At the side, even though Lin Jinting and the others did not fully understand the bond between Li Guanqi and Li Nanting, they could still sense the profound emotion in their words.
The two seemed more like a grandfather and grandson, gazing into each other's eyes with nothing but heartache and tender concern.
Li Guanqi never looked away from the old man. Tears welled in his eyes, his lips trembling slightly.
He had so very much he wanted to say.
Yet when the words reached his lips, they lodged in his throat, refusing to come out.
Perhaps earlier he had thought of recounting all that had happened over these years to the elder, but now, he spoke not a word.
He simply gripped the old man's hand a little tighter.
Feeling the rough, weathered ridges of that hand and the warmth radiating from the palm, Li Guanqi suddenly felt that every bit of effort he had poured in over all these years had been worth it... totally worth it!!
Li Nanting, choked with emotion, was equally unable to speak.
He knew everything Li Guanqi had gone through all these years.
What he had suffered, what he had endured—he knew it all...
Fighting his way from the Body Integration Realm to the Ascension Realm, the hardships borne along the way were known only to Li Guanqi himself.
The moment he had regained consciousness and the memories rushed into his mind, Li Nanting had wept inconsolably inside the secret chamber.
Had his soul consciousness remained awake all along, Li Nanting would have chosen to end his own life without hesitation!
He could not bear the thought of Li Guanqi suffering trials and tribulations that he never should have had to bear on his account.
Lin Jinting raised his sleeve to quietly dab at the tears in the corners of his eyes, then softly signaled the others to withdraw, leaving this time and space to the reunited pair.
Just as Lin Jinting was about to turn away, he heard Han Sijin speak softly from not far off.
“Senior Lin, Senior Zhanhe, please wait a moment.”
At that moment, an exhausted Venerable Zhanhe also appeared beside Lin Jinting, just about to leave with the rest.
Han Sijin glided through the air with the woman by his side, arriving before everyone.
Though the properly dressed woman still looked somewhat wan, her gentle countenance and soft demeanor remained unmistakable.
Hand in hand, the two drifted over.
Han Sijin supported her with both hands, his eyes brimming with love, his every touch tender and almost reverently cautious.
The woman’s aura was presently comparable only to a cultivator of the Soul Formation Realm, her restored soul within having transformed into an Origin Spirit.
Li Nanting was the same, possessing only an early Soul Formation Realm cultivation.
Han Sijin led the woman before the group and came to a stop. Under everyone's surprised gazes, he took a step back, then dropped to his knees with her in a loud thud!
Both man and woman had completely withdrawn their immortal essence and primal energy, their knees striking heavily against the ground.
Cupping his fists solemnly, Han Sijin spoke with a choked voice:
“I, Han Sijin, offer my deepest thanks to all seniors for granting my wife a second life!”
“This humble woman thanks the seniors for the grace of rebirth.”
Venerable Zhanhe lightly flicked his horsetail whisk, its white strands brushing over their heads. The old Daoist said with a gentle smile,
“May the turbid karmic hindrances be swept away, leaving only peace and smooth paths ahead.
“I wish you both lasting peace and happiness.”
The woman smiled, and Han Sijin nodded with a smile of his own.
After rising to their feet, Han Sijin took his wife by the hand and stepped before Li Guanqi, bowing deeply.
“I, Han, thank Fellow Daoist Li for the benevolence of your help! This debt of gratitude, I fear, can only be etched forever in my heart...”
Li Guanqi naturally understood what he meant.
Perhaps from this day forth, the world would never again hear of that cultivator named Han Sijin.
They... were likely leaving for good.
Li Guanqi nodded to the two of them and said softly,
“Then I wish you and Sister-in-law a happy life and enduring good health, Brother Han.”
With that, Han Sijin bowed once more to all around them, wrapped his arm around the woman's waist, and flew away through the sky, departing Qinzhou City.
Watching the couple depart, Lin Jinting waved to Li Guanqi and sent a voice transmission:
“Take your master to rest first. Pay us no heed.”
With that, the man turned and led everyone away.
Lin Wujiu waved from a distance, while Qisha turned and bowed respectfully to Li Nanting before following the crowd.
Seeing so many powerful superiors whose auras he could not even discern treating Li Guanqi with such deference, Li Nanting felt a sharp throb in his head as numerous memory fragments surged into his mind.
Noticing the old man's pale complexion, Li Guanqi hurried forward to support him.
“Master, are you all right?
“Your body is still very weak right now. Please don't think about too much. Let me take you back to the room to rest and get a good sleep.”
Without allowing any objection, Li Guanqi led the elder back to his courtyard within the Lin residence.
Li Guanqi tucked the quilt around the elder. Before long, Li Nanting fell into a deep sleep from exhaustion.
Sitting by the bed, Li Guanqi looked down at the sleeping old man, his lips pursing.
A pang of aching sorrow touched his heart, but far greater was the sense of relief and joy.
He had done it...
So many years had passed, and perhaps many people had forgotten.
Yet he had not forgotten; he dared not forget, could never forget!
Sitting on the stool, Li Guanqi's chest heaved before he let out a long exhalation...
“Hoo...”
With this deep breath, Li Guanqi felt that the boulder weighing on his heart for so long was finally lifted away.
Resting his hands on his knees, he quietly gazed at the face of the sleeping old man.
“It truly is... exactly the same.”
The elder's current appearance was identical to the one in his memories; even the wrinkles on his face had hardly changed.
Were it not for the earth-shattering transformation of the old man's aptitude and skeletal structure, he might have felt lost in an illusion.
If Li Nanting's current innate spiritual root were placed in the Human Spirit Realm, it would unquestionably be hailed as a marvel of heaven and earth.
The wisp of lightning Li Guanqi had previously procured at the Wanxiang Tower in Yongjiang was not entirely meant for his own absorption.
More importantly, he had been seeking a suitable foundation to serve as a spiritual root for Li Nanting!
Fortunately, judging by appearances now, the quality of Li Nanting's spiritual root had reached the King Grade.
Cultivating in the Immortal Realm, his speed would be substantially faster.
Perhaps within a century or so, he could cultivate beyond the Mahayana realm. As for when he might break through to become an immortal, that remained an unknown, but it would certainly be many times faster than in the Human Spirit Realm.
Holding the elder's rough, large hand, Li Guanqi found his state of mind profoundly tranquil.
Clasping Li Nanting's warm hand, he turned to gaze at the bright sunlight beyond the door, the corners of his lips curving upward.
“Today... is beautiful.”
As for what would happen after Li Nanting woke up, he gave it no thought for now.
With his present capabilities, he could easily arrange for Li Nanting to remain with the Lin family if desired.
How precisely to decide was something he had yet to think through, and it would also depend on what the old man himself wanted.
However...
“Psst! Hey! Coming out for drinks or what?”
A voice sounded near his ears. Outside the window, Lin Wujiu was perched on the roof, holding onto Qisha as the pair of them waved at Li Guanqi like thieves.
Somewhat exasperated, Li Guanqi waved them off.
“Go play elsewhere. I need to wait for Master to wake up.
“I have many words, many things to talk about...
“You two go ahead. Once I've tended to things here, I'll find you.”
Hearing this, Qisha said to Lin Wujiu, “Told you so... You need to wait.”
Lin Wujiu scowled and grumbled under his breath, “Told me, told me—everything's what you told me... You want to leave, Old Li wants to leave—fine, leave, all of you!”
With that, Lin Wujiu grabbed his wine jar in dejection, got up, and leaped down from the roof.
Qisha gave Li Guanqi a helpless shrug with upturned palms, then leaped down right after him, slinging an arm around Lin Wujiu's shoulders.
“After all, we're not from the Lin clan. Once matters are settled, we naturally have to move on.”
Chapter 1714