The Yang family was bustling with activity.
However, in one courtyard of the Yang residence, a sense of stillness seemed to be out of place with the general liveliness.
In this courtyard, a lounge chair was set up. A middle-aged man, dressed in white, held a delicately carved statue of a woman. Gazing at the statue, which seemed to embody years of accumulated memories, his eyes were filled with sorrow and reminiscence. His eyes reddened, and he murmured emotionally.
"Xiuzhu, Xiuzhu."
"Why did you leave me?"
"Didn't we promise to roam the world together, uphold justice with our swords, and grow old together?"
"Why did you suddenly say such resolute words?"
"'Never to see each other again, and if I ever seek you out, you shall die before my eyes.' Do you know how heartbroken you made me with such harsh words? If I did anything wrong, you could have told me and I would have changed!"
"Xiuzhu, Xiuzhu, no matter what, I was wrong, alright? Come back to me, and I'll do anything you wish."
"I know you're jealous and don't want other women near me. Haven't I done as you asked?"
"My heart belongs only to you. No other woman can enter my heart besides you. Do you understand?"
"Xiuzhu, I miss you so much, I really miss you... Where are you?"
His fingers gently caressed the wooden carving of the woman in his hand, tears welling up in his eyes.
Men do not shed tears easily, only when their sorrow is profound.
The reason he went into seclusion like a madman and broke through to the Innate realm in his early forties was that whenever he had free time, he would think of the woman he deeply loved, and the happy times they spent cultivating together and roaming the world with their swords. But those days were gone forever, leaving behind only desolation and endless sadness.
Yang Ping Tian, the pride of the Yang family, was also known as the White-Clad Sword Immortal in the martial world twenty years ago. He was called Sword Immortal because his swordsmanship was elegant and beautiful, and he himself was incredibly handsome. Wherever he went, countless heroic maidens and beauties were captivated by him.
But out of a sea of endless love, he only desired one.
He fell for you, his heart belonged only to you, and no one else could ever enter his inner world. For over twenty years, his feelings had not changed in the slightest. Instead, with the passage of time, his longing only deepened.
Just then, a knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. His brow furrowed, but the moment he saw the statue of the woman, he sighed softly again. She didn't want him to be angry; she disliked him being angry. How could he be angry in front of her?
Anger was her prerogative.
He could not, and would not, use her privilege.
"Third Uncle, the ceremony is about to begin. Great-Grandfather sent me to call you over," a voice from outside the door sounded.
Yang Ping Tian flipped his hand, storing away the wooden carving. As he stood up, the tear streaks on his face had vanished without a trace. His aura became ordinary, as if he were just a refined, handsome middle-aged man.
Then, he walked towards the door. The courtyard gate opened by itself without wind.
"Let's go!" Yang Ping Tian said.
"Yes, Third Uncle," Yang Qingyun replied respectfully. His heart was filled with curiosity. His Third Uncle was a renowned chivalrous hero in his youth, exceptionally handsome, and had driven countless heroic maidens to infatuation at a young age. This included the eldest daughter of the Luo family, close friends of their Yang family, who was also deeply infatuated with him.
The eldest daughter of the Luo family was the most beautiful woman in the martial world back then, and she and Third Uncle were childhood sweethearts. But it was a pity that the two did not end up together.
The eldest daughter of the Luo family had even waited for him for a full twenty years, wasting a woman's most beautiful years!
Even a heart of stone should have melted by now, but his Third Uncle showed absolutely no romantic interest in her.
Who was the woman who had wasted twenty years of Third Uncle's youth? The Yang family harbored immense resentment towards that woman because everyone in the Yang family believed that if Yang Ping Tian had married the eldest daughter of the Luo family, their descendants would have been exceptionally outstanding. Even if he didn't marry the eldest daughter of the Luo family, marrying any other young lady would have been acceptable!
Unfortunately, Third Uncle had remained single his entire life, as if deeply wounded by that mysterious woman.
Her identity remained unknown to this day. Moreover, whenever she appeared, she wore a veil, and her beauty was uncertain.
Of course, while many harbored ill intentions, they believed that the woman who had captivated Yang Ping Tian could not be ordinary.
He was curious, but no matter who it was, Yang Ping Tian would never speak of that past romance, as if that relationship had never existed. Yet, no one could deny its existence. Otherwise, how could the chivalrous and vengeful Yang Ping Tian of yesteryear have transformed into someone so calm and unruffled in the face of disaster? Why did he have no interest in women?
Not long after, the two arrived at the training ground one after another.
"Brother Ping Tian," a woman, who appeared to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, but possessed extraordinary beauty and charm, stepped forward. She looked at Yang Ping Tian, her eyes filled with unwaning affection.
"Aunt Xiang Ning," this woman looked not much older than Yang Qingyun, but in reality, she was thirty-seven or thirty-eight, only a little over three years younger than Yang Ping Tian. However, her cultivation was high, slowing her aging process, making her appear so young. Moreover, with the tempering of time, she possessed more charm than younger girls. Alas, it was a case of a willing heart and an indifferent lover.
"Qingyun," the woman nodded slightly at Yang Qingyun, then her gaze turned to Yang Ping Tian. "Brother Ping Tian, you look much older than before."
Seeing her, Yang Ping Tian rarely showed a smile, but it was a smile as if looking at his own younger sister. "Xiang Ning, you've arrived too. It's normal to age a bit when the years catch up."
He primarily allowed time to take its course. Otherwise, he could have used his Innate internal energy to cleanse himself and appear ten years younger, but he did not wish to do so.
"Brother Ping Tian, you broke through to the Innate realm before me. I wonder if I can break through in three years," Luo Xiang Ning said, looking at Yang Ping Tian expectantly. Of course, inquiring about his breakthrough was secondary; she simply wanted to talk to him. They last chatted over half a year ago, before he went into seclusion to attempt to reach the Innate realm.
Even before his seclusion, they did not chat often, or if they did, Yang Ping Tian would soon interrupt by saying he needed to cultivate, which had caused Luo Xiang Ning much distress but helplessness.
"There's no need to rush. Just proceed steadily. After all, you are only at the middle stage of the Honored Martial realm," Yang Ping Tian said after some thought. "Once you reach the peak of the Honored Martial realm, I will explain the matters of breaking through to the Innate realm to you in detail!"
"Thank you, Brother Ping Tian," Luo Xiang Ning replied with a smile.
She was no longer in her youthful prime, but her charm remained, still drawing the attention of many middle-aged men.
"That's the number one beauty from our era in the martial world, who was infatuated with Yang Ping Tian. It's a pity they never ended up together."
"Who can say? Luo Xiang Ning is still my dream goddess. Unfortunately, her eyes are only for Yang Ping Tian, but Yang Ping Tian favors another, ultimately wasting Xiang Ning's most beautiful years!"
"Now Ping Tian is also alone, why doesn't he open up? After all, a girl has liked him since her teens, all the way until now, for over twenty years!"
"I'm not Yang Ping Tian, how would I know these things?"
"I must say, a beauty is like wine. Miss Xiang Ning looks even more charming than twenty years ago. While she was stunningly beautiful back then, she was rather immature. Now, she is still stunningly beautiful, but with added mature charm, making her even more captivating!"
"..."
For a moment, the story between Luo Xiang Ning and Yang Ping Tian sparked widespread discussion.
In a particular spot on the spectator stands, Yang Fei Long, who had also come with members of the Xiao family, quietly listened to some middle-aged men recount the past. He gazed into the distance, observing Yang Ping Tian and Luo Xiang Ning, who were walking together and occasionally exchanging a few words, his expression thoughtful.