warm, and he nodded, "Thank you, Senior Sister."

...

The next day, when Meng Xinghe woke up, he found that Lin Yuan's room was already empty, and there was a letter on the table. He opened the letter, which only had a few lines:

"Xinghe, Senior Sister Moli, Senior Sister Lin:

Don't worry about me. I'm fine. Actually, I'm a god descending to earth to experience life, and this journey is over. Just kidding.

You'll should practice hard and guard the Longevity Sect. Maybe we'll meet again someday.

—— Lin Yuan."

Meng Xinghe was stunned. His eyes gradually turned red, and he muttered in a low voice, "You rascal. What kind of farewell is this? You didn't even say a proper goodbye. It's so inconsiderate."

Soon, after Bai Moli saw the letter, her expression was a bit desolate, and she murmured in a low voice, "How could Junior Brother Yuan leave just like that..."

Lin Xuefei stood in the distance, her eyes slightly downcast, and murmured in a low voice, "It has something to do with the Tianhen Golden Wheel... That kid, how many secrets is he hiding from us?"

Late at night on the seventh day, Lin Yuan stood alone in the back mountain, looking at the twinkling stars in the night sky. The voice of the Jiuchong Ring rang out, "Teleportation begins."

A dazzling white light enveloped him. Lin Yuan's figure gradually blurred and finally disappeared completely from this world.

And on a certain big tree in the back mountain of the Longevity Sect, there were a few lines of small characters engraved:

["I will always remember my days in the Longevity Sect. —— Lin Yuan"]

=====================

四个月后,清晨的阳光温柔地洒在忙碌的长生派.弟子们拿着工具,热火朝天地修补着受损的建筑,整个宗门充满了生机.林远蹲在半截破墙旁,一脸苦相,不停地抱怨着:"修门这种活儿,为什么非要抓我这个筑基小弟子啊?我是来修仙的,又不是来当杂役的!"

孟星河抱着一捆木料从旁边路过,嘴里叼着一片草叶,笑嘻嘻地说:"你这不是潜力无限嘛,将来肯定能成为咱们长生派的中流砥柱."

林远翻了个白眼,没好气地说:"就会打趣我,你倒是来帮忙啊."

孟星河耸耸肩,一脸悠闲地说:"我这不是相信你能行嘛."

两人正说着,白茉莉捧着一个食盒走了过来,微笑着打断他们:"好了好了,别闹了.远师弟,星河,这是我刚炼制的小补灵丹,算是奖励你们辛苦劳动的,快尝尝."

林远看了一眼丹药,眼睛一亮,笑着说:"还是茉莉师姐贴心."

孟星河撇了撇嘴.

正当三人打闹的时候,林远耳边突然响起九重戒那冷冰冰的机械声音:"请宿主准备,7 天后将传送到下个位面."

林远手里的锤子 "啪" 的一声掉在地上,整个人瞬间呆住,仿佛被施了定身咒一样.

孟星河奇怪地看了他一眼,问道:"发什么呆呢?"

林远勉强挤出一丝笑容,勾着孟星河的肩膀,随口敷衍道:"没事,就是突然想到些事儿."

可他心里却如同翻江倒海一般:"7 天后就要走了... 那这副身体怎么办?这里的朋友又该怎么办?难道真的要一声不吭地离开吗?"

夜深人静的时候,林远独自坐在房间里,手里不停地转动着那枚黑色的九重戒.他低声问道:"7 天后... 我的这副身体会怎么样?"

九重戒平静地回答:"宿主原本的灵魂与这具身体的融合将被强行中断,原身体会以假死状态崩解,并回归天地灵气."

林远的心猛地一沉:"也就是说... 他们会以为我死了?"

"是." 九重戒简短地回答道,"但宿主可以选择留下讯息,解释一切或编造合理理由."

林远沉默了许久,最后苦笑着说:"算了,真话他们肯定不会信.我还是留封信,随便编个理由吧..."

...

林远特地去找了白茉莉,主动提出陪她去丹房帮忙炼制丹药.

白茉莉感到十分奇怪,问道:"远师弟,怎么突然有兴致跑来帮我了?"

林远笑了笑,说:"以后可能没什么机会了,多学点东西总是好的."

白茉莉疑惑地看着他,却没有再多问.临走时,林远轻声说:"茉莉师姐,你是我见过最厉害的炼丹师.以后肯定能炼出逆天的灵丹,到时候可别忘了我这个小师弟啊."

白茉莉愣了一下,目送林远离开,隐隐觉得他的语气里带着一丝离别的意味.

...

林远约孟星河喝酒,两人坐在后山的草地上,对着月光开怀畅饮.

孟星河喝得醉醺醺的,大着舌头问道:"喂,小不点,你说我们以后能不能一起成为掌门?到时候咱们就可以在这长生派横着走了."

林远哈哈大笑,说:"你当掌门,我当你的护法,到时候咱们一起守护长生派."

孟星河盯着他看了一会儿,突然低声说:"林远,不知道为啥,总觉得你最近怪怪的... 你不会有什么事瞒着我吧?"

林远一怔,随即拍了拍他的肩膀,说:"你小子想太多了,放心,有我在,你就可以一直这么逍遥自在."

孟星河哈哈一笑,举起酒杯:"干了!"

...

林远在最后一天去了林雪霏的住处,开门见山地说:"林师姐,我走之前有点事想请你帮忙."

林雪霏挑了挑眉,问道:"走?你要去哪儿?难道是去 '闯荡江湖'?"

林远笑着摇了摇头:"不能说.但我希望你能帮我照顾好白茉莉和孟星河,他们两个,嘴硬心软."

林雪霏沉默了一会儿,目光冷静地看着他:"你是不是跟天痕金轮的灵性消失有关?别想瞒我,我可没那么好骗."

林远心里一惊,讪讪地笑道:"你... 你怎么猜到的?难道你会读心术?"

林雪霏冷冷地说:"我不知道你做了什么,但你没必要解释.去做你想做的事吧,林远,长生派的事,我会尽力守住,你就放心吧."

林远眼眶微微发热,点了点头:"师姐,谢谢你."

...

第二天,孟星河一觉醒来,发现林远的房间已经空了,桌上放着一封信.他拆开信件,里面只有寥寥几句:

"星河,茉莉师姐,林师姐:

别担心我,我好着呢.其实嘛,我是上神下凡来体验生活的,这趟旅程已经结束啦.

你们要好好修炼,把长生派守得牢牢的,说不定哪天我们还能再见面.

 —— 林远."

孟星河愣住了,眼眶渐渐发红,小声嘟囔着:"臭小子,这算什么离别啊?连个正式的告别都没有,太不够意思了."

不久,白茉莉看到信后,神色有些落寞,低声喃喃:"远师弟怎么就这么走了..."

林雪霏站在远处,目光微微下沉,低声喃喃道:"果然和天痕金轮有关... 这小子,到底还有多少秘密瞒着我们."

第七天深夜,林远独自站在后山,看着夜空中闪烁的星辰.九重戒的声音响起:"传送开始."

一道耀眼的白光笼罩了他,林远的身影逐渐模糊,最终完全消失在这片天地间.

而在长生派后山的某棵大树上,刻着几行小字:

[ "长生派的日子,我会永远记得.—— 林远" ]