Li Guanqi quietly sipped his wine, chatting idly with the old man beside him.
After talking for a while, Li Guanqi slowly rose to his feet and said softly, "Master, I'd like to visit the Sect Cemetery."
The old man stiffened slightly, then tapped his tobacco pipe against the threshold.
"Go on. Now that you're back... you should go see them."
A trace of melancholy crept into the old man's voice as his gaze inadvertently drifted toward the rocking chair beside the stone table.
A look of sorrow slipped into his eyes.
Yu Sui'an rested her little chin in her hands, watching Li Guanqi in silence. Tilting her head in thought for a moment, she slowly got up as well.
Seeing this, Li Guanqi couldn't help but smile. "Want to come along?"
Yu Sui'an said nothing, only giving a quiet nod.
Li Guanqi did not stop her. In his heart, he knew that she truly ought to go.
Taking Yu Sui'an by the hand, Li Guanqi took to the air with her, nearly forgetting that the little girl was already at early Core Formation.
She was truly a cultivator in her own right now.
Along the way, numerous disciples bowed respectfully toward Li Guanqi, calling out in clear voices, "Greetings, Senior Brother Li!"
To all of them, Li Guanqi smiled and gave a slight nod in return.
The two soon arrived at the Sect Cemetery on the back mountain of Tianjian Peak.
Looking at the entrance to the cemetery, Li Guanqi slowly closed his eyes.
Under the gentle wash of primal energy, all impurities and dust across his entire body were cleansed away without a trace.
When he opened his eyes, he discovered that Yu Sui'an had done the same, washing away all dust and dirt.
She had even changed into a pristine, plain white robe.
The smile that usually never left her face was replaced by utter solemnity.
Yu Sui'an walked into the cemetery with practiced familiarity, uttering not a single word along the way.
Her eyes grew redder and redder, clearly holding back tears with all her might.
Li Guanqi silently followed behind her until they stopped before a tombstone.
A gleam of light flashed in Yu Sui'an's hand. She brought out high-grade landscape incense, lit it, and gently planted it before the tombstone.
She then replaced the slightly withered bouquet in front of the grave with fresh flowers.
Standing before the tombstone, she pulled out a handkerchief, wiped away the surface dust, and bowed deeply.
Li Guanqi watched in silence as she did all this. Everything was done so naturally, as if she had repeated the ritual countless times before.
Noticing him watching as she straightened up, Yu Sui'an lowered her head and whispered, "This is Senior Brother Wang Lin's tombstone from Tiantu Peak. Sixteen years old, three years in the sect.
"He was a little chubby, but he never fought with me over meat buns. He was so, so nice..."
As she spoke, she walked toward the next tombstone.
Though her voice trembled faintly, she continued her narration.
"This is Senior Sister Linglan from Tianshui Peak. Fourteen years old. She used to play with me all the time... But after I woke up, none of them were left.
"Wuu... none of them are left... It was all... it was all because of me..."
Yu Sui'an's weeping grew louder and louder, as if she had been suppressing her emotions for the past two years.
Her voice was steeped in guilt.
Hidden in the shadows, Li Nanting watched with complex emotions in his eyes.
Ever since Yu Sui'an had awakened, she had come to sweep the Sect Cemetery every single day.
There were thousands of tombstones here, yet a little girl barely over six years old had insisted on sweeping every day.
They had tried to dissuade her many times. The little girl agreed each time, yet she would always come right back.
These densely packed tombstones had become a knot tied tight around her heart.
Li Guanqi flashed to her side and spoke in a gentle voice.
"None of this is your fault...
"Everyone has things they would risk their lives to protect.
"For me, it is you, Master, and the sect!
"I believe that when each of them died in battle, none of them had any regrets!"
Li Guanqi pulled the little girl into his embrace, gently patting her back.
He knew that even if he said this, it would remain a knot in her heart.
Perhaps only when Yu Sui'an ventured out beyond the three thousand peaks, passed her own trial of the heart, witnessed the suffering of the mortal world, and met all manner of good people could she find some ease...
Such guilt and self-reproach could likely only be soothed after traversing thousands of rivers and mountains.
Li Guanqi followed Yu Sui'an as they walked past tombstone after tombstone.
Respectfully, he offered incense and paid his respects.
If this cemetery was a prison of the heart for Yu Sui'an, was it any different for him?
A faint smile touched the corner of Li Guanqi's mouth, and he whispered, "I bet these guys must be sick of seeing you every day."
"Pfft—"
Yu Sui'an had not expected Li Guanqi to say that, and she couldn't help bursting into a laugh through her tears.
Furrowing her brows, she put her hands on her hips. "They are not! The older brothers and sisters look forward to seeing me every day!"
When they reached Lin Dong's tombstone, Li Guanqi fell silent.
After hesitating for a long while, he sat down beside the grave and said softly, "Miss me?"
Raising a hand, he gently caressed the tombstone and brushed it entirely clean of dust.
Yet within the empty cemetery, no one answered him.
Li Guanqi let out a self-deprecating chuckle. He retrieved a pot of fine spiritual wine and brought out two cups.
Filling both cups, he placed one before the tombstone, then raised his own and lightly tapped it against the other.
Clink...
Li Guanqi drained the strong wine in a single gulp.
Looking at the fine wine and food already arranged before the tombstone, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.
It seemed that fellow Zhong Lin had visited quite often. As for the other person who had come, he did not know.
Li Guanqi looked toward the sunset on the horizon and said softly, "With me here, the sect will be fine... Rest easy."
With that, Li Guanqi called to Yu Sui'an, and together they slowly left the cemetery.
With Li Guanqi's comfort, though Yu Sui'an's heart still suffered, she had gained a new perspective.
Perhaps the guilt and self-reproach in her heart would never fade in this lifetime.
Yet it would also become the bedrock of an unshakeable resolve in the future.
Holding Yu Sui'an's hand, Li Guanqi wore a smile.
He believed that she would certainly overcome it!
As the two figures—one tall, one small—drifted into the distance, Lu Kangnian watched them from deep within the void, his gaze conflicted.
It had to be said that having someone like Li Guanqi in the Great Xia Sword Sect was truly the sect's greatest blessing!
He did not know how much farther the sect's path to prominence would have been, or how long he himself could have held out, had Li Guanqi never joined their ranks.
Turning back to gaze upon the three thousand peaks behind him, Lu Kangnian's eyes gradually hardened with determination.
"From this day forth, I will ensure that no one dares bully my Great Xia!!"
The reason he dared make such a vow was precisely because of Great Xia's three thousand peaks.
With a single step, Lu Kangnian teleported away.
The sect plaza on Tianjian Peak was already packed with a dense sea of disciples.
Yet the Great Xia Sword Sect's plaza remained exactly as it had been when Li Guanqi left; the shattered edges had never been repaired.
For those ruins were proof that all those fallen disciples had once existed!
Yu Sui'an let go of his hand, flying forward to stand near the front.
Li Guanqi wore the disciple robes of Tianlei Peak, standing as tall and straight as a drawn sword.
His handsome features drew screams from every female disciple present, and even countless male disciples raised their arms and shouted in excitement.
"Senior Brother Li!! You're so handsome!!!"
"Ahhh!! Senior Brother Li!! Wuu, you're the reason I joined the Great Xia Sword Sect!!"
"Two whole years! I've finally seen Senior Brother Li!"
"Ahhh!! Senior Brother Li!! I love you!! My family is super rich!!"
"Get lost! Li Jiaomei, do you have no shame?! Senior Brother Li, marry me!!!"
Chapter 377