Published: February 25, 2025
Tan Yun looked at Shen Subing's joyous demeanor, and beneath the Turtle Breathing Cold Veil, his eyes gradually turned red, as if he were seeing his wife Fang Luxuan laughing at the summit of the Divine Realm.
He could not help but feel a wave of emotions rushing over him.
Memories of the past flooded his mind, and he felt a deep sense of loss and longing.
The laughter of Shen Subing echoed in his ears, but it only served to remind him of the emptiness left by Fang Luxuan's absence.
As he stood there, his heart ached, and he clenched his fists tightly, trying to suppress the pain.
The lively atmosphere around him felt like a cruel joke, mocking his sorrow and loneliness.
"Why must fate be so unkind?" he thought bitterly, his gaze shifting to the distant horizon where he imagined Fang Luxuan might be.
He longed to hold her once more, to hear her laughter in person instead of only in his memories.
But reality was harsh, and he knew he had to keep moving forward, despite the heartache that threatened to consume him.
Suddenly, a voice broke through his thoughts, pulling him back to the present.
"Tan Yun, are you alright?" Shen Subing asked with concern, noticing the sudden change in his expression.
Her voice was like a gentle breeze, soothing his troubled heart, if only for a moment.
"Yes, I'm fine," he replied, forcing a smile to mask his true feelings.
But inside, the turmoil continued to brew, and he felt more like a jest for others to laugh at, a man trapped between joy and sorrow.
As he looked around at the others, he realized that he was indeed becoming a subject of mockery, a pitiful figure who couldn't let go of the past.
Determined not to let this become his fate, he took a deep breath and steeled himself.
"Enough of this," he thought. "I must rise above my grief and find my path forward."
With renewed resolve, Tan Yun vowed to honor Fang Luxuan's memory by living fully, despite the challenges that lay ahead.
He would not allow anyone, including himself, to view him as a mere laughingstock.
Instead, he would strive to become stronger, to reclaim his place among the cultivators and strive for greatness.
In that moment, he made a silent promise to himself, to pursue his goals with unwavering determination, as he stepped into the future, leaving behind the shadows of his past.
As Shen Subing laughed, when she turned her head to look at Tan Yun, she clearly caught sight of that tear falling to the ground.
Suddenly stopping in her tracks, her smile gradually froze. She walked step by step towards Tan Yun, and with each step, her beautiful eyes turned redder. By the time she reached Tan Yun, her face was already streaming with tears.
Shen Subing stared intently at Tan Yun, tears falling like raindrops. Her tone grew colder, “Master, I have a question. I hope you can answer honestly.”
“You may ask,” Tan Yun replied.
“Master, you like me, don’t you?” Shen Subing's voice was very cold, which made Tan Yun feel uncomfortable.
“Yes, I do,” Tan Yun answered truthfully.
“Good. Then let me ask you, did you think of your late wife when you saw me just now? Did that make you sad?”
Although Tan Yun did not know why Shen Subing asked this, he still answered honestly, “Yes.”
Shen Subing looked up at Tan Yun, “Do you simply like me, or do you see me as a replacement for her?”
“You are you, and she is she. You are definitely not her replacement,” Tan Yun said.
“Not... then why are you being so stubborn?” Shen Subing’s wronged tears fell uncontrollably as she said coldly, “If that’s the case, then why do you think of your wife every time you see me?”
“Master, no matter what past you have or how many women you have in the future, I can accept it! But I cannot accept being someone else’s replacement!”
Upon hearing this, Tan Yun thought of his wife still buried beneath the glacier. Although he was already sad, a surge of anger ignited within him. His voice turned colder, “Enough! Stop bringing her up!”
“Ha ha.” A sorrowful smile appeared on Shen Subing's face, her chest filled with anger, “Am I wrong? I can accept anything, but I cannot and do not want to accept that I am a replacement for a dead person!”