In an instant, blood spurted out. Du Kui clenched his teeth and said nothing. His body staggered a few steps back, and he finally propped himself up with his left hand on his sword, kneeling on one knee.
Looking at everything in front of him, a strong bitterness surged in Du Kui’s heart, and then he started to laugh.
The laughter was filled with despair and self-mockery, echoing across the empty battlefield, making it particularly bleak.
Even Lin Jin of the Divinity Transformation Realm was killed by Zhou Qing, indicating that Du Kui would never have the chance to kill him in this life.
Not being able to kill Zhou Qing meant he could never complete the final piece of his pain and would never be able to achieve Divinity Transformation.
He originally thought he had victory in his hands and even told them about the fact that his master was an undercover agent.
Knowing that his master was an undercover agent of the Cangyan Daoist Palace but not reporting it, harming the sect, watching the one he loved die, even repaying kindness with enmity towards his junior brother.
Now, becoming a cripple, his spiritual state shattered, his path to cultivation completely severed.
At this moment, he suddenly felt somewhat relieved.
It was as if the heavy stone that had pressed on his heart for so long finally dropped, a sense of liberation surged in his heart.
He would no longer have to wear a smile and disguise himself every day. The long-standing pain and torment had already left him physically and mentally exhausted.
"I want to leave with dignity, can I?" Du Kui raised his head, looking at Zhou Qing, hoarsely speaking.
Zhou Qing looked at him with a complicated expression, remained silent for a moment, and finally nodded.
Du Kui’s eyes were filled with gratitude. After some hesitation, he said, "Do you still remember the question I asked you before we set out?"
Zhou Qing did not answer, only feeling a block in his heart.
"The Taiqing Sect is my home. Junior Brother Zhou, do you think I can still return?"
"The Taiqing Sect is also my home. No matter how far we go in the future, we can always come back, because here there is a group of lovely elders waiting for us."
That was the conversation between the two on that day.
"Can I still go back?" Du Kui’s voice trembled, as if asking Zhou Qing, yet questioning himself.
Zhou Qing remained silent, a trace of struggle flashed in his eyes.
Seeing Zhou Qing’s reaction, Du Kui already knew the answer, a faint bitter and sad smile appeared on his face.
I really am shameless enough.
Zhou Qing, however, looked at him and gently asked, "Do you regret it?"
Du Kui slowly shook his head, his voice low, "It’s not about regret, just different paths chosen. Now, having come to this point, I don’t blame anyone."
As Du Kui said this, his Nascent Soul slowly floated out from his body.
Seeing his appearance, Zhou Qing suddenly spoke.
"In the battle of the Five Sects, you killed countless enemies. You are the pride of the Taiqing Sect, the chief senior brother of Golden Sun Peak."
"I will take you back, but I won’t let you be buried with Senior Sister Luo Xue, because you don’t deserve it."
"As for your cause of death, it is this person!" Zhou Qing pointed to the corpse of the Divinity Transformation Realm beneath his feet.
"You were just unlucky!"
Du Kui, upon hearing this, was filled with disbelief.
He originally thought he would be reviled by all, but did not expect Zhou Qing to arrange such a dignified end for him.
Yan Xiaohu, upon hearing this, was instantly anxious, wanting to say something, but was stopped by Zhou Qing raising his hand.
Zhou Qing looked at Du Kui, his expression calm as he said, "This is for that time you saved me, from now on, we owe each other nothing."
Tears glistened in Du Kui’s eyes. Suddenly, he knelt on both knees, knocking three loud kowtows to Zhou Qing in silence.
Then he smiled happily, "In the next life, I won’t cultivate. I’ll be an ordinary person, with a few friends, playing chess, drinking, finding a good partner, walking hand in hand through the world, seeing all the seasons’ scenery, even if we return to dust after a hundred years, it’s better than this cultivation path full of schemes and pain."
After finishing, he suddenly raised his hand and slapped his Nascent Soul. The Nascent Soul cracked instantly, and then slowly dissipated, turning into scattered light, disappearing between heaven and earth.
Seeing this, the two sighed deeply.
"Have a safe journey!" Zhou Qing still chose to bow once.
Back mountain of Golden Sun Peak!
Zhou Qing, in a plain robe, stood quietly in front of Senior Sister Luo Xue’s grave, sadness in his eyes, silent for a long time.
Not knowing how long had passed, there was a slight sound of footsteps behind him, Gao Xuan’s eyes showing a trace of fatigue and sorrow.
He came to Zhou Qing’s side, stood shoulder to shoulder with him, his gaze also fell on Luo Xue’s tombstone.
After a long while, Gao Xuan slightly opened his mouth, his voice low, "Did he suffer when he died?"
Zhou Qing slowly shook his head, his voice calm yet revealing a trace of an indiscernible complexity, "No."
Gao Xuan slightly nodded, a hint of gratitude in his eyes, "Thank you, Zhou Qing." Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs novel·fire·net
Zhou Qing was slightly stunned, a trace of confusion flashed in his eyes.
Gao Xuan took a deep breath and slowly said, "Du Kui left an Imaging Stone in his room, containing all the truth. He said, if he didn’t come back or was killed by you, it was his own doing, hoping I wouldn’t blame you."
Zhou Qing’s hands clenched tightly.
"Thank you for giving him dignity!" Gao Xuan sighed, "At least that kid could be buried in the cemetery with other disciples who sacrificed in the Five Sects War."
A trace of struggle flashed in Zhou Qing’s eyes, "Uncle-Master, actually, I..."
Zhou Qing wanted to say something but didn’t know what to say.
Gao Xuan seemed to see his thoughts, patted his shoulder, and said earnestly, "Don’t have any psychological burden, the Dao is heartless, all beings are just struggling in this heartless Dao."
"None of you are wrong, perhaps it is just the arrangement of fate. Everyone has their own choices, no one knows where the next step will lead. It is precisely because of this that we are full of longing and curiosity about the road ahead."