"You're too kind."
Lin Zhao stepped forward and helped the young maiden up. Then he took a few steps back, maintaining a distance. "Possessing a wisp of soul within a red pine, eventually cultivating into form, by rights, you should be considered one of the mountain spirits, a legendary pine spirit?"
"Yes."
The young maiden pursed her red lips and said softly, "Sword Immortal, please understand... For so many years, I did not wish to enter the cycle of reincarnation. I attached my soul to a pine tree, cultivating with the spiritual energy of the mountains. I never did anything harmful or wicked. I merely wished to remain in the mortal world, to accompany him a little longer. Even if he remained oblivious, it held meaning for me."
"I know."
Lin Zhao said gently, "If Grandpa Qin knew his wife was still here, he would surely be very happy, wouldn't he?"
"But..."
The young maiden looked at Lin Zhao with tear-filled eyes. "But I have now become a spirit. After receiving the spiritual energy bestowed by the Sword Immortal, I have finally cultivated into form. I never expected to return to my youthful appearance. I truly do not know how to face him..."
"Sigh..."
Lin Zhao sighed. "What do you intend to do then? Continue watching him sleep beside the tomb every day? Even with your spiritual energy protecting him, it will eventually shorten his lifespan."
The pine spirit maiden said softly, "Sword Immortal, what do you think... I should do?"
"You don't need to call me Sword Immortal."
Lin Zhao waved his hand gently. "I am a sword cultivator from the north, named Lin Zhao. I was traveling and encountered heavy rain, so I took shelter at Grandpa Qin's place by chance. He took out the best things from his home and cooked a meal for me and Xu Ming'an. That was the most delicious meal I've ever eaten, something I will likely never forget. Although it was merely the kindness of a meal, for Lin Zhao, it was far more than just a meal. Therefore, I will not stand by and watch regarding Grandpa Qin's matter. Tell me your plans, and I will do my best to help."
"Lin Zhao..."
The pine spirit maiden pursed her red lips. "Actually, I don't know what plans I should have. I just want to stay by his side, to accompany him for one more day. After I'm gone, every time I think of him alone in this world, my heart aches as if being cut by a knife."
Lin Zhao frowned. "If you go to see him in your current appearance, Grandpa Qin might not dare to keep you. After all, men and women should maintain distance. You are still so young. But if you transform into another spirit, or a wild rabbit, a fox, and then appear in human form to repay his kindness, it also seems problematic. If Grandpa Qin accepts you, it would be a betrayal of your past self. If he doesn't accept you, you still won't be able to be by his side."
Tears welled up in the maiden's eyes. "Then what should be done?"
"I don't know either..."
Lin Zhao sighed. "Although from your perspective, I am a Golden Core Sword Immortal, in reality, there are too many techniques and divine abilities that I myself am not fully aware of and have not mastered."
"Young Master Lin Zhao..."
The maiden gritted her teeth and said softly, "Perhaps it could be like this. I have now refined a red pine and become a legendary pine spirit, possessing my own spirit destiny. That is why I have transformed into my current youthful appearance. Perhaps you can draw your sword and sever my destiny, leaving only a sliver. This way, not only will my appearance age, but my lifespan will also be reduced. When he passes away, I will go with him."
"Must it be this way?"
Lin Zhao raised an eyebrow slightly. "You must know that the path to seeking the Dao and ascending to heaven is extremely difficult. The fact that you can walk this path is something many people dream of but never achieve. Are you giving up so easily?"
The maiden nodded. "Yes, I am willing to give up!"
The next moment, she spread her hands, and wisps of pine spirit destiny appeared from her chest, more than ten in number.
"..."
Lin Zhao frowned and slowly drew his sword, Liquan, but still hesitated. Some things should not be decided by him. If he were to sever the pine spirit's destiny now, it would be an act of overreach. Many cultivators, once they attain the Dao, experience immense changes in their state of mind, believing they can control everything and dictate others' fates. But Lin Zhao could not do that; he was never that kind of person.
"Forget it."
Lin Zhao sighed and looked towards the north. "Lingyu, I know you are definitely eavesdropping. Come here for a moment."
"Haha~~~"
From a distance, Gu Lingyu's laughter was heard. "Got it, Junior Martial Uncle!"
Not long after, a gentle breeze carrying a fine mist drifted from the north with extreme speed. In an instant, it arrived before Lin Zhao, transforming into the figure of an exceptionally elegant young scholar. It was Gu Lingyu, exuding the aura of a Confucian sage. After all, a scholar at the peak of the twelfth realm was already remarkable. Even more remarkable was Gu Lingyu's gentle nature; he truly possessed a trace of the Confucian sage's demeanor.
"..."
The pine spirit maiden was utterly stunned. The scholar emanated a righteous aura, and his cultivation was astonishingly profound. The immense pressure of the Great Dao made it almost impossible for the pine spirit to breathe.
"Junior Martial Uncle."
Gu Lingyu bowed respectfully to Lin Zhao and asked with a smile, "What does Zero Yu need to do?"
"Is there a perfect solution in this world?"
Lin Zhao said solemnly, "My mind is in a mess right now, with no clear direction. Can you help me sort it out?"
"Mm."
Gu Lingyu smiled slightly. "What Junior Martial Uncle is concerned about is nothing more than how the two can coexist, how they can recognize each other, and what direction they should head in the future. Aging and death, or cultivating the Dao together?"
"Mm, that is indeed the question."
"Actually,"
Gu Lingyu said, "The fated connection between the two is like a thread that has almost broken. Once one of them dies, their marital thread snaps. Since that is the case, why not tie a new marital thread for them? Zero Yu can employ means to create another life bridge, allowing the two to share a lifespan. Junior Martial Uncle can draw his sword and sever the pine spirit's longevity thread, causing her appearance to age. In this way, the two can still be together, and they can live for a very long time. What's not to like?"
"Can it really be that simple?" Lin Zhao asked with a smile.
"Mm."
Gu Lingyu said, "Shall we tie the marital thread first?"
"Alright!"
The next moment, Gu Lingyu took out paper and brush. With a few strokes in the air, the golden paper instantly burned away. In the Confucian school's Upper Five Realms, words become law. From a crack in the nearby rocks, sounds of "Ouch, ouch" could be heard. It was a gray-robed old man. The old man had a kind face, and more importantly, he carried a bright moon on one of his shoulders.
"Old age, old age..."
He scrambled to Gu Lingyu's front. "Does the Confucian sage require this old man to tie a thread?"
"Mm."
Gu Lingyu smiled. "Thank you for your trouble!"
"The Old Man Under the Moon?"
Lin Zhao's jaw nearly dropped to the ground. This actually works?!
The Old Man Under the Moon acted swiftly. He pulled out a red thread from his sleeve, quickly tied it to the pine spirit maiden's finger, and then, like a gust of wind, rushed down the mountain. On the mountainside, he wrapped the other end around one of Old Man Qin's fingers. Then he returned to report. Gu Lingyu smiled and nodded, crushed a Golden Scale Coin to reward the Old Man Under the Moon, and then wrote a Confucian decree to send off this particularly special and mysterious mortal deity.
"It's my turn now."
Gu Lingyu brought his index and middle fingers together and gently touched the pine spirit's brow. Then, his fingertip drew out a shimmering long bridge. He raised his hand and waved it towards the mountain below. The other end of the long bridge instantly entered Old Man Qin's brow, who was walking down the mountain. A life bridge that shared lifespan was thus completed.
"Junior Martial Uncle, it's your turn."
Gu Lingyu spread his five fingers, pulled a longevity thread from the pine spirit's destiny, and smiled. "Sever this longevity thread, and her appearance will begin to age. Pine spirit, have you decided? Once this is severed, it cannot be reattached. You will become as old as your husband."
"Good!"
The maiden smiled and nodded. "Young Master Lin Zhao, please cut it!"
"Mm."
Lin Zhao raised his sword and swung it. Instantly, the pine spirit's figure began to age bit by bit. In a blink of an eye, she transformed into an old woman around sixty years old. However, her demeanor was quite refined, not quite like that of an old woman from the mountains.
"Alright."
Lin Zhao smiled. "Lingyu, thank you for your hard work. Let's go back."
"Mm, I'm leaving."
Gu Lingyu bowed and transformed into a clear breeze, departing.
...
Early morning.
Lin Zhao and Xu Ming'an, after settling Old Man Qin, walked side by side under the cover of night, taking Wang Yue with them.
And shortly after Lin Zhao and his group departed.
"Knock, knock, knock~~~"
There was a light tapping at the wooden door.
"Who is it?"
Old Man Qin climbed out of bed and frowned.
"Old woman, open the door for me." A familiar voice came from outside.
For a moment, Old Man Qin trembled. Regardless of whether it was real or not, he would definitely open the door. She was the one who cared about him the most in this world. Even if she had become a ghost, he would not fear her at all.
"Creak~~"
As he opened the door, under the moonlight, a familiar face appeared before him. Old Man Qin froze, standing there blankly. For ten years, on many nights, he had dreamed of the scene before him countless times. But now, it had truly appeared before him. Old Man Qin actually found it hard to believe.
"Wife..."
He reached out and gently touched her wrinkled cheek, tears streaming down his face. "Is it you? Is it real?"
...
On the mountain.
After crossing a mountain peak, Lin Zhao and Xu Ming'an slightly quickened their pace, needing to reach the next lodging place before dawn. They had already lost too much time yesterday.
Beside Lin Zhao, Wang Yue's body floated in the air, a smile on her lips. She had witnessed everything concerning Old Man Qin and his wife. She was especially happy for the couple. She even felt that Brother Lin Zhao had never been as handsome and dashing as he was today. All the dashing sword immortals in the world combined couldn't match half of my Brother Lin Zhao's dash!
Xu Ming'an, carrying the Zhenwu Sword on his back, strode forward with great speed, remaining silent.
Lin Zhao, carrying two swords on his back, also moved nimbly along the mountain path.
Only by doing good deeds, without asking about the future!
Suddenly, Lin Zhao's gaze fell upon the second sword-concealing lake. The cracks on the flying sword Haoran had healed considerably. Now, only less than an inch of crack remained.
For a moment, Lin Zhao felt comforted. The actions he had taken were equivalent to receiving Mr. Qin's approval. What else in this world could be more joyful than this?